quasi crudele

English translation: They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

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Italian term or phrase:	quasi crudele
English translation:	They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.
Entered by:	Lara Barnett

12:38 Nov 29, 2017

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Character-based fiction

Italian term or phrase: quasi crudele

Waiting in a room with a crowd of other actors, the character is just about to do a screen test audition. His name was called out while he had dozed off, and he has just been woken up hearing his name. He feels a bit nervous.

"Tutti guardavano verso di me. Sorridevano. Un sorriso compiaciuto, quasi crudele."

I have put:

I was smiling; a self-assured (or smug), almost ferocious smile.

Is there a better word or would this work, I cannot see the connection with "compiaciuto" amd "crudele", and it sounds like one should lead to the other.

Lara Barnett KudoZ activity Questions: 2102 (7 open) (12 without valid answers) (216 closed without grading) Answers: 1885 United Kingdom
Local time: 21:30

They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

Explanation:
They're smug (they know he's not ready), and they are mean-spirited (because they want him to fail)

Selected response from:

Diego Troisi
Italy
Local time: 22:30

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

almost cruel

Patrick Hopkins

4 +1

They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

Diego Troisi

bordering on ferocious

Daniel Frisano

smirk

Shabelula

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

almost cruel

Explanation:
and I would use smug as it's more communicative

Patrick Hopkins
Italy
Local time: 22:30
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 82

1 hr confidence:

bordering on ferocious

Explanation:
They were "pleased" he was caught off-guard and salivating for him to be destroyed.

THEY were smiling, not him. The difference between "sorridevano" and "sorridevo" should be apparent.

Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 22:30
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 16

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

Explanation:
They're smug (they know he's not ready), and they are mean-spirited (because they want him to fail)

Diego Troisi
Italy
Local time: 22:30
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

2 hrs confidence:

smirk

Explanation:
as a term

Shabelula
Italy
Local time: 22:30
Does not meet criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 18

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quasi crudele

English translation: They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

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quasi crudele

English translation: They were smiling (at me); a smug, almost malevolent smile.

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