To come out of the woodwork

[Tomisimo]

I'd appreciate some help with translating this phrase. I'll make up a sample sentence.

After Mr. Wilson died and it became known he was a billionaire, all kinds of prospective heirs came out of the wookwork.

[Rusty]

Unas ideas:

Cuando murió el Sr. Wilson y al enterarse de que era multimillonario, toda clase de herederos posibles salía de quién sabe dónde.

/supuestos herederos/
/herederos futuros/

/salir de la oscuridad/
/salir de su largo letargo/
/aparecer después de un largo letargo/
/aparecer inesperados/
/aparecer de improviso/

[sosia]

my option
After Mr. Wilson died and it became known he was a billionaire, all kinds of prospective heirs came out of the woodwork.

"Cuando después de la muerte de Mr Wilson se supo que era millonario, todo tipo de supuestos herederos salieron de la nada/salieron por todas partes."

For a literall translation, Rusty's is more accurate (out of the wookwork: salir de un largo letargo), but in Spain is more used (for heirs) "aparecer de la nada/salir por todas partes"
Saludos :D

[gatitoverde]

What impresses me is sosia's native's knowledge of what to say in that exact situation. It's amazing how a native speaker of any language has this catalog of appropriate phrases in their head for which they have a nearly instinctual understanding of appropriate/clever usage. It's like the rest of us are taking a satellite photograph of the language, while they're down on their knees, watching the ants crawl over its prepositions.

[sosia]

Sometimes when you're focused seeing the ants you miss the sunset.
I'm no good at grammar, but I speak a lot and always have alternatives :D

[Iris]

Beautiful metaphor! Have you ever considered going into poetry?

[sosia]

No great work. It's only an adaptation of
"Si de noche lloras por no ver el sol, las lágrimas te impedirán ver las estrellas"
I think it was someone called RABINDRANATH TAGORE. The fellow is better than me :D

[Rusty]

Both beautiful.

[Tomisimo]

You've given me some great options to work with. Thanks a bunch!

[poli]

Sometimes when you're focused seeing the ants you miss the sunset.
I'm no good at grammar, but I speak a lot and always have alternatives :D

In English we usually say can't see the forest for the trees, but I like your
choice. In English, it sounds whimsical, but it makes sense

[sosia]

In English we usually say can't see the forest for the trees, but I like your
choice. In English, it sounds whimsical, but it makes sense

Poli, the spanish equivalent is "Las ramas no te dejan ver el bosque", meaning litle things doesn't allow you to see the whole thing.

"Si de noche lloras por no ver el sol, las lágrimas te impedirán ver las estrellas"
Means that if you're crying for something (for example a broken heart), your self-pity doesn't allow you to go on (or find a new love)

saludos :D

[poli]

Yes, prosaicly you could say, if you focus on one thing you may become
blind to other things, or you may miss the bigger picture

[sosia]

You explain it better in english than me :D