This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

arroseur de chrysanthème

English translation: just there for show/as decoration/just a pretty face/a token figure/window dressing

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:arroseur de chrysanthème
English translation:just there for show/as decoration/just a pretty face/a token figure/window dressing
Entered by: Jocelyne S

12:50 Jun 18, 2010
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
French term or phrase: arroseur de chrysanthème
The meaning is obvious, but I'm not sure of the best way to render this in EN. I've got a few ideas, but would be happy to hear from others.

Context is a quote from a union representative in an academic paper about workplace governance.

"On entend parfois dire des choses du genre : le représentant de la direction France, c'est plutôt un **arroseur de chrysanthème** qu'autre chose. C’est peut-être un peu exagéré comme formulation, mais c'est vrai que les représentants du personnel sont amenés à se dire que ce n’est pas là que ça se passe."

Best,
Jocelyne
Jocelyne S
France
Local time: 11:50
just there for show/as decoration
Explanation:
To start the ball rolling, as I'm sure it will.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 11:50
Grading comment
Many thanks to all of you. It's always difficult to award points for such a subjective question. I don't think that there was any death, All Saints' Day or other subliminal meanings beyond the fact that it's quite useless to water chrysanthemums on a regular basis.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1just there for show/as decoration
B D Finch
2 +2just a pretty face
Travelin Ann
3doesn't have his eye on the ball/is out of touch (with reality)
Verginia Ophof
3several suggestions....
polyglot45
3a mock-manager
Sébastien GUITTENY
2token figure
Rachel Fell


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
just there for show/as decoration


Explanation:
To start the ball rolling, as I'm sure it will.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 11:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Many thanks to all of you. It's always difficult to award points for such a subjective question. I don't think that there was any death, All Saints' Day or other subliminal meanings beyond the fact that it's quite useless to water chrysanthemums on a regular basis.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Isabelle17
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
just a pretty face


Explanation:
or just a figurehead

Both are used in US EN formulations

Travelin Ann
Local time: 05:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claire N.
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Clanola
agree  Vicky James: I like "figurehead"- along the lines of Sébastien's "mock" manager
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Vicky
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a mock-manager


Explanation:
Just a suggestion. Hope this helps.

Sébastien GUITTENY
France
Local time: 11:50
Native speaker of: French
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
token figure


Explanation:
just an idea of how it might be meant - perhaps serving a simple function, such as that of keeping the chrysanths. from drying out around the Fete des Morts, etc. (if that is done)?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2010-06-18 15:20:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fête, of course.

Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
several suggestions....


Explanation:
a penpusher
a straw man
a stuffed shirt
a lightweight
an empty vessel
a stooge
window-dressing
a "nothing" man
the epitome of the Peter Principle (or the PP personified)
a puppet (in the sense that his strings are pulled by others in another country)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2010-06-18 16:13:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I forgot - a nobody

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2010-06-18 16:17:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and more

a cipher
a nonentity

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 42
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
doesn't have his eye on the ball/is out of touch (with reality)


Explanation:
I am tempted to interpret it this way as the following sentence is :

"mais c'est vrai que les représentants du personnel sont amenés à se dire que ce n’est pas là que ça se passe."

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 04:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations

Your current localization setting

English

Select a language

More languages...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search