Mercury - carrying a big wallet
French translation: la bourse de Mercure
| 15:58 Mar 10, 2008 |
| English to French translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Government / Politics / Geopolitics | |||||||
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|  Selected response from: Stéphanie Soudais France Local time: 04:17 | ||||||
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| Summary of answers provided | ||||
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| 3 +5 | Mercure, avec un gros portefeuille |
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| 4 | Mercury: the wingèd messenger of the gods |
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| 3 | la bourse de Mercure |
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| Discussion entries: 2 | |
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Answers
9 mins confidence: 
Mercury: the wingèd messenger of the gods Explanation: I feel sure the writer is referring to Mercury as the messenger of the gods. Europe is nothing so stable as a large planet, but a much more 'mercurial' entity, flitting around with winged boots — and carrying a large amount of money! Cf. also possibly distant allusion to the famous classical quotation along the lines of "beware of Greeks bearing gifts" Here it is, it's from Virgil: Timeo Danaos et dona ferentis. I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts. ii.49 -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 10 mins (2008-03-10 16:08:37 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- I think the idea is that Europe has the wealth and power to be quite a fickle customer |
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Notes to answerer
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13 mins confidence:
| mercury - carrying a big wallet la bourse de Mercure Explanation: Mercure est le dieu du Commerce, des Voyages et messager des autres dieux dans la Rome antique/l'empire Romain. Ses attributs traditionnels sont la bourse - le plus souvent tenue à la main... (wikipedia) |
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20 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +5
peer agreement (net): +5| mercury - carrying a big wallet Mercure, avec un gros portefeuille Explanation: Il me semble que l'anglais joue sur le connotations sexistes de Mars et Vénus (masculin/féminin), qu'accompagne l'idée que l'Europe est comme une femme versatile, &c. L'adjectif mercurial tendrait à confirmer : Mercurial Roman Mythology Of or relating to the god Mercury. Astronomy Of or relating to the planet Mercury. Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god Mercury. Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury. Quick and changeable in temperament; volatile: a mercurial nature. mercurial 1390, "pertaining to the planet Mercury" (see Mercury). Meaning "sprightly, volatile, quick" (1593) is from supposed qualities of those born under the planet Mercury, probably partially by association with quicksilver. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 22 mins (2008-03-10 16:21:09 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- Fausse manoeuvre, je n'avais pas tout à fait fini : active, changeable, eagle winged, electric, erratic, fickle, fidgety, flighty, fussy, galvanic, hasty, hurried, inconstant, lively, mobile, movable, quicksilver, restless, shifting, telegraphic, unquiet, variable, volatile, winged. Joli tableau... |
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