cedo al mito e scambio le pale

English translation: ...I harken back to the myth and take the (windmill) sails for the gangly arms of... etc

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:cedo al mito e scambio le pale
English translation:...I harken back to the myth and take the (windmill) sails for the gangly arms of... etc
Entered by: Lara Barnett

12:35 Dec 9, 2017
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Character-based fiction
Italian term or phrase: cedo al mito e scambio le pale
I do not know what this is all about, is it some sort of suspension regarding the arms of a windmill? Or have I lost the plot?

Character has been driving around most of the night and now has a puncture in this car. He seems to have arrived at the outskirts of the city and is lost on a dirt track. Earlier on he saw a sign of a windmill symbol, which depicts an arrow in the place of the sails. So I assume this is related: (I am assuming windmill sails are what is meant by "pale".

In un momento di debolezza cedo al mito e scambio le pale che girano lentamente per le braccia ciondolanti di una fila di giganti. Mi stropiccio gli occhi. Accelero il passo. Ho l’affanno quando raggiungo i mulini.
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:28
...I harken back to the myth and take the (windmill) sails for the gangly arms of... etc
Explanation:
1) I put THE myth because it's definitely Servantes (Don Quixote)
2) They can't all dangle (being constitutionally criss-cross). So let them be gangly...:)))
Selected response from:

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 00:28
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4I succumb to the myth and see the sails...as
Lisa Jane
4...I harken back to the myth and take the (windmill) sails for the gangly arms of... etc
Michael Korovkin


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
I succumb to the myth and see the sails...as


Explanation:
Maybe there is a myth that the windmills (or turbines) change into giants or something

I succumb to the myth and see the sails...as

or
and exchange the sails ...for


He is imagining the sails of the windmills are like the dangling arms of giants

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 00:28
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 496
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
...I harken back to the myth and take the (windmill) sails for the gangly arms of... etc


Explanation:
1) I put THE myth because it's definitely Servantes (Don Quixote)
2) They can't all dangle (being constitutionally criss-cross). So let them be gangly...:)))

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 00:28
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 125
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search