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Nus et Culottés
en route moussaillon

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

"avec sa bite et son couteau"

English translation:

with only the bare essentials

Added to glossary by Colin Morley (X)
Apr 3, 2015 21:55
9 yrs ago
French term

"avec sa bite et son couteau"

May offend French to English Other Cinema, Film, TV, Drama Nus et Culottés
Nus et Culottés is a documentary about two young men that like to "detach" (se dépouiller) by traveling with nothing (even clothes).

In one episode, the guys take off with nothing but a knife to "honor the French expression", which is "to leave with one's knife" ("partir avec son couteau") but the French audience infers that the full expression is "avec sa bite et son couteau" (to tone it down a bit in English: "with my willy and my knife", which means "with the means at hand" or "with nothing on our backs").

The English audience wouldn't understand what the French understood if I chose to say "to leave with my knife", so could I maybe paraphrase it as follows? "...to honor the French expression, 'with nothing but my willy and my knife'" ?? I feel the "equivalent" expressions of English wouldn't help the audience understand why they left with a knife. Also, could I use a more appropriate equivalent for the word "bite"?? I feel like it could be offensive. (I apologize if I've already offended anybody!! Sorry!)
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 with only the bare essentials
4 +1 with his member and his knife
4 with only his blade
4 nothing but my bare butt and my pocket knife
3 with nothing but a knife
Change log

Apr 4, 2015 03:28: Yolanda Broad changed "May Offend" from "Not Checked" to "Checked"

Apr 8, 2015 06:49: Colin Morley (X) Created KOG entry

Discussion

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Apr 5, 2015:
Just to point out that this is not really a documentary, more of a discreet reality programme. A documentary is based of real life events, which these are of course, but they are facbricated, not ones which just arise and are commented on and analysed. It really is closer to a reality type programme.
Francis Murphy (X) Apr 4, 2015:
The TV show A few complete episodes are on YouTube. Once seen, it is clear that some really creative work is required and that it is necessary to look at this expression in its context and find something in English to convey the idea. This seems to carry us beyond the normal scope of Kudoz.
Jane Phillips Apr 4, 2015:
The original expression is rarely used and is generally considered vulgar, coming originally from the army ithat's hardly surprising. I see no need to try to translate it as it doesn't form part of the source text. On the other hand they have a knife because it is essential (firstly to manage to produce something to cover their modesty).
Mollie Milesi Apr 4, 2015:
@ Asker I agree with Tony M above that the whole meaning of the expression is lost in English if you try to use the same elements (willy and knife). I would try and find an equivalent for 'leaving with nothing', but something like 'with just the shirt on your back' obviously doesn't work either.
Victoria Britten Apr 3, 2015:
@Asker I'm still thinking, but in the meantime and for future reference, there is the possibility to mark questions as potentially offensive when you post them.
Tony M Apr 3, 2015:
@ Asker 'bite' is after all quite a bit stronger than just 'willy' — but I think the whole sense is lost in EN, since the significance of the knife is totally different between the two cultures.

Proposed translations

+1
10 hrs
Selected

with only the bare essentials

Keeping within the spirit of what is meant by the original expression but avoiding vulagarity (and keeping the 'bare' element in keeping with the show's ethos)

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Note added at 16 hrs (2015-04-04 14:26:37 GMT)
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sorry for typo just noticed - vulgarity.
Peer comment(s):
agree B D Finch
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much! This is the most appropriate reply given the premise of the show."
+1
50 mins

with his member and his knife

See in the link a list of metaphors for penis you can choose from:

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/16tz5q/whats_the_...
Peer comment(s):
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
19 mins
Thanks, 1045!
Something went wrong...
9 hrs
French term (edited): \"avec sa bite et son couteau\"

with nothing but a knife

This is obviously not a translation of the term given but I think this is the most appropriate in the circumstances.
Or, and this is not a serious answer ;-) a couple of pricks and a knife!
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

with only his blade

An option. Blade is a euphemism (but not a common one) for penis.
Something went wrong...
1 day 17 hrs
French term (edited): \\\"avec sa bite et son couteau\\\"

nothing but my bare butt and my pocket knife

Deliberate repetation of "b" to make it a little bit catchy and "pocket" knife which is funny as they have no pocket... to start with anyway.

"bite" is a ilttle vulgar, but boils down to familiar language with younger people. I think to hit the right register, you need something catchy, funny and a little bit cheeky, but nothing more. I know the programme, I know young people like these guys and they are just cool, funny friendly well-educated guys having fun.

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Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2015-04-05 15:08:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"his" not "my"
Something went wrong...
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