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. Portuguese to English

Casa roubada, trancas à porta.

English translation: to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

10:58 Sep 9, 2003
Portuguese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Portuguese term or phrase: Casa roubada, trancas à porta.
One more of portuguese daily proverbs.
Henrique Magalhaes
Local time: 03:10
English translation:to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
Explanation:
is the English expression I learnt at my mother's knee!
Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:10
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +10to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
CMJ_Trans (X)
5 +3Close the barn door after the horses have fled
airmailrpl
4 +3The horse is already out of the barn
Marian Greenfield
5to shut the stable door after the horse is stolen
Clarice Ferreira
5it is too late to shut the stable-door when the steed is stolen
lenapires
3 +1They've locked the house, but the burglars have fled
Jamiewalke
5 -1Don't cry over spilt milk
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
3Once burned, twice shy
Amy Duncan (X)


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Casa roubada, trancas à porta.
The horse is already out of the barn


Explanation:
in other words, too late now...

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 22:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1930

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jamiewalke: Something like this, but I think you need to include the fact that they are taking preventative measures in hindsight
4 mins
agree  Will Matter: agree with both of you, 'hindsight' part is implicit....
15 mins
agree  Clauwolf
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
They've locked the house, but the burglars have fled


Explanation:
My two pennies' worth

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-09 11:30:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Unless I\'m ignorant of the idiomatic equivalent in English (which may well be the case), the proverb concerns the house having been robbed, at least on a superficial level. Where did the horses come from? Apologies if I\'m wrong!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-09 11:30:50 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or perhaps,

They\'ve locked the house now that the burglars have fled!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-09-09 11:31:20 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or even better,

They\'ve gone and locked the house now that the burglars have fled!

Jamiewalke
Local time: 03:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Will Matter
8 mins
  -> Thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Casa roubada, trancas à porta.
Close the barn door after the horses have fled


Explanation:
Casa roubada, trancas à porta.

airmailrpl
Brazil
Local time: 23:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in pair: 3881

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Will Matter
6 mins
  -> agradeço
agree  Janis Carter
26 mins
  -> agradeço
agree  rhandler
2 hrs
  ->  agradeço
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to shut the stable door after the horse is stolen


Explanation:
Dicionário Porto

Clarice Ferreira
Brazil
Local time: 23:10
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in pair: 227
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +10
to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted


Explanation:
is the English expression I learnt at my mother's knee!

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 241
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jamiewalke: Apologies! I was unaware of this one. Love it!
8 mins
agree  Norbert Hermann: that's the one
20 mins
agree  henley
1 hr
agree  Manzoni (X)
1 hr
neutral  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X): on my mother's lap?
1 hr
  -> how bizarre ! in UK English we say mother's knee - the great divide again!
agree  Sarah Ponting: yes, and it's definitely "at my mother's knee" in the UK :-)
3 hrs
agree  Daniel Marcus
6 hrs
agree  Diogo Santos: this is the correct one!
6 hrs
agree  Roberto Cavalcanti
6 hrs
agree  suesimons
7 hrs
agree  otouro
59 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Don't cry over spilt milk


Explanation:
:)

Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in pair: 3273

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cristina Chaves
2 hrs
disagree  Marcelo Fogaccia: No. This is "Não adianta chorar sobre o leite derramado".
3 hrs
  -> if sayings have the SAME MEANING, they can be substiuted for one another, including in English...It pays to expand one's brain..:)
disagree  Diogo Santos: I'm sorry but this is other saying
5 hrs
disagree  Marta Dutra (X): I agree with mfogaccia
1 day 3 hrs
agree  Osmar Jardim: I would prefer this expression. It expresses the meaning.
6 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
it is too late to shut the stable-door when the steed is stolen


Explanation:
in
Dicionário de Provérbios, de Roberto Chaves de Lacerda, Helena da Rosa Cortes de Lacerda e Estela dos Santos Abreu da Contexto Editora.

lenapires
Portugal
Native speaker of: Portuguese
PRO pts in pair: 75
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Once burned, twice shy


Explanation:
another suggestion

Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 23:10
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 1176
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