the balloon could go up
French translation: la situation est explosive
| 13:40 Jan 12, 2009 |
| English to French translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Slang | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||
|  Selected response from: Euqinimod (X) Local time: 04:03 | ||||||
Grading comment
| |||||||
| Summary of answers provided | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 +1 | tout pourrait basculer |
| ||
| 4 | Le vase pouvait déborder d'un moment à l'autre |
| ||
| 3 | la situation est explosive |
|
| Summary of reference entries provided | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert & Collins |
|
| Discussion entries: 2 | |
|---|---|
Answers
20 mins confidence: 
peer agreement (net): +1
peer agreement (net): +1tout pourrait basculer Explanation: c pas exactement ca mais c pas loin non + |
| |
| Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) | ||
1 hr confidence:
Le vase pouvait déborder d'un moment à l'autre Explanation: tiré de "la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase" ou : la situation pouvait exploser à n'importe quel moment Quel est le contexte ? Crise des missiles de Cuba en 62 ? |
| |
| Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) | ||
4 hrs confidence:
la situation est explosive Explanation: On trouve de nombreux exemples d'emploi de cette expression sur internet, en référence à des situations politiques ou stratégiques. En outre, dans un contexte de guerre froide, l'expression conserve un certain caractère imagé par l'allusion au champignon atomique. |
| |
Grading comment
| ||
| Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) | ||
Reference comments
15 mins peer agreement (net): +3 |
| Reference: Robert & Collins Reference information: the balloon went up * ( figurative use ) : l'affaire a éclaté -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 20 mins (2009-01-12 14:01:35 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- When the balloon goes up is a phrase used to imply impending trouble. This relates to the use of observation balloons in the first World War. The sight of such a balloon going up nearly always resulted in a barrage of shells following soon after. The expression was re-inforced during WWII when the hoisting of barrage balloons was part of the preparations for an air raid. : Observation balloons also used during the American Civil War for spotting (correcting) artillery barrages and detecting troop movement on the battlefield. Any use of the phrase prior to WW1? balloon goes up, the The balloon, a colloquial term used of any event, e.g. "What time does the balloon go up?" the speaker meaning, "What time is the parade?" From _Soldier and Sailor Words_, 1925 what time (or when) does the balloon go up?; with the reply, the balloon goes up at (a stated time). When does it happen? Esp., when does the barrage open or the attack begin: 1915, orig. military; then, 1919 onwards, also civilian. From _A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, Second Edition_ (1985) by Eric Partridge, ed. Paul Beale The undertaking begins, as in _He's going to announce his candidacy for mayor - the balloon goes up on Monday_. This expression comes from World War I, when British artillery sent up a balloon to notify gunners to open fire, this visual signal being more reliable than courier or telephone. It was soon transferred to signal other kinds of beginning. [1915] From _The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms_ (1997) by Christine Ammer http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/12/messages/798.htm... |
| ||
Note to reference poster
| |||
