Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary > Idioms & Sayings
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Un poco de caña

 

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.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old September 07, 2010, 06:15 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,814
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Un poco de caña

Does anyone know what this means
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old September 07, 2010, 06:39 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
Does anyone know what this means
Need more context.

To start "caña" is sugar cain. In that context you can be asking some more to eat, suck on it and such. Since it is a stick, without doubt it can be used as a stick to punish kids by giving a beating with it.

In Chile "dar caña"while playing football means to play rough by kicking your way in/out
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old September 07, 2010, 07:16 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,814
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Context: "Los que le pedían al certamen un poco de caña, un poco de diversión...."
Maybe it means something a little inebriating
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old September 07, 2010, 07:42 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
Context: "Los que le pedían al certamen un poco de caña, un poco de diversión...."
Maybe it means something a little inebriating
Could be. I forgot that caña is used for the alcoholic beverage.

More context is needed though, even though the event is around the notion of having entertainment it might mean to raise the rhythm of whatever is going on.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old September 07, 2010, 03:07 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,047
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
In Mexico, "caña" can be certainly some kind of alcohol, but I know that in Spain (I don't know in other countries, but not in Mexico) "darle caña a algo" means to liven up something or to give energy to something.
Maybe that's the idea of the sentence: "Those who were asking for some more energy/intensity, some more fun from the contest..."
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old September 07, 2010, 03:51 PM
hermit hermit is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: scotsburn, nova scotia
Posts: 617
Native Language: english
hermit is on a distinguished road
Like "a shot in the arm"; even more metaphorically, "a breath of fresh air"?
__________________
"Be brief, for no discourse can please when too long."
miguel de cervantes saavedra

Last edited by hermit; September 07, 2010 at 03:56 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old September 07, 2010, 04:01 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
More like to "raise the volume" or "step on it" in order to liven up things.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old September 07, 2010, 04:23 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
That's right, Chileno, Malila gives the right sense of "caña" in Spain. My brother, being a musician, says "al principio el público un poco soso, pero empezamos a darle caña y todo el mundo se animó..." Or, "vaya caña que le meten los Muppets en la canción de 'To Morrow'..." "Si el batería no le da un poco más de caña, el público se va a dormir..."
Or Heavy Metal groups... "Vaya caña que le meten los Scorpions a esta canción..." (It could be volume, intensity, rhythm... you name it, depending on the context, but overall with a positive connotation, 'enliven', bring the spirits up!)
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old September 08, 2010, 12:26 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
También tiene el significado de insistir sobre un tema:

- No quiero hablar más de mi "ex".
- Por cierto, ayer la vi paseando por el parque con su nuevo novio.
- ¡Y dale caña! (= hurga un poco más en la herida).

(not in this context).

Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old September 08, 2010, 07:11 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
También tiene el significado de insistir sobre un tema:

- No quiero hablar más de mi "ex".
- Por cierto, ayer la vi paseando por el parque con su nuevo novio.
- ¡Y dale caña! (= hurga un poco más en la herida).

(not in this context).

Ah, ese para nosotros es "dale con que las gallinas mean"
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Echar una cana al aire JPablo Idioms & Sayings 12 August 17, 2010 11:12 PM
A poco ROBINDESBOIS Vocabulary 13 July 07, 2010 04:17 PM
Estar un poco verde ROBINDESBOIS Idioms & Sayings 17 February 22, 2010 07:47 AM
Por si fuese poco ROBINDESBOIS Idioms & Sayings 5 July 15, 2009 03:27 PM
Tira la caña poli Idioms & Sayings 6 September 12, 2008 01:51 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:37 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X