Aug 30, 2023 16:39
1 yr ago
36 viewers *
Spanish term
la chiquillada
Spanish to English
Other
Government / Politics
Current affairs
I'm translating an opinion piece from a Mexican periodical, about former U.S. president Trump's legal problems. Here's the phrase in context:
'Trump tiene una ventaja de más de 45-55 puntos sobre su más cercano contendiente, el gobernador republicano de Florida, Ron DeSantis. No tiene mucho sentido ni beneficio electoral batirse en un debate con lo que en México llamaríamos ***“la chiquillada”***.'
A possibly analogous phrase that occurred to me is "peanut gallery," which I think would be understood by U.S. readers (the target audience here) to mean "a bunch of kids," or something to that effect.
Another option, of course, would be to leave it as “la chiquillada,” with a Translator's Note explaining about the Mexican TV show and so forth.
Any other ideas? Thanks in advance - All help very much appreciated.
'Trump tiene una ventaja de más de 45-55 puntos sobre su más cercano contendiente, el gobernador republicano de Florida, Ron DeSantis. No tiene mucho sentido ni beneficio electoral batirse en un debate con lo que en México llamaríamos ***“la chiquillada”***.'
A possibly analogous phrase that occurred to me is "peanut gallery," which I think would be understood by U.S. readers (the target audience here) to mean "a bunch of kids," or something to that effect.
Another option, of course, would be to leave it as “la chiquillada,” with a Translator's Note explaining about the Mexican TV show and so forth.
Any other ideas? Thanks in advance - All help very much appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +8 | small fry |
patinba
![]() |
5 | little leaguers |
Edward Potter
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3 | childish act/behaviour |
liz askew
![]() |
3 | behaving like a little kid |
AllegroTrans
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References
Look it up first |
AllegroTrans
![]() |
chiquillada como grupo |
O G V
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Proposed translations
+8
29 mins
Selected
small fry
When the big fish is not there.
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Note added at 48 mins (2023-08-30 17:27:42 GMT)
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mall fry
noun [ U ] informal (also small-fry)
UK /ˈsmɔːl ˌfraɪ/ US /ˈsmɑːl ˌfraɪ/
Add to word list
people or things that are not considered to be important:
They may be key players in their own company, but they're small fry in the industry itself.
Big international acts perform at the venue, as well as small-fry local bands.
Fewer examples
The people arrested this week are just small fry, not the gang leaders.
All of these exports are still very small fry compared to the car industry.
It's not the small-fry company you claim it is.
We are not just their small-fry trading partners who can be bullied.
Major publishers can't be bothered with books they consider small-fry.
"small fry" can also be a humurous reference to a bunch of children.
It comes from:
fry
noun [ plural ]
UK /fraɪ/ US /fraɪ/
young, small fish
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Note added at 1 hr (2023-08-30 17:46:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
There is a similar word used in the same way in River Plate Spanish:
Chiquitaje
De forma despectiva: asunto o cosa de poco valor, irrelevante.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2023-08-30 17:27:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
mall fry
noun [ U ] informal (also small-fry)
UK /ˈsmɔːl ˌfraɪ/ US /ˈsmɑːl ˌfraɪ/
Add to word list
people or things that are not considered to be important:
They may be key players in their own company, but they're small fry in the industry itself.
Big international acts perform at the venue, as well as small-fry local bands.
Fewer examples
The people arrested this week are just small fry, not the gang leaders.
All of these exports are still very small fry compared to the car industry.
It's not the small-fry company you claim it is.
We are not just their small-fry trading partners who can be bullied.
Major publishers can't be bothered with books they consider small-fry.
"small fry" can also be a humurous reference to a bunch of children.
It comes from:
fry
noun [ plural ]
UK /fraɪ/ US /fraɪ/
young, small fish
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2023-08-30 17:46:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
There is a similar word used in the same way in River Plate Spanish:
Chiquitaje
De forma despectiva: asunto o cosa de poco valor, irrelevante.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
philgoddard
: I didn't understand this until Robert explained it - your English reference isn't much help :-)
6 mins
|
Simple enough. For Trump, there is nothing to be gained from debating with the candidates who are way down in the polls. Context reads "debate con la chiquillada" ie "debate with the small fry" You cant debate with a childish act.
|
|
agree |
Robert Carter
: Exactly, I was going to suggest "lightweights" or "nonentities" but "small fries" captures it neatly.
41 mins
|
Thank you Robert!
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agree |
Jennifer Levey
45 mins
|
Thank you, Jennifer!
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agree |
abe(L)solano
48 mins
|
¡Gracias AbeL!
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agree |
Andrew Bramhall
: Yes, and for DT, ANY other candidate is 'small fry', as he has already been president ( in a manner of speaking) whereas none of the others have reached the pinnacle of the presidency.
2 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
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agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
3 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
|
agree |
Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
6 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
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agree |
O G V
: "so called small fries". saludos.
1 day 7 hrs
|
Yes. Thank you!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Patinba, and thanks to all who contributed to the discussion."
7 mins
childish act/behaviour
from various dictionary entries
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Note added at 8 минути (2023-08-30 16:48:33 GMT)
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/diccionario/espanol-ingl...
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Note added at 9 минути (2023-08-30 16:49:20 GMT)
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or even
puerile
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Note added at 8 минути (2023-08-30 16:48:33 GMT)
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/diccionario/espanol-ingl...
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Note added at 9 минути (2023-08-30 16:49:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or even
puerile
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
abe(L)solano
: not in this context- "La chiquillada" here = the rest of (weak) Republican candidates
1 hr
|
neutral |
O G V
: no es el sentido de acción sino de grupo. Saludos.
1 day 7 hrs
|
neutral |
Edward Potter
: I think it refers to the insignificance of the other candidates and not their behavior.
15 days
|
35 mins
behaving like a little kid
It doesn't make much sense or electoral benefit to fight in a debate with what in Mexico we would call behaving like a little kid.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Andrew Bramhall
: "with what in Mexico WE would call..."?? Someone else's words you're quoting, or your own?//Fair enough, get it now, thanks.
2 hrs
|
My own hunch
|
|
neutral |
O G V
: no es el sentido de acción sino de grupo. Saludos.
1 day 7 hrs
|
15 days
little leaguers
This is a baseball reference used often in this context in the United States. This would capture the little kids connotation.
Let me take a try at the sentence:
It wouldn't make any sense or have any electoral benefit by possibly getting beaten by a bunch of little leaguers.
Let me take a try at the sentence:
It wouldn't make any sense or have any electoral benefit by possibly getting beaten by a bunch of little leaguers.
Reference comments
23 mins
Reference:
Look it up first
Translate "chiquillada" from Spanish to English
Spanish to English
chiquillada
Translations
chiquillada Noun
chiquillada, la ~ (f) (excesotravesuragamberradaatrocidadtravesurasdiabluradiabluraspicardíadesafuerotonterasbarrabasadabribonada)
monkey trick, the ~ Noun
mischief, the ~ Noun
prank, the ~ Noun
boyish prank, the ~ Noun
practical joke, the ~ Noun
chiquillada, la ~ (f) (carácter farsantetravesurapicardíapayasadacomicidadchocarreríacarácter cómico)
roguishness, the ~ Noun
impishness, the ~ Noun
mischief, the ~ Noun
Machine Translations
chiquillada chiquillada mst
gt-Google Translate; mst-Microsoft Translate
Wiktionary
From To Via
• chiquillada → childish act ↔ kinderachtigheid — Het kinderachtig zijn
Synonyms
jugada; trastada; ruindad; deshonor; abyección; infamia; faena; jugarreta; putada; barrabasada; marranada; bajeza; ignominia; travesura; desatino; despropósito; dislate; disparate; atropello; barbaridad
niñería; puerilidad; minucia; tontería; bobada
Spanish to English
chiquillada
Translations
chiquillada Noun
chiquillada, la ~ (f) (excesotravesuragamberradaatrocidadtravesurasdiabluradiabluraspicardíadesafuerotonterasbarrabasadabribonada)
monkey trick, the ~ Noun
mischief, the ~ Noun
prank, the ~ Noun
boyish prank, the ~ Noun
practical joke, the ~ Noun
chiquillada, la ~ (f) (carácter farsantetravesurapicardíapayasadacomicidadchocarreríacarácter cómico)
roguishness, the ~ Noun
impishness, the ~ Noun
mischief, the ~ Noun
Machine Translations
chiquillada chiquillada mst
gt-Google Translate; mst-Microsoft Translate
Wiktionary
From To Via
• chiquillada → childish act ↔ kinderachtigheid — Het kinderachtig zijn
Synonyms
jugada; trastada; ruindad; deshonor; abyección; infamia; faena; jugarreta; putada; barrabasada; marranada; bajeza; ignominia; travesura; desatino; despropósito; dislate; disparate; atropello; barbaridad
niñería; puerilidad; minucia; tontería; bobada
Peer comments on this reference comment:
neutral |
abe(L)solano
: not in this context- "La chiquillada" here = group of kids = the rest of (weak) Republican candidates
55 mins
|
thanks
|
|
neutral |
Robert Carter
: Agree with looking it up, Chris, but none of these translations have much to do with the way "chiquillada" is being used here. https://elpopular.mx/opinion/2020/09/28/los-partidos-de-la-c...
56 mins
|
thanks for this!
|
|
neutral |
Edward Potter
: It means insignificant opponents. No use to debate them since it is child's play.
15 days
|
2 hrs
Reference:
chiquillada como grupo
página muy ilustrativa sobre el sentido de grupo o conjunto del que no da cuenta le diccionario
http://palabrasenjuego.com/de-chamos-y-chavizas/
También se usa chiquillada para llamar a un grupo de chiquillos, aunque la definición se refiere a una acción ingenua o falta de reflexión o sensatez.
Otras palabras que nos da el Diccionario son pipiolera y chiquillería para llamar en México a una concurrencia de chiquillos o, en voces derivadas del náhuatl, pipiolos y pipiolas.
[otro caso similar]
Se llama muchachada a un acción propia de muchachos y también a un conjunto de muchachos. En Chile, de manera coloquial, se llama lolaje a un conjunto de lolos o adolescentes. En España, la voz coloquial para un grupo de chavales o chavalas es chavalería.
usos de ese sentido
Resumen - Disparidades. Revista de Antropología
csic.es
https://dra.revistas.csic.es › dra › article › view
... empezaban a arder fogatas que acababa de prender la chiquillada. ... confiadas al grupo de edad -la colla - y bajo la discreta vigilancia de los vecinos ...
Una de indios y vaqueros - El Progreso de Lugo
elprogreso.es
https://www.elprogreso.es › Noticias
LA CHIQUILLADA DE mi pueblo salía los domingos de misa de doce desbocada ... en ello una mayor capacidad socializadora que en un grupo de chavales dándose ...
Tradiciones de Costa Rica, UCR - Facebook
facebook.com
https://www.facebook.com › photos › tradicion-el-cin...
6 sept 2022 — Andar en grupo y tocar de puerta en puerta representaba una fiesta para la chiquillada, por lo cual se esperaba con ansia el 31 de diciembre ...
Los niños refrescan Riazor | Deportes | EL PAÍS
elpais.com
https://elpais.com › Deportes
... desenfadada y energética del grupo de chicos que ha reunido Joaquín Caparrós. ... la mano experta que puso la guinda al manifiesto de la chiquillada.
Setenteros, zeppelianos... y no obstante, modernos
rock-progresivo.com
https://www.rock-progresivo.com › 2011/11
10 nov 2011 — superan al grupo principal, no porque uno vaya con la mentalidad de que ... interpretativa aún, aunque les pese a la chiquillada que suele
Aplicaciones del procesamiento del lenguaje natural ... - RUC
udc.es
https://ruc.udc.es › VilaresFerro_Jesus_TD_2005
de J Vilares · 2005 · Citado por 32 — muchachada{ nombre colectivo (grupo de muchachos) acción propia de la base (chiquillada). El dise˜no de nuestra herramienta aborda sólamente ...
en el contexto, como se ha dicho, el término alude a rivales pequeños, sin relevancia o poco conocidos.
http://palabrasenjuego.com/de-chamos-y-chavizas/
También se usa chiquillada para llamar a un grupo de chiquillos, aunque la definición se refiere a una acción ingenua o falta de reflexión o sensatez.
Otras palabras que nos da el Diccionario son pipiolera y chiquillería para llamar en México a una concurrencia de chiquillos o, en voces derivadas del náhuatl, pipiolos y pipiolas.
[otro caso similar]
Se llama muchachada a un acción propia de muchachos y también a un conjunto de muchachos. En Chile, de manera coloquial, se llama lolaje a un conjunto de lolos o adolescentes. En España, la voz coloquial para un grupo de chavales o chavalas es chavalería.
usos de ese sentido
Resumen - Disparidades. Revista de Antropología
csic.es
https://dra.revistas.csic.es › dra › article › view
... empezaban a arder fogatas que acababa de prender la chiquillada. ... confiadas al grupo de edad -la colla - y bajo la discreta vigilancia de los vecinos ...
Una de indios y vaqueros - El Progreso de Lugo
elprogreso.es
https://www.elprogreso.es › Noticias
LA CHIQUILLADA DE mi pueblo salía los domingos de misa de doce desbocada ... en ello una mayor capacidad socializadora que en un grupo de chavales dándose ...
Tradiciones de Costa Rica, UCR - Facebook
facebook.com
https://www.facebook.com › photos › tradicion-el-cin...
6 sept 2022 — Andar en grupo y tocar de puerta en puerta representaba una fiesta para la chiquillada, por lo cual se esperaba con ansia el 31 de diciembre ...
Los niños refrescan Riazor | Deportes | EL PAÍS
elpais.com
https://elpais.com › Deportes
... desenfadada y energética del grupo de chicos que ha reunido Joaquín Caparrós. ... la mano experta que puso la guinda al manifiesto de la chiquillada.
Setenteros, zeppelianos... y no obstante, modernos
rock-progresivo.com
https://www.rock-progresivo.com › 2011/11
10 nov 2011 — superan al grupo principal, no porque uno vaya con la mentalidad de que ... interpretativa aún, aunque les pese a la chiquillada que suele
Aplicaciones del procesamiento del lenguaje natural ... - RUC
udc.es
https://ruc.udc.es › VilaresFerro_Jesus_TD_2005
de J Vilares · 2005 · Citado por 32 — muchachada{ nombre colectivo (grupo de muchachos) acción propia de la base (chiquillada). El dise˜no de nuestra herramienta aborda sólamente ...
en el contexto, como se ha dicho, el término alude a rivales pequeños, sin relevancia o poco conocidos.
Discussion
Hay que tener en cuenta que quien busca la palabra y se encuentra con este kudoz puede estar buscando el significado de "niñería".
Si se elide el país, obviamente no hay que poner "chiquillada" y basta con traducirlo:
"so called small fries" or whatsoever
Independents hold the key - Telegraph India
telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com › ...
1 may 2010 — Ranchi, April 30: They are the so-called small fries in the ocean of coalition politics, but in a situation like this when the BJP will have ...
On a linguistic note, I would say "chiquillada" here is a group noun, like "manada" (or, say, "perrada" as you might hear in Mexico), so it would be better translated in plural, "small fries". Not sure why it would be necessary to include the Spanish though.
https://elpopular.mx/opinion/2020/09/28/los-partidos-de-la-c...
So it would be a waste of time to engage in a debate with them (being Trump 'the boss').