dressed up with nowhere to go

English translation: Cinderella

16:15 Mar 5, 2008

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
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English term or phrase: dressed up with nowhere to go

What is the metaphor here?

Less than an hour’s drive east of the city comes peaceful relief. Bypassed decades ago by the motorway – and time itself, it seems – sleepy Steinau has neat cobblestone streets lined with exquisite half-timbered buildings. It is a bit of a Cinderella town – all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Abdelmonem Samir KudoZ activity Questions: 179 (none open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 1265
Local time: 15:57

Selected answer:Cinderella

Explanation:
You know the story of Cinderella - the girl who wanted to go to the prince's ball but was told by her step-mother that she'll have to stay at home and clean the house. In some versions of the story, she actually dresses up, thinking she will go, only to be told that she's going nowhere and for her step-sisters to tear up her lovely dress. (Of course, in the end, the fairy godmother steps in and magically produces an even more fabulous dress for Cindy to go to the ball, and we all know what happens after that).

So this small sleepy town is so beautiful, it makes you think there should be a purpose for that beauty - that it shouldn't be just a sleepy town that time forgot.

Selected response from:

Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:57

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +14

Cinderella

Nesrin

Beautiful without function

dnpg

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

3 mins confidence:

Beautiful without function

Explanation:
They have built such exquisite buildings without any specific funcions...

dnpg
Local time: 14:57
Native speaker of:

Italian

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +14

Cinderella

Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:57
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 54

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dressed up with nowhere to go

English translation: Cinderella

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