Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
Se queres conhecer o vilão mete-lhe o pau na mão.
English translation:
If you want to know the villain, just give him a gun.
Added to glossary by
Henrique Magalhaes
Jul 4, 2003 16:14
21 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Portuguese term
Traduttore...ma non traditore!
Native in: Portuguese
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, Italian to Portuguese, and 4 more.
Se queres conhecer o vilão, mete-lhe o pau na mão.
Non-PRO
Portuguese to English
Other
Until a person has not been in a position with power (o pau na mão...), one doesn't show what really we are.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
42 mins
Carlos Monteiro
Portugal
Portugal
Native in Portuguese
Portugal
I will try to help you ...!!!
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
18
Selected
if you want to know the villain, just give him a gun
usually only when someone reach "the power" reveals his real "inside"
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Eu preferia 'stick' em vez de 'gun' porque se trata mais de punir do que matar,ou seja mais bastonada q. tiro, mas enfim, foi de todas a versão mais aproximada."
+2
2 hrs
silviafont
Punctual and to the point
Native in: Spanish
Works in: French to Spanish, German to Spanish, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
If you want to know his heart, make him rich.
People only reveal themselves in power situations
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ricardo Fonseca
1 hr
|
| agree |
Michael Powers (PhD)
: saludos, Silvia - muy bien - Mike :)
2 hrs
|
4 hrs
Сергей Лузан
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Always welcome! :)
Native in: Russian
Works in: German to Russian, English to Russian, Spanish to Russian, and 7 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
If you want to reveal the scoundrel, just provide him with some power.
Good luck, Henrique Magalhaes!
4 hrs
Paula Vaz-Carreiro
Native in Portuguese
&
English
Benchmark Translations
Native in: Portuguese , English
Works in: Portuguese, English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
421
If you wish to know a man, give him authority.
Again this is from the Penguin dictionary of proverbs and it seems to me the most appropriate to convey the meaning of the Portuguse proverb.
Whatever it is you're doing, I envy you. Finding English proverbs that match Portuguese ones and vice-versa is something that fascinates me.
Whatever it is you're doing, I envy you. Finding English proverbs that match Portuguese ones and vice-versa is something that fascinates me.
6 hrs
Annoint a clown and he'll grip you; grip a clown and he'll annoint you
É isso que conheço como equivalente em inglês para os ditos portugueses:
"dêem ofício a vilão e conhece-lo-ão"
OU AINDA
"vilão ruim dá sempre mau pago a quem o serve"
"dêem ofício a vilão e conhece-lo-ão"
OU AINDA
"vilão ruim dá sempre mau pago a quem o serve"
1 day 30 mins
It takes ONE to know ONE
when the context tell you what the one is you can either fill it in OR leave it like this.
"He's a real menance to society."
"Oh, really? It takes one to know one"
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Note added at 2003-07-05 17:33:32 (GMT)
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The US TV program, \"It Takes A THief\" is derived from this:
It takes a thief to know a thief!
Cheers
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-07-05 17:35:10 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
and how would you translate this mixed metaphor I just made up:
Thieves of a feather, flock together....two in one
"He's a real menance to society."
"Oh, really? It takes one to know one"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-07-05 17:33:32 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The US TV program, \"It Takes A THief\" is derived from this:
It takes a thief to know a thief!
Cheers
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-07-05 17:35:10 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
and how would you translate this mixed metaphor I just made up:
Thieves of a feather, flock together....two in one
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
moken
: two completely different meanings. to know a thief you must be a thief. to know what someone is really like - you must put him into power, not have power yourself.
18 hrs
|
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