Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
красиво жить не запретишь
English translation:
There's no law against sitting pretty/There's no crime...
Added to glossary by
Judith Hehir
Aug 14, 2009 21:17
14 yrs ago
Russian term
красиво жить не запретишь
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
a common wisdom familiar to most Russian/Soviet people. I just want to explain in a concise and expressive form to a U.S. audience what we mean by that.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Aug 17, 2009 13:08: Judith Hehir Created KOG entry
Aug 24, 2009 23:58: Judith Hehir changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1088035">Judith Hehir's</a> old entry - "красиво жить не запретишь"" to ""There's no law against sitting pretty/There's no crime...""
Proposed translations
+7
6 hrs
Selected
There's no law against sitting pretty/There's no crime...
in sitting pretty
Note from asker:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/17/sitting-pretty/ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10585769 |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Rachel Douglas
: That sounds fine! (Somehow what came to my mind was Sir Toby Belch: "Dost thou think because thou art virtuous, that there shall be no more cakes and ale?" But, different context and nuances.
1 hr
|
Thank you, Rachel. I thought I thanked you earlier, but apparently it didn't register. You are a treasure house of sayings and such.
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agree |
koundelev
3 hrs
|
Tahnks for your support, George.
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agree |
Lyonka
5 hrs
|
Thank you, Lyonka.
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agree |
Sergey Gurinovich
8 hrs
|
Thank you, Sergey.
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agree |
Eng-Rus/Rus-Eng
: I am learning, I am learning! :)
12 hrs
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Hurray for learning. Me, too. Thanks.
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agree |
Victor Zagria
: подождите, не так быстро! Я записываю..:))
12 hrs
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I see. I see. Thank you, Victor.
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agree |
Mikhail Korolev
12 hrs
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Thanks, klp.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I do not usually join the majority but this is a clear case. Judith has also provided an equivalent to another illustrous Russian movie quote (хорошо сидим) -- 2 in 1!
My final version is closer to the original wording:
<br>No way to forbid sitting pretty<br>"
12 mins
You cannot afford to be poor
It is just an idea. I found this phrase on the Internet. I feel, this version renders the meaning of this Russian phrase.
+1
36 mins
it is not illegal to live the good life
***
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Tatiana Willemsen-Golyandrina
: Even though I have given my own version, I would like to acknowledge that yours is far better!
32 mins
|
thank you
|
46 mins
Living wealthy and good.... who can prohibit that?
nobody...
+2
49 mins
Can't stop someone from flaunting their wealth...
Thanks Angela!
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Angela Greenfield
19 mins
|
Thanks Angela!
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agree |
Irina Romanova-Wasike
1 hr
|
Thanks Irina!
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neutral |
danya
: not necessarily wealth, the Russian phrase has a broader application
6 hrs
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53 mins
Living well is the best revenge
This isn't a translation or even an exact equivalent, of course -- just a similar saying. It is attributed to George Herbert (1593-1633) and, more recently, has been used as the title of an R.E.M. song, a bestseller by Calvin Tomkins about Gerald and Sara Murphy (F. Scott Fitzgerald based his novel "Tender is the Night" on them.), at least one blog, and who knows what else. It doesn't imply revenge in any kind of vindictive way.
Here's a quote from the blurb about the Tomkins' book:
"It tells the story of Gerald and Sara Murphy, whose home and lifestyle in France (and later, here in the US), was legendary and set a standard that many sought to emulate and fictionalize. . ." [http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/living-well-is-t...]
Here's a quote from the blurb about the Tomkins' book:
"It tells the story of Gerald and Sara Murphy, whose home and lifestyle in France (and later, here in the US), was legendary and set a standard that many sought to emulate and fictionalize. . ." [http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/living-well-is-t...]
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Andrey Belousov (X)
: Living well is the best - i totally agree with these words, where I find the last word out of tune.
7 mins
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I understand, but as I said, it's just a similar - and familiar - saying.
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1 hr
to strive for quality of life is human
...
4 hrs
Living a life of wealth and abundance cannot be prohibited
http://www.helium.com/items/1431450-the-path-to-becoming-a-m...
People dream of living a life of wealth and abundance. They imagine beautiful homes, exotic vacations, expensive cars, and a life free from the everyday stress of budgeting monthly bills and expenses. They dream of becoming a millionaire, and all of the comforts and privileges that come with it. But most people only dream, never taking the initiative to make their dreams become reality.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-08-15 01:25:16 GMT)
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Or, ...is a prevailing human desire.
People dream of living a life of wealth and abundance. They imagine beautiful homes, exotic vacations, expensive cars, and a life free from the everyday stress of budgeting monthly bills and expenses. They dream of becoming a millionaire, and all of the comforts and privileges that come with it. But most people only dream, never taking the initiative to make their dreams become reality.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-08-15 01:25:16 GMT)
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Or, ...is a prevailing human desire.
+1
4 hrs
champagne taste on a beer budget
I might be mistaken, but I always thought that this phrase has actually nothing to do with wealth. It has to do with spending more money than you have, or wanting more than you can afford. So I think something like champagne taste on a beer budget is quite idiomatic and has the same connotation. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/champagne taste...
Note from asker:
Вы уловили суть, с моей точки зрения. |
+1
7 hrs
you cannot forbide the rich to show they are rich
или
you cannot teach the rich to be modest
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Note added at 9 hrs (2009-08-15 06:18:16 GMT)
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*forbid без "e"
you cannot teach the rich to be modest
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Note added at 9 hrs (2009-08-15 06:18:16 GMT)
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*forbid без "e"
18 hrs
La Bella Vita, for ever!
"...Я люблю тебя, жизнь, и
надеюсь, что это взаимно..." "Да чтоб у нас все было, а за это нам и ничего не было!"
надеюсь, что это взаимно..." "Да чтоб у нас все было, а за это нам и ничего не было!"
+1
17 hrs
there ain't no rap 'gainst livin' it up
... yeah, dude!
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Note added at 21 hrs (2009-08-15 19:04:05 GMT)
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You can simply put "living well is not illegal", but it's so pedestrian...
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Note added at 21 hrs (2009-08-15 19:04:05 GMT)
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You can simply put "living well is not illegal", but it's so pedestrian...
Discussion
- La bella vita, baby..
Красиво жить не запретишь!
Выражение стало популярным после выхода фильма «Красиво жить не запретишь» (1983), снятого режиссером А. Васильевым по сценарию Валентина Константиновича Черныха (р.1935).
Используется как иронический комментарий к образу жизни, манерам и т. д. людей, которые полагают, что они живут «красиво» и весьма этим гордятся.
Well, that's how we say such things in English anyway.
there's no crime in sitting pretty
"Money doesn't bring you happiness. but at least you can be miserable in comfort".
Tevah_Trans: Maybe you should post your suggestion about "flaunting your wealth". It makes sense and fits the context. IMHO