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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

thug

English answer:

tugs

Added to glossary by Bianca Fogarasi
Jan 22, 2008 22:36
16 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term

thug

English Art/Literary Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Hi,

I'm translating a movie (US English) that has lots of typing/orthography mistakes. I don't understand this sentence here. Maybe there's no error in it, but I simply can't figure out what he's talking about. Thanks in advance for you're explanations!

The action takes place in New York. Jordan is in the shipping business, for 3 generations now, but things are not going well for him at the moment. Dan is an old miner got rich, quite rough in his manners and way to speak. When he enters Jordan's office he complains about the tiny elevator and calls his office a dump.

JORDAN: -The reason I asked you to come over, Dan
was that I wanted to put something up to you.
DAN: -Sure, go ahead.
JORDAN: -It's about the Jordan Line.
DAN: (looking to the walls) -Say, who put up this building? Peter Stiverson? Looks like a museum than an office.
JORDAN: -Oh well that’s the last word when the old gentleman who built it. It's been like this for 75 years.
DAN: -Well I hope those **old thugs of yours don’t date through this office.** Well what have you got in your mind?
JORDAN: -Well, you know all about business.

When he says "old thugs of yours" he surely can't mean an assassin or a ruffian. Cause from my text, Jordan has always been a very serious and respectable person...

Thanks in advance for any input!
Responses
3 tugs
3 +1 mistake in transcript
4 thug, scoundrel, ruffian, villain.....
3 thug
1 tack (mispronunciation)

Discussion

Mihaela Ghiuzeli Jan 23, 2008:
Given the poor sound track quality and the confusing English, can"thugs" actually mean this http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=tuck-pointing since he is looking around the office ?
juvera Jan 22, 2008:
"Well, I hope those OLD thugs of YOURS don't date TO this office." Precisely.
I don't think there is any mistake or mistery. Look at his expression as he is saying it.
Will Matter Jan 22, 2008:
I suggest that 'Peter Stiverson' should be 'Peter Stuyvesant', instead. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Stuyvesant
Mark Nathan Jan 22, 2008:
in that case I think Nesrin's answer makes the most sense, but it comes down to the same thing - that he hopes the office is not a reflection of the state of the business.
Bianca Fogarasi (asker) Jan 22, 2008:
I've listened again... I'm pretty sure Dan says "Well, I hope those old ### of yours don’t date TO this office." and not "through". For the rest, yes, it's correct.
Mark Nathan Jan 22, 2008:
so if "thug" is an error would you say that the transcript is correct for the rest of the sentence ?
Bianca Fogarasi (asker) Jan 22, 2008:
I think Mark's interpretation of the text is correct cause I have these lines a little later. Jordan's asking for some financial back-up in case his business does not survive well the economic depression.

DAN: Well, I don’t know anything about your business Jordan. But it looks to me like it's going to seed. All I have to do is to look around this office. To tell you the truth I don’t think I have much to offer.

Sorry for sending info bit by bit but I'm "discovering" the text & the film myself. I'm working round the clock... not the ideal situation, but that's how it is in this case.
Bianca Fogarasi (asker) Jan 22, 2008:
Oh, my deadline's for tomorrow morning... :(
Ken Cox Jan 22, 2008:
If you're not in a hurry, you can by a re-release on DVD, including English, French and Spanish subtitles (see e.g. www.dvdbeaver.com/.../dinner_at_eight.htm )
Mark Nathan Jan 22, 2008:
It's a shame there is not an easy way of us hearing the soundtrack.
Bianca Fogarasi (asker) Jan 22, 2008:
Yes, it's a very bad transcript... To give you an example, in the original file I've got "No, sir. I'm not to save you." when, in the movie, it actually says "I'll not deceive you"...
Ken Cox Jan 22, 2008:
The English here is distinctly unnatural in certain places (e.g. 'put something up to you', 'that's the last word when the old gentlemen who built it', 'what have you got in your mind'). It reads more like a poor translation, so 'thugs' may be an error.
Bianca Fogarasi (asker) Jan 22, 2008:
No problem, I thought so ;))
Mónica Sauza Jan 22, 2008:
Sorry, Bianca, :( I hadn't noticed it was English to English. My mistake!!

Responses

25 mins
Selected

tugs

Since the guy's in the shipping business, Dan may be referring to his ships (making fun of them). Though we still have to figure out what the rest of the sentence means ("dating").

Tug/ tuboat: a small, powerful boat for towing or pushing ships, barges, etc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tug

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2008-01-22 23:03:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.irishships.com/images/Photo Album/Dublinport tug ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2008-01-22 23:25:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Dan's reply comes after Jordan's "It's been like this for 75 years". My guess would be that he's telling him something in the sense of: "Well I hope those old tugs (ships) of yours aren't as old as this office."
But there's no telling for sure unless we can hear it of course!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you, Nesrin, I was convinced by your answer. Many thanks to Mark as well who had about the same interpretation and to all of you for taking the trouble in helping me with this difficult text!"
+1
16 mins

mistake in transcript

I remember seeing this film! It is ancient. Something has definitely gone slightly wrong with the transcript.
Basically the visitor hopes that the museum like appearance of the office is not affecting the way its occupant does business. The occupant claims that when it was built seventy-five years ago it was the latest thing.
Sorry that I can't remember what the lines should be - but I feel sorry for you if this is an indication of the quality of the transcript.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2008-01-22 22:54:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I don't think "thugs" are involved.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2008-01-22 22:56:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You should ask them to give you the soundtrack - it would probably be easier to work with.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Mark! Now THAT does make sense...!! Yeah, it's a 1933 black & white movie - "Dinner at eight". Oh, it's horrible, it's been like this from the very beginning... :(
I do have the video, Mark. Hmm... I hear something like "tabs", phonetically speaking. If I'm correct, but I'm not 100% positive, it could be written in several ways...
Peer comment(s):
agree Ken Cox : certainly a very poor transcript -- made by someone who doesn't know English well or just doesn't care
8 mins
Something went wrong...
25 mins

thug, scoundrel, ruffian, villain.....

It is just a figure of speech, like one may say it to a good friend:
"You scoundrel, you didn't ring me for a week!"

You provided us with a very good summary of the situation, and from that I gather that Dan jokingly refers to Jordan's ancestors, who founded and run the company before him: "those thugs of yours".
It doesn't mean to be derogative, in fact, as he says: "I hope, they don't..." he expresses that he thinks better of them.
Something went wrong...
35 mins

thug

While we're all speculating, I wonder if Dan might be referring to portraits of past generations the Jordan family (founders and past bosses of the company) that might be hanging on the office walls. If that is the case then - regardless of how nice those people may have been when alive - they may all look a bit sinister (or 'thug-ish') - as is often the case in such paintings/photographs.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2008-01-22 23:16:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Bianca says she has the video - it might help to look carefully at the pictures (any scenes showing the office - not only the scene with this particular bit of the scenario) as well as listening to the dialogue. Might give some worthwhile clues.
Note from asker:
I don't know... it's rather a fugitive glance arround the office. I can see pictures (of landscapes, for eg.), but not very clearly, but they are not photos.
Peer comment(s):
neutral juvera : Well, that's where I was coming from. :-)
41 mins
Something went wrong...
51 mins

tack (mispronunciation)

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=tac...
Considering the poor quality of the text, it can't be "tack. He checks the condition of the office/building and it might work in this context as they are used to "attach/fasten".
Something went wrong...
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