Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

appartarsi (see context)

English translation:

decided to slip away to a private room

Added to glossary by darwilliam
Sep 22, 2014 11:09
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Italian term

appartarsi (see context)

May offend Italian to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings glossary/definitions
I know the word basically translates as "retreating" or "withdrawing" (as in from a room), however, it seems difficult to convey the sense of something sneaky taking place. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, slang terms and whatnot (AE or otherwise) given the register (quite informal) of the story. Two characters, an older man and a younger girl are about to sneak out for a moment of intimacy, etc. "Renzo e Vanessa scelsero di appartarsi in una stanza privata per sfuggire alla noia e ai rumori della festa."
Also, at a later point, the narrator uses the colloquialism in a bet he is making with a friend.
"Ti do 100 bigliettoni se stasera riesci ad appartarti con quella bionda...'' Gli dissi indicando la ragazza seduta al bancone."

Thanks all

Discussion

Simon Charass Sep 22, 2014:
@ darwilliam I think you got the word yourself: "to sneak away". See Merriam-Webster http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sneak

Proposed translations

+5
12 mins
Selected

decided to slip away to a private room

=

"scelsero di appartarsi in una stanza privata"

I don't find that there's anything offensive or sneaky in the Italian, not even in the second instance, which I would translate as "...sneak away with that blonde..."
Peer comment(s):

agree Jasmina Towers : I agree. And yes, there's nothing offensive about it.
53 mins
Thanks Jasmina
agree Paola Dossan : Certo, Tom, assolutamente. "Appartarsi" è quanto mai diplomatico in italiano. Lascia intendere cosa accadrà, ma senz alcun riferimento spudorato...
1 hr
Grazie Paola - chi di noi non si è mai "appartato" ? :)
agree Mailand : d'accordo con gli altri commenti
21 hrs
agree Ivana UK
1 day 5 mins
agree Peter Cox
1 day 16 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
7 hrs

withdraw

in the sense of hiding from public eyes
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