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La Palabra del Día: "deshacer"

La Palabra del Día: "deshacer"

15
votes

deshacer ( des-ah-ser' )

verb ( to undo, destroy, take apart )

Francobollo is the official corrector for the Spanish sentences. Please correct your posts according to his suggestions. There are many native English speakers here, most of us can offer great suggestions to the English sentences. I will do my best to go through them all, too. Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the word as well as the number of votes.

Guidelines:

Write sentences at least 5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Have fun experimenting with Spanish.

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Examples:

1. Me hicieron un peinado para la boda que será muy difícil de deshacer por toda la laca que me echaron.

They gave me a hairstyle for the wedding that will be difficult to undo because of all the hairspray.

2. No quiero deshacer todo el progreso que he hecho con la psicóloga, pero mi seguro de salud ya no me cubre las visitas.

I don't want to destroy all the progress I've made with the psychologist, but my health insurance will no longer cover my visits.

4605 views
updated Jan 18, 2013
posted by rac1
lol. Try some nail polish remover ;-) - JazSpanish, Jan 11, 2013
Hey, I didn't think of that. jeje - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
:-) Probably it would work but dark hair would become blond, I guess. ;) Buenos días. Hola Rac y Franco! Gracias!! :)) - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
Thank you too for participating! : ) - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
"...laca que me echaron." Echar es un verbo muy común y corriente. Si deseas que suene con más categoría usa: "aplicaron". - maestroantonio, Jan 11, 2013

21 Answers

8
votes

Aquí tienes un juego: asociar cada una de las herramientas con una de estas palabras: cortar, pegar y deshacer. No vale buscar por internet.

Aquí tienes un juego: asocia cada una de las herramientas con una de estas palabras: cortar, pegar y deshacer. No se vale buscar por internet.

Here is a game for you: associate each of the tools with one of these words: cut, paste, and undo. Don't look up on the internet.

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updated Jan 12, 2013
edited by JazSpanish
posted by JazSpanish
asocia / no se vale buscar por Internet (Great job!) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Very cleaver Jaz! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
I love it. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Yes, very clever and old school. Love it. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
Funny! - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
Gracias Franco. - JazSpanish, Jan 11, 2013
11
votes

Hace años, el presidente Ronald Reagan les dijo a los alemanes del este, "¡desháganse de esta valla!"

Years ago, President Ronald Reagan told the East Germans "tear down this wall!"

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updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by Noetol
posted by Noetol
¡Desháganse de esta valla! - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Awesome Noetol! Take a bow. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
fantástico! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
This one has my vote for best. Awesome. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
Thanks, all! - Noetol, Jan 11, 2013
Yes, it was in 1989. I remember it. ;)) - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
Good one Noetol! - RichSean1725, Jan 11, 2013
I remember it too, Iana. Very emotional and happy day! - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Yes, Mc. It was great that finally people, from the ex-comunistic countries, could travel. - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
But surely, nothing to do with the americans? - annierats, Jan 11, 2013
Imperialist warmakers, sending our children to Afghanistan now.. Grr.. - annierats, Jan 11, 2013
10
votes

Lo que hace con las manos, lo deshace con los pies. ¡Qué pena!

What she creates with her hands she then destroys with her feet. What a shame!

Blockquote

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by francobollo
posted by francobollo
She's a big dummy. jeje - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
That looks like it might hurt. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Hola Franco! - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
This is one of my favorite Spanish "dichos." Thanks Franco! - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
In English, we don't have a direct translation, but, "She's her own worst enemy," is close. - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
I love your interpretation. Joyce! - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
8
votes

I hope someone can fix this saxophone which is taken apart.

Espero que alguien pueda arreglar este saxófono que está deshecho.

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updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by iana01
:-) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Me too, Grace. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Well at least it's neatly organized. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Hola! :)) Muchísmas gracias, Franco, Rac y Margherite. :)) Sí, es organizado muy bien, Margherite. :))) jejjeje - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
lets hope no notes are mislaid in the reconstruction! - Ansionnach, Jan 11, 2013
8
votes

Es muy fácil deshacer relaciones cuando dices las palabras desagradables.

It is very easy to destroy relationships when you say unkind words.

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updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by 0095ca4c
posted by 0095ca4c
Yes, better to hold your tongue until you aren't angry. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
It takes just one bad word ... very good Margherite !:). - shish75, Jan 11, 2013
You are right, Rac and Margherite. You too, Shish. Good post, Margherite. - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
cuando dices palabras desagradables (o las palabras inapropiadas) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Gracias rac, shish, iana y franco. He corregido mi error. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
8
votes

Tengo mucho que hacer este fin de semana, incluyendo deshacerme de unas herremientas altas viejas, para que puedo poder comprar e instalar las neuevas

I have a lot to do this weekend, including getting rid of some old tools so I can buy and install some new ones.

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updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by rogspax
posted by rogspax
incluyendo deshacerme (deshacer is to destroy --- deshacerse de is to get rid of) de unas herramientas viejas para poder comprar e instalar las nuevas - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Por qué herremientas altas = old tools? - JazSpanish, Jan 11, 2013
Tool time! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Herramientas viejas! ja ja - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Crap, fell for the oldest false congate in the book, and one I know better than. Altas indeed. Doh. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
I´m blaming this one of the flu and fever and medicine, but will go fix it as soon as my brain begins working again. Argh!"·!$%" - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
para poder comprar (no need to use que) / las nuevas - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Thanks Franco. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
7
votes

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Cuando era joven mis hermanos se deshacían mi muñeca parlante porque querían ver cómo funcionaba When I was young my brothers took apart my talking doll because they wanted to see how it worked.

updated Jan 12, 2013
edited by 00a50c57
posted by 00a50c57
I hope this makes sense. It is a little above my level of Spanish. - 00a50c57, Jan 11, 2013
porque querían ver cómo funcionaba - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
me desarmaban (deshacían does not quite work here) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Gracias, Francobollo. Feliz año nuevo. - 00a50c57, Jan 11, 2013
Thanks Franco. I realise now that I was punching above my weight here to even attempt this sentence today. I await with anticipation for tomorrow's word. - 00a50c57, Jan 11, 2013
My best friend told me the exact same story a week ago. Her brother destroyed her Chatty Cathy to find the voice box, but killed Chatty in the process. He did go on to become an engineer. - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
ver (not verla) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Cheer up, only way upwards is to make mistakes! - annierats, Jan 11, 2013
Just say: typos. I maklke a lot of typos,myslelf, nearly more typos than words.. - annierats, Jan 11, 2013
7
votes

Me hice pedazos cuando tuvimos que decir adiós.

I fell apart when we had to say goodbye.

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updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by mcl020
posted by mcl020
Me deshice (me hice pedazos is better) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Thanks Franco ;-) - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Lo siento. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Me too, that is the worst feeling ever. I love 'writing in the sand' photos even though they only last until the next high tide. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
That is why writing in the sand is such a good thing, as 'the tide will always change' again in our own lives as well. - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
Hola Mc! - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
Hola Iana! - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
7
votes

Temo que no pueda deshacer el daño que creí cuando me quedé dormido mientras hablaba por teléfono.

I'm afraid I won't be able to undo the damage that I created when I fell asleep while talking on the phone.

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updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by GraceM
Jeje, I can imagine. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
:-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
We've all been there. Hope he didn't say the wrong mommy's name. - rogspax, Jan 11, 2013
jajaja. :)) - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

"What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." (Nietzsche)

"Lo que no me destruye, me hace más fuerte"

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updated Jan 18, 2013
edited by Ansionnach
posted by Ansionnach
Only sometimes I think. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Lo que no me destruye would be more appropriate. My friend, your progress is amazing! - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Very good! - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
thanks franco - food for thought - and thanks for the comment - Ansionnach, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

First try: Sería estupendo poder deshacer alguna cosa o incluso personas de nuestras vidas, ¿verdad?

Correction: Sería estupendo poder deshacerse de algo o inclusive de algunas personas en nuestras vidas, ¿verdad?

It would be great to have the power to delete something or some people from our lives, true?

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updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by JoyceM
posted by JoyceM
...deshacerse de algo o inclusive de algunas personas en nuestras vidas... - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Good usage, Joyce. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
That depends on what you mean by delete Joyce :-) I promise never to argue with you!! lol - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Just the memory Margherite. Not to worry. Thanks, Franco. - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

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Los muchachos deshacen las cosas bien pero no las arman bien.

Little boys are good at taking things apart, but not so good at putting them back together.

updated Jan 11, 2013
posted by mstivers
He learns. ;)) I like this post. :) - iana01, Jan 11, 2013
Future mechanic! - JoyceM, Jan 11, 2013
Es verdad. - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Lol, you and Roger should get together. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Not only little boys ;-) - mcl020, Jan 11, 2013
6
votes

Deshacen sus maletas una a la vez. Apuesto a que no saben que la en cuál bolsa ¡está en el cepillo de dientes!

They will unpack their suitcases one at a time. I bet they don't know which bag the toothbrush is in!

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SD dictionary: deshacer las maletas -> to unpack one's suitcases o bags

updated Jan 11, 2013
edited by bandit51jd
posted by bandit51jd
no saben en cuál bolsa está el cepillo de dientes - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Did I use the phrase correctly? - bandit51jd, Jan 11, 2013
So unorganized! :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
Tehe - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
Yikes! I'd want to buy a toothbrush first before searching through all that! - SaigeSmith, Jan 11, 2013
Great job, bandit! - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
Gracias, Franco! - bandit51jd, Jan 11, 2013
5
votes

Cuando no tengo dinero, busco suéteres que están a punto de deshacerse.

When I have no money, I find knitted sweaters to take apart.

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updated Jan 18, 2013
edited by SaigeSmith
posted by SaigeSmith
busco suéteres que están a punto de deshacerse (deshilacharse) - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
What do you do with them. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
She probaly rolls them into a new ball of yarn. - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
It's a great way to save money but the bumps would bug me. :-) - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013
I make something else out of it. It could be a green tip: recycled yarn. - SaigeSmith, Jan 18, 2013
5
votes

El Taliban deshizo las estatuas enormes del Buddha en Afganistán.

The Taliban destroyed the gigantic statues of the Buddha in Afghanistan.

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updated Jan 13, 2013
edited by jennysk
posted by jennysk
What a shame. - rac1, Jan 11, 2013
las estatuas - francobollo, Jan 11, 2013
War is terrible but desacration is inexcusable. - 0095ca4c, Jan 11, 2013