perder como en la guerra

English translation: to get slaughtered

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:perder como en la guerra
English translation:to get slaughtered
Entered by: Wendy Gosselin

17:45 Apr 15, 2020
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Slang / popular sayings - Argentina
Spanish term or phrase: perder como en la guerra
Used in Argentina to refer to a resouding loss. For example in this quote from a trade union negotiator disappointed with the outcome of a salary deal:

"Nosotros votamos en contra (las dos CTA), pero perdimos como en la guerra, pero no se puede fijar un salario mínimo para el año que viene en 8.000 pesos cuando la canasta es de 16.000 pesos", expresó Micheli.

Or this quote by a newspaper reader reflecting on the Macri presidency:
"Ya perdimos como en la guerra, con la deuda a 100 años, 60% de inflación, 10% desempleo y 35% de pobreza. Macri lo hizo."

Can anyone think of a catchy phrase in English for a major defeat/loss, ideally with a war metaphor?
Wendy Gosselin
Argentina
Local time: 05:12
to get slaughtered
Explanation:
Or as Obama would say, "a shellacking".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2020-04-15 17:52:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Annihilated is another:

"We were slaughtered/annihilated..."
Selected response from:

Robert Carter
Mexico
Local time: 02:12
Grading comment
Loved it! Perfect.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2to get slaughtered
Robert Carter
4 +1to meet one's Waterloo
Katherine Camilleri
4it's like losing the battle AND the war
Lydia De Jorge
4lose disastrously
Lester Tattersall


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to get slaughtered


Explanation:
Or as Obama would say, "a shellacking".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2020-04-15 17:52:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Annihilated is another:

"We were slaughtered/annihilated..."

Robert Carter
Mexico
Local time: 02:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Loved it! Perfect.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Christopher Lane: It is a common Argentine expression
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Christopher.

agree  patinba: We got hammered (like when my team lost 6-0 in the Cup Final)
1 hr

neutral  Lester Tattersall: If they in fact they did lose by a big margin, then OK, but there's no clear evidence they did.
1 day 17 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
it's like losing the battle AND the war


Explanation:
Modification of the real quote: Lose the battle and win the war. I think it fits here.

Lydia De Jorge
United States
Local time: 03:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 102
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to meet one's Waterloo


Explanation:
https://grammarist.com/usage/waterloo-or-meet-ones-waterloo/

Katherine Camilleri
Ecuador
Local time: 03:12
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nelly Alejandra Alister: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/meet-one-s-waterloo
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
lose disastrously


Explanation:
"...but we lost disastrously"
Meaning that "it was a disaster that we lost" - the consequences were great.
I don't think he's necessarily saying they lost by a large margin, and it would be a mistake to imply this (e.g. 'get slaughtered/hammered etc.) if not true.

Example
"Archie Woodrow on Twitter: "She got moved out of the leader's ...
twitter.com › Archimbaldo › status
17 Dec 2019 - ... completely run into the ground and become totally dysfunctional, and was then sent to run the election campaign which we lost disastrously."


Lester Tattersall
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:12
Native speaker of: English
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search