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  3. Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

aux frais de l'Oncle Paul

English translation: at someone else's expense

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:aux frais de l'Oncle Paul
English translation:at someone else's expense
Entered by: Jennifer Forbes

18:27 Jan 10, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / screenplay
French term or phrase: aux frais de l'Oncle Paul
Is this an expression? There is no previous or subsequent mention of Oncle Paul. Does it have to do with the Oncle Paul stories?
From a screenplay.
"Le jeune autostoppeur lui explique qu'ils ont dérivé l'électricité et bidouillés l'arrivée d'eau pour avoir une douche commune aux frais de l'Oncle Paul."
KayW
Local time: 06:21
at someone else's expense
Explanation:
This is clearly what is meant, surely? That the people aren't going to pay for it themselves and don't care who pays as long as it's not them. Less picturesque, but it avoids the problem of "Uncle Paul", "the Princess", etc.
Selected response from:

Jennifer Forbes
Local time: 05:21
Grading comment
Thanks, Jenny
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3graciously offered by Santa
Daryo
4 +1at someone else's expense
Jennifer Forbes
1 +2for free
katsy


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +2
for free


Explanation:
given that he has "bidouillé" and "dérivé", one would assume that the shower has been set up without it costing a thing. However, why "aux frais de l'oncle Paul" and not "aux frais de la princesse", I have no idea. Hence the lowest confidence level.

katsy
Local time: 06:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo: for free definitely, must be some more colourful variant// "l'oncle Paul" because they are very young and these stories are still fresh in their memories, and are in strong contrast with ending up in a communal squat? Lost innocence of youth?
1 hr
  -> yes, after posting my sluggish brain told me that the actual meaning was less of a problem than the idiomatic expression... Thanks Daryo :-)
agree  ACOZ (X)
3 hrs
  -> Thanks ACOZ :-)
neutral  writeaway: no idea if this is right or wrong with so little context. but agree with your confidence level. all anyone can do is guess.
6 hrs
  -> As I said to Daryo, I get the impression that the asker actually wants to know if this is a fixed expression... never heard it myself...
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
graciously offered by Santa


Explanation:
"l'Oncle Paul" is a fictional nice character, same as Santa.
"aux frais de l'Oncle Paul" sounds a bit ironical, they are taking the mickey.
Couldn't think of some other character than Santa that could fit the bill.

Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:21
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 13
Notes to answerer
Asker: Okay, that makes sense. I may not use Santa Claus but I now have the idea, thanks.

Asker: There is no more context. It is a 2-page treatment, country and town not specified.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  katsy: more on the right lines I think!
9 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  philgoddard: Good idea. The tooth fairy would be another possibility.
1 hr
  -> I like the tooth fairy! Thanks!
neutral  writeaway: pure guesswork. who knows with 00 context. /Santa doesn't cut it for me. Phil's toothfairy is better in the context. But again, it's pure guesswork. We also use 'rich uncle'
4 hrs
  -> "ils ont dérivé l'électricité et bidouillés l'arrivée d'eau" "une douche commune" … plenty of clues strewn around, waiting to be picked up // la perfection n'est pas de ce monde
agree  Victoria Britten
11 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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2 days 14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
at someone else's expense


Explanation:
This is clearly what is meant, surely? That the people aren't going to pay for it themselves and don't care who pays as long as it's not them. Less picturesque, but it avoids the problem of "Uncle Paul", "the Princess", etc.

Jennifer Forbes
Local time: 05:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 7
Grading comment
Thanks, Jenny

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael GREEN: This gets my vote - it seems to be what is meant, and fits in nicely to the context.
51 mins
neutral  Daryo: why not use some poetic licence when you can? this is not an international treaty nor a contract where a wrong word or even a wrong comma could cost millions…
3 hrs
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