language Archives - Life Bites

De la boca pa’ fuera

Antonia S. — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:57:58 +0000

Literal translation: from the mouth out Meaning: you don’t mean what you say. Significado: usted no siente lo que dice o no es sincero. Use: general

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Ahí hay gato entre macuto

Antonia S. — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:01:18 +0000

Literal transation: There’s a cat in a knapsack there. Meaning: Something doesn’t add up or make sense. Someone is hiding something. Significado: Algo no tiene sentido o no concuerda. Alguien está escondiendo algo. Use: general Example: El dinero se perdió el día que el vino. Ahí hay gato entre macuto. (The money disappeared the day he came by. […]

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E’ má’ la sal que el chivo

Antonia S. — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Literal translation: there’s more salt than goat (in this dish). Meaning: of a situation – it is more trouble than it is worth. Significado: “Es más la sal que el chivo”: no vale la pena, es más el esfuerzo que el resultado. Use: general

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Pasar crujía

Antonia S. — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:55:02 +0000

Literal translation: to go through a corridor. Meaning: to go through hardship. Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles. Use: general, colloquial. Example: Aquí estoy, pasando crujía. (Here I am, going through hardship – an answer to the question: How are you? often heard in the DR).

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Te volviste buche y pluma’

Antonia S. — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:47:03 +0000

Literal translation: you turned into maw and feathers. Meaning: to tell someone they failed to live up to a promise, fulfill a commitment or simply do something they said they would do (such as showing up at a party). “Buche y pluma” can be used to refer to people, organizations or the government. Significado: esta […]

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Tragarse un cable

Antonia S. — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:55:37 +0000

Literal translation: to swallow a cable. Meaning: to go through difficult times. Especially used to refer to economic hardship. Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles. Usado especialmente en casos de dificultad económica. Use: general Example: Y tu hermano, ¿cómo está? – Tragándose un cable en Nueva York. Hace un año que no consigue trabajo.

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A falta de pan, casabe.

Antonia S. — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:59:00 +0000

Literary translation: “In the absence of bread, cassava bread”. “Casabe” is bread made of grated cassava root (yucca). Yucca root is abundant in Hispaniola island and was a staple of the native Taino inhabitants. Cassava bread is part of the Taino heritage and the recipe, as well as the look of it hasn’t changed much […]

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Mucha espuma y poco chocolate

Antonia S. — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:42:47 +0000

Literal translation: Lots of foam, very little chocolate Meaning: Lots of fuss, very little substance. Used to refer to people or events that build up expectations and then do not deliver. Significado: Mucha algarabía y poca esencia. Se usa para referirse a una persona o evento que llena de expectativas a los demás pero no […]

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Tirar tela

Antonia S. — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:53:52 +0000

Literal translation: to throw fabric. Meaning: to wear new clothing, or to have a large wardrobe. Significado: vestir ropa nueva, or tener un closet con mucha ropa nueva. Use: colloquial, general. Example: Fulanito está tirando tela! Ay míralo.

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¡Ahí si hay!

Antonia S. — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:58:24 +0000

Literal translation: now, there it is! Meaning: that person is the real deal, that person is of value, is good looking or has the goods. I like that person. Significado: dícese de una persona que a usted le agrada (no en el sentido romántico), a quien usted considera de valor, se ve bien o de […]

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