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help needed for an expression

English translation: some other alternatives

01:47 Dec 14, 2004
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: help needed for an expression
How can we say in an impressive and appropriate manner that it had become evening. Actually, the author had met someone and that person was with from the afternoon and now the author is describing that the time of evening had approached. How can we express it in a sound and attractive way in English? Thanks
Ketan
Selected answer:some other alternatives
Explanation:
Maybe you will like these (but there are many other alternatives):

---the sun had sunk beyond the horizon---

1st example - in a beautiful poem:

"'Twas in the waning of a glorious day:
The sun had sunk beyond the mist-swathed hills..."
...
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/heath/1870poems/15.html

2nd example:

"By the time they reached the shrub the sun had sunk beyond the hills behind them and the darkening sky was reintroducing the stars and planets."
http://www.banph.com/Eleven.html

OR

---the sun had gone to rest---

example:

"The shades of night were falling and the sun had gone to rest."
http://www.halcyondaysmusic.com/july/july2001.htm

OR

---evening had set in---

example:

"By the time Link had reached the hill top, early evening had set in, and the sky was tinged with yellows and pinks."
http://www.northcastle.co.uk/guild/fanfic/ktoot3.html
Selected response from:

Balaban Cerit
Türkiye
Local time: 14:03
Grading comment
I was just at a loss to choose a winner as you all have supplied me with great options. It is quite amazing to note that a simple statement can be expressed in numerous ways in an effective manner. I am indebted to all of you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +5options
RHELLER
4 +2day has put on his jacket and around his burning bosom buttoned it with stars
swisstell
3 +3some other alternatives
Balaban Cerit
3 +3the maid brought tea and closed the curtains
Armorel Young
5night had fallen
airmailrpl
4 +1the light gradually faded from the sky
Refugio
5the dying embers of daylight make way for the penumbra of darkness, amid deep russet hues
Paul Dixon


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
options


Explanation:
twilight
dusk

the evening closed in around us
the darkness enveloped us


RHELLER
United States
Local time: 05:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 66

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Noorsalhanim Che Jamel
17 mins
  -> thanks Hanim!
agree  Balaban Cerit
1 hr
  -> thanks Balaban :-)
agree  Catherine Bolton: Or "gloaming" - one of my favorite words!!
5 hrs
  -> thanks Catherine :-)
agree  Charlie Bavington: "Crikey, Bert, it's nearly seven o' flipping clock. Time we was off dahn the boozer." Might be 'appropriate'!! How the devil can we tell from what we're told?
8 hrs
  -> wibbley wobbley, hey :-)
agree  Kim Metzger: The evening closed in around us sounds good.
22 hrs
  -> thanks Kim :-)
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
day has put on his jacket and around his burning bosom buttoned it with stars


Explanation:
Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1809-1894, Evening

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 13:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Olga Vlasova: I don't know whether it's what the asker is looking for but it's very beautiful!
3 hrs
agree  Balaban Cerit
6 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
some other alternatives


Explanation:
Maybe you will like these (but there are many other alternatives):

---the sun had sunk beyond the horizon---

1st example - in a beautiful poem:

"'Twas in the waning of a glorious day:
The sun had sunk beyond the mist-swathed hills..."
...
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/heath/1870poems/15.html

2nd example:

"By the time they reached the shrub the sun had sunk beyond the hills behind them and the darkening sky was reintroducing the stars and planets."
http://www.banph.com/Eleven.html

OR

---the sun had gone to rest---

example:

"The shades of night were falling and the sun had gone to rest."
http://www.halcyondaysmusic.com/july/july2001.htm

OR

---evening had set in---

example:

"By the time Link had reached the hill top, early evening had set in, and the sky was tinged with yellows and pinks."
http://www.northcastle.co.uk/guild/fanfic/ktoot3.html

Balaban Cerit
Türkiye
Local time: 14:03
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I was just at a loss to choose a winner as you all have supplied me with great options. It is quite amazing to note that a simple statement can be expressed in numerous ways in an effective manner. I am indebted to all of you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  RHELLER: not sure what asker wants but I like "beyond the mist-swathed hills" :-)
32 mins
  -> thanks Rita
agree  eldira: i like "the shades of night.."
4 hrs
  -> thank you Eldira
agree  Kim Metzger: Some more good options.
21 hrs
  -> thanks Kim
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
the maid brought tea and closed the curtains


Explanation:
the street lights were coming on

people were making their way home from work

shopkeepers were putting up their shutters for the night

What point of view are we seeing this from? Indoors? Outdoors? Town? Country? Railway station? - there are going to be a million and one ways of doing this, depending on the context of your story.

Armorel Young
Local time: 12:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 64

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: Shades of Graham Greene.
15 hrs
agree  RHELLER: nice setting-like descriptions which convey the meaning
15 hrs
agree  Balaban Cerit: yes, it all depends on what the asker is looking for...
15 hrs
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
night had fallen


Explanation:
AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY DOG TOYS! - fun glow dog toys
... Pointing Griffon Yorkshire Terrier leaving the greater portion of my company behind I set out escorted only by gilles and antoine night had fallen long before ...
dogtoys.best-webshops.com/fun_glow_dog_toys.asp

September 2004 Articles
... Night had Fallen. Night had fallen a cold, stark landscape coalescing around me All but a trickle of a stream was silent a barren shore on either side Lifeless ...
www.greatlakesregion.org/dark/sept2004.html

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 08:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 64
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the light gradually faded from the sky


Explanation:
another option

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 5 hrs 10 mins (2004-12-15 06:57:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the sun sank beneath the horizon
twilight darkened into evening


Refugio
Local time: 04:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 120

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: Would work much better than a direct quotation.
18 hrs
  -> Thanks, Kim
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1 day 16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
the dying embers of daylight make way for the penumbra of darkness, amid deep russet hues


Explanation:
I think this sounds poetic and descriptive enough, would fit well in a story I feel.

Paul Dixon
Brazil
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
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