кочевряжиться

English translation: to play the stubborn fool

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Russian term or phrase:	кочевряжиться
English translation:	to play the stubborn fool

09:58 Oct 29, 2001

Russian to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary

Russian term or phrase: кочевряжиться

be obstinate, pose, but must be an obsolete word, almost out of use.

jevgen

to play the stubborn fool

Explanation:
кочевряжиться - упрямиться, зазнаваться, ломаться.
This is what the dictionary says.
I, as a native speaker, somehow feel that the notion of affected
stubbornness or opposition to something, like feigning not to be
able to make a choice, unwillingness to admit an obvious thing
comes to the fore.
Hence, I suggest "to affect stubbornness" or for colloquial, direct
speech "to play the stubborn fool" :)))

Selected response from:

oldnick
Local time: 03:15

Grading comment

3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

To show off as a quirk

Sergey

3 +2

to be mannered, la-di-da, precious / to cut a dash, be splashy / to be stiff-necked, balky

Liv Bliss (X)

to be obstinate, [put (ones) airs?], behave in an affected manner; show off, etc.

ttagir

to be pig-headed, or stupidly obstinate

H.A. (X)

put on airs

1964

5 -1

to be untoward

Nina_M

to jib

Vladimir Dubisskiy

to play the stubborn fool

oldnick

to make oneself out to be a big bug

FridaBokh

Pertinacious, mulish

Sabina Norderhaug (X)

to be fussy

Tatyana M.

Answers

13 mins confidence:

put on airs

Explanation:
1) (упрямиться)
be obstinate
2) (кривляться, важничая)
pose, put on airs

1964
Türkiye
Local time: 03:15
Native speaker of:

Turkish
PRO pts in pair: 3

Grading comment

это точно не то

The asker has declined this answer
Comment: это точно не то

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

To show off as a quirk

Explanation:
Это лишь один из возможных вариантов. Не архаизм. Я думаю впрочем, что кучевряжиться тоже не архаизм, а местное выражение.

Sergey
United States
Local time: 17:15
PRO pts in pair: 61

22 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

to be untoward

Explanation:
Archaic for "to be obstinate"

Nina_M
United States
Local time: 20:15

26 mins confidence:

to jib

Explanation:
упираться (от упрямства)

�� :-)))

Vladimir Dubisskiy
United States
Local time: 19:15
Native speaker of:

Russian,

Ukrainian
PRO pts in pair: 1408

Grading comment

отличная мысль, но не в контекст

The asker has declined this answer
Comment: отличная мысль, но не в контекст

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

to be mannered, la-di-da, precious / to cut a dash, be splashy / to be stiff-necked, balky

Explanation:
There are so many possible translations, depending upon context - just look at the synonums that Dal' gives:
ломаться, чиниться, упрямиться, не соглашаться, чваниться, зазнаваться

The R-E dictionaries appear to offer us more limited choices: Daum and Schenk gives "to stand on ceremony" and "to be affected, mincing"; the Oxford Russian-English has "to be obstinate" and "to pose, put on airs."

But if I understand your query correctly, you are looking for a *translation* that is old-fashioned. I offer some such above. But your final choice would have to depend on 1) which of the layers of meaning the Russian is designed to convey; 2) what the register is (formal, informal?); and 3) the historical period you're aiming at.

Good luck!

Liv Bliss (X)
Local time: 17:15
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 8

14 hrs confidence:

to play the stubborn fool

oldnick
Local time: 03:15
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in pair: 22

18 hrs confidence:

to be obstinate, [put (ones) airs?], behave in an affected manner; show off, etc.

Explanation:
Indeed, your problem is rather difficult. Please note that Russian кочевряжиться is related to persons of not too high culture. Saying он кочевряжится, one means that somebody is too obstinate or/and too fastidious. For instance, I propose to a girl "Let's make a walk". Instead of her very great enjoyment I hear "Why do you think a honest girl will accpet your durty proposal?" Namely in that case, given that I am a rather vulgar person, I must start to think "She кочевряжится...".
Note also that even in Russian this verb is not used in a single sense.
For instance:
Мирослав Немиров. Немировский ...
... от Гельмана и т.д., поэтому я начал всячески кочевряжиться, что не хочу и не желаю. А они ...
www.guelman.ru/slava/nemirov/poezia.htm

Начало Любовь Семья Судьба ...
... с волосами, подчеркнет голубизну глаз, да
и... бесплатно же. Чего кочевряжиться? ...
otumanova.narod.ru/git_uroki.htm

УРДУ И ИДИШ ДО КИЕВА ДОВЕДУТ
... И строго их предупредить: будут кочевряжиться
? на лесоповал. Кроме того, господин ...
2001.novayagazeta.ru/nomer/2001/70n/n70n-s05.shtml

Быки и Коровы - Анекдоты Online
... внутренний голос опять за свое: "Брось, говорят,
кочевряжиться! Вытащишь ты 13-й билет, и ...
bk.list.ru/student.29.html

Н. Нароков, "Мнимые величины" / роман ...
... и что она, чего доброго, «начнет кочевряжиться»,
стесняться и отказываться, а поэтому ...
www.geocities.com/plt_2000plt_us/nrkv/nrk-5.html

Н.Ж.М.Д.: ППППП: Классовый конфликт
... круиза? Колымага калечит кости! - Кончай кочевряжиться,
- кряхтит князь. - Как клавикорды ...
www.tema.ru:8083/rrr/bukva/kk.html

MOLEDET FOREVER
... дело и что от него требуется и стал кочевряжиться и выпендриваться. «Чтобы мне стать ...
www.rodina.org.il/text/text235.html

I am sure that the usage of this word is related more to slangish talks between rather closely known persons.

Pity, by other translations given by colleagues cannot every time give the exact idea of Russian original word in English. The reason is: France os the motherland of cognac, Russians love vodka, both drinks are something strong. Nevertheless, Russian call cognac коньяк, while French people call водка as vodka:-)
Can this example show that some verbs are very badly translatable? :-) Note also that this word presumes that the person either pronouncing or "thinking" this word has a negative relation/reaction to the matter.

As you might know, Dostoyevskii had a very interesting manner of writing, which was called by some researchers as writer's polyhpony. So, whatever experienced translator would be, he/she will never translate correctly his words "облизьяна зеленая" since this phrase contains more than simple set of two words, where the first has an obvious mistake which, however, is meaningful. ;-)))

Yours,
Tagir.

ttagir
Local time: 03:15
Native speaker of:

Russian,

Tatar
PRO pts in pair: 492

Grading comment

с большим удовольствием прочитал. Но это не ответ.

The asker has declined this answer
Comment: с большим удовольствием прочитал. Но это не ответ.

1 day 4 hrs confidence:

to make oneself out to be a big bug

Explanation:
Если "кочевряжиться" в значении "изображать из себя бог знает что"

FridaBokh
Local time: 03:15
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in pair: 20

1 day 11 hrs confidence:

Pertinacious, mulish

Explanation:
I think you can actually say that "obstinate" is a quite an obsolete ;) (not too many people use it).

PERTINACIOUS, MULISH are the synonyms of "obstinate" and also mean fixed and unyielding in course or purpose.
PERTINACIOUS suggests an annoying or irksome persistence <a pertinacious salesclerk refusing to take no for an answer>.
MULISH implies a thoroughly unreasonable obstinacy <a mulish determination to have his own way>.

Reference: http://www.m-w.com

Sabina Norderhaug (X)
PRO pts in pair: 20

2 days 7 hrs confidence:

to be fussy

Explanation:
This is not exactly the right meaning,just another one, but jevgen, apparently, is still thinking or gave up. Are you that fussy, mate (NZ native)?

Tatyana M.
Local time: 12:15
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in pair: 15

3 days 15 hrs confidence:

to be pig-headed, or stupidly obstinate

Explanation:
"kochevryzhitsya" is not just "to be obstinate"; it bears also a negative connotation of being unreasonably,or naughtily, or wilfully unyielding.

H.A. (X)
PRO pts in pair: 56

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English translation: to play the stubborn fool

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