temeridad pegada al pecho, aún donde ya no había pecho

English translation: heartfelt recklessness/fearlessness, even where there was no longer a heart

17:13 Jul 16, 2019
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / novel
Spanish term or phrase: temeridad pegada al pecho, aún donde ya no había pecho
Hola a todos,

I'm trying to figure out the meaning of this sentence: "Aquel instante suponía temeridad pegada al pecho, aún donde ya no había pecho"
. I know that pecho can sometimes mean "courage" in ENG, like the phrase !pecho al agua!, so it has something to do with courage coming from within her. I think the author is trying to suggest that the character required bravery and audacity in that moment. That moment, being, she has seen a ghost of her sister who has passed away many years before, however her death was a very painful episode for the entire family and so, they all chose not to speak of it therefore, it is necessary for her character to be brave.

Here is some context:

Manola sabía que tarde o temprano el pasado sobrevendría. Pero el valor aún vivía en ella, a pesar del tiempo transcurrido. Sólo necesitaba unos minutos para recoger todos los pensamientos esparcidos por su cerebro. Ahora al aire libre. Encerrados a cal y canto en su pecho... Aquel instante suponía la temeridad pegada al pecho, aún donde ya no había pecho. La enagua que la chica llevaba, y que su hija leía perfectamente sobre aquel delgado y pecoso cuerpo, no era otra que la combinación de su boda. La misma que tantas veces, Martina, pidiera a su cuñada Manola para hacer cucamonas delante del espejo. La había amado como a una hermana, tanto, como sólo se quiere a aquello que se sabe se perderá pronto. Porque no es de ningún sitio preciso. Ni de este mundo siquiera. La chica del quicio, con su brazo y abrazo invisible, su enagua antigua y prestada, sus pecas diseminadas por todo el cuerpo... volvía del ayer. Del siempre. Para darle el último aviso-mensaje-recuerdo-despedida. Manola lo sabía. Las circunstancias se aprovechan de nuestras debilidades.
Emily Staunton (X)
Ireland
Local time: 08:34
English translation:heartfelt recklessness/fearlessness, even where there was no longer a heart
Explanation:
,,,

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Note added at 2 hrs (2019-07-16 19:23:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

please forget "fearlessness"

temerity could work

https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/teme...
Selected response from:

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:34
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3heartfelt recklessness/fearlessness, even where there was no longer a heart
liz askew
3torso pumping where there was yet to be a torso
Francois Boye
3fearlessness pinned to her chest, even where she did not yet have any to wear her heart on
Adrian MM.
3Even in the absence of a bosom, it was a moment of quintessential boldness/daring.
Paula Sepúlveda (X)
3no fear in her heart, though neither was there courage
Lester Tattersall
2recklessness attached to her bosom, even where there was no bosom anymore
JohnMcDove
2the audacity of the heart, even if the heart was absent
Simon Charass
2the boldness stirring defiantly in her (budding/still unformed) breast
ormiston
Summary of reference entries provided
José Patrício

Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
torso pumping where there was yet to be a torso


Explanation:
my take

Francois Boye
United States
Local time: 04:34
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: Torso pumping? Sounds very macabre! Although I could be missing something as I haven’t read the book!
11 mins

neutral  ormiston: this is hard to swallow
19 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
recklessness attached to her bosom, even where there was no bosom anymore


Explanation:
Low level of confidence, as I give a somewhat "literal" translation.

Bosom
1.4 Used to refer to the chest as the seat of emotions.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/bosom

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-07-16 18:26:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fearlessness or boldness might be better.

JohnMcDove
United States
Local time: 01:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  ormiston: she's had a masectomy?!
18 hrs
  -> No, she was "a ghost". ;-) (By the by, my grandmother had one, now that you mention it!) A masTectomy, that is!)
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fearlessness pinned to her chest, even where she did not yet have any to wear her heart on


Explanation:
Plain-looking and now still growing into a woman or just flat-chested? intentionally ambiguous (strength and bosom) and ironical, to be sure.


Example sentence(s):
  • Pinned to her chest is the diamond encrusted Garter Star originally worn by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert.

    Reference: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/94434923409217378
Adrian MM.
Austria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
the audacity of the heart, even if the heart was absent


Explanation:
That instant was the audacity of the heart, even if the heart was absent.

A suggestion, nothing more.

Simon Charass
Canada
Local time: 04:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
heartfelt recklessness/fearlessness, even where there was no longer a heart


Explanation:
,,,

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2019-07-16 19:23:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

please forget "fearlessness"

temerity could work

https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/teme...

liz askew
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro: Nice!
1 hr

agree  Adolfo Fulco
2 hrs

agree  Cecilia Gowar
17 hrs
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20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
the boldness stirring defiantly in her (budding/still unformed) breast


Explanation:
Really really tricky! This is my humble offering. I wondererd about flaunted' as for a medal worn on the chest, but here 'Pecho' is surely her BREASTS. Good luck!

ormiston
Local time: 09:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 34
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1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Even in the absence of a bosom, it was a moment of quintessential boldness/daring.


Explanation:
I understand that the part you are asking about refers to the ghost girl's boldness (not Manola's). I take it to meand that the girl is being bold because she appears dressed in Manola's wedding undergarment. Even though Manola can't see her, she knows what the ghost-girl is wearing throught the description her daughter provides and she considers it a bold/daring act on the part of the ghost-girl.

Paula Sepúlveda (X)
Spain
Local time: 09:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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2 days 5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
no fear in her heart, though neither was there courage


Explanation:
I believe "temeridad" here means an "absence of fear" or "lack of fear", rather than "fearlessness", which is different.
And "pegado al pecho", "in the heart".
I doubt it's got anything to do with actual breasts, absent or present.
Interestingly, a very similar sentence can be found in another story online: "Es la atrocidad pegada al pecho, donde ya no hay pecho."
It's perhaps by the same author and one of her own particular lines.
http://www.elcinedeloqueyotediga.net/files/No te muevas cap....

Lester Tattersall
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:34
Native speaker of: English
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Reference comments


1 hr
Reference

Reference information:
Ontology is the philosophical study of being. More broadly, it studies concepts that directly relate to being, in particular becoming, existence, reality, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology
In ontology, the different kinds or ways of being are called categories of being; or simply categories - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_of_being

José Patrício
Portugal
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
neutral  Carol Gullidge: Sorry José, but you have me completely flummoxed! What is the relevance (or your translation of your earlier comment in the Discussion Box). This certainly does not explain it :((
4 hrs
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