Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
¿Mandado?
English translation:
Yes-man?; Just following orders?; As ordered?; Jobswworth?; Puppet?; Poodle? Stooge? Lackey?
Added to glossary by
Mónica Algazi
Sep 18, 2013 13:21
10 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term
¿Mandado?
Spanish to English
Other
Journalism
Título de un artículo de prensa (editorial)
When we say "Hacer(le) los mandados" in a figurative way, it means something along the line of doing as ordered by someone else who is bossing us around, but I cannot think of a good way of expressing this idea -and the ironic hue- in English.
TIA!
"¿MANDADO?
Se recapitula el allanamiento al XXX, procedimiento que “se llevó a cabo con inusual agresividad”. Además, se recuerdan las distintas voces que, desde el gobierno, “saludaban la decisión de xxx de abandonar el país”.
El columnista afirma que la Juez YYY aún no ha encontrado nada que incrimine a xxx, y que, incluso, la Justicia ha ido devolviendo todo lo que había incautado y no ha iniciado procedimiento alguno contra la institución o alguno de sus empleados. “¿Encontrarán algo que nos libre de la sensación de que todo ha sido un bochorno?”, se pregunta el columnista, cuestionando además si zzz es el único miembro del oficialismo que lamentó que xxx se fuese de [nombre de un país].
TIA!
"¿MANDADO?
Se recapitula el allanamiento al XXX, procedimiento que “se llevó a cabo con inusual agresividad”. Además, se recuerdan las distintas voces que, desde el gobierno, “saludaban la decisión de xxx de abandonar el país”.
El columnista afirma que la Juez YYY aún no ha encontrado nada que incrimine a xxx, y que, incluso, la Justicia ha ido devolviendo todo lo que había incautado y no ha iniciado procedimiento alguno contra la institución o alguno de sus empleados. “¿Encontrarán algo que nos libre de la sensación de que todo ha sido un bochorno?”, se pregunta el columnista, cuestionando además si zzz es el único miembro del oficialismo que lamentó que xxx se fuese de [nombre de un país].
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
3 hrs
Selected
Poodle/Stooge/Lackey/Yes-man/Flunkey
as per the Discussion entries. There are other synonyms that suggest the idea of giving in too readily to orders from "above". Unfortunately, some of these might sound rather too impolite in a report!
Whatever, I'd suggest a pithy one-word heading if possible.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2013-09-19 12:49:58 GMT)
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Thanks Mónica!
However, I agree with Robert that some may not be the right register for the publication concerned - which I 'm not familiar with.
"Jobsworth" might be another possibility...
Whatever, I'd suggest a pithy one-word heading if possible.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2013-09-19 12:49:58 GMT)
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Thanks Mónica!
However, I agree with Robert that some may not be the right register for the publication concerned - which I 'm not familiar with.
"Jobsworth" might be another possibility...
Note from asker:
This is priceless. Thank you, Carol!!! |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Noni Gilbert Riley
: Great range, to which I can but add, "forelock tugger". Oh, and I suppose "Yes, guv". I'd love Mónica to use Poodle.
39 mins
|
Thanks Noni :O)) Or even "Yes Minister" ...? Have to admit, I do love that series!
|
|
agree |
Rosa Paredes
: Yes-man
4 hrs
|
Thanks Rosa!
|
|
neutral |
Carl Stoll
: IN WHICH COUNTRY, PLEASE? I have lived in 8 different spanish-speaking countries and have NEVER heard that expression.
HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAS MONICA LIVED IN?
7 hrs
|
Don't know which are your 8 countries, but clearly Mónica has heard it, and, as you know, she's from Uruguay
|
|
neutral |
Belli
: Yes-man works, but most of the others seem outdated. These kinds of terms are so dependent on trends and region. "Puppet" was one that occurred to me.
19 hrs
|
Not sure about "outdated", but I DO take Robert's point that some of them might be the wrong register - have to admit I don't know the target publication. Another - toned-down - possibility is perhaps "Jobsworth".
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Muchísimas gracias, colegas y maestros."
+3
11 mins
Just following orders.
This seems to fit your explanation but not totally sure if fits the text .....
Note from asker:
Thank you, Peter. |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Phoenix III
: This is as close as it gets but without the "Just" because it is implied.
3 hrs
|
agree |
Noni Gilbert Riley
: On the other hand I think "just" is an important part of the expression.
3 hrs
|
neutral |
Carl Stoll
: IN WHICH COUNTRY, PLEASE? I have lived in 8 different spanish-speaking countries and have NEVER heard that expression.
10 hrs
|
agree |
Belli
: "just following orders" is a common expression used when authorities do absurd things. They don't think or reason. They only do what they are told to do. If it was put in quotation marks with a question mark it might be clearer.
12 hrs
|
17 mins
Mandate?
... another option...
Note from asker:
Gracias, César. |
48 mins
Only Orders?
Just trying to find a good translation with the same sarcasm.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Belli! |
1 hr
AS ORDERED?
If it is the title. I has little to do with "hacerle los mandados" a alguien.
Note from asker:
Por aquí viene la cosa. ¡Gracias, Henry! |
1 hr
100
when somebody says " me hace los mandados", this usually refers to somebody in particular who he can beat at something, meaning he is better.
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-09-18 14:56:15 GMT)
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You can also use this term to ask or order to do errands, which means using this expression in a more literal way.
For example: somebody is sick and asks somebody else to run some errands:
¿Me puedes hacer unos mandados?
sí, ¿qué necesitas?
Por favor, vé al Banco y deposita éste cheque y de regreso, recoge mi correo, éso es todo, gracias.
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-09-18 15:09:17 GMT)
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I think in this instance Mandado means sent, since yyy and zzz returned goods in exchange for xxx to leave so they sent him away
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-09-18 14:56:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
You can also use this term to ask or order to do errands, which means using this expression in a more literal way.
For example: somebody is sick and asks somebody else to run some errands:
¿Me puedes hacer unos mandados?
sí, ¿qué necesitas?
Por favor, vé al Banco y deposita éste cheque y de regreso, recoge mi correo, éso es todo, gracias.
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Note added at 1 hr (2013-09-18 15:09:17 GMT)
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I think in this instance Mandado means sent, since yyy and zzz returned goods in exchange for xxx to leave so they sent him away
Example sentence:
Tú sabras mucho Español, pero en Inglés me haces los mandados
Note from asker:
Entiendo lo que quieres decir y estoy de acuerdo, pero no es este el sentido que tiene el título del artículo en este caso. Gracias, de todos modos, por tu aporte. |
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Carl Stoll
: IN WHICH COUNTRY, PLEASE? I have lived in 8 different spanish-speaking countries and have NEVER heard that expression.
9 hrs
|
very popular in mexico
|
5 hrs
Blind Justice? / Justice Served?
Two non-literal translations that would appear to capture both the meaning and the ironic tone of "Mandado?" here. Terms such as "stooge", "flunky", "lackey" might be used in an article in a sensationalist rag or the official organ of a fringe political party, but it seems implausible to contend that such crude and inflammatory language would reflect the decision of the editor-in-chief of the moderate national daily in question.
Suerte.
Suerte.
Note from asker:
Thank you, Robert. |
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Carl Stoll
: IN WHICH COUNTRY, PLEASE? I have lived in 8 different spanish-speaking countries and have NEVER heard that expression.
5 hrs
|
neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: I WOULD like "Blind Justice", but it really means being fair (unprejudiced) to everybody, so, sadly, seems inappropriate here... :( But I do take your point about the possibility that my register is wrong. Afraid I don't know the publication concerned
17 hrs
|
Discussion
I'm no doubt being terribly thick, but it isn't obvious to me who or what "mandado" actually refers to. Could it possibly be something under the same heading but further on in the text? Failing that, I wonder if it wouldn't be more meaningful to change the title completely to something that resonates more in English, explaining to the client that direct English translations of headings and titles are rarely the most appropriate. Something along the lines of "Fiasco", "Farce" or "Debacle" perhaps?
Or if you prefer to use something linked to the idea of being ordered about, then how about something along the lines of "Poodle" (as in Tony Blair being GWBush's poodle), "Stooge" or "Lackey"? But then the link with the text as I see it would be somewhat tenuous...
However, I'm sure I must be missing something!