Full Metal Jacket

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8VB23TiWHsc
Jelly donut

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Bx10vksR_9A

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b8IIVjj3Wf0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0xz3AD37rTg

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PVI1M1x4084

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qOe5zUrHr6A

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/g3CZkv-dqK0

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jEKRzYT8MCI

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/O2vCjAyxVuY

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DhyvcWOQAqc

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Thq1vfm6tPY

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z3szJAkPn3A

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o1SGobjJcJQ

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AC4QrbTq9Ic


Sound off like you got a pair!
 Thread starterAzazel81  Start dateJan 30, 2009
Azazel81
Senior Member
Milan
Italy - Italian
Jan 30, 2009
#1
Hi,

probably most of you are familiar with this expression. It comes from "Full Metal Jacket" by Stanley Kubrick.

The Italian translation gives us an awful, half-nonsensical "gridate come se ne aveste per davvero" (which I could try and translate into something like: "sound off like you really have them*")

*I still haven't figured out yet what this "them" refers to... probably "balls"

Can any of you come up with something better than that horrible "gridate come se ne aveste per davvero"?

EDIT: for those who didn't see this movie, it's about the war in Vietnam. This scene is shot in Parris Island and senior drill instructor Hartman is giving his motivational speech to his new recruits. Whenever they say "Sir, yes Sir" he shouts "Sound off like you got a pair!"
Last edited: Jan 30, 2009

Hermocrates
Senior Member
Italian & British English (bilingual)
Jan 30, 2009
#2
Ciao Azazel! Me lo ricordo, questo bellissimo film. Non l'ho visto in italiano, per; secondo me la battuta originale del sergente Hartman voleva proprio dire :warn:"Tirate fuori la voce se avete le palle!"

Glielo dice perch; vuole che rispondano pi; forte, con pi; convinzione.
TimLA
TimLA
Member Emeritus
Los Angeles
English - US
Jan 30, 2009
#3
Hi,
In other words it means:

You never had balls (guts/courage), but now I want you to yell like you found a pair of them.

"Got a pair" is VERY very AE, and most people would immediately recognize it as "a pair of testicles".
Do you have anything similar in Italian?

Just for fun:
Gridate come avete coglioni davvero!
Gridate come avete trovato dei coglioni!
.....................................le palle!
.....................................due palle!
.....................................almeno due!
.....................................due!

?????????
Azazel81
Senior Member
Milan
Italy - Italian
Jan 30, 2009
#4
Thank you both, guys...

Like I said: I perfectly understand that expression.. I know its meaning.

I was just wondering if someone could come up with something better than that "gridate come se ne aveste davvero!".

PS, TimLA: if you say "gridate come avete le palle" it doesn't make much sense. It's like me saying "sound off how you have your balls!" sounds a bit incorrect, right?

You should say: "gridate come se aveste le palle!"

In italian I think we don't have anything similar... I'd rather go with something along these lines: "gridate tanto da dimostrarmi che avete le palle/i coglioni!"

But I have to say, in English it sounds a lot better... more imperative, more effective... more... anything!
eyeswideopen
eyeswideopen
Senior Member
Italy, Italian
Jan 30, 2009
#5
Beh forse ; possibile mantenere il sottointeso anche in Italiano dicendo
"Gridate come se ce le aveste per davvero!"
Per; senza dubbio...
Azazel81 said:
in English it sounds a lot better... more imperative, more effective... more... anything!
The curious
Senior Member
Paris
Italian - Italy
Jan 30, 2009
#6
:) Eheheh, it seems like eyeswideopen, because of her nick, is addicted to Kubrik :D so we have to trust her :)
I would translate it in italian like:

:warn:"Gridate come se aveste per davvero le palle"

or

:warn:"Tirate fuori la voce come se aveste i coglioni"

But I quote Azazel81:

But I have to say, in English it sounds a lot better... more imperative, more effective... more... anything!
Azazel81
Senior Member
Milan
Italy - Italian
Jan 30, 2009
#7
Wow guys... quoting much? Eheh...

No, seriously... Maybe it's because I love English, or maybe it's because it actually sounds better in English than it does in Italian, but the thing is that is more effective and definitely easier.
pescara
Senior Member
Connecticut
English-USA
Jan 30, 2009
#8
If you used the literal translation "Gridate come se aveste un paio," would it be clear what the "il paio" is?

Ciao.
Azazel81
Senior Member
Milan
Italy - Italian
Jan 30, 2009
#9
pescara said:
If you used the literal translation "Gridate come se aveste un paio," would it be clear what the "il paio" is?

Ciao.

Well, honestly no, it wouldn't. Sorry
The curious
Senior Member
Paris
Italian - Italy
Jan 30, 2009
#10
Nope pescara, it wouldn't be clear.
But to make things clear you should say:

"Gridate come se ne aveste un paio".

Saying like that the the allusion would be showed off.
sugarpopx
New Member
English
May 10, 2009
#11
Azazel81 said:
It comes from "Full Metal Jacket" by Stanley Kubrick.

Actually, it was used prior to 'Full Metal Jacket', in 'An Officer and a Gentleman.' ...Not exactly the most likely of movies to rob quotes off for Full Metal Jacket lol, but there you go!