This site uses cookies.
Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site,
while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.
For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Portuguese to English translations [PRO] General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Portuguese term or phrase:Faz quem pode
This is in an interview about the Brazilian economy. I understand what it means but would welcome suggestions on a neat way to say it in (UK) English. Thanks!
"Não estamos apostando em catástrofe. Estamos apostando numa desaceleração do crescimento internacional e numa crise mais prolongada do que em 2008. Basta olhar os governos ao redor do mundo. Está quase todo mundo com juros negativos ou juro real muito pequeno. No Brasil, os juros são de 12% para uma inflação que está no pico de 7,23%. Faz quem pode."
Explanation: I understand this to mean that Brazil maintains high interest rates while many other countries in the world have had to lower their rates to stimulate their economies out of recession. The Brazilian economy has been remarkably unaffected by the economic problems since 2008, and therefore Brazil can keep real interest rates much higher than other countries.
Thanks for the information about the saying, Martin, I wasn't aware of it! I agree with you Mark that absuing power isn't really implied in the sentence. And David, I think 'they' would suggest it's about other countries, when it's about Brazil.
David Drysdale (X)
United States
21:40 Sep 13, 2011
Speaking of old sayings, over the last several years in the United States, people have begun answering the question, "Why do you get to . . . ? Why does he . . . ? The answer has often been, "because he can" . . . So, why not say, "They do it because they can . . ? Hope that works!
What Martin says about the source of this ditado may be true, but there is no suggestion in the context provided by the asker of any abuse of power or position. The text says that, in difficult circumstances, people do what they can.
There is a saying in Brazil: "manda quem pode, obedece quem precisa" (and some variations on it, too). He who can, gives the orders, he who needs to, obeys them. There is a suggestion of almost abuse of power, and submission to this power. I think that "faz quem pode" arose from this saying, and feel it has the same suggestion of using/abusing a strong position. "You do what you can" to me suggests lack of power to control a situation. "He who can, does" isn´t very elegant, but does convey taking advantage of a strong position, as does Lindsay's suggestion of exploiting an opportunity.
I agree with you on the level of formality, Juliet but I think the meaning of 'You do what you can' is different to 'He who can, does'. I think the meaning of 'He who can, does' is closer to the Portuguese. I am thinking of going with 'If the opportunity is there, you take it'.
While "He who can, does" is ok, the formality of it does jar a bit. "Faz quem pode" is much more colloquial, and much more likely to be used in daily life than this English equivalent. I think "you do what you can" is more appropriate for the context...though this is of course debatable!
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence:
Do what you can.
Explanation:
Here's a suggestion . . .
Do what you can. In other words, each country and economy has to do what they can, since it is what it is!
David Drysdale (X) United States Local time: 06:28 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
Explanation: I understand this to mean that Brazil maintains high interest rates while many other countries in the world have had to lower their rates to stimulate their economies out of recession. The Brazilian economy has been remarkably unaffected by the economic problems since 2008, and therefore Brazil can keep real interest rates much higher than other countries.
Martin Riordan Brazil Local time: 09:28 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 19
