Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
couper court
English translation:
sidestep; downplay; make little of; give short shrift to
Added to glossary by
David Vaughn
Apr 10, 2007 11:59
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
United States
coupe cours
French to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
choreography
Review of a modern dance performance in Paris.
"Une seule certitude pour ce week end de création : « Ca change ! » coupe cours à certaines conventions, notamment l'idée reçue selon laquelle exigence artistique et festivité sont de fait inconciliables."
"Une seule certitude pour ce week end de création : « Ca change ! » coupe cours à certaines conventions, notamment l'idée reçue selon laquelle exigence artistique et festivité sont de fait inconciliables."
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | sidestep(s) |
David Vaughn
|
| 3 +5 | circumvents |
Frank Foley
|
| 4 +2 | puts paid to |
Richard Benham
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| 4 +1 | Puts a stop to? |
Celine Courcy (X)
|
Proposed translations
+2
1 hr
Selected
sidestep(s)
a little dance play-on-words
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-10 13:18:56 GMT)
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OR
downplays
makes little of
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-04-10 13:18:56 GMT)
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OR
downplays
makes little of
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "even though not 100% equivalent, this works best for this text"
+1
25 mins
Puts a stop to?
I think "cours" should be spelt "court"
+2
1 hr
Richard Benham
France
France
Native in English
France
When quality counts
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
French term (edited):
coupe court
puts paid to
A slightly more idiomatic rendering.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
frenchloki (X)
: captures the style nicely
1 hr
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Thanks.
|
|
| agree |
Jacqui Audouy
: Yes, I agree with anneh
1 hr
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Thanks.
|
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| neutral |
David Vaughn
: I think most readers on the other side of the pond will find the expression unfamiliar and possibly difficult.
2 hrs
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Which pond? The Pacific?
|
+5
17 mins
circumvents
or "ignores" or "disproves" or "gives short shrift to".
It should be "coupe court", of course... ;-)
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-04-10 16:20:55 GMT)
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Agreed, but I don't think "cuts short" really works in this phrase, which is why everyone's paraphrasing.
It should be "coupe court", of course... ;-)
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-04-10 16:20:55 GMT)
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Agreed, but I don't think "cuts short" really works in this phrase, which is why everyone's paraphrasing.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
avsie (X)
: oui, "coupe court"
1 min
|
| agree |
linguafex
: yes, and I think "disproves" might be best
4 mins
|
| agree |
Sheila Wilson
: or bypasses
5 mins
|
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Er, actually, I prefer bypasses!
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| neutral |
Richard Benham
: "Circumvents" is a bit wishy-washy, but I like some of the others.
1 hr
|
| agree |
jean-jacques alexandre
: on both counts bypasses & courT
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Evi Prokopi (X)
3 hrs
|
| disagree |
Jacqui Audouy
: But CIRCUMVENT means to get around something, not to cut it short or stop it, which is what 'couper court' means, is what I meant!
3 hrs
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As does "circumvent", I do believe :->
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| agree |
emiledgar
: In this case "coupe court" means to negate, to render of no importance, so circumvent works.
12 hrs
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