May 14, 2016 09:53
8 yrs ago
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Spanish term
United Kingdom
nos dan collejas
Spanish to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
how to translate Spanish
Hi there,
I would like to ask your opinion about how to translate an informal Spanish phrase which appears in the Spanish online newspaper La Expansion.
"Nos dan collejas"
"Los chicos son terribles, nos tratan mal y nos dan collejas, ja, ja, ja. En serio, es una relación muy buena, entrenamos en el mismo espacio y hay buen rollo", comenta Pérez.
Having done research I know "colleja" is slang to slap someone on the nape of the neck in a teasing way. I am trying to find the right context in English that would be equivalent in meaning of teasing someone as I do not know of people slapping each other on the neck in the UK. I thought about replacing it with they call us names as a more English context.
Here is a link to the ST incase anyone is interested http://fueradeserie.expansion.com/2015/10/19/deporte/1445243...
Any help would be much appreciated.
Natalie
I would like to ask your opinion about how to translate an informal Spanish phrase which appears in the Spanish online newspaper La Expansion.
"Nos dan collejas"
"Los chicos son terribles, nos tratan mal y nos dan collejas, ja, ja, ja. En serio, es una relación muy buena, entrenamos en el mismo espacio y hay buen rollo", comenta Pérez.
Having done research I know "colleja" is slang to slap someone on the nape of the neck in a teasing way. I am trying to find the right context in English that would be equivalent in meaning of teasing someone as I do not know of people slapping each other on the neck in the UK. I thought about replacing it with they call us names as a more English context.
Here is a link to the ST incase anyone is interested http://fueradeserie.expansion.com/2015/10/19/deporte/1445243...
Any help would be much appreciated.
Natalie
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | they horse around with us / they mess around with us |
Robert Forstag
|
| 4 +3 | they slap us about |
neilmac
|
| 4 +2 | cuffing us |
Simon Bruni
|
Proposed translations
+2
3 hrs
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
318
Selected
they horse around with us / they mess around with us
These two options would seem to fit, as they imply a combination of physicality and playfulness that doesn't approach the level of aggression implied in the previous two answers. "Horse around" also appears to be used in UK English.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
David Hollywood
: yep and also used in the UK
1 hr
|
|
Thank you, David.
|
|
| agree |
Beatriz Rodriguez
3 days 5 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
10 mins
Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Related KudoZ points
:
182
cuffing us
A cuff is a light-hearted slap, I'd say. The fact that it's light-hearted is a lot more important than the location of the slap, I'd say.
Oxford English:
cuff2
■ verb strike with an open hand, especially on the head.
■ noun a blow given with an open hand.
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Note added at 11 mins (2016-05-14 10:05:47 GMT)
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You could say "they treat us badly, they're always cuffing us"
Oxford English:
cuff2
■ verb strike with an open hand, especially on the head.
■ noun a blow given with an open hand.
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Note added at 11 mins (2016-05-14 10:05:47 GMT)
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You could say "they treat us badly, they're always cuffing us"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
franglish
: Hits the nail on the head:)
18 mins
|
| agree |
David Hollywood
: or the back of the neck :) just kidding but that's literally what it is ... "cuff on the ear" is another common expression but way too brutal here :(
2 hrs
|
+3
23 mins
they slap us about
IMHO the "us about" component lessens the blow and makes it clear they are joking...
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Note added at 24 mins (2016-05-14 10:18:20 GMT)
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"We always keep it humble, otherwise our mums would slap us about".
http://www.bigissue.com/features/summer-festivals-2014/3816/...
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Note added at 25 mins (2016-05-14 10:19:47 GMT)
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"While we were trying to get undressed she would stand there and push our heads against the wall, hit us and slap us about, all the time shouting at us to hurry up."
"“Our planet used to slap us about the face-cheeks with iron fists of adventure"...
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Note added at 26 mins (2016-05-14 10:20:16 GMT)
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http://www.first.co.uk/first-blog/2016/the-adventurists-the-...
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Note added at 21 hrs (2016-05-15 07:45:37 GMT)
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NB: My take on any perceived "aggression":
1.- "aggression" is valued in some sporting scenario and is not always 'a bad thing';
2.- "entrenamos en el mismo espacio" suggests the text is about sports teams.
3.- "jajaja / hay buen rollo"...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2016-05-14 10:18:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"We always keep it humble, otherwise our mums would slap us about".
http://www.bigissue.com/features/summer-festivals-2014/3816/...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 25 mins (2016-05-14 10:19:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"While we were trying to get undressed she would stand there and push our heads against the wall, hit us and slap us about, all the time shouting at us to hurry up."
"“Our planet used to slap us about the face-cheeks with iron fists of adventure"...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2016-05-14 10:20:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.first.co.uk/first-blog/2016/the-adventurists-the-...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2016-05-15 07:45:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
NB: My take on any perceived "aggression":
1.- "aggression" is valued in some sporting scenario and is not always 'a bad thing';
2.- "entrenamos en el mismo espacio" suggests the text is about sports teams.
3.- "jajaja / hay buen rollo"...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Adoración Bodoque Martínez
: "They slap us about" is exactly what I was going to suggest.
1 hr
|
| agree |
David Hollywood
: this is a nice option if you don't want to go tooo literal
2 hrs
|
| agree |
andyfergu
: Nice one!
4 days
|
Reference comments
2 hrs
David Hollywood
Native in English
Works in field
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
190
Reference:
Definiciones de colleja
Sustantivo
Golpe dado en la nuca con la palma de la mano.
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cuff&defid...
Cuff. The "slap-type-thing" thing that is done to the back of someones head/neck when they do something dumb. They are cuffed. Duude, last week Johnny was ...
Sustantivo
Golpe dado en la nuca con la palma de la mano.
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cuff&defid...
Cuff. The "slap-type-thing" thing that is done to the back of someones head/neck when they do something dumb. They are cuffed. Duude, last week Johnny was ...
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