con la punta del zapato

English translation: like the scum on the sole/bottom of their shoe

21:37 Nov 2, 2007

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Human Resources / employee survey

Spanish term or phrase: con la punta del zapato

"Deberían tener un mejor entrenamiento respecto a relaciones humanas ya que nos tratan con la punta del zapato."

Consult Couture KudoZ activity Questions: 278 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 376 United States
Local time: 02:41

English translation:like the scum on the sole/bottom of their shoe

Explanation:
there is an expression involving shoe in English too , I think that's it

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Note added at 18 mins (2007-11-02 21:56:30 GMT)
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It means the same thing, but it's truer to the source as it has a similar metaphor

Selected response from:

VIV FATHIMAN (X)
Local time: 01:41

Grading comment

Thank you to everyone! :o)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

..we are treated with no respect

Lydia De Jorge

[although they] treat us badly/terribly/horribly--or grossly mistreat us

Terry Burgess

4 +1

like the scum on the sole/bottom of their shoe

VIV FATHIMAN (X)

they don't treat us well

NTRAD

3 +1

like second-class citizens

jack_speak

3 +1

... they treat us like dogs.

Irene Schlotter, Dipl.-Übers.

they push us around with their feet as if we were some sort of commodity

Bubo Coroman (X)

as if we were dirt on their shoes

Griselda Sutton

Discussion entries: 7

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

..we are treated with no respect

Explanation:
.

Lydia De Jorge
United States
Local time: 02:41
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 68

6 mins confidence:

they don't treat us well

Explanation:
A eso se refiere.

NTRAD
Spain
Local time: 09:41
Native speaker of: Spanish

6 mins confidence:

[although they] treat us badly/terribly/horribly--or grossly mistreat us

Explanation:
It basically means "being kicked".

Terry Burgess
Mexico
Local time: 01:41
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

like the scum on the sole/bottom of their shoe

VIV FATHIMAN (X)
Local time: 01:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

French
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you to everyone! :o)

57 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

like second-class citizens

Explanation:
one more option - no shoe analogy, but it's a commonly-used expression.

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jack_speak
Local time: 03:41
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

... they treat us like dogs.

Explanation:
That's what bad people do with dogs - they kick them.

Irene Schlotter, Dipl.-Übers.
Spain
Local time: 09:41
Native speaker of:

German

11 hrs confidence:

they push us around with their feet as if we were some sort of commodity

Explanation:
this keeps the image of the tip of the shoe pushing something around the floor

Bubo Coroman (X)
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 83

19 hrs confidence:

as if we were dirt on their shoes

Explanation:
Although this is not a literal translation it should give the same meaning to this metaphor.
Buena suerte.

Griselda Sutton
Local time: 03:41
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

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