'Son of a gun' is now an expression of light hearted familiarity, but it was not always so.
Explanation:
Аз имам лошата слава, че САМО на речници не вярвам. Често подвеждат. Според мен прекомерното осланяне на речници е като да се предоверяваш на отровна змия - винаги може да те клъцне фатално.
В конкретния случай, що се отнася специално до този израз, знам значението му от практиката, защото съм го чувал в разговорна употреба. Познавам поне двама души (native speakers, 50+ years of age), които го използват активно в разговорна реч и се обръщат често към свои приятели (buddies, fellas, guys) със 'son of a gun' или 'sons of guns', без в никакъв случай да имат предвид, че приятелите им са villains или rotten persons.
Някога този израз наистина е бил обиден и е означавал "копеле", "незаконен син на артилерист и проститутка или на моряк и корабна метреса". (Вж. историческата справка по-долу.)
Днес обаче, употребен в обръщение или като обръщение е с приятелски заряд и (според мен) би се превел като "приятел(ю); пич; мъжки; мой човек; братле; брат(к)о; друже и т.н.
Използва се като фамилиарна форма на обръщение между мъже - сънаборници, съученици, служили заедно, приятели. Доколкото по-новите поколения приятели се наричат най-добронамерено и "копеле", би могло да се преведе и така.
Вижте (ако искате и имате време) за справка следните материали:
(http://www.geocities.com/informalenglish/S.html)
son of a gun(n) :<rarely used>(used to address a close friend) -- guy; fellow.
Пример: Jackie, hey, son of a gun, how's it going since then?
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(http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/14/messages/452.html...
'Son of a gun' is now an expression of light hearted familiarity, but it was not always so. In the past it was one of contempt and derision derived from the fact that it described a special type of illegitimate child. In the old days civilian women were allowed to live on naval ships; many became pregnant and had their child on board, usually near the midship gun behind a canvas screen. If the father was unknown, then the child was recorded in the ship's log as A son of a Gun.
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(http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/son.htm)
'Son of a Gun'
Three centuries ago the expression described the son of a Gunner in a rather uncharitable way.
In olden times, the 'train of artillery' always included camp followers, among them 'ladies of easy virtue' with whom Gunners, being human, were apt to form unblessed liaisons. There being neither pill nor condom in those days bad luck or carelessness inevitably 'brought forth illegitimate issue', as the more polite historians say.
Now jealous members of the Infantry and Cavalry who did not enjoy the same 'home comforts', and as we know had a poor opinion of our ancient brethren in any case, would call the misbegotten infant a 'son of a gun', implying that not only was it a bastard of low estate but that its father was one also.
Although the original significance of the expression has long since faded we still use it; as a soldier in Kiwi fashion may address his friend as 'You old bastard', so may he substitute 'You old son of a gun' provided he says it with a smile!
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Ако имате (още) излишно време и любознателност, можете да прочетете (http://198.64.129.160/pregnant/bulletbl.htm) напълно неверната легенда за момичето от Вирджиния, забременяло през Гражданската война от куршум, който преди това бил пронизал скротума на един войник. Та уж оттам се бил появил и изразът "son of a gun". Има много вестникарски глупости и статии на тази тема, но те са толкова верни, колкото разказите за посещението на марсианци в Дивдядово.
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(http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/327900.html)
Son of a gun
Origin
Women on board sailing ships sometimes had sex with sailors between the cannons. A male child born of such a union would be a son of a gun.
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(http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/meanings.htm)
Son of a gun
(continued from YE OLDE ENGLISH SAYINGS)
After sailors had crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies, they would take the native women on board the ship and have their way with them in between the cannons. Some of the women the sailors left behind would have boys, who were called sons between the guns.
Here is a variation from Peter at the BBC: In the early days of the Navy, women were allowed to join up in (presumably) non combative roles. The long voyages and feelings of loneliness ended up with babies born whilst at sea. If the woman concerned would not name the father, the Captain would log the birth as being the son of a gun - the gun deck(s) being the only place where decent privacy may be had for such an event.
Rosemary comments: By the way, your explanation of "son of a gun" referred to irresponsible sailors, which may either pre-date or post-date the meaning our book reports. It says that a soldier was called a "gun" (probably, I presume, for the same reason a woman is called a "skirt" and a hippy was called a "beard" - you're nicknamed by that which you carry around on your body). So a son of a gun was a son of a sailor - used increasingly less pejoratively as time went on. I seem to recall my grandfather, a career Navy CPO, calling his son "you son of a gun" with great pride and affection. My uncle was neither illegitimate nor conceived on the deck of a ship, by the way!
Paul adds: The History Channel had a program on its "Great Ships" series about English Ships of the Line, and they gave a slightly different story. According to that program, desertion was so likely that when in port the seamen were not allowed shore leave. Their wives were, however, allowed to board on the gun decks with their mates. It was said on the show that if a woman was having a difficult labor, the cannons on either side of her were fired as an "aid" to the process. It was these (male) children who were referred to as Sons of a Gun.
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След толкова разнообразните становища на колегите и десетките противоречиви легенди и предания за оригиналното значение на този израз излиза, че във Вашия конкретен контекст, където змиеукротителят се обръща към змията, трябва да се вслушате внимателно с какъв точно тон го казва - с light hearted familiarity или с contempt and derision. От това най-вероятно ще зависи дали да се преведе като "(стара) приятелко" или "(стара) дружке", или като "(мръсно) копеле".
Късмет и успех to you, son of a gun. (С най-приятелски и колегиални чувства, а и като израз на light hearted familiarity.)
Reference: http://www.geocities.com/informalenglish/S.html
Reference: http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/son.htm
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