Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Médaille et revers de l’humour au vitriol qu’il distille
English translation:
upside and downside
Added to glossary by
Martha Melter
May 19, 2004 09:41
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term
France
Quick, conscientious & thorough
Native in: English 
Works in: English to French, French to English
Médaille et revers de l’humour au vitriol qu’il distille
French to English
Other
Journalism
La silhouette de Michael Moore, qui intervient à l’image dans ses enquêtes documentaires, est largement familière et le public qui le croise n’hésite pas à lui taper dans le dos. Médaille et revers de l’humour au vitriol qu’il distille.
- this is from a movie critique on Michael Moore
- this is from a movie critique on Michael Moore
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | upside and downside |
Martha Melter
|
| 4 +2 | Two sides of ... |
David Sirett
|
| 4 +1 | Comment |
Bourth (X)
|
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
French term (edited):
M�daille et revers de l�humour au vitriol qu�il distille
Selected
upside and downside
'the upside and the downside of the scathing humor he has become known for" or something to that effect...I think the attempt to tie this expression to a military connotation is perheps not necessary here. It's just a usual French expression to say 'the good aspects and the bad"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "manyt thanks"
+2
7 mins
French term (edited):
M�daille et revers de l�humour au vitriol qu�il distille
Two sides of ...
(...just to start the ball rolling)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bourth (X)
: Definitely, but not a very diplomatic way of referring to MM's silhouette.
8 mins
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
23 mins
|
+1
20 mins
French term (edited):
M�daille et revers de l�humour au vitriol qu�il distille
Comment
I'm pretty sure David's answer is spot on, but my first reaction was to read into this a "military/civil honours" connotation, given that people wear medals on their breasts and (in France at least), little bits of coloured thread or tiny rosettes in their lapels (revers) to signify that they hold some civil honour (Légion d'Honneur, etc.)
Given MM's latest film, I imagine it MIGHT be possible that there is such a double meaning ...
The numismatist's terms would be "revers" and "avers", I think, but the expression "revers de la médaille" definitely refers to "two sides of the same coin".
Given MM's latest film, I imagine it MIGHT be possible that there is such a double meaning ...
The numismatist's terms would be "revers" and "avers", I think, but the expression "revers de la médaille" definitely refers to "two sides of the same coin".
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