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.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

“se les estaba pasando la mano”

English translation: they were overdoing it / they were going too far

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:“se les estaba pasando la mano”
English translation:they were overdoing it / they were going too far
Entered by: BettinaVaamonde

16:59 Jan 13, 2017
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / News
Spanish term or phrase: “se les estaba pasando la mano”
Mucho corrió la noticia del intento de suicidio de Lorent Saleh, pero muy pocos conocen la realidad de lo que sucedió. Recordemos que Lorent Saleh y Gabriel Valles duraron un año en extremo aislamiento en donde no podían ni saber la hora, pero al parecer la huelga de hambre que realizaron por más de 19 días en el mes de febrero de 2014 en reclamo de sus derechos y las medicaciones de distintos personajes no fueron suficientes. La presión sufrida fue tal que la amenaza latente de quitarse la vida fue lo que indicó al gobierno que “se les estaba pasando la mano” y debían frenar esta situación, disminuyendo las torturas.
BettinaVaamonde
Canada
Local time: 16:49
they were overdoing it / they were going too far
Explanation:
"Pasársele la mano" is a alternative version of "írsele la mano", meaning "exagerar", "excederse": to go too far or overdo it, particularly in the sense of applying excessive force.

It's listed as a Chilean usage:

"pasársele la mano (exagerar; ir demasiado lejos)"
Dictionary of Chilean Slang
https://books.google.es/books?id=UwVYtrmBIEYC&pg=PT454&lpg=P...

But it's also used in Peru in that sense, as Martha Hildebrandt explains here, citing Vargas Llosa as an example:
http://elcomercio.pe/opinion/habla-culta/martha-hildebrandt-...

And here people from various countries, including Argentina and Mexico, confirm that it means "propasarse":
http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/se-paso-la-mano.71572...

This text is about Venezuela, but it seems to be used in the same sense there. Here's an example:

"Por esos días ejerce funciones de recaudador de rentas Juan Manuel Iturbe a quien suele pasársele la mano a la hora del rigor y los castigos, y es contra esa situación en particular, que humilla y enardece a los labradores, que Chirino se levanta en armas."
http://comunicacionsocialenlahistoria.blogspot.com.es/2011/0...

What it means here is that the government realised that they'd gone too far and been too severe; it had backfired on them.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:49
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5they were overdoing it / they were going too far
Charles Davis
4 +3"the situation was getting out of hand"
Robert Carter
4 +3"they'd gone too far"
Giovanni Rengifo


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
"the situation was getting out of hand"


Explanation:
...

Robert Carter
Mexico
Local time: 14:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ana Florencia Fernandez
13 mins
  -> Thanks, Ana.
agree  franglish
29 mins
  -> Thanks, franglish.
neutral  Charles Davis: Do you have any evidence for this meaning, Robert? It would normally be "se les iba de las manos".
36 mins
  -> Funny, I actually posted "they had gone too far" at first, then removed it, but yes you're right, overdoing it/being too severe is more accurate.
agree  Camila Rivera
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Camila.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
"they'd gone too far"


Explanation:
"They forgot where to draw the line"

Just a couple of ideas.

Giovanni Rengifo
Colombia
Local time: 15:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 56

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: I didn't notice your answer before posting, Giovanni. That's what it means, yes.
9 mins
  -> We were probably preparing our answers at the same time, but your answer is much more thorough than mine (definition, explanation, and links). That's what took you longer. Well done!
agree  Carol Gullidge: you were first!
1 hr
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
they were overdoing it / they were going too far


Explanation:
"Pasársele la mano" is a alternative version of "írsele la mano", meaning "exagerar", "excederse": to go too far or overdo it, particularly in the sense of applying excessive force.

It's listed as a Chilean usage:

"pasársele la mano (exagerar; ir demasiado lejos)"
Dictionary of Chilean Slang
https://books.google.es/books?id=UwVYtrmBIEYC&pg=PT454&lpg=P...

But it's also used in Peru in that sense, as Martha Hildebrandt explains here, citing Vargas Llosa as an example:
http://elcomercio.pe/opinion/habla-culta/martha-hildebrandt-...

And here people from various countries, including Argentina and Mexico, confirm that it means "propasarse":
http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/se-paso-la-mano.71572...

This text is about Venezuela, but it seems to be used in the same sense there. Here's an example:

"Por esos días ejerce funciones de recaudador de rentas Juan Manuel Iturbe a quien suele pasársele la mano a la hora del rigor y los castigos, y es contra esa situación en particular, que humilla y enardece a los labradores, que Chirino se levanta en armas."
http://comunicacionsocialenlahistoria.blogspot.com.es/2011/0...

What it means here is that the government realised that they'd gone too far and been too severe; it had backfired on them.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 22:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 123
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Charles


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Phoenix III
9 mins
  -> Thanks very much, Phoenix :)
agree  Robert Carter
9 mins
  -> Thanks very much, Robert :)
agree  neilmac
14 mins
  -> Cheers, Neil :)
agree  Jennifer Levey: Yes - and your use of the progressive "were overdoing" is a better fit to the ST than Giovanni's overly-definitive "they'd gone".
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Robin. Yes, perhaps so.
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Muriel!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search