This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
photographie du réel
porté à incandescence

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

arroseur de chrysanthème

English translation:

just there for show/as decoration/just a pretty face/a token figure/window dressing

Added to glossary by Jocelyne S
Jun 18, 2010 12:50
13 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

arroseur de chrysanthème

French to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
The meaning is obvious, but I'm not sure of the best way to render this in EN. I've got a few ideas, but would be happy to hear from others.

Context is a quote from a union representative in an academic paper about workplace governance.

"On entend parfois dire des choses du genre : le représentant de la direction France, c'est plutôt un **arroseur de chrysanthème** qu'autre chose. C’est peut-être un peu exagéré comme formulation, mais c'est vrai que les représentants du personnel sont amenés à se dire que ce n’est pas là que ça se passe."

Best,
Jocelyne
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 just there for show/as decoration
2 +2 just a pretty face
3 a mock-manager
3 several suggestions....
3 doesn't have his eye on the ball/is out of touch (with reality)
2 token figure

Discussion

polyglot45 Jun 18, 2010:
I think it is just an image for someone who is a waste of time and space - the sort of guy whose only role is futile
Imanol Jun 18, 2010:
It seems a bit far-fetched
Travelin Ann Jun 18, 2010:
The gardening instructions for watering chrysanthemums - avoid overwatering; water only when soil is dry.

Maybe it means he only shows up infrequently?
B D Finch Jun 18, 2010:
An odour of chrysanthemums Lucky somebody likes the smell. I wonder whether there is any connection between this expression and chrysanthemums being associated in France with All Saints Day and, by further association, with cemeteries and funerals. I simply interpreted it at first as being pointless to water chrysanthemums because they really are quite resistant to neglect, as the ones in my garden bear witness. The death connection could mean that the management side representative is metaphorically visiting the grave of union consultation to water the flowers.
Imanol Jun 18, 2010:
I've never heard that expression before, and I'm not sure that I understand what it means. The only thing that I can say for sure is that chrysanthème often is associated in our minds with the idea of death and cemetery (fleur de la Toussaint = fête des morts). Anyway, the guy writes "avec ses pieds".
Rachel Fell Jun 18, 2010:
I really like the smell of chrysanthemum flowers, though!
Stephanie Ezrol Jun 18, 2010:
From a goole search this doesn't seem to be a common French idiom. I thought of "a sprinkling of rose petals," which keeps the flower image, and is used in English. The odd thing about the expression is that chrysanthemums do not have a nice smell. Some have described it as acrid or stinking. Rose petals used to be used to cover up a bad odor, but often failed.

Proposed translations

+1
3 mins
Selected

just there for show/as decoration

To start the ball rolling, as I'm sure it will.
Peer comment(s):
agree Isabelle17
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks to all of you. It's always difficult to award points for such a subjective question. I don't think that there was any death, All Saints' Day or other subliminal meanings beyond the fact that it's quite useless to water chrysanthemums on a regular basis."
+2
20 mins

just a pretty face

or just a figurehead

Both are used in US EN formulations
Peer comment(s):
agree Claire Nolan
1 hr
Thanks, Clanola
agree Vicky James : I like "figurehead"- along the lines of Sébastien's "mock" manager
4 hrs
Thanks, Vicky
Something went wrong...
25 mins

a mock-manager

Just a suggestion. Hope this helps.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

token figure

just an idea of how it might be meant - perhaps serving a simple function, such as that of keeping the chrysanths. from drying out around the Fete des Morts, etc. (if that is done)?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2010-06-18 15:20:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fête, of course.
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

several suggestions....

a penpusher
a straw man
a stuffed shirt
a lightweight
an empty vessel
a stooge
window-dressing
a "nothing" man
the epitome of the Peter Principle (or the PP personified)
a puppet (in the sense that his strings are pulled by others in another country)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2010-06-18 16:13:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I forgot - a nobody

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2010-06-18 16:17:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and more

a cipher
a nonentity
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

doesn't have his eye on the ball/is out of touch (with reality)

I am tempted to interpret it this way as the following sentence is :

"mais c'est vrai que les représentants du personnel sont amenés à se dire que ce n’est pas là que ça se passe."
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search