Spanish language learning forums

Spanish language learning forums (https://forums.tomisimo.org/index.php)
-   Idioms & Sayings (https://forums.tomisimo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=30)
-   -   Working oneself to the bone (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=12215)

Working oneself to the bone


JPablo December 22, 2011 08:44 PM

Working oneself to the bone
 
bone, working (oneself) to the: (colloquial) working very hard. A variation of working (one’s) fingers to the bone.

What would be the best translation into Spanish?

¿
Trabajar como un negro?
¿
Matarse a trabajar?
¿
Deslomarse trabajando?
¿Romperse los cuernos a trabajar?
¿Sudar la gota gorda?
¿Trabajar como una mula?
¿Sudar tinta trabajando?
¿Trabajar como un burro de carga?
¿Darse una paliza trabajando?

Probably any of the above may be valid, but which one (or other/-s) would be the most "ad hoc"?

chileno December 22, 2011 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPablo (Post 119896)
bone, working (oneself) to the: (colloquial) working very hard. A variation of working (one’s) fingers to the bone.

What would be the best translation into Spanish?

¿
Trabajar como un negro?
¿
Matarse a trabajar?
¿
Deslomarse trabajando?
¿Romperse los cuernos a trabajar?
¿Sudar la gota gorda?
¿Trabajar como (una) mula?
¿Sudar tinta trabajando?
¿Trabajar como (u)n burro (de carga)?
¿Darse una paliza trabajando?

Probably any of the above may be valid, but which one (or other/-s) would be the most "ad hoc"?

Those we use all the time in Chile.

JPablo December 22, 2011 08:54 PM

Thank you, Chileno.
Any other suggestions?

chileno December 22, 2011 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPablo (Post 119899)
Thank you, Chileno.
Any other suggestions?

You're welcome. And, not for the moment... :)

JPablo December 22, 2011 11:33 PM

Thank you again... I was thinking if there was an expression in Spanish that gives the same idea of "desgaste" (wear and tear) the English original conveys...

In study there is "desgastar los codos" when one keeps studying (empollando) burning the midnight oil... but on work, work... somehow nothing comes to mind. (If you have some inspiration, always welcome)

(By the by, always a pleasure to get your input... although lately I have been not as assiduous as I used to be...)

poli December 23, 2011 06:31 AM

More commonly you will hear: to work one's fingers to the bone.

aleCcowaN December 23, 2011 06:50 AM

Exceso de trabajo físico:

Trabajar como negro/chino.
Matarse trabajando.
Deslomarse trabajando.
Herniarse trabajando.
Trabajar como burro.
Sudar la gota gorda.
Romperse la espalda trabando.

General:
Romperse el c*** trabajando (to work your butt off)

chileno December 23, 2011 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPablo (Post 119913)
Thank you again... I was thinking if there was an expression in Spanish that gives the same idea of "desgaste" (wear and tear) the English original conveys...

In study there is "desgastar los codos" when one keeps studying (empollando) burning the midnight oil... but on work, work... somehow nothing comes to mind. (If you have some inspiration, always welcome)

(By the by, always a pleasure to get your input... although lately I have been not as assiduous as I used to be...)

Always a pleasure to read you input too! :)

I just remembered "romperse el trasero/xxx trabajando" it conveys what you are looking for and then some. ;)

AngelicaDeAlquezar December 23, 2011 11:44 AM

In Mexico we use:

Trabajar como negro (some people add "para vivir como blanco")
Trabajar como mula/burro
Trabajar de sol a sol
Matarse/deslomarse/fregarse (and some rude verbs) trabajando
Partirse/tallarse el lomo trabajando
(I think the last ones are those closer to that "desgaste" idea.) :)


"Sudar la gota gorda" here can be associated to working hard, but it's a much more general idea of someone sweating hard for whatever the reason (being very nervous, exposed to the heat, etc.).

JPablo December 30, 2011 03:52 PM

Gracias a todos... por vuestro input y ayuda. (¡Feliz 2012 a todos!)

chileno December 30, 2011 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPablo (Post 120163)
Gracias a todos... por vuestro input y ayuda. (¡Feliz 2012 a todos!)


Gracias. Para ti y todos acá también.

ROBINDESBOIS December 30, 2011 06:26 PM

Todos estan bien

JPablo January 11, 2012 12:05 PM

Gracias, Robin. :)


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:20 AM.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.