giant of spirit and coryphaeus

English translation: Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus

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English term or phrase:	giant of spirit and coryphaeus
Selected answer:	Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus
Entered by:	jerrie

08:46 Apr 2, 2004

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / citations

English term or phrase: giant of spirit and coryphaeus

for example -

1) He will be giant of spirit and coryphaeus.

2)

Best Regards,
Ivan Ivanov
Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus

===

This is a translation of a known phrase from a popular Russian novel. Originaly this phrase was semi-praising and seni-funny. I wonder how this phrase is perceived by a native English speaker.

===

Thank you all in advance !

Alexander Onishko

Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus

Explanation:
I'm not familiar with the Russian and therefore do not know how the humour/awkwardness works in the original.

As a native speaker, this 'tagline' doesn't strike me as being particularly humourous ;-(( - (in fact I had to look up Coryphaeus - the chief or leader, esp. the leader of a chorus).

So, if I received a letter from you with this 'tagline' underneath your name, it wouldn't really mean a huge amount to me at all ;-(((

Selected response from:

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:06

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

2 +4

Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus

jerrie

giant of spirit and coryphaeus

knipe

NFG (not for grading)

danya

in English we don't generally give ourselves titles when we sign letters...

chica nueva

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

20 mins confidence:

giant of spirit and coryphaeus

Explanation:
I find the construction awkward. Coryphaeus is not in everyone's vocabulary. I would rewrite the sentence.

knipe
Sweden
Local time: 12:06
Native speaker of:

English

21 mins confidence:

NFG (not for grading)

Explanation:
Aleksandr, corypheus means choir-leader, and the original phrase tells us aboot the father of domestic democracy :-)))

why don't you explain the context in plain words, why these riddles?

danya
Local time: 13:06
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 20

55 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

Giant of Spirit and Coryphaeus

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

15 hrs confidence:

in English we don't generally give ourselves titles when we sign letters...

Explanation:
in English we don't generally give ourselves titles when we sign letters. Perhaps in the past(?) but not now. That is not to say you couldn't though...

It sounds like literature (as you say), and perhaps a particularly Russian letter-writing convention.(?)

'giant of spirit' is not clear => spiritual giant, giant in spirit
'coryphaeus' is not clear either => no-one knows knows this word

It seems such a self-given title (in letter-writing) would depend on a knowledge of context and relationships for its effect...

chica nueva
Local time: 22:06
Native speaker of: English

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