Mucho ruido y pocas nueces

[ruby]

Hola a todos (Hello everybody) - (I will try writing a little in Spanish - forgive me for my mistakes !)

Estoy leyendo un maravilloso libro - est nombre es 'Los Fantasmas de España' La frase 'mucho ruido y pocas nueces' a lot of noise but few walnuts - es la traducción in Inglais. - ¿Este Correcto?
What does this mean?

¡Lo siento no hablo mucho Español pero cada dia me hablo una poco y poco !

It is really hard as although I speak a little Spanish each day I just seem to be speaking 'pigeon Spanish' - no es bueno.

thank you Ruby

[Rusty]

Look here.

[poli]

I think it means lots of fanfare with few results, lots of words but little action to back them up, lots or promise few rewards etc.

Is the book you're reading about politics?

[ruby]

Hi Poli

It's a wonderful book about modern history of Spain, from the Moors and Christians, The Franco regime, ETA,Bars and clubs, Flemenco,bull fighting - just superb. Spanish tradition and oh so much more (forgive me I do get excited when talking about a book I really like). The author, well for me, really seems to be able to put both sides of the coin across. So I guess lots of promise and few reward would fit.

many thanks Ruby

[poli]

Spain's role in history and its still very strong cultural sway interests me too. I think I'll have a look at this book.

[Tomisimo]

Ruby, could you quote the entire sentence you found that phrase in?

[sosia]

As you can see in Rusty's link, "mucho ruido y pocas nueces" means "Much ado about nothing" and comes from the title of a Shakespeare's play. Means "a lot of ruckus and a meager outcome" . It's very common in Spain, where we talk and quarrel about things that are not really that important or doesn't affect us that more.
For example, in the USA I see man gives a lot of importance about Creacionism or Evolution in the school. It's important, but I think perhaps it's better to give both and resolve first other problems schools have (pregnancy, drougs, lower education level, going to school,...)
Saludos
PD A computer example is "vaporware".

[poli]

Originally Posted by sosia

As you can see in Rusty's link, "mucho ruido y pocas nueces" means "Much ado about nothing" and comes from the title of a Shakespeare's play. Means "a lot of ruckus and a meager outcome" . It's very common in Spain, where we talk and quarrel about things that are not really that important or don't affect us that much.
For example, in the USA I see people spend a lot of time talking about Creacionism vs Evolution in the school. It's important, but I think perhaps it's better to give both, but first resolve other problems schools have (pregnancy, drugs, lower education level, truency,...)
Saludos
PD A computer example is "vaporware".

Estoy de acuerdo especialmente en los años de las elecciones presidenciales. Pero si tienen que enseñar creacionismo el las escuelas
públicas, ¿van a tener que enseñar el nacimiento del mundo segun las creéncias voodoo, y la cigüeña tambien?

[ruby]

hola Buenos tardes

The papragraph itself is explaining that 'Spains position as a world superpower in tourism is not just down to sun, sand and sangria. Spanish noise is fun, but it is also a distraction. 'Mucho ruido y pocas nueces' is what Spaniards say when something is all show and no substance.

This did not make sense to me - - a lot of noise but few walnuts - Its the walnuts that confuse me. (that is the translation in the book) - but i gues the more i study the more i learn. Some English idioms and proverbs are crazy !!

[sosia]

Hi Ruby.
it's not so complicate.
When you "crack" a walnut (Wich verb is for broking walnuts?) you make noise and you obtains a walnut "heart".
Suppose your friend is "craking" walnuts. You hear noises, and noises and after lot of noises he comes with only 20 grams walnut "heart" for you. What do you say?
"mucho ruido y pocas nueces"

Saludos

PD Thank Poli fot the corrections.

[sosia]

Originally Posted by poli

Estoy de acuerdo especialmente en los años de las elecciones presidenciales. Pero si tienen que enseñar creacionismo el las escuelas
públicas, ¿van a tener que enseñar el nacimiento del mundo segun las creéncias voodoo, y la cigüeña tambien?

No es lo mismo. El creacionismo ha sido doctrina imperante durante cientos de años. Considero que es interesante estudiarla aunque sólo sea por influencia histórica. Personalmente soy partidario que se expliquen las dos, con sus puntos fuertes y débiles.
Las creencias voodoo y la cigueña no han tenido ninguna influencia histórica, ni que yo sepa explican como se ha desarrollado la humanidad.
¿O cambió la cigueña al chimpancé por el homre y no nos dimos cuenta ?

Saludos

[ruby]

Hola Sosia

¡Ah - todo is claro! - muchas gracias

Ruby

[poli]

Originally Posted by sosia

No es lo mismo. El creacionismo ha sido doctrina imperante durante cientos de años. Considero que es interesante estudiarla aunque sólo sea por influencia histórica. Personalmente soy partidario que se expliquen las dos, con sus puntos fuertes y débiles.
Las creencias voodoo y la cigueña no han tenido ninguna influencia histórica, ni que yo sepa explican como se ha desarrollado la humanidad.
¿O cambió la cigueña al chimpancé por el homre y no nos dimos cuenta ?

Saludos

Voodoo sí tiene influencia histórica muy interesante. Era una religion escondida que los africanos esclavos llevado al nuevo mundo practicaba. Tiene raices yoruba en Africa. A veces los dioses africanos estaban escondos bajo nombres de santos cristianos. El estudio de mitologia comparativa me fascina. a mi me encanta la historia de Vishnu que llego al mundo en la forma de Krishna. Me gustaría conocer más.

We use a two word verb: crack open (walnuts) for abrir nueces.

[sosia]

"estuve toda la tarde partiendo nueces"
" I spent all the afternoon cracking walnuts open?"
It's so poli??
saludos
PD: a mi también me gustan las historias de dioses, pero no al nivel de mitología comparativa. Me gusta expecialmente el folklore japonés y el vikingo.

[poli]

Originally Posted by sosia

"estuve toda la tarde partiendo nueces"
" I spent all the afternoon cracking walnuts open?"The sentence is in perfect English ¿Eres parte ardilla?
It's so poli??
saludos
PD: a mi también me gustan las historias de dioses, pero no al nivel de mitología comparativa. Me gusta expecialmente el folklore japonés y el vikingo.

--
Y a mi las historias complicadas de los dioses griegos.

[María José]

Originally Posted by sosia

As you can see in Rusty's link, "mucho ruido y pocas nueces" means "Much ado about nothing" and comes from the title of a Shakespeare's play. Means "a lot of ruckus and a meager outcome" . It's very common in Spain, where we talk and quarrel about things that are not really that important or doesn't affect us that more.
For example, in the USA I see man gives a lot of importance about Creacionism or Evolution in the school. It's important, but I think perhaps it's better to give both and resolve first other problems schools have (pregnancy, drougs, lower education level, going to school,...)
Saludos
PD A computer example is "vaporware".

I was going to say the Shakespeare thing, but you beat me to it. I loved the Kenneth Branagh adaptation, but I've never seen that one at the theatre.

[CrOtALiTo]

Mary. Do you speak the English as well?

Last days, I went with my brother to arrive to a lady of shopping, she's from Philippine, and she only knows English and sure her native language, and I can tell you that wasn't easy understanding to her somethings, the good of all it is that she speak very slow, and I was practicing my English with her, but sometime I didn't understand her nothing, because I don't know still speak English as well, but I tried to do my best effort, and well my brother told me that I did it well, because sometimes I could understand her and talked her any things, but I'd like practice with you if you know English of course, you tell me if you'd like the idea, and if you tell me yes, I'll be as happy because you are for me an example to follow, regards.

[María José]

Jorge,
The problem is I have no time to chat.
And I am no example to follow. The only reason my English is good is because I devote my whole life to it,I love it and I'm always surrounded by ex-pats.
A couple of days ago I was talking to two Californian girls and I felt 'that was me at my most natural'. An American friend, also from California, says I sound 'American with a touch of something softer'.
Take a rain check?
And remember: Motivation is the key to language learning (and you've got loads of that).

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by María José

And remember: Motivation is the key to language learning (and you've got loads of that).

You can say that again. And I've said it more than a few times too.

[Jessica]

hey don't worry, I'm bad at Spanish too!