Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
(llegar) con el pan bajo el brazo
English translation:
to stand on their own two feet, to bring home the bacon
Added to glossary by
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Apr 3, 2019 20:50
5 yrs ago
8 viewers *
Spanish term
con el pan bajo el brazo
Spanish to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I'm translating a newspaper article from El Salvador about the recent announcement made by the US Government that it will cut the economic aid it sends to the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala).
And I'm stumped by the meaning of this phrase in this particular context. I know the usual equivalent of "nacer con el pan bajo el brazo" is "to be born with a silver spoon" but that would be the opposite of this situation, no? Since the article is talking about people fleeing from violence in their country and migrating to the US looking to have a better life... And it points out that these migrants are hard-working and contribute to the US economy.
Thanks in advance!
"Que salvadoreños bien nacidos entren o intenten entrar a Estados Unidos no debe tomarse como una agresión, sino como la consecuencia de guerras y desórdenes de los que el país no ha podido reponerse. Para el caso, la violencia y toma de territorios por pandilleros en el interior del país sólo se explica por la supresión de un cuerpo especializado como fue la Guardia Nacional.
Los salvadoreños que escapan de la violencia son personas trabajadoras, responsables y amigables, que **** literalmente llegan con el pan bajo su brazo, **** que no le quitan nada a nadie y que, por el contrario, agregan al bienestar general."
And I'm stumped by the meaning of this phrase in this particular context. I know the usual equivalent of "nacer con el pan bajo el brazo" is "to be born with a silver spoon" but that would be the opposite of this situation, no? Since the article is talking about people fleeing from violence in their country and migrating to the US looking to have a better life... And it points out that these migrants are hard-working and contribute to the US economy.
Thanks in advance!
"Que salvadoreños bien nacidos entren o intenten entrar a Estados Unidos no debe tomarse como una agresión, sino como la consecuencia de guerras y desórdenes de los que el país no ha podido reponerse. Para el caso, la violencia y toma de territorios por pandilleros en el interior del país sólo se explica por la supresión de un cuerpo especializado como fue la Guardia Nacional.
Los salvadoreños que escapan de la violencia son personas trabajadoras, responsables y amigables, que **** literalmente llegan con el pan bajo su brazo, **** que no le quitan nada a nadie y que, por el contrario, agregan al bienestar general."
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +3 | stand on their own feet | Wilsonn Perez Reyes |
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
stand on their own feet
valerse por sí mismo
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Note added at 1 hr (2019-04-03 21:53:34 GMT)
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Entiendo que quiere decir que los salvadoreños nos caracterizamos por saber defendernos y salir adelante frente a toda circunstancia adversa.
"Salvadoreños bien nacidos" puede interpretarse como: "salvadoreños bienintencionados".
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Note added at 1 hr (2019-04-03 22:04:35 GMT)
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...who can literally stand on their own feet...
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Note added at 1 hr (2019-04-03 21:53:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Entiendo que quiere decir que los salvadoreños nos caracterizamos por saber defendernos y salir adelante frente a toda circunstancia adversa.
"Salvadoreños bien nacidos" puede interpretarse como: "salvadoreños bienintencionados".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-04-03 22:04:35 GMT)
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...who can literally stand on their own feet...
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Thomas Walker
: I agree that "stand on their own feet" is a good English equivalent for "llegan con el pan bajo su brazo". But in the ST here, the phrase is preceded by the word "literalmente". Maybe it should be "literally arrived with their food under their arms"?
1 hr
|
agree |
Andy Watkinson
: I believe the author is merely using "literally" as an intensifier (even accepted as such by the OED if I'm not mistaken).
4 hrs
|
agree |
neilmac
: This work nicely in the context IMHO.
10 hrs
|
agree |
Amy Moreno
: I think this is a neat way to convey the message.
19 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks very much, everyone, for your contributions."
Discussion