Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
A mí no me la das con queso
English translation:
Don\'t try to pull the wool over my eyes!
Added to glossary by
Rachel Freeman
May 6, 2012 09:26
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
A mí no me la das con queso
Spanish to English
Other
Poetry & Literature
Idioms and Sayings
Hi everyone. I have another saying I need to translate. This is from a Spanish anthology of plays. The author wants a universal English. In this play, which takes place in the 10th century, a nun who has dedicated her life to helping the lepers has just died and it was revealed that she was working in the leper colony as penance for an offence against the King.
Monk 1: Acaso cuando te lavaba las heridas y limpiaba tu pus y tus heces, preguntó quién eras tú y qué habías hecho ¿.No actuaba acaso con virtud? Ella amaba a los enfermos y erais sus amigos no solamente de palabra sino por sus servicios. Su entrega no era una apariencia falsa de sus sentimientos, ni una necesidad de amar y ser amada por vosotros.
ENFERMO 1 *A mí no me la das con queso*, se entregaba a su trabajo como un pasatiempo. No dejaba de ser la dama noble que juega a ser caritativa y así pasa el tiempo sin aburrirse.
I get the idea: I don't believe it, what nonsense, etc. I need a good expression in English to communicate this. Any ideas? Thank you all so much for your help!
Monk 1: Acaso cuando te lavaba las heridas y limpiaba tu pus y tus heces, preguntó quién eras tú y qué habías hecho ¿.No actuaba acaso con virtud? Ella amaba a los enfermos y erais sus amigos no solamente de palabra sino por sus servicios. Su entrega no era una apariencia falsa de sus sentimientos, ni una necesidad de amar y ser amada por vosotros.
ENFERMO 1 *A mí no me la das con queso*, se entregaba a su trabajo como un pasatiempo. No dejaba de ser la dama noble que juega a ser caritativa y así pasa el tiempo sin aburrirse.
I get the idea: I don't believe it, what nonsense, etc. I need a good expression in English to communicate this. Any ideas? Thank you all so much for your help!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
7 mins
Selected
Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes!
Given the context, anything resembling "Who are you trying to kid!" or "Pull the other one!" would be far too modern
You could also consider "Don't give me that nonsense!"
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Note added at 9 mins (2012-05-06 09:36:38 GMT)
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of course "Bullshit", whilst lovely, would also be totally anachronistic :D
You could also consider "Don't give me that nonsense!"
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Note added at 9 mins (2012-05-06 09:36:38 GMT)
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of course "Bullshit", whilst lovely, would also be totally anachronistic :D
Peer comment(s):
agree |
franglish
57 mins
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many thanks franglish!
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agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
58 mins
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many thanks gallagy!
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agree |
Letredenoblesse
1 hr
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Many thanks Agnes!
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agree |
Marian Vieyra
3 hrs
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many thanks Marian!
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agree |
James A. Walsh
: Love your suggestion of 'balderdash' in the discussion too - very fitting!
5 hrs
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many thanks James :-D ... !
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
16 mins
You can't fool me
I think this works perfectly in the context.
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Note added at 18 mins (2012-05-06 09:45:21 GMT)
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Or perhaps the older-sounding 'You do not fool me'
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Note added at 18 mins (2012-05-06 09:45:21 GMT)
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Or perhaps the older-sounding 'You do not fool me'
2 hrs
"Pull the other one!" or "Are you pulling my leg?"
Some other suggestions. Or "Are you taking the micky/p...?" It all depends on the tone of the rest of the translation. How idiomatic do you want it to sound?
4 hrs
You can't pull the wool over my eyes
Literally. I'm fussy. No, not "Shakespearian," it would work onstage, though...
Best wishes.
Best wishes.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: erm, scuse me for being thick, but is this sufficiently different to my posting to warrant a separate entry?
1 hr
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Discussion
So, I feel that the best one can do is to use fairly neutral language throughout, and avoid any obvious anachronisms.