يمطّ شفتيه

English translation: sarcastically

10:52 May 26, 2021
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Arabic term or phrase: يمطّ شفتيه
قال وهو يمطّ شفتيه: بالله عليك، هل يختلفُ ذيله عن ذيول الحمير؟ وما هو شكل أذنيه؟ وكيف يمكن العثور عليه وفقًا لهذه المواصفات

Hi everyone,

I'm translating a Palestinian young adult novel. In this section, the narrator is suggesting to his friend, who has lost his donkey, to put an ad in the local paper describing the donkey, in case anyone has seen it. The friend doesn't seem keen on the idea.

I'm wondering what the significance of this phrase is: is it meant to imply that his friend is annoyed, or angry? Is it similar to the English phrase "pressed his lips together", used to convey disapproval?

Many thanks!
Anam
A Zafar
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:45
English translation:sarcastically
Explanation:
مطّ شفتيه indicates sarcasm.
https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/مط-شفتيه/#:~:text=مدَّ...
Selected response from:

Angie Halloum
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 08:45
Grading comment
I like this approach. Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1curling his lips
Yassine El Bouknify
5sarcastically
Angie Halloum


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
curling his lips


Explanation:
"He said while curling his lips."
He asked him rhetorical questions. So, it's highly probable it's a mocking gesture.

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Note added at 15 mins (2021-05-26 11:07:34 GMT)
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Meaning of curling one's lip
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curl one's lip

Yassine El Bouknify
Morocco
Local time: 05:45
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 185

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Assem AlKhallouf
2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
sarcastically


Explanation:
مطّ شفتيه indicates sarcasm.
https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/مط-شفتيه/#:~:text=مدَّ...

Angie Halloum
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 08:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 31
Grading comment
I like this approach. Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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