"When in trouble or in doubt . . ."

Question

Someone on another thread liked this saying of my mother's, which she always repeated when something came along to upset us:

When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.

You lose all the rhythm and rhyme in translating to Spanish, of course, but here is my try:

Cuando tienes problemas o tienes dudas, corre in círculos, grita y vocear.

I think this is probably a terrible translation, so please suggest a better one!

And maybe there is even a similar saying in Spanish.

¡Muchas gracias! y ¡que no cunda el pánico!

What other thread? Maybe I can confuse someone over there, too! - LateToDinner, Aug 14, 2010

Actually it wa sa comment I made in a thread about someone needing to tell a teacher 5 things they wanted to learn in Spanish class ;) and someone reminded me of my Jaws of LIfe question - never mind. - revmaf, Aug 14, 2010

Found it! Your poetic inspiration came after I went to tend other matters! And this way we both get bonuses. Thanks! - LateToDinner, Aug 14, 2010

Answer 1

You lose all the rhythm and rhyme in translating to Spanish

Which would you like most, the rythym or the rhyme?

As much as I want to help you, I just don't have the time.

It works better if you read it out loud. And use the meter.

May I rearrange just a little?

Cuando estén en dudas o problemas, correr en círculos, con gritas y exclamas.

Oh, come on! At least a cigar!

bien hecho! :) voting - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 13, 2010

Thanks MC, now I don't need the cigar! - LateToDinner, Aug 13, 2010

ja ja - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 14, 2010

Oh, I like it. You get a cigar! ;)- - revmaf, Aug 14, 2010

You might add Margret's touch, the 'date vueltas' shortens it a couple of syllables. But I liked your correr en circulos. - LateToDinner, Aug 14, 2010

Answer 2

I think Late has given you a good alternative so I'll just add a couple of short rhyming idioms given here:

Spanish Idioms

Nel, Pastel (literally "No, Cake"), meaning "No way"

Al Rato, Vato ("See you later, dude")

Neat link - thank you! - revmaf, Aug 14, 2010

Answer 3

Well, I don't know who to give the green check mark - margaret or late! I do like correr en circulos, but it does add syllables.

Thanks for all the suggestions for this and for the other thread about my dad's caution to us - it has given me fond memories of both of them.

¡Gracias, amigos!

What do you think, Margaret, should we draw straws? - LateToDinner, Aug 16, 2010

Answer 4

I'm liking this - Excellent ideas Late, ok may I tweak as well = Cuando esté en dudas o problemas, date vueltas, gritas, y exclamas. How did you ever think of exclamar - I've been worrying this around in my head for two days already!!

2 days? I thought it was a new post ... did The Rev sneak one past me? Ah! I missed the other thread! I see. - LateToDinner, Aug 14, 2010

At least I think it's been a couple of days, I loved the little rhyme and was thinking and thinking but could not find something like 'exclamar' - margaretbl, Aug 14, 2010

This is great, too - thanks margaret - you get another cigar! ;)- - revmaf, Aug 14, 2010

Answer 5

OK, the coin flip goes to - late! Margaret's is good, too, and thank you both so much for working on this for me!

¡Muchas gracias!

or as my first typo read - muchas Garcias - many people named Garcia??? Oh, well.

Was it really a typo? I think they are called spoonerisms, you hear ''mucho Garcia'' and ''buenos nachos'' in Southern California - LateToDinner, Aug 16, 2010

From the original Rev. Spooner: the Lord is a shoving leopard. ;) - revmaf, Aug 16, 2010

Answer 6

Still working on it.... Cuando tienes dudas o problemas, date vueltas - gritas - exclamas.