El trabajo me llegaba solo.

English translation: The work just kept coming

22:48 May 7, 2017
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Journalism / Phrase used in an interview
Spanish term or phrase: El trabajo me llegaba solo.
Hi!

I'm translating an interview with executive from a Spanish financial-services company from Spanish into British English and I'm having trouble with a turn of phrase. Please see the question and answer below for the full context:

¿Era muy diferente la compañía entonces a la [company name] para la que trabajas hoy en día?
Sí, bastante. Entré en el departamento de TI de un banco y tenía un presupuesto fijo que gastar cada año. El trabajo me llegaba solo.

Could someone help please? Many thanks!
Matt Valentine
Norway
Local time: 23:03
English translation:The work just kept coming
Explanation:
Otra opción.
Selected response from:

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3The work just kept coming
Cecilia Gowar
3 +2The work just came in, the work just flowed in
12316323 (X)
5solo
Andre Borges
3I was getting work to do without any effort on my part (to get that work/job/tasks)
JohnMcDove
3Didn't have to worry about the work, it came/was there anyway.
David Hollywood
3Door was knocking on my door everyday.
Marcel Gomez


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I was getting work to do without any effort on my part (to get that work/job/tasks)


Explanation:
I hope this gives you the idea.

From my Spaniard viewpoint, the sentence is very clear.

That is, the guy was working, getting one task after another, without him having to "look for work", type of idea.

I don't know if there is a concise and more or less colloquial way to say that in English, but that is the idea.

Hope it helps!

JohnMcDove
United States
Local time: 15:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
The work just came in, the work just flowed in


Explanation:
There are a few ways this could be meant/understood, but this is how I read it. It might be helpful to know the next line.

Along the lines of the work just pouring in, though it doesn't necessarily have that connotation of a large volume.

12316323 (X)
Local time: 17:03
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos: The work just came in ('flowed in' might be a littlemore than the intended meaning'. See my post in the discussion.
14 mins
  -> Thanks, Muriel. I think I also like "came" better, but I'm genuinely curious to know what connotation you think "flowed in" adds-?

agree  Marcelo González: I agree with Muriel (in Discussion). 'The work just came in' sounds good to me.
3 days 23 hrs
  -> Thanks, Marcelo. I agree with you and Muriel.
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
The work just kept coming


Explanation:
Otra opción.

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 68
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Barbara Cochran, MFA
9 mins
  -> Thanks Barbara!

agree  JohnMcDove: I like this option. :-)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks John! :-)

agree  Christian [email protected]
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Christian!
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Didn't have to worry about the work, it came/was there anyway.


Explanation:
I would suggest

David Hollywood
Local time: 19:03
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 27
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30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Door was knocking on my door everyday.


Explanation:
This is a bit more colloquial

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2017-05-07 23:21:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oh! I am sorry!!
I meant!

WORK was knocking on my door everyday

Marcel Gomez
Peru
Local time: 17:03
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
solo


Explanation:
The work came to me all by itself.

This sounds strongly to me like a Chilean way of phrasing how something happens all by itself, of its own accord, or in a way wrapped up inimically with the actions of the subject (not the case here, but in some cases it is used this way).

Andre Borges
United States
Local time: 18:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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