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Echar lastre

 

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 06, 2008, 07:20 AM
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Echar lastre

can someone help me translate this. I think it means devalue but I am not sure. Thanks.
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  #2  
Old October 06, 2008, 07:39 AM
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lastre = ballast
lastre = burden

Without context I can't be sure, but it might be 'to add ballast' or 'to heap a burden upon'. It can also mean 'to affirm'. What I'm finding on the Internet could also have other translations. What is the context?
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Old October 06, 2008, 08:33 AM
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Rusty,
I think I figured it out. It means to unburden. For context, please have a look at this very interesting and astute article. Echar lastre is in the last sentence. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultu...lpepicul_2/Tes
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Old October 06, 2008, 09:52 AM
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De acuerdo. Echar can mean both to throw on as well as off. Context is certainly needed. If we throw off, or throw away burden (ballast), that is the same as to unburden.
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Old October 06, 2008, 02:39 PM
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I agree with you both. Echar lastre is probably related to the maritime use of throwing things overboard to lighten a ship so that it can survive a storm. So in addition to unburden, good translations could be to lighten ship, get rid of dead weight etc.
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Old October 07, 2008, 12:25 AM
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you're all right
"echar lastre" is to unburden. is "to throw something unuseful wich is very heavy"
Real uses: gainig height/speed leaving heavy things: ships, balloons, airplanes with damaged motors...
Ironic uses: when a entreprise it's going bad, the directors can fire some older people, and so unburden ("echar lastre")

"el inmigrante va a lo suyo, y lo suyo es echar lastre y abandonar todo aquello que le impida prosperar y ser uno más" In this sentence the "lastre" is the idiom.
The inmigrant must unburden himself leaving his idiom.

saludos
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