This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
indicadores vinculados con agregación de valor para gestión humana
corpiño

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

verdades de a puños

English translation:

hard-hitting truths

Added to glossary by Thomas Walker
Apr 21, 2017 00:21
7 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

verdades de a puños

Spanish to English Other Government / Politics Current events
This is from an op-ed in an Uruguayan newspaper. It's about Trump, & his increasing bellicosity.
I think the phrase may mean something like "hard truths", but research as I may, I haven't found any clear indication of the meaning. I found a number of instances of its use, but it's just there in the text, not with anything useful around it that would allow me to infer the meaning.
Here's the context:
Un chiste en dos piernas, Trump ejemplificaba el ridículo, pero de su boca empezaron a emerger ***verdades de a puños***: la guerra en Irak había sido un error “grande y gordo”; intervenir en conflictos como los de Medio Oriente era meterse con gente “de la que no sabemos nada”; EEUU tenía todo para ganar y nada que perder cooperando con Rusia; el único enemigo del mundo civilizado hoy es el Ejército Islámico … y, por sobre todo, “América está primero”.
All help appreciated - thanks in advance.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +6 hard-hitting (plain) truths
4 +1 plain truths
3 +1 undeniable truths
4 (some rather) "inconvenient" truths
3 rude awakenings
3 his "truths" with no punches pulled
2 big whopping great truths
References
Verdades de a puño. Interesting reference

Discussion

Marcelo González Apr 22, 2017:
@Tom - Exactly, dissertation (US)>PhD thesis (AU) My pleasure, Tom. And I couldn't agree more!! Together with metaphors, idioms can add layers of imaginative complexity. It can be downloaded below, from the Monash University Research Repository. Cheers :-)
"Metaphor and Agency in the English-Spanish Translation of Texts in Social Sciences" (2015)
http://arrow.monash.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/m...
Thomas Walker (asker) Apr 22, 2017:
@Marcelo - Ph.D. dissertation? Thanks for your contributions to this discussion. Idioms definitely make translation interesting - & challenging.
Is your dissertation available online somewhere?
Marcelo González Apr 22, 2017:
@Toni - interesting reference Neologisms sometimes come about through slight modifications to already established idioms...to extend their meaning in subtle and still-more-creative ways. You might want to read a bit of my doctoral thesis ("Metaphor and Agency") on the difficulty in translating 'idioms', including a special class of idiom that I coin "nuanced conceptualizations" (e.g., "coup by proxy" in my translation of Crandall and included in the KudoZ glossary), referencing the work of phraseologists such as Langlotz and Nunberg on "idiomatically combining expressions" and the 'terminological jungle' out there, where "fixedness" (a traditionally-believed defining characteristic or 'definitory parameter') is replaced with adaptability, i.e., the degree to which lexico-grammatical changes are tolerated. Like language itself, idioms change over time, and I would imagine in Spanish as well. Cheers :-)
Muriel Vasconcellos Apr 22, 2017:
I've removed all but one of my "Neutrals" I'm now convinced that the author took the first two statements seriously, then the second, somewhat less seriously. And he throws in the third because it's so ridiculous--especially to a non-American. He'd gradually building up steam. From there he launches on his scathing attack. I think he was sort of "warming up" in the first two examples.

I do draw the line at "inconvenient truth"--for us in the U.S. it is too strongly associated with facing up to the realities of climate change and the text doesn't get into Trump's position on that subject--at least in the passage that we see--and as far as I know, Trump is a climate-change denier. It would be confusing to any American.
Marcelo González Apr 22, 2017:
@Muriel The author calls them verdades, without using quotation marks. To me, this is an important distinction. Cheers from the Marianas :-)
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
He says that Americans got fed up with the stupidity and warmongering hypocrisy of their elite government and decided to finally do something about it. That Pres. Bush and Obama had the country meddling in global affairs all over the planet, treating other countries like children. He calls Madelaine Albright a hag. That all the other 2016 candidates had the same interventionist stench to them. That Trump called everyone out on their warmongering tendencies. But then, in just two weeks, Trump undid all of that (and now he's looking just like those he criticized- he's become part of the swamp he set out to drain).

There's no reason to believe the writer doesn't agree with the statements on Russia and ISIS. Only the last line about America being the greatest is clearly sarcastic, and that shouldn't be spelled out in the translation. It's clear.

So, I'm now certain that Marie and David were right all along. I just prefer his version, as it preserves the violence/punch aspect.
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
I've revised my opinion, and I now agree with Marie's and David's translations: undeniable, hard-hitting truths. I live in Colombia and usually am quick to jump in and comment on what's said and what's not said here, but I had never heard this phrase, nor had my Colombian husband. I've been talking to a Colombian editor and writer, though, and he confirms that it's a common phrase. However, at least in Colombia, the correct phrase is "de a puño." "De a puños" is clearly also used, but if that's only in certain regions or just when the speaker/writer isn't familiar with correct usage, I don't know.

My friend confirmed (as do online sources) that it means irrefutable, undeniable truths. Reading the article more carefully, it's clear that the writer does agree with these statements. I think he threw the last one in just for fun, indicated by the ellipsis... like, here are these inconvenient truths that I completely agree with... andddd, oh, of course, above all else, America's number one!!! Of course (eye roll). Sure, Trump. We'll let that one slide just because it's hilarious(ly wrong).

(To be continued in the next comment)
Muriel Vasconcellos Apr 21, 2017:
@Tom Well put. Perhaps you could do something like: '...hard-hitting truths like #1 and #2. And then he goes on to say: #3 and #4. And ends up with $5.' I will add this to my answer and spell it out.
Thomas Walker (asker) Apr 21, 2017:
A difficult passage I read Toni Castano's Reference Entry (thanks very much) & jumped via his link to the Word Reference Forum thread, which included the following: "...en Colombia decimos que una verdad es de a puño cuando es irrefutable..." This fits pretty well with the 1st two things in the list, i.e., the war in Iraq had been a “big fat” mistake; & intervening in conflicts like those in the Middle East was meddling with people “that we know nothing about”. However, the 3rd & 4th items in the list (the U.S. has everything to gain and nothing to lose by cooperating with Russia; the only enemy of world civilization today is the Islamic State) don't seem even to approach "irrefutable" status. And “America first,” which is a slogan, not a coherent proposition, would get nowhere near unanimous agreement. So, I guess I could make a case for the 1st & 2nd items being "verdades de a puños"; doubtful for the 3rd & 4th; & no way for the 5th. Back to the classic translator's dilemma: I want to translate what I wish he had said, what he may have meant to say; but I'm stuck with the ST. It's as if he starts out kind of serious (#1 & #2) gets more sarcastic (#3 & #4), & is totally sarcastic by #5.
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
Agreed, Marie. To be honest, the writer is scathing to all sides, and he does seem to give Trump a certain amount of credit. For the reasons I listed below, I wouldn't use the word "truths" here.
Marie Wilson Apr 21, 2017:
Well yes, that does change my perspective. From one short paragraph it isn't always easy to get a clear picture. "La estupidez se expande" part clarifies things.
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
Hi again, Marie.

From a bit further down in the column:

"La estupidez se expande. La “madre de todas las bombas”, según nos narrara el mismo Trump, es en realidad … ¡una advertencia para Corea del Norte! Sí: el país gobernado por un psicótico, inclinado a ejecutar a sus familiares más cercanos atándolos a misiles o a bocas de cañón, pero que ya ha ordenado cinco pruebas nucleares, ha desarrollado un misil balístico intercontinental y está tan infantilmente enamorado de su armamento como lo parece Trump."

He's no fan.
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
Hi Wendy, in my opinion, that phrase doesn't quite work (we do say spout (off) in the US, though). I wouldn't say that he suddenly started doing anything... yes, DT's been a joke/tabloid fodder for decades, and his entry into the political arena was relatively sudden. But I think "suddenly" conveys the idea of these statements coming out of him from one moment to the next. And spout emphasizes that he was going on and on about the subject, and that idea isn't present here.
Marie Wilson Apr 21, 2017:
I must admit that point does sound a bit dodgy. But then we don't really know anything about the journalist, just because the newspaper is Uruguayan it doesn't mean the writer has to be.
12316323 (X) Apr 21, 2017:
Marie, do you really think that the Uruguayan journalist agrees that, above all else, the US is number one?
Marie Wilson Apr 21, 2017:
@Muriel I see it in a different way. I think the author is no fan of DT but actually agrees with the "verdades", and the quoted parts are just quotes, the exact terms that DT has spoken, whereas the rest is just paraphrasing.
Muriel Vasconcellos Apr 21, 2017:
Verdades As Kathryn pointed out, the author does NOT consider that these truths are true. Note that he/she uses quotes for "grande y gordo" and "de la que no sabemos nada". That's why I used quotes around "truths" and Kathryn avoided saying the word.
Wendy Streitparth Apr 21, 2017:
To answer Kathryn's query, I would say "he suddenly started spouting ....", if that is an expression used in US.

Proposed translations

+6
3 mins
Selected

hard-hitting (plain) truths

I would say

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2017-04-21 00:27:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Trump doesn't hold back and I think this would work

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2017-04-21 00:30:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

in his opinion of course

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2017-04-21 00:31:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"home truths" as a second option

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2017-04-21 00:31:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

also implies the same degree of force

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2017-04-21 00:33:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think the translation should convey the "punch" element so let's see what else comes up
Peer comment(s):
agree Marcelo González : I agree completely - hard-hitting truths // the writer's choice of 'verdades' is his word choice here (and should be respected, I'd argue)
51 mins
thaks Marcelo
agree Marie Wilson : Hard-hitting is good.
6 hrs
thanks Marie
agree neilmac
8 hrs
thanks Neil
agree Wendy Streitparth : Preferably not "home" truths - that's usually on a more personal level.
10 hrs
thanks Wendy
agree AllegroTrans : hard-hitting truths
12 hrs
thanks AT
agree 12316323 (X) : Yep, this was right all along. Hard-hitting (not plain). Very nice.
23 hrs
thanks Kathryn
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, David - I used "hard-hitting truths" in my translation - seemed to fit best all around. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this interesting & helpful discussion."
17 mins

rude awakenings

A rude awakening - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+rude+awakening
if you have a rude awakening, you have a severe shock when you discover the truth of a situation We had a rude awakening when we saw the amount of our phone bill. You've been so spoiled by your parents, you are in for a rude awakening when you start to look after yourself.
The Rude Awakening (@680tra) · Twitter
https://twitter.com/680tra
Coming up on @680tra Adam Jones gets angry at a reporter-was he right?
3 days ago · Twitter
Rude awakening - definition of rude awakening by The Free Dictionary
www.thefreedictionary.com/rude awakening
rude awakening. n. A sudden and often unwelcome realization: "They all think Mrs. McCrea has plenty of money, but they're due for a rude awakening" (John O'Hara).
Urban Dictionary: Rude Awakening
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Rude Awakening
"The prostitute wanted to charge me extra after I gave her a rude awakening, but I told her to f' off and left. She couldn't get up without malt liquor leaking out her ...
Rude Awakening | Definition of Rude Awakening by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rude awakening
Define rude awakening: surprising and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken — rude awakening in a sentence.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

big whopping great truths

I am not sure how ridiculous this sounds in English, given that I am Spanish, but the usual collocation of "whopping great lies", changed to "truths", may create the desired effect of the author.

Unless the author was not ironic.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : This is not the author's intention -- Read Kathryn's answer; see my comment in the Discussion.
7 hrs
Thank you very much, Muriel. :-)
neutral AllegroTrans : overdone
9 hrs
Yes, I love overcooked hyperboles... ;-)
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

undeniable truths

This is another option, based on examples I've found in different articles. "Pero de su boca empezaron..." indicates a surprising contrast, so one way of saying it could be "but undeniable truths came spilling out".
Peer comment(s):
agree neilmac
1 hr
Thanks, Neil.
Something went wrong...
+1
7 hrs

plain truths

My sense of Trump's meaning when he made these observations was that they should be self-evident to anyone examining them with open eyes and a mind free of ideological baggage, a sort of colloquial 'any idiot could see that if he halfway tried'.
Peer comment(s):
agree neilmac
53 mins
neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : This is not the author's intention -- Read Kathryn's answer; see my comment in the Discussion.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
8 hrs

(some rather) "inconvenient" truths

Perhaps I'm gilding the lily a little here, but as the subject matter is political, I wouldn't be too reluctant to make this veiled reference to United States Vice President Al Gore's global warming campaign movie "An Inconvenient Truth"....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2017-04-21 16:55:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here's my take on it. The author criticises Trump ("a joke on two legs") but states that the "truths" are undeniable. My suggestion of "inconvenient" is merely an attempt at humour and reference to another ... Let's just say well-known political animal.
Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth

Peer comment(s):
neutral Muriel Vasconcellos : Au contraire. I see your answer as too kind to Trump. The article is a scathing criticism. An "inconvenient truth" is a difficult and really important truth that we all must face. It was made popular by Al Gore with his climate change awareness campaign.
2 hrs
Sorry, but I don't agree with that interpretation. And I don't agree with Kathryn's suggestion because it's too kind to Trump. I see the article as a criticism.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

his "truths" with no punches pulled

I agree with Kathryn that the author means "truths" in Trump's mind, but we need something that will fit the context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-04-21 01:26:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

P.S. Note that the author uses quotes for "grande y gordo" and "de la que no sabemos nada" in quotes. Clearly the author wants some distance between these statements and his own opinions.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2017-04-21 23:05:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Based on Tom's comments, I'd like to add more text to my answer. Here goes:

His "truths" with no punches pulled:/...hard-hitting truths like
the war in Iraq had been a “big fat” mistake **and** getting involved in conflicts like the Middle East is meddling with people “that we know nothing about”. **Then he goes on to say** the U.S. has everything to gain and nothing to lose by cooperating with Russia **and** the only enemy of world civilization today is the Islamic State (Army?). **And finally he ends up with** "America comes first."

If you break them up like this, it shows a decline in rationality, which may be the author's intent.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

5 hrs
Reference:

Verdades de a puño. Interesting reference

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/de-a-puño.2240607/?h...

Te recomiendo leer esta columna: Corruptelas del idioma: "con base en", "verdad de a puño". En el último párrafo, el autor, E. Osorio López, hace un análisis muy ameno de esa expresión, al parecer de uso en Colombia. Puedes leerlo todo si quieres, es interesante.

"Con frecuencia escuchamos a ciertos políticos y oradores veintejulieros decir “es una verdad de a puño”. El citado corresponsal desea conocer la legitimidad de esta expresión. La respuesta no es fácil, pues hay muchos dichos que, como la mayoría de los chistes, son de origen incierto. Puedo decir, sí, que es una construcción gramaticalmente errada, puesto que la combinación de las preposiciones ‘de’ y ‘a’ sólo se usa cuando se quiere expresar distribución (“en grupos de a tres”), generalmente con la inclusión en su complemento de un número cardinal. Es posible que esa expresión sea una variación desafortunada de “creer a puño cerrado”, con la que se quiere decir “creer firmemente”. Según el diccionario de María Moliner, con el que concuerdan otros que tratan el tema, existen las expresiones “como el (un) puño” (“una verdad (o una mentira) como un puño”); “como puños” (“dijo verdades (o mentiras) como puños”), que expresan la magnitud de tales verdades o mentiras.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search