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French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase:droit comme un « i » de Prévert
This is actually from a tourist guide in the restaurant section. I labelled it as literature because I thought that the actual sentence would be more suited to people who work in the literary field.
This sentence comes from the description of a chef: C’est la table de Christian Morisset, *droit comme un « i » de Prévert*, moustache dalienne, passé de l’hôtel Juana au style Art Déco à cette auberge intime du Vieil Antibes.
I have done some research and see that Prévert has been referred to many times as standing "droit comme un « i »" to welcome his guests but I think it would be meaningless in English to say "straight as a die like Prévert" for example. Does anyone know if this refers to a poem of his for example or have any bright ideas on what I could do here? I am tempted to leave out the Prévertreference and just say that he stands "straight as a die".
Explanation: ... though I actually can't help thinking that a more appropriate simile needs to be found, since this might imply 'stiffly upright', whereas I hope this just means he welcomes people with politely self-confident body language.
Do note, though, that 'straight as a die' will not do at all, since that kind of 'straight' means 'honest', 'of good character', etc. — qualities which I'm sure would be taken for granted in this esteemed gentleman, but have nothing to do with his body language when greeting customers.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 heures (2011-06-27 06:52:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I get the impression that this restaurateur is proud and sure of himself, and so does not need to adopt the slightly stooped, cringeingly subservient, almsot hand-wringing posture that one so often finds in small restaurant staff; this man seems to have character and stature.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 heures (2011-06-27 10:41:45 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Prevert is a poet and Dali a painter, the idea would be to keep the references to those continental artists I think.
The expression itself is not from Prévert.
Explanation: I have eaten in his restaurant and even shaken hands with the guy.....
He is not that tall so perhaps they mean he tries to look taller...
The chef is CM, a man who stands tall, sports a Dali-style moustache
Explanation: keeps the reference to Prévert
Could be followed by "and sporting a Dali moustache"
Has a nursery rhyme-like 1-2-3-4 //1-2-3 rhythm to it.
claude-andrew France Local time: 15:15 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
Explanation: ... though I actually can't help thinking that a more appropriate simile needs to be found, since this might imply 'stiffly upright', whereas I hope this just means he welcomes people with politely self-confident body language.
Do note, though, that 'straight as a die' will not do at all, since that kind of 'straight' means 'honest', 'of good character', etc. — qualities which I'm sure would be taken for granted in this esteemed gentleman, but have nothing to do with his body language when greeting customers.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 8 heures (2011-06-27 06:52:58 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I get the impression that this restaurateur is proud and sure of himself, and so does not need to adopt the slightly stooped, cringeingly subservient, almsot hand-wringing posture that one so often finds in small restaurant staff; this man seems to have character and stature.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 12 heures (2011-06-27 10:41:45 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
