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  1. KudoZ™ Top
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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Oben in Pose, unten ohne Hose

English translation: Composed but exposed

16:13 Nov 29, 2012
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Art book
German term or phrase: Oben in Pose, unten ohne Hose
This is from a picture caption. The image shows Paul Gauguin playing the harmonium with no trousers on, and can be seen here: http://pictify.com/69655/paul-gauguin-plays-harmonium-withou...

"Oben in Pose, unten ohne Hose: Paul Gauguin an Alfons Muchas Harmonium (um 1895)."

Anyone feeling inspired? It doesn't have to rhyme but something catchy would be nice and I'm lacking in flair today.

Thanks,
Rachel
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:57
English translation:Composed but exposed
Explanation:
Sort of adds an extra meaning re the piano - though not really a translation
Selected response from:

DanielBaker
Local time: 11:57
Grading comment
Thanks everyone for your brilliant ideas - all much better than anything I came up with! I like this one for being succinct, though.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6Body in pose, half exposed
FoundInTrans
3 +4Composed but exposed
DanielBaker
3 +2All mouth and no trousers!
Steve Kerry
2 +2Self-possessed, but trouserless
Alison MacG
3Visibly in his element but without a crucial garment
Michael Martin, MA
3Caught without pants - must be suffering from Poly-nesia.
Johanna Timm, PhD


Discussion entries: 10





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Body in pose, half exposed


Explanation:
That's my pitch.

FoundInTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:57
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Or top half posed, bottom half exposed.
1 hr
  -> thanks Phil
agree  Trudy Peters: Love it!
2 hrs
agree  Phoebe Indetzki
2 hrs
agree  Lonnie Legg: Well forged, smithy.
3 hrs
agree  Barbara Wiebking
5 hrs
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: or maybe "in pose, exposed"
6 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Self-possessed, but trouserless


Explanation:
One thought, though not very catchy. Would "trouserless self-possession" work?

I also wondered about something using "suited and booted", e.g. "half-suited, but not booted"

Alison MacG
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: Not catchy? It rolls off the tongue
4 hrs
agree  Edith Kelly: perfect
11 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Composed but exposed


Explanation:
Sort of adds an extra meaning re the piano - though not really a translation

DanielBaker
Local time: 11:57
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks everyone for your brilliant ideas - all much better than anything I came up with! I like this one for being succinct, though.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: not bad either
2 hrs
agree  Kalyani Gadre: I really think this is quite apt
11 hrs
agree  Armorel Young: Concise and comprehensible - this gets my vote
17 hrs
agree  FoundInTrans
4 days
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Visibly in his element but without a crucial garment


Explanation:
Or:

"Visibly in his element but lacking a crucial garment"



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 Stunden (2012-11-29 21:16:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

No but(t)s:

"Visibly in his element without a crucial garment"

"Visibly in his element without a crucial piece of garment"


Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 06:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: oh dear
5 hrs
  -> Likewise
neutral  Helen Shiner: His element was painting or Tahiti.
7 hrs
  -> Now you're telling me..
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
All mouth and no trousers!


Explanation:
My contribution...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2012-11-29 22:51:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Preferred his mate Vincent, actually.. "the quiet one"

Steve Kerry
Local time: 11:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: could work (but 1895?)
5 hrs
  -> Just a fun comment, but he was a bit of a self-publicist by all accounts - it's a lovely picture though!
agree  Clive Phillips: I like it!
17 hrs
  -> Cheers Clive!
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Caught without pants - must be suffering from Poly-nesia.


Explanation:
***

Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Local time: 03:57
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 90
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