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cette ville ne se livre pas au premier regard

English translation: reveals little of its beauty/itself at first glance


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15:47 Mar 4, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Psychology
French term or phrase: cette ville ne se livre pas au premier regard
I wish I could render in English the slight ambiguity in the French document: something that will not easily surrender itself, show itself, reveal immediately what it really is, disclose a form of intimacy, or hidden beauties (such as monuments, lanes, impressions...) but which requires some perseverance from the visitor, a rather sensual approach nevertheless of something that deserves to be 'reached, won, discovered, attained, disclosed'. Can someone help?

Thanks in advance
Philippe Leclerc
English translation:reveals little of its beauty/itself at first glance
Explanation:
or: reveals little at first glance..

or: reveals little of itself to the casual eye...
Selected response from:

Alidad Vassigh
Local time: 20:56
Grading comment
Tks; fits in with the context. It does cover the points I was looking for. The asker.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3reveals little of its beauty/itself at first glanceAlidad Vassigh
4this city does not give up its secrets lightly
Anne Greaves
4The city doesn't all come to you at onceMatthewLaSon
4this city has to grow on you
jmleger
3 +1linger in its streets and you will begin to appreciate the charms of this townMpoma
3seduce at first glance
Verginia Ophof


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
seduce at first glance


Explanation:
this city does not mesmerize/charm/seduce at first glance

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 12:56
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: The trouble with this is that it has a rather negative feel at first sight.
5 hrs
  -> I see what you're saying Tony........but like relationships oftenwise, once you get to know the city better (look a bit deeper), you fall in love with it :)
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22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
linger in its streets and you will begin to appreciate the charms of this town


Explanation:
no doubt there are 000s of ways to put it... the idea of giving the town *time* seems important here. My suggestion does not emphasise the sensuality point; OTOH "charms" personifies, suggest a female personnage, etc.

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Note added at 23 minutes (2011-03-04 16:11:32 GMT)
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actually, linger *is* quite sensual, and I meant to say I don't over-emphasise the sensuality (i.e. more than the French)

Mpoma
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rachel Fell
8 mins
  -> thanks!
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
this city has to grow on you


Explanation:
voilà une expression qu'elle est idiomatique

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Note added at 44 mins (2011-03-04 16:31:58 GMT)
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ou "grows on you" on apprend à l'aimer

jmleger
Local time: 13:56
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
reveals little of its beauty/itself at first glance


Explanation:
or: reveals little at first glance..

or: reveals little of itself to the casual eye...

Alidad Vassigh
Local time: 20:56
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Tks; fits in with the context. It does cover the points I was looking for. The asker.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natasha Dupuy: I like this... little of itself/its true self/its treasures/its inner life. Thought of Montreal as soon as I read this question! Not a sensual city, but a city that is not necessarily "beautiful", yet has a life of its own that one discovers over time
57 mins
  -> thks

agree  Lori Cirefice: I like this too, it sounds positive and covers the points the asker is looking for
3 hrs
  -> thks.

agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: I like "reveals little at first sight"
17 hrs
  -> thks for this
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
this city does not give up its secrets lightly


Explanation:
Hope this expresses the fact that some perserverance is needed from visitors

Anne Greaves
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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14 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
The city doesn't all come to you at once


Explanation:
Hello,

I think this is what we'd naturally say in English.

The idea is that you have to make efforts to find the charms of the city.

I don't agree with the answer chosen by the Asker (it's more than just the beauty of the city in question). Also, it's not really about "growing on someone", either (you can come to kno w or appreciate the true heart of a city without really ever liking it).



MatthewLaSon
Local time: 14:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
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