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15:30 Nov 9, 2011
Russian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Other
Russian term or phrase:С непривычки
ххх осторожно затянулся. С непривычки крепкий табак ударил ему в голову, и на мгновение ноги стали как ватные.
I have seen the "for want/lack of habit" in Multitran, but it just doesn't sound right to me here. Any other suggestions?
Comments or suggestions are welcome and gratefully accepted from anyone, but I would be particularly interested in hearing from natives, especially native AmE speakers. Many thanks.
Even though, as I mentioned before, I have rephrased completely, both Mikhail and Judith confirmed my own line of thinking and thus helped the most. Mikhail was first though, I believe, so he gets the points. I wish I could split them. Once again, many thanks, everyone. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
The pesky little detail is that the main character here is in fact a long-time smoker and no stranger to strong tobacco. Yet, he had been on the healthy living bandwagon for quite a while since, and now, naturally, the first drag goes straight to his head.
I have already rephrased around it, but any brainstorming input is still welcome.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
3 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
He was not used to such strong tobacco, so...
Explanation: *
Alexander Onishko Local time: 06:48 Native speaker of: Russian, Ukrainian PRO pts in category: 43
7 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
Not being used to...
Explanation: The question is whether you can use active voice here ('he').
Mikhail Kropotov Russian Federation Local time: 07:48 Works in field Native speaker of: Russian PRO pts in category: 124
Grading comment
Even though, as I mentioned before, I have rephrased completely, both Mikhail and Judith confirmed my own line of thinking and thus helped the most. Mikhail was first though, I believe, so he gets the points. I wish I could split them. Once again, many thanks, everyone.
Judith Hehir United States Local time: 23:48 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 74
5 hrs confidence:
The disaccustomed...
Explanation: Alright, this is a fringe proposal, and I'm also voting for Judith's, but I started thinking about your explanation of the context, and this unusual word "disaccustomed" popped into my head as a way to express what happened, with the tobacco being the subject of the sentence:
"The disaccustomed strong tobacco went to his head..."
Still, in a context where the guy's quitting smoking is already known to the reader, I would find this instantly understandable. But it would not fit very well if the register of the writing, overall, is contemporary colloquial.
Rachel Douglas United States Local time: 23:48 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 104
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Rachel. As a yardstick of what goes and what doesn't, a native is truly invaluable. Imagine what they would say about me if I really used this - that my English usage was, understandably, sloppy. You know, all those wannabe non-natives - except, of course, if by some statistical quirk I turned Nabokov or something. This kind of reminds me of that old Russian joke: if you steal a piece or two you are a thief; if you steal by the truckload, all of a sudden you are a shadowy businessman. Cheers and thanks.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
