https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/art-literary/5580-teje-chambritas.html

teje chambritas

English translation: excellent

06:37 Jun 30, 2000
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary
Spanish term or phrase: teje chambritas
Here is the original sentence:"la gorda secretaria que teje chambritas y se esfuerza mucho en no trabajar"

- From context I guess this would be "... who sits there filing her nails and working hard at doing nothing..."

But can any of our colleagues in Mexico clear this one up, please? What does the phrase literally imply?
Berni Armstrong
Spain
Local time: 09:26
English translation:excellent
Explanation:
Berni,
As a Mexican who has suffered fat secretaries "tejiendo chambritas" (which are the pastel-colored baby sweaters newborn baby moms are literally showered with when giving birth) I wouldn't have translated it better.
Congrats for your inspiration,
Claudia
Selected response from:

Claudia Esteve
United States
Local time: 04:26
Grading comment
Hi there, thanks to you all.

I gave the points to Claudia for the support she gave to my choice of image. I don't think that the idiom "knitting baby sweaters" would be as instantly recognizable to an English speaking readership as "filing her nails" - that is the standard image in English of a bored, none working secretary. English secretaries try to avoid babies like the palgue in my experience :-) Aren't cultural differences wonderful! "Viva las diferencias!"
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
naliterally, what it says is
anac
naexcellent
Claudia Esteve
naKnitting baby stuff
Yvette Camou


  

Answers


36 mins
literally, what it says is


Explanation:
the fat secretary who sits knitting baby sweaters and works hard at doing nothing, good luck!

anac
United States
Local time: 04:26
PRO pts in pair: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs
excellent


Explanation:
Berni,
As a Mexican who has suffered fat secretaries "tejiendo chambritas" (which are the pastel-colored baby sweaters newborn baby moms are literally showered with when giving birth) I wouldn't have translated it better.
Congrats for your inspiration,
Claudia

Claudia Esteve
United States
Local time: 04:26
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in pair: 65
Grading comment
Hi there, thanks to you all.

I gave the points to Claudia for the support she gave to my choice of image. I don't think that the idiom "knitting baby sweaters" would be as instantly recognizable to an English speaking readership as "filing her nails" - that is the standard image in English of a bored, none working secretary. English secretaries try to avoid babies like the palgue in my experience :-) Aren't cultural differences wonderful! "Viva las diferencias!"
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs
Knitting baby stuff


Explanation:
'Chambritas' is a very colorful term used in Mexico. But I guess English speakers need to know what it is. If you leave it as such, it wouldn't be understood by English speakers. You may use it and attach 'baby stuff' as a footnote or in parenthesis.

Yvette Camou
Mexico
Local time: 01:26
PRO pts in pair: 45
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.

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: