A harmonium is like a pipe organ that makes loud, air-driven sounds in response to a keyboard. Here, the person being addressed has a bird that is obviously making a lot of loud noises, so the speaker compares it to a "harmonium covered with feathers" and tell him that if he plans to keep it, he should teach it how to sing properly. In other words, he doesn't like the sounds it makes.
If you must keep that harmonium covered with feathers,”
User translations (1)
- 1.
Если уж тебе так хочется держать эту фисгармонию в перьях...
translation added by Tatiana GerasimenkoGold en-ru2
Discussion (11)
Моя попытка: -- Раз уж ты действительно собираешься оставить этот духовый орган с перьями, -- сказал Лэрри раздраженно, -- тогда ты должен хотя бы научить его петь как следует."
спасибо*
Моя попытка😀: -- Раз уж завёл эту фисгармонию в перьях, -- сказал Лэрри раздраженно, -- тогда хотя бы научи её петь как следует."
Thank you!!!)))
Add it!
Thank YOU)))
MUST here means “if you insist on doing something!” - it sounds angry/frustrated/disapproving: [Mother to son]: If you must practice that trumpet, would you mind doing it in the garage. Dad and I are both working from home now and my ears are already ringing!
Uly, I knew you would write about "must". I only tried to use something as idiomatic as possible. Of course, you can also say если уж тебе так ХОЧЕТСЯ держать эту фисгармонию в перьях, which actually was another option I had in mind. You're right, in order to stick closer to the English, I should go with Если тебе уж так хочется...
Very good! As you know, we don’t like to use MUST in modern English, so we only use it in special idiomatic contexts.
🙏👍