"No tener mano izquierda"

Question

What does the following idiomatic expression mean ?

"No tener mano izquierda"

Good question and a lot of good answers! - JoyceM, Jul 22, 2012

Answer 1

¿Quiere decir que una persona que no tiene mano izquierda (en sentido figurado) es muy torpe o inhábil porque solo tiene una mano (la derecha)?

Tradicionalmente, la mano izquierda se ha relacionado con la maña, que es una palabra muy difícil de traducir (knack, skill). Tener mano izquierda es una expresión que tiene su origen en la tauromaquia.

Información extraída de la red:

La expresión tener mano izquierda viene del mundo del toro. Ahí significó —y significa— simplemente saber torear al natural, esto es, de modo regular, pues torear con la mano derecha es arte menor. (...)

La muleta debe tomarla el diestro con la mano izquierda; para la suerte (para matarlo) la pone al lado del cuerpo, y siempre cuadrada; y situado en el terreno del toro, lo insta para partir, y lo recibe en dicha muleta al modo de la suerte de capa al pase regular. Lo demás son ayudados, pases irregulares dados con la muleta prendida con la mano derecha y, por tanto, despreciables y sin valor.

Han pasado más de doscientos años. La idea permanece: hoy, en cualquier tertulia taurina se oye que para triunfar en el arte de Cúchares (toreo) se puede ser de derechas, pero hay que tener mano izquierda, porque la izquierda —la de citar de frente, la de citar con valor— es la que trae la fama y los dineros.

Muchas gracias Cogumela. Su explicacion es muy clara y detallada. - FelipeFresnal, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 2

Izanoni commented

That's interesting that they use "left hand" here. Is there some connotation in Spanish that equates left-handedness with cunning or ability?

I suppose if you consider that the majority of the people are right handed it infers that if you are equally capable of using your left hand as well, ie ambidextrous, then you have a special ability.

Cack-handed is hardly a complement in English either.. - annierats, Jul 19, 2012

Answer 3

"tener mano izquierda" means to be astute, or clever.

So that would mean that one is not those things.

Yes, but this kind of cleverness has a characteristic hue. It's very used, for example with politicians. - cogumela, Oct 20, 2011

That's interesting that they use "left hand" here. Is there some connotation in Spanish that equates left-handedness with cunning or ability? - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

I mean, you can be "extraordinariamente inteligente", y no tener ninguna mano izquierda. - cogumela, Oct 20, 2011

¿Quiere decir que una persona que no tiene mano izquierda (en sentido figurado) es muy torpe o inhábil porque solo tiene una mano (la derecha)? - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

Muchas gracias Tosh - FelipeFresnal, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 4

Hi, Felipe!

More or less:

Not knowing very well how to handle or act in difficult situations. Lack of cunning or determination to solve a problem.

Correct my English if necessary, I'm not too confident about it

Hi, Laura. Though I understood what you meant, I think that it would probably be better to say either "act when faced with difficult situations" or, more simply, "act in difficult situations." - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

or another that comes to mind would be "act when confronted with a difficult situation" - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

In any case, your English was excellent as usual and would be understood, its just that the use of the word "front" here would probably be a bit uncommon. :) - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

Thank you, Ira :) - cogumela, Oct 20, 2011

Your welcome :) - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

Although I would use ¨determination" in the context of "solving a problem", I am not sure I would employ the word "cunning" to solving a problem. We could discuss "why not", but.... Note: it is not "wrong", per se. - Janice, Jul 22, 2012

Answer 5

Hola,

No tener mano izquierda significa No ser diplomático

Gracias, Gulyuz. - annierats, Jul 19, 2012

Answer 6

The word maña means skill or trick. This is the way the term left handed is used in the English language because it is also the definition of the word sinister meaning bad intent.

The cape is a diversion from the sword which will ultimately kill the bull. I interpret the article as explaining that there is more skill in using the weaker arm to control the bull.

In Catholic school the nuns said 'the left hand is the hand of the devil" and would force left handed children to use their right hand. I don't know if a politician would be trying to say he has no skills or no tricks.

Answer 7

I am presuming, in the spanish culture, using both hands equally efficiently is a very rare thing;therefore, to ' have the use of a left hand' would demote exceptional skill in accomplishing any task. Make sense???

To be ambidextrous is rare, whrever you are.. - annierats, Jul 19, 2012