la cosa cobra un aire de acontecimiento

English translation: The issue takes on a foreboding air/tone/nature

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:la cosa cobra un aire de acontecimiento
English translation:The issue takes on a foreboding air/tone/nature
Entered by: Ecuánime

22:50 Oct 18, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Poetry & Literature / Short story
Spanish term or phrase: la cosa cobra un aire de acontecimiento
When I returned home this afternoon, Martha was not there. I called for her in the hallway several times, since she did not answer the first, each time with more urgency. I looked through the rooms with great urgency and anxiety, as if the stairs were on fire. I even caught myself by surprise! I don’t need her for anything! Actually, it’s better she wasn’t there. The entire time on my way home I was hoping to arrive and be alone for a while. Since I am covering up what had happened, the worst would be seeing her eyes gaze into mine like motionless flies. They quietly look at me, sliding, only because I appear to be the one they have seen other days, every day. However, since yesterday I have been bit different. I wouldn’t say it is a great thing. The difference consists of going from being employed to unemployed. Of course this change, however small or insignificant it be, is the first in ten years. Someone observed that I had froze, my head not moving, turned in a one direction- the same as when taking a picture- and now I can turn to look back, front, up, "la cosa cobra un aire de acontecimiento."

I included the paragraph (already translate into English) to give you context. Any suggestions? I am stumped on this one.
Ecuánime
United States
Local time: 12:54
The issue takes on a foreboding air/tone/nature
Explanation:
It seems as if something of (immediate and/or future) importance is about to occur.
Selected response from:

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 18:54
Grading comment
I think this capture the essence of what the line says, thank you Thayenga
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1...It is as if something new is happening
axies
4the thing takes on an eventful tone; thing takes on an air of importance
Carmen Schultz
3 +1it appears to be a turning point; it takes on more significance
Carol Gullidge
3the thing/matter/situation acquires an event-like feel
Juliana Brown
3it seems to be something significant
Evans (X)
3The issue takes on a foreboding air/tone/nature
Thayenga


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the thing takes on an eventful tone; thing takes on an air of importance


Explanation:
a couple of options - obviously having the complete sentence in English would help to get a better feel (rather than the translation you provide)

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Note added at 26 mins (2009-10-18 23:16:53 GMT)
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I meant to use the article 'the" with the second option too

Carmen Schultz
Local time: 11:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the thing/matter/situation acquires an event-like feel


Explanation:
another option for the "aire de"

Juliana Brown
Israel
Local time: 12:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in HebrewHebrew
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
it seems to be something significant


Explanation:
I think this is how you might express it in English. Using the impersonal "it" and expressing "cosa" in something. I understand the thing to refer to the change mentioned in him mentioned earlier.

Hope that helps.

Evans (X)
Local time: 17:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 72
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
it appears to be a turning point; it takes on more significance


Explanation:

...and now that I can see things more clearly, from every angle, it appears to be a turning point...

... it seems acquire more significance

OK, a bit free, but I think the ST demands it to make it read like a story in English

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 315

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claudia Luque Bedregal: nice options Carol :)
15 hrs
  -> many thanks Claudia :)
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
...It is as if something new is happening


Explanation:
...It is as something new is happening or happened/ or taking place for the first time.
la cosa cobra =>It pays/asks/calls for (lit)
un aire de acontecimento => appearance of an happening (lit)
Before, with Martha in the room nothing changed or ...just her eyes gaze into his like motionless flies!

axies
Australia
Local time: 02:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jenny Westwell: I can´t see any justication for using "new", but "It is as if..." is a good solution I think
10 hrs
  -> Thank you Jenny; ''new'' in the sense of important/major happening, when it should not be...
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The issue takes on a foreboding air/tone/nature


Explanation:
It seems as if something of (immediate and/or future) importance is about to occur.

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 18:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
I think this capture the essence of what the line says, thank you Thayenga

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: foreboding suggests something bad is about to happen. The context we're given doesn't imply this.//Not really. An omen can be good or bad, but a foreboding normally implies something bad is about to happen, and that is how it is generally understood.
17 hrs
  -> Agreed that foreboding - like omen - is commonly perceived as something negative, but it doesn't necessarily have to be so.
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