English translation: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
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16:08 Aug 20, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Linguistics / proverbs
Spanish term or phrase:Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes
From a Spanish newspaper opinion piece about current liberal economic policy, criticising the Tea Party's insistence on reducing US public spending despite the fact that the US is one of the few Western countries that can afford to go into more debt at this point. Literal translation, "God gives bread to he with no teeth", figurative I gather is along of the lines of "life is unfair", but I'm struggling to match the tone and intent with an English translation.
This question is difficult to answer because you haven't given us the Spanish context - you've given your paraphrase of what you think it means, but we need to see several sentences in Spanish. This is probably why you've had so many very different answers.
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Answers
11 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
There is no justice in the world
Explanation: this may fit...
Edward Tully Local time: 07:31 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 40
12 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
It's an unfair world
Explanation: A suggestion
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 mins (2011-08-20 16:21:26 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
t's an unfair world www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/.../its-unfair-world-20100... - Cached
Aug 1, 2010 – It's an unfair world. By Bradley Gitz. Acrucial component of contemporary liberalism is the idea that American society provides unequal ...
A survey of Argentina: It’s an unfair world | The Economist www.economist.com/node/332751 - Cached
A survey of Argentina. It's an unfair world. Too many Argentines are poor, and income differences are widening. May 4th 2000 | from the print edition ...
In A Pineapple Under The Vast Sea: It's An Unfair World
anashirin.blogspot.com/2008/02/its-unfair-world.html - Cached
Feb 21, 2008 – Just so you know after 23 years of living, you ought to know that it's an unfair world. In Malaysia, it's an unfair system. ...
Mountains to Molehills: 'Unfair world' | BlueRidgeNow.com www.blueridgenow.com/article/20110701/NEWS/110709999
Jul 1, 2011 – I tell you, it's an unfair world. Look at the illegal immigrants and what they're costing us. They come here for a better life, but they need to follow ...
It's an unfair world for men you know ! www.morningstarr.co.uk/.../32996-its-unfair-world-men-you-k... - Cached
10 posts - 6 authors - Last post: Nov 11, 2010
Tis true, i've come to the conclusion that men are just womens playthings. We have to perform at least 3 times a night or it's another night on the ...
Democratic Underground - yes, you're correct, it's an unfair world ... www.democraticunderground.com › Discuss - Cached
yes, you're correct, it's an unfair world we live in.
It's an unfair world www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message826598/pg1
3 posts - 1 author - Last post: Jun 27, 2009
Discussion about It's an unfair world at the GodlikeProductions Conspiracy Forum. Our topics include Conspiracy Theory, Secret Societies, ...
It's an unfair world | Flickr - Photo Sharing! www.flickr.com/photos/relausen/1954855611/ - Cached
Aug 2, 2007 – Taken in Givskud Zoo, Denmark. This cute little guy really seems to think that the World is against him.
Dariusz Saczuk United States Local time: 01:31 Specializes in field Native speaker of: Polish
He gets all the luck and doesn't know what to do with it
Explanation: Just my .05 cents on this one.
•Dios le da pan al que no tiene dientes
◦Translation: God gives bread to whom can not bite
◦Interpretation:
■Used to complain about your own luck in comparison to a third person.
■It has the meaning: I deserve something more than him, but luck is on his side
Eileen Banks Argentina Local time: 02:31 Native speaker of: Spanish PRO pts in category: 11
Explanation: Based on your description, there is a slight problem here with how the original was used. Perhaps the author wanted to interpret the "teeth" a bit differently than they would normally be understood. This saying is used both ways: "The least needy get the most" and "the most needy get the least." www.drs.org.au/articles/2009/medicare select.htmThe least needy in major urban centres consume the most health resources, and the most needy get the least. Providers don't go to the most needy areas so .... The writer might want to say "All the lucky breaks go to those who don't know what to do with them" (that would fit with the lack of teeth).
Jenni Lukac Local time: 07:31 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 24
6 hrs confidence:
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Explanation: I think this, or a version of it, was used in the lyrics of "Ain't We Got Fun" in the 1920's.
Jeff Gotfredson United States Local time: 00:31 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
It was a tough one, but I think this fits the best. Thanks!
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
