dejar al país maniatado

English translation: leaving the country hamstrung; leaving the country with its hands tied

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:dejar al país maniatado
English translation:leaving the country hamstrung; leaving the country with its hands tied
Entered by: Mónica Algazi

16:45 Dec 4, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Journalism / Article
Spanish term or phrase: dejar al país maniatado
Suponen que cerrar las puertas del futuro son medidas que van a caer simpáticas. Pero son medidas restringentes. Recortar el futuro, en principio atrasa y empobrece, * deja al país maniatado * ante las posibles oportunidades del porvenir.

TIA!
Mónica Algazi
Uruguay
Local time: 23:03
leaving the country hamstrung
Explanation:
It depends on how this sentence is translated, but it seems to me that the gerund form would have more punch.
Examples:news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8314276.stm‎
19/10/2009 - But neither prime minister has been able to maintain a stable coalition, leaving the country hamstrung in the face of one of Europe's deepest ...
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/.../342513285813352
In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge regime wiped out nearly every modern advance in health care, civic life, and literacy, leaving the country hamstrung by this tragic ...
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 04:03
Grading comment
Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5leave the country with its hands tied
Lisa McCarthy
4 +2leaving the country hamstrung
Jenni Lukac (X)
4 +1[See below.]
Robert Forstag
4threatening the country’s ability (to capitalize on future opportunities)
James A. Walsh
3to leave the country helpless
jmleger


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to leave the country helpless


Explanation:
I would say.

jmleger
Local time: 21:03
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, jmeger.

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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
leaving the country hamstrung


Explanation:
It depends on how this sentence is translated, but it seems to me that the gerund form would have more punch.
Examples:news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8314276.stm‎
19/10/2009 - But neither prime minister has been able to maintain a stable coalition, leaving the country hamstrung in the face of one of Europe's deepest ...
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/.../342513285813352
In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge regime wiped out nearly every modern advance in health care, civic life, and literacy, leaving the country hamstrung by this tragic ...

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 04:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 56
Grading comment
Thank you all!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Jenni!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: I like "hamstrung".
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Charles. It certainly fits what it's like to observe what's happening from ground zero.

agree  neilmac: Perhaps a bit tabloidy, but effective IMO :)
2 hrs
  -> Cheers and thanks, Neil.
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2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
leave the country with its hands tied


Explanation:
Highland Licensing Board approves variation to HUSH drinks licence
www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/.../2013/.../2013-05-1...
14 May 2013 - She said: “Unfortunately, the Board found itself with its hands tied. The presumption is in favour of an applicant and in this case there were no ...

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Note added at 5 minutos (2013-12-04 16:50:42 GMT)
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Ed Miliband Plays Politics with Syria - Clare George-Hilley
parliamentstreet.org › Blog‎
It is a character flaw that has ***left Britain with its hands tied** whilst crying and screaming children, with visible napalm burns from horrific weapons are left to suffer.

NEW JOURNAL COMMENT: A sane and principled decision on our ...
www.camdennewjournal.com/new-journal-comment-sane-and-princ...
1 Nov 2012 - **With its hands tied by central government***, Camden Council is able to build a minuscule number of council homes. At least, it has adhered to its ...



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Note added at 37 minutos (2013-12-04 17:23:29 GMT)
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"....leaving the country's hands tied and unable to avail of any future opportunities"

Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Local time: 04:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Lisa!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: here, I think the literal translation sounds most natural
20 mins
  -> Thanks, Carol - in this case a literal translation works well and it's a coomon expression :)

agree  Audra deFalco (X): Yes.
26 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  Phoenix III
30 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  neilmac: Slightly more formal than "hamstrung", so best option so far IMHO ;)
2 hrs
  -> Cheers, Neil :)

agree  Alejandro Alcaraz Sintes
1 day 1 hr
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
[See below.]


Explanation:
Recortar el futuro, en principio atrasa y empobrece, * deja al país maniatado * ante las posibles oportunidades del porvenir.
=
Future [budget] cutbacks can only impoverish a nation and impede its progress, thus rendering it incapable of benefiting from future opportunities.

Or, if the text implies a more general take on "recortar:

Mortgaging the future can only impoverish a nation and impede its progress, thus rendering it incapable of benefiting from future opportunities.


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Note added at 52 mins (2013-12-04 17:37:59 GMT)
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Or:

...thus rendering it impotent in the face of future opportunities.

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 22:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 87
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Robert!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: Nice solution too...
1 hr
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
dejar al país maniatado (ante las posibles oportunidades del porvenir)
threatening the country’s ability (to capitalize on future opportunities)


Explanation:

This is how I would handle this I think.

Example sentence(s):
  • Recortar el futuro, en principio atrasa y empobrece, <u>deja al país maniatado</u> ante las posibles oportunidades del porvenir.
  • Future cuts essentially delay and impoverish, <u>threatening the country’s ability</u> to capitalize on future opportunities.

    Reference: http://tinyurl.com/nuu82l2
    Reference: http://tinyurl.com/pceq57r
James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 04:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, James!

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