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Idiomatic expression of an awkward style

English translation: if you can\'t find an idiom, use a simile

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English term or phrase:	Idiomatic expression of an awkward style
English translation:	if you can\'t find an idiom, use a simile
Entered by:	Trinh Do

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11:45 Nov 10, 2009

English to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / writing style,

English term or phrase: Idiomatic expression of an awkward style

Help, for the sake of the beauty of the English language, is there an English idiom that indicates "a writing style that is rough, unrefined, awkward to the audience". I'm having a translator's block at the moment.

Trinh Do KudoZ activity Questions: 35 (1 open) Answers: 86 Australia
Local time: 02:37

if you can't find an idiom, use a simile

Explanation:
This feels to me like a case for inventing a picturesque metaphor
"a writing style like that of a monkey on a typewriter" (that probably goes a bit too far); "with about as much polish as a rusty nail"; "with the refinement of a pianist in boxing gloves"; "with all the style of a gawky heffalump", or whatever.

Selected response from:

Armorel Young
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:37

Grading comment

Thanks a lot, everyone. A rich learning experience and a chance to rack one's brains.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +3

if you can't find an idiom, use a simile

Armorel Young

Out of place manner

chaman4723

3 +2

could do with a bit of polish

EdithK

(writing style that) had as much finesse as a pig with a musket

la acequiera

3 +1

heavy-handed

Veronika McLaren

3 +1

clumsy

Jeux_de_Mots

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

18 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

idiomatic expression of an awkward style clumsy

Explanation:
Is how I'd express an awkward style, (depending on the context of course).

Jeux_de_Mots
Germany
Local time: 17:37
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:

English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

idiomatic expression of an awkward style could do with a bit of polish

Explanation:
a writing style that could do with a bit of polish

a writing style that would leave room for improvement

EdithK
Germany
Local time: 17:37
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:

German,

English

2 hrs confidence:

idiomatic expression of an awkward style Out of place manner

Explanation:
Awkward = Out of place
style=manner

chaman4723
India
Local time: 22:07
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Urdu

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

idiomatic expression of an awkward style heavy-handed

Explanation:
another possibility?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-11-10 14:17:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...but unfortunately another adjective, with some imagery attached

Veronika McLaren
Canada
Local time: 11:37
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

idiomatic expression of an awkward style

if you can't find an idiom, use a simile

Armorel Young
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:37
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks a lot, everyone. A rich learning experience and a chance to rack one's brains.

4 hrs confidence:

idiomatic expression of an awkward style (writing style that) had as much finesse as a pig with a musket

Explanation:
A bit obscure as idioms go, but one of my favourites!

Suerte :)

la acequiera
Spain
Local time: 17:37
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:

English

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, this is acceptable. Better luck next time!

Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO

PRO (3): EdithK, chaman4723, Veronika McLaren

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