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clean up one's act

Spanish translation: sentar cabeza//enderezar las riendas

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:clean up one's act
Spanish translation:sentar cabeza//enderezar las riendas
Entered by: Michael Powers (PhD)

01:34 Jun 29, 2003
English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary / idiomatic expression
English term or phrase: clean up one's act
informal meaning "behave in a more acceptable manner"

Please translate it into the informal register also.
Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 13:13
sentar cabeza//enderezar las riendas
Explanation:
Hola Mike,
Dos opciones.
Buena suerte y saludos del Oso ¶:^)

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Note added at 2003-06-29 01:48:17 (GMT)
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sentar la ~ una persona que era turbulenta y desordenada.
1. fr. coloq. Hacerse juiciosa y moderar su conducta.
DRAE©

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Note added at 2003-07-02 00:18:54 (GMT) Post-grading
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Gracias a ti, Mike.
Saludos cordiales,
Oso ¶:^)
Selected response from:

Oso (X)
Grading comment
Otra vez, muchas gracias a todos por cada contribución.

Mike :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +6sentar cabeza//enderezar las riendas
Oso (X)
5 +3ponerse a raya
Henry Hinds
5 +1portarse como es debido
MartaM
4 +1enderezar el caminado
Ricardo Posada Ortiz
5portarse bien
Sol
3"Limpiar el expediente"
Hélène Lévesque


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
enderezar el caminado


Explanation:
si

Ricardo Posada Ortiz
United States
Local time: 13:13
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 981

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ingridbram: Yo pondría enderezar el camino, pero depende del país para donde se traduzca
7 mins
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
sentar cabeza//enderezar las riendas


Explanation:
Hola Mike,
Dos opciones.
Buena suerte y saludos del Oso ¶:^)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-29 01:48:17 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sentar la ~ una persona que era turbulenta y desordenada.
1. fr. coloq. Hacerse juiciosa y moderar su conducta.
DRAE©

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-07-02 00:18:54 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Gracias a ti, Mike.
Saludos cordiales,
Oso ¶:^)

Oso (X)
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 9863
Grading comment
Otra vez, muchas gracias a todos por cada contribución.

Mike :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  ingridbram: sentar cabeza me parece lo más apropiado
1 min
  -> Muchas gracias, Ingrid ¶:^)
agree  Susana Galilea: otra por "sentar cabeza"
2 hrs
  -> Hola Susi, mil gracias ¶:^)
agree  Rianne Sanchez: sentar cabeza me parece la mejor opcion, perdona la falta de acentos
14 hrs
  -> Hola Rianne, muchas gracias ¶:^)
agree  Manuel Garcia
14 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, Manuel ¶:^)
agree  Barbara78: concuerdo
20 hrs
  -> Mil gracias, Barbara ¶:^)
agree  marianmare
20 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, marianmare ¶:^)
neutral  Sol: no me parece - si un muchacho deja de fumar en la escuela, no está "sentando cabeza", pero está "cleaning up his act"
2 days 52 mins
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
ponerse a raya


Explanation:
Vas a tener que ponerte a raya, pues si no, te vas a salir volando.

You're going to have to clean up your act or you'll be kicked out.

Vas a tener que "componer tu pedo"... (México), quizá demasiado informal.


    Exp.
Henry Hinds
United States
Local time: 11:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 16449

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  silviafont: "PONERTE A RAYA" WOULD BE USED IN ARGENTINA AS WELL
8 hrs
  -> Gracias, Silvia.
agree  verbis
20 hrs
  -> Gracias, Verbis.
agree  Esperanza Gallegos: También "meterse al aro", que no sé de donde proviene, pero lo he oído.
1 day 17 hrs
  -> Gracias, Espy, no, eso no lo había escuchado yo pero suena.
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
portarse como es debido


Explanation:
.

MartaM
Spain
Local time: 19:13
PRO pts in pair: 3

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  marox79: Or "Actuar"
16 hrs
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1 day 0 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
"Limpiar el expediente"


Explanation:
My guess.

Hélène Lévesque
Local time: 11:13
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 12
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2 days 55 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
portarse bien


Explanation:
otra opción

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Note added at 2003-07-01 02:48:05 (GMT)
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marchar derecho

Claro que hay que agregarles algo a estas opciones para que denoten el cambio:

portarse mejor
empezar a marchar derecho

algo por el estilo
Buena suerte

Sol
United States
Local time: 13:13
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 1149
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