This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

au second degré

English translation: in a peculiar way

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:au second degré
English translation:in a peculiar way
Entered by: jean-jacques alexandre

19:50 Jul 3, 2007
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / memoir
French term or phrase: au second degré
Another entry for this on ProZ was for 'between the lines' or 'on another level.' It seems like that might work here, the young boy in the memoirist's recollection is happy in spite of material want.

"Même si le monde dans lequel je vis est morose, je suis heureux au « second degré » et je me réfugie dans mon univers imaginaire que j’idéalise naïvement."
Stephanie Mitchel
United States
Local time: 01:37
in a peculiar way
Explanation:
( on ) another level ?
Selected response from:

jean-jacques alexandre
France
Local time: 07:37
Grading comment
Well, yes - "in my own way" is what I used.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1deep down
Katarina Peters
3 +1below the surface
liz askew
3 +1on a different/another plane
CMJ_Trans (X)
3for all the gloom(y)... , I feel happy to some extent
Euqinimod (X)
3in a peculiar way
jean-jacques alexandre
2as happy as you might expect
John Di Rico
2in my imagination / in the world in my head / in the world I've created in my mind
Conor McAuley


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
as happy as you might expect


Explanation:
Just throwing out an idea

John Di Rico
France
Local time: 07:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
below the surface


Explanation:
...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2007-07-03 20:11:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Collins Robert

just an idea though

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cervin: I think this might work.
45 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
on a different/another plane


Explanation:
the old translations you found referred to "au second degré" in relation to HUMOUR

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 07:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 94

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Odette Grille (X)
43 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
for all the gloom(y)... , I feel happy to some extent


Explanation:
You could perhaps use the word "beyond" in the main clause to convey the idea of level.

Euqinimod (X)
Local time: 07:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
deep down


Explanation:
another expression meaning that deep down in your soul you are still happy, even if you you expected more.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-07-03 21:08:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

typo: inadvertently repeated you

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 01:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 14

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ben Gaia: Yup nice and simple, works well in English. Often 2 syllables in Anglo-Saxon will express five French syllables...:-)
2 days 5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ben!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
in a peculiar way


Explanation:
( on ) another level ?

jean-jacques alexandre
France
Local time: 07:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 25
Grading comment
Well, yes - "in my own way" is what I used.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
in my imagination / in the world in my head / in the world I've created in my mind


Explanation:
HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2007-07-04 16:06:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

in my second life

!

Conor McAuley
France
Local time: 07:37
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 30
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search