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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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2015/05/25 - 2:13pm

I was wondering if anyone whose Spanish is better/quicker than mine can repeat on here (in Spanish) the Mexican idiom that was translated on the show as "Donkey meat isn't transparent."
Also, I'd be interested in more expressions on the subject of blocking people's view.
One that our family used to use was "You make a better door than a window."

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2015/05/27 - 12:21am

Welcome to the forum Doug. I put your question to a friend who is bilingual in Spanish and English. Here's what he said:

Well, my thought is "un burro no es transparente", which means "a donkey isn't transparent". Also, the word burro, is a term for someone stubborn, or stupid. As a kid, it was quita te', meaning get away, or mueve las nalgas, move your ass. Hope this helps.
 

Don't know if that was what you're looking for, but it's a start. Maybe some other members fluent in Spanish will continue this thread. In my experience, the English idiom has always been "You make a better door than a window."

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2015/05/27 - 6:02am

Welcome, Doug. To answer your original question, I think the Spanish phrase is "La carne de burro no es transparente"

In my family, it was usually a play on words: "You're a pain, but not the kind I can see through." [pain / pane]

DavidR
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2015/05/30 - 12:11pm

DougRayPhillips said 
I was wondering if anyone whose Spanish is better/quicker than mine can repeat on here (in Spanish) the Mexican idiom that was translated on the show as "Donkey meat isn't transparent."

I just listened to the podcast, and Martha did actually say the Spanish after giving the English rendering. It went by too fast for me to catch it, but if you go to the podcast and do a little FF/Rewind, you should be able to get the expression.

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