punta di fioretto

[phillyitalianstudent]

What is the meaning of "punta di fioretto"?

Context:

La schermaglia e' condotta in punta di fioretto.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[DAH]

I believe it is the point of the sword called the Fioretto. The skmish or duel is conducted with Fioretti pointed.

 

[ConusMagus]

I believe it is the point of the sword called the Fioretto. The skmish or duel is conducted with Fioretti pointed.

Yes it is, but the locution is a paraphrase to intend "hurting (in dispute, speech, act) in a fair, gently manner (using only the tip of the sword and not the whole blade.

The locution comes from "fioretto" a sword with no sharp blade but with only a pointed tip.

Bye.

 

[anglomania1]

Hi there,
I'd like to reopen this thread with a question about a figurative meaning of "in punta di fioretto".
The context is wine, this is a descritpion of a winery's range of wines submitted for tasting for inclusion in a wine guide.
The sentence:
Se la Riserva X porge tutto il calore e la maturità della vendemmia, il Brut Y si esprime invece in punta di fioretto, delicato negli aromi di frutto bianco e glicine, con una sottile vena di pane biscottato. In bocca la tensione si fa vibrante e decisa, allungando il sorso in un finale asciutto e nitido.

I'm actually at a loss as to what it could possibly mean here! If anyone could explain it to me what the Italian means, I can have a go at translating it.

Thanks in advance for any help,
anglo

 

[Mary49]

Modi di dire nello sport, i dieci più utilizzati nel linguaggio comune italiano
"Sempre nel mondo della scherma fra i modi di dire che indicano una modalità di interloquire o rapportarsi accorta, delicata, complessa e raffinata c'è in punta di fioretto. In questo modo di dire si richiama una fase del duello in cui i due avversari si tengono a distanza e le loro armi si toccano solo con la punta, dando il via a un serie di lievi movimenti fatti per studiarsi in preparazione alla stoccata e all'attacco decisivo: un momento ben più aggressivo e risolutivo".
Speaking of wines, it means that at the beginning the taste and aroma are delicate, like the first touches of a rapier, then more decise, up to the "sharp" final, similar to the rapier thrust.

 

[rrose17]

This is a tough one! What do you think of “sneaks up on you”?
…while Brut Y, with its delicate bouquet and subtle blah blah, sneaks up on you.

 

[theartichoke]

This is a tough one! What do you think of “sneaks up on you”?
…while Brut Y, with its delicate bouquet and subtle blah blah, sneaks up on you.

A wine that "sneaks up on you" makes me think of one that tastes misleadingly light in alcohol and then suddenly gets you hammered. My solution would probably be to skip over the "punta di fioretto" and go directly to the "delicato" part, since the rest of the description explains exactly the kind of delicate-to-sharp process that Mary describes. While Riserva X offers all the warmth, etc...... Brut Y starts out with delicate aromas of......

Or whatever one uses in wine writing for "starts out with." Starts off with? Opens with? Anglo will know better than I do.

 

[Sepia]

I believe it is the point of the sword called the Fioretto. The skmish or duel is conducted with Fioretti pointed.

Ma il fioretto non e una vera arma. È una arma academica - cioé per l'insegnamento della scherma.
È molto stretta come la spada al'italiana / la striscia (inglese: rapier). Non ha una punta aguzza.

 

[ohbice]

Hi there,
I'd like to reopen this thread with a question about a figurative meaning of "in punta di fioretto".
The context is wine, this is a descritpion of a winery's range of wines submitted for tasting for inclusion in a wine guide.
The sentence:
Se la Riserva X porge tutto il calore e la maturità della vendemmia, il Brut Y si esprime invece in punta di fioretto, delicato negli aromi di frutto bianco e glicine, con una sottile vena di pane biscottato. In bocca la tensione si fa vibrante e decisa, allungando il sorso in un finale asciutto e nitido.

I'm actually at a loss as to what it could possibly mean here! If anyone could explain it to me what the Italian means, I can have a go at translating it.

Thanks in advance for any help,
anglo

Concordo con theartichoke, salterei anch'io "in punta di fioretto". Il senso della frase mi sembra "x è pesante e denso, mentre al contrario y è leggero e pungente".

 

[anglomania1]

Hi everyone,
thanks, that's much clearer now!
Yes, I totally agree, I've skipped the whole idiom and gone straight to the "delicate" part - just as theartichoke suggested.
I think it would sound odd if I tried to use a sporting term here, just for the sake of literal translation.
As my English teacher used to say "if in doubt, leave it out"!!
Thanks again to all of you
anglo

 

[Odysseus54]

This is a tough one! What do you think of “sneaks up on you”?
…while Brut Y, with its delicate bouquet and subtle blah blah, sneaks up on you.

I would just stick to something with 'delicate', 'brilliant' etc.

The idea is that a foil job is smart and delicate. It's not a mace or an axe, it touches you lightly.

The sentence is the usual over-verbose nonsense we find in wine promotional prose, but that's all it means. The other wine has a lot of fruit, this bubbly (because it's been harvested early to get more acidity) has a lighter, crisper taste with no tannins.