''To put something on the back burner''

Question

I'm writing about a business deal. I'm having to tell some people that they are now ' put on the back-burner', that they have become my second option, that they will have to wait until I resolve an issue with somebody else.

Please can you help me say this in a correct, friendly, yet decisive way. In English I would write ' that I'm putting them on the back burner' this indicates they still have chance, but not to pin their hopes too high.

I can write :

Siento que ustedes ya son mi segunda opción y que tengan que esperar hasta que pueda solucionar las cosas con la otra gente. ( This sounds cumbersome and possibly incorrect) .

Gracias de antemano.

Answer 1

Hi annie,

"Siento que ustedes ya son mi segunda opción.." means 'I feel that you already are my second option..'. You were probably looking for: "Siento que ustedes ya sean mi segunda opción" meaning "I am sorry that you are my second option".

I don't know how to translate properly that 'back burner' idiom but if you want to indicate they still have chance, but not to pin their hopes too high. Here is my suggestion:

• "Lamento que ustedes ya no sean mi primera opción y que tengan que esperar. Siento no poder darles una respuesta definitiva hasta que no haya solucionado una cosa con otra gente." And you can add: "Les aseguro que si se produce algún cambio serán los primeros en saberlo."

That would be:

• "I am sorry that you are no longer my first choice and that you have to wait. I'm sorry I can not give a definitive answer until I have solved an issue with other people." The extra: "You will be the first to know if there are any changes/news".

I hope this helps you. Un saludo.

Perfecto! Muy diplomatico, exactamente lo que necesito . - annierats, Dec 9, 2013

And there´s that interesting ¨ hasta que no haya solucionado¨ again, that I´m trying to understand better (the no sounding wrong to an English ear) - rogspax, Dec 10, 2013

You'l be pleased to know I adapted yours to the situation and I feel very happy that at least I've made agood and correct reply in a suitable tone. Thanks! - annierats, Dec 10, 2013

Answer 2

On looking at several sources, it seems " en el segundo plano" seems to be equivalent to the English expression.

Thanks, Noetol, useful information. - annierats, Dec 9, 2013

Yes, segundo plano sounds very good. - RelaxingCup, Dec 9, 2013

Answer 3

To put something on the back burner

From our phrase book.

It means to deprioritise something - usually not a person but a project or idea.

thanks Ian. - annierats, Dec 10, 2013

de nada amiga. - ian-hill, Dec 10, 2013

Answer 4

Honestly, I don't think you should use an idiom to tell a professional company that they are now your second choice. Why don't you just tell them outright, "I have an issue that I am trying to resolve, so I'm afraid that I will not be able to help you until some time in the future." If you said something like this in Spanish, it would be easier to translate, and it would probably sound more professional. And there is always the chance that this idiom doesn't mean the same thing in Spanish.

¡Espero que esto ayude!

Thanks, you may be right. it is a private person actually, not a company. I agree the idiom itself doesn't translate, but there may be a simialr saying. - annierats, Dec 9, 2013

Answer 5

Others have answered your question, but I do wish to include my attempt:

En un segundo plano - On the back burner

La definición en inglés: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+back+burner

Los ejemplos:

1 - El proyecto de construcción está en un segundo plano por ahora.
The building project is on the back burner for now.

2 - Él puso el proyecto en un segundo plano.
He put the project on the back burner.

3 - Él lo/la está poniendo en un segundo plano.
He is putting it on the back burner.

4 - Cuando se enteró de la noticia, todo lo demás fue puesto en un segundo plano.
When he heard the news, everything else was put on the back burner.

5 - Los estoy poniendo en un segundo plano.
I am putting them on the back burner.

wordreference.com.
http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=burner.
figurative (low priority) (pasar a) segundo plano nm.

Cool! - rac1, Dec 10, 2013

Thanks Bandita, very interesting. - annierats, Dec 10, 2013