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miglior causa

English translation: (deserving of) nobler cause

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:(degno di) miglior causa
English translation:(deserving of) nobler cause
Entered by: Colin Ryan (X)

17:40 Jan 28, 2010
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Italian term or phrase: miglior causa
This is from a novel I'm translating. Now, does "miglior causa" in the extract below simply mean "conciliatory", or does it mean "reassuring", or does it mean "Trust me!"

"Sì... ne posso trarre una foto di buona qualità..." disse Maier. "...venga domani mattina. Gliela farò trovare... in qualche modo."

"Mi dia il nastro... forse io posso fare prima..." chiese inutilmente Leonardo.

"Leonardo, Leonardo: sa che non posso farlo... Già sono abbastanza compromesso... torni domani mattina. Adesso devo staccare: non posso fare tre turni di seguito senza insospettire i miei superiori e non posso fare uscire niente da quest’ufficio... c’è una perquisizione anche all’uscita... mi capisca." Dedicò al suo interlocutore della Quarantia un sorriso degno di ___miglior causa___.


Just to complicate things: Maier is gay and in the closet, Leonardo isn't gay, but knows Maier is gay and values Maier both as a colleague and as a person, and Maier sort of knows all this.
Colin Ryan (X)
Local time: 14:51
(deserving) nobler cause
Explanation:
Mia idea.

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Note added at 1 giorno19 ore (2010-01-30 13:07:16 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you! :)
Selected response from:

Giuseppe Bellone
Italy
Local time: 14:51
Grading comment
This is what I went with in the end. Thanks to all, especially Gian!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5forced smile
Maryam Roghani
4better times
lcstranslations
3 +1(deserving) nobler cause
Giuseppe Bellone
3better cause
Sarah Jane Webb
3a forced smile
Jim Tucker (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
degno di miglior causa
Gian

Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
better cause


Explanation:
a smile worthy of a better cause



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Note added at 1 hr (2010-01-28 19:34:17 GMT)
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In order to help Leonardo, Maier is doing something that might get him into deep trouble, but he still smiles warmly: a smile worthy of a better cause.
Does it make sense?

Sarah Jane Webb
Local time: 14:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
better times


Explanation:
it is a way of saying, more suitable for better times or situations

If not translating literally, I would say "making the best of the situation"

lcstranslations
Italy
Local time: 14:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a forced smile


Explanation:
literally "an exaggerated smile"

Please see Gian's reference remarks.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2010-01-28 20:39:55 GMT)
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(not "literally", but "more specifically" -- it's just not idiomatic English)

Jim Tucker (X)
United States
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
forced smile


Explanation:
in this case 'degno di miglior causa' refers to the smile which should have been given to a better situation...the smile was deserved by a better situation metaphorically speaking. However in English it is hard to translate this expression word by word, but the meaning is a forced smile.

Maryam Roghani
Local time: 05:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jim Tucker (X): This answer has already been given.... but yes I agree.
8 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(deserving) nobler cause


Explanation:
Mia idea.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 giorno19 ore (2010-01-30 13:07:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you! :)

Giuseppe Bellone
Italy
Local time: 14:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
This is what I went with in the end. Thanks to all, especially Gian!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  carlabice47
14 hrs
  -> Grazie. :)
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Reference comments


31 mins peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: degno di miglior causa

Reference information:
degno [dé-gno] agg.
1 Che merita apprezzamento per determinate caratteristiche SIN meritevole: d. di lode, di fede

2 Con uso assol., che ha o che denota qualità morali, intellettuali ecc. tali da meritare stima, lode: uomo d.; una d. impresa culturale

3 Che corrisponde alle qualità, alle caratteristiche, di chi o di ciò a cui si riferisce SIN adeguato, appropriato: ricompensa d.; avere un d. trattamento; anche con valore iron.: una bravata d. di voi ||

d. di miglior causa, riferito ad atto o sentimento sproporzionato rispetto all'oggetto a cui è rivolto

• avv. degnamente In modo d., decoroso, adeguato: un lavoro degnamente retribuito; coronare degnamente qlco.

in questo caso direi che è un sorriso "spropositato" ovvero che si potrebbe fare in situazioni/casi più adeguati

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Note added at 32 min (2010-01-28 18:13:09 GMT)
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spropositato [spro-po-si-tà-to] agg.
• Troppo grande, sproporzionato: naso s.; eccessivo, esagerato: avere delle pretese s.

• avv. spropositatamente, in modo esagerato

• sec. XVII

Gian
Italy
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Sarah Jane Webb
1 hr
agree  SYLVY75
8 hrs
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