Set words, statements or phrases with meanings other than the literal sum of their parts.
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there any differences between “de nada” and “por nada”?
Most of the time in all the Spanish speaking countries I've been in I've heard de nada as the reply to gracias or the equivalent of English you're welcome etc.
But after a while I became conscious ...
4
votes
2answers
161 views
Translation of “Under Pressure” — Queen song title
Today I heard Under Pressure by Queen on the radio. After the song, the DJ announced the song as Alta Presión. That sounds more to me like "High Pressure" than "Under Pressure." I would have ...
6
votes
2answers
218 views
Origin and use of “echar de menos”
I've always found peculiar that the phrase echar de menos is synonymous of the verb extrañar. For example:
Te echaré de menos.
is equivalent to:
Te extrañaré.
Based on TV, its use is most ...
9
votes
1answer
652 views
“Desde luego” meaning and etymology
Español
Esta pregunta me recuerda a una frase similar, "desde luego", que no es eso literalmente, sino que significa "por supuesto" (según el DRAE):
luego.
[...]
desde ~.
loc. adv. ...
4
votes
2answers
171 views
Understanding “desde ya”
I have heard the phrase "desde ya" used to mean "in advance." Literally, it means "since already." How is it understood to mean "in advance," or is it simply an idiom with a nonsense literal meaning? ...
7
votes
3answers
312 views
Idiomatic translation of “Dame tu luz”?
In the song Pequeño Amor by the Chiquitas, there is the following chorus:
Pequeño amor,
por siempre tú
pequeño amor,
dame tu luz
The song is a duet, and the above is sung by members of the ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
Usage of “donde la espalda cambia de nombre”
In this answer to this previous question of mine, the answerer used the phrase
Antonio se hirió donde la espalda cambia de nombre.
as an example of a milder version of
Antonio se hirió en ...
8
votes
3answers
618 views
Translating “looking forward to”
In English, we often used the phrase looking forward to when we are excited about something in the future:
I'm looking forward to seeing you next week!
I'm really looking forward to finals ...
10
votes
2answers
367 views
Usage of “oso” to express embarrassment
I have heard the idiom
¡Que oso!
...used to express embarrassment by a former acquaintance from Colombia but have never met another Spanish speaker who uses this expression.
My questions:
...
4
votes
1answer
121 views
How to interpret “dar a” or “dar a conocer”?
I only know "dar" in its literal sense of "to give".
And I know "conocer" in its literal sense of "to know" or "to get to know".
But in reading Cien años de soledad I came to this passage:
... y ...
8
votes
2answers
435 views
How to translate “make it count”
This evening a friend saw a poster in English that said something like:
If you have only one chance at opportunity, make it count.
She asked me what it meant. She knew enough English to make out ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Forma correcta de “nisiquiera”
Al escribir siempre he tenido la duda de cuál es la manera apropiada del término o frase.
¿Es "ni si quiera", "ni siquiera" o todo junto "nisiquiera"?.
When writing I've always worred about which ...
5
votes
2answers
247 views
How should we translate “everything but the kitchen sink” or “the whole enchilada”?
There is an idiom that is popular (and old) in English that states "everything but the kitchen sink". This is a phrase that means "everything that could be conceived".
Som examples:
"I realized ...
7
votes
4answers
109 views
How to translate “open source” and “free software” and keep the distinction?
In English, when describing software you say "open source" to refer to software that's source code has been made available under a license.
"Free software" refers to 'truly free' software that can be ...
9
votes
4answers
583 views
How to translate the idiomatic expressions “I wish!” and “You wish!”
What's the best way to say "I wish!" as in...
A: I hear you're a good dancer.
B: Ha! I wish!
Or...
A: Will you help me move this piano?
B: Ha! You wish!
What is the best way to ...
6
votes
4answers
118 views
Is there a translation for “He thumbed his nose at them”?
In English if you "thumb your nose at someone" you are ignoring their authority..
Is there an expression in Spanish that conveys that same sort of disrespect?
Edit: adding example.
Many ...
12
votes
5answers
419 views
How to translate the idiom: “missing the point”?
What would be the correct way to translate into Spanish the idiom: "to miss the point"?
I'm often tempted to write "perder el punto", but it doesn't sound quite right.
For example: "To bring ...
