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This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other
French to English translations [PRO] Marketing - Advertising / Public Relations
French term or phrase:petit mais costaud
Hello! This is referring to a pocket-sized guide for a large trade fair. It is small and well-made (it won't fall apart for the week you use it) but I wonder if "costaud" doesn't have a double meaning here. Like powerful / useful. Any ideas for a catchy title? Thanks for your input.
Yes, it means "dense" in the sense of containing lots of information (that's the clear implication). Compact guides are full of info, even if they're small. That said, what I say is said in my most humble opinion.
Hi Matthew, I cant find any definition for costaud that means compact. I have always thought of something "compact" as something that has everything needed but in a smaller (more compact) size, like a compact car. The guide is certainly compact (pocket sized), but to me small and compact are almost synonymous. But words can have so many meanings, you might be quite correct! Other meanings include 1. Closely and firmly united or packed together; dense: 2. Occupying little space compared with others of its type: a compact camera. 3. Brief and to the point; concise: a compact narration. 4. Marked by or having a short solid physique: a wrestler of compact build.
I'm interested in know what you think "compact" means? To me, it means that something is filled with information. I have no clue how you see that otherwise. Something can be very small, like a tourise guide, and not be compact.
Had a talk with the client this morning in view of all these different suggestions and he means to say "very small but very useful". I have enjoyed all the response from this. It obviously is one of those expressions that has no single meaning - you can read dozens of things into it. Thanks again all - especially for that cute video.
This could change things... However, as Imanol says, costaud can describe many things, so referencing the advert for a translation into English, may or may not be valid, as a guide book and a sweet are very different.
is good too but doesn't get the idea that IN SPITE of it's small handy size, it is packed with information (products, photos, floor plans, opening hours etc, etc) Thanks for your input!
I appear to be in the minority here, but I wonder whether we would say "small but sturdy" or "small but packs a punch" in this context - they both sound odd. Wouldn't we say something like "handy little guide"?
Very punny, I love it! But I think "Small but packs a punch" is closer to what they are trying to say (it is jam packed with useful information). Thanks for your help!
Costaud can mean many things : sturdy, tough, resistant, difficult (un examen costaud), harsh (un adversaire costaud), anassailable (très solide, à toute épreuve), very nourrishing (un plat costaud), etc. This makes me think of another advertisement (un classique du genre) : "Mini Mir, mini prix, mais il fait le maximum"
Marian Vieyra United Kingdom Local time: 17:26 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Pocket-sized but packed with information.
This is the version we have ended up with. I would like to thank everyone again for their input! Have a great day!