... un polmo ...

[Jane]

I came across this sentence recently and I´m not exactly sure what it means.

Si estas echa un polmo,
Echale teatro.

[María José]

Never, ever heard it. Are you sure the word was polmo?

[Rusty]

The entire saying is:
"Si estás hecho un lenguado, una seta, un ladrillo, un plomo o un rollo de papel...échale teatro". But, you'll only see one of the five objects listed at a time.

This is a promotional campaign to get people out to enjoy the cultural arts in Madrid. Five different signs with a picture of an object (un lenguado, una seta, un ladrillo, un plomo, or un rollo de papel) asks, "Si estás hecho un plomo (o una de las demás imágenes) ... échale teatro"
"Todo para recordar a las gentes del reino de Madrid que disponían de más de 60 teatros para no quedarse: "deslenguado", "desenrollado", "enladrillado", "encorsetado" y "desplomado".

Si estás hecho un plomo, échale teatro.
I guess there would be a picture of a bar of lead, or something like that. The meaning is something like:
If you're a pain in the neck (if you're extremely boring), add theater.
Then you'll be desplomado (not such a pain in the neck or so boring).

I'm sure a native could explain this better and in more detail. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[poli]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The entire saying is:
"Si estás hecho un lenguado, una seta, un ladrillo, un plomo o un rollo de papel...échale teatro". But, you'll only see one of the five objects listed at a time.

This is a promotional campaign to get people out to enjoy the cultural arts in Madrid. Five different signs with a picture of an object (un lenguado, una seta, un ladrillo, un plomo, or un rollo de papel) asks, "Si estás hecho un plomo (o uno de las demás imágenes) ... échale teatro"
"Todo para recordar a las gentes del reino de Madrid que disponían de más de 60 teatros para no quedarse: "deslenguado", "desenrollado", "enladrillado", "encorsetado" y "desplomado".

Si estás hecho un plomo, échale teatro.
I guess there would be a picture of a bar of lead, or something like that. The meaning is something like:
If you're a pain in the neck (if you're extremely boring), add theater.
Then you'll be desplomado (not such a pain in the neck or so boring).

I'm sure a native could explain this better and in more detail. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I am really impressed. How did you resolve this? You must have a sixth sense to realise that polmo is plomo. Have you been to Madrid lately or do you read Spanish newspapers?

[Rusty]

I'm a clever (Iris's word) researcher. I've never been to Spain, but found several websites that talked about the slogan. I hope I did it justice.

[Alfonso]

I couldn't explain it better than Rusty.
This campaign is going on right now in Madrid, but I haven't seen a lonely advert on it (and I travel by metro!).
Jane catches meanings and things I would never pay attention to. She's going through Madrid with widely open eyes and mind. I wish to be she and see as many new things as she's seeing now.



Échale teatro is used here with a double meaning:

• It's commonly used for hacer teatro: Echarle teatro a la vida es comportarse de manera dramática, mentirosa, falsa, exagerada.
• The campaign takes advantage of the phrase, but changes its common meaning to a new one: go to the theatre.

Jaimito has dead this morning (Q.E.P.D.). He is been living with us for sixteen years. This little time has been enough to make us happier and better persons. He used to sign like an angel when he was young and healthy. Last months of his brief life were hard and quiet. This morning, I found his little body in the bottom of the cage. His two wings had a very strange disposition. his eyes were in blank. I beg a praying for the soul of my dear Jaimito. Hope to see you sometime in birds heaven.

[Rusty]

I'm sorry to hear about the death of your bird, Alfonso.

I learn a lot from you.
Q.E.P.D. (Que En Paz Descanse) = R.I.P. (Rest In Peace)

[poli]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

I couldn't explain it better than Rusty.
This campaign is going on right now in Madrid, but I haven't seen a solitary advertisment for it (and I travel by metro!).
Jane catches meanings and things I would never pay attention to. She's going through Madrid with open eyes and mind. I wish to be like her, and see things with fresh eyes.






Échale teatro is used here with a double meaning:

• It's commonly used for hacer teatro: Echarle teatro a la vida es comportarse de manera dramática, mentirosa, falsa, exagerada.
• The campaign takes advantage of the phrase, but changes its common meaning to a new one: go to the theatre.

Jaimito has dead this morning (Q.E.P.D.). He is been living with us for sixteen years. This little time has been enough to make us happier and better people. He used to sing like an angel when he was young and healthy.The last months of his brief life were hard and quiet. This morning, I found his little body in the bottom of the cage. His two wings had a very strange position. his eyes were in blank. Please pray for the soul of my dear Jaimito. Hope to see you sometime in birds heaven.

-----
The last two sentences of your first paragraph were correct but rather unconventional. I put your words in more conventional English, and I don't believe I changed the meaning. I'm sorry to hear about you bird's death.
Sixteen years is a long time to be together.

[María José]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

I couldn't explain it better than Rusty.
This campaign is going on right now in Madrid, but I haven't seen a single advert on it (and I travel by metro!).
Jane catches meanings and things I would never pay attention to. She goes through Madrid with her eyes and mind wide open . I wish I was like her and could see as many new things as she's seeing now.



Échale teatro is used here with a double meaning:

• It's commonly used for hacer teatro: Echarle teatro a la vida es comportarse de manera dramática, mentirosa, falsa, exagerada.
• The campaign takes advantage of the phrase, but changes its common meaning to a new one: go to the theatre.

Jaimito has died this morning (RIP). He is been living with us for sixteen years. This little time has been enough to make us happier and better people. He used to sing like an angel when he was young and healthy. The last months of his brief life were hard and quiet. This morning, I found his little body in the bottom of the cage. His two wings were in a very strange position,his eyes were blank. I ask you to pray for the soul of my dear Jaimito. Hope to see you sometime in birds' heaven.

Did you really have a bird or is this some kind of elaborate joke?
As you like initials, I suppose you'll know RIP stands for rest in peace.

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Gemma

Did you really have a bird or is this some kind of elaborate joke?

Can be both?

Thank you very much, Poli and Gemma, for your corrections!

[María José]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

Can be both?

Thank you very much, Poli and Gemma, for your corrections!

You need a subject: Can/ Could it be both?

[Alfonso]

know need a subject. Wrote that because think heard of it. Isn't colloquial English?
Thanks a lot, dear.

[María José]

Ok, you win.
When talking you say things such as:
You coming?
Finished?
You went with him?

[poli]

English speakers tend to like pronouns because they are needed to clarify
the verb. Some extremely lazy people drop pronouns sometimes.
¿Que tipo de socio americano tienes allí en Madrid?

[María José]

Poli, I must be quite thick but I don't get the joke about the American partner...

[Alfonso]

Thanks a lot, Gemma! The only point is to know if you corrected it because it's definitively wrong or just because of an uncontrollable purist writing attack.
Believe me if I tell you that any correction makes wonder why. And sometimes it's really difficult to know.

[María José]

Must have been persecution mania that drove me to correct it. But anyway I would reserve that kind of sentence for the spoken language, and I would discourage anyone who's not a native from speaking like that to avoid mistakes.

[Alfonso]

Yeah, but the point to me is to know where mistakes begin. For example: do you consider a mistake: you know what?

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by poli

I don't believe I changed the meaning. I'm sorry to hear about you bird's death.Sixteen years is a long time to be together.

Of course you changed the meaning. I said my bird signs and you say my bird sings.

[María José]

No, it's perfect. People say it all the time. You shouldn't let mistakes you so much. Your English is great, just find yourself an English girlfriend and keep on practising...