Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
mi fa disperare
English translation:
drives me to distraction/exasperate me
Added to glossary by
Janice Giffin
Nov 21, 2014 16:13
9 yrs ago
Italian term
Italy
Accuracy, reliability and timeliness
Native in: English 
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English
mi fa disperare
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Conversation
I'm translating part of a novel that takes place in Odessa in 1910. The scene is at a dinner party where people are making polite conversation. Here is a bit more context:
Poi, cambiando discorso e rivolgendo l’attenzione alla giovane mamma lì vicino a loro, iniziò a farle i complimenti per il bel bambino attaccato alla sua sottana:
“Che bel bambino, come si chiama?”
“David, ha quasi due anni.”
“È proprio bello e bravo”
“Eh, adesso sta buono buono, ma quando siamo a casa tante volte
mi fa disperare.”
I can't use expressions that are too contemporary, like "he drives me crazy". The word "despair" doesn't sound right either. Thanks for any suggestions.
Poi, cambiando discorso e rivolgendo l’attenzione alla giovane mamma lì vicino a loro, iniziò a farle i complimenti per il bel bambino attaccato alla sua sottana:
“Che bel bambino, come si chiama?”
“David, ha quasi due anni.”
“È proprio bello e bravo”
“Eh, adesso sta buono buono, ma quando siamo a casa tante volte
mi fa disperare.”
I can't use expressions that are too contemporary, like "he drives me crazy". The word "despair" doesn't sound right either. Thanks for any suggestions.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
33 mins
texjax DDS PhD
Native in Italian
Degree + PhD in Dentistry, ATA-Certified
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, Italian
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
drives me to distraction/exasperate me
Not my cup of tea, but it might work.
Word Origin and History for mad-den-ing Expand
adj.
1743, from present participle of madden. Related: Maddeningly.
**to drive to distraction," 1822**; earlier "to be mad" (1735), from mad (adj.) + -en (1). Related: Maddened ; maddening. The earlier verb was simply mad (early 14c., intransitive; late 14c., transitive), from the adjective.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/maddening
Word Origin and History for dis-trac-tion Expand
n.
Distraction
mid-15c., "the drawing away of the mind," from Latin distractionem (nominative distractio) "a pulling apart, separating," noun of action from past participle stem of distrahere (see distract ). Meaning "mental disturbance" (in driven to distraction, etc.) is c.1600. Meaning "a thing or fact that distracts" is from 1610s
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/distraction?s=t
Word Origin and History for mad-den-ing Expand
adj.
1743, from present participle of madden. Related: Maddeningly.
**to drive to distraction," 1822**; earlier "to be mad" (1735), from mad (adj.) + -en (1). Related: Maddened ; maddening. The earlier verb was simply mad (early 14c., intransitive; late 14c., transitive), from the adjective.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/maddening
Word Origin and History for dis-trac-tion Expand
n.
Distraction
mid-15c., "the drawing away of the mind," from Latin distractionem (nominative distractio) "a pulling apart, separating," noun of action from past participle stem of distrahere (see distract ). Meaning "mental disturbance" (in driven to distraction, etc.) is c.1600. Meaning "a thing or fact that distracts" is from 1610s
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/distraction?s=t
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: you were first with "drives me to distraction"
19 hrs
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Many thanks! :)
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| agree |
Bethan Moore
1 day 41 mins
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Thank you Bethan
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| agree |
JudyC
1 day 2 hrs
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Thank you kindly Judy
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This will work nicely in the context. Many thanks for all suggestions by participants. This forum is very helpful."
8 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
drives me to despair
I agree that "drives me mad/crazy" is possibly anachronistic, but why don't you like "despair"? It doesn't mean "he makes me contemplate suicide".
+1
11 mins
Isabelle Johnson
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Italy
CIOL-certified, humanities, tourism
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
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:
8
I despair of him
I think if you turn it around the word despair works...
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights
books.google.it/books?isbn=0141943564 - Traduci questa pagina
Penguin - 2010 - Fiction
And if you can't make him feel ashamed and realize how pointless his behaviour is, I despair of him ever amounting to anything. He knows his father left nothing, ...
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights
books.google.it/books?isbn=0141943564 - Traduci questa pagina
Penguin - 2010 - Fiction
And if you can't make him feel ashamed and realize how pointless his behaviour is, I despair of him ever amounting to anything. He knows his father left nothing, ...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Yes, +"sometimes" (I despair of him) softens it
20 hrs
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Thanks
|
+4
34 mins
he drives me mad/frantic/distracted/to distraction
The first three suggestions date from the 19th century, according to the OED. I quite like "drives me to distraction" ("loves you to distraction" dates at least from the early 19th century).
HTH
HTH
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michele Fauble
4 hrs
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| agree |
Sabrina Bruna
4 hrs
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| agree |
writeaway
8 hrs
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
19 hrs
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52 mins
Josephine Cassar
Malta
Malta
Native in English
Malta
12 yrs. experience translating EU stuff
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK) 
, Maltese
Works in: English to Maltese, Italian to Maltese, French to Maltese, and 3 more.
he exasperates me/makes me see red/infuriates me/drives me out of my mind
A selection-depends how colloquial you want to go-even gets on my nerves, but the meaning seems more likely 'I can't seem to control him, get him to do what is necessary/right'
5 hrs
I chafe at [his behavior]
How about sth with "chafe"? it's a bit old-fashioned, used in novels.
5 hrs
I find it utterly difficult to retain my poise
As an alternative to "chafe":
[...] but when we are at home, I sometimes find it utterly difficult to retain my poise.
[...] but when we are at home, I sometimes find it utterly difficult to retain my poise.
7 hrs
Edward A Tokash
United States
United States
Native in Italian
&
English
United States
Native Trilingual - Superior Translation
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Italian (Variant: Standard-Italy)
Works in: Italian to English, English to Italian, English to Sicilian, and 1 more.
I lose composure
In the 1900s composure was a very important part of social life, so I would imagine the woman speaking to her listener using this fancy expression which also had to do with social status at a party.
In addition you highlighted the fact that it is polite conversation which clearly puts the whole scene in a "tea party" like situation.
In addition you highlighted the fact that it is polite conversation which clearly puts the whole scene in a "tea party" like situation.
+1
15 hrs
1 day 2 hrs
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
www.lingocraft.co.uk
Native in: English (Variants: British, Scottish, Irish, Singaporean, UK, South African)
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Romanian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
He sends me nuts / I go nuts
I think any literal translation of "disperare" here would sound much too formal in terms of talking about a baby in the conversational tone which has preceded. "I go..." "he sends me..." etc. are to me the colloquial/conversational ways of expressing the idea. But I wouldn't use "mad" or anything too strong, as nobody is really ever that insulting about their own (or others) babies, it is more of a humorous type thing.
Example sentence:
"hi their can anyone help me ! i have a nine month old daughter that wont sleep thru the nite? ..... You poor thing. It sends me nuts when DS wakes up during the night."
"I go nuts if my son cries for too long..."
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