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Translation - Spanish-English - Del tamaño del sapo es la pedrada.

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Category Expression - Daily life

Title
Del tamaño del sapo es la pedrada.
Text
Submitted by gloonie
Source language: Spanish

Del tamaño del sapo es la pedrada.

Title
To smash the frog
Translation
English

Translated by nate
Target language: English

Don't use a lot where a little will do.
Validated by dramati - 3 February 2008 23:00





Last messages

Author
Message

2 February 2008 19:11

gloonie
Number of messages: 5
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....

2 February 2008 21:16

dramati
Number of messages: 972
Now that sounds ok in English to: "The means should equal the results." or "Force should be used in direct ratio to the results."

3 February 2008 06:05

dramati
Number of messages: 972
So lets go with the to smash the frog you need an equal-sized rock!

3 February 2008 09:26

dramati
Number of messages: 972
So why does pirulito disagree? Do you have something better pirulito? If not I can't count your vote unless you can defend it.

3 February 2008 09:53

pyedro
Number of messages: 2
The smash is big as your mistake.

3 February 2008 13:00

Freya
Number of messages: 1910
I found something that will help in solving the mystery it's here, the lower part of the page

3 February 2008 13:28

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
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???)


3 February 2008 14:04

Freya
Number of messages: 1910
I have my "secret" sites which I use every time I find this sort of texts.

3 February 2008 14:06

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972


3 February 2008 14:57

Nego
Number of messages: 66
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.

3 February 2008 15:01

Nego
Number of messages: 66
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

3 February 2008 15:14

lecocouk
Number of messages: 98
Freya is right...or her secret site

3 February 2008 15:27

gloonie
Number of messages: 5
Not so secret site! :-) - I also saw it. I think we're getting close to the meaning! Thanks Freya and all!

3 February 2008 16:29

Freya
Number of messages: 1910
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

3 February 2008 16:52

Freya
Number of messages: 1910
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.

3 February 2008 16:55

gloonie
Number of messages: 5
That's true, but I suspect "to each his own" is not correct. Someone else said "Si hay que pagar a alguien en una empresa, dependiendo de sus estudios o su preparacion es su sueldo." That seems to somewhat fit our interpretation better. (e.g. paying someone according to their qualifications would seem to hint at the idea idea of fitting the repsonse to the size of the problem....)

3 February 2008 19:31

saldorsi
Number of messages: 6
Para aplastar una rana, necesitas una piedra de su tamano

3 February 2008 19:49

Lucila
Number of messages: 105
In the original text you don't need anything.
The translation is not of the meaning of the text.
It's not write: "This translation request is "Meaning only"."

3 February 2008 19:55

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Lucila:

I think that this is not a common sentence.
We are working with a saying which is supposed to be popular in a Spanish speaking country.
Therefore, the best thing to do is searching carefully its exact meaning (or as accurate as possible) in order to find a similar saying, well known in the target language even if the words used are not the literal translation of those in the original request.
That's why all these people above are spending (not wasting) so much time on it.

3 February 2008 22:53

dramati
Number of messages: 972
So then, Don't use a lot where a little will do. it is!
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