Somos dos polos diferentes

Question

In a conversation...

Me enjoying the fact that i've only had to work two days this week, my friend complaining that he still has to work the weekend, making it a seven day week for him...

He said: Somos dos polos diferentes

Is this the English equivalent of; We're poles apart??

Madre mia, cuánto me gustaría poder entender todo!!!!

Thanks for any help

Oh, and thanks for posting it. As something I use pretty often, it's good to hear what I believe to be the Spanish equivalent. - rogspax, Jan 4, 2013

Good question! - francobollo, Jan 5, 2013

You might have had enough Spanish translation for the day.. jejeje... "Me enjoying the..." hahahaa - katydew, Jan 5, 2013

Answer 1

I've actually seen that, and would say yes, though in English I use a modified version "We're on opposites poles"

Look forward to what a native says. It sounds like you already do understand it pretty well.

Answer 2

In fact, "somos dos polos diferentes" isn't usual.

We usually say

• "somos/(estamos en) polos opuestos", used mostly when two people are in completely opposite conditions or
• "estamos en polos opuestos", used when two people have completely opposite opinions, or as Mariana said, having a big difference of opinions.
• "somos dos polos opuestos" when you have completely different or opposite personalities or seem different behaviors.

Somos dos polos opuestos es la frase hecha. Polos diferentes no se usa. - francobollo, Jan 5, 2013

No quise decirlo así de tajantemente porque aparentemente hay alguien que sí la usa (a pesar de que para nuestro oído no suene natural), pero tienes razón. - -cae-, Jan 5, 2013

Good to see that. Then it is literally more close to what most of us would say in English to begin with. Also, thanks for the reminder of the frasa hecha of ¨frasa hecha¨ - rogspax, Jan 5, 2013

Good discussion & helpful to see the slight differences of meanings depending on ser or estar. - katydew, Jan 5, 2013

Answer 3

Somos dos polos diferentes

What Rogspax uses as a translation gives the perfect gist of the meaning, but his translation would require the use of "estar" and here we have "ser."

"Ser polos opuestos / diferentes (figurative)" means to be poles apart (there is a big difference between us).

Polos opuestos is the actual phrase. - francobollo, Jan 5, 2013

Good point, and another great example of ser vs estar. I hadn´t thought about it those terms. Just went for our frasa hecha, which would indeed use estar if translated directly. Thanks for making me think on that one. - rogspax, Jan 5, 2013