Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
a linha a gente ia puxar
English translation:
(ABC) is the head of the line and we'll rell in the rest of them along with him.
Added to glossary by
Michael Powers (PhD)
Aug 21, 2006 01:57
18 yrs ago
Portuguese term
United States
US Court Cert. 1980 Ph.D. 1981
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
a linha a gente ia puxar
Portuguese to English
Social Sciences
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
PERGUNTA: Queriam pegar o ABC?
RESPOSTA: Sempre quisemos. O fio era o ABC, a linha agente ia puxar com o ABC.
ABC é o nome da pessoa para o público.
Mike :)
RESPOSTA: Sempre quisemos. O fio era o ABC, a linha agente ia puxar com o ABC.
ABC é o nome da pessoa para o público.
Mike :)
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | we were going to get them all |
Paul Kozelka
|
| 3 +2 | we were going to pull the line ... |
rhandler
|
| 3 | We were going to use ABC to catch much bigger fish/or to get what we wanted. |
Ivaneide
|
Proposed translations
1 hr
Paul Kozelka
Native in English
Available 24/7-While the world sleeps...
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
we were going to get them all
If this concerns a criminal investigation or arrest action, then I should think ABC was "the lead" and "we were going to get them all via/through ABC" would be appropriate.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-08-21 04:45:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Though I'm not a native PT speaker, it looks like you're in business, tho for style you might want to try "ABC is the head of the line and we'll reel in the rest of them along with him."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-08-21 04:45:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Though I'm not a native PT speaker, it looks like you're in business, tho for style you might want to try "ABC is the head of the line and we'll reel in the rest of them along with him."
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This is the answer I liked best in this context.
Thanks,
Mike :)"
+2
5 mins
we were going to pull the line ...
A literal suggestion. Hope it helps.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Paul Merriam
: I'm not sure what this means. I was thinking something like "pulling the plug on" him, i.e., not providing him any more support. Is that accurate?
28 mins
|
|
I think it's more on the sense described by Denise, on her comment.
|
|
| agree |
Denise Miranda
: ...pull the line using ABC as the bait.
10 hrs
|
|
Obrigado, Denise, este me parece ser o sentido.
|
|
| agree |
tania nogueira
13 hrs
|
|
Obrigado, tania.
|
14 hrs
We were going to use ABC to catch much bigger fish/or to get what we wanted.
Seems to me that the person is speaking metaphorically. There are two metaphors: Fio and Linha. Fio: “o fio era o abc,…” abc was the main contact, he knew the inside workings of the alledged scam. But in this case it seems they wanted to use him more as an informant, which is the term used in English for someone who snitches or divulges information against or about those he is in contact with. Referring to the first question, Queriam pegar o ABC? Did (you guys) want to catch ABC?). Answer: Sempre quisemos, (we always wanted to,…) The next metaphor sheds some light as to their intention as to ABC. They wanted to use him to get “what they wanted”(linha), either that or use ABC (to catch bigger fish). So I would translate it thus: We were going to use ABC to catch much bigger fish/or to get what we wanted.
Discussion