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Does the Pope have a balcony?

 

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 October 31, 2009, 06:23 AM
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Does the Pope have a balcony?

This may be difficult to explain. If someone asks you a question where the answer is obvious (yes please!!!), it is common to respond with another very obvious question. One usual one is Does the Pope have a balcony? (i.e. obviously yes). There are rude ones as well. One I heard (in Ghostbusters?) was is the Atomic Weight of Cobalt 58.94? asked by a Geek.

Is there an equivalent 'obvious' question in Spanish?
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  #2  
Old October 31, 2009, 06:59 AM
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Usually we answer with absurd sentences. For instance, you've been sick and you've not gone working. One day you arrive at your job and it's obvious you're fine:

- ¿Ya estás buena?
- Nunca he estado muy buena, pero una hace lo que puede

(it's a pun )

Another one would be if you went to a friend's home and the only way to arrive there is by car:

- ¿Has venido en coche?
- No, he venido volando.

Sometimes we also answer with a question. For instance, it's time to leave:

- ¿Ya es la hora?
- ¿A ti qué te parece?

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  #3  
Old October 31, 2009, 07:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
One usual one is Does the Pope have a balcony?
I've never heard that before. I am familiar with "Is the Pope Catholic?" and a host of more or less polite variants on the habits of bears in woods.
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Old October 31, 2009, 07:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33 View Post
I've never heard that before. I am familiar with "Is the Pope Catholic?" and a host of more or less polite variants on the habits of bears in woods.
I've also heard surreal combinations, such as what the Pope does in the woods.
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Old October 31, 2009, 07:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
I've also heard surreal combinations, such as what the Pope does in the woods.
At this point I am just hoping there isn't one involving what the Pope does to bears in the woods..
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  #6  
Old October 31, 2009, 07:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica View Post
At this point I am just hoping there isn't one involving what the Pope does to bears in the woods..
No, just the Pope, alone in the woods, a long way from a toilet.
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Old October 31, 2009, 07:43 PM
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As Irma has said, the usual reply in Spanish to something that's obvious, is an absurd statement.

- ¿Ya llegaste?
- No, aún estoy en el autobús.

- ¡Válgame Dios! ¿Te caíste?
- No, bajé a saludar a las hormigas.

- ¿Todavía no llegan los invitados?
- Sí, pero los escondí para que no los vieras.
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Old November 01, 2009, 04:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
- No, bajé a saludar a las hormigas. .
gracias
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Old November 01, 2009, 06:56 AM
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Y algunos de estos han sido inventados para la tele...

¿Vecino, está pintando la casa?
No. Le estoy poniendo esto porque la voy a afeitar.

¿Tuvo un accidente automovilístico?
No. Generalmente pongo el auto patas pa'rriba para cambiarle las ruedas.
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Old November 01, 2009, 04:29 PM
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JAJJAJA, they are all very "ingeniosos"
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