A sight to behold

[JPablo]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by JPablo

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]

"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]

I think it's "behold" which makes it high-register. It's a fairly archaic word.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Una vista que quita la respiración.

[JPablo]

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...