abbandonarsi alle scorribande

English translation: take a trip/stroll down memory lane

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:abbandonarsi alle scorribande
English translation:take a trip/stroll down memory lane
Entered by: Umberto Cassano

19:39 Jun 20, 2012
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Libro
Italian term or phrase: abbandonarsi alle scorribande
Hello! I'm translating a short story in a book and I need help with this particular term. This part of the story is a synopsis of the protagonist's life story in order to demonstrate her character. The full paragraph, for context, is as follows:

"Di solito, le capitava di abbandonarsi alle scorribande nel passato in occasione di alcune date precise, per un verso o per l’altro significative. Natale, per esempio, o il compleanno. Le persone alle quali aveva voglia di telefonare o dalle quali aveva voglia di ricevere un segno di vita a Natale non erano ogni anno le stesse. E a volte preferiva ignorare del tutto i suoi compleanni. Ma, quando il riavvolgersi del filo di un altro anno le sembrava un evento degno di nota, i commensali che radunava intorno a una tavola apparecchiata erano sempre, almeno in parte, diversi da quelli che avevano partecipato all’ultima riunione."

"Abbandonarsi alle scorribande" makes me think of someone who has a tendency for reckless fun. But as you can see from the context, there is nothing really reckless about any of her behavior. Perhaps it could be more closely described as sporadic, spontaneous or capricious. Any other suggestions regarding this term would be most appreciated.
Nina Michael
United States
Local time: 18:11
take a trip/stroll down memory lane
Explanation:
"Scorribande" is used figuratively here and is connected to "nel passato" so that there's no actual 'fun' or anything 'reckless' which can best describe this character.

Though a mite risky, I'd suggest an idiomatic expression to get closer to 'abbandonarsi alle scorribande nel passato'

HTH



Selected response from:

Umberto Cassano
Italy
Local time: 23:11
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5take a trip/stroll down memory lane
Umberto Cassano
5let her hair down
inglesedoc
4to allow herself a romp in the past
Michael Korovkin


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
take a trip/stroll down memory lane


Explanation:
"Scorribande" is used figuratively here and is connected to "nel passato" so that there's no actual 'fun' or anything 'reckless' which can best describe this character.

Though a mite risky, I'd suggest an idiomatic expression to get closer to 'abbandonarsi alle scorribande nel passato'

HTH





Umberto Cassano
Italy
Local time: 23:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 48
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nora Mahony: I think so, alright.
1 hr

agree  texjax DDS PhD
1 hr

agree  bluedahlia
13 hrs

agree  tradu-grace
14 hrs

agree  BdiL: I really appreciated "stroll down memory lane". I do it myself and in that instance I'm very far from being reckless, pensive at best, but that's personal. As could aptly be pointed out "scorribanda" just conveys a to-and-fro movement idea. Maurizio
4 days
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
let her hair down


Explanation:
Means literally to let oneself go.


    Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/let+hair+down
inglesedoc
Local time: 22:11
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to allow herself a romp in the past


Explanation:
... I'm trying to combine here both principal meanings pertaining to "scorribanda": an incursion ("in the past") and a frolic ("romp")

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 23:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 36
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