Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadoresAn 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 |
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I suspect there is no alternative to
The devil loves to fish in troubled waters which is a quotation from John Trapp in his commentary on the bible. His quotations have infiltrated English to such an extent that an alternative is unlikely, though of course I could be wrong. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I have heard it as Every cloud has a silver lining but do not necessarily agree, since to me at least, it's a way of expressing how opportunistic people take advantage of others who have fallen on hard times. No corresponding English idiom comes to mind right away, but perhaps a Spanish one would be - correct me if I'm wrong - En tiempo de remolino, sube la basura.
Last edited by Glen; January 14, 2012 at 08:15 PM. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
"Good Lord of mine Can't you see I'm tired Tears are in my eyes Send down that cloud with a silver lining Take me to paradise" Later I learnt it was something similar to "it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good". But, that's the problem with idioms from one language to another: they seem to be standing on a different point of view and having different contexts in mind. Would be that understood as a proverb? I googled it and find it to be a literal translation of the Spanish idiom. Even a page in Greek which title started with "Argentina" or a word derived from it (Αργεντινή).
__________________
Sorry, no English spell-checker |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
It is true that not all idioms translate, although obviously many do.
A close one in English to the Argentinian idiom is: to the victors go the spoils. ![]() The difference it that the victor may have faced danger as well. ![]() trouble. So you may hear something like: we lost our sons and daughters to the war while that fat cat CEO of (fill in the blank) made millions in profit at our expense.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias. Last edited by poli; January 16, 2012 at 07:41 AM. Reason: typo |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
This is a general Spanish idiom. It's in many books available through Google books, including "Colección de refranes, adagios y locuciones proverbiales" by Antonio Jiménez, 1828, Spain. It's available as a free E-book.
__________________
Sorry, no English spell-checker Last edited by aleCcowaN; January 17, 2012 at 04:43 AM. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
In that case the pescadores are clearly the English equivalents of fat cats. The whole phrase may not be commonly used but the circumstance of the pescador certainly is.
Here's a wiki article about the term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_cat_(term) further illustration http://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/sen.../fat_cats.html
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias. Last edited by poli; January 17, 2012 at 06:37 AM. |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
That idiom's pescadores are not specifically spotted or alluded there otherwise than as generic third parties who benefit from internal disturbance. They perfectly may be opportunistic petty criminals, like those mentioned by chileno: or even those who exploit that divide et impera on an industrial scale, but it also includes circumstantial beneficiaries that are law abiding and morally oriented.
__________________
Sorry, no English spell-checker |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
![]() |
Link to this thread | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Había que seguir río abajo | Cloudgazer | Vocabulary | 4 | March 05, 2011 06:18 PM |
De perdidos al río | ROBINDESBOIS | Idioms & Sayings | 4 | October 11, 2009 05:09 PM |
No llegó la sangre al río | María José | Idioms & Sayings | 3 | October 01, 2009 03:42 AM |
Top gear ha revuelto | bobjenkins | General Chat | 2 | June 22, 2009 09:24 AM |
Río | DailyWord | Daily Spanish Word | 0 | September 09, 2008 04:10 AM |