"Nothing on top of piano"

Question

I have Spanish-speaking painters coming and need to put a sign out to protect the piano from tools being put on it, etc. I can't find "nothing on top" anywhere relating to a surface (just to snide intelligence references and to clothing!). How do I say "Please put nothing on top of the piano"? Thank you.

Hello, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Nov 27, 2012

Answer 1

"Por favor, no apoyar las herramientas sobre el piano" (Please don't put the tools on top of the piano" / "Por favor, no dejar las herramientas sobre el piano" "Please don't leave the tools on top of the piano" / "Por favor, no dejar nada sobre el piano (Please put nothing on top of the piano) " (literal translation)

If "dejar" is 'leave' and "apoyar" is 'put', can I thus say "Por favor, no apoyar nada sobre el piano"? I don't wish to imply that they can 'put' things there, just not 'leave' them, as your second sentence might imply. Many thanks ! - violinlady, Nov 27, 2012

If you want the obreros to pay attention keep it short and simple and print it in the biggest font you can fit on the paper. - geofc, Nov 27, 2012

Answer 2

Simple answer seems to be "No poner nada aqui" or "No poner nada por encima". The infinitive is very frequently used in warning notices and such.

Some examples are "No entrar" at the end of a one way street or "No virar (derecha/izquierda)" for much the same use "No fumar" etc.

I hate to disagree with another post, especially from hokuten whose posts are great. In this case, my problem is that I see violinlady as being in need of a short, sharp, incisive command to a bunch of workmen while hokuten's answer aims more at a cultured piece of Spanish prose. This is a fine exercise in translation but it is not adapted to the purpose of the moment.

Sorry about that.

Thank you! - violinlady, Nov 27, 2012