Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
me pondrás a mí a la altura de los zapatos
English translation:
you will degrade/humiliate me
Spanish term
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
me pondrás a mí a la altura de los zapatos
—Espera, Emil; hasta ahora no te has acostumbrado a llamarme come se debe. Prudy, por Dios!
—Bueno, Prudy... ¿Qué iba diciendo? Ah, sí... El día en que vayas subiendo de casa en casa de los señores Diputados o siquiera de Malacañang para eso, entonces te pondrás y me pondrás a mí a la altura de los zapatos, y de nada te servirá el llamarte Denciang o Prudy...
My inclination is to translate the phrase as "willl put me at a great disadvantage". Anything better?
Gracias,
Barbara
| 3 +4 | you will degrade/humiliate me |
Cecilia Gowar
|
| 3 +1 | put me down |
Juan (JP) Campaya
|
| 4 | you'll cast me aside like an old glove |
Shilpa Baliga
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| 3 -1 | you will bring me under heel |
Francois Boye
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Dec 25, 2020 03:32: Barbara Cochran, MFA Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
United Kingdom
I read the Alethiometer
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 1 more.
you will degrade/humiliate me
This is another twist of a common expression used always as a comparison: ¨no llegarle a alguien a la suela de los zapatos¨ which translates as ¨not been able to hold a candle¨ to someone.
There is no comparison here, but as I understand it the meaning is to lower their standard in relation to their pairs or to how it should be.
| agree |
Toni Castano
: Degrade.
17 mins
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¡Thanks Toni!
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| agree |
Andy Watkinson
: Also, quedar alguien a la altura del betún - which was the original expression
55 mins
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
4 hrs
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| agree |
Thayenga
2 days 4 hrs
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Argentina
🕹️ Spanish (LatAm) Gamer Translator 🕹️
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Argentine)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
put me down
Hope it helps you!
Her piano teacher was forever putting her down.
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
you will bring me under heel
| disagree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: expression is "bring someone TO heel" but doesn't work here anyway
1 hr
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Chef and ex-restauranteur
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Catalan to English, and 2 more.
Discussion