Translation - To smash the frog (English)

Hi,

Can't say the size of the rock is the frog in English.

You CAN say "A rock sized frog.:

Or "The frog was the size of a rock."

The reason for this is that a rock can be ANY size, from the size of a small car to the size of a perl, but a frog is always, more or less, a size that can be identified and associated with. now, if this is a Spanish saying, we have to find something that is like the saying in English...in any case a word for word translation will not work here.

CC: guilon

This is, I believe, a Mexican saying, so it can't be translated word-for-word. Also, I think "pedrada" refers to a hit with a stone, not a stone. Anyone know this saying?

I must say that...now I agree with 'gloonie'.. i never thought in that way

So what we have to do is put our heads together and give this meaning in English.

maybe...the stone that was used to hit someone had the size of a frog

I asked some people from Mexico who had heard the saying, and the closest I can come to the meaning is that "the means should be adwequate to the end". IN other words, the size of the stone should match the size of the frog. (or, more brutally, to smash the frog you need an equal-sized rock!)

Still not sure, though....

Now that sounds ok in English to: "The means should equal the results." or "Force should be used in direct ratio to the results."

So lets go with the to smash the frog you need an equal-sized rock!

So why does pirulito disagree? Do you have something better pirulito? If not I can't count your vote unless you can defend it.

The smash is big as your mistake.

I found something that will help in solving the mystery it's here, the lower part of the page

Freya...you have really solved the mistery!!!

Don't use a lot where a little will do.

is just a perfect match to the meaning of the mexican saying.

(where do you find those treasures???)

I have my "secret" sites which I use every time I find this sort of texts.

This is a mexican proverb it seems, literally meaning 'the size of the frog determines the stone-cast'.

I don't know an equal expression in english but it should be something like:

don't use a lot where a little will do / don't use a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

ok next time I will check other people's comments first, I ended up at the same site without knowing it, could have saved me half an hour

Freya is right...or her secret site

Not so secret site! :-) - I also saw it. I think we're getting close to the meaning! Thanks Freya and all!

In fact, I didn't really know the meaning of this saying, but I was curious and this was enough to make me want to search it on the net.
Another thing from another site, only it is in Spanish here...strange, they don't agree

Anyway, after reading this I believe the saying wants to express something like: "According to your acts, you get what you deserve." or something like this.