Duro y a la cabeza

[aneta]

hola!
me interesa si alguien me pudiera ayudar con el significado (o traducción al inglés) de la expresión DURO Y A LA CABEZA. la definición del diccionariio fraseológico (M.Seco)es:
aconsejar la contundencia de una actuación o de un castigo; y el ejemplo:
¿Tiritos por las esquinas? ¿Cuestiones sociales? Ni por asomo, Vuecencia, con la venia. ¡Duro y a la cabeza!
la verdad q eso no me ayude mucho.
saldos, y feliz Año Nuevo!!

[aleCcowaN]

"duro y a la cabeza" is supposed to be a blow, literally "(hit) hard and on the head" meaning that, or figuratively, "actúa de manera contundente" (act bluntly, forcefully, severely, hardly, conclusively ... I'm not 100% sure of these)

[JPablo]

I agree with AleC. That is "hit hard and on the head" is the literal translation.
In wickidictionary they give
expresión para animar, azuzar, animar a atacar.

So if you play or coach basketball you could say "ataquen 'duro y a la cabeza' y defiendan con solidez..."

In the context you give it may seem to mean "shoot them hard and on the head" but figuratively, just attack them with no qualms...

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with both replies. The expression demands to aim right and hit hard. :)

[aneta]

gracas a todos!
saludos...

[JPablo]

¡De nada, Aneta!

[ArnulfoNovo]

En inglés se puede entender cómo “straightforward “

[deandddd]

Angelica,

I have to agree with you. I have always thought that a tgood translation would be "aim right, hit hard".

But something more organic to the English language, that we would say in the same situation, might be "let'em have it with both barrels!" In this case, "both barrels" means both barrels of a shotgun.

I think it is more accurate to translate intentions and situations, but this concept goes far beyond the understanding of most people, and invites undue criticism to the good translator/interpreter.

Silopanna/Dean

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Indeed, Dean. I normally avoid translations because I can't always figure out an equivalent way to say things. I just try to explain what I think something means and let the native speaker find an accurate way to say it in their language.

Thanks for the new expression, I didn't know it. :)