Spanish translation: ir con la corriente (México, Argentina, Perú, Uruguay); (ser un) veleta (España); va para donde va el viento (Uruguay) [Proz]
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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:
blow in (with) the wind
Spanish translation:
ir con la corriente (México, Argentina, Perú, Uruguay); (ser un) veleta (España); va para donde va el viento (Uruguay) [Proz]
English to Spanish translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / United States
English term or phrase:blow in (with) the wind
I have decided to compile a somewhat thorough English-Spanish glossary, a long-standing goal I have had for many years but never actually done. In approximately 10% of the cases, I am recurring to you, my colleagues on Proz, to ask you to help me get appropriate translations into Spanish of a number of idioms.
I want to assure everyone that ALL TRANSLATIONS WILL BE SHARED on the open forum we have in Proz. The way I guarantee this is by choosing “one answer” to which I incorporate many of the other answers, and then I click to save the question and answer on the open Proz forum.
Selection criteria: 1) extensive usage throughout the Spanish-speaking world. I am counting on your help, and since usually colleagues simply agree without adding where they know the translated term to be used, I am not able to specify this in the answers. This is not a commercial enterprise, but rather an informal exercise for the benefit of all of us. 2) Many times there are really creative idioms that are used which, although not used necessarily through the Spanish-speaking world, would be readily understood by all. I am particularly happy to include these in the open forum so that we can all enjoy them in our use, whether literally, or perhaps with an adaptation to the degree that each translator deems appropriate for that particular target population.
Please, when you agree with an answer, mention the countries in which you know such idiom to be used, if not already mentioned by another colleague. Since this project is so time-consuming and endless, and since, like you, I have such a heavy load of translations and interpreting jobs to do and cannot spend umpteen million hours on it, I must count on your help. And although simply listing countries because another translator say so is in no way scientific, at least it is an interesting start.
Finally, I know context is everything. Quite often I will give the meaning(s) in which I am interested, and I will attempt to include a sample. Some sources, such as the Random House Dictionary, already have an example, so there is no need for me to do this, since time is of essence.
Thank you for your help.
Example:
Some very good thoughts here, but I think Strickland will serve us best. Although it is unbelievable that Blackwell was once one of us. I think that as more gets out about Blackwell, the more Republicans will see him as the opposite of Strickland. Ted doesn’t blow in the wind looking for whatever opportunity suits him best. We used to have a news picture of good old Ken in the Enquirer standing in front of a Carter/Mondale poster. There he was, rooting for Carter. I can’t understand how someone like Blackwell can look at himself in the mirror and I think people will see him for the opportunist he is.
It seems we disagree in the English meaning. Can you give a definiton in English, please?
01:22 Dec 10, 2005
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
7 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +6
(ser un) veleta
Explanation: se usa en España
veleta.
(De vela2).
1. f. Pieza de metal, ordinariamente en forma de saeta, que se coloca en lo alto de un edificio, de modo que pueda girar alrededor de un eje vertical impulsada por el viento, y que sirve para señalar la dirección del mismo.
2. f. Pluma u otra cosa de poco peso que los pescadores de caña ponen sobre el corcho para conocer por su movimiento de sumersión cuándo pica el pez.
3. f. Cinta o banderola de la lanza de los lanceros de caballería.
***4. com. Persona inconstante y mudable.***
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 9 mins (2005-12-10 01:06:21 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Miradas de Cine nº 36 - Estudio François Truffaut (y II) - Aquí un ... - [ Translate this page ]
A la par que él, nosotros iremos descubriendo que Antoine es un veleta que deambula
por la vida con mucha clase, cambia de trabajo constantemente y que ... www.miradas.net/2005/n36/estudio/articulo2.html - 13k - Cached - Similar pages
Susana Galilea United States Local time: 10:36 Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 44
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +6