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cosa de ellos

English translation: Kids these days! Always up to no good.


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20:01 Jul 30, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics
Spanish term or phrase: cosa de ellos
Hello,

What would be a good translation for "cosa de ellos". The speaker is an old lady complaining about a group of youths drinking on a street corner.

Esta juventud! Cosa de ellos.
Thanks
translation1201
English translation:Kids these days! Always up to no good.
Explanation:
Perhaps a bit colloquial, but I am attempting to duplicate the overall effect of the speaker's style in English.
Selected response from:

Jeff Gotfredson
United States
Local time: 00:31
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4Young people today! Oh well, it's their business!
Stefano Nicola D'Amato
4 +2Honestly, the things the youth of today get up to!
James A. Walsh
4 +1Young people these days! In a world of their own!
Lindsay Spratt
5That's typical of them!carosisi
4(Young people today.) I guess whatever they do; it's their business.
eski
4Oh, this young generation!
Remy Arce
4(They're) always doing their own thing / it's their thing.
Jenni Lukac
3These young people, nowadays...They're always up to something/up to their usual tricks.Barbara Cochran
3Kids these days! Always up to no good.
Jeff Gotfredson


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Young people today! Oh well, it's their business!


Explanation:
Since this is a verbal, informal statement, I am trying to to visualize what an English speaker who fits the profile you described would say.

Stefano Nicola D'Amato
United States
Local time: 01:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  xxxFVS: This could be said in a million ways but your's seems very good to me.
3 mins

agree  Mónica Algazi
43 mins

neutral  Barbara Cochran: If's she's complaining, she wouldn't be expressing herself in a kind of "oh, well," "that's the way they are" manner. She would then be resigned, not complaining./I don't think this is a Polish grandma speaking here.
45 mins

agree  Werner Maurer: All the other translations are very free indeed! One or more of them might still be suitable, depending on speaker's intent.
1 hr

agree  Dorota Goczal: I think she is resigned and complaining. Reminds me of older Polish women in Poland:) Oh, those children now:)
1 hr
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
These young people, nowadays...They're always up to something/up to their usual tricks.


Explanation:
HTH

Barbara Cochran
Local time: 01:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 3

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  xxxFVS: ummmm looking at your neutral to Stefano, I would make exactly the same comment about your answer.
49 mins
  -> Why? It's obvious that my interpretation is more indicative of complaining, which is what the asker has expressed, categorically, I might add. Umm...
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Esta juventud! Cosa de ellos.
Honestly, the things the youth of today get up to!


Explanation:

Or alternatively: I don't know, the things the youth of today get up to!


James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 07:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Simon Bruni: nice and idiomatic and covers the meaning well
14 hrs
  -> Cheers Simon.

agree  bcsantos
1 day52 mins
  -> Thank you.
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(They're) always doing their own thing / it's their thing.


Explanation:
Another option.

Jenni Lukac
Local time: 07:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Oh, this young generation!


Explanation:
Another option.

Remy Arce
Local time: 01:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 14
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Young people these days! In a world of their own!


Explanation:
My take on it!

Lindsay Spratt
Local time: 02:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
1 day4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Muriel!
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Kids these days! Always up to no good.


Explanation:
Perhaps a bit colloquial, but I am attempting to duplicate the overall effect of the speaker's style in English.

Jeff Gotfredson
United States
Local time: 00:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
That's typical of them!


Explanation:
I live in a Spanish-speaking country, and we say things like these all the time. 'Cosa de jóvenes' ' Cosa de niños' ' Cosa de viejos' etc. meaning it is very common for them to do something or act a certain way.

carosisi
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(Young people today.) I guess whatever they do; it's their business.


Explanation:
(Young people today.) I guess whatever they do; it's their business:

ww.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-s-qtel-ordered-close-all-virgin-bran... - Cached12 Jun 2011 – whatever they do, its their business guys. ... But I guess you come here for the easy money and because growth is less in your countries. ...

lex Pelling and Lisa Grant: Couple plan ceremony in every country ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Alex-Pelling-Lisa-Grant-Couple-plan... Jun 2011 – Most couples prepare for their wedding on the assumption that it ... of the day its entirely their business to do whatever they please. ... But, each to their own I guess. - The Future Mrs Watson, Albion, 08/6/2011 08:47 ...

eski
Mexico
Local time: 00:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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