La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
While studying Spanish lately, I’ve been spending some time on idioms that make absolutely no sense when literally translated. An example: “Ser pan comido” translates literally to “to be eaten bread.” What it means, however, is “It’s a piece of cake” (as in easy).
A new favorite of mine is “En boca cerrada, no entran moscas,” which translates to “Flies can’t get into closed mouths,” and is equivalent to “Silence is golden.”
I won’t share all I’ve learned (well, I haven’t really learned them; they’re just temporarily floating around in my head) but I do want to include another curious phrase: If you want to say “to speak frankly” or “pull no punches,” it’s “hablar sin pelos en la lengua,” “to speak without hairs on the tongue.” And if you do have hairs on your tongue, don’t mount a chicken! (“no montar un pollo”) which means “don’t make a scene,” (really more like “don’t assemble a chicken”).
I got my wires crossed Friday. José at the aquarium shop wanted us to come there before everything was delivered so he could review installation of the filter-heater with San Geraldo. San Geraldo had studied it all already and knew exactly what to do, but it was kind of José to care so much, so we went there again this morning, saw SG’s new aquarium, and he behaved himself while following José’s demonstration. He really did know exactly what to do already and had well-organized notes on the entire process. Ah well. I told him we had to go over anyway to make the second payment. Just before lunch, José came by with his friend Sebastian and they delivered everything.
The whole thing has begun to cause me a little stress and I told SG he’s now on his own. This afternoon, he plans to assemble the oak cabinet so WE can figure out how to rearrange furniture to accommodate all this. I am excited about it and do think it will be a wonderful addition. I just didn’t agree to take it on as a project. I know I’ll be involved here and there; he does kindly ask for my opinion and input. But his idea of a home aquarium looks like an awful lot of work to me. He did at least downsize to a 200-liter tank, about 53 gallons.
I had planned to walk home from the shop and wander the city for a bit, but the weather felt oppressive today. The temperature should have felt OK this morning, but the air quality was awful and the unpleasantness hit us in the face the moment we walked out the door. And now it’s just plain hot again. So, after lunch, I took the laundry to the roof and that was enough for me.
Yesterday was our 45th anniversary. We celebrated with a Goiko Cookie for dessert last night. If you eat it on your anniversary, it has no sugar. Trust me. Following today’s theme, I’ll simply tell you that in Spanish, San Geraldo is “mi media naranja,” “my half orange” (i.e., my soulmate).
Últimamente, mientras estudio español, he estado dedicando tiempo a modismos que no tienen ningún sentido si se traducen literalmente. Un ejemplo: “Ser pan comido” significa en inglés “a piece of cake” (un trozo de pastel).
Una de mis nuevas favoritas es “En boca cerrada, no entren moscas”, que significa “Silence is golden” (el silencio es oro).
No voy a compartir todo lo que he aprendido (bueno, en realidad no lo he aprendido; solo está dando vueltas en mi cabeza temporalmente). Y ¡no montes un pollo! que significa en inglés “Don’t make a fuss.”
El viernes me confundí. José, de la tienda de acuarios, quería que fuéramos antes de que llegara todo para que pudiera revisar la instalación del filtro con San Geraldo. San Geraldo ya lo había estudiado todo y sabía exactamente qué hacer, pero fue muy amable de parte de José preocuparse tanto, así que volvimos esta mañana, vimos el nuevo acuario de San Geraldo y se portó bien mientras seguía la demostración de José. Realmente ya sabía exactamente qué hacer y tenía notas bien organizadas de todo el proceso. En fin. Le dije que teníamos que ir de todos modos para hacer el segundo pago.
Justo antes del almuerzo, José vino con su amigo Sebastián y entregaron todo. Todo esto ha empezado a causarme un poco de estrés y le dije a San Geraldo que ahora él está solo. Esta tarde, planea armar el mueble de roble para que podamos ver cómo reorganizar los muebles para acomodar todo esto. Estoy emocionada y creo que será una adición maravillosa. Simplemente no acepté tomarlo como un proyecto. Sé que estaré involucrada de vez en cuando; él amablemente me pide mi opinión y sugerencias. Pero su idea de un acuario doméstico me parece muchísimo trabajo. Al menos lo redujo a un tanque de 200 litros, unos 53 galones.
Yo había planeado volver andando a casa desde la tienda y dar una vuelta por la ciudad, pero el tiempo estaba sofocante hoy. La temperatura debería haber estado bien esta mañana, pero la calidad del aire era pésima y la incomodidad nos golpeó en la cara en cuanto salimos por la puerta. Así que, después de comer, llevé la ropa a la azotea y con eso me bastó.
Ayer fue nuestro 45 aniversario. Lo celebramos anoche con una galleta Goiko de postre. Si la comes en tu aniversario, no tiene azúcar. Créeme.
Siguiendo con el tema de hoy, simplemente te diré que San Geraldo es “mi media naranja”, es decir, mi “soul mate” (alma compañero).
• Un postre sin azúcar, sin grasa y sin calorías. Y estoy segura de que en tu aniversario no habrá gluten ni lactosa.
• Ayer por la tarde. 115˚F al sol.
• José comienza su demostración.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Happy Anniversary! Yowza, 45 years!
Speaking of aquariums, I watched a Netflix movie last night where the narrator of the movie is a big octopus in a Public Aquarium and some of the action takes place at the Aquarium. The movie is “Remarkably Bright Creatures” starring Sally Fields, who is outstanding in it as always (even at nearly 80 yrs old). Worth watching if you haven’t seen it, although NB: it’s a bit of a tearjerker.
The book is great too! Olivia
Debra:
We don’t always have the same things available but I just found it and added it to My List. Thanks!
45 Years with the same person. I can’t even imagine, but good on you two and Happy Anniversary.
Shirley:
We can’t even imagine either. Thanks.
Oh, I missed your anniversary this year! So sorry, Scoot. We have fifty-one under our belt as of August second. Time sure flies with a hairy tongued soulmate 🙂 Hugs to you both.
Deedles:
Oh, happy anniversary to you and Balder Half, too! 51 years!!! And you were only 7 when you wed.
I know, right? Our oldest will turn fifty in January, on Elvis’ birthday. I was precocious seven-year-old! By the way, I pictured a stuffed chicken mounted over the fireplace. Yes, I did!
Deedles:
In San Francisco, we had a stuffed Canada Goose in flight above the fireplace.
Happy annie! And many more.
I think you’ll feel better when the aquarium is installed and running and you can just watch the fish. Hang in! Boud
Boud:
Yes, right now SG is emptying and moving furniture… and asking my opinion. I’ll love it all once the fish and plants are in and I can simply get hypnotized.
I want to have a weekly anniversary so that I can eat that cookie guilt-free four times a month.
Forty-five years together is quite an accomplishment. My dental hygienist asked me today what the secret to staying married for forty-two years is, which is how long Glen and I have been married. I told her, “Don’t get divorced.”
There is a lot of truth in that.
I think Jose might drive me crazy. I also think that SG is being very kind to let the man teach him all the things he already knows.
I will speak with no hair on my tongue- it is too hot in Spain.
The “don’t mount a chicken” reminds me of what a woman I know says occasionally which is, “Someone come hold this chicken. I’m about to f**k it.”
(I don’t want to sully your blog.)
Love the photos. The doves in the tree are pretty sweet. The black and white shadow is cool too.
Mary Moon.
We WERE eating that cookie more than once a week at first. Heavenly and deadly. I love the secret to marriage and long life questions. Don’t get divorced. Don’t die. Someone come and hold this chicken. I’m about to …” WHAT??? That’s not one I’d ever warm to.
If you knew this woman, you’d find it most appropriate. She generally said it about work situations, I do believe.
First and foremost, happiest of anniversaries!!! That’s an achievement!
Secondly, my lone idiom is, “El burro sabe más que tú”
I learned a few others but for some reason that one sticks with me.
Bob:
The burro one at least makes sense from the start. There are so many good ones. We didn’t appreciate how many idiomatic expressions SG uses that make no sense in Spanish.
Happy Anniversary, how sweet. I fully understand it being his project , it sounds complicated.
David:
He has pages and pages of notes and photos. He’s now narrowed down his fish list to the semi-finalists.
I’m not sure what gives me a headache more….the translations or thinking of all that maintenance from an aquarium. I think I told you we had one when I was a wee one, and when we gave on it finally, you never saw something leave the house so quick!!!
Mistress Maddie:
My childhood aquariums, three 10-gallon, and one 5-1/2 gallon never gave me so much trouble as I remember. THIS is complicated.
Happy happy anniversary! What an accomplishment. Wishing you continuing happy adventures. Olivia
Olivia:
Thanks. It’s hard for us to believe.
Happy anniversary!
“Don’t mount a chicken.” Reminds me of a joke I once heard on the Dean Martin Show”:
“He who wakes up with the rooster…is a sex maniac!”
Kirk:
… and ends up with hair on his tongue!
Happy Anniversary!
Rade:
Thanks.
When I read “Don’t mount a chicken” my brain went straight to… well, something that would definitely create a scene!
A friend told me that Turkish has the phrase “I’ve told you so many times that hair grew on my tongue!” We couldn’t figure out the logic…
Happy anniversary!
Dee:
There was an awful scene in John Waters’ “Pink Flamingos” that came to my mind.
As for that Turkish expression, I would think repeating oneself would wear the hair OFF the tongue!
Wishing you guys at least another 45 years having such a good life together, xxx ;-)!
Jan from Perth:
45 years? As we told someone Sunday who wished us the same: Bite your tongue!
But thanks!
Sugar, fat, and calorie free? Where do I get that?
50 gallons is a good size but ambitious imo for a first tank. Reminds me of a friend who acquired a very big saltwater tank for free and she and her roommate were all about it. Couldn’t keep anything alive though and they finally gave it away.
ellen abbott:
Just eat on your anniversary (or birthday, or any day you choose to celebrate) and it’s like eating fresh fruit.
Hey! 45 YEARS! Good on you guys!
We’ll never see you again after the aquarium is hooked up and running. They are noted for mesmerizing all who stare at them. Enjoy.
Jim:
I’m looking forward to being mesmerized.
I had a Spanish friend a few years ago at an exercise class. I used to make her laugh when I would say “Estoy sudando como un pollo.” (I’m sweating like a chicken.) I told her it actually was an idiom I found that’s related to “sweating like a pig” in English. And she told me that “I slept like a log” in English is “Dormí como un lirón” (dormouse) in Spanish. It makes sense when you think about the little dormouse in Alice in Wonderland that was always sleeping in the teapot.
Oh, and happy anniversary!
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
Where do some of these expressions come from? How many sweaty chickens have we seen?
And thanks!
I guess “Don’t assemble a chicken” is the Spanish equivalent of “Don’t have a cow”!
I can’t wait to see what fish wind up living in your aquarium! (Or are you going to get a big snake?!)
Steve:
Yes, don’t have a cow, man! NO snake!
Happy 45th, dears!
I do hope the aquarium succeeds, and is (eventually) as calming as it is meant to be. The whole process of getting it set up in the first place, moving furniture, getting all the balance right for things to actually live in it, seems to be too stressful to me. And what happens when you go on holiday?! Jx
PS Local idioms are always amusing. In Welsh (which I don’t speak, by the way, but it’s where I came from) Mae hi’n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn means the equivalent of “raining cats and dogs”, but literally translated is “It is raining old women and walking sticks”…
Jon:
And raining old women and walking sticks makes about as much sense as cats and dogs. I love that! The fish will be at least easier than the cats were when we travel.
I can’t wait to see the aquarium up and running. I have one about that size in my kitchen, but I just have 3 coldwater ” goldfish” in it. I started with tropicals many years ago….. not sure why I gave up with those…..I think maybe they died too often!!
Frances
Frances:
That’s a huge aquarium for just three goldfish. They must love it.