heard today: tumbaburros. Good translation, anyone?

Question

I help a Spanish speaker who is learning English. A friend of his referred to the dictionary as a "tumbaburros". I got the idea it meant it was of little help, but I'd like to know more about this word.

Answer 1

I know the original poster was talking about dictionaries, but I've found yet another use of the word. A really hard climb is sometimes referred to as a "tumbaburros" in Mexico.

This would kill both my burro and me!

Nice use of the word, HQ! I guess if we dig deep enough, we can find all kinds of "gold nuggets." - cristalino, Feb 16, 2011

Answer 2

Hello, Jubilado. Tumbaburro is a figure speech.

The term "burro" in México is given to the "ignorant" or uneducated, the ones that are not good in school, etc. as a joke. You might find caricatures of kids/adults in time-out wearing "burro" ears.

This Site is even called Tumbaburros because of its purpose

The Dictionary is a "tumbaburros" because it helps one to knock out the "burro" that's in oneself, it will make one less ignorant, etc.

Nothing to do with size of the dictionary or the literal meaning of the juxtaposition of "tumba: KO" and "burro: donkey".

Some might apply the term "tumbaburros" to a "cheat sheet" (also called: "accordeon" when folded)

Answer 3

In Mexico "tumbaburros" is a very common slang word for "dictionary".

Muchas gracias. - EugenioCosta, Jun 22, 2013

Answer 4

My abuelos had a Bible that was similar in description, Rheims-Douai version I believe, very bulky and thick... it could easily have knocked over a couple of burros and kept them down with its sheer weight! Now I see how the Benedictine friars were able to convert the aboriginal peoples - all they had to do was hoist that giant book up in the air and threaten to drop it on someone!

Lol! - happyquilter, Feb 15, 2011

Cristalino, now that would be called bible bashing lol - FELIZ77, Jun 22, 2013

Answer 5

I learned a new word. Thanks, Jubilado. Here's a helpful link. tumbaburros

I used to know it as Mataburros I think it has to do with the fact that a dictionary is big and heavy enough to knock a donkey down or even kill it.

So it meant the dictionary. Thanks for the link. - Jubilado, Feb 15, 2011

In this context it meant the dictionary, but look down the thread for more meanings. - happyquilter, Feb 16, 2011

Answer 6

I found another use of the word. Huge bumpers on the front of trucks and suv's are sometimes called tumbaburros in Mexico.

I guess they can knock a burro down?

Thanks! - gone, Feb 16, 2011

Answer 7

My learned Colombian friend had not even heard of the word.

Answer 8

Possible translations:

Tumbaburros = "Burrobuster", "Burrobumper"?

Hi, I got your messages. When I first heard this (2 years ago) I didn't know it simply meant "dictionary" in the context of its usage. It simply referred to the large size of dictioaries in the past. I really have not used the term. - Jubilado, Jun 22, 2013

Great word, and thank you for noticing it and posting it. Gibbon refers to LeNain de Tillemont as his "mule", that is, the historian before him who carried all the detailed baggage. Not wholly alien to "Tumbaburros" in one sense at least. - EugenioCosta, Jun 22, 2013

Anyone who bothers to read LeNain de Tillemont, will see the echo, and also note, after pondering perhaps, that Gibbon's "philosophical history" would have been worthless without his valued, "faithful mule" - EugenioCosta, Jun 22, 2013

Answer 9

Wow! so many answers! Thanks everyone for your imput!

I think we can say we have learned a new and fun word! Thanks for the thread Jubilado. - happyquilter, Feb 16, 2011

Gracias por la pregunta. - EugenioCosta, Jun 22, 2013