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respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós,
cuotas moderadoras
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer
Nov 22, 2007 20:13
16 yrs ago
Spanish term

Cuerda

Spanish to English Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting Crafts
Cuerda in Spanish means Sane and rope in English. Does anyone know of any word similar to sane related to rope please? This is a play on words and nothing comes to mind regarding rope and sanity.

Thanks in advance.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 tether
4 reached the end of my rope
3 well-tethered
3 taut-minded
1 getting/keeping a grip

Discussion

David Hollywood Nov 23, 2007:
don't give up Eileen .. there's usually a solution and I have a suggestion :)
Eileen Brophy (asker) Nov 22, 2007:
The obvious play on words comes from what precedes my sample text and that which follows Jackie.
Jackie Bowman Nov 22, 2007:
Sorry if I'm being a bit dense here, but are you sure it's a deliberate play on words? What follows "cuerda" is such a lengthy and vivid rope metaphor that the "sanity" aspect doesn't exactly leap off the page. Is there a connection in what precedes it?
Sp-EnTranslator Nov 22, 2007:
HI Eileen, quite a challenge you've got, and a highly suggestive text too...can't think of anything that might convey that "double meaning" you're seeking.
Eileen Brophy (asker) Nov 22, 2007:
Hi All,

How about "He who had achieved his objective should not have reached the end of his rope...." Is that too forced?
Sp-EnTranslator Nov 22, 2007:
HI Eileen, quite a challenge you've got, and a highly suggestive text too...can't think of anything that might convey that "double meaning" you're seeking.
Chris Lancaster Nov 22, 2007:
This sounds very awkward without more context. Could you maybe work in something like 'losing the string/thread'? Maybe not quite what you're looking for but little else comes to mind ... Does it definitely have to be translated?
Chris Lancaster Nov 22, 2007:
This sounds very awkward without more context. Could you maybe work in something like 'losing the string/thread'? Maybe not quite what you're looking for but little else comes to mind ... Does it definitely have to be translated?
Eileen Brophy (asker) Nov 22, 2007:
CONTEXT También debía ser cuerda que hubiese cumplido su objetivo, tendría que haber navegado y conocido el profundo sabor a sal del océano y haber pasado por las manos de los hombres que surcan continentes en busca de capturas en esa faena milenaria que es la pesca........ Sorry Henry but this doesn't fit in with the end of one's rope does it? :(( Thanks for your help though
Henry Hinds Nov 22, 2007:
Perhaps a bit of CONTEXT for inspiration?

Proposed translations

12 mins

reached the end of my rope

here is a suggestion but I'm not quite sure exactly what you're looking for;

My sanity is slipping and I've reached the end of my rope.

or how about,

My sanity is hanging by a thread. (could be close enough)

If you give me more context, I may be able to come up with something better.

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Note added at 14 mins (2007-11-22 20:27:43 GMT)
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reading your question again, this might not fit at all if you need just one word.
Note from asker:
Thanks for trying Lynda but I am afraid that I need just one word as it is a play on the word rope, as you will see from the context I have posted. :-))
Something went wrong...
+3
31 mins

tether

I know reaching the end of one's tether in English often leads to becoming insane but as I don't know how you've translated the rest of the text I can't say whether this would suit in this case

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-11-22 21:21:31 GMT)
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wow!! that's one hell of a translation you've got there!! do you absolutely have to keep the rope idea? If so, I think you've done as good a job as any of us could have done by the sound of it. A text like this is going to sound cumbersome however you translate it really isn't it? good luck!
Note from asker:
This is how I have translated it although I am not happy with it as it infers that the rope passes through the hands of others. He who achieved his objective should not have come to the end of his rope, he would have to have navigated and known the deep taste of the salt from the ocean and passed through the hands of men who cross continents in search of catches in this age old work which is fishing
There is not a lot I can do under the circumstances Victoria but do the best I can. Had I had more time to read it before accepting it and realised the play on words I guess I would have refused it but now I am in what can I do but my best love? Thanks for your attempt at helping anyway.
Thanks to everyone for your help but none of the answers serve. I have finally decided to leave the word as it would be translated normally, ie sane and not select any of your options. Forgive me but I think that is the fairest option and thanks again to all :-))
Peer comment(s):
agree Cesar Serrano : perhaps "tethered"...:)
38 mins
thanks Cesar
agree Jessie LN : I was going to post "tether" also :)
14 hrs
muchas gracias miralaluna
agree Gacela20
21 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

well-tethered

Just trying to come up with a one-word adjective (actually two words, but they're hyphenated!) suggesting "well grounded" or "both feet on the ground" (sane) plus the idea of tether/rope as suggested by Victoria...
Note from asker:
Sorry Scott but it needs to be a noun synonym for rope. That is why I have given up as I stated above. Thanks for trying anyway :-))
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

taut-minded

Having no more elections to steal for the taut-minded Texan, Rove, Cheney, and their underlings have decided the president can pretty much say and do ...
www.fauxnewschannel.com/05apr30.html - 28k - Cached - Similar pages

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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-11-23 02:37:58 GMT)
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And you should see Monty not as he was, but as I saw him that evening, as a taut-minded gamekeeper with a chip on his shoulder. ...
carti.x6.ro/.../John%20le%20Carre%20-%20The%20Secret%20Pilgrim%20v4.txt - 250k - Cached - Similar pages

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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-11-23 02:39:46 GMT)
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... with a securing element fixedly secured to an adjustable rope lock and a ... ends of the rope exiting as a taut rope segment and a pull rope segment, ...
www.patentstorm.us/patents/5913479-claims.html - 19k - Cached - Similar pages

"taut" as in "tight" rope and mind

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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-11-23 02:42:30 GMT)
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at a stretch it could refer to "sane"
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

getting/keeping a grip

I put confidence low because this is just a suggestion, but what comes to mind is something like "If s/he wanted to reach her goal, she would have to get a grip .... just as those who had sailed the oceans of the world...etc... gripped the rope, etc."
But then again "getting a grip" is pretty much a slang phrase and may not suit the rather literary tone of the source text. Perhaps, "holding fast" is an alternative.
Something went wrong...
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