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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

espame-se

English translation: great surprise

13:28 Aug 18, 2014
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Court documents
Portuguese term or phrase: espame-se
The phrase above is taken from court documents, but the sentences used at this point are quite general in nature. The context is a court case at this point detailing the visits made by the father to his son. The mother has invited him to join the son's birthday party, but he refuses.

Here is the section:

"PENSOU QUE SERIA IMPORTANTE PARA O [child's name] TER O PAI E A MAE JUNTOS NO DIA DO SEU ANIVERSARIO.
ESPAME-SE!!!! O PAI RECUSOU!!!"

I'm not sure if this is a typo or just a verb I haven't come across before, as I can't seem to find it in Portuguese dictionaries. Does anyone know what this might be a typo for if it is?
Animus
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:06
English translation:great surprise
Explanation:
I think it is indeed a typo and it should read "espasme-se", in this case meaning "what a surprise", "guess what" to name a few suggestions :-)
Selected response from:

Paula Buckley
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:06
Grading comment
Thank you, that's what I was looking for! The mother isn't surprised at all, so I went for what a surprise to convey the sarcasm intended. Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2great surprise
Paula Buckley
4 +1shattered/gobsmacked/stunned
Douglas Bissell
5I was quite taken aback
Nick Taylor
4 +1You will never believe this! (You will be amazed,astonished)
Ana Vozone
4Big surprise!
Muriel Vasconcellos


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
great surprise


Explanation:
I think it is indeed a typo and it should read "espasme-se", in this case meaning "what a surprise", "guess what" to name a few suggestions :-)

Paula Buckley
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:06
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you, that's what I was looking for! The mother isn't surprised at all, so I went for what a surprise to convey the sarcasm intended. Thanks for your help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claudio Mazotti: and for the child's great suprise, ...
19 mins
agree  Claudia Marques
42 mins
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
shattered/gobsmacked/stunned


Explanation:
The translation depends on the feeling of the person 'speaking' and whether they felt personally 'insulted' where shattered would fit well or as an outsider who is simply showing amazement in all the wrong way where the latter two would be more appropriate

Douglas Bissell
Portugal
Local time: 14:06
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 48

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
55 mins
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
I was quite taken aback


Explanation:
I was quite taken aback

Example sentence(s):
  • taken aback confused or surprised by something unexpected Company executives have been taken aback by the criticism. I asked him directly if he was looking for someone with my skills, and I think he was kind of taken aback.
Nick Taylor
Local time: 14:06
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 119

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Muriel Vasconcellos: This sounds way too formal to me, but I love your 'Can you imagine?'
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Muriel. Unfortunately I spontaneously used up my "go" :-(
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
You will never believe this! (You will be amazed,astonished)


Explanation:
The correct term would be "pasme-se".

Ana Vozone
Local time: 14:06
Does not meet criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 74

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mario Freitas:
2 hrs
  -> Obrigada, Mário!
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Big surprise!


Explanation:
I'm with Donna - she's being sarcastic.

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 06:06
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 100
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