February Stories
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Comments
I´ve read your post about “Spanish fruit and vegetable expressions” from February 2013. It´s funny. I want to do my opinion about:
They are counted beans. I think it means in Spanish: “Son habas contadas”, es decir, no hay más. It´s true and clear as Montse said. In English it would be “We know all about that”. Or it can be: “En todas partes cuecen habas” and in English it could be “It´s the same the whole world over”.
To be fresher than a lettuce. In Spanish, “Está más fresca que una lechuga”. They are full of energy, as Montse said. In English it would be “To feel perfectly fresh”
To be a cabbage. I think it means in Spanish “Es un repollo”, está muy acicalado o es un Narciso. They are very titivated. In English it would be “All spruced up”.
To give pumpkins. In Spanish “Dar calabazas”. I like a woman and she doesn´t like me, then she gives me pumpkins. In English it could be “Lovelorn” or “She refused my offer”.
To give a pineapple. “Son ó forman una piña”, in Spanish, when people, team, family or group are very united or closed. In English it would be “To be close together”.
To care a cucumber. I think it means in Spanish “Me importa un pepino”, es decir, no me importa nada. In English it would be “I couldn´t care less”.
¿Do you any agree?
Greetings. José.
Among his quotes there is one which says: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”. The balance is the essence of everything. The harmony is personality, identity, life and existence. If there isn´t harmony nothing will be. A human being dies because he loses balance. ¿Could the balance survive beyond the death? Personally I think it´s possible, but it will be another kind of balance.
Greetings. José.
You have called me animal, you have made a mistake, I think I´m not an animal. You are a drunk.
I agree with your comment. I see you are a philosopher. It´s very difficult to be pacifist among such violent people because they can crush you like a worm. This is a big problem. Personally I think that people are not bad and they don´t act badly, but your brain doesn´t pass the minimum. It seems that nobody is born violent but the society does violent to people. In any case, the main matter is ¿How can we end with the violence in the world? I think that the first of all is to understand that the violence is very bad to human beings. Nowadays, a lot of people think that somebody who doesn´t use the violence is soft, weak and foolish. I don´t agree.
Regards.
P. S. Do you know where Graham is?
I did attempt to reply to your comment a few days ago while my students were doing an exam. I didn't finish it and I ended up losing it in cyberspace.
So let me try again...
Remember that these expressions don't exist in English. They are translated literally from Spanish.
I want to give my opinión about:
They are counted beans. I think it means in Spanish: “Son habas contadas”, es decir, no hay más. It´s true and clear as Montse said. In English it would be “We know all about that”. Or it can be: “En todas partes cuecen habas” and in English it could be “It´s the same the whole world over”.
I've looked up the expression and there appears to be two meanings
1. to say that something is sure to happen. In English you might say that something is a dead cert ie Spain winning the World Cup again :-) (Maybe it's not so certain)
2. to say that something is scarce. In English you'd say that something is few and far between ie hard working civil servants :-))))))
To be fresher than a lettuce. In Spanish, “Está más fresca que una lechuga”. They are full of energy, as Montse said. In English it would be “To feel perfectly fresh”
You could say that somebody is as fresh as a daisy.
To be a cabbage. I think it means in Spanish “Es un repollo”, está muy acicalado o es un Narciso. They are very titivated. In English it would be “All spruced up”.
That's a new one for me José. I've tried looking up "ser un repollo" but I can't find what it means and I never use the expression, so I have forgotten why I wrote it.
To give pumpkins. In Spanish “Dar calabazas”. I like a woman and she doesn´t like me, then she gives me pumpkins. In English it could be “Lovelorn” or “She refused my offer”.
I'd say that she rejected my advances.
To give a pineapple. “Son ó forman una piña”, in Spanish, when people, team, family or group are very united or close. In English it would be “To be close together”.
But there is also an expression "darse alguien una piña", isn't there?
I think it translates as get a knock or fall over.
To care a cucumber. I think it means in Spanish “Me importa un pepino”, es decir, no me importa nada. In English it would be “I couldn´t care less”.
Exactly!
Do you know anyone who was born in the year of the pear, José? :-))))))
I'm sure you know some of the quotations attributed to Ghandi.
I think one of them in particular is very true:
"The greatness of a society and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals."
Where do you think that leaves Spain??????
I´m a supporter of Ghandi. I´m always against war like Ghandi. I think every problema can be resolved by pacific means. Violence is the failure of human beings.
Among his quotes there is one which says: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”. Balance is the essence of everything. Harmony is personality, identity, life and existence. If there isn´t any harmony, there will be nothing. A human being dies because he loses his balance. ¿Could the balance survive beyond death? Personally I think it´s possible, but it will be another kind of balance.
As you see from the above, you still have difficulties with the use of "the". Be careful!
You surprise me almost as much as José does. :-)
Unfortunately,violence is part of human nature(we are animals),and even if you are a pacifist,some people have a lot of violence inside,and if they try to attack you,you have to defend yourself!.
Countries have the same problem:China invaded Tibet and took advantage of the pacifism of the Tibetan people,for example...I think that Ghandi was an exception in India.
Do you mean that most Indians aren't pacifists?
I wonder how people would view Ghandi if he lived today?
I'm back. I'll try not to disappear again.
I agree with Roberto on this one. We are all animals and we share this planet with other species.
You have called me an animal, you have made a mistake, I don't think I'm an animal. You are a drunk.
I agree with your comment. I see that you are a philosopher. It´s very difficult to be a pacifist among such violent people because they can crush you like a worm. This is a big problem. Personally, I don't think that people are bad and they don´t act badly, but their brain doesn´t pass the minimum. It seems that nobody is born violent but society makes them violent. In any case, the main matter is ¿How can we end with the violence in the world? I think that first of all we must understand that violence is very bad for human beings. Nowadays, a lot of people think that somebody who doesn´t use violence is soft, weak and foolish. I don´t agree.
I agree. If you observe the behaviour of humans, you realize that there isn't much difference between humans and other animals.
I hate how many people compare bad behaviour to the behaviour of an animal.
I often think that animals aren't capable of behaving as badly as humans.
José,you´re an animal...Just like all of us. Smart and intelligent because of evolution,but there´s an animal inside(I think you know about the "reptilian brain",that controls the primal impulses).
Agressivity is part of our nature.In my opinion,the problem is how to deal with that,and try to avoid the use of violence.
I think violence is not natural. One thing is the survive instinct and another is the killer instinct. Everyone needs to eat, but to be violent when is not necessary is not natural. In general, other species don´t kill to members of the same species, but the human being kills without reason. If somebody attacks you won´t use disproportionate means to self defend. If you did it you would have committed a crime. You only can protect.
See you. José.
Thank you very much great teacher because you are sure that Spain will be the winner of the World Cup, again. It´s so certain. I wish Spain would be winner of the World Cup and I wish would beat to U.K. in the final by 3-0. It will be impressive.
You laugh with hard working civil servant, but I invite you to go to my office and you can check if I work hard. ¡How convincing! -
I see how smooth is the English language because you say daisy, while in Spanish (castellano) we say lettuce. ¡How romantic!
I´m sorry I don´t understand what is the year of the pear, it´s a joke?
I know what you mean about treat to animal in Spain, I think that you can´t understand it, but it´s another different culture. Scot people think the bullfighter is wild but Spanish people think that is art. I don´t agree. The cow is sacred in India but English people drive crazy them. ¡Poor cows!
I agree the majority of animals has conscience, but the problem is that several human beings have not a brain.
See you. José.
Dare I say it but your comments are less cryptic than they used to be. Could it be that you are improving?????
One thing is the survival instinct and another is the killer instinct. Everyone needs to eat, but to be violent when it is not necessary, is not natural. In general, other species don´t kill members of the same species, ...
If somebody attacks, you won´t use disproportionate means to defend yourself. ... You can only protect.
I have never understood, nor will I ever understand, the arguement that bullfighting must continue because it is a tradition.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you that a UK football team has never existed.
The first international match in the world was Scotland v England.
If England were to play Spain, I think you know who I'd be supporting :-)
I wish Spain would be the winner of the World Cup and I wish they would beat the U.K. in the final by 3-0. It would be impressive.
You laugh at hard working civil servants, but I invite you to go to my office and you can check if I work hard.
How convincing! (What do you mean?)
I see how smooth the English language is because you say daisy, while in Spanish (castellano) we say lettuce. ¡How romantic!
I´m sorry I don´t understand what the year of the pear is, is it a joke?
I know what you mean about the treatment of animals in Spain, I don't think you can understand it, but it´s a different culture. Scottish people think bullfighting is wild but Spanish people think that it is art. I don´t agree. The cow is sacred in India but English people drive them crazy. ¡Poor cows!
I agree *the majority of animals has a conscience, but the problem is that several human beings don't have a brain.
*To me, the majority of animals have... sounds better. Apparently "majority" is a collective noun and can be either singular or plural.
- I told you that bullfighting is a tradition to explain you where it is from, but I don´t agree with it. I don´t go to bull ring, nor I watch it on tv if they broadcast it.
- Yes Graham, you told me that in United Kingdom there are as football team as countries. I remember now, excuse me great teacher. Someday I will invite you to relaxing cup of coffee and you will explain me how is administrative organisation in UK. When you must pay tax, for example, you do it in Scotland and it´s to Scotland or you pay in Scotland but to UK.
- I have seen that the football team Inverness CT played with Aberdeen and they evened score last week and the Inverness is 5º in Premiership. Is this like Spanish League? I suppose that you are supporter of Inverness, is it true?
- When I said ¡how convincing! It´s a sarcastic expression, I mean that I self no believe me say it and you must not go to check, please.
See you. José.
How are things?
- I told you that bullfighting is a tradition to explain where it is from, but I don´t agree with it. I don´t go to the bull ring, nor (do I) watch it on tv if they broadcast it.
I'm delighted to hear that :-))))
- Yes Graham, you told me that in the United Kingdom there are football team as there are countries. ... Someday I will invite you to a relaxing cup of coffee and you will explain how the administrative organisation in the UK is. When you must pay tax, for example, you do it in Scotland and it´s for Scotland or you pay in Scotland but for the UK.
I can tell you now. At the moment the Scottish Parliament has limited tax raising powers.
- I have seen that the football team Inverness CT played with Aberdeen and they even scored last week and Inverness is 5º in the Premiership. Is this like the Spanish League? I suppose that you are a supporter of Inverness, right?
I was never really a supporter of any team.