This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer
Apr 23, 2015 11:42
9 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term
Spain
con los mismos mimbres pueden hacerse otros cestos
Spanish to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Spanish sayings
Would like to know if there is an English equivalent for this
No context, I'm afraid. It is in a private letter.
TIA
No context, I'm afraid. It is in a private letter.
TIA
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | all roads lead to Rome |
Wendy Streitparth
|
| 3 | baskets/hampers can be made with the same wickers |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
|
| 2 +1 | There is more than one way to skin a cat |
George Rabel
|
Proposed translations
1 hr
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
52
baskets/hampers can be made with the same wickers
Without any context, I would stick to something that is more literal, unless you can get some kind of explanation from the client.
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: even without the context, ignoring "otros" means you lose the whole meaning (even the literal one!)//sorry, that wasn't meant to be a Disagree - I pressed the wrong button!
20 hrs
|
+1
1 hr
George Rabel
Native in Spanish
Works in field
TRANSLATIONS THAT READ LIKE ORIGINALS
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
48
There is more than one way to skin a cat
Before anyone chastises me, please note that my level of confidence is low. I have never heard the Spanish phrase. My own grandmother, who was the daughter of an Andalusian sailor, knew hundreds of "refranes."
The only reference with "mimbre" that I found is here:
http://www.refranerocastellano.com/refran7.htm
El que hace un cesto hace ciento, si le dan mimbres y tiempo.
The question at hand could be interpreted as meaning that there is more than one way of achieving an aim. Please see definition below:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/there-is-more-than-one-wa...
Meaning
There is more than one way of achieving an aim.
Origin
The earliest printed citation of this proverbial saying that I can find is in a short story by the American humorist Seba Smith - The Money Diggers, 1840:
"There are more ways than one to skin a cat," so are there more ways than one of digging for money.
Other versions of the phrase were in use in the 19th century, which specify the 'other ways' of felicide that might be employed. Charles Kingsley recorded the most common variant in the novel Westward Ho!, 1855. As befits a West Country gentleman, Kingsley opted for:
There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.
Other forms of end that have been employed (and sometimes of a dog rather than a cat) are hanging, choking with butter and choking with pudding.
The only reference with "mimbre" that I found is here:
http://www.refranerocastellano.com/refran7.htm
El que hace un cesto hace ciento, si le dan mimbres y tiempo.
The question at hand could be interpreted as meaning that there is more than one way of achieving an aim. Please see definition below:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/there-is-more-than-one-wa...
Meaning
There is more than one way of achieving an aim.
Origin
The earliest printed citation of this proverbial saying that I can find is in a short story by the American humorist Seba Smith - The Money Diggers, 1840:
"There are more ways than one to skin a cat," so are there more ways than one of digging for money.
Other versions of the phrase were in use in the 19th century, which specify the 'other ways' of felicide that might be employed. Charles Kingsley recorded the most common variant in the novel Westward Ho!, 1855. As befits a West Country gentleman, Kingsley opted for:
There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.
Other forms of end that have been employed (and sometimes of a dog rather than a cat) are hanging, choking with butter and choking with pudding.
Note from asker:
| Thank you! This came to mind (not choking the cat with cream, though :). Still, there is something in the Spanish expression that is not quite there and which led me to opt for a more literal translation (I'm quite sure there must be something closer, but still...) Thank you again for your good explanation. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: this is the one that first came to mind, although I rather agree with yr CR (2-3) simply because it might sound to foreigners as though it has horrible connotations. In fact it is widely used in any humorous, light-hearded context, with no cruelty implied
19 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Carol. I think Wendy's suggestion could be right too.
|
+1
2 hrs
Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
45 years experience
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
40
all roads lead to Rome
In other words: there are many different routes to the same goal.
Note from asker:
| Thank you Wendy, this also came to mind but as I mentioned regarding George's option, it is still not exactly what I'm looking for. I opted for a more literal version. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: agree regarding the meaning; however roads and routes seem a bit OTT/heavy when applied to wrapping up pressies, although it could well work for one's path through life. It would be nice if one expression could be found for both situations//Who knows? :))
19 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Carol. Who knows what lengths she goes to! / Yes, agree. Feel sure there is one, but it just won't come to mind.
|
Discussion