I have google translated it but it makes no sense.

The cartoon shows a crew member putting the finishing touches to the paint work on the aircraft and then the quote reads "Avec ca la luftwaffe va surement se tenir a carreau!"

Google gives this reply:

"Ca with the Luftwaffe will surely keep a tile!"

Which doesn't really add up? Can someone explain what the translation may mean please? Cheers, MP

Yes, with the German Army, we will certainly show them our white flags!

Well, that's how I read it.

With that, the Luftwaffwe will sureley keep his distance (or be cautious,low profile)

EDIT:

Si un vrai francais veut me corriger il peut bien, ''se tenir a carreau'' n'est pas vraiment une expression Québécoise et je peux donc me tromper sur son interprétation.

Heh, I was close.

Well I saw the paint scheme in the cartoon....and "With that, the Luftwaffwe will sureley keep his distance", makes great sense.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated, cheers, MP

Not going to tell about the art, are ya? And I was sucker enough to wait for it.

That's perfect!

I could also say:

"With this, the Luftwaffe will surely watch out and behave carefully".

"Se tenir à carreau" is a French idiomatic expression used for kids who behave carefully in order not to be reprimanded, for instance.

Here's the image with the translation added, cheers, MP

Ahhh, Checkertail paint! If he wanted to scare the krauts, he could have used Red Tail paint.

Nice ones! I wish that checker paint would be sold in stores!

It's availableat Santas workshop website.... Can't find the adress ...think it's close to Northpole.com though
Preview of it at 3:09
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=SE#/watch?v=Jm_HUhHKWC0

LOL, Santa's Workshop! Look up Full Metal Rudolph on Youtube!

Hello Mysticpuma!

To be complete, you have to realise that a "carreau" in french designates a square tile in general and in this case refers to a checkerboard tile in particular...so the fun part is in the play on word "carreau" and the checkerboard tiles of the P-51 (such plays on words are a known specialty of artist Jean Barbaud!). So it is basically impossible to convey this particular play on words in english, so most of the humor would be lost, even with the perfectly proper translation you have...

JVM

What JVM said. To find a close enough translation that conveys the humour, you'd have to use some 'transcreation' and find another pun that works in English using and allusion to the checkerboard pattern and how it will give the plane an edge over the Lufwaffe. Something like "Now we should beat them fair and square" or "Check Mate Luftwaffe !"

A simple litteral translation of "se tenir a carreau" or of its meaning (to behave, watch themselves, keep at bay...) won't do it.

Cheers

Nico

I am from Belgium and for me the meaning is more like this;

"With this the Huns (Germans) shall keep calm and not bother us."

Absolument JVM