Translation question: from "Svetlyi prazdnik" by Teffi

[John Dunn]

I suspect you may have answered your own question: dos 'strutting' not in itself describe this manner of walking?

She spun on her heels and departed, strutting off in the manner of all mistresses who have just quarrelled with one of their servants.

John Dunn.
________________________________________
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Robert Chandler [kcf19 at DIAL.PIPEX.COM]
Sent: 22 December 2012 21:21
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] Translation question: from "Svetlyi prazdnik" by Teffi

Dear all,

A young woman, the daughter of the house, has just had a row with the kukharka.  And then:
Она быстро повернулась и ушла той самой походкой, какой всегда ходят хозяйки, поругавшись с прислугой: маленькими шагами, ступая быстро, но двигаясь медленно, виляя боками и выпятив грудь.

She spun round on her heels and swaggered (??strutted) off in the manner of a mistress who has quarrelled with a servant: sticking her chest out and swaying her hips, taking quick little steps yet moving slowly.

I find this all rather odd and hard to imagine.  In any other context I would imagine that виляя боками was meant to be sexy - but in this context that cannot be right, which makes me unhappy with "swaying her hips".

All the best,  Robert

Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD

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