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A leopard does not change his acne.

Italian translation: il lupo perde la forfora / il pelo forforoso

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:A leopard does not change his acne.
Italian translation:il lupo perde la forfora / il pelo forforoso
Entered by: AdamiAkaPataflo

11:56 Feb 22, 2013
English to Italian translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: A leopard does not change his acne.
The original English idiom is "a leopard does not change its spots".
But in the play the female character says "a leopard does not change his acne". She is talking to her lover accusing him of infidelity. Obviously "spot" and "acne" are similar, so the listener is able to understand which idiom is being referred to and can appreciated the word play, but there is an added cruelty and disgust in using the word "acne".
I know a similar idiom in Italian is "il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio" but I'd like to find a way to honour the author's intention/poetry in italian. Any suggestions would be welcome. thank you
sandra paternostro
il lupo perde la forfora / il pelo forforoso
Explanation:
I got your point, and I tried to convey the "added cruelty and disgust" of the "spot" turned "acne" by suggesting "dandruff" / "dandruffy hair"
:-)
Selected response from:

AdamiAkaPataflo
Germany
Local time: 12:38
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6il lupo perde la forfora / il pelo forforoso
AdamiAkaPataflo
3 +3il lupo perde il pelo ma non il suo (maledetto) viziaccio
Giuseppe Bellone
3 +3la volpe cangia il pelo ma non il vizio /il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio
Elena Zanetti
3 +1il lupo perde il pelo ma non il suo incallito/inveterato vizio
Ivana Giuliani


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
a leopard does not change his acne.
il lupo perde la forfora / il pelo forforoso


Explanation:
I got your point, and I tried to convey the "added cruelty and disgust" of the "spot" turned "acne" by suggesting "dandruff" / "dandruffy hair"
:-)


AdamiAkaPataflo
Germany
Local time: 12:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 312

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  P.L.F. Persio: infatti, questa proposta riproduce il gioco di parole "bitchy".
51 mins
  -> grazie, bella lupacchiotta! :-))
agree  BdiL: Sono assolutamente d'accordo che bisogna far ricordare il detto originario, MA VARIARLO e potrebbe persino starci l'ACNE anche in italiano! Sennò perché sarebbe stato chiesto aiuto?! Maurizio
2 hrs
  -> a volte ritornano - ed ecco il Mauri'. grazie! :-)
agree  Mari Lena
8 hrs
  -> grazie e felice uikkend :-)
agree  Lorraine Buckley (X)
8 hrs
  -> grazie e buon fine settimana :-)
agree  sandrapaternost: thank you this is a really clever solution
1 day 6 hrs
  -> I don't know if according to the ProZ rules you are allowed to agree an answer, being the Asker, :-) but thanks a lot, I am glad you like my suggestion
agree  Susanna Celotti (X): Cosa ne dite di "Il lupo perde il pelo ma non la forfora"? :)
4 days
  -> carina! :-))
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
a leopard does not change his acne.
il lupo perde il pelo ma non il suo (maledetto) viziaccio


Explanation:
What about changing the Italian proverb this way, to make the expression a little worse than it's normally?

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Note added at 1 ora (2013-02-22 13:18:33 GMT)
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This would perhaps have the same effect as in the source text.

Giuseppe Bellone
Italy
Local time: 12:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 189

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francesco Badolato
5 mins
  -> Grazie :))
agree  MariaGrazia Pizzoli: sì anche disgustoso vizio. Sì, ma in maledetto o disgustoso viziaccio "iaccio" mi pare di troppo.
2 hrs
  -> Grazie :)) / Sì, si può cambiare ancora, tanto il proverbio corretto rimane sempre l'altro. Ma qui bisogna aggiungere qualcosa, credo. // Ah certo, scusa avevo frainteso, certo, inutile rafforzativo, hai ragione tu. :)
agree  Mari Lena
8 hrs
  -> Grazie :)
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
a leopard does not change his acne.
la volpe cangia il pelo ma non il vizio /il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio


Explanation:
ci sono molte varianti... usarei la tua idea.. .

il lupo perde il pelo ,il vizio mai ..

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Note added at 3 ore (2013-02-22 15:07:49 GMT)
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potresti dare enfasi.... il lupo perde il pelo, ma il vizio quello mai!

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Note added at 3 ore (2013-02-22 15:08:31 GMT)
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il lupo perde il pelo, ma il vizio.. proprio mai!

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Note added at 8 ore (2013-02-22 20:28:58 GMT)
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capisco variare... però non di troppo.. se non poi non si capirebbe il senso..

Elena Zanetti
Italy
Local time: 12:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 186

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anna Amisano: assolutamente! voto il lupo!
9 mins
  ->  grazie, sì l'opzione lupo è più conosciuta... :-)
agree  Katia DG: Ma dimmi, la lince cosa fa? Lo perde il vizio?
46 mins
  -> la lince si tiene il pelo e perde il vizio :-)
agree  Mari Lena
9 hrs
  -> grazie!
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1 day 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a leopard does not change his acne.
il lupo perde il pelo ma non il suo incallito/inveterato vizio


Explanation:
occorre aggiungere qualcosa...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 giorno1 ora (2013-02-23 13:18:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

anche (mi piace l'idea della cancrena per "acne")
il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio che lo divora come una cancrena
il lupo perde il pelo ma non il suo incancrenito vizio
il lupo perde il pelo ma nulla può contro i suoi incancreniti vizi
il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio che diventa la sua cancrena

Ivana Giuliani
Italy
Local time: 12:38
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 43

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sandrapaternost: thank you
6 hrs
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