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a tol'ko poskulivaia

English translation: only whimpering (like a dog)

10:31 Mar 12, 2004
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Russian term or phrase: a tol'ko poskulivaia
Full phrase:
I, ne utiraia slez, a tol'ko poskulivaia, Prokhor tikho vishel.
Emily Justice
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:12
English translation:only whimpering (like a dog)
Explanation:
similar in meaning to whining.
howling like a dog - завывая как собака
Selected response from:

Vladimir Chumak
Australia
Local time: 01:12
Grading comment
Thanks, I think this is perfect. It is sufficiently 'pathetic'.
'Whining' isn't bad, but as we also use 'to whine' to mean 'to complain', then I think it might add a touch of unnecessary ambiguity.
Sergei - I found your suggestion of 'puling' unusual. Until now I didn't even now that there was such a word in the English language and in fact my dictionary gives it as archaic. Although I am trying to maintain the feeling that this book was written many years ago, I do not want to include words that are so archaic that they might cause the reader to stumble.
This is not to say that I don't appreciate your reponse and all the help that you give me in general!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4whining quietly
Kirill Semenov
5 +1only whimpering (like a dog)
Vladimir Chumak
5...only howling like a dog
Alex Zelkind (X)
4only giving out occasional bursts of puling
sergey (X)


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
whining quietly


Explanation:
He was not wiping his tears, his was just whining quietly.

Kirill Semenov
Ukraine
Local time: 18:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 381

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  George Vardanyan
8 mins
  -> спасибо :)
agree  Olga Judina
12 mins
  -> спасибо :)
agree  danya: with the maestro :-) (one thing: i would suggest using "without wiping his tears")
1 hr
  -> :0 спасибо :)
agree  Alexandra Tussing
15 hrs
  -> спасибо :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
...only howling like a dog


Explanation:
Скулят собаки. Скулить - to howl like a dog. This is the literal meaning

Alex Zelkind (X)
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  danya: howl means выть, which is different to скулить, isn't it?
1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
only giving out occasional bursts of puling


Explanation:
leaving his tears rolling down his face/without (bothering to) wiping his tears, and only giving out occasional bursts of mewling / puling (wailing is too loud probably, certainly not 'howling' - it's "выть") Prokhor quietly left the room / walked out of the room

"скулить" is out of self-pity really

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 28 mins (2004-03-12 11:59:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

can one whine quietly? i think it\'s a long, sad and rather high sound

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 32 mins (2004-03-12 12:03:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

i know sirens whine

sergey (X)
Local time: 16:12
PRO pts in category: 51
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
only whimpering (like a dog)


Explanation:
similar in meaning to whining.
howling like a dog - завывая как собака

Vladimir Chumak
Australia
Local time: 01:12
Native speaker of: Native in UkrainianUkrainian, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 63
Grading comment
Thanks, I think this is perfect. It is sufficiently 'pathetic'.
'Whining' isn't bad, but as we also use 'to whine' to mean 'to complain', then I think it might add a touch of unnecessary ambiguity.
Sergei - I found your suggestion of 'puling' unusual. Until now I didn't even now that there was such a word in the English language and in fact my dictionary gives it as archaic. Although I am trying to maintain the feeling that this book was written many years ago, I do not want to include words that are so archaic that they might cause the reader to stumble.
This is not to say that I don't appreciate your reponse and all the help that you give me in general!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexandra Tussing
14 hrs
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