+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: you will do no good for yourself

 
  1. #1
    Contributing User
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Zaragoza- Spain
    Age
    47
    Posts
    129
    Rep Power
    172

    Default you will do no good for yourself

    Hola. No estoy seguro de cómo traducir "you will do no good for yourself" en el texto siguiente: "When you begin to attend the Royal Family he will remember he used to consult you, and send a polite note to that effect at once. But you may take my word for it," I proceeded; "you will do no good for yourself unlesss you go into general society."
    ¿Puede ser "no te irán bien las cosas"?
    Gracias.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Posts
    238
    Rep Power
    161

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    Hola Antonio!, me parece bien tu elección "no te irán bien las cosas" también puede ser "no lo lograrás" o incluso "te irá mal".

    Espero haber ayudado!

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    5020

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    alfredo...how would you say "you would be better off if..." Are you familiar with this phrase "to be better off"? Is there a similar phrase in Spanish?


    I'm thinking something like: "you would be better off going into general society"
    Last edited by vicente; 09-09-2015 at 01:31 PM.
    vicente

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    968
    Rep Power
    100

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    Vicente: I'd say "desde el vamos te irá mejor" or "de entrada te irá mejor..."; but, from my perspective, it conveys a different meaning.

  5. #5
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    310
    Rep Power
    185

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    I agree with alfredo. Something like "no te servirá de nada" or "no será bueno para ti" may work well.
    Last edited by estefaniar; 09-10-2015 at 08:48 AM.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    5020

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    Quote Originally Posted by gentle View Post
    Vicente: I'd say "desde el vamos te irá mejor" or "de entrada te irá mejor..."; but, from my perspective, it conveys a different meaning.
    Yes Gentle, I agree that it has a somewhat different meaning but I've always wondered what would be the Spanish equivalent of "to be better off..."

    However, "you will do no good for yourself" is an unusual phrase with which to advise that working in general society would be better than working for the Royal Family. Something like "it would/will not serve you well" as Alfredo and Stefania suggest..."no te servirá..."

    It's NOT an easy one to translate.
    Last edited by vicente; 09-11-2015 at 01:16 PM.
    vicente

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    968
    Rep Power
    100

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    Quote Originally Posted by vicente View Post
    Yes Gentle, I agree that it has a somewhat different meaning but I've always wondered what would be the Spanish equivalent of "to be better off..."
    I think "desde el vamos..." or "de entrada..." will serve the purpose for "to be better off." Just give it a shot!

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    5020

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    So how would I say ..."I'd be better off if I stay at home tonight and not go out." ... using both "desde el vamos" and "de entrada"?
    vicente

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    968
    Rep Power
    100

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    Quote Originally Posted by vicente View Post
    So how would I say ..."I'd be better off if I stay at home tonight and not go out." ... using both "desde el vamos" and "de entrada"?
    Oops...that's a different context! I bet that would be more like: "Voy a estar mejor si me quedo esta noche en casa y no salgo" or "Voy a estar mejor quedándome esta noche en casa en lugar de salir de parranda".... Of course, we are using a colloquial tone, therefore I think you are entitled to be more "creative" and less "literal."

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    5020

    Default Re: you will do no good for yourself

    That's kinda what I'm asking. "to be better off..." is a very common expression in the US that has it's own subtle meaning, usually indicating that one thing is more sensible than another, even if it isn't the most desirable.


    "My wife is so lazy I'd be better off if I hired a maid to do the housework".

    "Her father wants her to work in the family business but she'd be better off if she went into the general workforce."

    "He wants to climb Mt. Everest but if he wants to kill himself he'd be better off by just jumping off a tall building closer to home."



    Is there a similar expression in Spanish?
    vicente

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

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

Similar Threads

  1. I am having a good day .
    By fffcj in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-04-2011, 11:08 AM
  2. Good luck on/with that
    By clarab in forum General Spanish to English Translation
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-08-2010, 06:01 PM
  3. you're a good person for saying so
    By Micu in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-30-2010, 09:03 AM
  4. some good hip-hop?
    By emilyb in forum Miscellaneous
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-13-2008, 07:41 PM
  5. Good to see you/Good seeing you?
    By nickdisipio in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-10-2007, 02:25 PM

Posting Permissions

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