Translation of CZ "m ít z ostudy kabát"

[Jan Culik]

No. You are overspeculating. It means. He lied (incidentally, not *se* 
hloupě lhal - the verb lhát is not reflexive) and then confessed. As a 
result, his reputation was totally destroyed. Mít z ostudy kabát means 
to be disgraced.

Jan Culik

07/30/2013 12:25 AM, Mark Nuckols wrote:
> Dear colleagues,
>
> I'm translating an opinion piece on Anthony Weiner which contains the following: "...Weiner se hloupě lhal..., než se pak přiznal. Z ostudy měl tehdy kabát." I've searched diligently for a good English equivalent of the idiom mít z ostudy kabát (lit. "to have an overcoat out of shame"), with little luck. The best clue I've been able to find is from an online French-Czech phraseological dictionary containing the entry être dans de beaux draps (blancs), which derives from an old practice of having adulterers wear white gowns, making them identifiable for public humiliation. In addition to mít z ostudy kabát, another equivalent for the French phrase is být na pranýři, "to be on the pillory."
>
> So for now, my translation is "...Weiner stupidly lied... before later confessing. He was then pilloried." At least that conveys the figurative sense of exposure to ridicule. But if anyone can suggest a better translation, I'm all ears.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mark Nuckols
>   		 	   		
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