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    Default pais generoso

    Hi all,

    I'm not sure if this technically qualifies as "slang," but a friend of mine from Argentina has been visiting the US for a little less than a month now, and he keeps describing it as un pais generoso. He tried to explain the meaning to me but I just didn't quite get it. Anyone able to clarify? I understand the literal translation, but that usually tends to be waayyy wrong! Thanks!

    Leslie

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    Senior Member mvictoria's Avatar
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    Hi Leslie, it's a very common expression in Argentina. We use it, for example, when we see a person with zero talent ice-skating on TV and making a fortune..., or a "top-model" with her own reality TV show, or a politician that never really goes to work except at the end of each month to collect his payment. What a generous country!" we say.

    By the way, politicians are often called "ñoquis" and if you're interested I'll explain in another post.

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    Hi mvictoria

    Would you say then that it is not a complimentary phrase?
    vicente

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    Hi there! That's an excellent explanation, MVictoria!

    So, to sum up, "Argentina es un país generoso" or "¡Qué país generoso!" would lead to the idea that in this country some people get something positive while they don't deserve it.

    You would use these expressions whenever you notice something unfair, such as the examples provided by MVictoria.

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    Senior Member Guadalupe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    Hi mvictoria

    Would you say then that it is not a complimentary phrase?
    Well, definitely not... You can check my post above. If there's something you don't understand, I'd be glad to clarify it for you.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Guadalupe
    Well, definitely not... You can check my post above. If there's something you don't understand, I'd be glad to clarify it for you.
    Oh, I understand your post. I just wanted to make sure that the phrase didn't have a nicer meaning because it would appear that les8874's friend was being something less than a courteous visitor to the U.S. considering this comment: "a friend of mine from Argentina has been visiting the US for a little less than a month now, and he keeps describing it as un pais generoso."
    vicente

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    Senior Member Guadalupe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    Oh, I understand your post. I just wanted to make sure that the phrase didn't have a nicer meaning because it would appear that les8874's friend was being something less than a courteous visitor to the U.S. considering this comment: "a friend of mine from Argentina has been visiting the US for a little less than a month now, and he keeps describing it as un pais generoso."
    I see your point now, too, Vicente! I assumed that Leslie's friend was referring to Argentina (though the proximate antecedent for it is "U.S.", as you point out) to use the expression in the sense we generally use it (to make reference to our country)... Perhaps, Leslie can help us on that...

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    Ooops! I hadn't thought the friend might be referring to Argentina! The sentence could be taken either way now that you mention it Guadalupe Assumptions get me in trouble all the time!
    vicente

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    Senior Member Guadalupe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vicente
    Ooops! I hadn't thought the friend might be referring to Argentina! The sentence could be taken either way now that you mention it Guadalupe Assumptions get me in trouble all the time!
    Haha! And I hadn't thought the friend might be referring to the U.S. until you mentioned it

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    Senior Member Dragona's Avatar
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    hi all,
    just wanted to say that i enjoyed this thread...from the expression to the meaning to the assumptions!
    good one!

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