Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
di cartapesta
English translation:
(a giant) with feet of clay
Added to glossary by
luskie
Mar 8, 2014 15:06
10 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Italian term
an "angel" to many clients
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, French to Italian
cartapesta
Italian to English
Art/Literary
History
metaphor
"Insomma, sulla carta, un grande Bastione antisovietico, la cui funzione veniva ampiamente valorizzata dalla persuasiva propaganda dei vari governi interessati. Ma, al di là della propaganda, come del resto era subito apparso in maniera evidente ai diplomatici italiani più attenti, in realtà si trattava sì di un grande Bastione, ma di *cartapesta*, in grado di fare impressione solo se, per così dire, lo si fosse guardato distrattamente e da molto lontano.
Si riferisce ad una cintura difensiva composta da vari paesi confinanti con l'allora Unione Sovietica, che non diede i risultati sperati. Grazie a tutti!
Si riferisce ad una cintura difensiva composta da vari paesi confinanti con l'allora Unione Sovietica, che non diede i risultati sperati. Grazie a tutti!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 hr
Italian term (edited):
un grande Bastione, ma di cartapesta
Selected
a giant with feet of clay
gigantic from a distance but... easy to "tear" down
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-03-08 16:58:45 GMT)
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feet of clay
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/feet_of_clay
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-03-08 17:04:01 GMT)
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http://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian_to_english/business_commer...
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian_to_english/linguistics/188...
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/idioms_maxims_s...
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Note added at 2 hrs (2014-03-08 17:17:30 GMT)
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Terremoto nel centro Italia - Nibiru 2012
www.nibiru2012.it/forum/...e.../terremoto-nel-centro-italia...
Siamo sotto una cappa di piombo e corruzione, di squadra e compasso, con fondamenta di cartapesta e piedi di argilla. Questo potere lo abbiamo votato, voluto, ...
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Note added at 1 hr (2014-03-08 16:58:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feet of clay
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/feet_of_clay
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2014-03-08 17:04:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian_to_english/business_commer...
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/italian_to_english/linguistics/188...
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/idioms_maxims_s...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2014-03-08 17:17:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Terremoto nel centro Italia - Nibiru 2012
www.nibiru2012.it/forum/...e.../terremoto-nel-centro-italia...
Siamo sotto una cappa di piombo e corruzione, di squadra e compasso, con fondamenta di cartapesta e piedi di argilla. Questo potere lo abbiamo votato, voluto, ...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks a lot! Very useful also in other parts of the text"
+1
15 mins
Tom in London
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Architecture, design, technical, etc.
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
91
Papier Mâché
this !
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Neptunia
: English can accommodate this metaphor just fine. Accents optional.
2 days 1 hr
|
|
Thanks Neptunia but it isn't a metaphor -that thing was LITERALLY made from papier-maché !
|
28 mins
Alba Simoni
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Albanian
Works in: English to Albanian, Albanian to English, German to English, and 5 more.
mask/fake/mock-up
if you consider this a metaphor...
+1
29 mins
Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Specializes in field
Italy
CIOL-certified, humanities, tourism
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
80
a house of cards
Perhaps this might render the idea of something insubstantial without moving too far from the metaphor?
4 hrs
James (Jim) Davis
Seychelles
Seychelles
Native in English
Seychelles
25 years experience constantly improving
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
73
"had no teeth" or "was a paper tiger"
A "paper tiger" is and ancient Chinese saying, but it has been around in English for a few centuries now.
18 hrs
William Murphy
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Specializes in field
Italy
The right word at the right time.
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Italian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
Potemkin 'village'
Especially given the geographical setting an allusion to this might be appropriate, substituting 'structure', 'edifice','fortress' 'construct', etc. for the 'village'
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