Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
puits d’eau fraîche
English translation:
fresh/new blood
Added to glossary by
B D Finch
Mar 18, 2018 14:40
6 yrs ago
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French term
Tunisia
puits d’eau fraîche
Non-PRO
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
account of a photojournalist
Hello,
I would like your insight on "puits d’eau fraîche" in this sentence.
My text is about North Korea told by a French photojournalist who is describing what it's like in a nursery school there, the children sing a patriotic song and then the author says:"Là, c’est le puits d’eau fraîche… Photojournaliste ou reporter-photographe, je ne sais plus comment je dois me définir."
I understand by "là, c'est le puits d'eau frâiche" to mean something like "this is so new to me" or "I've never seen/heard anything like this" somewhat ironically.
Can someone confirm or otherwise please?
Thank you.
I would like your insight on "puits d’eau fraîche" in this sentence.
My text is about North Korea told by a French photojournalist who is describing what it's like in a nursery school there, the children sing a patriotic song and then the author says:"Là, c’est le puits d’eau fraîche… Photojournaliste ou reporter-photographe, je ne sais plus comment je dois me définir."
I understand by "là, c'est le puits d'eau frâiche" to mean something like "this is so new to me" or "I've never seen/heard anything like this" somewhat ironically.
Can someone confirm or otherwise please?
Thank you.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | fresh/new blood |
B D Finch
|
| 4 +1 | breath of fresh air |
Jennifer Levey
|
| 3 -1 | this is totally new to me |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
|
| 2 | this is uncharted territory to me |
ormiston
|
Change log
Mar 23, 2018 14:14: B D Finch Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
1 day 1 hr
Selected
fresh/new blood
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/fresh blood
"fresh blood
New members of a group or organization, brought in to revitalize or stimulate its productivity by bringing with them new ideas or energy. With everything going digital and online, we're going to need some fresh blood if we want to remain a viable company in today's market."
"fresh blood
New members of a group or organization, brought in to revitalize or stimulate its productivity by bringing with them new ideas or energy. With everything going digital and online, we're going to need some fresh blood if we want to remain a viable company in today's market."
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
1 day 4 hrs
|
|
Thanks Yolanda. Though, I find it strange that you can agree with both me and ormiston, as our interpretations are totally different!
|
|
| agree |
Daryo
: that makes most sense: "here is the fresh blood" for the state apparatus ... the next generation of "good citizens" ... (that will be conforming to the local version of "political correctness")
2 days 2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Daryo
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it :)"
+1
26 mins
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
43
breath of fresh air
I think it would appropriate to translate it with an equivalent expression in idiomatic English, rather than a literal translation of the ST.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Josephine Cassar
: Spot on
47 mins
|
| agree |
mchd
2 hrs
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: the next generation being indoctrinated as much as the previous ones - that is your idea of "fresh air"?
16 hrs
|
-1
48 mins
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
this is totally new to me
I think you're on the right track.
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Daryo
: reaction to "kids singing patriotic song" = "this is totally new to me" - that would be a rather naive photo-journalist, that just arrived from outer space, to be surprised by that to that level // that's not the intended meaning.
16 hrs
|
|
Amymore, it's not politically correct to sing patriotic songs in schools, including here is the United States. That's why a young French journalist might find it to be completely out of the ordinary. So why haven't you also disagreed w/ormiston's, too?
|
18 hrs
this is uncharted territory to me
A rather odd metaphor, but given what she goes on to say about how to report it all, professionally it could mean she is 'plumbing the depths' of 'virgin territory'.
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Note added at 18 hrs (2018-03-19 09:00:18 GMT)
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Comma after professionally, sorry!
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Note added at 18 hrs (2018-03-19 09:00:18 GMT)
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Comma after professionally, sorry!
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
1 day 11 hrs
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: the meaning is along the lines of "fresh elements" added to something existing
2 days 9 hrs
|
Discussion
Thank you!
"Là, c’est le puits d’eau fraîche…"
"eau fraîche" in the sense of "here is the source (=these kids) from where to renew the pool of those adhering to the official doctrine"