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  1. #1
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    Default to make a fool of...

    Hola amigos!

    How do you say things like:

    1. she made a fool of him.

    2. he made a fool of himself.

    3. you are making a fool of me.

    4. you are playing me for a fool.

    5. I am a fool for you.

    6. You are a fool for believing that.

    Are these phrases all based on "hacer un tonto"?

    Saludos a todos!
    vicente

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    Senior Member lauracipolla's Avatar
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    hi, pal!

    I'd say...

    1. lo hizo quedar como un tonto/ en ridículo.
    2. quedó como un tonto.
    3. me estás haciendo quedar en ridículo.
    4. me estás tomando por tonto (creés que soy un tonto).
    5. por vos hago tonterías/ me tenés atontado.
    6. sos un tonto/una tonta si creés eso/ al creer eso.

    (I'm sure other forum members will have different versions, esp. "tú" instead of "vos"...)

    hope to have helped.

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    Since I don't speak "vos" I'll have to modify some of them a little.

    Thanks Laura!!
    vicente

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    Senior Member lauracipolla's Avatar
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    you could very well start learning to speak "vos"... aren't you ever going to visit us Argentinians? hahaha...

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    Well, I'm a slow learner. I'm just now getting comfortable with "tu" . But you make a good point. I certainly want to visit La Argentina so I should speak your language.
    vicente

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    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    1. she made a fool of him. Le hizo quedar como un idiota.

    2. he made a fool of himself. Quedó en ridículo.

    3. you are making a fool of me. Me estás dejando fatal/ en ridículo.

    4. you are playing me for a fool. ¿Te crees que soy idiota?

    5. I am a fool for you. Soy un imbécil para ti.

    6. You are a fool for believing that.Eres tonto si te crees esto.

    Are these phrases all based on "hacer el tonto"?

    Saludos a todos!
    Hola Vicente no se te ve el pelo....

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    Senior Member lauracipolla's Avatar
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    good job, Exx! you "españolizaste" the phrases! haha.

    I wonder, however, about number 5. Vicente, I'll need your clarification. I took "I am a fool for you" as a sort of confession of someone's own weakness for the other person... Exx, on the other hand, took it as a quite resentful reproach to the other person for taking the speaker for a fool... what's the exact meaning of the phrase?

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    Quote Originally Posted by lauracipolla
    good job, Exx! you "españolizaste" the phrases! haha.

    I wonder, however, about number 5. Vicente, I'll need your clarification. I took "I am a fool for you" as a sort of confession of someone's own weakness for the other person... Exx, on the other hand, took it as a quite resentful reproach to the other person for taking the speaker for a fool... what's the exact meaning of the phrase?
    Thanks Exx!! I've been around. I just haven't caused any trouble lately.

    Laura:

    #5. I am a fool for you means that I am crazy about you, will do anything for you, will make a fool of myself for you, etc.

    #4. you are playing me for a fool. ¿Te crees que soy idiota? is good but does not capture the meaning by putting it in a question form. It is a statement that you are trying to manipulate me into believing something, generally erroneous or dishonest...like in a con game. It is very similar to #3. you are making a fool of me. Me estás dejando fatal/ en ridículo but different in that in playing me for a fool you are attempting something that I have not fallen for and in making a fool of me you are doing something overt that makes me look foolish.

    I'd like to add one more:

    7. He's making a fool of himself.
    vicente

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    Senior Member lauracipolla's Avatar
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    thanks for clarifying, vicente. #5 would then be "Por ti hago tonterías/ estoy quedando como un tonto/ Me vuelves loco/ Me haces quedar como un tonto." (see that I'm using the "tú", just for you!)

    #7... "Se está haciendo el tonto./ Está quedando como un tonto/en ridículo." For some reason, these phrases don't sound natural to me... I'd just say "¡Qué tonto!" (or some stronger adjective, of course)... but I know the idea is not complete.

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    Senior Member exxcéntrica's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lauracipolla
    Se está haciendo el tonto./
    no puedo creer que en tu tierra signifique una cosa tan diferente a la mía.

    Se hace el tonto: he is trying to make believe his is a fool/to play dumb

    Which is completely different to the sentence given.

    7. He's making a fool of himself.
    Se está comportando como un idiota./Está quedando como un imbécil

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