translation

"...leurs histoires un peu vives";

does this translate as "their slightly risque stories"?

tia

isabelle

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Kingfisher on October 31, 2009 at 4:30pm

Tia,
Frank taught me that "livre osé" means risque book. Could you give more of the sentence? This might help give more of the context.
Pam

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Permalink Reply by isabelle hayes on October 31, 2009 at 5:08pm

"Les Belges la faisaient rire par leur accent and leurs histoires un peu vives."

The "la" (she) here is a young french farm girl.

Isabelle

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Kingfisher on October 31, 2009 at 7:25pm

Tia, what an interesting phrase. So the Belgians are older than she, and are soldiers? I am thinking this is more like tall tales, soldiers are telling lies or fibs that have little life or little truth. So tall tales is my guess, they are telling her stuff to impress her. Having been a young lass once myself I am well aware of the stuff young men say to young women to make an impression! Now if a native speaker would please concur or correct me!! Anybody out there? Marc? Frank?
Pam

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Permalink Reply by Frank on November 1, 2009 at 10:21am

Hello,

"un peu" is the key here.

"Leurs histoires vives" would mean exciting stories, with a lot of action happening, or at least described because it wouldn't exclude stretching the truth a little bit.

But "un peu" before an adjective and while talking about a story or something (or someone) you describe is also a way to mean "borderline" (and "un peu limite" is a very common way to say "borderline", without mentioning what kind of line you are crossing).

So, yes, maybe some parts of their stories were under the belt. But not necessarily. They might also be crude or violent. In one word, not grandma-safe.