Oct 16, 2009 06:58
14 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
upside down
English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
conversation
I've hit a slight snag in a cookery programme I'm translating and need an appropriate English phrase but I can't think of one.
What's happening is that a woman is making pancakes. One of the judges is talking about this and uses a term which means literally upside down - or more accurately, something along the lines of "t*ts up" or "a**e over t*t." Now, I can't think of any other phrases in English which have a similar meaning but which aren't crude, and I can't edit out because the host refers back to it. The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is cock-up, but that's not much better. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
What's happening is that a woman is making pancakes. One of the judges is talking about this and uses a term which means literally upside down - or more accurately, something along the lines of "t*ts up" or "a**e over t*t." Now, I can't think of any other phrases in English which have a similar meaning but which aren't crude, and I can't edit out because the host refers back to it. The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is cock-up, but that's not much better. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
Responses
| 4 +4 | pear-shaped |
Sheila Wilson
|
| 4 | flip side |
Lynda Bogdan (X)
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| 3 | flop |
Dylan Edwards
|
Responses
+4
5 mins
Sheila Wilson
Spain
Spain
Native in English
&
English
Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
pear-shaped
Really difficult to imagine what is the best term, without seeing what this person produced, but this is common, up-to-date and not offensive
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Note added at 6 mins (2009-10-16 07:04:27 GMT)
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topsy-turvy is another, but it's a bit dated
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-10-16 10:21:35 GMT)
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SNAFU; screwed up; messed up
Here's a good choice:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snafu
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Note added at 6 mins (2009-10-16 07:04:27 GMT)
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topsy-turvy is another, but it's a bit dated
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-10-16 10:21:35 GMT)
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SNAFU; screwed up; messed up
Here's a good choice:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=snafu
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
26 mins
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Thanks
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| agree |
Tony M
: Yes, as in "it's all gone pear-shaped" — and rather nice for a culinary context too!
39 mins
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Thanks. I suppose a pear-shaped pancake is still edible - with your eyes closed!
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| agree |
Melzie
1 hr
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Thanks
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| agree |
foghorn
1 day 2 hrs
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Thanks
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
Dylan Edwards
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Greek to English, Czech to English, Slovak to English, and 1 more.
flop
It seems to be almost proverbial that the first pancake is a flop - or even a write-off.
A deft flip of the pancake is what one aims for. The occasional flop is inevitable.
A deft flip of the pancake is what one aims for. The occasional flop is inevitable.
2 days 14 hrs
flip side
You may have to rework the sentence structure.
Discussion
but it wouldn't be better to use a whatever "flat metaphor" of insuccess since I guess it's this the case...?
just wondering :)
and again thank you for the kind explanation
thank you
also because what Dylan Edwards guessed - about the 1st pancake flop - is absolutely true but it deals with the raising not with the shape.
thank you