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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

el comer y el rascar todo es empezar

English translation:

from small beginnings come great things

Added to glossary by dhrd
Jan 14, 2011 12:40
13 yrs ago
6 viewers *
Spanish term

el comer y el rascar todo es empezar

Spanish to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Blog
Hola,
Alguien me podría decir cuál es el equivalente en inglés del refrán: "el comer y el rascar todo es empezar".

Estoy traduciendo un artículo en on blog que habla de la introducción de una nueva característica en un dispositivo de lectura digital. El artículo dice así:
"Gran noticia y a la espera de ver si se extiende a todos las empresas tecnológicas. Esperemos que sí, esto es como el refrán que dice que "el comer y el rascar todo es empezar", pues esto es lo mismo."
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 from small beginnings come great things
4 +2 once you start you can't stop / once you start, there's no end to it
4 Once you try it, you'll be hooked.
3 +1 let's hope the product snowballs
3 once you pop, you can't stop
3 Once you've given it a try, there's no turning back.
3 try it, like it, become addicted to it

Discussion

Translostlation Sep 21, 2011:
To me, it's more like "You have to start somewhere" or "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" or even "Get moving!"
Bill Harrison (X) Jan 14, 2011:
Found this... El comer y el rascar, todo es empezar

Significado: Señala que las personas pueden sentarse a la mesa sin mucho apetito, pero que la presencia de la comida y la costumbre conseguirán que, poco a poco, sintamos ganas de comer.

Nota: Otros refranes similares son: "Comiendo, comiendo el apetito va viniendo" o "Poquito a poquito viene el apetito".

I'm not sure either of two suggestions are equivalent but Simon's seems the nearest in meaning. I don't think all sayings necessarily have an equivalent in the other language.
Noni Gilbert Riley Jan 14, 2011:
Enlace de Smartranslators La mayoría de las sugerencias no son correctas, con la excepción de "once you start you can't stop" and "one you pop, you can't stop" (será esto exclusivo para las palomitas?).... La palabra moreish tb existe como comentan, pero no viene muy al caso.
Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.) Jan 14, 2011:
Esto te puede ayudar http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1273489

eating and scratching that once you start , you can´t stop?

Proposed translations

+2
7 mins
Selected

from small beginnings come great things

I think this conveys the sense in an idiomatic way

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2011-01-14 12:50:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OR...

One thing leads to another
Peer comment(s):
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : Both work well
22 mins
many thanks Noni!
neutral Bill Harrison (X) : Wouldn't this be the same as "From tiny acorns … large oak trees grow"
47 mins
certainly, that's another alternative, but I see no problem with that :)
agree Yvonne Gallagher : I think in this context both of these would work
6 hrs
many thanks gallagy!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
3 mins

once you pop, you can't stop

i.e. once you start it's difficult to stop.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Bill Harrison (X) : See my note. I presume pop refers to popcorn but this would be very American, no?
49 mins
neutral Josh Goldsmith : Just a note--this is a Pringles (potato chips) slogan. I believe it's been updated to "Once you pop, the fun don't stop." This could work in this setting, if your client is ok with using Pringles' slogan.
1 hr
neutral Yvonne Gallagher : yes, in most ads for Pringles "once you pop you can't stop"
6 hrs
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+2
54 mins

once you start you can't stop / once you start, there's no end to it

#
Free Addiction Solitaire - Once You Start, You Can't Stop. Do you love Addiction Solitaire? Following the invention of every great game comes many ...
games.howstuffworks.com/games/addiction-solitaire.aspx - En caché;
Street Prophets: Once you start, you can't stop
Once you start, you can't stop. by A Missionarys Kid. Thu Apr 15, 2010 at 06:33:20 AM PST. First it was 'enemy combatants' now its our own combatants. ...
www.streetprophets.com/storyonly/2010/4/15/9198/98063 - En caché; 8 Sep 2007 ... Once you start doubting, there's no end to it. Written on September 28th, ... Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you. ...
https://www.gurde.com/.../once-you-start-doubting-there-s-no... - En caché
Peer comment(s):
agree James A. Walsh : Before I opened this question, the exact expression I had in mind was "once you start you can't stop".
3 hrs
Thanks James. For some reason my Spanish husband got a big kick out of this question.
agree Yvonne Gallagher : first option
5 hrs
Cheers and thanks, gallagy.
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59 mins

Once you try it, you'll be hooked.

Not a proverb or traditional expression, but I believe it expresses the idea.
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1 hr

Once you've given it a try, there's no turning back.

This would seem a good option, given the context. Among the other options offered thus far, my preference would be for John Cutler's rendering.

Suerte.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

try it, like it, become addicted to it

:)
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+1
3 hrs

let's hope the product snowballs

"to snowball" significa empezar muy pequeñito e ir rollando cuesta abajo recogiendo nieve que muy pronto hace que la bola de nieve sea ¡ENORME!
Peer comment(s):
agree Yvonne Gallagher : could work
3 hrs
thanks so much Gallagy, wishing you a pleasant weekend! - Deborah
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