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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal

English translation:

You\'ll reap what you sow / What goes around comes around

Added to glossary by Flavio Posse
Apr 4, 2013 22:28
12 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term

Al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal

Spanish to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Mexican idiomtic expression
Context: a girl tells her boyfriend not to cheat on her because "Al que obra mal se le pudre el tamal".
So if he's a bad boy he will eventually pay for it.

I'm looking for an equivalent idiomatic expression.
Thanks everyone!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +4 You'll reap what you sow
4 +2 What goes around comes around
4 +1 If you do wrong, it's going to come back and bite you in the ass.
4 Whoever does wrong wrongs himself
4 What's done, can't be undone
4 (you'll) he'll get his comeuppance (one of these days)

Proposed translations

+4
32 mins
Selected

You'll reap what you sow

Your sins will always find you out

or

You'll get your just desserts

You'll get what you deserve
Peer comment(s):
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : All great! // Quite, although I'm in "just a few more lines" mode.
3 mins
thanks Noni :) Time to turn in I think zzzzzz!// Oops, wretched Spell check and its auto correction!!)
agree anademahomar
27 mins
thanks anademahomar
agree David Hollywood : this is the nearest and very apt in English
2 hrs
thanks David :)
agree Christine Walsh : Nice one
3 hrs
thanks Christine :)
neutral Giovanni Rengifo : This sounds biblical. It doesn't really reflect the colorful register of the source.
4 hrs
It's one of those expressions that probably began with the bible, but has long since passed into the common language, and is very idiomatic in English
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Great answers, I like What Goes Around Comes Around, a lot. But this one seems to be directed straight at the culprit. Thank You!!!"
9 mins

Whoever does wrong wrongs himself

I think there is no way to keep the coloquial sense of the expression in Spanish in English, so I think the previous phrase gives that idea
Reference:

http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=whoever+does+wrong+wrongs+himself&oq=whoever+does+wrong&gs_l=hp.1.1.0l3j0i22i30.329

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28 mins

What's done, can't be undone

This is an english proverb, that could be used in this case, showing that some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words uttered or harmful actions once done can't be taken back. I agree with other colleagues that there is no way to say the same, as it is a spanish-speaking saying, belonging to some culture.
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1 hr

(you'll) he'll get his comeuppance (one of these days)

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+1
5 hrs

If you do wrong, it's going to come back and bite you in the ass.

What goes around, comes around.

Or something along these lines
Peer comment(s):
agree James A. Walsh : Agreeing with "what goes around, comes around" here, as you did suggest it first.
11 hrs
I'm glad you noticed that.
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+2
7 hrs

What goes around comes around

This is a pretty current expression these days for just this idea of 'karma', that you get what you deserve.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Giovanni Rengifo : I suggested the same answer two hours before you posted your answer (see above). IMO there's no point in duplicating answers.
8 hrs
Sorry Giovanni, I didn't see that in your answer, probably because I was looking at it on a mobile device. I still think it's a good proposition for this, and I'm not interested in points. As I said it was not my intention to duplicate.
agree Graciela Vicente
8 hrs
agree James A. Walsh
9 hrs
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