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Enveloppe risques 2009 and Gestion en extinction
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Jun 29, 2009 09:47
14 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term

jeune homme bien dans son époque

French to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Hi

The sentence reads: "Il a tous les attributs du jeune homme bien dans son époque." These "attributes" amount to jeans, a sweater and a taste for cocktails!

I started the sentence "He looks every inch..." then ground to a halt!

Thank you for your help.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +4 young man of his time
4 +2 'in tune with the times'
3 +1 essence/epitome
3 +1 he looks the part - young, contemporary and cool
3 at home in his time

Discussion

John Peterson Jun 30, 2009:
To Sandra I was just about to post on the coincidence. As to my morning activities - sweating rather than swimming, I'm afraid!
Sandra Petch (asker) Jun 30, 2009:
John Amazing coincidence (cf my entry posted simultaneously to yours). "Zeitgeist" came to me while swimming this morning. I have no problems with the word either!
John Peterson Jun 30, 2009:
zeitgeist? Although some people (wrongly, in my view) baulk at the use of zeitgeist in English, it might work here depending on the target readership. E.g. Young and cool and capturing the zeitgeist.
Sandra Petch (asker) Jun 30, 2009:
Final take I think the "dans son époque" as opposed to "de son époque" is important, as Emiledgar and John both say. I have gone with my own translation of "strikes a comfortably zeitgeisty figure." The style of the piece and the publication allow me to take certain liberties ;-) Many thanks to everyone for making suggestions and keeping the ball rolling.
Susan Nicholls Jun 29, 2009:
I think this is exactly what the French expression means if you take it to pieces. Fits his era well, even if he is not comfortable with it: an artist, musician or political activist can be "bien dans..." yet not happy with the status quo. The question is, is the French "fitting" (bien) equivalent to an English "tuning into" or "reflecting" - in other words, in the same context, what would we say? In general, I like to take fixed expressions as a whole rather than in pieces as it were... I am not convinced that I would opt for your more literal option for that reason.

Proposed translations

+2
14 mins

'in tune with the times'

I think any variantion on a translation like this would do. But then I suppose it could be translated differently if the passage isn't about a contemporary person. For exampe if it's set in the 80s you could well say 'straight from the 80s'!
Peer comment(s):
agree French Foodie : Snap! We were no doubt writing our answers at the same time :-)
29 mins
agree Fiorsam
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+1
10 mins

essence/epitome

Just brainstorming here - how about something like "he captures the essence of today's youth" or he is "the epitome of today's youth".

Or "every inch a young man in tune with the times"...

Not necessarily the perfect solution, just some thoughts to help get you "unstuck"... :-)

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Note added at 14 mins (2009-06-29 10:01:57 GMT)
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he is the face of today's youth
could be the poster boy for today's youth
Peer comment(s):
agree David Goward : Some good suggestions here.
9 mins
thanks David
Something went wrong...
+1
22 mins

he looks the part - young, contemporary and cool

A stab - I'm wondering if "bien dans son époque" is a vague allusion to "bien dans sa peau", hence the cool (implying relaxed as well as fashionable) bit.
Peer comment(s):
agree Miranda Joubioux (X) : I like "he looks the part" it goes well with the context.
35 mins
thanks
neutral Julie Barber : I think this adds to it a bit too much....\ mmm more not than maybe though hee hee ;-)
48 mins
Thanks: maybe, maybe not
Something went wrong...
1 hr

at home in his time

.
Something went wrong...
+4
36 mins

young man of his time

Tout simplement.
Every inch a young man of his time would be fine to my ears.
(This is really just a variation on Richard Hensell's suggestion above.)

"bien dans son époque" is a relatively common expression which can refer to a contemporary or an historical context.

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Note added at 11 hrs (2009-06-29 21:35:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thoughts I think I am probably wrong about this. I've seen a few contexts where the meaning suggested the person concerned was "of" their time but not comfortable with it, but then expressions are not always used accurately. Probably what I suggested would be OK, but I think perhaps "at home in his era" might be more accurate. Apologies but I am no longer "at ease" with my answer...!
Example sentence:

It reveals Einstein to be very much a young man of his time-draft dodger, self-styled bohemian, poet, violinist, and cocky, charismatic genius

Reference:

http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Love.../0141002212

Note from asker:
Hi Susan and thanks for your idea. This was floating around in my mind when I posted the question but I wondered if it caught the "bien" / "at ease" aspect of the French?
Peer comment(s):
agree Julie Barber
36 mins
Thanks Julie
agree Anne-Marie Grant (X) : nice
1 hr
Thank you Anne-Marie
agree rogerbaker
1 hr
Thank you Roger
agree Irene McClure
1 hr
Thank you savtrad
neutral emiledgar : This is "dans son temps", not " de son temps", so "at ease in his time" , not "of his time."
9 hrs
I agree with you about the distinction you are making concerning the French, yes.
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