La pescadilla que se muerde la cola

[ROBINDESBOIS]

How do we say this idiom in English?
It s used when people keep talking about the same topic again and again, and every speaker sticks to his ideas and wouldn t change them despite what others might say.

[poli]

The person can't get off the subject,
but if you wish to sound more figurative:
the person doesn't change his tune -or- keeps bringing up the same bit.

[Perikles]

Everybody talking in circles

[Awaken]

I can't think of a single phrase that describes what you are describing. I know exactly what you are talking about though. All I can think of are related phrases that don't describe the whole topic:

They're wasting their breath (for the never going to change part)
Political stalemate (doesn't describe the talking part)
Beating a dead horse (talking about the same thing over and over without change)

None of those are really exactly what you described. Maybe we should just start calling that whole thing "American Government" since it describes it perfectly =)

[Don José]

I've never heard "la pescadilla que se muerde la cola" as explained in the OT. I've always heard that expression meaning "vicious circle".

In this link it is translated as different animals (dog, cat, fish, snake..) biting or chasing their tails:

http://www.linguee.es/espanol-ingles...e+la+cola.html

[powerchisper]

Esta expresion se usa en ciertos casos.

Imagínate que piensas en una situacion como....

-Niño no puede comprar chicle
-Kiosco cierra por no vender chicle
-Fabrica de chicles tiene que cerrar
-Trabajador despedido no puede dar dinero a su niño.
-Niño no puede comprar chicle.

"Esto es la pescadilla que se muerde la cola"

It's like when you always end up at the point where you've started.

Sorry if it is too abstract , but I hope it helps you understand.

[Elaina]

He/She is a broken record......always talking about the same thing over and over again.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by Elaina

He/She is a broken record......always talking about the same thing over and over again.

In Spanish we say es como un disco rallado. ( same meaning)

[Don José]

I'm sure there is a lot of young people who have never heard a broken record (or disco rallado).

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Don José

I'm sure there are a lot of young people who have never heard of a broken record (or disco rallado).

That's for sure.