Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

por bueno a uno le ven la cara

English translation:

people take you for a fool/ want to make a sucker out of you/want to take you for a ride

Added to glossary by Lydia De Jorge
Apr 24, 2009 16:23
15 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term

por bueno a uno le ven la cara

Spanish to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
From a text written by an Ecuadorian immigrant in Spain.

"Y no se puede confiar en nadie porque a veces por bueno a uno le ven la cara." - You can't trust anyone because sometimes... 'they can tell you're a nice guy'?
I can't quite see the gist of this phrase - any suggestions?
Change log

Apr 27, 2009 12:54: Lydia De Jorge Created KOG entry

Discussion

teju Apr 27, 2009:
I think so I live in Texas, near the Mexican border, and all my Mexicans friends say it.
David Burrows (asker) Apr 27, 2009:
Ah Ha! I haven't heard this one before. Does any one know whether it is more of a South American expression?
Gabriela Mejías Apr 25, 2009:
Sure! If you're not a Spanish speaker, the elision of 'de tonto' makes the expression hard to understand.
teju Apr 24, 2009:
The gist of this phrase David, you don't get it because it's incomplete. The original phrase was "a uno le ven la cara de tonto", meaning "tomarle el pelo". Now it's very common to hear only "me vieron la cara".

Proposed translations

+4
2 mins
Selected

people take you for a fool/ want to make a sucker out of you/want to take you for a ride

.
Peer comment(s):

agree Valeria Verona : Me gusta tu primera opción
5 mins
Gracias!
agree Paula Sepúlveda (X)
10 mins
Gracias!
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : And I like options 2 and 3!
1 hr
Muy amable, Noni! Saludos!
agree Lucy Williams
16 hrs
Thanks Lucy!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I'm going with 'take you for a ride' as I think it fits the rest of the text well. Thanks a lot for your answers!"
+4
10 mins

they take advantage of you

Even though Lydia's options are all good, I think this fits better in this context because the whole phrase is "por bueno a uno le ven la cara". Because they think I'm nice, they think they can take advantage of me.
Peer comment(s):

agree Anandrade
36 mins
Gracias - teju :)
agree MariCarmen Pizarro
46 mins
Gracias - teju :)
agree Noni Gilbert Riley
59 mins
Muchas gracias Noni, un saludo - teju :)
agree Gabriela Mejías
10 hrs
Gracias Gabriela - teju :)
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59 mins

they can see right through you

Don't trust anyone, because it shows on your face. It might be the implied phrase stated by others here, but without additional context I think is the safer translation. It's an idiomatic expression in English that indicates that the truth shines through you.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

they'll see you as a walkover

Obviously you need to create, build and maintain a great rapport with your client, but you don't want to be **seen as a walkover** either. If you do, not only will you find it difficult to earn any respect from this and any other client, but if this continues you may find you create a reputation for yourself and possibly your agency.
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/522511/Dilemma---I-picked-...


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Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-24 18:16:53 GMT)
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For new, or experienced managers, achieving a balance between the two can seem like walking a tightrope. Concentrate on work tasks at the expense of personal issues and be seen possibly as distant, overbearing and inflexible. Yet get the balance wrong the other way by showing too much support or flexibility and risk a reputation **as a walkover.**
http://www.yfassociates.co.uk/pdfs/YFA_courses05.pdf
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