Vaso ruim não quebra

English translation: Only the good die young.

06:13 Jul 14, 2002

Portuguese to English translations [Non-PRO]

Portuguese term or phrase: Vaso ruim não quebra

Ditado Popular, Brasil

Lisa

English translation:Only the good die young.

Explanation:
I think in English we approach this proverb from the other side (so to speak) -- that is, the proverb focuses on the fragility of the good rather than the tenacity of the bad. Hope it helps.

Selected response from:

Steve Smith
United States
Local time: 01:51

Grading comment

Muito obrigada pela ajuda.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +8

Only the good die young.

Steve Smith

4 +2

A bad vase doesn't break.

António Ribeiro

a creaking door/gate hangs long on its hinges

Ivan Costa Pinto

3 +1

A bad vase won't brake

hmercer

An ugly vase never breaks

Katriana Vader

a badly made vase won't break

Roberto Cavalcanti

"built for comfort, not for speed"

Grasa

it never rains but it pours

Daniel Marcus

A thorn in my side

otouro

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

A bad vase doesn't break.

Explanation:
Ver:

A bad vase doesn't break.
-------Unknown
latin, proverb, humor, all

http://216.239.35.100/search?q=cache:9rUK1ci0w1kC:www.ealasa...

António Ribeiro
Local time: 16:51
Native speaker of:

Portuguese
PRO pts in pair: 2288

6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

A bad vase won't brake

Explanation:
Apenas uma variação sobre o tema de Antrib.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-07-15 13:30:49 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry: \"A bad vase won\'t break\"
hmercer

hmercer
Brazil
Local time: 03:51
PRO pts in pair: 52

7 hrs confidence:

An ugly vase never breaks

Explanation:
This idiom really doesn't exist in English (US), but the meaning is still intact with this translation.

I wouldn't use the translation "bad vase" because I'm not sure a vase can be bad.

Katriana Vader
United States
Local time: 23:51
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 22

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

disagree

Roberto Cavalcanti: Sorry Katriana but that version does'nt keep the original sense, vaso ruim means a defective or a badly made vase

1 hr

-> I've got to agree with you, Robcav, "ugly" wasn't exactly the right word. But I think it conveyed the message. I think I like Jane's "cheap vase" better.

neutral

Grasa: doesn't convey the meaning of the expression. I agree.

5 hrs

-> Grasa, I believe it conveys the message, but I think "cheap vase" is even better.

neutral

António Ribeiro: Grasa: qual é a sua proposta?

8 hrs

agree

Samya Lima: ”ugly” vase works well, I believe it does convey the correct meaning - unwanted, something you would like to get rid of but just won't go away. I think ”cheap” also works: something/someone unworthy that keeps getting lucky.

6451 days

15 hrs confidence:

a badly made vase won't break

Explanation:
other alternative

Roberto Cavalcanti
Brazil
Local time: 03:51
Native speaker of: Portuguese
PRO pts in pair: 309

1 day 1 min confidence:

"built for comfort, not for speed"

Explanation:
>. comments of a English Major friend of mine...

'As to your expression, we talked it over and wondered if it had to do with people who have proven to be resilient being built tough and not delicate, as in, "I'm built for comfort, not for speed."'

I am sure this expression has no equivalent in English...

Grasa
Brazil
Local time: 23:51
PRO pts in pair: 8

1 day 3 hrs confidence:

it never rains but it pours

Explanation:
Not a direct equivalent, I know, but this is something you say to describe a series of bad occurences. 'First X happened, then y. If that wasn't bad enough, then z happened. You know, it never rains but it pours.'

Otherwise, I'm stumped, I'm afraid.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-07-15 23:12:30 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Kurosawa made a film which translates as The Bad Sleep Well. I suspect this may be the idea!

Daniel Marcus
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:51
PRO pts in pair: 136

1 day 4 hrs confidence:

A thorn in my side

Explanation:
This is just one more suggestion that might help.
Frankly, I'm stumped too..!
Good luck :)

otouro
Portugal
Local time: 07:51
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 94

1 day 6 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +8

Only the good die young.

Steve Smith
United States
Local time: 01:51
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 101

Grading comment

Muito obrigada pela ajuda.

2 days 8 hrs confidence:

a creaking door/gate hangs long on its hinges

Explanation:
*a creaking door/gate hangs long on its hinges
*creaky gates last longest
*he who never was sick, dies the first fit
*the cracked pot lasts longest

You may choose! It's a cornucopia.

Dicion�rio de Prov�rbios Franceses-Portuguese-Ingleses - by Roberto Cortes de Lacerda, et al, Rio de Janeiro 1999.

Ivan Costa Pinto
United States
Local time: 02:51
Native speaker of: Portuguese
PRO pts in pair: 47

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Vaso ruim não quebra

English translation: Only the good die young.

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Vaso ruim não quebra

English translation: Only the good die young.

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