Джон Голсуорси - Лучшее из «Саги о Форсайтах» / The Best of The Forsyte Saga

the Dromios – twins from “The Comedy of Errors” by William Shakespeare.

by silk – meaning “silken gown, or cloak”.

Mrs. Gummidge – a character from Dickens’s “David Copperfield,” rather a self-pitying woman.

a white elephant – an idiom, meaning “something burdensome though rare and expensive”.

put her foot down – an idiom, meaning “used her authority to stop something happening”.

That cat won’t jump. –That won’t do.

Meyerbeer – Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791–1864), a German opera composer.

Johannisberg– a castle and winery in the Rheingau vine-growing regionof Germany. It has been making wine for over 900 years.

Delilah– from the Hebrew Bible “ Book of Judges”. She betrayed for money ancient hero Samson, who loved her.

‘As panteth the hart after cooling streams’ —from the psalm 42.

pitching, batting, to bowl –terms from the game of cricket.

Mais enfin – qu’est-ce que tu fais là – danser, le dimanche! Viens, donc! – Oh, really! What are you doing here! To dance on Sunday! Well, well!

cupboard love – an idiom, meaning “an affection shown only for gaining something”.

‘spick-and-spandy’ – spotlessly clean.

‘Jackson’ case– the case with which Mrs. Jackson was associated arose in 1891. It was stated that if a wife refuses to live with her husband, he has no right to keep her in confinement.

Habeas Corpusis a legal action which requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court.

fin de siècle –the end of century (90s) ( French ).

the Marises, Israels, and Mauve –Dutch painters of realistic school.

‘rum-ti-too’ – too simple, unsophisticated.

Sleeve-links, by Martyr, out of Shirt-on-fire, by Suspender – names of horses.

pony, monkey– money slang for 25 and 500 pound.

unshtood’m –understood him.

’jection he w’d – objection he would.

Buhl – furniture style (inlaid with bronze or tortoiseshell).

Wedgwood –porcelain and faience of that factory.

Un Monsieur très distingué. Très amical, très gentil. –Very elegant gentleman. Very amiable and nice. ( French ).

Dreyfus case –Alfred Dreyfus, a French officer of Jewishbackground, was falsely accused of treason in 1894. His trial became one of the most discussed political cases in European history.

negus– a mixture of wine, hot water, lemon juice, sugar, and spices.

Kruger – probably Paulus Kruger (1825–1904), State Presidentof the South African Republic( Transvaal); was known as the face of Boerresistance against the British during the Second Boer War(1899–1902).

Gladstone– William Ewart Gladstone, (1809–1898), a British Liberal statesman, was Prime Ministerfour times.

Majuba– the Battle of Majuba Hill in 1881 was the main battle of the First Boer War, won by the Boers.

to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds – a proverb meaning “to support opposite sides at the same time”.

take the bun – an idiom, meaning “that’s incredible, above all”.

buckling under to him – to buckle under = to surrender, to give in.

Er’d ruther –She would rather.

Fusty musty – old-fashioned, having a stale smell.

kick the bucket – to die.

Le soleil est si bon! –But the sun is beautiful! ( French ).

Ces pauvres gens bergers –These poor shepherds! ( French ).

Uitlanders– natives of Great Britain who came to work and/or to live in Transvaal.

Meissonier – Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier (1815–1891), a Frenchpainter and sculptorin classical style, known for his depictions of armiesand battles.

the Adam style, or Style of the Brothers Adam was neoclassicalintegrated style for architecture and interiors; that is, everything was designed by the Adams as the same decoration.

Yeomanry– units of the British Territorial Army; originally volunteer cavalryregiments.

Kettle and pot – probably from the idiom “the pot calling the kettle black,” meaning that people are guilty of the very thing that they accuse one another.

Fashoda scare– the incident that took place in 1898 and was the scare of war between Britain and France concerning the control of the Nile River.

‘Rouge gagne, impair, et manque! – The red, odd numbers, first half (win)!

La-di-da and Brummagem –pretentious and cheap imitation.

Bismillah –in the name of God (from Arabic ).

‘jumping-Jesus’ principle –here: showing sarcasm to the intensity of one’s feelings or activity of one’s doings.

B.N.C – probably Brasenose College.

Buller – probably Major-GeneralSir Redvers Henry Buller (1839–1908) who was awarded the Victoria Crossfor courage on a battlefield.

Colley – perhaps Major-GeneralSir George Pomeroy Colley (1835–1881), a BritishArmy officer.

Ladysmith – the Siege of Ladysmith took place during the Second Boer War.

sans amour – without love ( French ).

Wolseley – Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, (1833–1913) was an Anglo-Irishofficer in the British Army.