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Translation Help
I have what appears to be a very old hand crafted knife that I picked up at a flea market about 20 years ago. It is beautifuly engraved and has a phrase on one side that I have not been able to translate. The engraved phrase is,
"Palomas no se hagan bolas, Pichones ando buscando."
It appears to be Mexican in origin since on one side it has a man's name and "Ocotlain, Oax." which I think is a city and state in Mexico.
Since I was having such a hard time getting it translated I thought it might be slang or some regional expression. Or perhaps I have just been asking the wrong people.
Any help you could provide is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
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Re: Translation Help
It is Mexican. Oax. stands for Oaxaca, a Mexican state.
This is apparently a saying of some sort but I have no idea what it means in Mexico.
Literally translated it says "Palomas (doves) no se hagan (don't do or make) bolas (lies, fibs, [also uproar or big fuss]). Pichones (pidgeons) ando buscando (I'm looking for)."
Doves do not lie (or make a big fuss), I'm looking for pidgeons.
I hope one of our Mexican members checks in and tells us what it means. I'd like to know too!:D
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Re: Translation Help
I guess it's (I'm not Mexican) something like don't get your hopes too high/ cause he's looking for something else...
No se hagan bolas= don't get your hopes too high.
I'm sure there is an English phrase for that. vicente???;)
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Re: Translation Help
Hi Sandra!!!:)
Well, there might be a more contemporary phrase that the young people use but "don't get your hopes up" is what I use.
How does no se hagan bolas translate into don't get your hopes up. I never heard that before Sandra.
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Re: Translation Help
HI Sandy and Vicente: I noticed that ome of the proposed meanings was the word "lie". Would it be correct to translate the pharse as "don´t fool yourselve"???? (el qeuivalente en español a "no se enganñen a uds. mismas"
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Re: Translation Help
Hi vicente,
Hard to explain for me but I will give it a try.
No te hagas bola
No te hagas una mental (very rude and vulgar)
One person has an idea, an expectation perhaps but it has no base, no real facts about it. The truth is quite different. So that person "se hizo una bola" (got hopes, expectations) about something!
I found this link, it's MExican and it can give you a better idea about the use of the phrase.
http://www.richdadmexico.com/?p=1160
Maybe after you read it, you can find a better English expression for that.
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Re: Translation Help
Exactly my friend Hebe!!
I was trying to find something like that....:)
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Re: Translation Help
Thanks!!! OK...now I understand. I didn't know that bolas also means hope or expectations. Hebe's translation makes sense. "don't fool yourself" or "don't lie to yourself" or more informal "don't kid yourself".
But how does Pichones ando buscando fit into this expression?
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Re: Translation Help
Vicente, I will try to put another example to see if this time you can get it...
This is a young nice looking guy and he's looking for a date. He says something like this,
So, young women, don't fool yourselves, I'm looking for experienced old ladies...:cool:
the pigeons and the doves!!! got it???
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Re: Translation Help
HaHaHa...
OK, in that case I would say ..."don't get your hopes up, I'm looking for ...."
Que piensas?
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Re: Translation Help
I knew you would get it this time!!! plain and simple for a man!!! hahahaha!!
it's perfect...
don't fool yourself/ don't get your hopes up!! at the end, no matter how you put it, he's going for the pigeons anyway!!! :p
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Re: Translation Help
Thanks for enlightening me Sandra!!:D
Now, my next question is....why do you suppose a person would have that phrase engraved on a knife?
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Re: Translation Help
No idea my friend!!!
Maybe somebody wanted to get killed with that beautiful knife but he was trying to kill somebody else????... ahahaha!!! I don't know, really!!! Doesn't make sense to me...:D
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Re: Translation Help
Hi Vicente and Sandy, interpretation is such a relative thing , but the way I interpret this phrase, the person is saying: “hey (doves or anyone) don´t be so conceit, this knife is not for killing you, I have better use for it" . Maybe other ideas will come along . I look forward to reading them
Best regards
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Re: Translation Help
Sandra and Hebe: I understand that pichon also means "novice or greenhorn" in Mexico. In the U.S. pigeon is also used to describe an inexperienced or gullible person, a "greenhorn", a "sucker" or "fool" who can easily be taken advantage of.
So if Pichones ando buscando means I'm looking for pigeons (fools) how would that affect your interpretaion?
I sure would like to know the history of that knife and it's former owner.:)
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Re: Translation Help
I sure would like to know the history of that knife and it's former owner.:)
Me too for sure. After reading your new comment, don't know what to say. It's a whole different meaning now. I hope some Mexican friend comes in with ideas...
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Re: Translation Help
Thank you so much for all of your input. You have been very helpful. I wish I knew the history behind that knife too.
-Eric