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no vaya a ser el diablo

English translation: God forbid

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:no vaya a ser el diablo
English translation:God forbid
Entered by: Cecilia Gowar

00:11 Mar 16, 2017
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Spanish term or phrase: no vaya a ser el diablo
es un expresión en español para desear que algo no suceda.
..."estoy con esos cajones llenos de oro, con una fortuna en las manos, y no los puedo abrir….¡No vaya a ser el diablo que se me conviertan en piedras de verdad!"
SS AH
God forbid
Explanation:
I believe it matches the original meaning and construction

ahí será el diablo

1. expr. coloq. U. para explicar el mayor riesgo o peligro que se teme o se sospecha en lo que puede suceder.
Selected response from:

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3I hope to God / Let's hope to God
Simon Bruni
4 +3God forbid
Cecilia Gowar


Discussion entries: 10





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
I hope to God / Let's hope to God


Explanation:
Paradoxically, the meaning of this very common Godly expression is very close, if not identical, to its devilish Spanish equivalent.

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Note added at 8 mins (2017-03-16 00:19:59 GMT)
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Note that you'd have to make it negative:

Let's hope to God they don't really turn into stones on me!

Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 151

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: seems fine to me and we would reverse it in English IMO
28 mins
agree  Carol Gullidge: yep, and as you point out, the negative bit needs to be added in EN
14 hrs
agree  Albion Land
7 days
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45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
God forbid


Explanation:
I believe it matches the original meaning and construction

ahí será el diablo

1. expr. coloq. U. para explicar el mayor riesgo o peligro que se teme o se sospecha en lo que puede suceder.

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 227
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker:

Asker:


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  lorenab23: :-)
48 mins
  -> Thanks Lorena!
agree  Carol Gullidge: or heaven forbid, or even heaven forfend - a slightly archaic expression that is nevertheless still fairly widely used, especially with a touch of irony
13 hrs
  -> Thanks Carol!
agree  Jorge Payan
21 hrs
  -> ¡Gracias Jorge!
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