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élément source tiré d’après un original nitrate sonore
vigilance

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

bronzer sa voix au pastis

English translation:

whose years of hard drinking have seasoned his voice

Added to glossary by Carol Gullidge
Apr 9, 2008 12:13
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

bronzer sa voix au pastis

French to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters idiom or metaphor (?)
Pourtant, ce franc-tireur force la sympathie. Derrière le masque du dur à cuire qui a roulé sa bosse et ___**bronzé sa voix au pastis**___ , il reste un homme d'une grande lucidité, d'une parfaite conviction.

_______

I can find no g-hits for this expression, leading me to suppose that it's not a set expression. In any case, does anyone know what this colourful phrase means?
It's an article about a film star with a colourful past.

Many thanks!
Proposed translations (English)
3 with a (deep) brown voice from years of drinking Pastis
4 +3 to weather one's voice with drink / to steep one's voice in pastis
4 his voice deepened through years of drinking Pastis,a husky Pastis-drinker's voice
4 his voice tanned by years of pastis
4 etched his rasping pastis speech
3 warmed his voice with pastis
3 bronzed his voice with pastis
3 drank his voice rough on Pastis

Discussion

Carol Gullidge (asker) Apr 16, 2008:
Hi David: I can't say who this is, but realise that it would have been EXTREMELY helpful if I could have, Many thanks everyone for your terrific ideas and comments!
David Goward Apr 9, 2008:
Is there any chance that you can let us know who the actor is? Suggestions below, such as gravelly, may or may not be appropriate.
suezen Apr 9, 2008:
What a wonderful image it conjures up!
Emérentienne Apr 9, 2008:
Never seen it before in French. The author has created this expression which combines sun tan and pastis, both referring to the South of France. Maybe an emphasis on the southern accent of the "voix".

Proposed translations

3 mins
Selected

with a (deep) brown voice from years of drinking Pastis

years of hard drinking

whose years of hard drinking have mellowed his voice

NOT a set expression so the imagination can run riot

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Note added at 5 mins (2008-04-09 12:18:37 GMT)
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bronzé probably refers to the colour of undiluted Pastis (Ricard, Pernod....)

whose voice has the honeyed tones of a drinker of Pastis
Note from asker:
very nice - and so quick! many thanks!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks again! I also like "mellowed", but not sure if this applies to this particular person, so used the non-commital "seasoned". I also love Cherry Pie's "gravelly", but you were first with along these lines"
+3
8 mins

to weather one's voice with drink / to steep one's voice in pastis

You could also re-work the sentence to say something about how he has "a gravelly voice steeped in pastis," or just "the gravelly voice of a drinker."
Note from asker:
Many thanks Cherry Pie! "gravelly voice" is a super suggestion! It was a toss-up between this and CMJ's suggestions - only wish the points could be doubled and shared...
Peer comment(s):
agree schevallier
22 hrs
agree sueaberwoman
2 days 4 hrs
agree Ladda McLaren
2 days 14 hrs
Something went wrong...
9 mins

his voice deepened through years of drinking Pastis,a husky Pastis-drinker's voice

an option

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Note added at 23 mins (2008-04-09 12:37:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sexy Pastis voice ? (must be)..
Note from asker:
Many thanks for the great suggestion! My problem is knowing whether this person actually has a deep/husky voice or not, so I had to err on the side of caution. Also, this was a rush translation, so not enough time to research as thoroughly as I'd like...
Something went wrong...
30 mins

warmed his voice with pastis

another option
warm perhaps helps to keep the image of the south of France and works with voice.
warmed his voice as a longtime pastis drinker ....
warmed his voice with the flavour of pastis ...


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Note added at 31 mins (2008-04-09 12:44:25 GMT)
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or warmed his voice ON pastis
Note from asker:
Another nice suggestion - like the south of France flavour. Many thanks!
Something went wrong...
55 mins

bronzed his voice with pastis

I've never heard it but it seems to be a term used to describe a singing voice. Have a look at the links and see what you think.
Reference:

http://www.forumopera.com/concerts/cavalleria_berne05.htm

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QK2ZCU?ie=UTF8&parent=B0015JZFOG

Note from asker:
Nice bit of synaesthesia - thanks Emma!
Something went wrong...
1 hr

drank his voice rough on Pastis

A suggestion.
Note from asker:
thanks Euqinimod! Here again, my problem is not knowing whether this in fact applies to the actual person. Otherwise, it's great!
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

his voice tanned by years of pastis

also.
Note from asker:
many thanks nadia, for the suggestion!
Peer comment(s):
neutral writeaway : a tanned voice??
22 mins
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

etched his rasping pastis speech

Burnt in (nothing romantic here)his terrible ,monotonous (and therefore "rasping") synonymous with a dentist's drill...my God when will it stop!

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Note added at 7 days (2008-04-16 15:27:48 GMT) Post-grading
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Carol, it's no shame not to have enough Pastis in the house!
And anyway...I doubt that!
Note from asker:
many thanks fourth! Again, my problem is not knowing enough to use anything too specific
Something went wrong...
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