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niewypał

English translation: 1. a dud 2. a damp squib

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Polish term or phrase:niewypał
English translation:1. a dud 2. a damp squib
Entered by: Caryl Swift

18:47 Jan 20, 2008
Polish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics
Polish term or phrase: niewypał
W znaczeniu niewypał z fajerwerków
czer
1. a dud 2. a damp squib
Explanation:
I know it's not the done thing to give two answers, but so much depends on the context and you haven't really given us any. A firework that doesn't go off is most definitely a dud. However, even if the firework is e.g. a rocket or a Catherine wheel, rather than a squib, the expression 'damp squib' could also be used and would not only be absolutely acceptable, but also has the advantage of a second, metaphoric meaning.
-----------------------------------------------------
dud informal
n noun
1 a thing that fails to work properly.
ORIGIN
Middle English: of unknown origin.
--------------------------------------------------------
squib
n noun
1 a small firework that hisses before exploding.
ORIGIN
C16: of unknown origin; perhaps imitative of a small explosion.
(Both from "The Concise Oxford English Dictionary)
----------------------------------------------------------
squib (skwb)
n.
1.
a. A small firecracker.
b. A broken firecracker that burns but does not explode
(From: http://tinyurl.com/2uuuf8)
--------------------------------------------------------------
[edit] Origin of the phrase "damp squib"
Being an explosive, cheaper uninsulated squibs need to be kept dry in order to ignite, so a "damp squib" is literally one that fails to ignite because it got wet. The phrase "damp squib" has since come into general use to mean anything that fails to meet expectations.[5] The word "squib" has come to take on a similar meaning even when used alone, sometimes referring to a firecracker that fails to fully explode,[6] or a bullet that fails to leave the gun barrel (similar in meaning to the word "dud").
(From: http://tinyurl.com/2vamnr)
Selected response from:

Caryl Swift
Poland
Local time: 20:45
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2unexploded firework (shell)
Darius Saczuk
2 +21. a dud 2. a damp squib
Caryl Swift
3flop
Andrew Stanleyson


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
flop


Explanation:
maybe

Andrew Stanleyson
Local time: 20:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
unexploded firework (shell)


Explanation:
Tak oto.

Darius Saczuk
United States
Local time: 14:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 129

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Grzegorz Mysiński
2 hrs
  -> Dziękuję.
agree  Polangmar
6 hrs
  -> Dziękuję.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
1. a dud 2. a damp squib


Explanation:
I know it's not the done thing to give two answers, but so much depends on the context and you haven't really given us any. A firework that doesn't go off is most definitely a dud. However, even if the firework is e.g. a rocket or a Catherine wheel, rather than a squib, the expression 'damp squib' could also be used and would not only be absolutely acceptable, but also has the advantage of a second, metaphoric meaning.
-----------------------------------------------------
dud informal
n noun
1 a thing that fails to work properly.
ORIGIN
Middle English: of unknown origin.
--------------------------------------------------------
squib
n noun
1 a small firework that hisses before exploding.
ORIGIN
C16: of unknown origin; perhaps imitative of a small explosion.
(Both from "The Concise Oxford English Dictionary)
----------------------------------------------------------
squib (skwb)
n.
1.
a. A small firecracker.
b. A broken firecracker that burns but does not explode
(From: http://tinyurl.com/2uuuf8)
--------------------------------------------------------------
[edit] Origin of the phrase "damp squib"
Being an explosive, cheaper uninsulated squibs need to be kept dry in order to ignite, so a "damp squib" is literally one that fails to ignite because it got wet. The phrase "damp squib" has since come into general use to mean anything that fails to meet expectations.[5] The word "squib" has come to take on a similar meaning even when used alone, sometimes referring to a firecracker that fails to fully explode,[6] or a bullet that fails to leave the gun barrel (similar in meaning to the word "dud").
(From: http://tinyurl.com/2vamnr)

Caryl Swift
Poland
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Polangmar
3 hrs
  -> Thank you :-)
agree  allp
3 hrs
  -> Thank you :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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