Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
caghetto
English translation:
scared shitless
Added to glossary by
Daniel Gold
Jan 4, 2010 16:16
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
caghetto
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Slang
autobiography
I can gather what this term means, but can't come up with a translation that's not vulgar in English, yet is strong enough to convey the meaning.
Here's the sentence:
i primi mesi di scuola elementare ho avuto il caghetto… il caghetto per l’ansia da prestazione.. per l’emozione nell’affrontare la nuova avventura e la paura di non essere all’altezza.
I don't think "s****ing one's pants" is equivalent in terms of social acceptability. Does anyone have a suggestion?
thanks
Here's the sentence:
i primi mesi di scuola elementare ho avuto il caghetto… il caghetto per l’ansia da prestazione.. per l’emozione nell’affrontare la nuova avventura e la paura di non essere all’altezza.
I don't think "s****ing one's pants" is equivalent in terms of social acceptability. Does anyone have a suggestion?
thanks
Proposed translations
(English)
References
Hi Daniel, Some funny definitions of... | Inter-Tra |
Proposed translations
+2
28 mins
Selected
I was scared shitless
This is a classic English expression, at least in the US
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2010-01-04 16:47:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
BTW, this is mildly vulgar, but the degree of appropriateness depends very much on the public, who is this person talking to?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2010-01-04 16:47:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
BTW, this is mildly vulgar, but the degree of appropriateness depends very much on the public, who is this person talking to?
Note from asker:
The agency said, "La Signorina deve presentare questo file per partecipare ad un Master a livello mondiale….suppongo che lo esamineranno degli esperti di selezione (psicologi ecc.)." Dan |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
claudiocambon
: This strikes the right balance without being too vulgar.
2 mins
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
John Walsh
4 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Perhaps because I'm American, this one sounds the best.
Thanks, Dave."
+1
8 mins
I was crapping myself/shitting bricks
I think this is fractionally less vulgar than Tom's perfectly correct suggestion, whilst still vulgar (as it has to be)
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Dr Lofthouse
: 'craping myself' is fairly socially acceptable as way of expressing fear, anything with 'shit' in it much less so.
spelling error -I meant 'crapping' -I think 'craping' is the Knightsbridge pronounciation:) -
41 mins
|
thank you, nicely put :)
|
+1
2 mins
I was shitting myself
it isn't polite in Italian and therefore should not be polite in English.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2010-01-04 16:24:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"caghetto" is colloquial but certainly not polite; but neither is it vulgar. It is acceptable in certain situations, but not in middle-class drawing rooms.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2010-01-04 16:24:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"caghetto" is colloquial but certainly not polite; but neither is it vulgar. It is acceptable in certain situations, but not in middle-class drawing rooms.
Note from asker:
Thanks, Tom. There is, however, a difference between polite and vulgar. Looking around on the Web, I got the feeling that "caghetto" is fairly acceptable, whereas "shitting myself" is truly vulgar and virtually unacceptable in most contexts in English. In any event, I will use it unless I (or someone else) can come up with something better. |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
potra
: Seems perfect to me :)
4 mins
|
thanks potra
|
|
neutral |
Sylvia Gilbertson
: way too vulgar for the context, IMO
1 hr
|
+3
8 mins
the runs
il senso è questo.... non so però, se il termine è accettabile per il tuo testo...
Peer comment(s):
agree |
ChrisJude
: The trots is an acceptable alternative
8 mins
|
thank you, Chris!
|
|
agree |
Stefano Costa (X)
: I like both "the runs" and "the trots" because caghetto or cagotto aren't vulgar, they're just v. colloquial...
13 mins
|
grazie, Stefano!
|
|
agree |
Cedric Randolph
: Yes, this is the term, often occurring from being nervous, anxious, etc.
19 mins
|
thanks a lot, Cedric!
|
|
neutral |
Oliver Lawrence
: the runs and the trots are more likely to be the result of medical or dietary causes, hence this may well not be accurate enough/ yes the meaning from the context is clear, but my point is this translation would sit slightly awkwardly with that context
21 mins
|
you're right, but isn't it very explicit in this context?
|
|
neutral |
David Russi
: This is just not idiomatic for the context.
22 mins
|
this was my doubt... thanks, David!
|
|
neutral |
Dr Lofthouse
: I'd only use this in a crude medical context , to describe having diahorreah
38 mins
|
Veramente ho l'impressione che l'autore intenda soprattutto un "caghetto clinico", non tanto "metaforico"
|
6 mins
I was shit-scared
I Don't really know wether it's too vulgar or acceptable.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 min (2010-01-04 16:26:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
... whether.. sorry.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 min (2010-01-04 16:26:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
... whether.. sorry.
+1
13 mins
I was terrified/ petrified
not vulgar...
Peer comment(s):
agree |
tluna
: this is the only NON vulgar acceptable answer but doesn't quite translate what the person truly felt
18 hrs
|
+3
40 mins
I pooped my pants
Not too vulgar and something a little kid might actually say.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
David Russi
: True enough, but it sounds like the the speaker is an adult, and this phrase sounds silly coming from a grown-up, unless he/she is prudish.
14 mins
|
check out my discussion entry - the author is employing a literary device that uses the child's POV
|
|
agree |
William Murphy
: I think this is on the money for what a kid would actually say..
15 mins
|
neutral |
Oliver Lawrence
: this would not work for a UK readership
32 mins
|
agree |
tluna
: when the Italian version is somewhat vulgar, one ought to keep the general feeling =)
18 hrs
|
agree |
Rachel Fell
: for the UK "I used to poo my pants\I pooed my pants" (if it's literally so, rather than just scared, etc.)
22 hrs
|
+1
4 hrs
the trots
"runs" is okay to, but you wanted something as non-vulgar as possible. In this context, the trots is as non-vulgar as possible without losing the original connotation of caghetto/cagarella
21 hrs
diarhhea or sick to my stomach
Depending on whether you think the author is speaking literally or metaphorically.
If you think the author is speaking literally, then diarhhea is a non-vulgar way of translating the idea.
If not, "sick to my stomach" renders the idea of severe anxiety or nervousness without the startling vulgarity of a more technically correct American slang translation.
If you think the author is speaking literally, then diarhhea is a non-vulgar way of translating the idea.
If not, "sick to my stomach" renders the idea of severe anxiety or nervousness without the startling vulgarity of a more technically correct American slang translation.
Reference comments
2 hrs
Reference:
Hi Daniel,
Some funny definitions of 3 Italian words!
caghetto : leggera stipsi intestinale
cagotto: funzioni intestinali alquanto accellerate e abbondanti
squarhouse : funzioni intestinali enormemente accellerate e con fuoriuscite "fischianti" e oltremodo liquide (volgarmente detta cagarella a fischio/spruzzo)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2010-01-07 10:04:38 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Dear Daniel,
I agree 100% with Sylvia and Micheal. Your task, as a translator, is to render as faithfully as possible the words/subject you are translating . Translators are not supposed to abbelish anything. Remember that the suffix -etto in italiano is a 'suffisso affettivo', therefore behind it there is indeed a sprinkle of irony, as explained from Sylvia and Michael. Furthermore in the English language 'shit' is almost a fill gap word! :-)))
Be not be scared of other's opinions..
Un cordiale saluto
Francesca
Some funny definitions of 3 Italian words!
caghetto : leggera stipsi intestinale
cagotto: funzioni intestinali alquanto accellerate e abbondanti
squarhouse : funzioni intestinali enormemente accellerate e con fuoriuscite "fischianti" e oltremodo liquide (volgarmente detta cagarella a fischio/spruzzo)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days17 hrs (2010-01-07 10:04:38 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Dear Daniel,
I agree 100% with Sylvia and Micheal. Your task, as a translator, is to render as faithfully as possible the words/subject you are translating . Translators are not supposed to abbelish anything. Remember that the suffix -etto in italiano is a 'suffisso affettivo', therefore behind it there is indeed a sprinkle of irony, as explained from Sylvia and Michael. Furthermore in the English language 'shit' is almost a fill gap word! :-)))
Be not be scared of other's opinions..
Un cordiale saluto
Francesca
Discussion
SE NON LO CONDiViDi Ti ViEN iL CAGHETTO A SPRUZZO -.-'' | Facebook
SE NON LO CONDiViDi Ti ViEN iL CAGHETTO A SPRUZZO -.-'' is on FacebookSign up for Facebook to connect with SE NON LO CONDiViDi Ti ViEN iL CAGHETTO A SPRUZZO ...
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96838422349 - Copia cache -
I didn't have the stomach to read further (just eaten).
Personally, what she communicated to me was: "I got the shits", but just a bit more graphically and more colourfully. I would think more than twice about using the term if this was part of my own application for a master, but in these cases I think most people would agree with me that the translator would be ethically wrong to improve (or perhaps detract from) the application in translation, and should not be pressured by an agency, to "adjust" it.
Clearly suggestions to rewrite the original, would be acceptable.
La Signorina deve presentare questo file per partecipare ad un Master a livello mondiale….suppongo che lo esamineranno degli esperti di selezione (psicologi ecc.).
Dan