A buen hambre no hay pan duro

Question

Hi guys, So I came across this phrase which I could work into a few different contexts for my speaking exam, but just want to get some opinions on its formal usage.

I was under the impression that "A buen hambre no hay pan duro" meant "Beggars can't be choosers", as in, take it or leave it sort of thing.

Would it work in this sense? A buen hambre no hay pan duro - un poquito de progreso es mejor que nada

muchísimas gracias

"It's" = "it is". You really want to write "its". - lazarus1907, Apr 11, 2011

Yea I am well aware of the auxilary usage here... it's late and I'm tired, though :P - PorElAmorDeDios, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 1

Ask the people of Libya that just turned down the African Union's peace accord if a little progress is better than nothing.

In this situation, perhaps, Beggars can be choosers. You just have to trust in alms provided by others.

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Anyway, back to your "To a hungry (starving) person, there is no such thing as stale bread".

Take it or leave it doesn't really match the saying. When you take it or leave it you don't have to be satisfied with the outcome. The beggar is usually grateful to receive what he can. He doesn't see it as, damn, I got stale bread, rather than fresh bread. which is why the saying states it as there is no such thing as stale bread. All the beggar sees is I got some bread (stale or fresh is of no importance). His priority scale has been skewed.

Likewise, a little progress is better than none, doesn't carry the connotation that the person is satisfied with that rate of progression. Your value system may not have been skewed to where you are grateful for what you can get. (Again, ask the Lybians)

[I don't wish to imply that the anti-Gadaffi Libyans should be grateful for whatever they can get. They've paid a heavy price for freedom and deserve to win it.]

Thank you. In what senses, in Spanish, could you use this phrase in a topic-based conversation? - PorElAmorDeDios, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 2

primero!! quieres decir que A buen hambre (hunger) o hombre ( man)? me gusta esta frase!

Pienso que quiero decir "A buen hambre"? Esta frase significa "Beggars can't be choosers"? - PorElAmorDeDios, Apr 11, 2011