Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 1, 2015:

Thanks you for the extra context. Culinary alone was a little "light".
Tony's solution is spot on. An intuitive spot-on shot.

Nina Iordache (asker) Mar 31, 2015:

Well, it's a documentary and the chef is offered two knives, but he doesn't like either, but he has make do with one so the person is asking the chef: "Il y en a un qui a la lumière?" (It's from Switzerland). Tony's answer is brilliant in many ways so I'll keep his version! No worries.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Mar 31, 2015:

@Nina Please could you provide more context? It is impossible to be sure whether there is a figurative or literal context here, although I suspect it is figurative. Questions that come to mind :
- is this a "couteau lumineux"? Yes, they do exist!
- is this describing a situation where light is being shed (literally) on the knife in order for it to be more visible?

"Culinary" is a subject are, a theme. Context, for we who do not have the original source to hand, needs to be more substantial. For example:

Please could you provide an extract from the original text in which your phrase appears? It is often helpful to provide the sentence before and the sentence after.

Last, but not least, I do not understand why you say "...he is asked anyway..." Why "anyway"? In spite of what precisely?

AllegroTrans Mar 31, 2015:

More context would help

Luna Jungblut Mar 31, 2015:

Bizarre! The French sounds weird.
Is it in a book or spoken?

I understand it like Tony M, but it is really shady..

Nina Iordache (asker) Mar 31, 2015:

It is a culinary context and I thought I have entered the specific context when asking the question. I do like your questions, though!

AllegroTrans Mar 31, 2015:

Context please What exactly do you mean by "a person is presented with two knives but neither is good"
Dinner knives at a meal? Knives for a duel to the death?
Is this a story? Reported speech?