KudoZ home » Italian to English » Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

una sfida in punta di fioretto

English translation: a verbal fencing match

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.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Italian term or phrase:	una sfida in punta di fioretto
English translation:	a verbal fencing match
Entered by:	KayW

Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

10:21 Oct 16, 2011

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / screenplay

Italian term or phrase: una sfida in punta di fioretto

I understand the concept but can't think of an elegant way to put it.

"X e Y parlano di cose burocratiche, ma è una sfida in punta di fioretto…

X
Ma che significa che dovete fotosegnalarmi? Io sono la vittima.

Y
Il permesso di soggiorno lei dice che ce l’ha, ma a casa… Ora è qua e, cara signora, se non ha nulla da nascondere, che problema c’è?"

KayW KudoZ activity Questions: 44 (none open) (4 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 329
Local time: 19:58

a fencing match of words

Explanation:
Try this

Selected response from:

casper

Grading comment

I think I'll go for "a verbal fencing match", but you get the points for pointing me in the right direction, :-)!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided
3	a fencing match of words	casper

Summary of reference entries provided

emilia de paola

Discussion entries: 5

Answers

1 day18 hrs confidence:

a fencing match of words

Explanation:
Try this

casper
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 3

Grading comment

I think I'll go for "a verbal fencing match", but you get the points for pointing me in the right direction, :-)!

Reference comments

8 hrs

Reference

Reference information:
A battle of wits is OK because this is the meaning in Italian

in punta di fioretto means giocato sull'astuzia dell'uno e sull'intuito deduttivo dell'altro.

emilia de paola
Italy
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Italian

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.

Overview

Latest translation questions

Ask a translation question

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

una sfida in punta di fioretto

English translation: a verbal fencing match

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

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

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.

una sfida in punta di fioretto

English translation: a verbal fencing match

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

Answers

Reference comments

Sign in to your ProZ.com account...

Or create a new account

ProZ.com ideas

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

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.