deaf as a post???

CR

 
I asked our local policeman this morning and he confirmed the answer, he said though: "estoy sordo como una tapia..." can you say both?
Keep 'em coming!

Mrs CR

Yes, you can say estoy como una tapia and estoy sordo como una tapia. The answer was correct, the point is for CR. I didn't know there was a similar expression in English.

The following expressions seem synonimous, however, one of them is a compliment and the other is quite offensive. (CR, if you consider them rude, you can erase the post. Anyway, only one of them is rude)
So, what's the difference between these two sentences?

Eres un hijo de puta.
Eres de puta madre.

Advice: in your research, don't ask the local policeman.

Ok Emilio, This one is a joint effort

The first is an insult - son of a whore or similar

The second is a compliment (if we are correct) in England we would say something like "your the dogs conkers" or similar

CR

I believe you are right CR as I actually knew the first - son of a bitch/whore (I heard it used quite a lot the night we had the accident with the horse through our windscreen!! Ramon kept calling the owner of the horse it!!!   ).

As for the other I was unsure so I asked Ramon what it meant - ooops!! - he said   "who's been saying this to you" (me thinking it was an insult).  I understand now he was jealous!! as yes it is a compliment!! HE HE  (Emilio you're in trouble again!!!   as I said its the man off the computer!!! ).  

--Last edited by pebbles on 2006-04-28 09:26:12 --

    CR couple, I suppose you're right if 'your the dogs conker' means something like 'you're cool' or 'you're a nice valuable person'. 'Ser de puta madre' is a very common expression, although I think you won't hear it often in case you misunderstand it.

Pebbles, I starting to be scared . I see that you know a lot about Spanish culture. However, I wonder if you know enough. Did you know, for example, that jealous Spaniards sometimes kill  their wives?:      

Well, now a challenge, even for those who have a Spanish boyfriend to ask: What's the difference between de más and demás?  

--Last edited by Emilio on 2006-04-28 08:47:15 --

Hmmmm never knew that one (about jealous men killing their wives   !!!) - maybe I should stop asking him to translate then and try it myself!!

(Anyway I am safe for the time being as we are not married yet!! - November!!)    

Ok Emilio,

de mas  - spare or leftover

demas - the rest of/remaining?

Came right out of the dictionary this time Emilio but I have a feeling there is more to it? the text when read sounds the same but the whole context of a conversation with someone using de mas/demas would shed some light...

its a difficult one for me marra, I might just gan doon the toon and sink a dog while I,m thinking.

CR  

CR, your dictionary is right. In conversation there is no difference, as the pronunciation is the same. To make it more clear, de más means spare or in excess, rather than leftover. Ex: En la fiesta tiraron la casa por la ventana, había comida de más.
So, de más is the opposite of de menos (lacking).

Demás means the rest, the reamining, the others.
Ex: Juan y Pedro prepararon la comida, los demás limpiaron la casa.

Well, I think I'm running out of words. While I think about another one, please, tell me what's 'gan doon the toon and sink a dog? The only words I understand is sink a dog and I don't think you are drowning your dog. I've been looking up the words in the dictionary and the rest of words don't appear, so I give up, man.

Pebbles, I wish I had someone to ask about my doubt with English. So marrying a jealous Spaniard in November?  

--Last edited by Emilio on 2006-04-28 20:31:36 --

Dont worry if you don't understand CR - I think the Geordies have a language of their own

I do understand what he is saying but that is only from many years working in a bar for Geordies.  The first time I got asked for a bottle of dog I was very confused!!!



 

Pebbles, thanks for the clue. So, sinking a dog means drinking a beer???? But now another question arises: What or who are the Geordies??

I guess I'm much worse than you at figuring out the meaning of unknown words

For learners of Spanish, there is adifficult issue, which is also very hard for us teachers: the difference between ser and estar.

There is a poem by Mario Benedetti called ser y estar, in which he tries to explain to the American marines the difference between these two verbs. The first stanza is:

"Oh marine
oh boy
una de tus dificultades es que no sabes
distinguir el ser del estar
para ti todo es to be"

He continues with some examples, and the first example is What's the difference between "ser buena" and "estar buena"?

As far as I know, Emilio, the bottle of dog is a bottle of Newcastle Brown (and CR you can correct me if I am wrong).  When I asked why it was called 'dog' I was told - Geordie men would tell their wives they were off out to walk the dog, when really they would take the dog to the Pub and have a Newcastle Brown or two!!!

Geordies (basically anyone from Newcastle - well I suppose CR and Vanessa can elaborate on that as both 'him in doors' and CR are from Geordie land!!)

Thanks a lot, Pebbles, now I understand some posts by Venessa and CR about Geordies  And...very interesting the philosophy hidden in a bottle of dog