belly-grin

Russian translation: едва не распорол живот острием кинжала

00:21 Jan 18, 2021
English to Russian translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Historical detective novel set in New York in 1702.
English term or phrase: belly-grin
The enigmatic swordsman, Count Anton Mannerheim Dahlgren, who'd so nearly slashed Matthew a ***belly-grin*** with the point of a dagger. (This sentence refers to the previous book of the series, in which the fight is described as follows:

"As Matthew fought for his life, he had one thing in mind.
Something Hudson Greathouse had said.
You’ll someday cross swords with a villain who’ll long to get a short blade in your belly. You’ll know him, when the time comes.
Matthew knew him.
He saw Dahlgren’s left hand go under the waistcoat. He grabbed at the wrist to trap it, but another blow from the hilt rattled his brains. Where was Dahlgren’s hand? Panic flared in him. Where was-
Suddenly Dahlgren’s hand emerged. It had six fingers, one formed of steel and deadly sharp.
With a whuff of air and a burst of demonic strength, the Count drove his hidden dagger squarely into Matthew’s stomach.
There was a sudden loud crack. No more, no less.
Dahlgren screamed like a woman. He fell back, the dagger dangling and then dropping from the hand that hung off a broken wrist. His rapier also clattered to the floor. His eyes were wide with shock, and perhaps they widened even farther when Matthew reached under his own waistcoat and pulled out the silver fruit tray-about the size of an open hand-that he’d slid down to protect his belly from the dagger attack that Greathouse had warned him in the wisdom of experience to anticipate.
One thing could be said about Dahlgren, Matthew thought. The man certainly kept his thumb locked down.")
Alexander Alexandrov
Russian Federation
Local time: 04:54
Russian translation:едва не распорол живот острием кинжала
Explanation:
So nearly (едва в моем переводе) подчеркивает разницу между "воткнуть кинжал" и именно "распороть", т.е. продолжить движение и разъединить ткани, оставив открытую щель. Кинжал был только воткнут, судя по прежнему описанию. Ну а после этого на животе останется шрам-"улыбочка", отсюда и belly-grin. Да это Вам самому понятно, так, рассуждаю вслух. Ну до чего емкое выражение, просто восхитительно! Наверное, можно пофантазировать насчет "улыбки на память", но пока получается так слабенько, что конкретно предлагать не буду. Но обещаю подумать.
Selected response from:

IrinaN
United States
Local time: 20:54
Grading comment
Спасибо, Ирина! Да, тоже думаю в этом направлении.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4едва не прочертил на животе Мэтью кровавую улыбку
Lena Gavrilyuk
3едва не распорол живот острием кинжала
IrinaN


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
едва не распорол живот острием кинжала


Explanation:
So nearly (едва в моем переводе) подчеркивает разницу между "воткнуть кинжал" и именно "распороть", т.е. продолжить движение и разъединить ткани, оставив открытую щель. Кинжал был только воткнут, судя по прежнему описанию. Ну а после этого на животе останется шрам-"улыбочка", отсюда и belly-grin. Да это Вам самому понятно, так, рассуждаю вслух. Ну до чего емкое выражение, просто восхитительно! Наверное, можно пофантазировать насчет "улыбки на память", но пока получается так слабенько, что конкретно предлагать не буду. Но обещаю подумать.

IrinaN
United States
Local time: 20:54
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Спасибо, Ирина! Да, тоже думаю в этом направлении.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
едва не прочертил на животе Мэтью кровавую улыбку


Explanation:
как вариант: «едва не рассек живот в кровавую ухмылку»

Lena Gavrilyuk
Local time: 03:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search