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construindo alguma coisa

English translation: plotting / making up schemes

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:construindo alguma coisa
English translation:plotting / making up schemes
Entered by: Michael Powers (PhD)

16:34 Jul 2, 2007
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Slang / Brazil - illegal activities, slush funds, etc.
Portuguese term or phrase: construindo alguma coisa
I have a pretty good feel as to what it means in this context; however, I would like independent input to either confirm what I am thinking or give me new perspective.

TIA - Mike :)

E a ABC sempre honrou esses compromissos, sempre no começo do ano a ABC pagava tudo e ficva com dinheiro lá fora, fazendo as movimentações, transferindo, construindo alguma coisa, na época de campanha política, quando queria ajudar os candidatos, dava dinheiro por fora, essas coisas
Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 13:58
plotting/making schemes
Explanation:
a suggestion, Mike! That's what I grasp from the context.
Selected response from:

Denise Miranda
Local time: 14:58
Grading comment
Thank you, everyone. In this paragraph, since it deals with bribery ("dava dinheiro por fora"), the most appropriate translatioin in this figurative sense is the one offered by Denise Miranda of "plotting or making up schemes". - Mike :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5by building something
José YÁÑEZ (X)
3 +2building something
Clauwolf
4concocting/cooking up/hatching/framing things/something
Rui Freitas
3 +1plotting/making schemes
Denise Miranda
3creating something
Amy Duncan (X)
3fabricating something
MLeiria


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
by building something


Explanation:
In the sense of constructing some sort of building

José YÁÑEZ (X)
Local time: 19:58
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
creating something


Explanation:
...another option.

Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fabricating something


Explanation:
According to Houaiss:

construir:

transitivo direto
8 Derivação: sentido figurado.
inventar, armar, tramar (algo)
Ex.: c. um álibi

MLeiria
Portugal
Local time: 18:58
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
concocting/cooking up/hatching/framing things/something


Explanation:
Being in figurative sense, I think this one gives you a lot of room to play with. I, for one, could not come up with one solution. I like plenty of the choices at hand.

Rui Freitas
Portugal
Local time: 18:58
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
plotting/making schemes


Explanation:
a suggestion, Mike! That's what I grasp from the context.

Denise Miranda
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you, everyone. In this paragraph, since it deals with bribery ("dava dinheiro por fora"), the most appropriate translatioin in this figurative sense is the one offered by Denise Miranda of "plotting or making up schemes". - Mike :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Clauwolf
1 hr
  -> Obrigada, Clauwolf!
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
building something


Explanation:
:) I think there is a pause (a dot) after "alguma coisa", the original is not perfect

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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-07-03 13:13:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

To be figurative, the term would be "arquitetando", near, but different from "construindo". So, pehaps you are right; try then "making squemes" from Denise :)))))

Clauwolf
Local time: 14:58
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
Notes to answerer
Asker: "building something" or "constructing something" would, obviously be literal translations; however, in this case, I believe it is figurative, and may mean something like "improvising" or "making something up." I don't think a literal trasnlation fits here. What do you think?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Susy Ordaz
6 hrs
  -> obrigado
agree  amj_services (X): During election campaigns, very often candidates build roads, schools, houses... I think the meaning here is literal.
2 days 5 hrs
  -> obrigado
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