μαγκιά

English translation: bravado

10:11 Oct 11, 2016
Greek to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / prose / slang / surreal
Greek term or phrase: μαγκιά
Μόνο μια ηλίθια μαγκιά μένει.

My first thought was "a stupid grit is all that's left"...

"Grit" is close, and what's more, it's a familiar word, affording a certain sense of confidence.

There is, however, a subtle difference, between this option and the Greek term - at least as I perceive the two of them.

After looking around a bit, I stumbled across the word moxie.
According to the fairly reliable www.thefreedictionary.com, it can mean
1. The ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage.
2. Aggressive energy; initiative.
3. Skill; know-how.
This triplet of potential interpretations serve my intentions perfectly...

What's bugging me is I've hardly ever heard the word, and that makes me a bit suspicious against it.
I mean, slang can, as most things, get outdated, or even archaic in extreme cases, and I wouldn't like my text to sound that way...

So could native English speakers please either confirm or dampen my suspicions by providing some information as to whether the word is actually still alive or not, and to what extent - both demographically and geographically, so to speak?

Any other suggestions as to other words that bear a similar multitude of connotations as the one listed above are also welcome, of course.
m_a_a_
Greece
Local time: 10:38
English translation:bravado
Explanation:
Βάζω τώρα αυτή την επιλογή. Μαζί με το foolish.

μαγκιά = αλαζονική επίδειξη δύναμης ή τόλμης (Χρηστικό Ακαδημίας)
bravado = A bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate (ODE)

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bravado
https://www.google.com/search?q="foolish bravado"&sourceid=c...

Παραδείγματα:
Since he is constantly being shot down by facts, his bravado is all that is left to him.


The miserable reality described is not perceived as such, and the foolish bravado is taken for bravery
Selected response from:

Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:38
Grading comment
Η κουβέντα έχει λήξει εδώ και καιρό - την κλείνω τώρα γιατί το Proz διαμαρτύρεται ότι έχω αφήσει πολλές ερωτήσεις ανοιχτές... Σε περίπτωση που σ' ενδιαφέρει, τη συνέχισα εδώ: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/359949/contemporary-equivalent-of-the-word-moxie-as-defined-herein Τον προσέγγισες αμιγώς λεξικολογικά τον όρο - και καλά έκανες... Σ' ένα πιο ελεύθερο not-for-points (και φυσικά υποκειμενικό) πλαίσιο, ωστόσο, το "bravado" μου ξινίζει...



Summary of answers provided
4bravado
Nick Lingris


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
bravado


Explanation:
Βάζω τώρα αυτή την επιλογή. Μαζί με το foolish.

μαγκιά = αλαζονική επίδειξη δύναμης ή τόλμης (Χρηστικό Ακαδημίας)
bravado = A bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate (ODE)

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bravado
https://www.google.com/search?q="foolish bravado"&sourceid=c...

Παραδείγματα:
Since he is constantly being shot down by facts, his bravado is all that is left to him.


The miserable reality described is not perceived as such, and the foolish bravado is taken for bravery


Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 128
Grading comment
Η κουβέντα έχει λήξει εδώ και καιρό - την κλείνω τώρα γιατί το Proz διαμαρτύρεται ότι έχω αφήσει πολλές ερωτήσεις ανοιχτές... Σε περίπτωση που σ' ενδιαφέρει, τη συνέχισα εδώ: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/359949/contemporary-equivalent-of-the-word-moxie-as-defined-herein Τον προσέγγισες αμιγώς λεξικολογικά τον όρο - και καλά έκανες... Σ' ένα πιο ελεύθερο not-for-points (και φυσικά υποκειμενικό) πλαίσιο, ωστόσο, το "bravado" μου ξινίζει...
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