Italian: balena bianca (in this context)English translation: white whale (Moby Dick) 
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| GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | | Italian term or phrase: | balena bianca (in this context) | | English translation: | white whale (Moby Dick) | | Entered by: | Michele Fauble |
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Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / sayings, idioms | | Italian term or phrase: balena bianca (in this context) | | Le crociate da alcuni studiosi sono state definite una “balena bianca” nella storia d’Europa e per comprendere le ragioni della sua materializzazione occorre in primo luogo esaminare il contesto storico, politico e religioso che ha determinato i contrastanti rapporti tra medio oriente ed Europa nel mediterraneo. Is this an Italian saying? I have the feeling it might mean something new, arousing curiosity because it is unusual, but would like confirmation or an equivalent English saying if at all possible, thanks! SUE |
| kringleKudoZ activityQuestions: 367 (all closed) Answers: 92
Italy
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| Clarification request(s) and responsekringle (asker): 9:56am Nov 13, 2004: I must admit I have always used White Elephant to mean something totally useless and unwanted by the owner - hence our White Elephant stalls at English jumble sales, where people donate all their unwanted (usually ornaments) possessions to be sold for charity. SUE
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| | white whale (Moby Dick) | Explanation:
Inseguendo la balena bianca da Moby ...
www.teatrocomunaleferrara.it/ pag1/lestagioni/ragazzi/0102/balenabianca.html
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Note added at 19 mins (2004-11-13 09:06:53 GMT)
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... La Balena Bianca nuotava davanti a lui come l’ossessiva incarnazione di tutte quelle forze maligne da cui alcuni uomini profondi si sentono divorati, finché ...
www.superdante.it/inside.asp?id=671
Everybody has a white whale to catch, that elusive goal that, if
we\'re not careful, can turn into an unhealthy obsession. For ...
www.zwire.com/site/myzwire.cfm?BRD=1091& dept_id=343157&newsid=13192706&PAG=461&rfi=9
... world, the oil-producing world, the Arab world, the Middle East--those areas ... was a man possessed with an obsessional drive to pursue the white whale which had ...
www.matrixmasters.com/ wtc/esaid/progintvw/progintvw.html
... terrorism campaign we have undertaken\" and risk \"an Armageddon in the Middle East.\". ... obsessive character of a Captain Ahab in pursuit of the great white whale. ...
www.peacecouncil.net/pnl/02/714/714StalkingMoby.htm
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Note added at 26 mins (2004-11-13 09:13:55 GMT)
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... Il problema è questo: la crociata è una sorta di Moby Dick, di balena bianca nella
storia dell’Occidente. Si dice crociate e quindi Medioevo, è tanto vero ...
web.genie.it/utenti/e/enigmagalgano/ contributi/Tempi_di_Crociate/cardini.html
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Note added at 1 hr 26 mins (2004-11-13 10:13:39 GMT)
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...crociata, che Cardini, membro del comitato scientifico, definisce melvillianamente «una balena bianca nella storia ...
www.giornaledibrescia.it/ giornale/2000/03/22/05,CULTURA/T2.html
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| Selected response from:
 Michele Fauble
United States
| Note from asker to answererThanks for all your time, links and help on this one. Giles liked the "...". SUE
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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3 mins confidence:   |
| the white elephant
Explanation:
in English, one is not talking of a "white whale" but much more
commonly of the "White Elephant" - with the same eventual meaning.
| SwissTell
United States
Native speaker of:  German
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37 mins confidence: |
| see under
Explanation:
Yes this is an italian saying. This is how the ex-DC political party was named "la balena bianca".
"quando si pensa alla balena bianca vengono in mente due cose: il romanzo omonimo di Melville da un lato, la definizione giornalistica e massmediologica del partito democristiano dall'altro. Mettiamo da parte questo secondo significato, troppo tipicamente " all'italiana". ..."
Probably, it generally refers to something huge, the presence of which can be noticed or observed in various places at nearly the same time. I don't know if this can apply to your context, but I think that it can be helpful to understand its meaning.
Reference: http://www.tg5.it/terra/schede/scheda_010120084031.shtml
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| | Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
12 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +4 |
| white whale (Moby Dick)
Explanation:
Inseguendo la balena bianca da Moby ...
www.teatrocomunaleferrara.it/ pag1/lestagioni/ragazzi/0102/balenabianca.html
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Note added at 19 mins (2004-11-13 09:06:53 GMT)
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... La Balena Bianca nuotava davanti a lui come l’ossessiva incarnazione di tutte quelle forze maligne da cui alcuni uomini profondi si sentono divorati, finché ...
www.superdante.it/inside.asp?id=671
Everybody has a white whale to catch, that elusive goal that, if
we\'re not careful, can turn into an unhealthy obsession. For ...
www.zwire.com/site/myzwire.cfm?BRD=1091& dept_id=343157&newsid=13192706&PAG=461&rfi=9
... world, the oil-producing world, the Arab world, the Middle East--those areas ... was a man possessed with an obsessional drive to pursue the white whale which had ...
www.matrixmasters.com/ wtc/esaid/progintvw/progintvw.html
... terrorism campaign we have undertaken\" and risk \"an Armageddon in the Middle East.\". ... obsessive character of a Captain Ahab in pursuit of the great white whale. ...
www.peacecouncil.net/pnl/02/714/714StalkingMoby.htm
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Note added at 26 mins (2004-11-13 09:13:55 GMT)
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... Il problema è questo: la crociata è una sorta di Moby Dick, di balena bianca nella
storia dell’Occidente. Si dice crociate e quindi Medioevo, è tanto vero ...
web.genie.it/utenti/e/enigmagalgano/ contributi/Tempi_di_Crociate/cardini.html
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Note added at 1 hr 26 mins (2004-11-13 10:13:39 GMT)
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...crociata, che Cardini, membro del comitato scientifico, definisce melvillianamente «una balena bianca nella storia ...
www.giornaledibrescia.it/ giornale/2000/03/22/05,CULTURA/T2.html
| | Note from asker to answerer| Thanks for all your time, links and help on this one. Giles liked the "...". SUE |
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The translation workplace 
