Spanish sayings/expressions P.4

Argentina is a very catholic country, therefore is shouldn’t come as a surprise that we use in a daily so many expressions with God or religious things in it, don’t you worry no one will scold you or tell you to not use the name of God in vain (The only way that can happen is if you come across a person obsessed with religion level 100) , we are so used to it that even people that are barely religious or not religious at all will use them.

Once again chances are some of these are used in other countries with slight changes here and there.

Dios dame paciencia porque si me das fuerza lo mato=God give me patience because if you give me strength I’ll kill him. The pronoun in this one can always be changed depending on who you are talking to. Is basically used when you want to let someone or a group of people know that you’re already losing or lost your patience with them. Mothers or at least mine loved to use this one because I’m not going to lie, I was quite annoying as a kid.

Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes= God gives bread to those that don’t have teeth. Is used when someone receives something good but can’t or won’t appreciate it as much as they should.

Dios aprieta, pero no ahorca= God squeezes but doesn’t choke. This one is used as a way to acknowledge that someone is going through a rough patch, but they still will be able to get out of there.

Si la limosna es grande hasta el santo desconfía=If the alms are big even the saint is suspicious. Is a way to say that if something is or sounds way too good to be true you should be cautious.

San Roque que este perro no me mire ni me toque =Saint Roch don’t let this dog look at me or touch me. Some people believe that Saint Roch is the saint of dogs because he is always pictured with a dog by his side, is it true? I don’t know I’m barely aware of religious things but anyways, people who are scared of dogs will think about this quote or say it when they see them, for example if a big dog is around while walking down the street my grandma will be saying this under her breath hoping the dog doesn’t bark or go near her.

Menos sabe Dios y perdona =God knows less and forgives. This is a cheeky one used when people ask you too much about something that you know will get you in trouble if they discover it.

These are sayings or expressions that are used in Argentina, and some of them may be used in other Latin American countries with slight changes here and there.

Zapata, si no la gana la empata=Zapata, if it doesn’t win it’ll even the score. Zapata in this sentence doesn’t mean anything is there because it rhymes, this sentence is used when someone who can’t win an argument tries at all cost to at least don’t come out so badly out of it.

“Bueno está bien el león no será el animal más rápido, pero si está en la lista” 

“Zapata, si no la gana la empata”

“Ok, fine the lion is not the fastest animal, but is in the list”

 “Zapata, if it doesn’t win it’ll even the score”

Del dicho al hecho hay un largo trecho =there is a long way from the saying to the facts. Is basically used to point out that there is a difference between what someone is saying to their actions.

Chocolate por la noticia =Chocolate for the news. Is an ironic sentence used when someone tells you news that you already knew, or they tell you something obvious. Don’t use it all the time though, because it will make you seem too snarky.

“¿Escuchaste que perdimos el último partido?” 

“Chocolate por la noticia, fue hace dos días.”

“Have you heard that we lost our last game?” 

“Chocolate for the news, it was two days ago.”

Los hermanos sean unidos=Siblings be united.

…

Los hermanos sean unidos      

Siblings be united

Esa es la ley primera                              

That’s the first law

Porque si entre ellos se pelean              

Because if they fight between themselves                                                          

Se los comen los de afuera.                    

The outsiders will eat them.

…

Los hermanos sean unidos                    

Siblings be united

Porque esa es la ley primera                  

Because that’s the first law

Tengan unión verdadera                         

Have a truthful union

En cualquier tiempo que sea                  

At any given time

Porque si entre ellos pelean                   

Because if they fight between themselves                                                      

Los devoran los de afuera                     

The outsiders will devour them

I have copied the three versions from the shortest to the actual quote from “El Martin Fierro”, mostly the first two are the ones that are used but I decided to add the third one too because is the original and maybe a really well read person will quote that one.

This quote is used when siblings fight as you can see in the translation, as an obvious way to tell them to stay together because that way they are stronger when faced with adversity, a lot of people but especially grandmas (or at least mine) love to use this one when their kids or grandkids fight even if is a minor discussion. Also, it can be used in a jokingly manner, for example sometimes when my sister tries to pick a fight with me I peacefully tell her the first quote and she rolls her eyes.

Mind you, I’m not a professional translator so I did my best with this narrative poem.