joyeusetés

English translation: liberties

04:07 Aug 31, 2000
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary
French term or phrase: joyeusetés
Un jour c’est le voisin voyeur, le lendemain c’est l’épicier à la main baladeuse -quant aux joyeusetés que se permettent ces messieurs dans le train de banlieue bondé…
Agius Language & Translation
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:07
English translation:liberties
Explanation:
Men take (unwanted) liberties with women in subways/the tube in a number of countries. They're infamous for that kind of behavior in Mexico City, where young women are supposed to be pure and virtuous, and where any response from the young lady is presumed to be a blot on **her**. One young American woman, my husband's assistant at the time, when riding on the Metro and realizing that she was being groped (the car, as always, packed), seized the offending hand and, before the guy had had time to react, lifted it up above her head and demanded loudly ¿De quién es esta mano que me está tocando?" The whole car instantly stared in her direction and the fellow, totally unaccustomed to being challenged, vanished immediately. She was not bothered by anyone for the remainder of the trip!
Selected response from:

Yolanda Broad
United States
Local time: 14:07
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
najoyeuseté
rnoel (X)
naliberties
Yolanda Broad
najollies
Louise Atfield


  

Answers


22 mins
joyeuseté


Explanation:
I think the word is a Belgicism - meaning (sexual) fun and games that some people allow themselves - like the voyeur, the grocer with a roving hand and the male passengers ont a crowded train.

My computer is down and I cannot access my bookmarks but the word is not in my Harper/Collins/Robert, It is in the Petit Robert as a literary term, meaning "something" that amuses. as used in Belgium, it has a sexual connotation.

rnoel (X)
PRO pts in pair: 31

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Heathcliff
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2 hrs
liberties


Explanation:
Men take (unwanted) liberties with women in subways/the tube in a number of countries. They're infamous for that kind of behavior in Mexico City, where young women are supposed to be pure and virtuous, and where any response from the young lady is presumed to be a blot on **her**. One young American woman, my husband's assistant at the time, when riding on the Metro and realizing that she was being groped (the car, as always, packed), seized the offending hand and, before the guy had had time to react, lifted it up above her head and demanded loudly ¿De quién es esta mano que me está tocando?" The whole car instantly stared in her direction and the fellow, totally unaccustomed to being challenged, vanished immediately. She was not bothered by anyone for the remainder of the trip!

Yolanda Broad
United States
Local time: 14:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1551

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Heathcliff

Gayle Wallimann
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7 hrs
jollies


Explanation:
As "He gets his jollies out of touching her", meaning "he gets his fun out of" etc. Jolly means joyeux, by the way. From which you have "joyeuseté".

Louise Atfield
PRO pts in pair: 300

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Heathcliff
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