Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

ne combinò di tutti i colori

English translation:

(virtually) tied himself in knots

Added to glossary by David Turnbull
May 12, 2010 10:14
14 yrs ago
Italian term

ne combinò di tutti i colori

Italian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
From a sticker album about the Disney Princesses.

We're talking about Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty, who has met a little dragon in the woods and taken him home:

Can't think of a good way to render the starred part.

Any ideas appreciated!

Nella corte le fatine stavano appendendo i festoni per il Re Stefan e la Regina che sarebbero arrivati quella sera per un ballo a corte. Poverine, non fecero in tempo a commentare l’arrivo del draghetto che lui ***ne combinò di tutti i colori*** nel tentativo di imitare un micio, un cane, un uccellino e persino un pesce! Ogni volta che soffiava rischiava di incendiare ogni cosa! Capii che aveva paura di non essere accettato solo perché era un drago e per questo cercava di assomigliare a qualcun altro.

Discussion

David Turnbull (asker) May 12, 2010:
Thanks! Thanks to all who contributed, I went with Oliver's.

Proposed translations

+1
6 mins
Selected

(virtually) tied himself in knots

hth :)
Note from asker:
Thanks - this fits the bill
Peer comment(s):

agree manducci : While most of the other suggestions are correct as a translation of the idiom, this one fits the context perfectly.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
8 mins

was creating all kinds of havoc

There are various ways you could put this - this is one.

Hope it helps! :o)
Peer comment(s):

agree James (Jim) Davis
1 hr
Thanks Jim :-)
Something went wrong...
+1
14 mins

he got into all kinds of mischief / he got up to all sorts of mischief)

Mischief - Associated Content - Topic - associatedcontent.com
<B>New kittens can get into all kinds of mischief and danger</B> when their owner's backs are turned. Cat owners need to keep a close eye on their new kitten to ...
www.associatedcontent.com/topic/47741/mischief.html
Peer comment(s):

agree James (Jim) Davis
1 hr
Thanks James
neutral Fiona Grace Peterson : Again I don't feel this really reflects the nuance of the source text.
1 hr
Well, just a suggestion.
neutral manducci : Agree with Fiona
2 hrs
Well, just a suggestion.
Something went wrong...
+2
26 mins

he got up to all sorts of tricks (or mischief)

Questo e' quello che ho pensato appena ho visto la domanda e l'ho riscontrato sul Collins sotto la voce 'colore': farne di tutti i colori...
Peer comment(s):

agree Mailand : I favour this, sounds "disneyish" ...
16 mins
Thanks!
agree BrigitteHilgner : I wouldn't use "mischief" - make it sound positive.
25 mins
very good point! was not my first choice either.thanks!
neutral Fiona Grace Peterson : This is practically the same answer proposed by Cristina. Also I am not quite sure this reflects the nuance of the source text.
50 mins
Thank you for your comment - it was the word 'tricks' I personally liked.
neutral manducci : Again, agree with Fiona's comment here.
2 hrs
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39 mins

was outdoing himself

...
Peer comment(s):

neutral manducci : As a translation of the idiom in this particular context, I agree. but don't think we would use this in the past continuous form. Better: he outdid himself...
2 hrs
'nel tentativo di imitare' he was outdoing himself in his attempts to imitate - I saw it as an action in progress but, reading it more carefully, I agree it would be simple past.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

got into a real pickle

got into a real pickle
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3 hrs

He fell over himself trying to ..

He fell over himself trying to .../ in his attempts to...
Something went wrong...
+1
3 hrs

pulled out all the stops

...in his attempt to...
Peer comment(s):

agree manducci
5 mins
Something went wrong...
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