Bestia parda

Bestia parda
 

I think it's the equivalent of the English adaptation of the French term
bette noir, but I don't knw for sure. Does anyone know for sure?

Although noir means black, you might be in the right track.

As chileno said, noire means black, but the Spanish equivalent of the French phrase is bestia negra AND bestia parda.
Son sinónimos.

Por muchos, el era una visión de malo. Era un hombre de muerto. Era una bestia parda.

Is that the spirit of the phrase?

Yes, someone to be feared is the spirit of the phrase. What did you mean by hombre de muerto?

Si.

Corrección hecha. :)

A man of death. No real literal meaning.

OK. Un hombre de muerte would probably work for that.

o

Un hombre mortal.

Por muchos, él era una visión de malo. Era un hombre de muerte. Era una bestia parda. El aire brotaba frio cuando entraba un cuarto. Se llama El Diablo de Baker Street.

Something like that. Few questions there; firstly, how do you say "The air grew cold"? Could you use brotar for that? Second, how is the correct way to say "They call him (whatever)"?

In English/French bete noire also mean nemesis in general--one's phobia,
one's downfall -- be it a person or a thing. I assume bestia parda
can be used in the same way

The air grew cold.
= El aire se puso frío.
They call him ___.
= Se le llama(n) ____ (a él).

"Para muchos, él era una visión del mal. Un hombre de la muerte. Una bestia parda. El aire se volvía frío cuando entraba en una estancia. Le llamaban El Diablo de Baker Street."

style changes. Saludos :D

"El aire se helaba cuando entraba" could be more literary...

One animal very strong.

Bestia super poderosa.