How's tricks?
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JPablo
June 05, 2010, 06:48 PM
how’s tricks? = ¿qué onda?, ¿qué tal?, ¿qué pasa?, ¿qué tal?
Any other Spanish version of this idiomatic expression?
The origin of the English?
pjt33
June 06, 2010, 12:42 AM
¿Cómo vamos?
JPablo
June 06, 2010, 12:53 AM
Gracias, ¡vamos bien! :)
hermit
June 06, 2010, 06:32 AM
Hi JPablo - A "trick" in this sense is a sly means or method used to
decieve people, possibly to cheat them out of some money.
The "shell game" is an example of a minor "scam" of this sort. In Spanish, "trampa", or "truco".
A "trick" can also refer to a successful "score" by a "hooker". Also, any other practice (to whatever extent illegal) employed by someone to
make a living.
The word has other related meanings, as well, but the above come closest to "tricks" as in "How's tricks?" (Grammatically, it should be
"How're tricks?, but we're dealing with "street talk", here.)
pjt33
June 06, 2010, 09:38 AM
Come on. That might be the etymology but surely the phrase has lost those connotations now?
hermit
June 06, 2010, 10:17 AM
Absolutely, pjt33 - People use the phrase quite off-handedly nowadays,
not thinking of its origins even if they're aware of them. Quite innocent,
really...
Perikles
June 06, 2010, 10:40 AM
Well, the OP did ask for the etymology, even if defunct. I still find trick an odd word to use for the 4 cards in a round in whist or bridge.
hermit
June 06, 2010, 10:49 AM
Quite right, a bit odd - still, taking a trick in cards often requires
shrewd play...
pjt33
June 06, 2010, 11:05 AM
Well, the OP did ask for the etymology, even if defunct.
Oops, I missed that. Hermit, I owe you an apology.
As for a trick in bridge: that's far from the strangest bridge term. Who else knows what a peter is, or has played in a TD's Revenge game which gave bonus points for ousting the badger?
Perikles
June 06, 2010, 11:13 AM
As for a trick in bridge: that's far from the strangest bridge term. Who else knows what a peter isI do, but would like to know the etymology because it seems obscure. And yes, there are weird bridge terms such as an unassuming cue bid or a one no trump consultative redouble.
hermit
June 06, 2010, 11:25 AM
Apparently from Latin "tricari", to be evasive, shuffle, to French equivalent, and so to English.
All those esoteric Bridge terms involve various strategies, often intending
to decieve and lead others to commit errors...or determine one's partner's
strengths and weaknesses.
ajak568
June 06, 2010, 11:38 AM
Saying 'tricks' in a game of spades isn't that strange, either. I don't know how it is in Canada or anywhere else in the world, but where I'm from in the US (in the South, I don't know what you guys say in other parts), but 'how's tricks' would definitely be weird and I have never said that in my life. The only situation I can think of to use that is if you are on a friendly basis with a hooker and you want to ask her how work is. :-P
hermit
June 06, 2010, 12:19 PM
Right, that definitely is the early 20th century AmE derivation, expanded
to include other shifty con game "gimmicks". Same in Canada, now used
without former connotations, or jokingly.
JPablo
June 06, 2010, 04:44 PM
Hi, everybody. Thank you for all the data. I must confess I got a bit lost with all the "bridge" tricks and what not, and I went to find "the Maven's Word of the DAy", which gives a very good summary and possible origin, which matches with what has been said here. The link is http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010103 if you are interested. (What I really like about this forum is that I can get the feel of each one of us, for some expression... its understanding, its associations... you name it... So, thank you all for your input.) :)
CrOtALiTo
June 06, 2010, 04:51 PM
You can use Que hongo!
That's just an idiom.
It not very recommendable to use that word.
JPablo
June 06, 2010, 05:28 PM
Gracias, CrOtALiTo. Veo que "¡qué hongo!" se usa para decir "hola" en México. ¿Tiene alguna connotación negativa?
AngelicaDeAlquezar
June 07, 2010, 12:48 PM
@JPablo: No, no tiene ninguna connotación negativa. Es sólo una variante sobre "¿qué onda?" :)
Aquí también se dice "qué hay" o "quiubo" (que alguna vez fue más bien "qué hubo") :)
JPablo
June 07, 2010, 01:00 PM
¿Quiubo?, Angélica. Supongo que los signos de interrogación ni siquiera hacen falta... ¿o sí?
Bueno, gracias por la aclaración. (Me pareció que Crotalito, no consideraba que el "hongo" sea muy recomendable... pero, vale.)
AngelicaDeAlquezar
June 07, 2010, 04:05 PM
@JPablo: Es sólo porque es muy informal. No se recomienda que los estudiantes de español usen palabras demasiado coloquiales, si con las formales tienen para entretenerse. ¿No? ;)
Sobre los signos, pues a veces se usa más bien como exclamación que como pregunta, pero es cuestión de personas. Poner la jerga coloquial por escrito tiene sus bemoles. :D
JPablo
June 07, 2010, 04:31 PM
Gracias, Angélica... entendido... :) y sí, tiene sus bemoles y sus sostenidos... (Hay que ser un buen músico, o un buen amanuense... ;))
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