Perderse por

Question

I saw "perderse por" in the dictionary, where it is translated as "to be mad about something". But I can't really translate it in this sentence: "Cuando por fin llegamos a ser adultos, la vida nos lleva por su camino tan rápido que en un momento nos perdemos por el camino." Can somebody translate it for me, please?

Answer 1

It means to get lost.

When at last we grow up, life takes us on it's own road so quickly that we almost instantly loose the path. The translation can be improved upon, but that may help you.

Thank you! - Parmgrin, Feb 20, 2012

Thanks, I'm only a student too but I'm glad when I can help. - annierats, Feb 20, 2012

Answer 2

Parmgrin, thanks for posting the context. In this context, the "por" is not part of the phrase which goes with "perderse por". It is just a regular "por". "Por" can also mean "through", "by", in additional to "for". I would understand this sentence as "... life takes us by/through its path so rapidly that in a moment we get lost by/through our way."

Thanks! :)) - Parmgrin, Feb 21, 2012

Yea, I agree. I was thinking "we get lost along the way", but I think it's, more or less, the same thing you said. :o) - Goldie_Miel, Feb 21, 2012

Answer 3

PJballa: "...Mi hija no hace la cama, si se pasa todo el día en casa, los trabajos domésticos son cosa de mamá, pero si le pido, me ayuda. Hay que pedir, no echar una bronca. Nadie me ha dicho que es tan difícil ser madre y yo ya me he olvidado de lo que es ser una niña. Cuando por fin llegamos a ser adultos, la vida nos lleva por su camino tan rápido que en un momento nos perdemos por el camino."

That's the last sentence of the text.

After I read the whole thing, It makes more sense to me that nos perdemos signifies "lost" in this case. But I'm still not entirely sure. Is there anyone else that could shine some light on this one. - PJballa, Feb 21, 2012

Answer 4

I think in this case por translates to "because" so it would be "we got mad because of the route/way." Could you post a little of the text around this sentence so I could see more context?

Answer 5

¡el chocolate me pierde! be mad about chocolat.

Estoy perdido. I´m lost