A challenge: Ambiguous expressions.

Question

One of the most difficult challenges for a translator is what to do when confronted with an ambiguous expression. This is also one of the main reasons why automated translators can never go beyond a certain level of accuracy, because without a real intelligence to analyze context, the meaning cannot be made clear.

I would like to see what truly ambiguous expressions people can come up with either in English or Spanish, and see if anyone thinks that an accurate translation is possible.

My all time favorite ambiguous expression is: "Time flies like fruit flies". Un ejemplo en español puede ser: "Se verá en los próximos días"

Anyone willing to give this a shot?

I have given some thought to whether I should "accept" any one of the answers. I don't think it owuld be fair, because none of them gathered more than 2 votes, although most were very good. So I declare all contributions as winners! :-) - Gekkosan, Mar 26, 2010

Answer 1

The lady hit the man with an umbrella. (Is the lady using an umbrella to hit or is she hitting a man who is carrying an umbrella?)

Answer 2

.

"La llama que llama"

There we go! Now we're cookin'! - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

jejeje that's a funny one! - chicasabrosa, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 3

One that I love is "run your eye down this page"! Can you imagine picture a literal translation would bring to mind?

OK, yes. This could be interpreted in different ways. Good one! - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

Wouldn't that be "is running"? :) - Benz, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 4

He is pushing daisies = he is dead

Firing questions at someone = to bombard someone with questions

to be bored out of your mind = to be very, very bored

Nice, good ones! - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 5

I saw a man chasing a cat with a broom in his pajamas.

Vi a un hombre que estaba persiguiendo a un gato con una escoba en su pijama.

Answer 6

Straight trippin' - Someone is severely mistaken

(This one in particular makes me laugh in my head when it's said... is that opposed to crooked/ curved trippin')

Answer 7

Perdón imposible, ejecutar al reo.

Perdón, imposible ejecutar al reo.

Answer 8

Solicito empleada, inútil presentarse sin referencias.

Solicito empleada inútil, presentarse sin referencias.

That's a funny one! - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 9

El poder de la ubicación de la coma:

'Si el hombre supiera realmente el valor que tiene la mujer andaría en cuatro patas en su búsqueda'.

Su usted es mujer, con toda seguridad colocaría la coma después de la palabra mujer.

'Si el hombre supiera realmente el valor que tiene la mujer, andaría en cuatro patas en su búsqueda'.

.

Si usted es hombre, con toda seguridad colocaría la coma después de la palabra tiene...

'Si el hombre supiera realmente el valor que tiene, la mujer andaría en cuatro patas en su búsqueda'.

That's a classic. :-) - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

No puede faltar!!! :)) - Benz, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 10

Does "once in a blue moon" qualify? Blue moon is actually definable.

I think this could baffle an inexperienced translator not familiar with the expression, but I wouldn't say this is quite so ambiguous in its interpretation. - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010

Answer 11

Punctuation often makes a HUGE difference regarding how an sentence is understood For example:

El maestro dijo: "Javier es un burro". El maestro -dijo Javier- es un burro.

Likewise that little tilde that is the subject of so many questions in this forum:

Estaré sólo esta tarde. (I'll be here this afternoon only) Estaré solo esta tarde. (I'll be alone this afternoon)

Answer 12

Upon seeing the tear in my clothes I shed a tear.

Answer 13

He gave her cat food. (Is he giving cat food to her or is he giving her cat some food?)

Answer 14

Oh! Here's one inspired by today's "Palabra del día":

"Fall by the fall: fall in love but mind you don't slip and fall!" (Our translator does something hilarious with it!)

Answer 15

Angry mom to her kid:

-Shut up your mouth and eat!!!

Aww - that's mean! :-) - Gekkosan, Mar 24, 2010