I found this idiom the other day on a Spanish language forum. It was used in the sense of "just because there’s one bad garbanzo in a pound of garbanzos doesn’t mean they’re all bad".
I was wondering if anyone knows if it is used in a more positive sense, such as "he’s one in a million".
Sorry for delay.. the day of your posts I was busy with the royal wedding here in Madrid ;D
StoutRex, you are right in what respects to the saying and the meaning. We say: "No hay olla sin ningún garbanzo negro"
I never heard this expression with a positive meaning.
Anyway, if you like "garbanzos", here you have another saying: "Un garbanzo no hace puchero, pero ayuda a su compañero" It isn’t black, but it’s positive!
Would that translate roughly to "a single garbanzo doesn’t make a stew, but it improves the other ingredients"?
I came across another idiom on the same forum that appears to have the same sense as "un garbanzo a la libra". It is "un arrozito negro in la casuela".
I’m anxious for an opportunity to use these with my Spanish speaking friends.
This is one where you might want to go in to the Translation section of Dictionary.Com to the part that says "Ask The Pro’s" and enter your information there. The message will go out to about 200 people who speak Spanish (both native and non-native) and some of them will answer your question. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get the answer you want but it’s worth trying. I’ve had ups and downs with the quality of translations on there depending upon which people answer. Overall, though, I’ve had more good answers than bad.
Thanks for the suggestion, Brian. I think I have a pretty good handle on the meaning of the two phrases I posted. But I will take advantage of YDC’s service in the future.
I’m anxious for an opportunity to use these with my Spanish speaking friends
StoutRex, I like doing the same with English sayings, and Mandarin "Chengyu".. I love that expression of surprise of those I’m talking to.
Sometimes it doesn’t work as expected, and peple don’t know what I’m talking about!
There are many Spanish sayings used only in small areas, or in other countries, and even if I like Southamerican writers, I’m not familiar with those sentences..
So, sometimes it’s a matter of luck!
Good luck then, Stout!
Here’s another idiom I learned just today from a Spanish speaking friend.
"No tienes vela in el encierro".
Which means literally, "you don’t have a candle in this funeral" but a more accurate translation would be "mind your own business, this does not concern you".
Stoutrex, I hope you don’t mind if I correct it.. The idiom is "No tienes vela en este entierro"..
El encierro es otra historia.. Go to Pamplona on July, and you will see!
The literal translation and the meaning is right. It’s quite common, at least in Spain.
Boy, SR did you send me a wild goose chase. I thought you must have meant "entierro." But my imagination ran away with me and I thought there might be a saying something like:
"There’s no hope for you in the running of the bulls!"
I have never heard that idiom with the garbanzo, but I reckon it means that "a single black one doesn’t spoil the rest". I think you English(-speakers) have also the expression "he is the black sheep of the family"... Then think it this way: "Just because he’s got a black sheep of a brother he needn’t be as bad as he."
"Nadie te ha dado vela en este entierro" (= You’re not allowed to participate) is how I would say this expression. You’re totally right, it’s very common. By the way, that one with the "encierro" has been very funny indeed!! xDD I’ve laughed my head off…xDD
Go to Pamplona on July, and you will see!
