English/Spanish expressions

Question

Here you are an expression that I'd like to know its really means in English.

• "No es para tirar cohetes"

It explains that this thing it isn't very good.

Example:

"Fuimos a un restaurante y la comida no era para tirar cohetes".

(Food in the restaurant it wasn't very good).

I've heard an English expression that it says:

"It's not to roll out the red carpet".

Are they the similar meaning?. Do you know some expression that it means the same?

Thanks

Bothing to do with red carpets.. That's just for persons.. - annierats, May 30, 2012

Typo: Nothing. - annierats, May 30, 2012

Here 'is' an expression that I'd really like to know the meaning of in English :) It refers to something that isn't very good. .... Do they have similar meanings? Do you know 'any' expressions that have the same meaning? Well done Jose - good on you! - Kiwi-Girl, May 30, 2012

Thanks Kiwi!!!.. - josemaloru, May 31, 2012

Answer 1

no era para tirar cohetes

Literally, it means "it wasn't worth setting rockets off" because it didn't make a big impression.

We say: 1) It was nothing special (no era nada especial).

2) It was nothing to write home about (es como cuando escribes a tu familia y no incluyes algo porque no era importante).

3) It was unremarkable (el opuesto de excepcional).

Answer 2

As mentioned above, I would go for:

It's nothing to write home about, thats for sure

Answer 3

one saying we have in Enlish that has the same meaning is ...."Nothing to write home about" People say this if something is not very good. I dont know how it would translate to Spanish.

That expression is the first one that I thought of. - --Mariana--, May 30, 2012

I didn't remember this saying!!!!... You're right!!!... In Spanish it would be "no es para tirar cohetes" - josemaloru, May 30, 2012

Yes, I agree. - annierats, May 30, 2012

Answer 4

Jose, Just some small corrections in the English, leaving as much the same as possible:

There is an expression that I'd like to know what it really means in English. (I'd like to know what this expression really means in English.)

•"No es para tirar cohetes" It explains that this thing isn't very good.

Example:

"Fuimos a un restaurante y la comida no era para tirar cohetes".

(Food in the restaurant wasn't very good).

I've heard an English expression that says:

"Don't roll out the red carpet". (We often use this in the positive (Roll out the red carpet) sense but it makes sense like this, too.)

Are they the similar meaning?. Do you know some expressions that mean the same?

ups, snap sorry I hadn't scrolled down before I pointed some of the same things out in a comment above :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 30, 2012

Answer 5

Maybe "to roll out the red carpet" means "tirar la casa por la ventana"

(Buying a lot of things for a celebration, wedding.. and expending a lot of money)

Do you agree with me?

Thanks

No, similar but you only roll out the red carpet for person, not for a clelebration. It means you do your outmost to make them welcome, really. - annierats, May 31, 2012

Answer 6

It didn't set the world alight. That' s the most literal I can think of.

Nothing to write home about is probably the most similar in usage.