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Mar 2, 2020 15:56
4 yrs ago
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English term

jam tomorrow

GBK English to Spanish Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
Something good that is promised but never happens. The phrase "jam tomorrow" was coined by Lewis Carroll in his children's story "Through the Looking Glass". The White Queen tells Alice, "The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day."
Example sentences:
An innovation pessimist could dismiss [current innovations being fueled by cheap processing power] as "jam tomorrow". But the idea that technology-led growth must either continue unabated or steadily decline, rather than ebbing and flowing, is at odds with history. (The Economist)
Even though work on the eastern bypass will start very shortly, I am not sure I will truly believe it until I see cars driving up and down it, so talk of a southern link going to Winsford will seem even more like more jam tomorrow. (Winsford and Middlewich Guardian)
In the coming year, many other high-profile tech unicorns will face similar challenges. They’ll will do well to focus on being smaller, profitable companies than larger ones promising jam tomorrow. (Wired)
Proposed translations (Spanish)
5 +2 Mermelada mañana
4 [prometer] el oro y el moro
4 Castillos en el aire
3 palabras al viento
3 pajaritos preñados
Change log

Feb 28, 2020 20:34: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"

Mar 2, 2020 15:57: changed "Stage" from "Preparation" to "Submission"

Mar 6, 2020 14:57: changed "Stage" from "Submission" to "Selection"

Mar 6, 2020 21:54: changed "Stage" from "Selection" to "Completion"

Discussion

Judith Payro Mar 6, 2020:
agree with Agustina It could be "solo promesas", "promesas vanas", and others. I agree with Agustina that the context will dictate the best translation.
Amadeo Pinto Mar 6, 2020:
If you say so... but, usually, writers use obscure phrases, over common ones, because of the cultural significance provided by the original source. If you change it in the translation it loses that.
Agustina de Sagastizabal Mar 6, 2020:
Referencing the book here is NOT part of the context, it's just the entry provided by macmillan's dictionary. https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/jam-t... In this post, the context is not provided.
Translating a "meaningless" phrase in English literaly may be suitable for some contexts, for others not.
Amadeo Pinto Mar 6, 2020:
Referencing the book is part of the context "Jam tomorrow" is just as meaningless, to those not in the know, in the original language. If the writer had wanted a common phrase they would have used one.
Agustina de Sagastizabal Mar 6, 2020:
solo promesas The translation provided for the book is that mentioned in other entry "mermelada mañana"; however, the context in which this phrase will be used will dictate the adequate translation. My more "objective" translation is "solo promesas"

Proposed translations

+2
3 hrs
Selected

Mermelada mañana

Es la traducción que aparece en el libro.
Definition from ALICIA A TRAVÉS DEL ESPEJO:
Pues la regla es: mermelada mañana y mermelada ayer… pero nunca mermelada hoy.
Example sentences:
Pues la regla es: mermelada mañana y mermelada ayer… pero nunca mermelada hoy. (ALICIA A TRAVÉS DEL ESPEJO)
Peer comment(s):
agree Christian [email protected]
7 hrs
agree Judith Payro : Es una buena traducción en el contexto del libro. En otros contextos probablemente variaría.
4 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs

palabras al viento

Definition from own experience or research:
Promesas que sabemos no van a ser cumplidas.
Example sentences:
"Ellas nacieron de las antiguas metrópolis coloniales y de políticas imperiales que, a su vez, engendraron el atraso y la pobreza que hoy azotan a la inmensa mayoría de la humanidad". Fueron palabras al viento. (Diario La Jornada)
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2 hrs

[prometer] el oro y el moro

Definition from Diccionario Actual:
“Prometer el oro y el moro” es una frase que se escucha en muchos países de habla castellana. Será quizá porque hay muchas personas que se esmeran en exagerar grandes promesas que por supuesto, de tan difíciles de cumplir nunca se realizan.
Example sentences:
Almunia advierte al PSOE de que no se puede prometer "el oro y el moro" y luego hacer lo contrario (Público)
Humala le ofrece el oro y el moro a Vizcarra (Perú21)
El PP promete 'el oro y el moro' a sus jóvenes (Diario de Castilla la Mancha)
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2 hrs

Castillos en el aire

Definition from own experience or research:
Promesas que nunca han de cumplirse. Mermelada mañana y mermelada ayer - pero nunca mermelada hoy.
Example sentences:
Los gobiernos prometen y luego nos construyen castillos en el aire. (Personal)
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8 hrs

pajaritos preñados

Definition from Maracucholario Plus:
Creer o pensar en pajaritos preñados<br />Esta expresión no es autóctona de nuestro dialecto, se usa en toda América y es común en España, la misma se le endilga a las personas ingenuas quienes creen en cosas inverosímiles y también a los distraídos, ya que las aves no se preñan sino que ponen huevos, por lo tanto es un imposible.
Example sentences:
Hernández, quien se ha sumado a la campaña de Falcón, llamó a votar por el ex gobernador de Lara y advierte que “la única vía es el voto, todo lo demás son pajaritos preñados”. (Revista Zeta)
No son pajaritos preñados. Es toda una realidad y existe un compromiso por parte de la Consejería de Presidencia del Gobierno de Canarias para dar en septiembre el impulso definitivo que necesita el proyecto (Diario de avisos)
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