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hombre de una pieza

English translation: a man of high integrity / a man of irreproachable character

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:hombre de una pieza
English translation:a man of high integrity / a man of irreproachable character
Entered by: Robert Forstag

13:59 Jan 8, 2017
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Journalism / Article in *El País* (Esapaña)
Spanish term or phrase: hombre de una pieza
From an article in today's *El País* containing the reminiscences of an old friend of the recenly deceased Portuguese politician Mário Soares:

Todavía pude visitarle en su casa, casa familiar en la que, hace más de medio siglo, conocí a su padre, antiguo ministro de la Primera República, **hombre de una pieza**,liberal y católico, que sufrió destierros y prisiones en la dictadura. Domicilio de burguesía media, sin lujos salvo los libros y en la que Mário vivió permanentemente, incluso en sus diez años de presidente de la República. Con el tiempo amplió el piso con dos más, convirtiéndolo en casa-biblioteca con miles de libros sobre historia, política y literatura. A pesar de su constante activismo político, Mário fue un voraz lector de curiosidad compulsiva y también escritor prolífico (libros, ensayos, artículos). Se licenció en Historia y Derecho por la Universidad de Lisboa. En dos de sus publicaciones (Portugal amordazado y Memoria Viva) me invitó a que redactase los prólogos.

"cut from his own cloth" ??
"sui generis". ??
Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 00:40
a man of integrity
Explanation:
That is the meaning. There might be an equivalent expression in English but can't think of any right now.

de una pieza

1. loc. adj. coloq. Sorprendido o admirado por haber visto u oído algo extraordinario o inesperado. Dejar, quedar, quedarse de una pieza.

2. loc. adj. Íntegro o intachable. (RAE)
Selected response from:

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Grading comment
Simon's suggestions also work, but I think that "man of high integrity" is the best fit here. Thanks to you both!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8a man of integrity
Cecilia Gowar
5 +2an upright/irreproachable man
Simon Bruni


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
a man of integrity


Explanation:
That is the meaning. There might be an equivalent expression in English but can't think of any right now.

de una pieza

1. loc. adj. coloq. Sorprendido o admirado por haber visto u oído algo extraordinario o inesperado. Dejar, quedar, quedarse de una pieza.

2. loc. adj. Íntegro o intachable. (RAE)

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 68
Grading comment
Simon's suggestions also work, but I think that "man of high integrity" is the best fit here. Thanks to you both!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  franglish
48 mins
  -> Thanks franglish!
agree  Carol Gullidge
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Carol!
agree  Robert Carter
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Robert!
agree  Elizabeth Joy Pitt de Morales
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Elizabeth!
agree  Jessica Noyes
5 hrs
  -> Thanks Jessica!
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Muriel!
agree  Marie Wilson: Also "of great integrity "
19 hrs
  -> Thanks Marie!
agree  Marisa Almor
1 day 6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
an upright/irreproachable man


Explanation:
From the RAE:

de una pieza
1. loc. adj. coloq. Sorprendido o admirado por haber visto u oído algo extraordinario o inesperado. Dejar, quedar, quedarse de una pieza.
2. loc. adj. Íntegro o intachable.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2017-01-08 14:09:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or how about "straight as a die"?



Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 60

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge
2 hrs
agree  philgoddard
3 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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