Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

poner la cabeza sobre la cuadra

English translation:

To put one\'s head on the block

Added to glossary by liz askew
Dec 29, 2007 15:42
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

poner la cabeza sobre la cuadra

Spanish to English Art/Literary Religion
In a religious essay, the following sentence is found regarding the Holy Spirit convicting of sin: "El Espíritu Santo lleva al pecador a una rendición completa, y entonces el pecador, por así decirlo, *‘pone la cabeza sobre la cuadra’* y dice: 'Jehová es; haga lo que bien le pareciere'".

Anyone know the meaning and/or origin of this phrase? Thanks!
Change log

Dec 31, 2007 17:38: liz askew changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/28515">Bill Greendyk's</a> old entry - "poner la cabeza sobre la cuadra"" to ""To put one\'s head on the block""

Discussion

liz askew Dec 31, 2007:
Fair enough, Bill! I just hope you're getting paid for doing two jobs at once ;) All the very best in 2008!
liz askew Dec 30, 2007:
Gosh! Editing the Spanish AND translating into English - some people don't ask for much, do the? ;)
Bill Greendyk (asker) Dec 29, 2007:
Sorry, Liz!! My lack of effectively communicating! I've been asked to edit the Spanish as I go along translating this to English. I suppose my latter question would be one for the 'Spanish-Spanish' community. Thanks again.
liz askew Dec 29, 2007:
Sorry, do you want the translation into Spanish? I thought you wanted the English?

Perhaps something like "Bow your head and ask for forgiveness" (in Spanish of course) might be more appropriate - you need a native Spanish speaker here.
liz askew Dec 29, 2007:
I think you are right, Bill. In any case, the second reference I have given you will at least explain the origin of the term, in English!..I often use it!
Bill Greendyk (asker) Dec 29, 2007:
To Liz I've got the idea in English, but my question is whether it can be viably translated into Spanish without sounding very stilted and transliterated. Thanks for the help.
Bill Greendyk (asker) Dec 29, 2007:
This is written by a native English speaker, and I suspect that it's a twist on the English phrase "put one's head on the block"! I'm not sure, on the other hand, that it translates effectively or even correctly into Spanish.
Jennifer Levey Dec 29, 2007:
That is indeed the origin of the expession. How you interpret it in the context of your source text is up to you and your client!
Bill Greendyk (asker) Dec 29, 2007:
Is the 'sinner' here placing his head on the 'tajo', the executioner's block, in the sense of resigned admission of guilt???

Proposed translations

+2
19 mins
Selected

To put one's head on the block

This is what it looks like, but I have never come across the phrase in Spanish.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2007-12-29 16:06:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Although we are talking about the Catholic church here, I assume...

so I doubt if this is it!


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2007-12-29 16:12:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here is some historical context, but from a non-Catholic perspective..

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:_0nENltitbEJ:www.rencen...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2007-12-29 16:15:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Anderson attributes his innovative and progressive way of thinking to his
Viking ancestors the Plantagenets whose laws and governance, he says,
are the foundation of present day American and English law. "I've always
wanted to be an explorer. It is somewhat inherent because of my Viking
heritage. The Plantagenets were a very forward thinking group of rulers that
both the French and the English today would rather forget about because
they were neither Catholics nor of royal descent."
Peer comment(s):

agree Jennifer Levey
2 mins
Gracias!
agree Eileen Brophy
1 hr
Thank you!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Liz. While I indeed have edited the original Spanish, I've given you the points, since the question was initially presented as a Spanish>English question, and the phrase you cite is very legitimate in this context in the English text. Thanks for your excellent help as well, Lady of Arcadia. Liz, by the by, I don't mind at all that the client has me edit the Spanish AND translate to English....it's actually counting as a 'double' job!! Nice it would be if all jobs were like this. :) Happy New Year!"
+2
9 hrs

"arrepentirse en el polvo y la ceniza"

..."La condición pecadora del hombre y la penitencia interior, la necesidad de conversión, la tristeza por el mal que habita en el corazón humano y la decisión firme de emprender el camino que conduce a Dios. Se trata de iniciar un combate cristiano contra las fuerzas del mal. En la Biblia el gesto simbólico de la ceniza es uno de los más usados para expresar la actitud de penitencia interior. Josué desgarró sus vestidos, se postró rostro a tierra y todos esparcieron polvo sobre sus cabezas y oraban a Jehová." (Jos 7, 6). Israel llora su mal con saco y ceniza, hay duelo, porque viene el saqueador sobre nosotros” (Jr 6, 26). La penitencia se manifiesta así: 'retracto mis palabras, me arrepiento en el polvo y las cenizas' (Jb 42, 6). El ejemplo típico es el de Nínive ante la predicación de Jonás: 'Los ninivitas creyeron en Dios, ordenaron un ayuno y se vistieron de saco, y el rey se sentó en la ceniza' (Jon 3, 5-6)."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2007-12-30 01:52:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or, "arrepentirse en polvo y ceniza"
Peer comment(s):

agree liz askew : Interesting, the two different historical and religious perspectives. We do well to respect them ;)
15 hrs
Claro que sí. Gracias, liz
agree Marian Martin (X) : Agree.Duro simbolismo fiel a los textos.
1 day 15 hrs
Gracias
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search