May 23, 2017 12:21
6 yrs ago
7 viewers *
English term
Cotton ball in my head
English
Art/Literary
Other
Hi,
I was wondering about the meaning of “cotton ball” in the following passage. I think the author refers to an actual "cotton ball" like the ones shown here
https://www.google.it/search?q="cotton ball "&noj=1&source=l...
since he later says that he knows it might make no sense...
What's your opinion?
Thanks in advance for any hint!
***
I’d rather be sleeping right now, but my mind is abuzz, not so much with ideas as a sense of something, set of images, feeling in my body, ** a cotton ball in my head ** that needs expression somehow.
I know that makes no sense—a cotton ball in need of expression—but that is simply what it feels like.
I was wondering about the meaning of “cotton ball” in the following passage. I think the author refers to an actual "cotton ball" like the ones shown here
https://www.google.it/search?q="cotton ball "&noj=1&source=l...
since he later says that he knows it might make no sense...
What's your opinion?
Thanks in advance for any hint!
***
I’d rather be sleeping right now, but my mind is abuzz, not so much with ideas as a sense of something, set of images, feeling in my body, ** a cotton ball in my head ** that needs expression somehow.
I know that makes no sense—a cotton ball in need of expression—but that is simply what it feels like.
Responses
+4
6 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
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English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
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a fuzzy feeling in my head
It's a metaphor - literally it means a ball of cotton as in your link. The feeling is difficult to define, like the fluffy outlines of the cotton.
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Note added at 10 mins (2017-05-23 12:32:21 GMT)
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If you're translating this into Italian, I would have thought "batuffolo di cotone" would work fine.
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Note added at 10 mins (2017-05-23 12:32:21 GMT)
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If you're translating this into Italian, I would have thought "batuffolo di cotone" would work fine.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Phil, for your help! I was also thinking of translating literally as "batuffolo di cotone" or maybe, since the author is American, "batuffolo di ovatta" |
| Thank you very much for your help! Have a nice evening! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much!
Have a nice week!"
26 mins
muddled up tangle of general arousal, emotions and vague imagery
The author uses the cotton(wool) ball metaphor to describe a state of unspecific mental and physical arousal that stops him from sleeping.
''in need of expression'' suggests that that arousal/fuzzy agitation could be dealt with if it could be expressed.
'Expression' feels like a very clever choice here as it could mean both 'articulate, specify' and 'get rid of, expel'.
He then questions his choice of metaphor: ''I know that makes no sense—a cotton ball in need of expression'' but concedes it IS the best *expression* of his state he can offer.
''in need of expression'' suggests that that arousal/fuzzy agitation could be dealt with if it could be expressed.
'Expression' feels like a very clever choice here as it could mean both 'articulate, specify' and 'get rid of, expel'.
He then questions his choice of metaphor: ''I know that makes no sense—a cotton ball in need of expression'' but concedes it IS the best *expression* of his state he can offer.
Note from asker:
| thank you, Magdadh, for your contribution! |
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