Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
La pescadilla que se muerde la colaAn idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
La pescadilla que se muerde la cola
How do we say this idiom in English?
It s used when people keep talking about the same topic again and again, and every speaker sticks to his ideas and wouldn t change them despite what others might say. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
The person can't get off the subject,
but if you wish to sound more figurative: the person doesn't change his tune -or- keeps bringing up the same bit.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias. Last edited by poli; May 22, 2012 at 09:34 AM. Reason: typo |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Everybody talking in circles
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
I can't think of a single phrase that describes what you are describing. I know exactly what you are talking about though. All I can think of are related phrases that don't describe the whole topic:
They're wasting their breath (for the never going to change part) Political stalemate (doesn't describe the talking part) Beating a dead horse (talking about the same thing over and over without change) None of those are really exactly what you described. Maybe we should just start calling that whole thing "American Government" since it describes it perfectly =) |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I've never heard "la pescadilla que se muerde la cola" as explained in the OT. I've always heard that expression meaning "vicious circle".
In this link it is translated as different animals (dog, cat, fish, snake..) biting or chasing their tails: http://www.linguee.es/espanol-ingles...e+la+cola.html
__________________
Corrections always very welcome |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Esta expresion se usa en ciertos casos.
Imagínate que piensas en una situacion como.... -Niño no puede comprar chicle -Kiosco cierra por no vender chicle -Fabrica de chicles tiene que cerrar -Trabajador despedido no puede dar dinero a su niño. -Niño no puede comprar chicle. "Esto es la pescadilla que se muerde la cola" It's like when you always end up at the point where you've started. Sorry if it is too abstract , but I hope it helps you understand. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
He/She is a broken record......always talking about the same thing over and over again.
__________________
Elaina All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
In Spanish we say es como un disco rallado. ( same meaning)
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I'm sure there is a lot of young people who have never heard a broken record (or disco rallado).
__________________
Corrections always very welcome |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
¡Epa!
Disco rayado... Muy diferente del queso rallado. En inglés yo he oído sobre todo lo de "the snake biting its own tail"... Like in "old" physics, someone defining and/or describing "time" in terms of "energy", "energy" in terms of "matter", "matter" in terms of "space", and "space" in terms of "time". Or "circular definitions", as in -"What is a 'bla'?" -A 'bla' is a 'bliblu'... -"What's a 'bliblu'? -A 'bliblu' is a 'big bloo'... -What is a 'big bloo'? -Its a 'bla'. (So, that 'fully clarifies what a 'bla' is, of course!) Or like the old song, (maybe by J. Sabina or A. Krae...) -¿Por qué estás tan triste? -Porque no trabajo... (then the song goes all over different reasons to come back to the same question...) (My two cents and a half.)
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie. "An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you." |
Link to this thread | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
A la cola de ... | ROBINDESBOIS | Idioms & Sayings | 2 | December 31, 2011 01:42 AM |
No pegan ni con cola | ROBINDESBOIS | Idioms & Sayings | 9 | September 25, 2009 04:51 PM |
Si es un perro te muerde | ROBINDESBOIS | Idioms & Sayings | 10 | September 03, 2009 12:31 PM |
Cola | ROBINDESBOIS | Vocabulary | 7 | July 20, 2009 09:20 PM |
Cola | DailyWord | Daily Spanish Word | 34 | March 10, 2009 06:23 AM |