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Language Club- How do you say...? Languages, Translations...What's the word, yo?!

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Old 01-23-2005, 11:48 AM   #1
byler
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If you're going to be in a Spanish speaking country, around locals, for an extended period of time, you will see that they have sayings just like we do, that do not make any sense. For example, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."

Here are about 10 common "sayings" in Spanish, the English equivalent, and then what it means if you literately translate it. Hope this clears up any confusion anyone may have!

--Byler

10. A otro perro con ese hueso.
(You're putting me on.)

Literal: To another dog with that bone.



9. Antes que te cases mira lo que haces.
(Look before you leap.)

Literal: Before you marry, look at what you do.



8. Cada quien tiene su manera de matar pulgas.
(There's more than one way to skin the cat.)

Literal: Everyone has their own way to kill fleas.



7. Como el burro que tocó la flauta.
(By pure luck.)

Literal: As the burro played the flute.



6. Salir de Guatemala y meterse en guatepeor.
(Out of the frying pan and into the fire.)

Literal: To leave Guatemala and arrive in worse cornstalks.



5. El hijo de la gata, ratones mata.
(Like father, like son.)

Literal: The son of the cat kills mice.



4. Entrada de caballo, salida de burro.
(Don't start something you can't finish.)

Literal: Enter on horseback, leave on a donkey.



3. Tener más lana que un borrego.
(To have money to burn.)

Literal: To have more wool than a lamb.



2. Yo tengo una tía que toca la guitarra.
(What's that got to do with the price of tea in China?)

Literal: I have an aunt that plays the guitar.



1. Ir a donde el rey va solo.
(To powder one's nose.)

Literal: To go where the king goes alone.
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Old 01-24-2005, 12:30 AM   #2
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Hmm.. I'm busy cramming my head with non-colloquial Spanish right now, so I won't remember any of these (except for the aunt one.. that's brilliant!), but I'm sure I'll be running back to this thread in the future.

Thanks for the cool info!
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Old 01-24-2005, 07:55 AM   #3
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Very interesting... It happens in every language. But it's very nice to read those ones... It would take a long time for us to figure out what it means without your help.
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Old 01-30-2005, 10:27 AM   #4
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Yeah idioms are fun. I'm learning about them now since I'm trying to pick up French! Really I should wait to learn them later considering I'm not really far enough along to build a proper sentence...

But then again I have problems doin' that in english. :D

Jenn
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Old 01-30-2005, 04:52 PM   #5
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I remember this one Spanish girl at a place I was at in France kept saying things like: "Let me make you a massage" and "Did you do sex?" haha, I thought it was funny, another American tried to correct her and she was like: "I don't give, I don't take, I make"
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Old 02-20-2006, 10:07 AM   #6
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I have a friend from Hungary who always says "I have to make pee" and "I go to make a photo"!! So cute!!! and she pronounces Switzerland like Swizzeland!!
Although I really shouldn't say anything cause I'm sure I sound worse in Hungarian!!

Another time some Spanish guy looked at me and said "you must be cold you have CHICKEN SKIN!" I had no idea what he was talking about but looked down at my arms and replied "oh you mean GOOSE BUMPS" (a.k.a. ANT TITS!)

languages are funny aren't they???!!!!!

cheers

Quote:
Originally posted by Ryder@Jan 30 2005, 05:52 PM
I remember this one Spanish girl at a place I was at in France kept saying things like: "Let me make you a massage" and "Did you do sex?" haha, I thought it was funny, another American tried to correct her and she was like: "I don't give, I don't take, I make"
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Old 02-20-2006, 06:08 PM   #7
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haha... my mom says the thing with chicken skin... its cause after you pluck the feathers from chickens it looks like goosebumps (the pores and whatnot...)

I actually thought that that was used in English too though
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