Write it down on an ice bar

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Val.: «Apunta-ho en una barra de gel»

Si algú nos recorda que li devem diners i li contestem «apunta-ho en una barra de gel», volem dir que, ara per ara, no donem importància al deute, no pretenem recordar-nos-en i, per tant, no el saldarem.

A més de l’ús en eixa oració concreta, es diu en general que algú ha apuntat una cosa en una barra de gel quan ha desoït deliberadament un recordatori. No cal dir que un compromís per escrit en una barra de gel dura poc en un país càlid com el nostre.

Exemple 1:

«CCOO visitem regularment el [...] responsable de l’Àrea de Recursos Tècnics (RRTT), per a denunciar i plantejar tot tipus de temes (Contractació, Promoció, Formació, Salut Laboral...). Sistemàticament, ell pren nota dels temes pendents, escrivint-los en una barra de gel. Amb el temps, el gel es fon i, així, la majoria del que havia anotat cau en l’oblit».

Pàgina d’una secció sindical

Exemple 2:

«Guillem [...] té contracte de tres anys des de l’any passat, no volen que continue, però tampoc volen que els coste un duro el tirar-lo [...]. De manera que [...] allí igual dóna firmar un contracte de quatre anys, que en una barra de gel».

Del fòrum Valenciabasket.net

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If someone reminds you that you owe them money and you answer back Apunta-ho en una barra de gel (literally Apunta-ho ['Write it down'] en una ['on an'] barra de gel ['ice bar']), you mean that you play down the importance of the debt, you are not going to make an effort to remember it and, for the moment, you are not going to pay.

In general, people say that somebody has written down something on an ice bar when he has ignored a reminder. A commitment written on an ice bar lasts little in a hot country.

If it rains, we'll let it fall down

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Pluja torrencial en Tassos (Grècia)

Val.: «Si plou, la deixarem caure»

Solem dir esta frase humorística davant de la possibilitat que ploga; és una mostra de conformitat o acceptació en clau positiva de les vicissituds meteorològiques, que poden no ser desitjades —com ho és, a vegades, l’arribada de pluja—, però són inevitables: el ser humà no té el poder d’impedir que ploga.

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Si [If] plou [it rains], la deixarem [we’ll let her] caure [fall down]. This humorous statement is often said when it’s expected to rain. It is an example of resignation, in a positive way, of the vagaries of weather. They are inevitable: man can’t stop the rain.

To have one’s first ears

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Val. «Tindre encara les primeres orelles»

Significa no haver canviat, ser el mateix de sempre. Esta expressió es pot utilitzar, per exemple, quan algú intenta fer vore que és més jove del que realment és. Un altre li pot contestar irònicament: Tu, sí, tens encara les primeres orelles!

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It means to remain young. You may use this expression as a reply when somebody tries to make you believe that he is younger than he really is. 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.

Make the hand

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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!

Does your mother make a hole when she is pissing?

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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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Esta ‘pregunta retòrica’ es formula quan una persona comença a molestar-se pels comentaris d’un altre 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. Llavors fa eixe comentari tallant per a restablir la serietat.

To talk for not keeping quiet

Tweet 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!)

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

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

Quan algú fa cara que no s’acaba de creure un comentari que un altre ha fet o una història que algú ha contat, se sol tractar de convéncer-lo de que es tracta d’un fet cert amb esta contestació rimada.

Exemple dialogat:

—Saps què? La Xaro s'ha posat mamelles.

—Què dius! Jo la viu l’altre dia i estava com sempre, com una post de planxar. No pot ser de veres...

—És de veres, com si menjares peres i les cagares senceres.

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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.

Go and knead clay

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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.

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Enviar a algú a pastar fang és expulsar-lo de mala manera, amb paraules despectives o violentes.

"Shall we make fire, or run away?"

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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

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Val.: «Parlar per no callar»

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

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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.

Those who mock others will be pricked by the devil

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

Este refrany nos 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.

Uncle "Manyes" shall help you

Tweet 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

What a pod had hapenned to me!

Tweet Val. «Quina baina m'ha passat!»

It's a set phrase used to express astonishment.

In Valencia the word 'baina' (also beina) can be used as synonymous of 'bother'.

Other example of this used is:

He, uncle pod!

Val. «El tio baina!»

It's used to reproach somebody for something. Most of the time it also implies that the 'baina' person has acted cunningly, that he is a cheeky devil or that he has nerve to to something. Thus, this expression would be a mild reproach, and sometimes even a positive amazement.

We'll see... "that's what blindmen say"

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Val.: «Ja vorem... que diuen els cegos»

S'usa per a indicar desconfiança davant de promeses incertes.

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This sentence can be used as independent or as a set reply with comical effect. Its meaning, due to a synonimous effect, has a subtile interpretation. It must be understood this way:

Someone says: We'll see... [that's: maybe we all have an evidence of something at once]

And the reply is: ...that's said by blindmen. [in other words: All blindmen say "we will see at once"].

In any case this sentence is used for displaying mistrust about someone's (even oneselve's) affirmation.

Certainly, my dear

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Val. «Ausades, vida»

S’usa per a intensificar allò que es diu.

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It is used to agree with what the other person has just said, to emphasize that there can be no doubt about it.

Equivalent expressions in English: Indeed, certainly.