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  3. Slang

casse-toi, pauvre con...

English translation: shove off/get lost, you pathetic bastard

15:03 Mar 4, 2008
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Slang
French term or phrase: casse-toi, pauvre con...
I am curious to know how ProZians would translate this phrase.

(It's not as easy as it seems.)
Andreas THEODOROU
Spain
Local time: 07:56
English translation:shove off/get lost, you pathetic bastard
Explanation:
A myriad of possibilities, but I think the "I'm superior to you" aspect of it is very important (at least in the "Farm Show" context in which it was recently used ;-), which is why I opted for pathetic bastard instead of poor bastard (poor bastard can often show sympathy, as in - Nick's wife just left him for a younger man, the poor bastard!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-04 17:01:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Re Farm Show - it was headline news all over the world. I actually first read about it in the Canadian press, and it has become one of the most popular videos viewed on youtube.
Selected response from:

French Foodie
Local time: 07:56
Grading comment
Thanks Mara and everyone else
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +8shove off/get lost, you pathetic bastard
French Foodie
5 +2piss off, you twat
Anne de Freyman (X)
4 +2Beat it, you moron!
Attorney DC Bar
3 +2Get lost/piss off, you idiot
Alana Quintyne
5[expletive deleted]
rkillings
3 +1get lost, dickhead!
Irene McClure
3get lost, you creep
cjohnstone
3piss off, f wit
Melzie
4 -1Get lost you sick cunt
B I Translation


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Get lost/piss off, you idiot


Explanation:
Not easy at all. There are many other variations, some not as nice as the above. Depends on the target audience I guess...

Alana Quintyne
Local time: 01:56
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gustavo Silva
3 mins
agree  writeaway: the only real difficulty is not having a clue about the actual context/@Sandra-and for those of us who missed the great event? /politicians saying something stupid or inappropriate isn't really 'news' up here. ;-)
12 mins
neutral  Sandra Petch: To writeaway... I think we can safely presume that the context is President Sarkozy at the Salon de l'Agriculture ;-) / Perhaps it got less coverage in Belgium? Headline news in France!
13 mins
neutral  David Goward: Actually, that's almost how the BBC's web site reported it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7261834.stm. They do state however that this translation is "mild"!
21 mins
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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Beat it, you moron!


Explanation:
for New World morons.

Attorney DC Bar
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Melissa McMahon: Now I've watched the clip, this seems about right for tone and context/It's on youtube - just enter the phrase into a search engine + sarkozy and you should have no trouble!
9 hrs
  -> thanks. Did you find the clip on the web and if so, do you remember where?
agree  Joshua Wolfe: "con" is about equal to "moron"
1 day 11 hrs
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
get lost, dickhead!


Explanation:
Just another possible insult to choose from

Irene McClure
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Melissa McMahon: a vote for the Australian English overtone here - noice!
9 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
piss off, you twat


Explanation:
literally...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-04 17:00:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The spirit in which N Sarkozy used the expression had nothing "mild" about it and if he had wanted to call the guy an idiot, he would have done just that. The use of "pauvre" with "con" makes the word much stronger than simply idiot. Do not underestimate the French president's absence of restraint!

Anne de Freyman (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:56
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charlie Bavington: I always believe "twat" to be a much overlooked option for "con", whereas in register and biologically, it's spot on (IMHO!). I prefer "shove off" for "se casser" since I think it's really fairly mild.
5 mins
  -> It all depends on where you live. Very common and rather mild in a northern chavopolis.
neutral  writeaway: 100% means you think this is the best and only way to say it. a bit OTT, non?
28 mins
  -> Chill! Not the best and only but 100% acceptable amongst many other equally valid options. As per previous comment, slang depends on geographical location. Plus check 'twat' in your R&C. "casse-toi pauvre con" is OTT in the mouth of the French president!
agree  sueaberwoman: The 100% is pushing it a bit but as far as finding an expression that a similar age group would normally use , I prefer your version.
44 mins
neutral  Tony M: Although I shar CB's general enthusiasm for twat, I feel it is a bit strong for the present context: I feel sure it was mean more in the sense of 'clot', 'idiot', 'twit' etc.
48 mins
disagree  Joshua Wolfe: 'tho they mean the same thing, twat in English is much less acceptable than "con" is in French. I would never use "twat"in mixed company - but "con" is in a movie title.
1 day 11 hrs
  -> come and stay in North-East England for a while, and you'll see things have changed a lot! :-)
agree  French Foodie: Agree very much with your added note!
1 day 20 hrs
neutral  NancyLynn: must be a regional thing - I'm with Canadian Joshua's comments, both here and the answer provided below. I agree with you, it wasn't meant to be a delicate remark, but in NA twat and cunt are just too much.
5 days
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
shove off/get lost, you pathetic bastard


Explanation:
A myriad of possibilities, but I think the "I'm superior to you" aspect of it is very important (at least in the "Farm Show" context in which it was recently used ;-), which is why I opted for pathetic bastard instead of poor bastard (poor bastard can often show sympathy, as in - Nick's wife just left him for a younger man, the poor bastard!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-04 17:01:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Re Farm Show - it was headline news all over the world. I actually first read about it in the Canadian press, and it has become one of the most popular videos viewed on youtube.

French Foodie
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Thanks Mara and everyone else

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Goward: In reply to "Keep your hands off...", I think "Shove off" is nearer the mark than "Get lost". Agree with "pathetic" v. "poor".
4 mins
  -> thanks David
agree  Carmy Tutino
10 mins
  -> thanks Carmy
agree  writeaway: yes lots of possibilities. the only real difficulty is not having a clue about the actual context /yes now we all know http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axDyUNWyuw8 wouldn't the world be a safer place if this was the biggest gaffe Bush ever made.....
27 mins
  -> thanks writeaway, pretty sure about the context though!
agree  Rachel Fell: not how the BBC radio news translated it though ;-) (started to post this an hour ago, got interrupted!)
49 mins
  -> ah, but the BBC is not always spot on... (neither am I, for that matter ;-)
agree  Charlie Bavington: Agree entirely with shove off. I always think "twat" is a oft-overlooked translation for "con", so I much prefer it. Pathetic is great here. I suspect that "pathetic LITTLE twat" is probably how it would trip off the tongue - mine, anyway :-)
1 hr
  -> agree wholeheartly!
agree  Emma Paulay
2 hrs
  -> thanks Emma
agree  Jean-Claude Gouin: Such language from a U. of O graduate! LOL I, also, received a Maste's degree from U. of O ... but in 1972!
3 hrs
  -> The year I was born! ;-)
agree  NancyLynn: U of O? The same one I graduated from?? Late to the party, but this is the register I caught too
5 days
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
get lost, you creep


Explanation:
why not!!!

cjohnstone
France
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Attorney DC Bar: More something a woman would say to a guy who won't leave her alone...
11 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
piss off, f wit


Explanation:
not underestimating the power of 'twat'

to quote Anne "Do not underestimate the French president's absence of restraint!"

he was being incredably insulting, this is what I feel his tone of voice, attitude and mannar in regards to one of his 'administés' meant even though it could be seen as 'less' insulting...

Melzie
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Get lost you sick cunt


Explanation:
the female sex is referred to as " con" in french and the english insult referirng to the same and in the same context as "con" here is "cunt " I'll say it should be translated thus.

Example sentence(s):
  • You're a real cunt hole
  • T'es un vrai con
B I Translation
Local time: 07:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Charlie Bavington: Cunt is practically the last "taboo" word in English, and is far stronger than "con". Around the time of the French film "diner aux cons", for which posters were everywhere, people were getting prosecuted for a Cradle of Filth T-shirt with "cunt" on it.
42 mins
neutral  Melissa McMahon: Agree with Charlie: 'cunt' is so much stronger a 'swear' in English than 'con' that you could almost call them faux amis
2 hrs
neutral  French Foodie: agree with Charlie and Melissa
10 hrs
neutral  Sandra Petch: Le Dîner de Cons, one of my fave French films!
10 hrs
disagree  Joshua Wolfe: IMHO, I find cunt and twat are both extremely offensive.
1 day 4 hrs
neutral  Anne de Freyman (X): Indeed... very little relationship to the spirit of the French word
1 day 10 hrs
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
[expletive deleted]


Explanation:
Eminently presidential, time-honoured formula of the Watergate transcripts. Rated G for general audience. Approved for family newspapers.

rkillings
United States
Local time: 22:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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