Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
pasados a cuchillo
English translation:
put to the sword
Added to glossary by
Claudia Vale
Mar 21, 2008 10:17
16 yrs ago
Spanish term
United Kingdom
Qualified Teacher of French and Spanish
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
pasados a cuchillo
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
The text is about women telling stories in a kitchen in Afghanistan:
"Allí se cuentan historias antiguas de tribus y de guerras, de reyes y de princesas, de ingleses entrometidos pasados a cuchillo y de interminables caravanas cargadas de tesoros."
It sounds like a colloquialism such as "interfering/meddling Englishmen dispatched/bumped off with knives" but I'm not sure.
"Allí se cuentan historias antiguas de tribus y de guerras, de reyes y de princesas, de ingleses entrometidos pasados a cuchillo y de interminables caravanas cargadas de tesoros."
It sounds like a colloquialism such as "interfering/meddling Englishmen dispatched/bumped off with knives" but I'm not sure.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +12 | put to the sword |
Carol Gullidge
|
Proposed translations
+12
10 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
315
Selected
put to the sword
exactly as in Collins Robert. A nice colourful, old-fashioned expression, which probably fits the context without needing much modification...?
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Note added at 11 mins (2008-03-21 10:29:32 GMT)
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btw, according to CR, it's a modismo, but isn't marked as colloquial
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Note added at 13 mins (2008-03-21 10:31:28 GMT)
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if you wanted it to be more lierary and less literal, how about
"summarily executed" or just executed...?
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Note added at 15 mins (2008-03-21 10:32:59 GMT)
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liTerary, even!
But I'm not sure how literary you need to be
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2008-03-22 11:55:57 GMT) Post-grading
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any time - just wish I could take the credit!
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Note added at 11 mins (2008-03-21 10:29:32 GMT)
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btw, according to CR, it's a modismo, but isn't marked as colloquial
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2008-03-21 10:31:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
if you wanted it to be more lierary and less literal, how about
"summarily executed" or just executed...?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2008-03-21 10:32:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
liTerary, even!
But I'm not sure how literary you need to be
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day1 hr (2008-03-22 11:55:57 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
any time - just wish I could take the credit!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Carol, you're a star and I must buy a new dictionary! Thank you everyone. :o)"
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