gorduras de Estado

14:50 Apr 15, 2015
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Accounting
Portuguese term or phrase: gorduras de Estado
This is an expression used in a book about accounting methods and techniques; the expression is used in Portuguese to refer to those States which supposedly have a lot of money to spend on road work, cars, etc... even though the meaning is close to "rich", the expression is a bit a negative, as if the state had a large budget, opposed to its citizens, whose budgets are tight.
Is there a similar expression in English? Or should we put it into other words?

In case it helps, this is the sentence in Portuguese: "no tempo das gorduras de estado"

Thanks in advance
Daisymiller
Local time: 05:09


Summary of answers provided
4 +2the fat of the state
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
5 +1government squandering
Nick Taylor
3government waste
Richard Purdom
3bulging state budget surpluses
Adrian MM. (X)


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
the fat of the state


Explanation:
Sugestão...

We are told that we need to cut our national cloth accordingly. We see reducing level of public services, pressure on providers, reduced support to families, all explained to us as millions cut off the fat of the state.
http://firstwetakemanhattan.org/2013/09/

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Note added at 18 mins (2015-04-15 15:09:07 GMT)
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The industry has been living off the fat of the state’s huge capital budget in recent years, but Alaska has begun to put the brakes on spending.
http://www.adn.com/article/20140210/report-some-alaska-indus...

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Portugal
Local time: 05:09
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 11

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vitor Pinteus
1 hr
  -> Obrigada, Vítor!

agree  Ana Vozone
3 hrs
  -> Obrigada, Ana!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
government waste


Explanation:
This won't fit every context, but if you were talking about 'cortar as gorduras do Estado' for example, that would be cutting government waste

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342045/120billion-m...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_waste

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Note added at 1 hr (2015-04-15 16:35:14 GMT)
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in your context: when the government had plenty of cash to waste...

Richard Purdom
Portugal
Local time: 05:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
government squandering


Explanation:
government squandering, squandering the tax-payers money

Nick Taylor
Local time: 05:09
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mario Freitas:
1 hr
  -> thanks Mário
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
bulging state budget surpluses


Explanation:
suplus: pluralis/zes too!

Surely, thebudget surpluses have got little to do with how they are applied or squandered.


    Reference: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/government-surp...
Adrian MM. (X)
Local time: 06:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 41
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