come or become unhinged

15:20 Nov 16, 2012
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

English to French translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Philosophy
English term or phrase: come or become unhinged
I came across this expression in a book synopsis i have to translate into french. They would "become unhinged" when confronted to certain type of situation. Anyone knows of a good french equivalent?
Alexandra Dupont
Switzerland
Local time: 02:39


Summary of answers provided
3 +3seront déstabilisés
Alain Boulé
4 +1perdre la tête
FX Fraipont (X)
5déjanter/ être déjanté
Daryo
4perdre les pédales
jmleger
4s'effondrer, perdre tous ses moyens
GILOU
3perdaient le contrôle
Johanne Bouthillier


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
perdre les pédales


Explanation:
among others

jmleger
Local time: 20:39
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
perdre la tête


Explanation:
..

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Note added at 2 mins (2012-11-16 15:23:10 GMT)
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unhinged : unsettled, disordered, or distraught: He became unhinged when his friend died.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unhinged?s=t&ld=1118

FX Fraipont (X)
Belgium
Local time: 02:39
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo: that's a good option
16 hrs
  -> thanks!
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
s'effondrer, perdre tous ses moyens


Explanation:
ça dépend du niveau de langage. Ici, ça ne me semble pas un ton familier.....

GILOU
France
Local time: 02:39
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 46
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
perdaient le contrôle


Explanation:
-

Johanne Bouthillier
Canada
Local time: 21:39
Native speaker of: French
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
seront déstabilisés


Explanation:
Autre expression

Ou désorientés.

Alain Boulé
Local time: 02:39
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anne R: oui pour la traduction, mais pourquoi l'usage du futur?
3 hrs
  -> Merci, oui, vous avez raison, seraient.

agree  GILOU: déstabilisé, ce n'est pas un état chronique comme certains le suggèrent
20 hrs

agree  Bertrand Leduc
23 hrs
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
déjanter/ être déjanté


Explanation:
"They would become unhinged when confronted to certain type of situation"
=
"Ils commençaient à déjanter dès que ..."

exactly the same idea: go seriously crazy / unbalanced, expressed thought the image of the mind being on the loose, contact with "base" gone.

unhinged door = separated from the frame
pneu déjanté = s'est détaché de la roue

"t'es déjanté?" "tu déjante!"

Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:39
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  GILOU: état chronique comme d'autres propositions alors qu'ici c'est un état passager face à certaines situations
15 hrs
  -> je n'ai jamais eu l'impression que "déjanter" conduit nécessairement à un état chronique, qu’on ne peut plus s’en remettre.

neutral  Bertrand Leduc: ''déjanter'' has to much of a connotation linked to drug taking, IMO!
17 hrs
  -> OK, it's your perception of this expression; I heard it used in many cases where no drugs were involved.
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