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foi pior a emenda que o soneto

English translation: the treatment was worse than the disease

20:54 Mar 18, 2008
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Portuguese term or phrase: foi pior a emenda que o soneto
A expressão "over-egg the pudding" não se consegue aplicar nas mesmas situações. Será que há alguma mais próxima?
José Crespo
Local time: 03:03
English translation:the treatment was worse than the disease
Explanation:
just a guess...
Selected response from:

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 22:03
Grading comment
Many thanks Marian
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5the treatment was worse than the disease
Marian Greenfield
4to leave well enough alone
Elvira Alves Barry
4made confusion worse confounded
Isabel Peck


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
the treatment was worse than the disease


Explanation:
just a guess...

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 22:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Many thanks Marian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carla G..: or "the remedy is worse than the disease"
8 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Gustavo Silva
12 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Murilo
19 mins
  -> thanks
agree  rhandler
51 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Rafael Mantovani
7 hrs
  -> thanks
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to leave well enough alone


Explanation:
Ser pior a emenda do que o soneto
Certo candidato a escritor apresentou um dia um soneto de sua autoria ao poeta português Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage (1765-1805) pedindo-lhe que marcasse com cruzes os erros encontrados. Bocage, mestre do soneto, leu tudo, mas não marcou cruz nenhuma, alegando que elas seriam tantas que a emenda ficaria ainda pior do que o soneto.
A expressão significa que, por vezes, as correcções feitas a alguma coisa a tornam pior do que a original.


    Reference: http://www2.eb23-gualtar.rcts.pt/biblioteca/Microsoft%20Word...
    Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/leave+well+enough+alone
Elvira Alves Barry
Local time: 03:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: É parecido mas a expressão "foi pior a emenda que o soneto" refere-se a uma situação em que o mal já está feito

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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
made confusion worse confounded


Explanation:
Proposta do New Dictionaries of Idioms, Edições Sá da Costa

Isabel Peck
Portugal
Local time: 03:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Notes to answerer
Asker: A solução parece-me correcta, assim como também a da Marian Greenfield. Escolho a da Marian apenas porque foi a primeira a responder. De qualquer maneira obrigado Isabel, até porque nem conhecia esta expressão. Excelente.

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