No da puntada sin hilo

[ROBINDESBOIS]

How do you say this saying in English? No dar puntada sin hilo, meaning that everything sb does is measured to the milimitre.

[Tomisimo]

Might this work?

My boss is really watching me like a hawk.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@David: it's rather when you do something about which you have calculated everything you'll need (and maybe even consequences) in advance.

En México se dice "no dar paso sin huarache". :)

[Rusty]

very calculated
very meticulous
dots every i, crosses every t

[ROBINDESBOIS]

yes it´s somebody very meticulous, literally he doesn´t sew with no thread. Do you have a beatuiful saying like this one in Spanish ?

[poli]

I sometimes hear: anal
anal retentive
by the book
T.A.
tight assed:warning:somewhat vulgar
O.C.D.
obsessivie compulsive

[ROBINDESBOIS]

By the book sounds familiar but you don´t have to follow something by the book. We use it when you do something with a reason in mind, to take advantage of sth.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I'd say that this expression goes beyond the mere fact of meticulously doing things. It means you don't do anything spontaneously (like helping others, for example) without planning everything and knowing in advance you'll get some benefit from it.

[poli]

Doing something by the book can mean you are missing something. There is no need for insight in things done by the book.

For instance if you learn language by the book, you will not truly learn the
language.

[brute]

yes it´s somebody very meticulous, literally he doesn´t sew with no thread. Do you have a beatuiful saying like this one in Spanish ?

All sewn up?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Poli: it's not exactly by the book. This expression implies to have a second intention about what you do.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Angelica is on the ball. You get some benefit by doing it.:sleeping:

[ROBINDESBOIS]

It would be something like:
She doesn´t do anything for nothing.

[poli]

It would be something like:
She doesn´t do anything for nothing.
This doesn't coincide with your post #5. Directly translated this means
without thread the needle doesn't sow.
A similar phrase is no ticket no laundry

[ROBINDESBOIS]

This doesn't coincide with your post #5. Directly translated this means
without thread the needle doesn't sow.
A similar phrase is no ticket no laundry
But the meaning is to not do anything for nothing

[poli]

But the meaning is to not do anything for nothing
Sí, ahora entiendo. Es que su primera explicación nos devió.
If you want the peaches you have to buy the peaches./no ticket no laundry ( means without your receipt you don't get your merchandise)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"There is no free lunch" can have a similar meaning, just the nuance is the point of view:

"No dar puntada sin hilo"/"no dar paso sin huarache" means that someone does something that seems altruistic, but it hides a second intention to be benefited from it.

"There is no free lunch" is from the side of the person who takes an offer of something that seems to be free of charge, but in the end he/she will still have to pay for it.

[brute]

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs?

[ROBINDESBOIS]

What the hell is that? What are you doing in my thread ?

[EmpanadaRica]

I think it' s probably one of those annoying bots placing links to erotic sites.
We used to have that a lot on a site I ran with two friends of mine until we chanhed the login procedure.

Either that or an actual person who is spamming crap.. :(