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Thread: Translation Help

 
  1. 10-26-2008 #1
    eestes2
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    Default Translation Help

    I have what appears to be a very old hand crafted knife that I picked up at a flea market about 20 years ago. It is beautifuly engraved and has a phrase on one side that I have not been able to translate. The engraved phrase is,

    "Palomas no se hagan bolas, Pichones ando buscando."

    It appears to be Mexican in origin since on one side it has a man's name and "Ocotlain, Oax." which I think is a city and state in Mexico.

    Since I was having such a hard time getting it translated I thought it might be slang or some regional expression. Or perhaps I have just been asking the wrong people.

    Any help you could provide is greatly appreciated.

    Thank you!
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  2. 10-26-2008 #2
    vicente
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    It is Mexican. Oax. stands for Oaxaca, a Mexican state.

    This is apparently a saying of some sort but I have no idea what it means in Mexico.

    Literally translated it says "Palomas (doves) no se hagan (don't do or make) bolas (lies, fibs, [also uproar or big fuss]). Pichones (pidgeons) ando buscando (I'm looking for)."

    Doves do not lie (or make a big fuss), I'm looking for pidgeons.

    I hope one of our Mexican members checks in and tells us what it means. I'd like to know too!
    vicente
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  3. 10-27-2008 #3
    SandraT
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    I guess it's (I'm not Mexican) something like don't get your hopes too high/ cause he's looking for something else...
    No se hagan bolas= don't get your hopes too high.
    I'm sure there is an English phrase for that. vicente???
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie
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  4. 10-27-2008 #4
    vicente
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    Hi Sandra!!!

    Well, there might be a more contemporary phrase that the young people use but "don't get your hopes up" is what I use.

    How does no se hagan bolas translate into don't get your hopes up. I never heard that before Sandra.
    vicente
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  5. 10-27-2008 #5
    Hebe
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    HI Sandy and Vicente: I noticed that ome of the proposed meanings was the word "lie". Would it be correct to translate the pharse as "don´t fool yourselve"???? (el qeuivalente en español a "no se enganñen a uds. mismas"
    Last edited by Hebe; 10-27-2008 at 03:01 PM.


    Truly, my dear young friends, you are a chosen generation. I hope you will never forget it.
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  6. 10-27-2008 #6
    SandraT
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    Hi vicente,

    Hard to explain for me but I will give it a try.
    No te hagas bola
    No te hagas una mental (very rude and vulgar)

    One person has an idea, an expectation perhaps but it has no base, no real facts about it. The truth is quite different. So that person "se hizo una bola" (got hopes, expectations) about something!

    I found this link, it's MExican and it can give you a better idea about the use of the phrase.
    http://www.richdadmexico.com/?p=1160

    Maybe after you read it, you can find a better English expression for that.
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie
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  7. 10-27-2008 #7
    SandraT
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    Exactly my friend Hebe!!
    I was trying to find something like that....
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie
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  8. 10-27-2008 #8
    vicente
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    Thanks!!! OK...now I understand. I didn't know that bolas also means hope or expectations. Hebe's translation makes sense. "don't fool yourself" or "don't lie to yourself" or more informal "don't kid yourself".

    But how does Pichones ando buscando fit into this expression?
    vicente
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  9. 10-27-2008 #9
    SandraT
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    Vicente, I will try to put another example to see if this time you can get it...
    This is a young nice looking guy and he's looking for a date. He says something like this,
    So, young women, don't fool yourselves, I'm looking for experienced old ladies...
    the pigeons and the doves!!! got it???
    Last edited by SandraT; 10-27-2008 at 06:16 PM.
    Realmente, el destino del mundo depende, en primer lugar, de los estadistas y, en segundo lugar, de los intérpretes.
    Trygve Halvdan Lie
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  10. 10-27-2008 #10
    vicente
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    Default Re: Translation Help

    HaHaHa...

    OK, in that case I would say ..."don't get your hopes up, I'm looking for ...."

    Que piensas?
    vicente
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