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No traga

 

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  #1
Old February 17, 2010, 06:45 AM
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No traga

I know it means doesn't drink, but I believe it may mean doesn't like
in Spain. Is this true? If so, is this phrase used outside Spain?
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  #2
Old February 17, 2010, 06:53 AM
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It can have different meanings depending on the context. "Tragar" means to swallow.

- ¿Cómo es que no hablaste con Juan?
- Es que no lo trago.
i.e. The second speaker can't stand Juan.

- Intentaron engañarle pero no tragó.
i.e. He didn't fall for it.
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  #3
Old February 17, 2010, 07:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambarina View Post
- Intentaron engañarle pero no tragó.
i.e. He didn't fall for it.
That's interesting - you can say He didn't swallow it in English. I guess this is taken from fishing, where a fish doesn't swallow the bait. If somebody is completely taken in, you say he swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
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  #4
Old February 17, 2010, 07:50 AM
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I agree with Ambarina:

"No tragar a alguien" means that one can't stand a person.

"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story.
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  #5
Old February 17, 2010, 07:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambarina View Post
- Intentaron engañarle pero no tragó.
i.e. He didn't fall for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story.
Then how is @Ambarina correct here?
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  #6
Old February 17, 2010, 08:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
Then how is @Ambarina correct here?
Read again.
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  #7
Old February 17, 2010, 08:10 AM
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Thank you. Now I know that no trago a ... is an international phrase.
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  #8
Old February 17, 2010, 08:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Read again.
OK - I've read it again. To fall for it needs a pronominal verb tragarse. Where's the pronoun?
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  #9
Old February 17, 2010, 08:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
OK - I've read it again. To fall for it needs a pronominal verb tragarse. Where's the pronoun?
Caer=pisar el palito= to fall for it.

Does it need a pronoun?

Le hice una broma a Luis, pero (él) no cayó.
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  #10
Old February 17, 2010, 08:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Caer=pisar el palito= to fall for it.

Does it need a pronoun?.
No, I guess not, but @Angelica's post said with tragar you do need the pronoun.
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  #11
Old February 17, 2010, 08:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
No, I guess not, but @Angelica's post said with tragar you do need the pronoun.
Quote:
"No tragar a alguien" means that one can't stand a person. Or, literally "not to swallow someone"

"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story. Or literally "Not to believe a story/tale"
Better?
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  #12
Old February 17, 2010, 08:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Better?
Absolutely clear. Then what does this mean:

Intentaron engañarle pero no tragó.

If it means ...he didn't fall for it, where is the pronoun of tragarse?
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  #13
Old February 17, 2010, 09:37 AM
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Perikles, I guess mine was not the best example but I'll try to give a plausible explanation.

In all the other sentences put forward we have "el cuento" defined, i.e. Le contaron un cuento pero no se lo tragó. Therefore the pronominal form is used and this is the most common usage, BTW.
Another example: No me trago lo que acabas de decir - I don't believe what you've just said. Again, there's a DO (what you've just said)

However in my sentence, I just stated that they tried to deceive him but did not specify how; it could have been verbally or physically. So, you couldn't you the "se" because the person would be literally swallowing himself, and you can't use the "lo" because you haven't got anything preceding to refer to.

Then again, it could just be colloquial usage and someone may rap my knuckles
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"Desiderata" - ...be gentle with yourself.You are a child of this universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
...sé amable contigo mismo. Eres una criatura de este universo al igual que los árboles y las estrellas; tienes derecho a estar aquí.
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  #14
Old February 17, 2010, 09:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambarina View Post
In all the other sentences put forward we have "el cuento" defined, i.e. Le contaron un cuento pero no se lo tragó. Therefore the pronominal form is used and this is the most common usage, BTW.
Another example: No me trago lo que acabas de decir - I don't believe what you've just said. Again, there's a DO (what you've just said)

However in my sentence, I just stated that they tried to deceive him but did not specify how; it could have been verbally or physically. So, you couldn't you the "se" because the person would be literally swallowing himself, and you can't use the "lo" because you haven't got anything preceding to refer to.
Thanks - are you saying then that the pronominal verb cannot be used in that sense without a direct object, because then it becomes reflexive? (i.e. the se must refer to a specific object, otherwise it has to mean self) ?

Last edited by Perikles; February 17, 2010 at 09:48 AM. Reason: forgot friendly smiley
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  #15
Old February 17, 2010, 09:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
Thanks - are you saying then that the pronominal verb cannot be used in that sense without a direct object, because then it becomes reflexive? (i.e. the se must refer to a specific object, otherwise it has to mean self) ?
Exactly.
Intentaron engañarle pero no se tragó, does not make sense.
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"Desiderata" - ...be gentle with yourself.You are a child of this universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
...sé amable contigo mismo. Eres una criatura de este universo al igual que los árboles y las estrellas; tienes derecho a estar aquí.
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  #16
Old February 17, 2010, 09:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ambarina View Post
Exactly.
Intentaron engañarle pero no se tragó, does not make sense.
Many thanks @Ambarina and everyone - I think I've actually learned something.
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  #17
Old February 17, 2010, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
I know it means doesn't drink, but I believe it may mean doesn't like
in Spain. Is this true? If so, is this phrase used outside Spain?
It could means a lot of things.

Eso no traga que?

It doesn't drink something.

It doesn't eats something.

Please if you can give us more details.
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  #18
Old February 17, 2010, 04:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
Absolutely clear. Then what does this mean:

Intentaron engañarle pero no tragó.

If it means ...he didn't fall for it, where is the pronoun of tragarse?
Who, according to you said that? Angelica? How so? Ah, one more question...

It would be correct if it was written as:

Intentaron engañarle pero no se la tragó.

o

Intentaron engañarle pero no picó.
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  #19
Old February 18, 2010, 02:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Who, according to you said that? Angelica? How so?
In this post:

Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"No tragar a alguien" means that one can't stand a person.

"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story.
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  #20
Old February 18, 2010, 08:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Who, according to you said that? Angelica? How so?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
In this post:
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"No tragar a alguien" means that one can't stand a person.

"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story.
That's why I translated this. See what written in red

Quote:
"No tragar a alguien" means that one can't stand a person. Or, literally "not to swallow someone"

"No tragarse un cuento" means that one doesn't believe a story. Or literally "Not to believe a story/tale"
Where would those phrases need a pronoun?

Unless you are thinking in English, and that would be it.


Last edited by chileno; February 18, 2010 at 01:22 PM.
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