Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
salir de la olla
English translation:
to do more than just survive/not be broke
Added to glossary by
Lucy Phillips
Jun 18, 2015 14:29
9 yrs ago
Spanish term
United Kingdom
Elegant precision - published writer
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English, Portuguese to English
salir de la olla
Spanish to English
Other
Slang
colloquial language
Hi all, the context is a compilation of phrases from Latin American respondents who were asked about their definition of poverty. I can't be sure where this particular respondent is from, however from a similar phrase elsewhere in the text, it may well be the Dominican Republic.
I get the idea of getting out of a mess/out of difficulties (even out of the shit - but I realise this is too strong).. but this doesn't have much of a ring to it... I'd love to hear some more inspired suggestions!
the target language is international English, so nothing too country specific, if possible :)
"Si naciste pobre, tu progreso es salir de tu pobreza…salir de la olla…"
I get the idea of getting out of a mess/out of difficulties (even out of the shit - but I realise this is too strong).. but this doesn't have much of a ring to it... I'd love to hear some more inspired suggestions!
the target language is international English, so nothing too country specific, if possible :)
"Si naciste pobre, tu progreso es salir de tu pobreza…salir de la olla…"
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| Hi Lucy, This article seems to explai... |
Jacob Z. (X)
|
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Selected
to do more than just survive
I thought I would suggest this based on the article I posted a link to in the discussion area, because it seems that this term in the Dominican Republic has a specific meaning related to the inability to do anything more than just barely make ends meet financially.
If you're starting out in poverty, life may feel like just a struggle for survival, so to "salir de la olla" may mean to get to a place where you actually have some sort of financial security, not just enough to survive day-to-day.
According to that article, anyone can end up in the financial "olla" (trapped in debt, etc.), but given the rest of the statement being quoted about poverty, I think this would be a good suggestion.
Here's another link to that article:
http://www.imagenesdominicanas.com/2010/07/porque-los-domini...
If you're starting out in poverty, life may feel like just a struggle for survival, so to "salir de la olla" may mean to get to a place where you actually have some sort of financial security, not just enough to survive day-to-day.
According to that article, anyone can end up in the financial "olla" (trapped in debt, etc.), but given the rest of the statement being quoted about poverty, I think this would be a good suggestion.
Here's another link to that article:
http://www.imagenesdominicanas.com/2010/07/porque-los-domini...
Note from asker:
| sorry, 'your thoughts and link' :) |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks James - in the end I went just with 'If you were born poor, for you progress is getting out of poverty... not being broke...' since I found quite a lot of references that translated the term as just 'broke'. All of the answers helped, but I especially appreciated your thoughts and like provided."
23 mins
Francois Boye
United States
United States
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
get out of hell/a mess
my take
51 mins
get out of misery
Eso.
1 hr
Adoración Bodoque Martínez
Ireland
Ireland
Native in Spanish
Ireland
B.A. Eng. & Ling., DipTrans IoLET, MCIL
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
escape this poverty trap
It's not exactly idiomatic, but I think it's what it means, and it would be understood by everyone.
2 hrs
Giovanni Rengifo
Colombia
Colombia
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Colombia
Traductores Oficiales Cali
Native in: Spanish
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, German to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
44
see options below
a. stop being flat broke or
b. get yourself out of the gutter
"estar en la olla" means "to be penniless" or "to be in the gutter."
I'm sure you'll find a colorful idiom that reflects the tone of the source.
b. get yourself out of the gutter
"estar en la olla" means "to be penniless" or "to be in the gutter."
I'm sure you'll find a colorful idiom that reflects the tone of the source.
+1
3 hrs
Rosa Paredes
Canada
Canada
Native in Spanish
&
English
Canada
Criminal, Civil and Immigration Law
Native in: English , Spanish (Variants: Standard-Spain, Mexican, Latin American, Chilean)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
more than just surviving (see full translation below)
Hi, I am not from the DR, but I am a native speaker in contact with many variants of Spanish on a daily basis. "Salir de la olla" means being able to afford/do more than just putting food on the table.
"Si naciste pobre, tu progreso es salir de tu pobreza…salir de la olla…"
When you're poor, progress is being able to do more than just surviving. That's the idea.
Buena suerte!
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Note added at 3 hrs (2015-06-18 17:41:41 GMT)
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"Living from mouth to hand" comes to mind.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-06-18 17:43:27 GMT)
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the other way around (sorry): from hand to mouth
"Si naciste pobre, tu progreso es salir de tu pobreza…salir de la olla…"
When you're poor, progress is being able to do more than just surviving. That's the idea.
Buena suerte!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-06-18 17:41:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Living from mouth to hand" comes to mind.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-06-18 17:43:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
the other way around (sorry): from hand to mouth
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jacob Z. (X)
: Yes, I think "stop living from hand to mouth" is a good option also.
1 day 3 hrs
|
1 day 2 hrs
Aaron Kircher
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
get out of the rat race
From Dictionary.com
noun, Informal.
1.
any exhausting, unremitting, and usually competitive activity or routine, especially a pressured urban working life spent trying to get ahead with little time left for leisure, contemplation, etc.
Also for "get out of the rat race:
26,200,000 hits on google
noun, Informal.
1.
any exhausting, unremitting, and usually competitive activity or routine, especially a pressured urban working life spent trying to get ahead with little time left for leisure, contemplation, etc.
Also for "get out of the rat race:
26,200,000 hits on google
Reference comments
48 mins
Reference:
Hi Lucy,
This article seems to explain your term pretty well as used in the DR, referring to the perpetual inability to get out of poverty/debt or out of a cycle where you can't make ends meet or just barely can.
http://www.imagenesdominicanas.com/2010/07/porque-los-domini...
This article seems to explain your term pretty well as used in the DR, referring to the perpetual inability to get out of poverty/debt or out of a cycle where you can't make ends meet or just barely can.
http://www.imagenesdominicanas.com/2010/07/porque-los-domini...
Note from asker:
| excellent link, James! thank you very much :) |
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