April 2013
2 posts
Help elect this Dominican girl the Mustang girl of... →
My friend Mialca, a “Dominicana de pura cepa” from Jarabacoa living in USA, entered this contest modeling next to her mustang. She’s ahead but needs more votes to beat her American competitor. Help her! Vote for Mialca using your facebook through this link. Thank you ALL!
https://www.facebook.com/50mustangmag?sk=app_138079047824&app_data
Slow cooker Dominican black beans recipe →
Over the years, I’ve perfected making my Dominican style black beans on the slow cooker: same results, less hassle. Try it!
March 2013
6 posts
Maiz con dulce or chaca - Dominican sweet corn... →
Mid afternoon during Easter week: the best time for Maíz con dulce or chacá. Mmmmm…
Dominican corner at Life Bites!
Dear followers. Dominican wisdom’s entire idiom library, as well as variety posts and photography about the Domincan Republic is now available at Life Bites. There, you will also find my recipes and original poetry. Follow this link and give us your feedback! I am excited to finally house all my “Dominican bites” in one site.
Here is the link:...
Mangu de platano recipe, with scrambled eggs and... →
#PlatanoPower!!!!!!1
Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja.
Literal translation: The donkey says one thing. The man who rigs it says another.
Meaning: The plan that matters is the plan made by the decision-maker. Sometimes things don’t go as planned.
Use: colloquial
I WISH I’d been able to do my homework under a mango tree. Zoe, Zoe…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeSd9pzAMdE
February 2013
4 posts
God bless Quisqueya! →
The Dominican Republic declared its independence from Haiti on February 27th, 1844 and again from Spain beginning August 16th, 1863 in what was called the Restoration War.
Read and share this beautiful poem to the sons and daughters of Quisqueya.
Shrimp sandwich ideas from sub at Watsons Bay →
Any good Dominican shrimp sandwich recipes I can adapt?
Tri-color vegetable stir fry →
Hungry anyone?
Le sacaron lo' trapito' al sol.
Literal translation: sacar los trapitos al sol (to hang the laundry in the sun)
Meaning: to hang someone’s dirty laundry out to dry. To expose someone’s secrets or embarrassing mistakes.
Significado: sacar a la luz pública los secretos o errores de alguien con la intención de avergorzarlo (a).
Use: general, colloquial.
November 2012
1 post
July 2012
12 posts
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Ser "de resorte"
Literal translation: to be “springy”
Meaning: of a person - spontaneous, unpredictable.
Significado: dícese de la persona espontánea e impredecible.
Use: colloquial
Example:
-Y Fulano?
- Pa la playa.
-Y eso sin avisar?
- Tú sabes que él es de resorte.
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Papelera
Literal translation: paper juggler
Meaning: said of a person, in this case a woman, who pretends to do busy work when people in a position of authority are around but does nothing when they go away. Pretender, hypocrite. Also, person who promises but does not deliver.
Significado: se dice de la persona (en este caso una mujer) que finge trabajar o esforzarse cuando sus jefes o superiores están...
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Haciéndole morcilla al diablo
Literal translation: making blood sausage for the devil
Meaning: Said of someone (particularly women) who attend church regularly and are supposed to be “devoted” but in reality are addicted to gossip, judging other people and minding their business. Hypocritical religious person.
Significado: se dice de la persona (especialment mujer) que se dice muy religiosa, rezando...
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Dar salsa
Literal translation: to give sauce
Meaning: to butter someone up - to sweetly try to persuade someone to do something for you.
Significado: tratar de convencer a alguien de que haga algo que usted quiere, utilizando dulzura.
Use: colloquial
Example: No me de’ salsa no, que no va’ ‘pal río. (Don’t butter me up. You’re not going to the river.)
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De la boca pa' fuera
Literal translation: from the mouth out
Meaning: you don’t mean what you say.
Significado: usted no siente lo que dice o no es sincero.
Use: general
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El horno no está para galleticas
Translation: the oven is not ready for cookies.
Meaning: the situation doesn’t allow for this type of behavior. We can’t afford to do something because of circumstances.
Significado: la situación no permite cierto tipo de comportamiento. Las circunstancias limitan los planes.
Use: general, colloquial
Example: - No se puede salir en la noche ya. Anoche atracaron a la vecina. -...
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Dar muela
Literal translation: to give tooth
Meaning: to use nice words and chivalry to gain the favor of a female, to court someone this way. This term is often used to refer to men who don’t have much else to offer but are good at making girls fall in love with them because of their courting skills. A man who “gives tooth” is called a “muelú”.
Significado: dícese del hombre...
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Ahí hay gato entre macuto
Literal transation: There’s a cat in a knapsack there.
Meaning: Something doesn’t add up or make sense. Someone is hiding something.
Significado: Algo no tiene sentido o no concuerda. Alguien está escondiendo algo.
Use: general
Example: El dinero se perdió el día que el vino. Ahí hay gato entre macuto. (The money disappeared the day he came by. There’s a cat in a knapsack...
June 2012
30 posts
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E' má' la sal que el chivo
Literal translation: there’s more salt than goat (in this dish).
Meaning: of a situation - it is more trouble than it is worth.
Significado: “Es más la sal que el chivo”: no vale la pena, es más el esfuerzo que el resultado.
Use: general
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Pasar crujía
Literal translation: to go through a corridor.
Meaning: to go through hardship.
Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles.
Use: general, colloquial.
Example: Aquí estoy, pasando crujía. (Here I am, going through hardship - an answer to the question: How are you? often heard in the DR).
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Te volviste buche y pluma'
Literal translation: you turned into maw and feathers.
Meaning: to tell someone they failed to live up to a promise, fulfill a commitment or simply do something they said they would do (such as showing up at a party). “Buche y pluma” can be used to refer to people, organizations or the government.
Significado: esta frase se usa cuando una persona no cumple una promesa o no hace algo...
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Tragarse un cable
Literal translation: to swallow a cable.
Meaning: to go through difficult times. Especially used to refer to economic hardship.
Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles. Usado especialmente en casos de dificultad económica.
Use: general
Example: Y tu hermano, ¿cómo está? - Tragándose un cable en Nueva York. Hace un año que no consigue trabajo.
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Cuando el hambre da calor, la batata es un...
Literal translation: “When being hungry makes you hot, a sweet potato is a cool beverage.”
Meaning: anything tastes good when you are very hungry.
Significado: cualquier comida sabe bien cuando usted tiene mucha hambre.
Use: colloquial, general
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El que menos corre, vuela.
Literal translation: “The one who runs less, flies”.
Meaning: Referring to people in a place (city, country or organization) - to mean that they are very sly or have street smarts and so one should be careful.
Significado: Al referirse a gente en un lugar (ciudad, país u organización) - que son muy astutos o maliciosos y que uno debe cuidarse.
Use: general, colloquial.
Example: En...
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A falta de pan, casabe.
Literary translation: “In the absence of bread, cassava bread”. “Casabe” is bread made of grated cassava root (yucca). Yucca root is abundant in Hispaniola island and was a staple of the native Taino inhabitants. Cassava bread is part of the Taino heritage and the recipe, as well as the look of it hasn’t changed much over the years. Here’s a video in Spanish of...
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Coger cuerda
Literal translation: to take the wind.
Meaning: to become angry or visibly upset when someone makes a joke at your expense or is “messing” with you.
Significado: enfadarse cuando alguien hace una broma sobre usted o trata de bromear con usted.
Use: general, colloquial
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Mucha espuma y poco chocolate
Literal translation: Lots of foam, very little chocolate
Meaning: Lots of fuss, very little substance. Used to refer to people or events that build up expectations and then do not deliver.
Significado: Mucha algarabía y poca esencia. Se usa para referirse a una persona o evento que llena de expectativas a los demás pero no cumple con las mismas.
Use: colloquial
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Tirar tela
Literal translation: to throw fabric.
Meaning: to wear new clothing, or to have a large wardrobe.
Significado: vestir ropa nueva, or tener un closet con mucha ropa nueva.
Use: colloquial, general.
Example: Fulanito está tirando tela! Ay míralo.
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¡Ahí si hay!
Literal translation: now, there it is!
Meaning: that person is the real deal, that person is of value, is good looking or has the goods. I like that person.
Significado: dícese de una persona que a usted le agrada (no en el sentido romántico), a quien usted considera de valor, se ve bien o de quien usted aprueba.
Use: colloquial
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Tumba polvo
Literal translation: duster
Meaning: Much like “lava saco”, said of a person who kisses up to or likes to butter someone up expecting favors in return.
Significado: Como el refrán “lava saco”, dícese de una persona que adula a otro en busca de favores futuros.
Use: general, colloquial
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Lava saco
Literal translation: suit washer
Meaning: said of a person who kisses up to someone in a position of authority.
Significado: se dice de la persona que adula a alguien que tiene una posición de autoridad o importancia.
Use: general, colloquial
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No le pares
Literal translation: don’t stop it.
Meaning: don’t pay attention to it, don’t worry about it.
Significado: no le prestes atención o no te preocupes por eso.
Use: urban, colloquial
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Dame lu' (luz)
Literal Translation: Give me light
Meaning: Tell me, help me understand or explain.
Significado: Dime o explícame.
Use: urban, colloquial
Sumitted by: http://alisvolatpropiis16.tumblr.com. Thank you!
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En tu mente
Literal Translation: In your mind.
Meaning: I don’t think so, I don’t agree or that’s not going to happen.
Significado: No estoy de acuerdo, o no va a suceder.
Use: general, colloquial
Submitted by: http://alisvolatpropiis16.tumblr.com. Thank you!
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