"Put my cards on the table"

Question

Hi I'm looking for an idiomatic phrase for this expression in Castellano. Francamente, abiertamente, puede servir. An example: "Let me put my cards on the table I feel I should tell you before this goes any further, that I'm a married man".

Has anybody got a frase hecha that might idiomatically correspond.

oh, I understand now, I did not get it as it is exactly the same saying - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2010

Answer 1

Both are pretty much the same in Spanish: As Heidita said, the first one is exactly the same, and there is a small difference in the second:

He's got another card up his sleeve : "Tiene un as en la manga." - Literal: He has an ace in his sleeve.

Answer 2

Francamente, abiertamente, puede servir.

I don't undestand this, bird, what has this got to do with the cards?

to put your cards on the table: poner las cartas sobre la mesa

It is exactly the same thing. Not in the phrasebook? Well, it should be

ok, now it is, jeje, I just submitted it - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2010

Aha! So you're saying the phrase translates exactly into Spanish and is lierally the same? I suspected it wouldn;t work. thanks. - lagartijaverde, Sep 7, 2010

Answer 3

if you´re a married man talking openly to a prospective lover, you better use:

Hablando a calzón quitado

Hmm, that's new to me too, however... llevo me calzon con placer, I love my wife :-) - lagartijaverde, Sep 7, 2010

Answer 4

Thanks for that Guillermo2, the phrase seems to have slipped past me, I felt sure there would be some other phrase, so, in this case a "true friend" rather than a "false friend " which was my fear. Thanks Heidita. Check out the next question !

I did, bird;) - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2010

Answer 5

The phrase "Put your cards on the table" in English is an idiom that indicates that you will be completely open and honest, hiding nothing...being frank about things.

If somebody was questioning you about something and you decide to be totally frank and truthful you could begin by saying "OK, let me put my cards on the table"

Is that the same in Castellano?

"He's got another card up his sleeve" is more or less the opposite.