Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
une première main
English translation:
in pristine condition
Added to glossary by
ormiston
Apr 4, 2007 11:14
17 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
Fast turnaround, professional results
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English
une première main
French to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
I'm currently translating a film script. Any idea what exactly is meant by the expression "une première main" in the following extract? Mamadou and Mme Pichon make these comments while watching Mme Pichon's son dance with the Chief of Police.
MAMADOU
Quelle chance il a mon frère ! C’est un canon cette femme commissaire, je suis sûr que c’est une première main.
MADAME PICHON (toute fière)
J’espère bien ! (Un instant puis): en tout cas c’est tout comme.
Mme Pichon et Mamadou se regardent et éclatent de rire
Thanks for your help!
MAMADOU
Quelle chance il a mon frère ! C’est un canon cette femme commissaire, je suis sûr que c’est une première main.
MADAME PICHON (toute fière)
J’espère bien ! (Un instant puis): en tout cas c’est tout comme.
Mme Pichon et Mamadou se regardent et éclatent de rire
Thanks for your help!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Selected
in pristine condition
too prudish ?! you could imagine a bit of nudge nudge wink wink !
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks for this suggestion. It tied in best with the context. "
+3
5 mins
first hand
This is one of these situations when we men compare women to cars ...
I am not 100% sure this translates literaly, but I believe I've heard it before.
I am not 100% sure this translates literaly, but I believe I've heard it before.
32 mins
jean-jacques alexandre
France
France
Native in French
Works in field
France
never lost in translation
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
has not been broken in
As mentioned by Jerome, we're in the automotive register. The "sexual" play on words is unavoidable anyway.
33 mins
Luisa Moura Almeida
Punctual, good quality
Native in: Portuguese , Dutch
Works in: Dutch to Portuguese, Portuguese to Dutch, Dutch to French, and 4 more.
see explanation
I agree with Jerome, they mean she's not "second-hand" material and hasn't been "used" a lot.
You could say "she's the real thing" (Mamadou) and "...as good as new" (Mme Pinchon)
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Note added at 34 mins (2007-04-04 11:49:00 GMT)
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or even "she's a real bargain"
You could say "she's the real thing" (Mamadou) and "...as good as new" (Mme Pinchon)
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Note added at 34 mins (2007-04-04 11:49:00 GMT)
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or even "she's a real bargain"
1 hr
not someone else's cast off
maybe this is going too far but it has the flavour
5 hrs
untouched goods
While totally deploring this sort of language myself, I would think this is another common way of putting it — not 'shopsoiled', in other words!
Mme Pichon's reply seems to suggest: "...or at least, only 'slightly soiled'" (though I'm not seriously proposing that as the translation!)
Mme Pichon's reply seems to suggest: "...or at least, only 'slightly soiled'" (though I'm not seriously proposing that as the translation!)
Discussion