Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
occulte les vis-à-vis
English translation:
provides a screen for privacy
Added to glossary by
Miranda Joubioux (X)
Sep 24, 2010 10:51
14 yrs ago
13 viewers *
French term
Miranda Joubioux (X)
vis-à-vis
French to English
Tech/Engineering
Construction / Civil Engineering
I'm not quite sure what field to put this in.
D’une hauteur de 150 à 200 cm, elle occulte naturellement les vis-à-vis tout en gardant une touche naturelle à votre jardin.
This is referring to loose bamboo brushwood, which can be used to make screens around garden fencing.
Any ideas how to translate vis-à-vis in this context?
D’une hauteur de 150 à 200 cm, elle occulte naturellement les vis-à-vis tout en gardant une touche naturelle à votre jardin.
This is referring to loose bamboo brushwood, which can be used to make screens around garden fencing.
Any ideas how to translate vis-à-vis in this context?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
4 mins
Sheila Wilson
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
French term (edited):
elle occulte naturellement les vis-à-vis
Selected
it provides a screen
Clearly needs to be worded differently in English
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Note added at 6 mins (2010-09-24 10:58:12 GMT)
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We don't know what's on the other side (maybe you do, Miranda) - could be a rubbish tip, busy road, house, ... - but whatever it is, this bamboo means that people sitting in the garden have some privacy.
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Note added at 30 mins (2010-09-24 11:21:27 GMT)
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It sounds to me as though it is quite likely the low screening that is often used (locally, anyway) to give privacy from passers-by when the only place to eat outside is at the front of the house. Sometimes, people even have a pool at the front.
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Note added at 6 mins (2010-09-24 10:58:12 GMT)
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We don't know what's on the other side (maybe you do, Miranda) - could be a rubbish tip, busy road, house, ... - but whatever it is, this bamboo means that people sitting in the garden have some privacy.
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Note added at 30 mins (2010-09-24 11:21:27 GMT)
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It sounds to me as though it is quite likely the low screening that is often used (locally, anyway) to give privacy from passers-by when the only place to eat outside is at the front of the house. Sometimes, people even have a pool at the front.
Note from asker:
| I don't have any information about the environment, since it doesn't really matter. It's for a company selling this material. I think you're right (I was already tending towards completely rewording it). Sometimes you just have to think what a thing is for and then say it the way you would in English. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
B D Finch
22 mins
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Thanks
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| agree |
Callum Walker
26 mins
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Thanks
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| agree |
Emma Paulay
51 mins
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Thanks
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| agree |
Evans (X)
: Thinking about it, I put up just such a screen in front of the fence at the bottom of my previous garden to stop headlights shining in my kitchen window. This covers other uses than just people seeing in.
51 mins
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Thanks. That's the way it seems to me
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| agree |
Elizabeth Slaney
: See discussion
2 hrs
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Thanks
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "The points go to Sheila, who sorted out my thoughts straightaway by mentioning the word 'privacy'. Thanks."
4 mins
Andrew Mason
France
France
Native in English
Works in field
France
Pharma, scientific, business translation
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Screens naturally from pryng/overlooking neighbours..
Just a suggestion
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
B D Finch
: Overlooking yes, prying no. When French estate agents say a house is "sans vis-à-vis" they are not suggesting the neighbours might be nosey.
20 mins
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17 mins
Aurelie Edwige Azambou Nzongang
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
Brazil
Aurelie Edwige Azambou Nzongang
Medical translation
Native in: English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: French to English, Portuguese to English, Portuguese to French
forms a natural shield/screen
I think it refers to plants that are used in building hedges to enhance privacy.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: If one reads the question carefully, it doesn't refer to a hedge at all, but to loose bamboo brushwood
4 hrs
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19 mins
Richard Hedger
Switzerland
Switzerland
Native in English
Specializes in field
Switzerland
Related KudoZ points
:
450
onlookers
sheilds from onlookers...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
B D Finch
: People standing around in the street trying to catch a glimpse of one hoeing the garden in one's bikini?
6 mins
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that's generally why people put up screens in the gardens, no? :)
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| neutral |
Tony M
: I have to agree with SW here: 'onlookers' just doesn't quite seem right; if anything, it would be 'overlookers', if only such a word existed...
4 hrs
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+4
28 mins
(ensures) privacy
I'd rephrase it: maybe the neighbours are OK.
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Note added at 28 minutes (2010-09-24 11:19:54 GMT)
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Have a good day!
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Note added at 28 minutes (2010-09-24 11:19:54 GMT)
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Have a good day!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sarah Bessioud
12 mins
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Thanks
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| agree |
Ingrid Stevens
: Grit
1 hr
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Thanks
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| agree |
Elizabeth Slaney
: See discussion
2 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
Tony M
4 hrs
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3 hrs
surrounds
Mélissa la métisse will tell you all about bamboo canisses and how they screen you from the surrounds.
"Surrounds" can be ugly concrete walls around one's gardens, ugly prying neighbours, the ugly motorway in the distance, etc.
"Surrounds" can be ugly concrete walls around one's gardens, ugly prying neighbours, the ugly motorway in the distance, etc.
Note from asker:
| I could have used this, and it may yet come up in another context, but I preferred to go for a sentence that came more naturally to me. Thanks. |
Discussion
Collins: house (etc) opposite
I've always understood it to mean a building "not directly overlooked by other buildings"