Tagged Questions
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 ...
5
votes
8answers
828 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?
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 ...
10
votes
5answers
630 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"?
4
votes
5answers
327 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.
...
9
votes
6answers
500 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.
...
11
votes
4answers
249 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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
445 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 ...
9
votes
3answers
607 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
307 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
321 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
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 ...
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
464 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
554 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
333 views
Translation of “to talk behind someone's back”
What is the typical Spanish translation of the English idiom "to talk behind someone's back" (as in saying something bad about another person to others instead of to them directly)?
1
vote
2answers
86 views
Translation of “to play favorites”
What is the best Spanish translation of the English idiom "to play favorites" (as in favoring individuals in a group instead of treating everyone equally)?
0
votes
3answers
388 views
Interpretation of quotes or famous sayings [closed]
I know you can't translate everything directly, sometimes it doesn't make sense, specially when it comes from quotes.
What would be the best intepretation of the following quotes?:
What goes ...
0
votes
2answers
441 views
Translating “Me la paso pensándote”
In Wisin y Yandel's "Estoy Enamorado," the chorus contains the following line:
Me la paso pensándote, nunca voy a soltarte
What does "Me la paso pensándote" mean? Is "me" a reflexive or indirect ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Translating “paying one's (final) respects”
In English, if someone visits a grave or goes to a funeral of someone who has died, we can say he is going "to pay his respects" or "to pay his last respects." While it's hard to explain what this ...
4
votes
3answers
238 views
How can I translate the expression “sour grapes” to Spanish?
From the Oxford dictionary:
sour grapes
used to refer to an attitude in which someone adopts a negative attitude to something because they cannot have it themselves:
government officials ...
4
votes
2answers
166 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
324 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 ...
8
votes
3answers
679 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
450 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
255 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
113 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
643 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
124 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
430 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 ...
