Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary > Idioms & Sayings


La verdad es que con la tele se aprende un huevo

 

An 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.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 14, 2017, 03:44 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
La verdad es que con la tele se aprende un huevo

I just can't work out whether that means

1) you learn nothing from the TV

2) you learn a hell of a lot from the TV (you learn a testicle????? )

Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old February 14, 2017, 11:18 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
It certainly depends on the region what "un huevo" means, but in this case it means "nothing".
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 14, 2017, 12:57 PM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
It certainly depends on the region what "un huevo" means, but in this case it means "nothing".
My Oxford Spanish dictionary does not give that meaning, but I was guessing from the French l'ouef = English "love" in tennis.

Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 14, 2017, 02:55 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
No, no, no. In Spain, "aprender un huevo" is "aprender mucho".

Véanse los ejemplos, con una googleada:

https://www.google.com/search?q=defi...hrome&ie=UTF-8

De ahí, a un pequeño sello, Quality Madrid, en el que hace casi una década ganó su primer sueldo. "Aprendí [***]un huevo[***], pero la música que hacía era horrible.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
AÑO: 2003
AUTOR: PRENSA
TÍTULO: El País. El País de las Tentaciones, 28/03/2003 : LA ELEGANCIA TOMA LA PISTA
PAÍS: ESPAÑA
TEMA: 04.Música
PUBLICACIÓN: Diario El País, S.A. (Madrid), 2003


Desde mi punto de vista es un sitio muy recomendable para aprender un huevo de todo tipo de sistemas y con muy buen rollo en general, de hecho sigo manteniendo un montón de amigos allí.

http://trabajobasura1.rssing.com/cha...7/all_p38.html

So, in summary, "to learn a hell of a lot"! :-)

Ah, the Oxford on line gives you these examples, (2nd one applicable to your context!)

me costó un huevo — it cost a bomb
sabe un huevo de vinos — he knows an incredible amount about wine

https://es.oxforddictionaries.com/tr...uevo?locale=en

Saludos, Perikles! (Long time, no see you!)


Debatir nunca es perder el tiempo. Aun sin llegar a conclusiones o a un acuerdo se aprende un huevo. Se aprende mucho, sobre todo a escuchar a los demás.
http://www.cruzdesanandres.com/forov...=3403&start=15
__________________
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."

Last edited by JPablo; February 14, 2017 at 03:11 PM. Reason: Added one example from CREA, http://corpus.rae.es/creanet.html
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old February 14, 2017, 07:00 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is online now
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Oh well, Pablo is likely to know better, since you live in Spain.
As far as I know, in Colombia it would have meant "nothing", and in Mexico that expression is not used in that kind of context; on the other hand, I'm biased against TV, so my ignorance and prejudices won again. Sorry for that.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old February 14, 2017, 10:44 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
No problem.

It is definitely something used in Spain, but not in the rest of the planet...

I don't watch much TV either..., so "aprendo un huevo con los diccionarios e Internet"... ;-)

Saludos cordiales.
__________________
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."
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old February 15, 2017, 02:57 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Fascinating! Thanks both. I find this colloquial Spanish very difficult.

And hello again JPablo


Edit: I've just read in the same book : "Nos has impresionado un huevo"

Last edited by Perikles; February 15, 2017 at 03:52 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old February 16, 2017, 12:18 AM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
You're welcome, Perikles.

Yes, my mom used to say, "Los primeros cien años son los peores"...
__________________
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."
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old February 16, 2017, 02:54 PM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posts: 3,127
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
se aprende un huevo = se aprende mucho ---> huevo = something round and massive, like a boulder
no se aprende un huevo = no se aprende nada ---> huevo = the number zero
__________________
[gone]
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old February 16, 2017, 09:00 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Good point, Alec.

We would understand both correctly in Spain. The first one being the more broadly used.
__________________
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."
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Subir el volumen de la tele ROBINDESBOIS Vocabulary 3 February 04, 2015 07:39 PM
Verdad DailyWord Daily Spanish Word 0 November 17, 2008 02:21 AM
La verdad barrenfield Practice & Homework 16 September 30, 2008 06:35 PM
la verdad o de verdad Jane Vocabulary 12 April 15, 2008 04:07 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:18 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X