A sight to behold
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JPablo
June 19, 2010, 05:56 PM
Google translator gives "un espectáculo para la vista" for "a sight to behold", yet, I get the impression that the English cliché, has a higher register.
More like "un espectáculo digno de contemplar".
wafflestomp
June 19, 2010, 06:02 PM
A sight to behold is something spectacular... like looking down on the city from a helicopter at nighttime... a lot of times you'll hear people say "Behold!" if they are showing you something spectacular.
chileno
June 19, 2010, 06:17 PM
Google translator gives "un espectáculo para la vista" for "a sight to behold", yet, I get the impression that the English cliché, has a higher register.
More like "un espectáculo digno de contemplar".
Correcto. :)
Perikles
June 20, 2010, 05:04 AM
"A sight to behold" was a common translation of the Greek an amazing spectacle, such as θαυμαστόν or simliar (for example, Homeric Hymn to Demeter, line 10). As such it is a very high register. As with many such expressions they have been taken and used ironically in inappropriate situations.
For example, somebody who is normally very proper who is seen totally drunk and disorderly and making a fool of themselves. You might describe the scene as "a sight to behold".
pjt33
June 20, 2010, 07:23 AM
I think it's "behold" which makes it high-register. It's a fairly archaic word.
ROBINDESBOIS
June 21, 2010, 01:44 AM
Una vista que quita la respiración.
JPablo
June 21, 2010, 07:00 PM
Vale, gracias a todos por vuestro "input". (Puse este post, y "me fui corriendo", no estaba seguro de si había dejado la pregunta hecha.)
Tu ejemplo "wafflestomp" es muy gráfico y elocuente.
Gracias, Chileno. (Me siento 'to-correc')
El ejemplo de Perikles es muy divertido... pero real como la vida misma.
De acuerdo contigo, ¡Pjt33! Behold!
Buena versión, Robin... con tu 'respiración' me das más inspiración: "que quita el hipo" :)
Lo dicho, muchas gracias...
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