«Фоксовый» следователь.

English translation: Argus-eyed/hawk-eyed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:«Фоксовый» следователь.
English translation:Argus-eyed/hawk-eyed
Entered by: Katya Kesten

23:24 Apr 22, 2020
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / From a literary synopsis
Russian term or phrase: «Фоксовый» следователь.
A description of a private investigator. He is elsewhere a haggard, worn out old man, not attractive in any way. Perhaps a mistaken borrowing of foxy, which often means sexy, to mean clever, like a fox?
Ethan Bien
United States
Local time: 13:52
Argus-eyed
Explanation:
"Paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity."

Other options: hawk-eyed, sharp-eyed, tenty,
Seasoned, hardened, battle-scarred could also work depending on the context.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2020-04-23 08:16:03 GMT)
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Pop culture reference to "Argus-eyed":
J.K. Rowling’s Argus Filch, the ever-vigilant caretaker of Hogwarts, who also happens to be a highly unpleasant man.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2020-04-23 08:30:51 GMT)
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As for "tenty," depends on the context and how eccentric/literary/original the author is trying to be. My assumption was that this was either for a screenplay or a lit. description. It's a Scottish word: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenty, but borrowed words enter this line of work all the time (ex. Clockwork Orange). If I'm wrong in my assumption, there are plenty of alternatives used in day-to-day speech.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2020-04-23 08:42:35 GMT)
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The way foxy is currently used in Russian (see my ref. comments) differs from how it was used in 70's English unless the reference was to "clever like a fox," which would speak to the protagonist's cunning, intelligence, and skill.

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Note added at 10 hrs (2020-04-23 09:41:47 GMT)
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Just so there's no confusion, the term "Argus-eyed" originally came about in reference to Argos (the hundred-eyed watchman) of Greek mythology. I assume J.K. Rowling came up with the first name of the HP character with this in mind.
Selected response from:

Katya Kesten
Local time: 12:52
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Argus-eyed
Katya Kesten
2 -1Private Investigator from Fox Investigations
Turdimurod Rakhmanov
Summary of reference entries provided
На Фоксе
Katya Kesten

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Private Investigator from Fox Investigations


Explanation:
Private Investigator from Fox Investigations

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Note added at 32 mins (2020-04-22 23:57:06 GMT)
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Or
Fox Private Investigator

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Note added at 2 hrs (2020-04-23 01:51:59 GMT)
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https://www.vervemagazine.co.nz/anna-jeffs-private-investiga...

Turdimurod Rakhmanov
Kyrgyzstan
Local time: 23:52
Native speaker of: Native in UzbekUzbek, Native in KirghizKirghiz
PRO pts in category: 31

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  The Misha: Why not CNN? Or CNBC? Or CBS even? You know, they all run private eye gigs on the side:))))))
8 hrs
  -> Thanx, Misha, please, see the discussion topic above. I mentioned only if it is the English (British) text as Fox is popular in Britain. I wanted to suggest the different version than Asker's. Conf. level is 2.
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52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Argus-eyed


Explanation:
"Paying close attention usually for the purpose of anticipating approaching danger or opportunity."

Other options: hawk-eyed, sharp-eyed, tenty,
Seasoned, hardened, battle-scarred could also work depending on the context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2020-04-23 08:16:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Pop culture reference to "Argus-eyed":
J.K. Rowling’s Argus Filch, the ever-vigilant caretaker of Hogwarts, who also happens to be a highly unpleasant man.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2020-04-23 08:30:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As for "tenty," depends on the context and how eccentric/literary/original the author is trying to be. My assumption was that this was either for a screenplay or a lit. description. It's a Scottish word: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenty, but borrowed words enter this line of work all the time (ex. Clockwork Orange). If I'm wrong in my assumption, there are plenty of alternatives used in day-to-day speech.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2020-04-23 08:42:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The way foxy is currently used in Russian (see my ref. comments) differs from how it was used in 70's English unless the reference was to "clever like a fox," which would speak to the protagonist's cunning, intelligence, and skill.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2020-04-23 09:41:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just so there's no confusion, the term "Argus-eyed" originally came about in reference to Argos (the hundred-eyed watchman) of Greek mythology. I assume J.K. Rowling came up with the first name of the HP character with this in mind.


    https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Argus-eyed
Katya Kesten
Local time: 12:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35
Grading comment
Thank you!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Argus-eyed isn't lost on me (I read my greek myths) but might not be the right translation for the context. Something like hawk-eyed or something attesting to his cunning and skill... that's where I'm headed. Thank yoU!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  mrrafe: Argus probably much too arcane for most EN speakers. Tenty isn't a word. Your alternatives are better, or wily, cagey. Asker is correct that foxy used to have that meaning but no longer.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, mrrafe. Wily/cagey are also definitively used for describing those sorts of characters.

agree  The Misha: That Potty Harry reference was totally lost on me too, and I am not, in all fairness, all that old. I'd go with hawk-eyed, or shrewed, or sth. From MSNBC Investigations:))))))
8 hrs
  -> Thanks, Misha! There's definitely a ton of options!:))
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Reference comments


40 mins
Reference: На Фоксе

Reference information:
быть начеку, настороже, контролировать обстановку вокруг себя, быть бдительным, держать руку на пульсе, всегда быть готовым стартануть, стоять на шухере.


    https://xn----8sbfgf1bdjhf5a1j.xn--p1ai/850-na-fokstrote-na-fokse-chto-znachit.html
Katya Kesten
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35
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