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Prestarse a hacer algo

 

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  #1  
Old September 19, 2009, 04:53 PM
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Arrow Prestarse a hacer algo

Como se puede traducir prestarse a hacer algo en el siguiente contexto:

Como te prestas a tales menesteres ? PUEde alguien traducir esta frase, por favor.
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  #2  
Old September 19, 2009, 06:33 PM
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"Prestarse a hacer algo" means to accept doing something some other people would find unacceptable to some extent.
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Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; September 20, 2009 at 08:59 AM.
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Old September 19, 2009, 08:48 PM
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How can you take on such jobs?
How can you offer to do those kinds of jobs?
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Old September 19, 2009, 11:02 PM
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¿Cómo podrías prestarte a hacer esto?

How could you lower yourself to do that?
How could you stoop to doing that?

Quote:
lower oneself verb
debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way; "I won't stoop to reading other people's mail"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lower+oneself
How could you bring yourself to do that?

Or perhaps even (depending on the context):
How could you debase/degrade yourself like that?

Quote:
2.to lower in rank, dignity, or significance: He wouldn't debase himself by doing manual labor.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/debase

I'm amazed really because we have the exact same expression in Dutch, meaning the same according to the explanation Angelica gave. : 'Zich ergens voor lenen' = 'Prestarse (a hacer) algo'

Zich = se
ergens (voor) = (a) algo / algún parte.
lenen = prestar.
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Last edited by EmpanadaRica; September 19, 2009 at 11:08 PM.
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  #5  
Old September 20, 2009, 01:13 AM
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I saw " To lend oneself to do sth" IS that OK?


How could you lower yourself to do that?
How could you stoop to doing that?
How could you debase/degrade yourself like that?

Well, the 1st two are translated in Spanish by Rebajarse, Cómo puedes rebajarte a hacer eso? ( Like if you lost your dignity)
I think they are stronger than the other ones.(They have stronger connotations, likewise with the 3rd one)

Last edited by Rusty; September 20, 2009 at 05:34 AM. Reason: Merged back-to-back posts
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Old September 20, 2009, 05:38 AM
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Lending yourself to do something is the same as offering to do something, but would be regarded as more formal language (a higher register).
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Old September 20, 2009, 08:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS View Post
How could you lower yourself to do that?
How could you stoop to doing that?
How could you debase/degrade yourself like that?

Well, the 1st two are translated in Spanish by Rebajarse, Cómo puedes rebajarte a hacer eso? ( Like if you lost your dignity)
I think they are stronger than the other ones.(They have stronger connotations, likewise with the 3rd one)
Yes I agree, but I don't know how strong this expression is in Spanish?

In Dutch there is a 'moral' connotation about it as well, as in 'How could you do that' because it is, as mentioned before in this topic, regarding something others wouldn't.

But perhaps it's used in more 'mild' situations in Spanish (?). In that case I suppose just 'how can you..' etc would be the translation, as Rusty suggested in the translation of your example.
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