This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Un antes y un después

English translation: Blazing a trail; a trailblazer; groundbreaker

17:31 Feb 2, 2009
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Spanish term or phrase: Un antes y un después
This is on a web page describing the staff at an ad agency - it seems to be an idiomatic expression

I need to get a feel of what they mean here. TIA!

"Joan: Un antes y un después en XXX."
S Ben Price
Spain
Local time: 12:49
English translation:Blazing a trail; a trailblazer; groundbreaker
Explanation:
Joan: blazing a trail in XXX

OR: pace setter; trendsetter; a shining light; a revolution
some possibilities that might fit a (Catalan?) bloke who works for an ad agency

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-02-02 18:44:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Or, how about something like "A leading light in XXX"

"Joan: One of XXX's leading lights"

"Joan: A revelation at XXX"

etc...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-02-02 18:45:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------



... a breath of fresh air...


Selected response from:

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:49
Grading comment
Trailblazer was my choice. Not exactly the same, but it sounds good for an ad agency web site - image is what they want. Thanks:)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7a milestone / a turning point
Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.)
2 +3Blazing a trail; a trailblazer; groundbreaker
Carol Gullidge
4Pre-Joan and Post-Joan
Marcelo González
3an example to follow
bcsantos
3pre- and post-XXX
Linda Grabner
1he's the alpha and the omega in X; he's the best X; he's the be all and end all in X
Tom Bodine


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
a milestone / a turning point


Explanation:
Suerte

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 minutos (2009-02-02 17:36:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

un antes y un después
expresa un hecho muy importante y revolucionario

La máquina de vapor marcó un antes y un después en la industria.

Margarita Ezquerra (Smart Translators, S.L.)
Spain
Local time: 12:49
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 33

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steven Capsuto: Yup. "Turning point" is what I was going to suggest.
1 min
  -> Many thanks Steven
agree  Mirtha Grotewold
2 mins
  -> Gracias Mirtha
agree  Beta Cummins: A turning point, I agree.
2 mins
  -> Gracias Beta Cummins
agree  Christine Walsh
15 mins
  -> Gracias Chriswa
agree  Peter van der Hoek: Beautiful!
15 mins
  -> Gracias Peter
neutral  Carol Gullidge: I'm trying to figure out how this Joan fellow can be a milestone... ;)
44 mins
  -> Hmm... I see what you mean!!!
neutral  Marcelo González: I agree with Carol. To refer to a person as a milestone (or as a turning point, for that matter) would be unusual.
2 hrs
  -> Gracias Marcelo... ahora lo veo! Gracias
agree  jtruzzi: Turning point! it marks a before and an after
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Gracias jtruzzi
agree  wordgirl
1 day 17 hrs
  -> Gracias wordgirl
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
an example to follow


Explanation:
My suggestion

bcsantos
Gibraltar
Local time: 12:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Blazing a trail; a trailblazer; groundbreaker


Explanation:
Joan: blazing a trail in XXX

OR: pace setter; trendsetter; a shining light; a revolution
some possibilities that might fit a (Catalan?) bloke who works for an ad agency

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-02-02 18:44:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Or, how about something like "A leading light in XXX"

"Joan: One of XXX's leading lights"

"Joan: A revelation at XXX"

etc...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-02-02 18:45:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------



... a breath of fresh air...




Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 138
Grading comment
Trailblazer was my choice. Not exactly the same, but it sounds good for an ad agency web site - image is what they want. Thanks:)
Notes to answerer
Asker: I like trailblazer!! Thanks! :) It's just the kind of advertising word they will like.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marjory Hord: good if referring to a person
2 hrs
  -> many thanks Marjory!
agree  LangSolutions
20 hrs
  -> thanks Richard!
agree  wordgirl
1 day 16 hrs
  -> thanks wordgirl!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Pre-Joan and Post-Joan


Explanation:
Since it seems to refer to the idea that business (or perhaps life) at company xxx can be divided into two periods, this might an especially good option.

Another option might be simply "Before Joan and After Joan".

Joan: Un antes y un después en XXX = (Life at XX) Pre-Joan and Post-Joan (at XX) / Before Joan and After Joan

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2009-02-02 20:32:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

When making a point that things were extremely different before or after someone's (or something's) emergence, it's really common to use these terms or "pre- and post-" (e.g., pre-Internet, post-Thatcher, pre-crises, etc.).

Economics 101; with **pre-Bush - post-Bush** comparisons: 1 Gallon gas $1.25 - $4.50 1 Gallon milk $1.89 - $3.49 1 KWH Cowlitz PUD - .025 - .056 ...
www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/20/readers/doc48cad66a4b9d4005... - 294k -

I hope this helps!

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 00:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
pre- and post-XXX


Explanation:
This form would match better what appears to be the tone of the piece.

Linda Grabner
United States
Local time: 06:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
he's the alpha and the omega in X; he's the best X; he's the be all and end all in X


Explanation:
truly, just guessing here; good luck

Tom Bodine
United States
Local time: 03:49
Native speaker of: English
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search