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I ledy v restauraci pomalu polevují.

English translation: even the (initial) frostiness/coldness (he experienced/felt) in restaurants is thawing

19:52 Feb 1, 2014
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / článek v týdeníku
Czech term or phrase: I ledy v restauraci pomalu polevují.
Jedná se o článek ("téma") o francouzském manažerovi (firmy obchodující se sportovním vybavením) v jednom týdeníku.

Popisuje, jak se dostal do České republiky.

... najednou jsem se ocitl na místě, kde jsem nerozuměl jedinému slovu. Ani se mi nepodařilo správně poděkovat taxikáři," vzpomíná. Po roce a půl si už s taxikáři povídá rád. To, že se po hlavě pustil do objevování záludností češtiny, mu pomohlo v každodenních situacích. I ledy v restauracích pomalu polevují. "Dnes to vidím jinak, ale na začátku mi přišlo, že Češi nechtějí rozumět a pomoct," tvrdí.

Možná že by se pro tuto větu nějak hodila fráze "to break the ice".

Děkuji za návrhy.
David Vašek
Czech Republic
Local time: 11:48
English translation:even the (initial) frostiness/coldness (he experienced/felt) in restaurants is thawing
Explanation:
Selected response from:

Stuart Hoskins
Local time: 11:48
Grading comment
Velice děkuji. :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2even the (initial) frostiness/coldness (he experienced/felt) in restaurants is thawing
Stuart Hoskins
4Even restaurant service is getting a little less chilly.
septima
3Even the frostiest restaurants are turning cool.
Václav Pinkava
3The (previously) frigid restaurants are now becoming more hospitable
Hannah Geiger (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
even the (initial) frostiness/coldness (he experienced/felt) in restaurants is thawing


Explanation:


Stuart Hoskins
Local time: 11:48
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Velice děkuji. :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Martin König: ...or melting
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Martin.
agree  Dušan Ján Hlísta
12 hrs
  -> Thanks, Duso.
neutral  septima: Accurate English, but pretty clunky writing.
2 days 16 mins
  -> Thanks for the input, septima.
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Even the frostiest restaurants are turning cool.


Explanation:
why not ... :)

Václav Pinkava
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  septima: But why? This sacrifices the sense to the pun.
1 day 21 hrs
  -> Actually "polevují ledy" refers to the spring thaw and major changes happening, so the sense he is using it in may not be as intended, anyhow. :)
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The (previously) frigid restaurants are now becoming more hospitable


Explanation:
in English there are the "warmest regards" "warm person", "warm atmosphere", and I would like to introduce the human aspect here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-02-01 23:17:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

i.e. more hospitable places to be, etc.

The (previously) frigid restaurants are now (slowly) becoming more hospitable places to be

Hannah Geiger (X)
United States
Local time: 05:48
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Václav Pinkava: Good use of frigid. Well-avoided backtranslation risk of warming. :)
9 hrs
  -> Thank you, Václav
disagree  septima: No real native speaker would write this, because the most obvious connotation of "frigid" makes it ludicrous. The "The" at the beginning looks odd too.
1 day 21 hrs
  -> fridgid as in 'extremely formal and unfriendly' is a common meaning in both the UK and US Engl. This being a journalistic piece, David is not to quote it directly, but it gives him a good idea, IMO. Thank you for your observations
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2 days 49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Even restaurant service is getting a little less chilly.


Explanation:
It's a simple sentence in a newspaper article. Let’s not overthink it.

septima
Local time: 11:48

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Stuart Hoskins: My first impression was that he was referring to the overall restaurant experience, not just the service (after all, he's from France, where waiters have a certain reputation). How about swapping "service" for "experience"? Do you think that would work?
13 mins
  -> Restaurant experience = Food + Service + Atmosphere. He learns Czech, he gets friendlier service. Voilà. It can't have improved the food ;-)
neutral  Václav Pinkava: "restaurant service" is a very specific interpretation. (Thawing ice is probably not referring to the drinks :D , but it might well mean a more inviting ambience, or better food, or more smiling and friendly fellow diners, service, or all of the above.)
19 mins
  -> Ditto
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