De paso

[poli]

Is this a common term? What does it mean?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

Is this a common term? What does it mean?

I cannot think of the term in English at this moment...

However, it mean you are just making a short stop and continuing your trip....

or just making a comment
Sorry for not being of much help, if at all.

[CrOtALiTo]

Anyhow I believe that it can be took as a simple term of ( To move ) ( To trip ) As Chile said before.

[poli]

Could it mean to allow or permit?

[irmamar]

This means pass through, I think, and also to make the most:

Están unos días de paso en la ciudad (they're going somewhere and pass through the city for a few days)
De paso que vas a la farmacia, tráeme aspirinas (make the most of your time, well, I'm not sure in English , I mean "aprovecha que vas a la farmacia y tráeme...)

[Marsopa]

In some sentences this could be translated as "in passing."

[poli]

I thought there may have been another meaning. I suspect it's Spain-specific.

[irmamar]

Could you write the sentence?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by poli

Could it mean to allow or permit?

Not that I know.


Mostly it gives the idea of doing something on the way or taking advantage of something.


Voy a la farmacia, ¿quieres que te traiga algo de paso?
I'm going to the drugstore, do you want me to bring something to you from around there or on my way back?

María me ayudó con la tarea y de paso me enseñó a tejer.
María helped me with my homework and since she already was there, she taught me how to knit.

Tratamos de aprender un idioma extranjero y de paso aprendemos más del nuestro.
We're trying to learn a foreign language and at the same time we learn more about ours.

[María José]

I can only think of the two translations that have already been suggested:
- in passing
- while I was at it
Sometimes we use the expression 'olvídame, que voy de paso' when we don't want to be dragged into an argument.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Estar/ir de paso" can also be something ephemeral.

Nosotros no nos vamos a quedar aquí. Sólo estamos de paso.
We're not staying for long here.

Ser ave de paso.
To be like a rolling stone.

[poli]

Oh. OK I will mark this down as something to remember. Thanks all.

[laepelba]

From the RAE:

de paso
1. loc. adv. Sin permanencia fija, provisionalmente.
2. loc. adv. Aprovechando la ocasión.
3. loc. adv. Ligeramente, sin detención.


From here: http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltCons...US=3&LEMA=paso

[ROBINDESBOIS]

It also exists the expression " dar algo de paso " a synonym for HAcer la vista gorda or something like that, you das de paso un trabajo, that is not perfect but can meet the established requirements.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by poli

Could it mean to allow or permit?

That´s correct :
Le dió de paso la redacción del cuento aunque no se ajustó al número de palabras ( se la permitió a concurso )

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Cómo se traduciría entonces :

1. En esta vida todos estamos de paso.
2. Tu hermana María está de paso en Barcelona, de camino a París.
3. Le dió de paso el libro, aunque era de una edición más antigua.

[poli]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

Cómo se traduciría entonces :

1. En esta vida todos estamos de paso.
2. Tu hermana María está de paso en Barcelona, de camino a París.
3. Le dió de paso el libro, aunque era de una edición más antigua.

In life we are all just transients.(or passing through).
You sister Maria is in Barcelona briefly on her way to Paris.
I let you thumb through the book even though it's a valued first edition.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by poli

in life we are all just transients.(or passing through).
You sister maria is in barcelona briefly on her way to paris.
I let you thumb through the book even though it's a valued first edition.

muchas gracias

ANd when do we use " in passing " as somebody suggested before????

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

That´s correct :
Le dió de paso la redacción del cuento aunque no se ajustó al número de palabras ( se la permitió a concurso )

Yo diría "le dio paso a", no "le dio de paso"

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Mira en Burgos " dar de paso algo " es permitir, no echar para atrás, no sé quizás sea un regionalismo. Y según el primer post, Poli se preguntaba si significaba algo como permitir, osea que lo vio en un cotexto similar. Pero bueno no estoy seguro, simplemente se usa en ese sentido en el norte de España.

Ejemplo:
ME lo ha dado de paso por está vez, la próxima vez me ha dicho que será más estricto conmigo.