Metaphors

rellosk · May 11, 2005

I would like to start a thread for metaphors (met?foras). It's might be a little advanced for Spanish 101 but what the heck.

For example:

In English, we say "It costs an arm and a leg". According to my Spanish phrase of the day calendar, in Spanish it is said, "Cuesta un ojo de la cara"; which translates to "It costs one eye of the face".

Another is "You can't see the forest for the trees". In Spanish, "Los ?rboles no nos dejan ver el bosque", which translates into "Trees don't allow us to see the forest".

Do they have a metaphor comparable to "You are comparing apples and oranges" in the DR?

Musicqueen · May 11, 2005

I don't know exactly...

But maybe you can say..."es como pedirle peras a un olmo" meaning 'it's like asking an oak tree to give you pears...'

Something like that?

MQ

rellosk · May 20, 2005

Does anyone know any other met?foras en espa?ol?

ricktoronto · May 20, 2005

I am not sure these are metaphors vs. being idioms and there are several quite good English/Spanish and vice versa idiomatic dictionaries.

Idiom: an expression that does not mean what it literally says, as to have the upper hand has nothing to do with hands. Note: Idioms are peculiar to a given language and usually cannot be translated literally. For this reason, languages especially rich in idioms, as English, French, German, and Russian, are difficult to translate. adj. idiomatic.

NotLurking · May 20, 2005

what comes to mind now...

Camar?n que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.
Shrimp that falls asleep is taken (away) by the current

En el mundo de los ciegos el que tiene un ojo es rey..
In the land of the blind he who has one eye is king.

Vele mas un pajaro en mano que dos volando.
A bird in hand is worth more than two in flight.

El que mucho abarca poca aprieta.
The one that much includes has little tightness (grip?).

El diablo no sabe por diablo sino por viejo.
The devil doesn't know because he's the devil but because of his age.

NotLurking

rellosk · May 20, 2005

ricktoronto said:
I am not sure these are metaphors vs. being idioms and there are several quite good English/Spanish and vice versa idiomatic dictionaries.

Idiom: an expression that does not mean what it literally says, as to have the upper hand has nothing to do with hands. Note: Idioms are peculiar to a given language and usually cannot be translated literally. For this reason, languages especially rich in idioms, as English, French, German, and Russian, are difficult to translate. adj. idiomatic.

Okay. Does anyone know any other idomas en espa?ol?

I realize they cannot be translated literally and ones that exist in English may not exist in Spanish (and vice versa) but I'm curious nonetheless.

Hmmmm...That brings up another idiom "Curiosity killed the cat". Does anyone know if they have a similar one in the DR? [I'm looking for a spoken idiom and not just a direct translation].

AnnaC · May 20, 2005

I have a book with some but not sure if they are used in DR.

llamar al pan pan y al vino vino (something like call a spade a spade)

m?s ahorita ( right now)

meter la pata ( to put one's foot in one's mouth)

llover a c?ntarons ( to rain cats and dogs)

maybe this will get others thinking of some

Berzin · May 20, 2005

rellosk said:
Does anyone know any other met?foras en espa?ol?

"Yo no bebo de esa agua."

"Tratando de tapar el sol con un dedo."

trina · May 20, 2005

This is copied from the best idioms post I've read on DR1

It was originally posted by JC (no longer posts here, as far as i KNOW) in 1999 - these are his phrases and translations, to give credit where credit is due.

Now we are going to focus on complete phrases that portrait the popular wisdom prevalent in all segments of society. This time with translation (no literal).

Entre Lucas y Juan Mej?a.- Between a rock and a hard place

M?s caliente que una vieja met?a en fiesta.- Hotter than an old woman on a party mood.

Amarrar los perros con longanizas.- To be very naive and give away opportunities to the enemies

Como la gatica de Mar?a Ramos que tira la piedra y esconde la mano.- Like somebody that appear very innocent but operates behind the scenes

Lo agarraron asando batatas.- He got caugh with his pants down

Darle soga a alguien.- Give some freedom to somebody with intention of curtail it later

Ni con Dios ni con el Diablo.- Neither with God or Evil

Conocer al cogo sentao.- To be so experienced in life as to know people intentions even when they don't give out any clues.

Acostarse con las gallinas.- To go to bed at the same time that the hens (it refers to the habit of many peasants of going to bed early in the evening since they have to wake up very early in the morning to labor in the fields)

Curarse en salud.- To practive prevention before a problem sets in

Hacerse el chivo loco.- To play dumb or unaware of any situation. To be irresponsible.

Como la jonda del diablo. To run with desperation

Abrir gas.- To run away

Por la bolita del mundo y el potecito de sangre.- When kids want to emphasize that they are telling the thruth they say this oath.

ponerse la cosa aj? Caribe.- When a situation turn uggly or dramatic

Poner los cachitos, pegar cuernos.- To stray in marriage

Saber m?s por viejo que por diablo.- To express that old age give the greatest wisdom of all.

Ir por la sombrita.- To walk below the shade of the trees

El coraz?n de la auyama s?lo lo sabe el cuchillo.- Only a person that is in the middle of a problem or issue can feel its intensity.

Gallina vieja da buen caldo.- Used commomly by mature women to express that their experience add to their sex appeal.

Armarse la de San Quint?n.- To start big trouble, confusion.

Estamos juntos pero no reburujao.- we may bew together as a group but it doesn?t means that we all are alike.

Desgaritarse como el diablo prendio en candela .- To run away with dramatic speed.

Mandarse a juyir.- To star running to escape from something or somebody

Desga?itarse el galillo.- To yell until the person almost lose his/her voice

Caerle a la conga (playing the drums).- To jump on somebody with the intention of beating him up.

Barriga llena, coraz?n contento.- When somebody has eaten well, his heart sing with happiness.

...And this one from my glotonous cousins in the campo:

Para comida perd?a mejor barriga romp?a.- Is better to eat until the stomach explodes than to trash away food.

If anybody disagrees with the translations, is fine with me. I just did this on the fly. Got it?

rellosk · May 20, 2005

Berzin said:
"Yo no bebo de esa agua."

"Tratando de tapar el sol con un dedo."

I can't figure out what they mean.

ricktoronto · May 20, 2005

I don't drink that water - except agua is a masculine noun not feminine even though it starts with "a" so it would be ese.

And I think "trying to cover the sun with one finger. "

What they mean who knows?

xamaicano · May 20, 2005

ricktoronto said:
I don't drink that water - except agua is a masculine noun not feminine even though it starts with "a" so it would be ese.

And I think "trying to cover the sun with one finger. "

What they mean who knows?

Actually, agua is feminine. The pronouns el and un are use for feminine nouns that start with a or ha.

el agua - las aguas.

mkohn · May 20, 2005

"Yo no bebo de esa agua."

I think the first one means something that you wouldn't dare do, like "I wouldn't touch that with a 10 ft. pole."

"Tratando de tapar el sol con un dedo."

I think the second one means that you are doing an impossible task. Like putting a band aid on a hole in a tire.

Fun thread.
mkohn

ricktoronto · May 20, 2005

xamaicano said:
Actually, agua is feminine. The pronouns el and un are use for feminine nouns that start with a or ha.

el agua - las aguas.

Esa agua still sounds odd like la agua would though.

xamaicano · May 20, 2005

ricktoronto said:
Esa agua still sounds odd like la agua would though.

You are probably right. I've seen both but ese make more sense since esa presents same problem as la and una.

mofi · May 21, 2005

There is another one but i forget exactly how its said, Something about throwing stones in a glass house or something like that. I just don't remember the wording right now.

hugoke01 · May 21, 2005

Metaforos

xamaicano said:
You are probably right. I've seen both but ese make more sense since esa presents same problem as la and una.

There is a saying :

Agua pasada ,no muele molino : you can't change things once done

Easy sayings :

Quien calla, otorga

Do entra beber, sale saber

Quien busca , halla

El tiempo es oro

M?s vale evitar que remediar

Por el fruto se conoce el ?rbol

Querer es poder

A quien le pique , que se rasque

Desde la barrera,bien torea cualquiera

El hombre propone y Dios dispone

La necesidad carece de ley

Hierba mala nunca muere

M?s vale tarde que nunca

Con la esperanza se vive

Nuevo rey,nueva ley

El fin justifica )no justifica)los medios

En lo m?s alto cae el rayo

A gato viejo , rata tierna

Humano es el errar

A su tiempo maduran las uvas

No hay regla sin excepci?n

RHM · May 22, 2005

two from Scandall

Here's two I just recently learned...but beware....when you use idiomatric expressions people will assume you speak spanish very well...not the case with me...in fact I really need to get off my *** and study/practice more...I've been here a few years and should be much more fluent...no excuses......anyway

"Amarrando la chiva"....literally means roping the goat....it means that you are doing nothing when you should be working...the reason is that the chivo (goat) is a lazy animal that just lies around...so roping it isn't really any great feat

"la mama de Tarzan"....I love this one...it literally means just what it sounds like...used to describe a hottie...but I have heard people(not rocket scientists) to describe anything that's super cool...cars...etc

Scandall

juancarlos · May 23, 2005

All of those are called refranes or dichos in Spanish. In English you would say: There is a saying...

Here are some others:

A buen hambre no hay pan duro.
Arbol que crece torcido jam?s su tronco endereza.
El que a buen arbol se arrima, buena sombra lo cobija.

Nunca digas de esa agua no beber?.

Al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda.

etc. etc.

Lesley or Chirimoya or Pib- by the way, where is she?- or Hillbilly could provide translation because I am too tired and I am going to bed now.

Stodgord · May 24, 2005

How about the following:

1-Se vende como pan caliente.
2-Mas loco que un reloj de a peso.
3-Pa' 'tras ni para cojer impulso.
4-ella/el no rompe un plato.
5-Mucha espuma y poco chocolate.
6-Eso es buche y plumas na' mas.
7-Como la perrita de Margo.
8-Abrir gas.
9-Sacar los pies/bugi.

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