"to put the saddle on the wrong horse"

Question

Thanks for your answers to my earlier queries

Here is another one. I looked up "saddle" and "horse" in the dictionary, but had no success. How would you translate this saying into Spanish?

"to put the saddle on the wrong horse"

or

"don't put the saddle on the wrong horse" (don't accuse an innocent guy)

See you around,

Carole

Ensillar el caballo equivocado - gmdecar, Nov 14, 2010

Answer 1

In England I am sure we would use - To be barking up the wrong tree.

This would equate to - Ir muy descaminado.

So your phrase should be - no vayas muy descaminado.

I would translate ´barking at the wrong tree´ as llamar a la puerta equivocada, but that has nothing to do with accusing the wrong person for something. - mediterrunio, Nov 13, 2010

no ir muy descaminado means it is ´probable´ that you are on the right track. That would be even just the opposite to the idea of not putting the saddle on the wrong horse - mediterrunio, Nov 13, 2010

Answer 2

My all-time favorite refrán (saying, proverb) in Japanese is "Issun saki, yami." (One inch ahead, darkness) ("sun" is an old measurement [approximately equal to an inch, before Japan went metric). The closest equivalent in Spanish is (I think) "No hay quen pueda decir '¡De esta agua no bebiré!'" (Nobody can say "I'll not drink th9is water.") (I've seen alternate versions but this is the one that I prefer.) In English, I don't know of a good, pithy equivalent. "Nobody knows what the future holds.", (or, some such) captures the basic meaning but is not particularly "catchy".

In any event, when translating, the search for cognates, parallel syntax, etc. is misdirected. The important thing is to preserve the meaning/feeling of the original. What would a native speaker (intending to convey the same idea) be likely to say under similar circumstances?

The closely syntactic translation has its place (when teaching a foreign language to elucidate the "why"/"wherefore" of some particular construction|) but it's important to keep ones eye on the real goal; what would a native speaker actually say under these circumstances.?

I really, really like what you said here. l00% - margaretbl, Nov 12, 2010

Me too. Just remember the right word is "beberé" :p - bill1111, Nov 14, 2010

Answer 3

Many of these sayings (if not most of them) cannot be translated word for word and give the same effect, as the saying would mean absolutely nothing idiomatic in the language that they are being translated into. I think that Eddy's answer is about the best you will get, as "barking up the wrong tree" is an equivilant phrase to "putting the saddle on the wrong horse".

If you look at the phrasebook you will see that many of the phrases are not direct translations, but are the equilivant idiomatic phrase from English to Spanish. That will no doubt make your job more difficult, but you will not come up with the right answer if you go strictly for a word by word translation.

Answer 4

Hello dear

My name is queen(single). I was impressed when i saw your profile today at and i will like to establish a long lasting relationship with you. In addition,i will like you to reply me through this my private e-mail box([e-mail]) Thanks waiting to hear from you soon. queen I will send to you my pictures in my next mail through this my mail box

[e-mail]

Answer 5

Mediterrunio said

I would translate ´barking at the wrong tree´ as llamar a la puerta equivocada, but that has nothing to do with accusing the wrong person for something

This explanation from the The Free Dictionary and generally accepted over here as correct.

barking UP the wrong tree believing the wrong explanation for something. He had nothing to do with the robbery - the cops are really barking up the wrong tree this time.

Collins Spanish Dictionary gives the explanation of barking up the wrong tree as I stated, "Ir muy descaminado". This may well only apply to Spain and I hope a native from Spain will confirm whether Collins is correct or not.

Yes, we do say "ir muy descaminado" in the same sense that it's said "barking up the wrong tree" in English (Los policías van muy descaminados). But the part about accusing someone innocent.. is totally up to the context, it's not there in the expression - bill1111, Nov 14, 2010

I agree, the phrase can mean many things depending on the context. - Eddy, Nov 14, 2010

Answer 6

I've actually used this saying to my co-workers. It goes like this, "No ensillen al caballo equivocado." Don't accuse(put label) on the wrong (person).

If someone told me "no ensillen al caballo equivocado", my eyes would go open wide, and I'd let out a strong, unquivering 'what??' - bill1111, Nov 14, 2010

Answer 7

I used the translator, but I didn't like any one of them. I'm a beginner, but this might work

no ponga la silla de montar en el caballo equivocado

But as others are saying, if I heard that I would have absolutely no clue about what you are trying to say. - bill1111, Nov 14, 2010

Answer 8

the closest idiomatic expression I can think of for "don't put the saddle on the wrong horse" is no le hagas cargar con el muerto.

...

Janice,

"Don't switch saddles (or horses) in the middle of a race

translates as No hay que cambiar de caballo en medio del río.

Answer 9

Is it only I - a girl from Kansas, who does not recognize the subject "refrán" as a "saying" in English? Certainly I never heard it from my Mom, although I did learn a different one similar in so far as one or two of the same words are used: "Don't switch saddles (or horses) in the middle of a race".

This is supposed to commonly mean "don´t blame an innocent man" ?? New to me.

Answer 10

I quite agree with you guys. When I say "equivalent", I just mean a saying that would carry the same general meaning in the target language. I'm a translator and I seldom translate anything word for word, even simple and straightforward sentences. I think Eddy's contribution is the best.

See you around,

Carole