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"A él no se le dan"

 

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.


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  #1  
Old August 14, 2010, 09:28 AM
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"A él no se le dan"

Por favor, what does "A él no se le dan" mean in english? I'm not sure if this is an idiom or not. One of my main weaknesses in spanish is when I encounter a long string of small words like this. My eyes tend to gloss over, and I just stop processing the spanish.

If I try to figure it out myself, maybe... "To Him I don't want to do"?

So... I don't want him to do (something) ? It's really confusing. A little help here? Thanks guys.
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  #2  
Old August 14, 2010, 11:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by El Teboso View Post
Por favor, what does "A él no se le dan" mean in english? I'm not sure if this is an idiom or not. One of my main weaknesses in spanish is when I encounter a long string of small words like this. My eyes tend to gloss over, and I just stop processing the spanish.

If I try to figure it out myself, maybe... "To Him I don't want to do"?

So... I don't want him to do (something) ? It's really confusing. A little help here? Thanks guys.
(they) are not given to him.
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  #3  
Old August 14, 2010, 01:53 PM
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Example:
"A él no se le dan los deportes" (= "Él no es bueno en los deportes" - "He is not good at sports") I don't know if a literal translation exist, but that's the meaning.
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Old August 14, 2010, 01:58 PM
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He is not good at........
-sports
-cooking
-working
-swimming

etc etc etc

Hey Teboso......
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Old August 14, 2010, 04:17 PM
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Yes, Chileno gave you the most literal translation, but Ookami and Elaina gave you the sense of this idiomatic expression.

A mí no se me da el fútbol americano (I am not good at American Football)
A mí se me da más el baloncesto (I am better at basketball) (Or, I am more skilled at basketball).

A mí se me daba el ajedrez, pero hace mucho que no practico. (I used to be good at chess, but there has been a long time I have not practiced.)
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Old August 14, 2010, 05:10 PM
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Hmmm.

I took it as something no to be given to the person.

Candies are not given to him/her, they are sold/he she buys them.

There also: My neighbor is given to lavish spending.

Se me escapó esa de no ser bueno para algo, como yo....
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Old August 16, 2010, 02:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ookami View Post
Example:
"A él no se le dan los deportes" (= "Él no es bueno en los deportes" - "He is not good at sports") I don't know if a literal translation exist, but that's the meaning.
we could say that he is not gifted at sports

( = he has not been given the ability)
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Old August 16, 2010, 03:04 PM
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@ Chileno. I see, you're right, that is the literal usage of it, which is as correct as the idiomatic expression.
@ Brute. Yeah, I like this expression, "he is not gifted at sports" but as long as he practices and keeps his body in shape he can have fun with them... (I always like to end sentences on a positive note... I am not gifted at negative things...)
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  #9  
Old August 16, 2010, 03:29 PM
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Thanks Brute, I like it.
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'Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.' M.A.
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