Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
‘salade de bielles’
English translation:
the engine blew
Added to glossary by
Carol Gullidge
Sep 18, 2008 08:45
15 yrs ago
French term
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
‘salade de bielles’
French to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
motoring, rallying, engine problems
Context: description of the preparations for a Monte-Carlo rally (in the ice and snow). After all this, during the actual rally, this competitor had to "abandon ship" at Nogaro.
But what does "salade de bielles" mean? I know there's a BD by that name, but somehow think that this expression probably existed before the BD. In any case, this rally took place in 1955, although the interview may have come a little later...
There are several g-hits for this expression related to motors (planes or cars), which seem to indicate that the engine is about to conk out - if it hasn't already.
The quotation marks in the text are theirs, not mine.
Many thanks for any help!
___________
Il est vrai qu’il était minuit passé et que la route était entièrement verglacée. Après un tête-à-queue, je suis sortie de la Panhard et, aussitôt le pied par terre, je me suis retrouvée sur le dos ! Quelle patinoire ! Tous ces efforts seront vains. Pendant le rallye, ***--- ‘salade de bielles’ ---***à Nogaro. Nous sommes rentrés à Monaco en train.”
But what does "salade de bielles" mean? I know there's a BD by that name, but somehow think that this expression probably existed before the BD. In any case, this rally took place in 1955, although the interview may have come a little later...
There are several g-hits for this expression related to motors (planes or cars), which seem to indicate that the engine is about to conk out - if it hasn't already.
The quotation marks in the text are theirs, not mine.
Many thanks for any help!
___________
Il est vrai qu’il était minuit passé et que la route était entièrement verglacée. Après un tête-à-queue, je suis sortie de la Panhard et, aussitôt le pied par terre, je me suis retrouvée sur le dos ! Quelle patinoire ! Tous ces efforts seront vains. Pendant le rallye, ***--- ‘salade de bielles’ ---***à Nogaro. Nous sommes rentrés à Monaco en train.”
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Sep 18, 2008 09:38: writeaway changed "Field (specific)" from "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"
Proposed translations
10 hrs
Selected
kebabbed / skewered the engine
Con-rod kebab. Engine on a stick. My inventions.
I didn't know the expression, but it's what my mower engine did a while back: made a nasty noise then pushed a conrod through the side of the engine.
Nice description:
Jean-Jacques avait pris les choses en main. Ils se trouvaient maintenant à moins de 200 mètres de l'autre avion. Impossible de décoller! Il aurait fallu encore à peu près 50 mètres, et il était presque trop tard pour freiner et éviter l'accident. Il inversa les commandes. Il savait qu'ainsi, il DETRUISAIT LE MOTEUR, mais c'était la seule solution pour perdre le maximum de vitesse en un minimum de temps. Sans transition, le moelleux ronron du Laté 28 fit place à UNE PETARADANTE SALADE DE BIELLES. Il vira brusquement à gauche afin d'éviter l'obstacle. Il quitta la piste et l'appareil se mit à vibrer violemment. Dans le noir absolu, dans une direction inconnue de tous, ils se sentirent à la fois rassurés d'avoir pu éviter le Gloster, mais terriblement inquiets de ce qui les attendait désormais.
La BIELLE ROMPUE DEFONÇA LE MOTEUR, et une vapeur d'huile englua le pare-brise. A présent, la visibilité était nulle. Malgré tout, parfaitement calme, Jean-Jacques paraissait maîtriser la situation. Il coupa l'alluma¬ge. Une épaisse fumée noire se dégagea des ailes et acheva de l'aveugler.
http://marcelpineau.unblog.fr/2008/09/10/chapitres-xv-et-xvi...
We'd probably just say "blew the engine" though.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2008-09-18 19:36:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
i recently BLEW THE ENGINE of my (gen.5) Celica, (conrod snapped) :( and have been scouring the internet trying to find a source for a ...
toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34203
and every time the ROD BLEW, the engine was at idle. the first time around, ... I have had several of these engines and never had a problem with conrods ...
www.rc411.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-56.html
We were leading in our class until it dropped a valve and BLEW THE ENGINE; broke the crankshaft, con rods, and blew a hole in the oil pan. ...
www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2006/07/01/hmn_feature3.html
Anyhow he BLEW THE ENGINE up good, bent conrods, all pistons need replacing. So didn't leave a good taste in my mouth for merc quality, ...
phorums.com.au/archive/index.php/t-108474.html –
He left the nine mile at full throttle and BLEW THE ENGINE before he reached the timing traps. Although he failed on this attempt, he came back later in the week to set the record.
http://www.bryantauto.com/Burt Monro Story.html
[Burt Monro, another famous Kiwi]
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-09-18 20:47:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think it's substantially more serious than backfiring (which wouldn't have caused the car to pull out of the rally). Yes, a noise goes with it, like stones ratting VERY noisily in an empty can. Imagine that instead of lettuce leaves being tossed as a salad in a glass bowl, it's bits of broken metal, some of which are still being driven by what's left of the engine ...
I didn't know the expression, but it's what my mower engine did a while back: made a nasty noise then pushed a conrod through the side of the engine.
Nice description:
Jean-Jacques avait pris les choses en main. Ils se trouvaient maintenant à moins de 200 mètres de l'autre avion. Impossible de décoller! Il aurait fallu encore à peu près 50 mètres, et il était presque trop tard pour freiner et éviter l'accident. Il inversa les commandes. Il savait qu'ainsi, il DETRUISAIT LE MOTEUR, mais c'était la seule solution pour perdre le maximum de vitesse en un minimum de temps. Sans transition, le moelleux ronron du Laté 28 fit place à UNE PETARADANTE SALADE DE BIELLES. Il vira brusquement à gauche afin d'éviter l'obstacle. Il quitta la piste et l'appareil se mit à vibrer violemment. Dans le noir absolu, dans une direction inconnue de tous, ils se sentirent à la fois rassurés d'avoir pu éviter le Gloster, mais terriblement inquiets de ce qui les attendait désormais.
La BIELLE ROMPUE DEFONÇA LE MOTEUR, et une vapeur d'huile englua le pare-brise. A présent, la visibilité était nulle. Malgré tout, parfaitement calme, Jean-Jacques paraissait maîtriser la situation. Il coupa l'alluma¬ge. Une épaisse fumée noire se dégagea des ailes et acheva de l'aveugler.
http://marcelpineau.unblog.fr/2008/09/10/chapitres-xv-et-xvi...
We'd probably just say "blew the engine" though.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2008-09-18 19:36:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
i recently BLEW THE ENGINE of my (gen.5) Celica, (conrod snapped) :( and have been scouring the internet trying to find a source for a ...
toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34203
and every time the ROD BLEW, the engine was at idle. the first time around, ... I have had several of these engines and never had a problem with conrods ...
www.rc411.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-56.html
We were leading in our class until it dropped a valve and BLEW THE ENGINE; broke the crankshaft, con rods, and blew a hole in the oil pan. ...
www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2006/07/01/hmn_feature3.html
Anyhow he BLEW THE ENGINE up good, bent conrods, all pistons need replacing. So didn't leave a good taste in my mouth for merc quality, ...
phorums.com.au/archive/index.php/t-108474.html –
He left the nine mile at full throttle and BLEW THE ENGINE before he reached the timing traps. Although he failed on this attempt, he came back later in the week to set the record.
http://www.bryantauto.com/Burt Monro Story.html
[Burt Monro, another famous Kiwi]
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-09-18 20:47:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think it's substantially more serious than backfiring (which wouldn't have caused the car to pull out of the rally). Yes, a noise goes with it, like stones ratting VERY noisily in an empty can. Imagine that instead of lettuce leaves being tossed as a salad in a glass bowl, it's bits of broken metal, some of which are still being driven by what's left of the engine ...
Note from asker:
| Many thanks for this Bourth! In fact I like the ronron moelleux giving way to the petaradante salade de bielles, e.i., it sounds as though it is in fact a NOISE that is being talked about. Which is in keeping with Myriam's suggestion. Petaradante (lovely word!) seems to be backfiring, so perhaps that's it... ! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks Bourth! For all my searching, I've been unable to pin this down anything more precise than this. Although several
Your links were a great help in deciding this difficult-to-grade question.
"
11 mins
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
Spain
Spain
Specializes in field
Spain
Golf, Literature and Religion Specialist
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, Spanish
a piston rod mess
:)
Note from asker:
| many thanks BeaRH! I think this is the idea, although I'm looking for something more idiomatic, if possible. |
16 mins
engine is ruined
means the piston rod(s) went through the engine casing usually.
Note from asker:
| many thanks for the explanation Drmanu! I think this is the general idea. |
22 mins
Juliette Scott
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Over 20 years of satisfied clients
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Italian to English
the engine gave up
"SALADE DE BIELLES - Quelque chose que le moteur ne peut pas digérer et qui met en général fin au voyage. "
Can't find a nice "digestion" expression for a car!
Can't find a nice "digestion" expression for a car!
Note from asker:
| many thanks Juliette! I think "the engine gave up" probably sums it up. I also found that ref, but it's in a website containing just jokes, so felt it safer to ignore it. Although it does give the idea that one has to find an alternative means of transport - hence my "abandon ship!" metaphor... |
4 hrs
Colin Rowe
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
Par Excellence Translations
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
the (engine) rods were shot to pieces
One possible interpretation...
Many g-hits for "shot to pieces": some literal, others not!
Many g-hits for "shot to pieces": some literal, others not!
Example sentence:
So its looking like a 1971 frame with a 1972 engine, the frame is rough and the engine is shot to pieces and I haven't looked inside the gearbox yet, ...
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Many thanks Colin for this excellent suggestion! This has been very hard for me to grade... If only we could split the points! |
Reference comments
7 mins
Myriam Dupouy
France
France
Native in French
Works in field
France
Literary Translator-Nature Photographer
Native in: French
Works in: English to French, French
Reference:
En fait, je pense que cela veut dire que le moteur a des râtées car un truc passe de travers...En règle générale, ça arrive avec grand bruit et je me demande si c'est pas lié au fait d'avoir oublié de mettre de l'huile (enfin quand on est un peu manchote comme moi avec une voiture).
;o)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 days (2008-09-28 14:07:54 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Contente de voir que vous n'êtes plus dans la panade...Euh salade ;o)
;o)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 days (2008-09-28 14:07:54 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Contente de voir que vous n'êtes plus dans la panade...Euh salade ;o)
Note from asker:
| Many thanks Myriam. The problem I had with replying to this message has at last been fixed! |
Discussion
So it could that be the cylinder head gasket has blown