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Glossary entry

Portuguese term or phrase:

avançar em (alguém)

English translation:

He lunges at her (towards her)

Added to glossary by Lara Barnett
Nov 3, 2022 17:01
1 yr ago
24 viewers *
Portuguese term

avançar em (alguém)

Portuguese to English Art/Literary Slang screenplay, roteiro
Hello everyone!

I'm translating a screenplay into English and I'm out of ideas on how to convey this properly.

The scene is showing an argument between mother and son. He's very angry at her. He wants the door keys and she's hidden them. So he moves towards her as if he's about to hit her. But she holds him and he cries instead.

In Brazilian Portuguese it goes like this:

Federico avança em Luiza, que o abraça com força. Federico chora compulsivamente abraçado a Luiza.

Would it make sense if I chose "charges against Luiza" or "charges towards Luiza" for "avança em"?

Thank you very much!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 He lunges at her
4 +3 goes for
4 +3 to charge at
4 +1 Approach
Change log

Nov 7, 2022 15:16: Lara Barnett Created KOG entry

Discussion

Simone Taylor Nov 4, 2022:
Avançar é o mesmo que o ato de ir para alguém de maneira agressiva, atacando ou não. Tanto charge, go to ou lunge servem, eu inclusive citei lunge na minha resposta antes de terem posto como resposta. O que não está certo é dizer que não é agressivo ou que se atacar ou não é uma palavra diferente, todas as opções servem, menos approach.
Simone Taylor Nov 4, 2022:
que não deixa de ser avançar, Mario.
Mario Freitas Nov 4, 2022:
Simone O autor foi muito infeliz na escolha do termo. Realmente, "avançar" é agressivo, mas o contexto deixa claro que não foi um "ataque" e sim uma abordagem com ímpeto.
Simone Taylor Nov 4, 2022:
@Lara Avançar em Portuguese is aggressive in this context, that is the verb used for example when a dog attacks a person. A native speaker would know this, although is not listed as such in most dictionaries.
Lara Barnett Nov 4, 2022:
@ Gabriela I think there is is some confusion in your description. You say in this " So he moves towards her AS IF HE'S ABOUT TO HIT HER", and yet the Portuguese only uses the term "avança em Luiza". I think this would explain the various interpretations in our answers about how "forceful" this movement may be.
Therefore, to soften any over-translations used below, you could always add "makes to + verb", which gives the impression the person is doing something with hesitation, weakening the action/effect:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/make-to-...

e.g. "he made to lunge towards her" or "he made to approach her" or whatever.
Simone Taylor Nov 3, 2022:
Avançar em alguém é partir para a pessoa com o intuito de atacar, usa-se até para cachorros atacando gente.
Simone Taylor Nov 3, 2022:
Avançar has never been neutral in Portuguese, it is quite aggressive.

Proposed translations

+1
33 mins
Selected

He lunges at her

We often use he expression "lunge at" somebody, often before they try to hit out or make some sort of semi-aggressive or aggressive contact with them.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 39 mins (2022-11-03 17:40:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another example here, of how "lunge at" is described to introduce the offence or physical act, e.g. "with fists flying" = punch.
"The defendant lunged at him with fists flying."
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/claim-o...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2022-11-04 11:07:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To soften the effect a little, you could just use "makes to lunge toward her". The use of "makes to + verb" basically gives the impression that the person is about to, or is attempting but not achieving, an action.

“Eamonn got frightened because one of them MADE TO LUNGE TOWARDS HIM so that made him run. They chased him and he said he got to a point where he couldn't get his breath."
https://www.itv.com/news/london/2014-12-04/autistic-teeanger...
Example sentence:

"He denied hitting his wife, and claimed she ‘’LUNGED” at him as he filmed a drunken argument."

"On that occasion Mrs Knight LUNGED AT her husband and then smashed his glasses. Moments later she went on to attack him in the laundry room of their farmhouse."

Reference:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/122468746/top-cop-on-trial-for-assault-claims-wife-lunged-at-him

https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/drunk-hedge-fund-trader-threatened-to-kill-husband's-new-partner-9042713/

Note from asker:
Also, thank you for suggesting "makes to lunge at" \o/
Peer comment(s):
agree JH Trads : I was going to answer exactly this, so I could not agree more, it seems the most precise, natural equivalent, especially in the context Gabriela mentions
10 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much, Lara! And thank you, Simone! I believe "lunges at" suits the situation perfectly. The son is just 14 years old, and from my understanding of the story, he wouldn't end up hitting his mother. It was a burst of frustration/anger, which she managed to control by embracing him and letting him cry."
+3
6 mins

goes for

He goes for her
Note from asker:
Thank you, Douglas!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : I think "charges" and "lunges" are overtranslation - the Portuguese word is quite neutral, and just implies "moves towards".
57 mins
thanks Phil
agree Nick Taylor : Nice!
17 hrs
thanks Nick
agree Mario Freitas : Yes, it's not an "attack", but only an approach.
1 day 9 mins
thanks Mario
Something went wrong...
+1
21 mins

Approach

To approach someone means to come near this person. I think it might be suitable in this case.
Note from asker:
Thank you, hanan!
Peer comment(s):
agree Renata Costa : I agree
21 mins
neutral Douglas Bissell : Sounds too neutral, the term in Pt implies a threat
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+3
27 mins

to charge at

https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/charge at

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2022-11-03 17:34:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Though about lunge as well, another option.

a sudden forward thrust of the body, typically with an arm outstretched to attack someone or seize something.
"Lucy made a lunge for Gabriel's wrist"
Note from asker:
Thank you, Simone!
Peer comment(s):
agree Egon Lessa : "Avançar" is almost "to attack" in this context.
1 hr
Exactly. Thank you, Egon.
agree Fernanda Lopes
2 hrs
Thank you.
agree Clauwolf
2 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
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