Set words, statements or phrases with meanings other than the literal sum of their parts.
2
votes
1answer
72 views
¿Qué quiere decir “engatillado”?
Sé lo que dice el RAE sobre la palabra. Sobre los animales y sobre la chapa.
Pero cuando alguien me dice:
Chepe estabas engatillado!
Eso ¿qué quiere decir?
La expresión viene de Colombia.
2
votes
4answers
85 views
On the fly / sobre la marcha
Still with software science translations.. Now I'm coming to you with this expression that have always bothered me: "on the fly"
How the hood would you translate that elegantly to spanish?
It feels ...
3
votes
4answers
154 views
Meaning of “andar de vago(a)”
I have heard this phrase, and several similar around the word "vago", but I don't really understand what it means.
The word "vago" seems to translate directly to "vague"... But what does this sort of ...
2
votes
4answers
84 views
Stir the pot, in American Spanish
What is the correct way to express this idiomatic expression? -- Stir the pot --
My goal is to say something like "she stirs the pot even more by inviting this person to her house."
I would imagine ...
5
votes
1answer
146 views
Does “Prima” have a double-meaning (in Mexico)?
I recently saw this billboard in Léon, Guanajuato, México:
[Sorry for the awkward placement of the light pole in the photo; I was driving when I snapped it.]
The sign is an advertisement for ...
5
votes
8answers
837 views
How would you translate the word “badass” to Spanish?
I was thinking maybe of "cabrón" or "chingon" ; however I think those two sound too Mexican specific. Does anybody know a better and less region specific equivalent?
3
votes
4answers
131 views
What does “alma sucia” mean?
What does it mean? I've checked the literal meaning with Google:
dirty soul
I was looking for something more elegant, that shows its tone. Is it an idiom?
4
votes
3answers
101 views
Cómo decir “college dropout”?
Aparentemente no hay una traducción exacta del frase inglés "college dropout" ... la mejor que podria encontrar es "estudiante que abandona la universidad antes de graduarse", cual me parece ...
5
votes
2answers
155 views
Definición de “pistear”
Hoy alguien usó la palabra pistear conmigo, en el contexto de una fiesta, o bebiendo. No puedo encontrar una definición relevante. DRAE tiene dos definiciones regionales:
tr. El Salv. Pagar ...
5
votes
1answer
95 views
Origen y uso de la frase “Para más inri”
Acabo de leer en un diario español la frase "para más inri", y según el diccionario on-line que ofrecen, significa "por si fuera poco".
Yo nunca había leído ni escuchado tal frase.
Mi pregunta ...
5
votes
2answers
60 views
Origen de la expresión “tener más moral que el Alcoyano”
Cuando alguien no se da por vencido y sigue insistiendo a veces en España se dice tienes más moral que el Alcoyano.
Alcoyano es el gentilicio de Alcoy (provincia de Alicante), pero ¿cúal es el origen ...
7
votes
1answer
119 views
¿Cuál es el origen del frase “media naranja”?
He oído la frase "media naranja" unas veces, y puedo entender el contexto, que significa una pareja o novia, por ejemplo. Pero quiero saber el origen de esa frase. A mi, ese frase me parece muy rara.
...
10
votes
5answers
631 views
How do you say “I got you!” in spanish
If I threw a snowball (or dodgeball) at someone and it hit them, how would I say "I got you!" in spanish?
7
votes
2answers
165 views
¿Qué significa “la tercera edad”?
Una amiga me dijo:
Estoy a cargo de mamá que es una señora de la tercera edad.
¿Qué significa "la tercera edad"?
2
votes
1answer
160 views
¿De dónde viene la expresión “en capilla ardiente”?
Soy de Guatemala y he escuchado muchas veces la expresión "en capilla ardiente" principalmente cuando una persona está a punto de contraer nupcias se le dice "estas en capilla ardiente".
Me parece ...
7
votes
2answers
94 views
¿En qué países se utiliza la expresión “colgar el sambenito”?
Como resultado de una pregunta anterior relacionada con el concepto de culpabilidad (guilt trip), surgió la expresión (frecuente en España) "colgar el sambenito", que significa "culpar a alguien ...
4
votes
5answers
329 views
Translation of “guilt trip”
How can I translate the concept of a "guilt trip" into Spanish? The Free Dictionary provides this definition:
guilt trip
n. Informal
A usually prolonged feeling of guilt or culpability.
...
6
votes
2answers
212 views
¿Qué significa “pata de perro”?
Hoy una amiga me dijo "Soy pata de perro".
Yo entiendo las palabras literalmente, pero ¿qué significa esa expresión?
9
votes
6answers
508 views
¿Qué significa la frase “Estoy más puesta que un calcetín”?
Una amiga mexicana me dijo la frase "Estoy más puesta que un calcetín." ¿Qué significa eso?
El contexto es que ella me ofrece una lección de baile.
Ella: Yo te doy unas clasesitas de baile.
...
8
votes
2answers
217 views
¿Qué significa “de pe a pa”?
¿Cúal es el significado de la siguiente expresión "de pe a pa"?
Por ejemplo:
Tienes que aprenderte esto de pe a pa.
11
votes
4answers
251 views
Translation of “bug” to Spanish
What is the best way to translate "bug", as in a misfeature of a computer program or device?
Google translate offers a few options, none of which quite seem to fit, except the term itself:
bug ...
5
votes
3answers
219 views
¿Cuál es el origen de la frase “al pan, pan, y al vino, vino”?
Creo que la expresión quiere decir que algo fue dicho con claridad, pero ¿de donde viene la expresión? Es decir: ¿a qué se refiere originalmente? ¿Por qué pan y vino, precisamente?
0
votes
1answer
81 views
How to translate “Level-Setting” [closed]
I'm a native Spanish speaker and I don't want to translate this using English/American idioms like "get everyone on the same page"
7
votes
7answers
504 views
¿Qué significa “salir del paso?”
Estoy leyendo esta página, y tiene la frase:
Es una solución para salir del paso. Da mejores resultados entre idiomas de origen indoeuropeo, como es de esperar. Pero si se necesita una traducción ...
4
votes
3answers
117 views
Comer y beber como animales
En todos los idiomas se producen comparaciones con animales para expresar que una persona come o bebe mucho.
En inglés, conozco las expresiones to drink like a fish y to eat like a horse.
En España ...
6
votes
2answers
133 views
Traduccion para “as far as I can tell” / Translation for “as far as I can tell”
Español
Como hispanoparlante nativo y, yo considero, con un alto nivel en el manejo del Inglés, varias veces tengo dificultad para traducir expresiones de uso común y me acaba de pasar cuando quise ...
7
votes
2answers
124 views
¿Es redundante la expresión “suele ser frecuente”?
Español
He oído a menudo la expresión “suele ser frecuente”. ¿Es redundante? ¿Suena bien a pesar de la redundancia? ¿O bien suena mal y sería mejor decir solo “es frecuente”?
Por ejemplo:
Suele ...
3
votes
2answers
452 views
¿Cómo se dice, “How's it going”?
En inglés, se puede utilizar la expresión, "How's it going?" como una manera de preguntar cómo está alguien.
La frase es informal y tiene un significado similar al "¿Cómo estás?"
Sin embargo, cuando ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
¿Qué significa en Argentina “al pedo”?
He escuchado y leído a argentinos decir "al pedo", por ejemplo, "estoy al pedo". Es evidente que NO se refiere a "estar pedo", que significa "estar borracho" en algunos sitios.
¿Qué significa "estar ...
9
votes
3answers
611 views
What is the preferred way of saying “I have to go”?
English
As far as I can tell there are two ways to say, "I have to go."
Tengo que ir.
Tengo ir.
Is the second way even right? And if so, which one is the preferred way to say, "I have ...
13
votes
5answers
371 views
Is there a Spanish equivalent to “-ish”?
In English, we often add "-ish" to the end of a word to make it less exact.
Here are some examples:
I'll be there at 5:00ish.
The shirt was a reddish color.
The woman appeared to be 50ish. ...
4
votes
1answer
309 views
Is there an equivalent idiom for “Slow and steady wins the race”?
English has an idiom: "Slow and steady wins the race." It is used to describe situations where slow, steady progress towards a goal is better than a rushed attempt to achieve things all at once (and I ...
4
votes
4answers
324 views
Translating “Slow down!” (in informal contexts)
English
WordReference translates "slow down" as disminuir la velocidad or desacelerar. But those sound pretty precise or technical to me. How would you translate "Slow down!" in other, more informal ...
9
votes
2answers
133 views
What would be a good translation of “to go well with”?
How could one translate the expression "to go well with" in Spanish?
For example:
Tequila shots go well with strawberry ice cream.
6
votes
4answers
153 views
Ironic constructions in Spanish
English
As part of my masters in linguistics, I am taking a course on the subject of irony. We were given examples of sentences that are most likely ironic, as the English sentence "he is not ...
4
votes
2answers
135 views
Is there an idiomatic equivalent in Spanish for “to have other fish to fry”
Is there an idiomatic equivalent in Spanish for “to have other fish to fry”?
have other fish to fry: "To have more important things to do"
In the two romance languages I am familiar with, this ...
6
votes
2answers
247 views
What is the meaning of the phrase “¿Cómo ves?”?
I often hear (or read in online chats) people say ¿Cómo ves?, typically after the end of an explanation of something.
What does this really mean? It's phrased as a question, but rarely does it seem ...
6
votes
2answers
151 views
Translation: “so” to begin a sentence
So in English I often start sentences with the word 'so'. Often I do this when beginning an explanation, but there are heaps of other uses too, like when telling a story or when expecting an answer ...
10
votes
1answer
114 views
Plug vs Socket: Interchangeable?
Many dictionaries that I have looked at online seem to use enchufe as a word that is interchangeable for the English words plug and socket, which are two related, but distinct objects. Some ...
4
votes
2answers
125 views
What is the meaning of “melaza” in the song “Caras Lindas”?
This is the song. The word is translated by online lyrics, RAE and wordreference.com as molasses. But it doesn't make sense to me in the context.
Somos la melaza que ríe
Somos la melaza que ...
6
votes
2answers
267 views
What's the meaning of the Mexican expression “se te va el avión”?
Example:
Te lo dije tres veces y de todos modos no lo hiciste. A ti ya se te va el avión.
¿No te acordaste de tu cumpleaños? La verdad es que a ti ya se te va el avión.
What does it mean?
...
5
votes
3answers
214 views
Translations of 'anyway'
I spoke with a friend that I haven't spoken to in a long time. He started with a question about a test he is having. After I answered the question, I wanted to ask him:
"How have you been anyway?"
...
2
votes
3answers
465 views
Translation of “I rest my case”
In English, the phrase "I rest my case" can be used in a conversation by one person whose point has just been proven by the other person. In a legal sense, it would mean that a lawyer has concluded ...
2
votes
1answer
187 views
Translation of the idiom: “To wind (somebody) up”
My question is similar to that of jrdioko's "to wind up (doing something)"
However the expression I'm looking for is: "To wind (somebody) up"
I know this is an idiomatic expression so there may or ...
5
votes
3answers
426 views
What is “ya va” in Venezuelan Spanish?
I heard the expression "llava" / "ya va" (?) being used in Venezuelan Spanish. It seems to have the meaning of "wait a moment", but my Mexican friend don't understand it.
Does anyone who know what ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Translation of “in a pickle” and related phrases
In English there are several idioms or phrases that describe being in the midst of a very difficult situation:
in a pickle
in a quandary
in a predicament
in between a rock and a hard place
How ...
5
votes
3answers
526 views
What's the meaning of “Y yo voy y me lo creo”?
What's the meaning of "Y yo voy y me lo creo"? I encountered it in a Spanish novel. With 146,000 Google.es hits, it seems to be a set expression. Context helps, but doesn't remove all doubts.
2
votes
2answers
556 views
Translation of “What goes around comes around”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom, What goes around comes around?
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Translation of “contra viento y marea”
What is the most idiomatic English translation of the Spanish phrase contra viento y marea?
3
votes
2answers
4k views
Translation of “ni modo”
The phrase ni modo is used in many varieties of Spanish to mean many different things. What are its possible meanings? Which meaning is most common (i.e. which meaning would you assume if ni modo was ...
