+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: playing at (something)

 
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    7
    Rep Power
    175

    Default playing at (something)

    How would you say using Latin American idiom "he only played at being an engineer"?

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    326
    Rep Power
    414

    Default playing being = jugar a ser o jugar a que es

    That phrase in Spanish would be:
    (Él) sólo jugaba a ser ingeniero
    o
    (Él) sólo jugaba a que era ingeniero.

    Él can be elided (and it is highly recomended to do it) if the person has previously been mentioned in the cotext.

    I didn't get what you meant by "idiom". Is this an idiom in English??

  3. #3
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    7
    Rep Power
    175

    Default Re: playing at (something)

    Idiom means dialect. In this case, the way a Chilean might express the thought contrasted to the way a Mexican might express it.

    Thanks greatly for your prompt reply.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Age
    46
    Posts
    23
    Rep Power
    178

    Default Re: playing at (something)

    I it refers to an adult person who acted as a person who knew a lot of enginery, "se las tiraba de ingeniero"
    If It speaks about a child the former answers are correct

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    326
    Rep Power
    414

    Default Re: playing at (something)

    To express that idea in Argentina we say:
    Se la da de ingeniero. (present, 3rd person singular)
    Se la daba de ingeniero. (past tense, 3rd person singular)

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. playing for keeps
    By cielglitter in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-09-2009, 08:37 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •