Speaking Valencian

The bite gets stuck

2011-12-30T14:02:00.000+01:00

Val.: «Parar-se el mos»

Diem que a algú se li ha parat el mos quan se li ha entravessat un osset, una espina o qualsevol tros de menjar a la gola. Esta locució verbal també s’usa en sentit figurat, quan a algú es queda astorat ―o amb un nuc en la gola― per alguna sorpresa que li han donat ―com ara una notícia que no esperava―, sense que necessàriament estiga menjant res.També es pot dir «se m’ha parat el mos a la gola», si bé sovint el complement ‘a la gola’ s’omet perquè se sobreentén.

Exemples:

«A més d’un se li va parar el mos quan va veure que el seu nom apareixia a les revelacions de la trama de corrupció més gran que hi ha hagut a la història de l’Estat espanyol».

(d'un article del diari L'informatiu)

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The set-phrase «parar-se el mos a la gola» ―literally parar-se (‘get stuck’) el mos (‘the bite’) a la gola (‘in the throat’)― means that somebody got a lump in his throat. The sentence can be used in a literal sense, when somebody has a piece of food stuck in the throat, but also in a figurative sense, when somebody is shocked by a surprise, for example, after hearing some bad news.

Notice that, in Valencian, el mos (‘the bite’) is the subject of the sentence, parar-se (‘to get stuck’ or ‘to stop’) is a reflexive or pronominal verb, whereas in English the pronoun would be the subject, and a la gola (‘in the throat’) is an adjunct, as it is optional. In the examples hereunder, you’ll see how the Valencian syntax differs from the English word order:

Se m’ha parat el mos [a la gola] = I got a lump in my throat

Se t’ha parat el mos [a la gola] = You got a lump in your throat

Se li ha parat el mos [a la gola] = He got a lump in his throat

Se’ns ha parat el mos [a la gola] = We got a lump in our throats

Se vos ha parat el mos [a la gola] = You got a lump in your throats

Se’ls ha parat el mos [a la gola] = They got a lump in their throats

Stick to the wheel

2011-12-27T23:15:00.000+01:00

Val.: «Apegar-se a roda»

Diem que una persona «s’apega a roda» quan s’incorpora en alguna activitat o projecte que està a punt d’iniciar-se i en la planificació del qual no havia participat. La ‘roda’ representa el pla que una o diverses persones pràcticament ja han posat en marxa, i el nouvingut s’hi ‘apega’, és a dir, s’hi incorpora o s’hi integra.

L’expressió s’utilitza sobretot en contextos esportius i lúdics ―quan algú s’apunta a una activitat en què no se l’esperava, sovint en el darrer moment―, però es pot aplicar a qualsevol empresa.

Exemples d’ús:

«No m’apegaré a roda en esta aventura perquè em conec i al cap de dos dies reballaria el baix per la finestra. Vaig avorrir música quan estava a l’escola».

(resposta d’un internauta a la proposta de formar un grup de música)

«Acompanyaré el meu gran amic i la farem juntets, si algú vol apegar-se a roda benvingut serà, estaria orgullós de poder córrer en la vostra companyia».

(Fòrum sobre la XII Volta a peu d’Alginet)

«I ara a pel GR-10 extrem, i no podran amb nosaltres... ens queden molts de quilòmetres per fer. El que vullga està convidat ha apegar-se a roda».

(apunt de blog sobre una cursa de muntanya)

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Somebody “s’apega a roda” ―literally, ‘sticks to the wheel’― when he joins any activity or project conceived by others, a plan already set up and ready to set in motion when he decides to take part. The wheel represents the plan, and the newcomer ‘sticks to it’, that is to say, joins the group. This idiom is often used in recreational contexts or sport activities, when somebody wants to participate at the last minute.

To rub the wall

2011-12-25T17:32:00.007+01:00

Val.: «Passar la mà per la paret»

«Passar la mà per la paret» significa no aconseguir el que u vol, quedar-se sense el que u desitja obtindre o creu que d’alguna manera li pertany. Es diu sovint en contextos pecuniaris, quan algú no rep uns diners que hauria de cobrar o també, en general, quan algú viu en condicions econòmiques difícils (en cas que siga realment pobre, diríem que «no té on caure mort»). També es diu sovint que algú passa la mà per la paret quan no aconsegueix lligar o, en general, quan mai no practica el sexe. Amb tot, esta frase feta es pot aplicar a molts altres contextos en què algú no assoleix els seus objectius; per exemple, quan un pescador no pesca res en tota una jornada, podem dir que ha passat la mà per la paret.

Quant a l’origen i el significat de la frase, jo interprete que fregar la paret amb la mà es tracta d’un acte inútil, que no aporta res, ja que en acabant la mà queda buida igual que estava. La persona toca la paret ―una cosa anodina― en comptes de la cosa que desitjava.

Exemples d'ús:

«Enguany passem la mà per la paret en els Premis Ovidi, però estem engrescadíssims amb l’escena esplendorosa de música en valencià que tenim».

(Twitter del cantautor Pau Alabajos, nominat al millor disc de cançó, premi que finalment no va obtindre).

«"Marca, Cope, la Sexta, Ser i As, només ells tenen tracte preferencial del Reial Madrid. La resta, passem la mà per la paret", ens comenta un periodista a la nostra pregunta sobre la relació entre el club i els mitjans de comunicació».

(Article esportiu del diari L’informatiu).

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In Valencian, the set-phrase “to rub the wall” ―Passar (‘to rub’) la mà (‘one’s hand’) per (‘along”) la paret (‘the wall’)― is used when someone does not get what he wants or what, in a way, he think belongs to him. Somebody “rubs the wall”, in a figurative sense, when he does not receive any payment for some job he has done, and consequently remains broke. Likewise, when talking about sex, a person “rubs the wall” when he hits on someone unsuccessfully.

This set-phrase can be applied to many contexts where somebody fails in his attempts to achieve his goals. For instance, when a fisherman does not catch any fish all day: he did nothing but “rubbing the wall”.

Regarding the meaning and origin of the idiom «to rub the wall», it probably means that rubbing a wall with your hand is an useless act, as when you finish your hand remains empty just as it was. Also, a person touches the wall ―an insubstancial object― instead of touching the thing he desired.

He owes more than he breathes

2011-12-17T20:09:00.005+01:00

Val.: «[Algú] deure més que alena»

Es diu que algú deu més que alena quan algú està molt endeutat. Es tracta d’una hipèrbole o exageració, atés que «alenar» —és a dir, respirar—, és una acció que realitzem contínuament.

Sovint esta frase feta ve acompanyada de l’aposició «... i alena més que un porc», que fa referència al ronc que fa un porc quan respir a, o bé a la seua capacitat pulmonar.

Exemples d'ús:

«L’ajuntament devia més que alenava i era incapaç d’afrontar les exigències d’uns serveis de qualitat». (blog d’un internauta de l’Alcúdia de Crespins)

«Després de set anys que eixa família Estellés van vendre els terrenys —que estaven desesperats per vendre’ls perquè devien més que alenaven—, una vegada venuts i cobrats anaven dient que eren rics». (blog sobre la població de Llosa de Ranes)

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In Valencian, we say that someone ‘owes more than he breathes’ when someone is in serious debt. It is an obvious overstatement (an exaggeration or hyperbole), as breathing is something we do all the time. A normal sentence would sound as follows:

Eixe (‘That man’) deu (‘owes’) més que (‘more than’) alena! (‘he breathes’).

Often, this idiom is followed by the apposition …i alena més que un porc (‘and he breathes more than a pig’), which refers to the snorts pigs make when they breathe, and probably to their lung capacity.

Don’t beat about the bush

2011-12-08T13:57:00.003+01:00

Val.: «No parar-se en brosses»

Dir una cosa sense parar-se en brosses és comunicar alguna cosa sense preàmbuls ni subterfugis, sense anar-se’n en raons, contindre’s, demorar o adornar inútilment el que es vol dir. «Brossa», en este context, pren el sentit figurat de «paraules inútils dins d’un raonament». Igualment, fer una cosa sense parar-se en brosses significa actuar sense dubtar, sense posar-se obstacles inútils.

Expressions sinònimes: no vacil·lar, no dubtar, no tindre miraments, no anar-se’n en raons, anar al gra.

Exemples d'ús:

«Fa falta que a la gent li aplegue el missatge, i com he dit no ens pararem en brosses». (paraules d’un polític)

«La senyoreta de Riba-roja no es va parar en brosses: li preguntà a boca de canó si li semblava correcte citar-se amb ETA a Perpinyà». (tret d’este blog)

«Ell no devia parar en brosses, com diuen al meu poble. Perquè els ornits van al gra». (tret d’este blog)

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‘Beat about the bush’ means to avoid getting to the point or to embellish a speech by means of useless talking. There is a Valencian idiom very similar to this one: Parar-se (‘to stop’) en (‘at the’) brosses (‘dead leaves’, ‘cut branches’ or ‘brush’).

The handle is more expensive than the hoe itself

2011-11-20T20:50:00.005+01:00

Val.: «Val més el mànec que l’aixada»

Es diu quan canviar una peça d’un aparell o d’una màquina ens costaria més car que comprar un nou aparell, i per tant, no val la pena efectuar la compra o reparació.

Exemple:

«Li feren un pressupost de la reparació del cotxe, però valia més el mànec que l’aixada, així que decidí portar-lo al cementeri de cotxes».

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Sometimes it’s not worth to repair a car, a computer, etc., because the spare parts are much more expensive than getting a new one.

Literally:

Val (‘it costs’) més (‘more’) el mànec (‘the handle’) que (‘than’) l’aixada (‘the hoe’)

A la dula

2011-11-13T17:48:00.003+01:00

Val. «A la dula»

«Criar-se a la dula» significa criar-se amb tota llibertat, sense la vigilància de ningú. Se sol dir dels xiquets que viuen al carrer amb escassa atenció educativa per part de sos pares. «Anar a la dula» vol dir anar pel carrer ―especialment la gent jove― de manera avalotada, sense fer res de profit. De fet, en sentit figurat, una dula és una colla de jóvens que fan escama.

En sentit estricte, la dula era un sistema d’explotació ramadera característic dels llocs on hi havia explotacions de bestiar petites o molt disseminades. El mot (de l’àrab daula) s’aplicava primerament als terrenys on es portava a pasturar els animals, i finalment passà a designar el procediment mateix: cada propietari aportava les seues ovelles o cabres a un ramat comunal, i entre tots pagaven el sou d’un o més pastors, anomenats «dulers», que cuidaven els animals durant el dia. Este sistema va deixar en la parla popular frases fetes com les referides més amunt, que volen dir comportar-se i viure de manera incivilitzada, com animals salvatges, com el ramat.

Gràcies a Vilapèdia

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«Criar-se a la dula» means to grow up with complete freedom, without the parents’ vigilance. This set phrase is often used to refer to children living on the streets with little educational attention from their parents. «Anar a la dula» refers to wander around the streets ―especially young people― making a row or doing nothing. In fact, in a figurative sense, a dula is a gang of youngsters making noise.

In the literal sense of the word, dula is a cattle farming system. The word was applied to the plot of land where the livestock was put out to pasture. It eventually came to refer to the procedure itself: each owner brought his sheep or goats to a communal cattle and paid a shepherd (called duler) to take care of the animals during the day. This system left in the popular language expressions such as the referred above, which mean to behave and live in an uncivilized way, just like animals, just like cattle.

En bajoqueta

2011-11-01T15:55:00.004+01:00

Val. «Estar en bajoqueta»

«En bajoqueta» vol dir ‘a mitjan fer’, ‘poc avançat o preparat’. Diem que una tasca, faena o projecte està en bajoqueta quan encara no està preparat o enllestit, quan el tenim embastat però està encara està lluny d’acabar-se. També una persona pot estar en bajoqueta, quan una situació l’agafa desprevingut o poc preparat. La locució prové, probablement, del fet que la baina de la bajoca o ferradura és de color verd, i com sabeu, «estar verd» significa ‘no estar preparat, no tindre experiència’, ja que eixe és el color de les fruites que no estan encara madures. Vegem-ne alguns exemples:

«A vore si ens fem l’ànim i mirem un bressol per al bebé, la pintura per a l’habitació, sanefes boniques… que el temps se’m tira damunt i ho tinc tot en bajoqueta!» [ho diu una mare embarassada]

«El procés de creació de l’associació està de moment en bajoqueta, tenim tota la paperassa per fer»

«Tinc la casa en bajoqueta» [= no preparada, no presentable, encara sense endreçar o netejar]

«L’equip contrari ha pressionat molt dels del principi del partit, i l’atac ens ha agafat en bajoqueta». [= desprevinguts, freds]

«Calla d’una vegada i vine cap ací que arribarà Ximo i ens agafarà “en bajoqueta”»*.

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Bajoqueta is the Valencian word for the green bean and the idiom En bajoqueta means ‘unfinished’. We say that a work or a project is en bajoqueta when ideas are put together but progress is not still being made, so the work is far from being finished. This idiom is also used when a situation catches someone unawares, so we say ‘to catch somebody en bajoqueta’. In this idiom, the green colour is a metaphor meaning ‘not prepared, not having experience’, since green is the colour of unripe fruit.

*Estimada Anuchka, obra de teatre de Carles Alberola. Col·lecció Teatro Siglo XXI, Universitat de València (pàg. 44).

Those who stumble on a plain… what will they do when going uphill?

2011-08-09T23:23:00.001+02:00

Val. «Qui entropessa en lo pla, en costera què farà?»

Significa que aquells que s’atorrollen o s’abaten davant la mínima dificultat en la vida, segurament ho tindran molt difícil per a superar situacions realment difícils que se li puguen presentar.

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It means that those who get anxious at the slightest difficulty will surely find it hard to overcome difficult times that might come in the future.

To go to Garcia’s place

2011-08-09T23:02:00.003+02:00

Val. «Anar a ca Garcia»

«Anar a ca Garcia» és una manera jocosa de comunicar a les persones al nostre voltant que ens n’anem a fer de ventre, o siga, a defecar; és una mena d’eufemisme i alhora un joc de paraules, perquè la frase conté amagada la paraula tabú: ca Garcia.

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Go to Garcia’s place is a humorous way to say you’re going to the toilet to have a bowel movement, that is, to defecate, or in other words, to do a number 2. Ca means in Catalan ‘somebody’s place’, and Garcia is just a common Spanish surname (in this case, the owner of the place). You may think that this has nothing to do with the fact of defecating, but it makes sense because there is a play on words in the sentence. It comes from the fact that the Catalan word for ‘to shit’ is cagar, a taboo word that, if you pay attention, is hidden inside the sentence: ca Garcia.

Coffee and cigarette, turd

2011-07-18T10:14:00.003+02:00

Val.: «Café i cigarro, cagarro»

Este refrany ens recorda les propietats laxants del café i del tabac.

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This saying reminds us about the laxative properties of coffee and tobacco.

To be crazier than a sackful of cats

2011-06-10T17:15:00.002+02:00

Val. «Estar més boig que un sac de gats»

Esta comparança tan sols és una manera expressiva i hiperbòlica de dir que algú està fora de seny. Com podeu imaginar, un animal tan independent i indòmit com el gat podria acabar trastornat en romandre durant algun temps enclaustrat amb congèneres seus dins d’una bossa.

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This comparison is just an expressive and hyperbolic way to say that someone is not in his right mind. As you can imagine, such an independent and untamed animal could end up disturbed if it stays shut in a sack together with some of its kind.

To enlarge somebody’s ass

2011-05-16T10:16:00.002+02:00

Val. «Fer el cul gros a algú»

Fer el cul gros a algú significa adular-lo, dedicar-s’hi servilment, per obtindre alguna cosa a canvi o perquè esta persona tinga una bona opinió de nosaltres. Són expressions sinònimes «portar la lliurea», «fer la rosca» o «fer la gara-gara».

Exemple: Sempre fa el cul gros als professors per aconseguir bones notes.

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Fer el cul gros a algú (‘To enlarge somebody’s ass’) means to suck up to somebody, to benefit somebody to get something in exchange or just to make that person think well of you.

It always rains when there's no school

2011-04-23T18:58:00.003+02:00

Val. «Sempre plou quan no hi ha escola»

Amb este refrany lamentem quan arriba un període de vacances i no ens acompanya el bon oratge.

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With this saying we express our ennui when holidays arrive and the weather is rainy and windy.

To be more afraid than the night watchman

2011-03-10T16:44:00.001+01:00

Val. «Tindre més por que un sereno»

Tindre més por que un sereno significa tindre molta por. Es diu això perquè el sereno era, antigament, el vigilant nocturn d’un poble, un funcionari encarregat de fer ronda de nit pels carrers en servei de vigilància, que també cantava les hores, deia quin temps feia o prestava auxili als veïns. Com a rondadors de la nit, els serenos estaven exposats al perill, per això es pressuposa que de tant en tant patien temor.

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To be more afraid than the night watchman means to be really scared. As night watchmen were people who worked at night, they were more exposed to danger. This is why people assume they sometimes got a fright while working.

Have it warm and warm your body

2011-02-18T00:53:00.001+01:00

Val. «Calentet i al cos»

Esta frase que se sol dir just abans de prendre una beguda o un àpat calent, a mode de desig perquè se’ns assente bé.

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This is a sentence people say before drinking or eating something warm and pleasant, as a wish that it makes us feel be better, it does good to our health.

To share a pig

2011-02-01T15:02:00.008+01:00

Val. «Tindre un porc a mitges»

Quan diem que dues persones tenen un porc a mitges volem dir que tenen un negoci conjunt, els guanys del qual, lògicament, comparteixen. D’ací sorgeix el refrany «Porc a mitges mai és gras» que expressa les conseqüències negatives de compartir un negoci, ço és, que com u no n’és mai l’amo absolut, no en trau mai gaire benefici.

Com que la llengua és rica i creativa, l’expressió tindre un porc a mitges es pot utilitzar també en altres contextos que no tenen a veure amb el negoci, sempre que hi haja dues persones que mantenen una relació de la qual trauen algun profit. Per exemple, en cas que sospitem que dues persones mantenen una relació amorosa il•lícita, d’amagat dels altres, podem dir que «Estos tenen un porc a mitges» puix que tenen una relació (una espècie de «negoci») del qual estan traient un profit ―sentimental o sexual, en este cas― que, per cert, no està aprovat per la societat.

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When we say that two people are sharing a pig, we mean that they share a business. Therefore, naturally, they also share its profits. Hence the saying Porc a mitges mai és gras (= ‘A shared pig never gets fat’) explains the negative consequences of sharing a business, namely, you don’t get out much profit of it because you have to share every penny you earn.

As language is creative and rich, one may also use the expression ‘to share a pig’ in other contexts. For instance, when there are two people having a relationship from which they get out some kind of benefit. For instance, if you suspect that two people you know are having an affair, you may express it saying Estos tenen un porc a mitges (= ‘These two are sharing a pig’), as they have a relationship (a kind of “business”) they take some benefit from (that is, sexual or sentimental benefit).

To those asking questions, tell them lies

2010-12-07T18:53:00.003+01:00

Val. «Al preguntaor*, mentires en ell»

«Al que vulga saber, mentires en ell»
«A qui pregunta, mentires en ell»

Esta frase ens recomana que quan algú ens fa preguntes que no pertoquen (que pretenen fer-nos mal o que es fan amb una confiança que la persona no s’ha guanyat prèviament), el millor que podem fer és contestar-li amb mentides. Saciarem temporalment la seua curiositat malsana, però quan s’assabentarà que el que li hem dit no és cert, s’adonarà que ens hem rist d’ell a la cara, i potser se sentirà avergonyit d’haver sigut un dotor.

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This set phrase suggests people to tell lies to those who make spiteful questions (questions that try to hurt you or just interfere in your private life). If you lie to that person, you’ll satisfy his/her curiosity for a while, but eventually he/she’ll realize you’ve cheated him/her. Then he/she might be ashamed for being so nosy.

* In Standard Valencian: «preguntador» (person who asks). Dropping the d in the past participle is a common feature of colloquial Valencian.

Necessity is the mother of invention

2010-11-22T15:32:00.004+01:00

Val. «El menester fa fer»

Aquest refrany ens diu que la necessitat és el que incita les persones a actuar, posar-se en marxa, a assolir objectius tot i que aquests puguen paréixer difícils en un principi. D’altra banda, si alguna cosa no és realment necessària, serà difícil convéncer ningú perquè t’ajude a aconseguir-la.

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This proverb reminds us that when something is really necessary, people will start up and work hard to achieve any goal they have set. On the other hand, when something is useless or not really essential, it is hard to convince anybody to back our purpose.

Don’t leave the old path for a new one

2010-11-15T15:45:00.003+01:00

Val. «No deixes les sendes velles per novelles»

Aquest refrany té un caràcter conservador, puix desaconsella deixar els costums o les maneres tradicionals per adoptar-ne de nous. Per extensió, podem aplicar la dita davant qualsevol situació nova que nosaltres escollim (canviar de treball, canviar de camí per a arribar a un lloc, experimentar en la cuina, etc.); canvis que poden no valdre la pena i dur-nos a situacions negatives. Més val fer les coses al vell usatge, encara que aquest no siga perfecte.

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This proverb has a conservative nature, as it is advising us not to change our habits or the traditional way of doing things. Any decision or change of what is customary might not worth it. Thus, it is better to keep everything as usual.

Also in English: 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.'

Look for the one who hit you

2010-10-19T13:30:00.005+02:00

Val. «Busca qui t’ha pegat»

Aquesta frase es diu quan parlem d’un problema que té una solució difícil o no en té cap, puix que per alguna circumstància, ja és massa tard per resoldre’l o hi ha hagut conseqüències que ho fan impossible. La dita és una mena de metàfora: quan, enmig d’una multitud, algú et pega un carxot, i et gires per veure qui és, és quasi impossible esbrinar-ho. El culpable ja s’ha escapolit. Per això «busca qui t'ha pegat» = «busca la solució», que ja no la trobaràs.

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We say this sentence when we talk about a problem which is hard to solve, because it is too late or there have been some consequences which make it impossible to settle. The saying is a kind of metaphor: when you are among the crowd and somebody smacks on your neck, you turn to see who did it. But it is too late: the culprit has easily run away. No matter how you 'Look for the one who hit you' (= 'Look for the solution') you won't find him/it anymore.

Trust tame water!

2010-10-18T15:52:00.002+02:00

Aigües manses de l'Albufera de València

Val. «Fia’t de l’aigua mansa!»

Aquesta és una frase irònica, un consell que s’usa per a recordar a algú que no es deixe enganyar per les aparences. Com qualsevol ironia, significa just el contrari del que diu: «No confies al 100% en algú o alguna cosa per molt que aquesta parega inofensiva, perquè podria amagar un engany o un perill que t’agafaria d’improvís». Com per exemple un aigua mansa, que pot amagar corrents mortals o animals predadors; o una persona en qui pensaves que podies confiar.

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This is an ironic expression, a piece of advice to remind a friend of us that appearances can be deceptive. As every irony, it means the opposite of what it says: ‘You shouldn’t trust things or people who seem harmless, because they could hide a deception or a danger which might catch you out of the blue’. Like apparently tame waters that hide mortal currents ― or somebody you thought was reliable.

Wasn't the owner there?

2010-10-16T22:13:00.005+02:00

Val. «No estava l'amo?»

Quan veiem algú que va molt carregat amb bosses o fardells o qualsevol altre tipus d’objectes, li fem aquesta pregunta, en to jocós, com si la persona haguera pres tot això d’algun magatzem o botiga, d’estranquis, sense permís del vertader propietari d’aquests objectes. L’expressió és, en el fons, una manera de mostrar la nostra sorpresa.

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When we see somebody loaded down with bags of shopping or any other objects to carry, we ask him / her this question as a joke, as if this person had stolen these objects from a store, without permission from the real owner. The expression is just a way to show our surprise.

Do as others do is not a sin

2010-10-04T21:50:00.002+02:00

Val. «Fer com fan no és pecat»

Es refereix a fer alguna cosa perquè ho fan els altres, encara que estiga malament des d’un punt de vista moral. La persona diria aquesta frase per justificar-se davant els altres, per convéncer-se a si mateix que no ha de sentir-se culpable del que està fent o el que està a punt de fer, tan sols perquè hi ha més gent que actua com ell.

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This sentence would be said by somebody who is doing something he or she knows is not fair (something wrong from a moral perspective) and tries to excuse himself before the others saying that there is plenty of people doing it.

Quite a few things are boiling!

2010-10-03T21:52:00.002+02:00

Val. «N’hi ha, de bullit!»

Aquesta és una exclamació amb què es mostra la sorpresa davant l’estat d’agitació que hi ha en un lloc o davant una situació confusa, problemàtica, difícil de resoldre, que ha estat causada per diversos factors que serien llargs d’explicar i d’ordenar: igual que els ingredients d’un bullit es belluguen sense control en l’aigua bullent. La persona que verbalitza l’expressió no sol estar implicada en el problema i, fins i tot, el fet que diga aquesta expressió indica que no vol tindre-hi res a veure ni tractar de solucionar-lo.

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This is an exclamation to show surprise and astonishment when one witnesses a fuss or a problematic situation whose causes are unclear or difficult to determine, also when there is a bit of chaos going on (just like vegetables stir boiling in a stew) and the problem is going to be difficult to get sorted out. Normally, one says this expression when he or she is out of the problem and is not going to get involved under any circumstances.

The sea: look at it but don’t get in

2010-09-24T22:11:00.006+02:00

Val. «La mar, vore-la i no entrar»

Aquesta és una frase típica marinera. És, per als que es guanyen la vida pescant, una mena de lament. Per als que viuen en terra ferma, en canvi, és un consell que ens diu: «si no saps nadar bé, millor no entres a l’aigua». S’hi concep la mar com un element de la natura perillós, que d’un coll de mar et pot ofegar.

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This is a typical sailor’s saying. It is a kind of regret for those who make a living at fishing. For those who live on shore, though, it’s a piece of advice which says: ‘If you don’t know how to swim properly, better don’t get in the water’. The sea is conceived as dangerous natural element, something that might kill you with a deadly wave.

To eat by round bite

2010-08-14T16:44:00.005+02:00

Val. «Menjar a mos redó»

Significa menjar omplint completament la boca amb menjar, o mossegant amb èmfasi. D'aquí la paraula «redó», que fa referència gràfica a la marca del mos que queda a l'aliment. Una expressió similar és «menjar com un descosit».

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It means to eat filling the mouth completely with food, by means of emphatic bites. The word redó ('round') graphically refers to the mark of the bite left in the food. Another similar expressions is «eat like an unstitched».

Those who come and go to the grocer’s, support two houses

2010-05-11T21:48:00.005+02:00

Val. «Qui a la botigueta va i ve, dos cases manté»

Significa que els qui van sovint a comprar a la menuda arriben a gastar-se el doble de diners. I és que és molt més barat fer tot d’una la compra de la setmana en un mercat (o en un súper o hipermercat) que no pas comprar el que necessitem en cada moment, de manera improvisada, a la petita botiga de comestibles del barri. Aquesta, encara que la tinguem més a mà i més prop de casa, sol vendre els seus productes molt més cars.

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It means that people who only buy at the grocery store end up spending more money than necessary. It is much cheaper to go to the Town Market or to a supermarket once a week to do the shopping of the week rather than buying a product in the nearest grocer’s each time you need something. The latter are more at hand but their products are much more expensive.

If you see a man laden with bags, don’t need to ask if he’s married.

2010-04-17T12:39:00.006+02:00

Val. «Si veus un home carregat, no preguntes si és casat»

This expression agrees with the idea that any husband is an henpecked husband, that is, a man who does everything his wife asks him to do.

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Aquesta expressió combrega amb la idea que tots els marits són uns sinagües, és a dir, que es deixen governar per les seues mullers.

One, two three, belly, arse and anus

2010-02-07T20:50:00.008+01:00

Val. «Un, dos, tres, panxa cul i ses»

This is just a funny rhyme to count to three.

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Aquesta és només una rima vulgar i popular per comptar fins a tres.

To those who have not job, the Devil gives them some

2010-01-15T11:48:00.019+01:00

Val. «Qui no té faena, el dimoni li'n dona»

It's said about the people who, being idle, spend their time in pernicious activities.

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Es diu de la gent qui, estant ociosa, malbarata el seu temps en activitats pernicioses.

Example:

―Mike says that he's bored, because he has lost his job, and now he's always at home playing videogames and getting stoned.

―To those who have not job, the Devil gives them some.

Exemple:

―Miquel diu que està avorrit, perquè s'ha quedat sense el seu treball, i ara no fa més que jugar a videojocs i estar fumat.

―Qui no té faena, el dimoni li'n dona.

To get into bed through the same hole

2010-01-08T12:51:00.009+01:00

Val. «Ficar-se en el llit pel mateix forat»

This is an alternative way of saying that a person never does his bed. It suggests the image of a person who gets each night into bed slipping through the same space between sheets and mattress that he left the night before.

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Se sol dir açò de la persona que no es fa mai el llit i que, cada nit, s’hi introdueix pel mateix espai entre els llençols i el matalàs que havia deixat la nit anterior.

Example:

Haven’t you done your bed yet? You’ll get into it through the same hole, as I’m not doing it for you.

Exemple:

Encara no t’has fet el llit? Doncs et ficaràs pel mateix forat, que jo no te’l pense fer.

«To have a horse’s pulling and a donkey’s stop»

2009-12-30T14:23:00.007+01:00

Val. «Tenir arrancada de cavall i parada de burro»

It is said of any project or activity which is undertaken with great vigor and energy, but soon the activity is suddenly ceased.

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Es diu quan qualsevol activitat o empresa comença amb gran empenta i ímpetu, però prompte recula, perd el coratge o l’activitat cessa.

Example:

The town council promised that, instead of making alterations to the library, they would build a brand new one. But... they had a horse’s pulling and a donkey’s stop: the building works stopped and the library is half-finished.

Exemple:

L’ajuntament va prometre que, en comptes de reformar la biblioteca, en construirien una nova de trinca, però... arrancada de cavall i parada de burro: les obres estan a mitjan fer.

In Valencian, you can also say:

«Tenir arrancada de cavall i parada de matxo»
«Tenir arrancada de cavall i parada de somera»

Those who do what they can are not required to do more*

2009-12-25T17:22:00.004+01:00

Val. «Qui fa el que pot no està obligat a més»

This saying means that when a person does his best it is not reasonable to ask more of him. There is no point in criticizing him or asking him for the impossible.

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Aquest refrany significa que quan algú fa tot el és capaç per ajudar en la resolució d’un problema o per col·laborar en qualsevol empresa, no és raonable exigir-li que faça més coses, demanar-li un impossible.

*Also «If a man does his best, what else is there?»

«Black pantyhoses, white pantyhoses, I bet you a duro you don’t catch me»

2009-12-13T18:02:00.006+01:00

Val. «Calces negres, calces blanques, m’ajugue un duro que no m’alcances»

There is a Valencian children’s game in which a child (who plays the role of the “victim”) has to approach a cemetery gate and recite this rhyme loudly while showing his back to the cemetery. The sentence is a type of invocation to challenge the spirits of the place. If the child is able to say the whole sentence without being defeated by fear, then he passes the test, as he has proved he is a brave child. When he finishes, anyway, he would normally run out, just in case spirits get angry!

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Aquesta rima prové d’un joc infantil valencià en què un xiquet, que fa de víctima, ha d’acostar-se de nit a la porta d’un cementeri i recitar aquesta rima d’esquenes a la reixa de la porta. La frase és una espècie d’invocació o conjur per desafiar els esperits, i aconseguir dir-la sencera sense ser vençut per la por és la prova de la valentia del jugador. De totes maneres, normalment, una vegada ha dit la frase, el xiquet arranca a córrer i s’allunya del cementeri, per si de cas!

Variations:

«Calces negres, calces blanques, a l’acuit que no m’alcances»
«Calces negres, calces blanques, a la quit que no m’alcances»
«Calces negres, calces blanques, a la cuit que no m’alcances»

Linguistic clarifications:

1) A duro is a five-peseta coin. Peseta was the Spanish currency during 19th and 20th centuries, before euro came.

2) The verb ‘alcançar’ is considered an adaptation of the Spanish word ‘alcanzar’ and therefore no correct in Catalan, though it is widely used in colloquial language. The correct word would be ‘agarrar’ (m’agarres), ‘agafar’ (m’agafes), or ‘atrapar’ (m’atrapes).

3) The verb ‘ajugar-se’ is a dialectal form in Valencian which means ‘to bet’. The correct form in Catalan is ‘jugar-se’, or ‘apostar-se’.

4) «Jugar a l’acuit» is a playground game which means, depending on the region, to play hide-and-seek or to play tag.

I cross myself

2009-12-12T15:14:00.006+01:00

Val. «Me’n faig creus»

‘Fer-se creus’ means to be astonished. Thus, you say ‘Me’n faig creus’ when you can’t believe something unusual that somebody has just told you, or something extraordinary that has just happened. The origin of the expression is obviously christian: in our culture, you make the sign of the cross when you are astonished or when you want to ask God for protection.

When we tell her what has happened, she’ll cross herself

I can’t believe my eyes! I cross myself!

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«Fer-se creus» significa admirar-se, estranyar-se, davant quelcom d'insòlit, d'extraordinari, d'increïble. L’origen de l’expressió és, òbviament, cristià: en la nostra cultura, hom se senya per mostrar respecte a Déu o per demanar-li protecció quan passa una cosa inesperada.

Quan li direm el que ha passat, se’n farà creus

No m’ho puc creure, me’n faig creus!

«The flea is the true devil, a tiny animal that sleeps with young women... And I, being single, am not allowed to do the same!»

2009-12-03T22:26:00.004+01:00

Val. «El dimoni són les puces, animal tan remenut, que dormen amb les fadrines, i jo que sóc fadrí no puc!»

This is just a funny rhyme that expresses the frustration of a boy in full sexual effervescence that, for some reason, does not fulfill his sexual desire with any woman.

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Aquesta rima expressa la frustració d'un xicon en plena efervescència sexual, que, per algun motiu, no satisfà amb cap dona el seu desig sexual.

«Wet streets, dry cash register»

2009-09-30T23:41:00.009+02:00

Val. «Carrer banyat, calaix eixut»

It doesn’t rain a lot in the Valencian Country and sometimes when it does showers are so heavy that people don’t go out the streets and prefer to stay at home. That is why rainy days are damaging for shopkeepers and bar owners. They temporarily run out of customers and profits.

Linguistic clarifications:

The metaphor of estar sec (‘to be dry’) has the same meaning of the English ‘to be skint’, ‘busted’, or ‘broke’, that is, to have no money. Calaix literally means ‘drawer’ but in this context one must infer that it means the ‘drawer’ where a storekeeper keeps the money.

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No plou gaire al País Valencià, i quan plou els ruixats de vegades són tan forts que la gent prefereix quedar-se a casa. Per això els dies de pluja són tan perjudicials per a botiguers i amos de qualsevol establiment o negoci. Es queden sense clients, i per tant, sense els beneficis del dia. Aquesta expressió explica de manera senzilla i concisa aquesta relació causa-conseqüència.

Women! Soft spicy sausages hanging from the ceiling!

2009-06-23T09:52:00.007+02:00

Val. «Dones! Sobrassades penjades del sostre!»

This expression original from the Balearic islands means that one prefers sausages rather than women. Obviously it's a sign of frustration after a failed love affair.

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Aquesta expressió pròpia de les Illes Balears significa que hom prefereix una salsitxa de sobrassada a les dones. Òbviament, açò és un indici de la frustració després d'una relació amorosa fallida...

To raise neither dust nor whirlpool

2009-02-05T15:52:00.008+01:00

Val. «No alçar ni pols ni remolí»

This expression is used for showing when someone acts with discretion or when something happens without being noticed, and if noticed, it is understood as irrelevant.

Its metaphorical value can be inferred from its literal meaning, as something that happens without raising dust —something invisible, not awkward— usually goes unnoticed.

Eg. The publication of Torrent’s last novel has not raised dust or whirlpool in the media

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Aquesta expressió s’utilitza per a fer notar la discreció d'alguna persona o la falta de trascendència o rellevància d’un fet.

El valor metafòric de l’expressió es dedueix de la imatge literal que suggereix, çò és, que allò que ocorre sense alçar pols —sense ser visible o molest— sol passar desapercebut.

Ex. La publicació de l’última novel·la de Torrent no ha alçat ni pols ni remolí als mitjans de comunicació

The rope goes where the bucket is

2009-01-25T23:24:00.005+01:00

Val. «On va la corda va el poal»*

It is usually said when two people are always together. They may be two close friends or a couple. Generally the expression is used to mean that there exists a certain co-dependency between two people or two things. The metaphor of a bucket tied by a rope is helpful to understand the meaning of this expression, as these two objects must be together in order to take water out of a well.

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Se sol dir quan dues persones van sempre juntes, per exemple dos bons amics o una parella. En general, l’expressió s’aplica a persones o coses entre les quals hi ha una certa relació de dependència. Hom fa servir la metàfora del poal que trau aigua d’un pou amb l’ajut d’una corda, ja que els dos objectes han d’estar, per força, units per tal de dur a terme aquesta tasca.

Ex 1. Mira’ls, allà van aquells dos altra volta, on va la corda va el poal!

E.g. 1 Look at those two, hanging out together again. Certainly, the rope goes where the bucket is!

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Ex. Hi ha crisi als EEUU, i Europa en recessió. I és que on va la corda va el poal!

E.g. Crisis sweeps through US economy, and Europe goes in recession. The rope goes where the bucket is!

*Also «Ser la corda i el poal» (To be the rope and the bucket)

To be freezing like a chick

2009-01-12T23:31:00.005+01:00

Val. «Estar gelat com un poll»

Aquesta és una de les expressions més utilitzades en valencià quan una persona té molt de fred. L’expressió prové, probablement, del fet que els pollets pateixen molt de fred abans d’esdevenir adults, a causa de la falta de plomatge. Sorprenentment, arran de les nostres darreres investigacions, hem descobert que alguns angloparlants s’han trobat a si mateixos fent servir aquesta expressió en la seua llengua materna. És que potser s’estan valencianitzant? Estem regalant manlleus paremiològics als anglòfons? Al davall trobareu algunes proves que donen suport a aquesta teoria.
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This is one of the most usual expressions in Valencian to mean that the weather is very cold. Its origin probably comes from the fact that baby chicks suffer from cold in their early days of life, due to their lack plumage. Surprisingly, our last research works have brought to light that some English speakers are surprised to find themselves using this expression in their own language. Are they Valencianizing themselves? Is English adapting expressions from Valencian? Hereunder you’ll find some pieces of evidence:

Evidence 1:
Some people are just incredibly gifted at coming up with sayings that are unique, expressive and often, hilarious. [...] One of my best friends often passes on funny things she’s heard. Recently, she was waiting in a queue for something. [...] A woman in front of her was waffling away on cell phone, and going to into detail about the cold weather and how she was ‘freezing like a chicken’. Since then, ‘freezing like a chicken’ has become somewhat of an insider joke within our friendship circle. At first glance, ‘freezing like a chicken’ makes absolutely no sense, and is a poorly-constructed metaphor, and yet we all know exactly what it means. I feel cold just thinking about it.

Evidence 2:
“I’m freezing like a chicken”. That is what Seth proclaimed the other evening as he got out of the bath tub. I'm not sure I know why a chicken is a freezing animal. But it sounded funny as heck.

Ex. Quin fred que fa ací fora, m'he quedat gelat com un poll!

E.g. It's damned cold out there, I'm freezing like a chick!

Nose and compass are two of a kind

2008-12-22T02:24:00.004+01:00

Val. «Segons el nas, el compàs»

Penis size is often believed to be related to the size of the nose. This expression shows how Valencian people bear in mind one of the most popular myths about the male organ of copulation.

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Un mite molt estés arreu del món és que la mida de l’òrgan masculí erèctil està estretament relacionada amb la del nas. L’ús d’aquesta expressió fa palesa aquesta creença popular.

Linguistic clarifications:

The word "compass(es)" (compàs, in Valencian) in this context is an euphemism for ‘penis’. Another words referring penis in this language are piu ("peg", "pin" or "bolt"), pardal ("bird"), xufa ("tiger nut"), tita ("turkey hen"), cigala ("crayfish"), etc.

To have one’s first ears

2008-12-12T19:06:00.001+01:00

Val. «Tindre les primeres orelles»

It means to be very young. You may use this expression as a reply when somebody tries to make you believe that he is younger than he really is. When it's your turn to talk, you may tell him: Yes, you are so young, you still have your first ears! This would be a subtle way to mean that you don’t believe him.

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Vol dir ser molt jove. Aquesta expressió es pot utilitzar, per exemple, com a constestació a algú que, pels seus comentaris, tracta de destacar la seua joventut o de fer veure que és més jove del que realment és. L’altre li pot contestar irònicament:

Tu, sí, tens encara les primeres orelles!

Saint Anthony fell in love with a pig

2008-10-30T00:08:00.007+01:00

Val. «Sant Antoni s’enamorà d’un porc...»

This expression means that love is blind. It is said when a person we know is going out with an ugly person. Normally these news are the talk of the town. We nosy parkers, in order to forgive the relationship, as a kind of consent and approval (even though that’s non of our business) take Saint Anthony’s case as an example: He was accompanied all his life by a pig that wanted to show gratitude to the saint, as it has been cured by him. So it is not that bad that the person is not very good-looking if his/her partner is really in love. Anyway, note the mockery implied on this saying, the comparison with a pig...

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Aquesta expressió vol dir que l'amor és cec. Es diu quan una persona coneguda manté una relació sentimental amb algú molt lleig/lletja. La dita pretén ser una manera de disculpar aquest fet, de llevar importància a l’assumpte, tot i que, evidenment, no deixa de tindre un to de burla. La comparança amb l’animal ve del fet que Sant Antoni Abat era un gran amic dels animals i, quan en veia un de ferit, el guaria. Així ho va fer amb un porquet, que, per mostrar-li el seu agraïment, va decidir acompanyar-lo la resta de la seua vida. És per això que popularment se l'anomena Sant Antoni del Porquet.

More info about Sant Antoni del Porquet

Curiositat: Els italians també utilitzen aquesta expressió, sembla que volent dir “mai no digues mai”, que tot és possible, fins i tot l’afer de Sant Antoni amb el porquet!

Make the hand

2008-09-25T13:25:00.007+02:00

Val. «Fer la mà»

This vulgar expression means to masturbate, to wank off, when talking about men. Another expression very usual in Valencian comes from this: ‘Anar a fer la mà’ (To go and make the hand), used in the imperative form ―Vés a fer la mà― is a vulgar expression of disapproval and annoyance, similar to the English expressions ‘Go and jump in a lake’, or ‘Go to hell’. Then, you send somebody to make the hand when you are fed up with him/her. Of course, the degree of seriousness of the sentence depends on the tone of your voice, as many other expressions and interjections, for instance Xe.

On its turn, the set-phrase ‘a fer la mà’ can be used in an enormous variety of contexts (all of them colloquial or vulgar), having diferents shades of meaning. Hereunder you have some of the most used, with examples:

1) Eixe poble està a fer la mà - That village is miles away (= a long distance)

2) Va vindre la policia, i la festa se n’anà a fer la mà - The police came, so the party went up the creek (= end up in failure or disaster)

3) Pots deixar de fer la mà amb la piloteta? – Could you stop bothering with that little ball? (= horse around, bother)

4) Haver de llegir l’obra completa de Josep Pla en una setmana és un fer la mà – It is a tough task to read the complete works of Josep Pla in a week (= a harsh, tough activity)

5) A fer la mà el teu examen de trompeta, vull dormir! - To hell with your trumpet exam, I want to sleep!

To have a tinned mouth

2008-09-21T21:31:00.008+02:00

Val. «Tindre la boca llandada*»

It is said of people that are able to eat a very hot meal without apparently feeling its heat. This expression means that they have no sensitivity in their tongues, as if these were not made out of human flesh. It is usually said of people who have the bad habit of devouring instead of savouring the food.

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Es diu de la persona que sembla que no tinga sensibilitat en la boca, que menja sense que aparentment li afecte l’excessiva escalfor o gelor de la vianda en qüestió. Se sol dir de qui té el costum de menjar massa ràpid, sense assaborir el menjar.

Example:

Val. Alena no et cremes! Per l’amor de Déu, tens la boca llandà!

Eng. Stop to breath, please, you’re gonna get scalded! For God’s sake, you have a tinned mouth!

* pronounced /llandà/ in spontaneous speech

Her fig is clapping her hands

2008-09-20T12:23:00.008+02:00

Val. «La figa li fa palmes»

This comment is said to remark that a girl or a woman is getting aroused. It is especially used when somebody notices that a woman feels attracted to a guy (or a girl). This can be deduced from her behaviour or from a gossip.

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Aquest comentari se sol fer quan hom nota que una xica se sent atreta per algú, que algú la posa calenta. Açò es pot deduir pel seu comportament, pel xafardeig que ens ha contat un altri, etcètera.

Linguistic clarifications:

1) Remember that the word ‘fig’ in Catalan is synonym for ‘cunt’ (woman vagina). Obviously, a vagina doesn’t have any ‘hands’ to clap with, but still, for sure you can guess the metaphor of a vagina applauding.

2) Even though nowadays the word ‘palmell’ and the expression ‘picar de mans’ is preferred to mean ‘clap one’s hands’, the archaic word ‘palma’ is still widely used in Valencian, as well as set-phrases like ‘tocar les palmes’ o ‘batre les palmes’.

Does your mother make a hole when she is pissing?

2008-09-20T11:53:00.003+02:00

Val. «Ta mare quan pixa fa clotet?»

This rethorical question is made when one begins to be upset and disturbed by somebody’s comments that are making fun of him and meddling in his private life, when a joke is lasting for too long and one becomes to be annoyed. Then he/she makes this harsh comment in order to restore seriousness.

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Aquesta ‘pregunta retòrica’ es formula quan una persona comença a molestar-se pels comentaris d’altri que es burla d’ell, quan la persona troba que ja n’hi ha prou de bromes, que s'estan ficant en la seua vida privada i ja s’ha d’acabar la befa. Aleshores fa aquest comentari tallant per tal de restablir la serietat.

Whisperings in the group are not good manners

2008-09-16T11:42:00.012+02:00

Val. «Escoltetes en reunió són de mala educació»

It means that it is bad manners to whisper at somebody’s ear, and people around you realise that you have something to hide, that maybe you are speaking badly of them.

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Vol dir que és de mala educació xiuxiuejar a l’orella d'un altre quan hi ha més gent davant, perquè ells se n’adonaran i pensaran que tens alguna cosa a amagar o que estàs parlant malament d’ells o criticant-los.

By Saint John’s day, ripe or unripe, figs for sure!

2008-09-14T13:15:00.010+02:00

Val. «Per Sant Joan bacores, verdes o madures, bacores segures!»

This saying reminds us that figs start making a showing at the beginning of the summer, by Saint John’s day, that is, June 23th.

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Aquest refrany ens recorda que comencen a haver-hi bacores al començ de l’estiu, pel dia de Sant Joan, el vint-i-tres de juny.

To be sown

2008-09-14T12:19:00.009+02:00

Val. «Estar sembrat»

It is said when a person is, for some reason, very happy, and he/she expresses his joy actively. One notices that he is inspired, surprising, fun, he livens up the conversation, telling jokes, etc.

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Es diu quan una persona està contenta per alguna cosa i es torna extravertida, expressa la seua alegria de manera activa. Hom nota que està inspirada, sorprenent, divertida, aporta vida a la conversa, potser contant acudits, etcètera.

Those who don't run any risks will never catch a fish

2008-07-23T00:02:00.008+02:00

Val. «Qui no s’arrisca no pisca»

It means that when you want to achieve a purpose, to get something you really want, you must make an effort to get it. You must not be afraid of the consequences or possible risks that your actions might imply.

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Vol dir que quan algú vol assolir algun objectiu, aconseguir alguna cosa, cal que s’esforce de valent i que treballe per aconseguir-ho, sense tindre por de les conseqüències o dels possibles riscs.

Example / Exemple:

Val. Li agrada molt eixa xica però no s’atreveix a proposar-li una cita. Jo sempre li dic que qui no s’arrisca no pisca.

Eng. He feels attracted to her but he is too shy to ask her out. I always tell him that those who don’t run any risks will never catch a fish.

Let's have a good sight, figs in August!

2008-07-02T12:17:00.008+02:00

Val. «Bona vista vejam, figues en agost!»

We say this expression when someone sees a person that he/she had not seen from long ago, or when somebody is late in an appointment. The expression comes from the fact that figs ripen from Saint John's Eve (June 23), and the harvest can go on, at the most, until August or even September.

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Esta expressió es diu quan hom veu una persona que fa molt de temps que no veu, o quan algú arriba tard. L'expressió prové del fet que les figues maduren a partir de Sant Joan (23 de juny) i la collita pot allargar-se, pel cap alt, fins a l'agost o al setembre.

To speak in Ocho

2008-05-09T12:53:00.005+02:00

Val. «Parlar en ocho*»

It is a mocking way to say 'speaking Spanish'.

E.g. Long ago in my village everybody spoke Valencian, now most of the people speak in ocho.

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És una manera burlesca de dir «parlar en castellà»

Ex. Abans al meu poble tot el món parlava valencià, ara quasi tots parlen en ocho.

Linguistic clarifications:

*Ocho is the number eight in Spanish.

To have a lid for every little casserole

2008-03-24T23:54:00.008+01:00

Val. «Tindre tapadora per a tots els perolets»

It is said when somebody has an answer for every question or when somebody has always something to say with regard to a subject in a conversation. It is used for people who have a strong personality and who speak with an eloquent tone.

Example:

No matter how long you try to convince him, he has a lid for every little casserole

Ja pots intentar convéncer-lo, que ell sempre té tapadora per a tots els perolets.

Linguistic clarifications: 1) As in many words in Valencian, the /d/ in tapadora normally drops in spontaneous speech, so it is pronounced tapaora. 2) perolet is the diminutive form of perol (= casserole/pot). Diminutive forms are highly used in Valencian.

To be cleaner than a horse mackerel

2008-03-22T12:07:00.008+01:00

Val. «Estar més net que un sorell»

It means 'to be skint'. It can be applied to a person or to a wallet. 'To be clean' means to have no money. The comparison with a horse mackerel comes from the fact that it is a small fish and you cannot get much from it.

To talk for not keeping quiet

2008-03-14T15:39:00.003+01:00

Val. «Parlar per no callar»

That expression can be used for reject an statement of other people.

ex.

- Diuen que si guanyen les eleccions frenaran el canvi climàtic.

- Saps que pense jo?... Que això és parlar per no callar!

(- They say that, if they win the elections, they'll stop the climatic change.

- You know what I think?... That's to talk for not keeping quiet!)

Those who keep when there’s still some will eat whenever they want to

2008-03-13T19:38:00.007+01:00

Val. «Qui guarda quan té menja quan vol»

It expresses the conservative nature of Valencians with regard to money and food. Particularly, this idea might come from previous times when Valencians had to get through lean periods. (wars and postwar periods, etc)

As usual, there are many variants from this expression. Some time ago I heard this one:

«Qui dóna el que té no menja quan vol»

(Those who give what they have will not eat whenever they want)

Example: A grandma kindly offers a guest a bit more of a dish she had cooked; as he rejects it she feels slighted so she answers with this refrain, as if meaning 'that suits me better, I'll have more food for me'.

To have one's bollocks peeled (out of doing something)

2008-02-01T12:39:00.001+01:00

Val. «Tindre els collons pelats (de fer alguna cosa)»

There are in Valencian a lot of colloquial (often rude) expressions with the word collons (bollocks). Possibilities and differences of meaning are endless, depending on how we use it: with or without the diminutive form, with one preposition or another... Here, you got an interesting study on it.

In this context, To have one’s bollocks peeled (out of doing something) means you got a lot of experience carrying out a job, task or activity.

E.g.

- Eixe professor té els collons pelats de fer classe d’anglés

- The teacher has his bollocks peeled out of teaching English (he’s been teaching for years)

Am I speaking or a coach is passing by?

2008-01-27T00:07:00.000+01:00

Val. «Parle jo, o passa un carro?»

It's an advice for reclaiming people's attention when there's something to say and no one is listening.

To be worse than a pain

2008-01-27T00:05:00.002+01:00

Val. «Ser més mal que un dolor»

(explicit meaning)

To do and undo, the task of the mattress repairer

2008-01-15T20:31:00.001+01:00

Val. «Fer i desfer, la faena del matalafer»

You say this expression when some task has to be set again from the beginning, and also when somebody changes a plan which was already drawn up, you say this as a comment with a slight tone of complaint. The expression mentions the job of the mattress repairer: long ago in Valencian country people did not buy a new mattress when the old one was used up, as we do nowadays. At that time they called the mattress repairer who took the mattress, opened the cover and gave it shape again by beating the material of the inside (for example, wool) with a stick.

Every day is Tuesday for wretched people

2008-01-10T21:38:00.001+01:00

Val. «Per als desgraciats tots els dies són dimarts»

You may use this expression when an unfortunate person has just suffered an accident or a regrettable tragedy which makes him even more wretched than he was, so that it seems that he is doomed to fall into disgrace again and again. Take into account that Tuesday is a symbolical day of bad omen in our culture. That is the reason why people avoid to marry or to baptise children this day of the week.

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Aquesta expressió sol utilitzar-se quan una persona desgraciada (ja siga pobra, que haja perdut diversos familiars, etcètera) ha patit alguna desgràcia puntual que la fa trobar-se en una situació encara pitjor que en la que estava, de manera que ens sembla que està destinat a sofrir tota sa vida. Tingueu en compte que dimarts és tradicionalment un dia de mal averany en la nostra cultura. Per això hom evita de casar-se o de batejar els xiquets en aquest dia de la setmana.

To take out fire from your molars

2008-01-06T12:15:00.002+01:00

Val. «Treure foc pels queixals»

It's said when someone gets angry; and also it's suitable for expressing acute pain.

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Es diu quan algú s'emprenya molt, o quan algú pateix un dolor molt fort.

Don't stop at the turret

2007-12-25T12:28:00.001+01:00

Val. «No parar en torreta»

It is said of a very active and restless person or one who likes going out or traveling.
E.g.

A – I’ve been four nights going out and I haven’t unpacked my luggage yet from my last travel.
B – Oh my God, you don’t stop at the turret!

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Es diu d’una persona molt activa, inquieta, que li agrada molt eixir de casa o viatjar. Exemple:

A – Porte quatre nits eixint i encara no he desfet la maleta de l'últim viatge
B – Mare de Déu, no pares en torreta!

On fridays, tender beans; on thursdays, beans with eggs

2007-10-22T17:15:00.007+02:00

Val. «Divendres, faves tendres; Dijous, faves amb ous»

This expression is used as a rhyme with no moral lesson implied. It refers to the food you are supposed to eat on thursdays and fridays.

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Aquesta és una rima sense cap implicació moral. Es refereix al que s’hauria de menjar els dijous i els divendres.

That is blowing and making bottles

2007-10-22T11:48:00.004+02:00

Val. «Això és bufar i fer ampolles»

We use this expression when we try to encourage somebody to do something or when we mean that something we did was very easy. It basically means "that's very easy to do".

Real English equivalent expression: That's as easy as a pie
Spanish equivalent expression: Coser y cantar

That is as true as if you ate pears and you shit them in one piece

2007-10-21T20:44:00.003+02:00

Val. «És de veres com si menjares peres i les cagares senceres»

When somebody is sceptic about what other has just said and makes a comment or gestures showing his mistrust, it is common to remark that the previous affirmation is true by making this reply which makes a funny rhyme in Valencian.

Exemple:
A: Saps què? La Xaro s'ha posat mamelles
B: Què dius! Jo la viu l'altre dia i estava igual, com una taula de planxar. Això que dius és de veres?
A: Com si menjares peres i les cagares senceres

To catch the ship

2007-10-09T11:40:00.001+02:00

Passatgers embarcant al Titanic

Val. «Agarrar el barco*»

Supose que antigament no era tan senzill ni tan segur embarcar-se en un viatge amb vaixell. El trajecte amagava molts riscos i hom mai no sabia si tornaria a casa sa i estalvi. Per això —perquè agafar un vaixell era una empresa molt més seriosa i complicada que hui en dia― l’expressió «agarrar el barco» es va convertir en un eufemisme de «morir».

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In the old days it was not so easy and safe to embark on a voyage. There were many risks implied and you could never know if you were ever going to come back home. Thus, catching a passenger ship on a long voyage meant something much more serious than nowadays. Maybe because of this, the expression Agarrar el barco became an euphemism for ‘dying’.

Exemple: No fumes tant o prompte agarraràs el barco

E.g. Don’t smoke so much or you’ll catch the ship very soon

Linguistic clarifications:

* Barco is a Spanish barbarism which has been introduced very successfully in all the territorial scope of Catalan language. However the standard words vaixell or nau are more advisable.

To the table and bed, at the first shout*

2007-10-08T11:48:00.004+02:00

Val. «A la taula i al llit al primer crit»

El menjar és per als valencians, a més d’una necessitat, un ritual i un plaer en tota regla. L’acte de reunir-se tots plegats al voltant d’una taula, tots delerosos per gaudir de l’àpat saborós i llargament esperat que els nostres majors han cuinat… això és molt important en les nostres vides. Especialment els diumenges o en les ocasions especials, u ha d’estar a taula a hora per tal que tots comencen a menjar alhora. Encara que semble paradoxal per als mediterranis, de vegades hem de respectar els horaris i ser puntuals en certes ocasions, com menjars familiars o la nostra cita personal amb el llit, per tal de descansar prou per afrontar el dur dia de treball que ens espera a l’endemà. Aquesta expressió representa tot això: el primer crit representa la primera volta que ta iaia et crida per anar a taula o quan ho fa perquè te’n vages a dormir.

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Meal is for Valencians not just a necessity, but every inch a ritual (and a pleasure). The act of gathering together around a table, with everyone eager to enjoy a long-prepared and tasty meal cooked by our elders is very important in our lives. Especially on Sundays or special occasions, one must be at table at the right time so that everyone starts eating at the same time. Even though it may seem paradoxical for Mediterranean people, sometimes we have to respect timetables and be punctual for certain meetings, as family meals or our personal appointment with our bed in order to rest enough to face the following working day. This expression stands for all this: the first shout stands for the first time your granny calls you to come to table or when it is time to go to bed.
Note: notice how llit (‘bed’) rhymes with crit (‘shout’).

Linguistic clarifications:

*The expression could also be 'To the table and bed, at the first call', but 'shout' preserves the way we call somebody, sometimes raising our voice more than necessary… In fact, in Valencian, both ‘to call somebody’ and ‘to shout at somebody’ can be expressed with the same verb: cridar.

To embitter more than the broom

2007-10-05T14:05:00.003+02:00

Val. «Amagar més que la retrama»

Just like the expression ‘To embitter more than the oleander' (Amargar més que el baladre), this expression is used when we mean that something is very embittering. By analogy, it can also be applied to a disagreeable person.

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Igual que l’expressió «Amargar més que el baladre», aquesta es diu quan alguna cosa amarga molt. Per analogia, també es pot aplicar a una persona desagradable, negativa i pessimista.

Linguistic clarifications:

Retrama (‘broom’ in English) is a plant having long slender branches and racemes of yellow flowers. The word retrama is used in Valencia and Eivissa as a synonym for the standard Catalan word ginesta.

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La retrama és un arbust de la família de les papilionàcies, amb tiges verdes semblants a joncs i poques fulles, de flors grogues i oloroses. Retrama és la paraula que s'utilitza a València i Eivissa, mentre que el mot estàndard és «ginesta».

To end up like the Dawn Rosary

2007-10-03T21:41:00.004+02:00

Val: «Acabar com el rosari de l’aurora»

The Dawn Rosary is a collective devotion carried out at dawn in which people say and sing the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary throughout the streets of a given town. One of the first signs of anticlericalism of 1868 was trying to spoil this practice. This fact gave rise to real pitched battles.
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El Rosari de l’aurora és una devoció practicada col·lectivament en què hom diu i canta el rosari pels carrers de la població a primera hora del matí. Un dels primers signes anticlericals de 1868 fou l’intent de desbaratar aquesta pràctica, cosa que va originar autèntiques batalles campals.

Exemple: «La festa acabà com el rosari de l'aurora, fins i tot la policia hi hagué d'intervenir»

E.g. «The party ended up like the Dawn Rosary: even the police had to intervene»

Font: Etimologies parèmiques

This is like shitting oneself and not wiping one's bottom

2007-10-02T21:22:00.001+02:00

Val. «Ser pa* cagar-se i no torcar-se»

When a situation is like "shitting oneself not wiping one's bottom", we mean that a given situation is extremely surprising and unexpected. We will see in the example that sometimes the expression involves a shade of gossip, as normally we use this expression when talking about some other's lives:

Example:

Valencian: "No saps encara el que li ha passat a Vicent? Atén-me, és pa cagar-se i no torcar-se"
English: "Don't you know yet what happened to Vicent? Listen, it's like shitting oneself and not wiping one's bottom"

Linguistic clarifications:

*pa is the colloquial contraction of the combination of prepositions per a, which can express purpose, usefulness, among other senses.

Synonym expressions: N'hi ha per a llogar-hi cadires

Go and knead clay

2007-10-02T21:14:00.001+02:00

Val. «Vés a pastar fang!»

When you send somebody to knead clay you are telling him/her rudely to go away from you. This is usually said when you are really angry. It can be said for example as a reply to a comment that you deem offensive.

That costs a Potosí

2007-10-01T00:29:00.001+02:00

Val. «Això val un Potosí»

Potosí is a city in Bolivia. It was a mining town which started to produce incredible wealth during the 16^th century and became a large city. Most of the silver that was brought to Spain from America came from there. Thus, "un Potosí" became synonymous with "a fortune". This is a Spanish expression -also used in Valencian- that you may still hear from Valencian elders when they mean that something costs lots of money.

E.g. 'Being well located as it is, that house must cost now a Potosí!'

Exemple: 'Tan ben situat com està, eixe pis ara ha de costar un Potosí!'

If you dream of being an earl and you are an unhappy day labourer, someday the owner of the house will come to collect the renting

2007-09-27T09:50:00.004+02:00

Val. «Si ensomnies que eres comte, i eres un trist jornaler, ja vindrà l'amo (de) la casa a cobrar-te l'alquiler*»

This saying is an example of Valencian realistic philosophy. At the same time, though, it is a pessimistic affirmation, as this saying expresses a kind of conformism and denial of abilities for improvements and progress. It is supposed to be used for bringing dreamers back to reality.

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Aquesta dita és un exemple de la filosofia realista valenciana. Al mateix temps, però, és una afirmació pessimista, puix expressa un tipus de conformisme, una negació de l'habilitat de millorar i progressar. Se suposa que es fa servir per fer tornar als somniadors a la dura realitat.

Linguistic clarifications:

1. Alquiler is an hispanicism. Standard word: lloguer

2. The form eres is used in Valencian both for the present and the past ('you were', 'you are'). However you may also find the exclusive present form ets ('you are')

To give excuses of bad payer

2007-09-21T14:48:00.003+02:00

Val. «Donar excuses de mal pagaor*»

It's used for criticizing persons who are always giving pretexts for his slovenliness.

Linguistic clarifications:

*standard 'pagador'. In Valencian Catalan we usually drop 'd' between vowels.

What goes forward, goes forward

2007-09-20T21:50:00.000+02:00

Val. «Lo* que va davant, va davant»

It is a system of determining priorities.

*standard el

"To go and suck an onion"

2007-09-19T18:44:00.000+02:00

Val. «Anar a mamar una ceba»

An onion is not like a tit: it doesn't give milk. You can say "Go and suck and onion", when you want someone out of your view.

Una ceba no és com una mamella: no dona llet. Pots dir "vés i mama una ceba" quan vols a algú fora de la teua vista.

"Shall we make fire, or run away?"

2007-09-19T18:41:00.003+02:00

Val. «Què fem? Foc i fugirem»

This is usually said as an answer to the question "What shall we do?". Maybe it is used because of its rhyme and alliteration.

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Se sol dir com a resposta a la pregunta «què fem?» («foc i fugirem»). Potser s'utilitza per la seua musicalitat.

To talk for not to keep quiet

2007-09-19T18:37:00.001+02:00

Val. «Parlar per no callar»

It's used when someone says in a bravely way something wished but impossible to do. The only purpose is to make believe himself and also those around him that it could be real It's also used just for laughs.

S'utilitza quan algú diu alguna cosa desitjada, de manera valenta, però impossible de realitzar, amb l'únic objectiu de fer creure a sí mateix i a l'auditori que podria ser de veres, o simplement per riure.

Those who mock others will be pricked by the devil

2007-09-11T21:55:00.011+02:00

Val. «A qui es burla, el dimoni li furga»

Este refrany ens recorda que qui es burle cruelment dels altres rebrà, tard o d'hora, el seu castic.

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It means that each ill-intentioned joke will always find its respective punishment.

From where there is nothing, you can't take out anything

2007-09-11T21:43:00.001+02:00

Val. «D'on no n'hi ha, no se'n pot treure»

This set phrase is a distilled fragment of wisdom that Valencian culture passes on to the whole humanity. This could work as The Universal Refrain, because it has an unique meaning and can be understood by every person, be him old, young, man, woman, educated or illiterate.

To arrive and kiss the saint

2007-09-10T14:22:00.002+02:00

Val. «Arribar i besar el sant»

It's a Mediterranean (therefore Valencian) tradition and habit to make collective processions to venerate Saints and martyrs. At the end of this processions it is habitual to kiss the Saint's feet or hands, looking for miraculous cures or health recoverings. Sometimes the congregation must walk many miles before they can kiss the saint.

With this phrase Valencians express astonishment when somebody solves a situation very quickly.

- I left my car in the garage and they have repaired it in just ten minutes; can you believe it?

- Oh! It's incredible: that's to arrive and kiss the saint!

To make more water than a monot

2007-09-10T13:58:00.001+02:00

Val. «Fer més aigua que un monot»

monot (val.): xarxa per a la pesca emprada pels pescadors del llac de l'Albufera de València.

monot (val.): fishing net used by fishermans on Albufera's lake (València).

This expression is a little bit complex because is based on another set phrase:

To make water

Val. «Fer aigua»

That means 'to be stupid' -you know: like you'd have a hole on your head and your brain is spilling down...-

[in Valencian verb 'to make' can be used as synonymous of 'to give off']

Then we combine this phrase (make water) with our special fishing net (monot) we have this curious phrase:

- You make more water [you're so stupid]...
...than a monot [because a net can hold no water, it works as the top metaphor of stupidity].

To be a manifesser

2007-09-09T23:40:00.001+02:00

Val. «Ser un manifesser»

manifesser: Valencian word for designate a person as clumsy (eng. syn.: butterfinger).

To be more annoyed than is Muhammad of the streaky bacon

2007-09-09T15:45:00.006+02:00

Val. «Estar més fart que Mahoma de la cansalà»

It's the top phrase for expressing fed up about something.

Its meaning is related with the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the restrictions that this religion imposes to its followers (prohibited foods include pig products, blood, carrion, and alcohol).

* standard: cansalada

To go straighter than the leafminer

2007-09-08T17:03:00.000+02:00

Val. «Anar més recte que el minaor»

The citrus leafminer* is a major pest of citrus. The larva digs galleries in the leaves, causing extensive damage to our orange trees.

*El minaor (standard: minador)

Those who cook bland food do it for everyone, those who cook salty do it for the cat

2007-09-08T16:31:00.002+02:00

Val. «Qui cuina dolç, cuina per a molts; qui cuina salat, cuina per al gat»

Some say that Mediterranean people (we Valencians are Mediterraneans) put much more salt than necessary in our dishes. This saying mentions this problem. It basically means that if your meal turns out a bit tasteless you can always add a bit of salt. It is advisable to add just a bit of it (specially if you have guests at home) so you don't take the risk of ruining the meal. However, if it turns out too salty, you can always let your cat eat it. We Valencians never throw the food away! :) *

*To express this we use to say: "Ací no es tira res!"

To be done an eccehomo

2007-09-06T15:18:00.004+02:00

Val. «Estar fet un eccehomo*»

It means 'to be hardly damaged and harmed'

Ecce homo (lat.): "Behold the Man" (Eng.) From the Latin translation of the Gospel of John (19:5), where Pilate speaks these words as he presents Jesus, crowned with thorns, to the crowd. Oscar Wilde opened his defense with this phrase when on trial for sodomy, characteristically using a well-known Biblical reference as a double entendre.

Ecce homo (lat.): "Heus aquí l'home" (cat.) paraules de Ponç Pilat en presentar Jesús després de ser flagel·lat i coronat amb espines. Tot junt (eccehomo) significa persona malferida, colpejada.

* Jo no conec cap persona que diga esta frase bé (en llatí). Tot el món diu 'axiòmo' 'aixiòmo' o coses raríssimes.

To be more jerk than the rough cane

2007-09-06T10:30:00.001+02:00

Val. «Ser més bord* que la canyota»

It's the maximum expression for describing someone's annoying behaviour.

* bord: annoying, rude, jerk. [see more definitions]

The play on words comes from the fact that in Valencian the word bord has 2 meanings: one is wild, like a wild plant, that is useless and annoying for the farmer. Thus, the sentence would be: To be wilder than a mass of reeds. The second meaning of the word bord is nasty or jerk, as when somebody gets stroppy. The expression is playing with the two meanings, as both (a wild plant and a nasty person) are unpleasant.

To crap in-flight

2007-09-06T10:20:00.001+02:00

Val. «Cagar al vol»

It's used for remark the lack of sense of an action.

Ex. "It's raining and you're watering your plants... you're crapping in-flight"

A pumpkin was given to me and it turned into a melon… I prefer a pumpkin to getting married with a whore

2007-09-05T23:45:00.005+02:00

Val. «Carabassa m’han donat i se m’ha tornat meló… més m’estime carabassa que casar-me amb un pendó»

Esta és una rima que s’utilitza després d’un fracàs sentimental, en concret quan un home ha sigut rebutjat per una xica. El xic diu esta frase per a consolar-se, perquè suposadament la xica no li convenia. La rima significa que prefereix estar solter abans que casar-se amb una dona de vida irregular i desordenada. La locució «donar carabasses» prové d’un costum rural en què el pretendent a casar-se amb una xica era convidat a dinar casa d’ella: si li oferien foc per al cigarro significava que la família acceptava el festeig; si se li servia un plat de carabassa, volia dir que el mosso no era ben rebut i se n’havia d’anar. Com ella era una mala influència, el fet d’haver estat rebutjat és més aïnes una cosa positiva: com un meló, que és una cosa dolça.

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This is a rhyme that men use to console themselves after a disappointment in love, specifically when a man has been rejected by a woman. Supposedly this woman isn’t right for him. The rhyme means that he prefers to stay single rather than get married with a partygoer or a whore. The idiom ‘to give pumpkins’ (meaning ‘to give the brush off’) comes from a rural custom: when a man wanted to marry a girl, he was invited to her house. If the family offered him a match to light his cigarette, it meant the family approved the relationship. However, if he was given a pumpkin, it meant he was not welcome and he had to leave. But as she was a bad person, the fact of being rejected turns out to be a positive thing: like a melon, which is sweet and tasty.

To be deafer than a ploughshare

2007-09-05T16:58:00.001+02:00

Val. «Estar més sord(/a) que una rella»

It's said when someone has difficulties for listen.

To leave as a sling

2007-09-05T13:59:00.006+02:00

Val. «Anar-se'n com una fona»

This expression means to go away very quickly, as in a rush. My grandmother told me this expression (which I had never heard before) when she saw my mum leaving home without saying goodbye: she was going on an errand and she was late.

'Sling': an instrument for throwing stones that usually consists of a short strap with strings fastened to its ends and is whirled round to discharge its missile by centrifugal force.

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Aquesta expressió significa anar-se’n de pressa, a corre-cuita. La meua iaia me la va dir (mai l’havia sentida abans) quan va veure ma mare havia eixir de casa molt ràpid, sense dir adéu, perquè tenia molta pressa: Se n'ha anat com una fona!

«Fona»: instrument per a tirar pedres que consisteix en una tira curta d'una matèria flexible, especialment cuir, on hom posa la pedra, unida en els seus extrems a dues trenes, normalment d'espart, cànem, etc. També es diu mandró o tirador.

I love you more than a good crap

2007-09-05T13:56:00.001+02:00

Val. "T'estime més que un bon cagar".

The legend says that an old King had 3 daughters. He asked them how much they loved him. The eldest answered "I love you more than all the gold in the world". The second one, "I love you more than all the silver". But the youngest said "Daddy, I love you more than a good crap". The King grew furious, and exiled her.

She had to live in a farm for two years. When they met again, his father grabbed her, and said: "Daughter, tell me how much you love me, because I haven't been able to go to the toilet since you left me (and it hurts)". He was too constipated (restret).

After the re-meeting, the King found an irrigation ditch, and crapped, and crapped, until he dried the ditch up. Since then, that irrigation ditch is known as "La sèquia del Bon Cagar" (The Good-Crapping ditch)

Ey, have a good time and crap a lot!

Uncle "Manyes" shall help you

2007-09-04T16:37:00.001+02:00

Val. "Que t'ajude el tio Manyes"

The uncle Manyes, in fact, doesn't exist. To achieve something, especially a physical activity, you have to do it on your own, using your own "manya", that is, your skills. This expression means that dexterity and skills are more useful than the use of brute force. It also implies that the person who tells you this saying is quite reluctant to help you. That is why he/she would tell you something like "Mr Yourself shall help you".

The legend says that a little boy had to carry some logs, and his father told him: "Keep walking and bring the logs, halfway there (a mitjan camí) the uncle Manyes will catch you and give you a hand". When the little boy arrived home, he was happy, because he had done it on his own... Meanwhile his father was drinking some cassalles in "El Segó" bar.

Cassalla: dry drink with a high alcohol content
segó = bran

It is better to indulge oneself than having a hundred tambourines

2007-09-04T16:33:00.003+02:00

Xiquet arrossegant panderos

Val. «Val més un gust que cent panderos»

Significa que tant se val el valor material d’alguna cosa, el preu que et puga costar, si tindre-la és realment el que desitjaves i el que et fa feliç. L’expressió fa referència al costum nadalenc, hui desaparegut, que consistia a arrossegar pel carrer pots de llanda o llautó lligats entre ells. Estos s’anomenaven «panderos» per la similitud del pot de llanda a l’instrument musical. Esta pràctica es feia per cridar l’atenció, fer soroll i armar festa. Els xiquets s’ho passaven d’allò més bé; d’ací que tindre cent panderos es considerara una cosa molt bona… però millor és satisfer un capritx personal que sempre has volgut.

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This saying means that if you like something, you shouldn’t worry about its price as long as it having it makes you happy. The expression comes from an old Christmas custom: children tied several cans with a string and dragged it through the streets as a long chain to make a big fuss. This cans were known as panderos (‘tambourines’) due to the similarity of the can to the instrument. Kids had great fun doing that. That is why having one hundred of these tambourines was considered a great thing… but not so great as to indulge oneself buying that thing you have always wanted.

If she is ugly but she wags it, good one! If she is fat but she does it well, great as well! If she is pretty but wants love, that's worse!

2007-09-04T16:30:00.001+02:00

Val. Si és lletja però la meneja, bona! Si està grossa però ho fa bé, també! Si està bona i vol amor, pitjor!

"That's a fair lesson, Sir "(Tota una lliçó, sí senyor)