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doreen
30-05-2011, 17:30
Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando



Can you guess the English equivalent ... very similar but not 100 :)
KirstyJay
30-05-2011, 17:55
A Bird in the hand is worth more than 100 flying. :D

Or in English....

"A bird in the hand is worth 2 in a bush"

What about this one... What's the English equivalent?

"Tocando su umbligo."
Harmonicaman
30-05-2011, 18:41
Dare I ask what an "umbligo" is?
doreen
30-05-2011, 18:49
Dare I ask what an "umbligo" is?

ombligo is a bellybutton ...
Jackie
30-05-2011, 18:56
Touching your bellybutton ? Has to be Touching wood but then who knows how the Spanish think lol
doreen
30-05-2011, 19:02
Touching your bellybutton ? Has to be Touching wood but then who knows how the Spanish think lol

Touch or knock on wood is toca madera ...

Is it something like stealing/pulling the rug under your feet
9PLUS
30-05-2011, 19:03
Porque hacerlo hoy si podemos hacerlo mañana
doreen
30-05-2011, 19:06
Porque hacerlo hoy si podemos hacerlo mañana

A Spanish proverb for tradesmen ??? :lol:
bonitatime
30-05-2011, 19:15
"Tocando su umbligo."

My understanding was it means somthing like doing nothing. But it is one of those phrases I have heard used but as I wasn't completely sure have never used. I will ask one of the children later.

My other half has just asked a collegue and she says it means doing nothing.
bonitatime
30-05-2011, 19:17
http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Discourse/Proverbs/Spanish-English.html

Is a list of Spanish proverbs with their english equivalents I found in my search for the meaning of the last one.
doreen
30-05-2011, 19:39
Is a list of Spanish proverbs with their english equivalents I found in my search for the meaning of the last one.


Some are really quite different

Ya que estamos en el baile, bailemos In for a penny, in for a pound
9PLUS
30-05-2011, 19:45
A Spanish proverb for tradesmen ??? :lol:



exactly.....
doreen
30-05-2011, 20:05
What about this one... What's the English equivalent?

"Tocando su umbligo."

doh ... just dawned on me ..... could be equivalent of "navel gazing" ???
KirstyJay
30-05-2011, 20:31
doh ... just dawned on me ..... could be equivalent of "navel gazing" ???No! It's equivalent in English is 'Twiddling your thumbs' :D

and yes, it's ombligo. I posted from my iPhone. My finger must have slipped. :o

I like this thread.... I find idioms interesting.
onelegnofeet
30-05-2011, 20:35
Deje que el que esta reparto de pecado la primera piedra .....................AY! Madre !!!!! this was said by jesus
doreen
30-05-2011, 21:53
I like this thread.... I find idioms interesting.


So do I and look what I have just found ... there's even a WiKi for Proverbs

with a proverb of the day :) De la mano a la boca se pierda la sopa


WikiProverbs is created for free use by linguists, folklorists, writers, journalists, anthropologists, translators, or anyone who wishes to research this fascinating domain of human language or simply enrich the vocabulary by using authentic proverbs.

http://wikiproverbs.com/index.php/Main_Page