¡Te está bien empleado!

Question

¡ Te está bien !

Hi everyone!

I would like to know how I can express this idea in English. I'm looking for a friendly way to express " te está bien empleado, o ¡qué bien te está!"

The idea is: someone has done something wrong .You have warmed him about the consequences it would bring before, but he did not listen to you, and now he is complaining ... to you!- So you say, ironically: "you have looked for it, now you there you have your award" It has something of mockery, but it is only a shade of meaning, as you both now that he's done nothing serious. If it were serious you would not speak like that.

"Te lo has buscado" in Spanish is similar, but it sounds a bit more haranguing, and it lacks the "I'm glad for it" nuance.

How would you say that?

I'm interested in related expresions that express more or less the same idea... it doesn't have to be literal.

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Maybe something like "It serves you right!" or "You got just what was coming to you!". Both are really similar to "Te está bien ..." and if said in the right tone of voice, a good dose of mockery!

"It serves you right" seems perfect to me. The use of to serve puzzled me, though. - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

While I like Farallon's range of choices, I vote for Jack's suggestion as the closest literal expression to "Te está bien empleado". If we think about it, it's almost exactly literally the same expression. - Gekkosan, Dec 8, 2011

Great response, Jack :) - FELIZ77, Dec 8, 2011

Answer 2

Two very colloquial possibilities:

You reap what you sow.

You made your bed, now lie in it.

But I will admit I like Jack's answer.

Muy acertadas, Stadt. Gracias!!! :) - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

Answer 3

The expression ¡Te está bien empleado! Does not makes sense at all! By your description, I think you mean any of the following.

• You asked for it! You got it!
• You deserve it!
• You got what you asked for!
• That's what you get for....

Thank you, farallon! It does make sense for me - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

make sense to me. - Eddy, Dec 8, 2011

Answer 4

Cogumela, the answers so far given are a little harsh sounding to me. I think the expression you are looking for is more like:

Happy, now?

It does not give me the sense that someone's glad you've got your comeuppance. And, as you can tell, it definitely contains mockery!

It might be said to a child who has been told, don't hold that paper toy too close to the water. Then when the mother turns around and sees the child holding the wet toy and crying, she might say: "Happy now?"

It can be used equally well in an adult context.

Genial, terri. Me quedo con esta. Gracias :) - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

De nada. - territurtle, Dec 8, 2011

You're right that your option is gentler, Terri. But the Spanish expression submitted by Cogumela is as harsh as the answers given. I agree there's room for diplomacy in translation, but it's also important to know the literal translations. - Gekkosan, Dec 8, 2011

Thanks, Gekkosan!! I misunderstood her question, and am **very** grateful to know the expression is harsher than I thought. - territurtle, Dec 9, 2011

Answer 5

You asked for it and now you have it!

You've asked for trouble ....and now you've got it!

There is an English saying which is similar ''You've made your bed now lie in it!''

I hope these help Cogu

Muchas gracias, Feliz :) - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

No hay de que Cogu, mi amiga :) - FELIZ77, Dec 9, 2011

Answer 6

You may say these things to that person. One thing we sometimes say either to that person or to anybody else listening,

"What goes around, comes around!"

This means that somebody who causes trouble for others may likely get his reward of trouble back at him. The implication is that of Divine retribution (as if God or some angels cause the deserved result).

Qué buena! Gracias pesta! :) - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

A well known saying. Great answer, one can speak those words as common knowledge. It's easy to say to somebody because it's as if they are not your own words but a proverb. :) - EL_MAG0, Dec 9, 2011

Answer 7

I propose we examine Jack's suggestion:

It serves you right. This literally means: it works rightly for you; it plays you (archaich) properly, it performs adequately for you. In other words, you are getting what you deserve.

This is exactly the same as Cogumela's expression: Te está bien empleado.

Empleado: at your service, used, applied: Bien empleado: well served, properly applied - serves you right.

Yes! I'm quite impressed that it's perfectly literal! However, I don't think "te está bien" is that harsh, if said in a soft tone - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011

I don't think it's particularly harsh, no... but it is harsher than Territurtle's "Happy now?" :-) - Gekkosan, Dec 8, 2011

And yeah, I also agree that tone and body language make a bit difference, regardless of what you actually say. - Gekkosan, Dec 8, 2011

I really don't think "te está bien" is harsh **in a *very* informal situation**, it can even be said in a joking way, but it can get really harsh just with just a change in tone of voice. - Jack-OBrien, Dec 8, 2011

but I might be badly mistaken, maybe it's harsh no matter what. - Jack-OBrien, Dec 8, 2011

As Cogumela quite rightly pointed out, much has to do with the context, the tone of voice, and body language used to deliver the admonishment. I am simly responding to Territurtle's call for gentle, loving expressions, which is not really how I am. - Gekkosan, Dec 9, 2011

Me, I go for the full "Nyah, nyah, told you so!! Hah! Serves you SO well!", with histerical laughter, rolling on the floor and slapping of thighs. :-] - Gekkosan, Dec 9, 2011

Answer 8

Hi Cogu, I don't know if this is friendly enough,but you could say "I told you so" or "I gave you fair warning".

Thank you sanlee! These are similar, more in the line of "te lo dije!" ;) - cogumela, Dec 8, 2011