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  3. Poetry & Literature

" a buchito de agua y patá por culo"

English translation: she leads him around by the balls/she leads him around by the ear

22:54 Feb 27, 2004
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Cuban slang
Spanish term or phrase: " a buchito de agua y patá por culo"
He aquí el contexto:
"Pues me dijeron los vecinos que la mujer nueva lo lleva a buchito de agua y patá por culo"
Esta frase vernacular cubana, así mismo con su gramática deficiente, que se debe más a la manera rápida de hablar de los cubanos que a ignorancia, se utiliza para describir una situación de extrema disciplina o rigidez. Suele emplearse para describir la manera de tratar un jefe a sus empleados, una mujer a su marido, o un dictador a su pueblo. Con mano de hierro, disciplina férrea, etc.
No se me ocurre ninguna expresión inglesa que remotamente se aproxime, en contenido ni colorido, a esta frase.
George Rabel
Local time: 06:08
English translation:she leads him around by the balls/she leads him around by the ear
Explanation:
"She leads him around by the ear" captures the meaning you explain regarding forced obedience, and lack of respect for the victim- and is frquently used referring to domineering wives (see Google hits at first URL). Unfortunately, this idiom is so common that it doesn't have the power or "color" the original seems to.
"She leads him around by the balls" is an adaptation of the "ears" saying that is more vulgar. I have heard it in real life, (Google hits are shown in the 2d URL)
It also flows from the common vulgar saying "She has him by the balls" Which is a very common expression, but only means that "She" has some kind of unchallengeable power over "him". It doesn't go the step further to indicating that she excercises that power constantly.
Selected response from:

Gerard Burns Jr.
United States
Local time: 05:08
Grading comment
Excellent! Many thanks. I also liked Ana Maria's "carrot on a stick, etc.", so maybe I will combine them as follows: "So, the neighbors told me that the new wife leads him around by the balls and handles him with a carrot on a stick and a kick in the ass."

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2.....a carrot on a stick and a kick in the ass"(see whole version)
Ana-Maria Hulse
5she leads him around by the balls/she leads him around by the ear
Gerard Burns Jr.
4barefoot and pregnant
Sol
4she treats him like a dog1
Gabo Pena
3she is a butt kicking sergeant of a wife
Cecilia Della Croce
3cagar a pedos
Russ
3ball breaker
forli


  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
she is a butt kicking sergeant of a wife


Explanation:
por supuesto que no es tan colorida ni graciosa pero la idea de que es mandona y lo tiene zumbando podría expresarse así... HTH y suerte, George

Cecilia Della Croce
Argentina
Local time: 07:08
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 23
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
cagar a pedos


Explanation:
Permíteme decirte que tu expresión idiomática de la jerga cubana,según intuyo, equivaldría en el lunfardo argentino a: "cagar a pedos"...lo cual sin duda, es bastante vulgar.he aquí un ej.:
Jerga de Argentina - [ Translate this page ]
... cagar a pedos: retar, amonestar. Mi madre me cagó a pedos
esta mañana por haber vuelto a casa en la madrugada. cajonear ...
www.jergasdehablahispana.org/argentin.htm - 46k - Cached - Similar pages
La única traducción que he encontrado en inglés es:" to tell off, scold .." o sea, retar, reprender. Espero ayudarte. Saldos cordiales. Russ

Russ
Local time: 07:08
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
ball breaker


Explanation:
just a suggestion!

forli
Local time: 11:08
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
.....a carrot on a stick and a kick in the ass"(see whole version)


Explanation:
"Because the neighbors told me that the new woman handles him with a carrot on a stick and a kick in the ass”
Of course it is vulgar!... it's probably meant to be!
Lo de "buchito de agua" creo que significa aparente buen trato, por lo tanto, "carrot on a stick" como a los caballos para que caminen.... y lo de "patada po'l culo" creo que es la verdadera manera grosera con que lo trata al pobre diablo. Ojalá que sirva. Ana María


Ana-Maria Hulse
United States
Local time: 03:08
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  forli: There is also a Scottish version which goes,"All sugar and sh..."! (Sorry, but we are in that area!)
10 mins
agree  Francisco Bolaños
3 hrs
agree  Cecilia Della Croce
2 days 16 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
barefoot and pregnant


Explanation:
if this was him treating her that way, it would work

Sol
United States
Local time: 06:08
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 20
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
she treats him like a dog1


Explanation:
gives him just little water (not enough to quench his thirst-this has multiple connotations including double entendre)
and treat him poorly.

Lived in Cuba and Miami

=8^J

Gabo Pena
Local time: 03:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
she leads him around by the balls/she leads him around by the ear


Explanation:
"She leads him around by the ear" captures the meaning you explain regarding forced obedience, and lack of respect for the victim- and is frquently used referring to domineering wives (see Google hits at first URL). Unfortunately, this idiom is so common that it doesn't have the power or "color" the original seems to.
"She leads him around by the balls" is an adaptation of the "ears" saying that is more vulgar. I have heard it in real life, (Google hits are shown in the 2d URL)
It also flows from the common vulgar saying "She has him by the balls" Which is a very common expression, but only means that "She" has some kind of unchallengeable power over "him". It doesn't go the step further to indicating that she excercises that power constantly.


    Reference: http://www.google.com.ar/search?hl=es&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%2...
    Reference: http://www.google.com.ar/search?hl=es&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%2...
Gerard Burns Jr.
United States
Local time: 05:08
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Excellent! Many thanks. I also liked Ana Maria's "carrot on a stick, etc.", so maybe I will combine them as follows: "So, the neighbors told me that the new wife leads him around by the balls and handles him with a carrot on a stick and a kick in the ass."
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