Italian to English translations [PRO]
Slang | | Italian term or phrase: avete rotto l'uovo o vi hanno rotto le uova? | è Pasqua, il giornalista chiede "avete rotto l'uovo (di Pasqua) o magari vi hanno già rotto le uova? Bè, consolatevi, domani è Pasquetta..." ecc ecc dando suggerimenti su cosa fare per trascorrerla. ora ... io credo sia impossibile mantenere il gioco di parole (mi verrebbe in mente qualcosa con il verbo "break", ma credo che non si possa scrivere......... ..).
avete qualche suggerimento ???
grazie!! |
| | | English translation:did you break the egg or did they break your eggs? | Explanation:
I feel fairly certain that in New Jersey and New York the expression "ball breaking" is common and as Italian cuisine, wine and coffee spreads around the world, so does its slang.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-03-19 14:34:28 GMT)
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Oh and in Creole and probably in French too, Mon cassè son dissoef! They actually use the term eggs. It isn't too difficult to guess the meaning. |
| Selected response from:
James (Jim) Davis
Italy
Local time: 05:54
| Grading comment grazie mille jim! grazie a tutti.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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6 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): +2 did you break the egg or did they break your eggs?
Explanation:
I feel fairly certain that in New Jersey and New York the expression "ball breaking" is common and as Italian cuisine, wine and coffee spreads around the world, so does its slang.
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Note added at 7 mins (2009-03-19 14:34:28 GMT)
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Oh and in Creole and probably in French too, Mon cassè son dissoef! They actually use the term eggs. It isn't too difficult to guess the meaning.
| | | Grading comment | grazie mille jim! grazie a tutti. |
|
3 hrs confidence: Did you find goodies in your Easter basket or are you (already) a basket case?
Explanation:
Did you find goodies in your Easter basket or are you (already) a basket case? Take heart...
Hi all! OK, this might be useful if your article is intended for readers outside Italy. The problem, as I see it, is actually less with regard to the "ball breaking", which, I would agree w/ Jim, has followed Italian culture and the Sopranos nearly everywhere, than it is to the egg breaking. Now, I can't speak for the entire world, clearly, but in the Americas the (albeit wonderful) concept of receiving a huge egg, that you ceremonially smash to smithereens in order to find the gifty it contains, just... doesn't...exist! We don't break Easter eggs, we COLOR them! And then, the next morning, we hide them, then hunt for them again (causing much hilarity for any Italians witnessing the event) (and after getting up in the pre-dawn hours to hide the darn things, all of that can REALLY turn one into a TRUE basket case!). Thus, rather than being a joyful moment (gift, chocolate, etc), cracked/broken eggs are... sort of bad luck! Or, alternatively, an indication that the show's over, and it's time to make egg salad sandwiches for yourself and 25 of your best friends (have to get rid of all those hardboiled eggs somehow, folks!) (MANY pros to those chocolate eggs!!)...
SO, in a nutshell (mm, eggshell?!!), THAT is why I made this suggestion!
Use it as you will! ;)
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5 hrs confidence: did you break the egg or did they break your balls?
Explanation:
I'd tell it like it is to be honest. I think it reads much better like this and let's face it "breaking balls"will be in the Oxford dictionary soon (if it isn't already). I don't think being subtle works here - just my take on it anyway....
| julie-h
Local time: 05:54
Native speaker of: English
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The translation workplace 
