This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
fait son identité
chantier-type

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

s’en est pris plein la gueule

English translation:

really got it in the neck / got a right bollocking / took a lot of stick

Added to glossary by Tony M
May 16, 2019 21:01
4 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

s’en est pris plein la gueule

French to English Other Slang
"le mec de X s’en est pris plein la gueule par [several people at a meeting]"

This is quoted in a lawsuit. It seems that the people at the meeting were complaining about a lack of support in a text message. The context of the message is very casual. Slang is not my forte. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 really got it in the neck
4 +6 they came down on him like a ton of bricks
5 +1 shouted down/ got an earful
4 +1 (BrE) get a right mouthful; (AmE) get (one's) as* kicked
4 +1 Took it right in the face
3 +2 took/got (a lot of) stick
3 got it in the neck
3 (X received) a lot of complaints / a lot of complaints were made (about X)
Change log

May 21, 2019 05:40: Tony M changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/1468855">Dareth Pray's</a> old entry - "s’en est pris plein la gueule"" to ""really got it in the neck/got a right bollocking""

May 21, 2019 05:41: Tony M changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/14723">Tony M's</a> old entry - "s’en est pris plein la gueule"" to ""really got it in the neck / got a right bollocking""

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): GILLES MEUNIER

When entering new questions, KudoZ askers are given an opportunity* to classify the difficulty of their questions as 'easy' or 'pro'. If you feel a question marked 'easy' should actually be marked 'pro', and if you have earned more than 20 KudoZ points, you can click the "Vote PRO" button to recommend that change.

How to tell the difference between "easy" and "pro" questions:

An easy question is one that any bilingual person would be able to answer correctly. (Or in the case of monolingual questions, an easy question is one that any native speaker of the language would be able to answer correctly.)

A pro question is anything else... in other words, any question that requires knowledge or skills that are specialized (even slightly).

Another way to think of the difficulty levels is this: an easy question is one that deals with everyday conversation. A pro question is anything else.

When deciding between easy and pro, err on the side of pro. Most questions will be pro.

* Note: non-member askers are not given the option of entering 'pro' questions; the only way for their questions to be classified as 'pro' is for a ProZ.com member or members to re-classify it.

Discussion

Dareth Pray (asker) May 21, 2019:
Clarification of "mec" @Daryo and @Ph_B In this case, "X" was the name of the company. I see how that was not clear. I should have put X (company name) or something like that. Thanks everyone for their input.
Adrian MM. May 17, 2019:
Le mec vs. copain I also read it Ph_B's way, namely that bloke, guy. geezer or (even possibly in Irish) 'Mick' from co. X.
Ph_B (X) May 17, 2019:
mec could possibly describe X's boyfriend, although I can't quite see the relevance here, but it is not unusual for it to mean someone employed by a company - especially given the type of French that's spoken here. Le mec de l'EDF, i's'en est pris plein la gueule quand i'm'a salopé mon entrée." Now, that's genuine French for you! :-)
Daryo May 17, 2019:
another element ... if you are not familiar with French slang, you might miss that:

"le mec de X" would be the boyfriend of "X"

so this "meeting" doesn't seem to be any kind of formal meeting, as "X's boyfriend" are not what you would expect in a list of participants in some formal meeting, especially not when referred to as "le mec".
B D Finch May 17, 2019:
@philgoddard Blighter? I never imagined that you were from my Dad's generation!
Charles Davis May 17, 2019:
@Tony Point taken, but the agent is mentioned, albeit not here by name: "par [several people at a meeting]".
Tony M May 17, 2019:
@ Charles Regarding "getting a right bollocking" from multiple people — yes, of course, when they are specific people; and oif asker's text had gone on to say "...from everyone else present at the meeting", I'd tend to agree; but to me, it sits rather more awkwardly where there is no agent mentioned.
Charles Davis May 17, 2019:
@Ph-B The look of shock and horror could perhaps have been at the prospect of having to explain to you what bollocks are. If they were really shocked by the expression itself they must have been extremely genteel, which is of course possible.
Ph_B (X) May 17, 2019:
Charles, Adrian Thank you for your agreement. I based my "getting a right bollocking" in my initial post on what I heard from my first tutor group years ago, even though it was a rather top of the league state 6th Form college. I didn't know what it meant, so guess what? I asked my colleagues in the queue while we were waiting for our tea in the staffroom at break. Half of them burst out laughing and half of them looked shocked and horrified. The term and what it refers to were quickly explained to me and no, I didn't feel embarrassed. That's how you learn languages. Anyway, Dareth has made her decision and explained why, so fair enough. Thanks anyway.
Charles Davis May 17, 2019:
@Adrian I don't see why not. I don't think people are thinking of the anatomical origin of the phrase when they use it, and examples of women said to get bollockings are not hard to find. Indeed, you can even talk about a woman getting a kick in the balls; it's a metaphor. "Rollocking" for "bollocking" is just a way of softening it slightly, in the manner of a "minced oath"; I don't think it's systematically used for women.
Michele Fauble May 17, 2019:
‘to come down on someone like a ton of bricks’ works for both BE and AmE
Adrian MM. May 17, 2019:
@ Charles D. & Ph-B - le mec torn off a strip Cries of sexism, but can a female receive a right 'bollocking'? My experience is that the term subtly changes to rhyming slang of 'right rollocking'.
Charles Davis May 17, 2019:
@Ph-B I think you have a valid and important point about the register, and I was actually about to post "got a right bollocking" as an answer, but I notice Adrian's response to your comment inviting you to do so, and since you were the first to mention it I endorse his suggestion. I think it's just right here. I would add "right": "got a right bollocking from..."

Tony says it is suitable for a one-on-one situation but sounds odd in a group situation, but I don't think this is true. Bollockings are most often individual, in the nature of things, but it seems perfectly natural to me to say that someone got a bollocking from more than one person. If you search for "got a right bollocking" you'll find examples:

"I got a right bollocking from the ABA officials"
"He got a right bollocking from Joe and Mick after the show"
"I got a right bollocking from my advisors"
"But I said this before and got a right bollocking from some folks"
"If I did it when I was playing I would have got a right bollocking from my team-mates and my manager"
And so on.
Dareth Pray (asker) May 17, 2019:
I am inclined to agree with Phil on this one, keeping in mind that this is supposed to be British English and I am American so what do I know about how strong "get it in the neck" would sound in BE. There is something about the phrasing in French that does sound somewhat more vulgar to me. In American English, I might go with something like, "tore him a new one." That said, I am going to go with "really got it in the neck" because there seems to be some consensus there and I try to avoid using obscenities wherever possible. I don't think it will have an impact on the translation if the register is lightened slightly to avoid causing offense because this quote is not that critical to the case. Thanks to everyone for their help!
Ph_B (X) May 17, 2019:
Just to say that I chose not to use the word "vulgar". To me it's "(very) strong" language. I can understand why you use 'intensifier', but I didn't give gueule * or **, R&C did :-) And while I wouldn't mind using "in the neck" in any kind of context (but may be wrong - I'm not a native speaker), I'd check who I'm with before I use s'en prendre plein la gueule. Gueule can be acceptable as such in many cases, but s'en prendre plein la gueule puts a different slant on it.[ADDED] I accept that the ex. I used may not have been the right ones; this is typically the kind of thing that only confident native speakers should deal with. My point was to try to show how strong the French is.
Tony M May 17, 2019:
@ Ph_B I totally understand what you mean, but I don't believe here using a vulgar intensifier would be in-register; the fact that 'gueule' is considered surprisingly (to us EN!) vulgar in FR hardly justifies adding an obscenity as an intensifier: the FR does not say 'sa putaine de gueule', for example.
I think one of the issues here is that it is not the same situation as one person getting roundly told off by their boss (passer un savon, etc.) — here this seems to be a general clamour against this person (or persons), hence the sentence being turned round to be effectively "passive".
"really getting it in the neck" is to my mind about the strongest way it could be expressed in BE, without the use of obscenen intensifiers. "Got a bollocking" might be suitable for a one-on-one situation (boss / savon), but sounds odd in a group situation; "got hauled over the coals", similarly. "Got his ass kicked" would be more appropriate in AE, but not really usable in BE.
"Got some stick" / "took a load of flak" (or "came in for...") are other expressions along the same lines, but again would seem to me too weak here.
Ph_B (X) May 17, 2019:
You're all so polite :-) Assuming this is from France, s'en prendre plein la gueule really is strong language, even metaphorically (e.g. very strong criticism) and even if no blows were exchanged. S'en prendre plein la gueule leaves nothing to imagination - think torn lips, broken teeth, bloody cheeks, the lot! Just try to picture it. In that sort of situation, I always refer back to when I was teaching in the UK. Plein la gueule would definitely not be used publicly by a member of staff in a French school, whereas as far I know anything with “talking to”/”in the neck”, etc. could be used in a UK school - and sounds oh so civilised :-). This is probably how a French student would brag about being seriously told off by a teacher or how a worker would tell her/his mates s-he just got a right bollocking from the boss. I don’t know enough about US English slang to suggest anything, but if this were for the UK, I feel that sthg like ‘fuckin’, 'bollocking', 'bugger' or 'damn' at the very least would be part of the answer. Check the number of * or even ** gueule gets in R&C. I would add that if this appears in a lawsuit (testimony?), using the right tone/level could be important.
Dareth Pray (asker) May 17, 2019:
Hi Lara. as I explained, the phrase refers to people complaining at a meeting to a certain individual, the "bloke" from X. There is no further context that pertains to this verbatim quote.
Lara Barnett May 17, 2019:
@Dareth But you are leaving no context to the situation. Maybe you can use false names or something? It is possible to give a general guide to what is going on without exposing the confidentiall details. For example, what this phrase relates to, the level or intensity etc
Adrian MM. May 16, 2019:
assumption of civilis/zed and civil behavio(u)r Can we assume that this mec/BE bloke - AE guy had merely received a 'tongue-lashing' and had not been set upon and beaten up by the angry crowd? Meetings in some countries do not always end non-violently.
Eliza Hall May 16, 2019:
Agree with "talking to" Not "got ass kicked" per Adrian, but "mouthful" or "talking to" per Adrian or Phil Goddard.
philgoddard May 16, 2019:
British English Blighter was given a jolly good talking to :-)
Dareth Pray (asker) May 16, 2019:
Hi Lara. Unfortunately, I can't give more context without giving away too many confidential details. There is virtually no other context anyway. It is one sentence quoted verbatim in the middle of a legal argument.
Lara Barnett May 16, 2019:
@ Dareth It would help if you could show the sentence before and after, or even a bit more than that.
Dareth Pray (asker) May 16, 2019:
British English Also, I forgot to mention that this is British English, and I am American, so I am in particular need of advice on this one. I have no problems with legal British English but I avoid translating colloquial language. Thanks!

Proposed translations

+7
9 mins
Selected

really got it in the neck

That's indeed the sense of it: the FR says 'full in the face', but the idea is the same; however, this is also the same colloquial register, which would sound very out of place in a Court document in EN!! Is it possible this is a verbatim quote from a witness, say?
Otherwise, you might need to say "was severely / roundly taken to task" etc. for a more formal rendering of the same idea.
Note from asker:
Yes, exactly it is a verbatim quote. Thanks for the input!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard
1 hr
Thanks, Phil!
agree Margaret Morrison
1 hr
Thanks, Margaret!
neutral Ph_B (X) : Agree that's what it means, but is it strong enough?/OK, but type of language? As said in discussion, this sounds v. civilised :-)
8 hrs
Hi Ph! Yes, I believe it is exactly the same strength (hence the 'really') as the FR, assuming, of course, we are talking verbally rather than physically!
agree Trevino Translations (X) : This may be a UK term as I'd never heard it before. ")
9 hrs
Thanks, Trevino! Quite likely, as i'm a Brit.
agree Louise TAYLOR : Agreed.
9 hrs
Thanks, Louise!
neutral Charles Davis : I'm with Ph-B on this. I don't think it's the same strength as the French.
10 hrs
Thanks, Charles! I'm finding it difficult to come up with anything else stronger without resorting to vulgarities; 'gueule' is common and considered vulgar in FR, but these days "plein la gueule" is almost banal, you hear it all the time.
agree liz askew
11 hrs
Thanks, Liz!
agree Conor Jarrett
12 hrs
Thanks, Conor!
agree Gareth Callagy
15 hrs
Thanks, Gareth!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
25 mins

got it in the neck

Got it in the neck, or if they were superior to him maybe - he got a rocket or a bollocking, they tore him off a strip


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2019-05-16 21:27:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Ah sorry Tony was mulling it over and you got in there!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Ph_B (X) : Same comment as for Tony.
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
43 mins
French term (edited): s’en prendre plein la gueule

(BrE) get a right mouthful; (AmE) get (one's) as* kicked

Also in Harrap's: get one's face smashed in - the only context I have come across with French cousins once schooled at a Lycée in Paris that shall remain nameless.
Reference:

www.wordreference.com/fren/s'en prendre plein la gueule

Peer comment(s):
neutral Ph_B (X) : I sympathise with your cousins (same Paris lycée?) but still think it's a bit stronger than that.
7 hrs
I agree about the strength. Yes, 3 of them (and I too for non-blackeyed stints!) at the same Paris lycée as each other - query: as yours...//Pls. post your 'right bollocking' answer I had been too scared to. It literally doesn't pull any 'punches'.
agree Verginia Ophof
1 day 0 min
Thanks, merci, obrigado and - dank u!
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

shouted down/ got an earful

The person received harsh criticism in response to a statement.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I don't think "shouted down" would work here — it is in danger of over-interpretation; 'earful', however, I would support. / "Shouted down" suggests more 'couper la parole'
7 hrs
agree Ph_B (X) : that "shouted down" gets close to plein la gueule if used metaphorically.
7 hrs
neutral Conor Jarrett : 'Got a real earful' might work, but you need something for 'plein'.
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

Took it right in the face

A thought or expression used when you have an expectation that is crushed beyond misery.
-A plan that meets an extreme disappointment.
-A Complete shock or surprise.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2019-05-16 23:07:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It can also be used when someone receives a harsh reprimand/ is publicly humiliated
Example sentence:

Jack came up with a brilliant idea, but when he submitted it to the boss, he took it right in the face when his “brilliant” idea was considered unable to wash.

He took it right in the face after discovering that his girlfriend had cheated on him.

Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : Doesn't sound natural / idiomatic to me in EN — 'to take something right in the face' really suggests a physical action, like someone throwing a custard pie!
6 hrs
I thoroughly understand your point, but you should not forget that the meaning of an idiom may not sometimes be the same as it was once it appeared for the first time. They evolve. We will be needing some more details if possible.
agree Trevino Translations (X) : I'd never heard of this one, either. ")
7 hrs
neutral B D Finch : Never heard of that as an "idiom". Can you produce any backing for its use as such?
4 days
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

(X received) a lot of complaints / a lot of complaints were made (about X)

Just another suggestion, as sometimes replacing idiom with idiom does not clarify meaning.
Something went wrong...
+6
11 hrs

they came down on him like a ton of bricks

If someone comes down on you like a ton of bricks, they are extremely angry with you and tell you off because of something wrong that you have done.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-come...
Peer comment(s):
agree writeaway : works well for US English at least (and asker is in the US)
16 mins
thanks
agree Lara Barnett : To me this sounds more natural than any of the other choices, and more conversational.
2 hrs
thanks
agree Eliza Hall : I like this one for its tone.
4 hrs
thanks
agree ormiston
5 hrs
thanks
agree Rachel Fell : also used in the UK
10 hrs
thanks
agree GILLES MEUNIER : meilleure réponse
1 day 18 hrs
merci
Something went wrong...
+2
3 days 5 hrs

took/got (a lot of) stick

To receive strong criticism, disapproval, or judgment (for something).

Focus here is on the criticism and backlash received, which might fit this context.

Examples:
I took a lot of stick from my parents over my decision to pursue a degree in art, rather than law or medicine.
I'm going to take stick from my boss for that accounting error I made last week.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : I think this is one of the few that works well with 'from several people' in Asker's context here
1 day 3 hrs
Thanks Tony!
agree B D Finch
1 day 12 hrs
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search