S09

Question 1

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry about it.

Answer 1

Non sapeva se riderne o piangerne.

Question 2

He went to work with alcohol on his breath.

Answer 2

Andò sul lavoro col fiato che sapeva d’alcol.

Question 3

We forgot about him a ‘long time ago’ - colloquial.

Answer 3

Da un pezzo ci siamo scordati di lui.

Question 4

I turned my back on her.

Answer 4

Le ho voltato la schiena.

Question 5

You put a band of black crepe around your arm.

Answer 5

Ti metti al braccio una fascia di crespo nero.

Question 6

I know the drill backwards.

Answer 6

Conosco la solfa dal principio alla fine.

Question 7

The rain turned the pitch into a quagmire.

Answer 7

La pioggia trasformò il campo da gioco in un pantàno.

Question 8

I don’t think I get the idea.

Answer 8

Non credo di afferrare il concetto.

Question 9

They wash (rinse) their dirty laundry in public.

Answer 9

Sciacquano in pubblico i panni sporchi.

Question 10

The nickname stuck (to him).

Answer 10

Il nomignolo gli restò appiccicato.

Question 11

A new glacial era begins.

Answer 11

Sopravviene una nuova età glaciale.

Question 12

A lined sheet (diminutive) torn out of a pocket-book.

Answer 12

Un foglietto a righe strappato da un taccuino.

Question 13

It seemed to me that Boris had stolen (plagiarised) those wonderful ideas of his.

Answer 13

Mi sembrava che Boris avesse plagiato quelle sue idee meravigliose.

Question 14

I would like you to tell (it to) me.

Answer 14

Vorrei che tu me lo dicessi.

Question 15

There’s something depraved about screwing a woman and she doesn’t give a fuck.

Answer 15

C’è qualcosa di depravato nel chiavare una donna quando a lei non importa un cazzo.

Question 16

I look at a sparrow rummaging through a fresh turd.

Answer 16

Guardo un passero che becchetta in una merda fresca.

Question 17

To me it sounded a lot like the States.

Answer 17

Mi suonava parecchio simile all’America.

Question 18

Every so often I would overdo the drinking, and would have to stick a finger down my throat.

Answer 18

Ogni tanto esageravo con le bevute, e dovevo ficcarmi un dito in gola.

Question 19

The cremation would take place the next morning.

Answer 19

La cremazione avrebbe avuto luogo l’indomani mattina.

Question 20

They don’t find her to their liking.

Answer 20

Non la trovano di loro gradimento.

Question 21

We stopped (p.s.) at a restaurant for a bite.

Answer 21

Ci fermammo in un ristorante a fare uno spuntino.

Question 22

The place was beginning to fill up.

Answer 22

Il posto cominciava ad affollarsi.

Question 23

Had she been younger, I would have asked her out.

Answer 23

Se fosse stata più giovane le avrei fatto qualche proposta.

Question 24

First thing he would go to the table and check how many pages I had put away.

Answer 24

Per prima cosa andava al tavolo a vedere quante pagine avevo buttato giù.

Question 25

We caught sight (past simple) of a few lights in the distance.

Answer 25

Scorgemmo alcune luci in lontananza.

Question 26

I grabbed him by the lapel.

Answer 26

Lo afferrai per il bàvero.

Question 27

keep one’s back straight

Answer 27

mantenere la schiena dritta

Question 28

Attacks and criticisms came thick and fast.

Answer 28

Grandinarono gli attacchi e le critiche.

Question 29

He carved himself a path through the crowd.

Answer 29

Si aprì un varco nella calca.

Question 30

The still bloodied sword lay in his lap.

Answer 30

La spada ancora insanguinata giaceva sul suo grembo.

Question 31

That’s another kettle of fish.

Answer 31

E un altro paio di maniche.

Question 32

I can draw you a map.

Answer 32

Posso disegnarvi una piantina.

Question 33

He lay (p.s.)motionless
on the camp bed .

Answer 33

Giacque immobile sul lettino da campo.

Question 34

It’d be time to clip your wings.

Answer 34

Sarebbe ora di tarparti le ali.

Question 35

I had grown my hair to tie it into a ponytail.

Answer 35

Mi ero fatto crescere i capelli per legarli in un codino.

Question 36

He was impressed at the speed with which he had learned to walk erect as against bent and servile.

Answer 36

Fu impressionato dalla velocità con cui aveva imparato a camminare eretto anziché curvo e servile.

Question 37

Suddenly he thought he could hear a voice.

Answer 37

A un tratto gli sembrò di udire una voce.

Question 38

We won’t leave before tomorrow.

Answer 38

Non partiremo prima di domani.

Question 39

Done over like a sucker.

Answer 39

Fregato come un turista qualsiasi.

Question 40

You’re going to love it. (the food) - modo di dire

Answer 40

Ti leccherai i baffi.

Question 41

There’s bad blood between them.

Answer 41

Tra loro c’è della ruggine.

Question 42

Their methods of analysis are at least as mysterious as mine are to them.

Answer 42

I loro metodi di analisi sono misteriosi almeno quanto i miei lo sono ai loro occhi.

Question 43

Just before eating I went out (in the street).

Answer 43

Subito prima di mangiare sono sceso in strada.

Question 44

From his gestures and his expressions, one could tell how hard he was trying to adapt to the general mood.

Answer 44

Dai suoi gesti e sguardi si capiva quanto cercava di adeguarsi allo spirito generale.

Question 45

It’s been a full month since we last saw one another.

Answer 45

E un mese sano che non ci vediamo.

Question 46

the pettiness of the editorial machinery and the readers’ sheepish stupidity.

Answer 46

Le meschinità della macchina editoriale e la stupidità pecorile dei lettori.

Question 47

Listening to him I would struggle to repress my yawns.

Answer 47

Ascoltandolo reprimevo a stento gli sbadigli.

Question 48

For us studying wasn’t hard.

Answer 48

Studiare per noi non era una fatica.

Question 49

He started gazing at the logs blazing in the hearth.

Answer 49

Si mise a guardare fisso i ceppi che ardevano nel camino.

Question 50

I don’t know what’s keeping me from leaving.

Answer 50

Non so che cosa mi trattiene dall’andarmene.