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11:58 Dec 16, 2010
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Italian to English translations [PRO] Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Italian term or phrase:il convitato di pietra
The first sentence I came to translate today and it contains both a difficult idiom and Latin...
It's from a speech by Mario Borghezio at the EP, available here:
From what I understand, it means "someone who is not present but is still the focus of conversation" but I could be mistaken.
Your help is much appreciated!
Mario Borghezio (EFD). - Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, il convitato di pietra di questa discussione è il presidente della BCE, il signor Trichet. Se fossimo nell'antico senato romano si alzerebbe un senatore con la sua toga e, rivolgendosi a Trichet, direbbe: "Quousque tandem abutere, Trichete, patientia nostra?"
In effetti, dobbiamo domandarci se la via giusta sia quella di evitare la dissoluzione dell'Euro – impresa molto difficile – o piuttosto impedire che il salvataggio dell'Euro porti con sé la rovina delle nostre economie nei paesi membri, dopo che la politica eurofila, da Prodi in giù, ha distrutto le nostre industrie, specialmente le piccole e medie imprese, per esempio quelle della Padania, creando solo disoccupazione e cassa integrazione.
...to all who contributed. I liked polyglot45's suggestion to use the "burning ears concept", so I've given it a try - we'll see what the reviewer thinks! Thanks, David.
My question would be: Was Trichet invited and shocked everybody by actually coming? (as the man murdered by Don Giovanni in the opera) Otherwise I'd say he's not present in person but on everyone's mind ...
is what I'm working with at the moment, but I don't think it's ideal if anyone has any better ideas.
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Answers
20 mins confidence:
the stone guest
Explanation: it means "someone who is not present but is still the focus of conversation"!
the origin can be found in the ref.
HTH
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"The Stone Guest" is a poetic drama, based on the Spanish legend about Don Juan. Don Juan, a heartless and immoral man of noble birth, had killed the commander of Seville in a duel. A stone statue was erected on the tomb of the commander. Once, being near the tomb, Don Juan met Donna Anna, the widow of the commander, and seduced her. The statue moved its head in anger. Trying to show off, Don Juan invited the statue to a banquet. The invitation was accepted, the stone commander came, and Don Juan was crushed. "The Stone Guest" was written by Aleksandr Pushkin in 1830 as part of his four short stories known as "The Little Tragedies", which also include "The Miserly Knight","A Feast During the Plague", and "Mozart and Salieri".
The translation workplace 
