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quelle di destinazione
luna a dondolo
Jan 2, 2019 19:47
5 yrs ago
Italian term

ginocchia strette al petto

Italian to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I am having trouble understanding this metaphor ginocchia strette al petto in this line of a poem. Could anyone explain it's meaning please or give a possible English equivalent?

"...persone ideali per rifugiare paure, per farsi guanciale di fragilità, riparo di chi sta al mondo con le ginocchia strette al petto..."

Thanks, in advance.

:)
Proposed translations (English)
3 +4 Clasping his/her knees to his/her chest
4 haven for those with a huddled existence

Discussion

Fiona Grace Peterson Jan 2, 2019:
Fear or sadness? It makes me think of someone sitting with their knees hugged to their chest like a scared child, or someone lying on a bed in a fetal position out of sadness.

Proposed translations

+4
10 mins
Selected

Clasping his/her knees to his/her chest

Or “hugging his/her knees to his/her chest”. It’s a very defensive, self-protective position, protecting the softer parts of the body, inward-looking.
Peer comment(s):
agree JohnMcDove
4 hrs
agree Ian Mansbridge
12 hrs
agree Fiona Grace Peterson
18 hrs
agree Therese Marshall
1 day 2 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you for your response!"
8 hrs

haven for those with a huddled existence

I would look at the entire sentence and translate it to the equivalent English at the closest translatable feeling.
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