Sep 11, 2012 02:24
11 yrs ago
Russian term

Тебе не скажешь "присаживайся и получай удовольствие".

Russian to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature phrase
SPOILER ALERT

The speaker is an elderly Jew who emigrated to Israel and speaks Russian poorly. She is addressing the main character, Ephraim, who has been paralyzed and is now in a wheelchair. She speaks with mistakes, as you can see from the context below. Further context--in a scene immediately prior to this, the main character had sex (from his wheelchair-bound position) with the old woman's caretaker.


– Это ты, парень? Ты выглядишь незначительным. Тебе даже и не скажешь "присаживайся и получай удовольствие". Думаешь, я сильно на тебя удивилась? Думаешь, я не знала, что Клаудия следит на тебя? Когда свои начинают следить, так это уже заканчивает одинаково. Они ломают у нас хребет. А знаешь почему? Потому что евреи с кривыми спинами ненавидят евреев с прямыми спинами. Это же ты поздравил меня в Сильвестр? Ну и зачем пожелала я для тебя, чтобы ты не жил длинно? Э-э, должна была я уже запомнить, дырявая голова, пожелания мои сбываются навыворот. Это тебе длинное катание, парень, в тошноте своей вытошнишь ты сначала желудок, потом сердце, потом лёгкие, а потом и всё остальное, кибенемат...

Discussion

Yulia Savelieva Sep 11, 2012:
BTW I agree with Angela's translation. I think it reflects the meaning of the original quite well. However, I believe her explanation of the origin and meaning of the Russian phrase "расслабься и получай удовольствие" is incorrect.
Yulia Savelieva Sep 11, 2012:
FYI The expression "расслабься и получай удовольствие" comes from the following "joke": если изнасилование неизбежно, лучше расслабиться и получать удовольствие (if rape is inevitable, it's best to relax and enjoy it). However, it's mostly used figuratively, when one is faced with a situation where pain (physical, mental, etc.) is unavoidable (undertaking a difficult and/or thankless job, dealing with an irritating close relative, etc.). So it's not really about sex. I can't see how this meaning relates to the expression "присаживайся и получай удовольствие", so it was just an FYI comment to Angela's explanation.

Proposed translations

+1
1 hr
Selected

One can't even tell you to "sit back and enjoy"

This expression is usually reserved for sex-related context. The original, I believe is "расслабься и получай удовольствие" ("relax and enjoy"). That's is when one is about to have sex. I believe that the woman is referring in a derogatory way to the fact that the guy is so crippled that he can't even enjoy watching others having sex from his chair (not a comfortable chair).

I chose my version, since the Russian phrase evokes something from a movie theater, when before the screen turns dark they tell you to "sit back and enjoy the movie" or "sit back and enjoy the show".
Peer comment(s):

agree cyhul
93 days
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