Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
el que juega no asa castañas
English translation:
keep your eye on the ball!
Added to glossary by
Bubo Coroman (X)
Nov 13, 2008 17:09
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
United Kingdom
Physics graduate and former IT pro
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English
el que juega no asa castañas
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
From what I can gather, this is an expression which means something along the lines of "don't get distracted by something if you're trying to do something else". Obviously I'm not looking for a literal translation here: I want to know if there's an equivalent expression in English.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | keep your eye on the ball! |
Bubo Coroman (X)
|
| 4 +4 | you snooze, you lose |
trans4u
|
| 4 | Idleness brings want |
Alice Bootman
|
Change log
Nov 14, 2008 10:35: Bubo Coroman (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
6 mins
Selected
keep your eye on the ball!
it depends what you want to use it for, but here's a suggestion:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/keep eye on the ball
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/keep eye on the ball
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Perfect for my text. Thanks very much!"
+4
52 mins
you snooze, you lose
If you are not part of the cure, then you are part of the problem.
Get Down to Brass Tacks: To become serious about something.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Get Down to Brass Tacks: To become serious about something.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Note from asker:
| I really like this suggestion, but unfortunately the register isn't quite right for my text - a wee bit too colloquial. Thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alice Bootman
: You snooze, you lose. Very nice!
2 hrs
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Thanks, Alice!
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| agree |
Cercedilla
2 hrs
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Thank you, Cantolla.
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| agree |
kironne
10 hrs
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| agree |
Bubo Coroman (X)
: very nice
14 hrs
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2 hrs
Alice Bootman
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Renewable energy and more
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, English
Idleness brings want
Your quote seems to come from the fable about the grasshopper and the ant, where the ant saves up food for winter while the grasshopper plays, and come winter the grasshopper nearly starves to death. The moral of the story is reflected in your phrase. Some other ways to put it are (I took these directy from Wikipedia.):
To work today is to eat tomorrow.
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
Although I really liked trans4u's answer as well: You snooze, you loose.
It is more common in English, but my suggestions also work.
To work today is to eat tomorrow.
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
Although I really liked trans4u's answer as well: You snooze, you loose.
It is more common in English, but my suggestions also work.
Note from asker:
| Nice suggestion, but not quite right for my purposes. Thanks for your help! |
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