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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

bête curieuse

English translation:

object of curiosity

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2009-10-11 14:54:06 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Oct 8, 2009 14:15
14 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term

bête curieuse

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
"J'ai bien sûr fait office de bête curieuse, même s'ils sont habitués aux volontaires. Mais les gosses t'acceptent vite, et je pense que d'ici peu je ferai partie du décor, comme les deux autres volontaires qui sont là depuis plusieurs mois,"
C'est dans un endroit reculé, petit village maya au milieu de nulle part, ils sont foncés, petits et trapus, je suis grand mince et blond, cheveux longs et barbe. Ils me dévisagent et parlent de moi quand je suis dans le coin.
Comment dit-on ça en anglais?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 object of curiosity
3 +3 a sore thumb
3 +2 the local curiosity/oddity
4 queer fish
4 a/some freak of nature
3 oddball
3 the village freak
2 newcomer
2 [attracted a fair bit of] novelty value

Discussion

Lucy-Jane Michel Oct 8, 2009:
'Bearded lady' did go through my head, but no, it wasn't that either...been going round in head all evening!
Travelin Ann Oct 8, 2009:
"bearded woman" - doesn't work for this translation, I don't think, but could be what you are searching for for English and the circus sideshow
Carol Gullidge Oct 8, 2009:
POV remember that you have to look at it from the point of view of the Mayans, and their limited experience of the outside world - so nothing too sophisticated...
Lucy-Jane Michel Oct 8, 2009:
I wasn't thinking of freak show, but I like your suggestion Cath!
Cath St Clair (X) Oct 8, 2009:
freak show? is that what's on the tip of your tongue? ;) Problem with that one is, I think it implies more than one person... so perhaps "one-man freak show"?
Lucy-Jane Michel Oct 8, 2009:
I'm sure there's an English equivalent, something to do with the circus, or fairground or something...it's on the tip of my tongue...circus freak sounds a bit too pejorative, but I'm sure there's something similar...

Proposed translations

+4
3 hrs
Selected

object of curiosity

many good suggestions but honestly here I'd go with this more prosaic version, 'tout bêtement' ! I don't pick up any sense of hostility in the onlookers from the citation - just (open-mouthed) curiosity
Peer comment(s):
agree Sheila Wilson : absolutely the one for me - neutral and correct without being stilted
44 mins
thanks Sheila (from Sheila)
agree liz askew : This is exactly my own conclusion (see 44 minutes). Freak in any shape or form is completely over the top.
1 hr
thanks Liz - and only just read your added comments to the end. Sorry I missed your conclusion!
agree Susan Nicholls : entirely agree with other comments here
1 hr
neutral Lucy-Jane Michel : IMO doesn't quite reflect the French, although I agree freak is over the top.
3 hrs
agree Lianne Wilson
14 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
18 mins

queer fish

one of many possibilities, "bit of a freak" being another

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Note added at 20 mins (2009-10-08 14:35:46 GMT)
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or simply "odd one out"

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Note added at 23 mins (2009-10-08 14:38:54 GMT)
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Oh dear, that makes me feel old, because it's something I'd say. I think "freak" in the hippy sense is old fashioned, but I would have thought calling someone who stands out a bit of a freak was pretty current.

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Note added at 25 mins (2009-10-08 14:40:51 GMT)
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what about "a curiosity" or an "object of curiosity"?
Note from asker:
I like it, but looking around on google I found this: Note: This is a very old-fashioned idiom. You might hear it in old movies, or read it in old novels, or you might even hear elderly people using it, but you probably shouldn't try using it yourself. So, should I?
I can't choose between queer fish and a bit of a freak! But it's the best answer, thanks a lot! Sorry to make you feel old!
a curiosity is the closest thing to it, but I find it not enough poetic. Anyway I will keep one of your answers!
Peer comment(s):
agree HugoSteckel : I like "bit of a freak"
1 min
thanks, I think I like that one best too, in the context
agree Lucy-Jane Michel : yes, but I'd avoid the use of the word 'queer'! I hate all the PC stuff, but...
7 mins
I've been leaning towards 'bit of a freak' or 'curiosity'
neutral Carol Gullidge : queer fish has negative connotations that I don't think are implied here (and nothing at all to do with PC!). It implies something a bit sinister or odd, and has no bearing on appearance
18 mins
I know, which is why I tended towards the bit of a freak/curiosity in later postings
neutral liz askew : I agree with Carol.
27 mins
see my comment on Carol's note
disagree philgoddard : Queer fish sounds about 30 years out of date.
11 hrs
disagree Lianne Wilson : 'Queer fish' is too old and 'freak' is too strong.
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
26 mins

the local curiosity/oddity

even though they were used to volunteers, I stood out like someone from outer space
Peer comment(s):
agree liz askew : I think this is more the tone.
21 mins
agree maxwell kayode oke : even though they were used to volunteers, I stood out like an allien, (for him to be starred at often, he is strange in the mayan community)
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
14 mins

oddball

-

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Note added at 19 mins (2009-10-08 14:35:39 GMT)
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Yes, you may well be right. "Freak", as noted below, might work, or how about "a weirdo"?

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Note added at 27 mins (2009-10-08 14:43:26 GMT)
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if it's uniquely a physical difference, then you might actually consider saying something like "came across as a bit of a curious-looking creature".

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Note added at 28 mins (2009-10-08 14:44:09 GMT)
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or odd-looking
Reference:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/07/10/09/portrait-artist-oddball

Note from asker:
Seems to be more about someone eccentric... Here it's someone who is stared at because of its physical difference, so I'm not sure it applies.
The problem with freak, weirdo as I see it is that it implies someone a bit crazy. Here it's about physical difference, and being stared at like if you were at the zoo and you saw an animal you've never heard of before. Imagin a child seeing a giraffe for the first time
Peer comment(s):
neutral liz askew : I do not believe the French is pejorative here.
32 mins
Something went wrong...
+3
29 mins

a sore thumb

"Of course I stood out like a sore thumb..."

Just another way to approach it.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jean-Louis S.
22 mins
thanks:)
agree Lucy-Jane Michel : Nice, snappy, very English idiom!
6 hrs
thanks:)
agree Lianne Wilson
17 hrs
thanks:)
Something went wrong...
33 mins

a/some freak of nature

talking about the differences in their appearances.

refs to a circus are not very feasible, as it's unlikely that these mayas will have seen such a thing!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Lianne Wilson : Sounds very pejorative.
17 hrs
I think more humourous, in a self deprecating way than pejorative
Something went wrong...
17 mins

newcomer

DOC]
The Four Most Common Volunteer Motivations
File Format: Microsoft Word - View as HTML
... work best in a volunteer position where talents they already possess can be used. ... or to be the newcomer in an already close-knit or routine-bound group. ... Volunteers, like everyone else, will most likely combine motivators, ...
https://pol.expoplanner.com/docs/.../1/Volunteer Motives.DOC - Similar

maybe too "nice" a word:-)

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Note added at 20 mins (2009-10-08 14:36:10 GMT)
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fair enough

stranger

??

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Note added at 44 mins (2009-10-08 15:00:34 GMT)
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object of curiosity

Curiousity « ThinkingShift
Look carefully at your cat. I have a vicarious cat – the moggy belongs to my next ... Well, the Mayans predicted that the world as we know it will cease on ..... Human objects of curiosity were exhibited in travelling 'freak shows” and ...
thinkingshift.wordpress.com/category/curiousity/page/2/ - Cached - Similar

so

object of curiosity

I don't think the French necessarily has a derogative meaning. See:

Détours des Mondes: *Indonésie
- [ Translate this page ]
3 mar 2008 ... C'était le cas ici, à Mataram, où l'espace d'une matinée, j'étais devenue bête curieuse, objet d'étude anthropologique par ma présence même, ...
detoursdesmondes.typepad.com/dtours_des.../indonsie/ - Cached - Similar
Note from asker:
It's not that it's too nice, it's just that it doesn't imply the contrast, the difference, and the fact of being stared at sufficiently I think
Something went wrong...
1 hr

[attracted a fair bit of] novelty value

I think people do say this but the phrase sounds a bit strange - can you actually ATTRACT value?
Peer comment(s):
neutral Lianne Wilson : I don't think you can 'attract' novelty value.
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

the village freak

suggestion
Something went wrong...
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