Why is it translated this way?

Question

I learned a new verb "robar." One of the example sentences I read is "nos robaron el partido". I don't know why it is translated as "we were robbed". Is it a complete translation? Why is the meaning of "el partido" not mentioned here?

Answer 1

Rogspax said:

In English, if a team or their fans feel they lost a game (sports event) due to a bad decision by a referee or other official, it is pretty common to hear the phrase "we were robbed"

That was a perfect explanation.

joygogo said:

Why is the meaning of "el partido" not mentioned here? (in 'we were robbed')

Well, I think that if the context is unclear, so would be the meaning of 'we were robbed'. For example:

A: We were robbed.
B: What? What happened?
A: Last week at the airport. We had to go to the police station.

Or:

A: How was the game last night?
B: Terrible. We deserved to win. We were robbed.
A: Same old story.

joygogo said:

I understand "nos robaron(they robbed us)", but why does this sentence need "el partido" anyway?

It doesn't. As in:

A: ¿Viste el partido anoche?
A: Did you watch the game last night?
B: Sí, tio. Fue un robo / Nos robaron.
B: Yes, man. It was a robbery / We were robbed. 

To sum up: you don't need to say explicitly "el partido" if it is implied by the context.

Correct my English, please

Very detailed! Excellent!!! Now I got it! Thanks for your help! Would you please answer another question of mine--"sobre, de, acerca de"? - joygogo, Nov 8, 2013

Great detail Rc. - rogspax, Nov 8, 2013

Answer 2

"In English, if a team or their fans feel they lost a game (sports event) due to a bad decision by a referee or other official, it is pretty common to hear the phrase "we were robbed" -- by rogspax

Hola, Roger,

Thanks a lot for telling me about it. It's good to know the same expression is used in another situation. According to what you said, I found some related information.

we wuz robbed - Phrases/Idioms

"Also, we was robbed or we were robbed. We were cheated out of a victory; we were tricked or outsmarted. For example, That ball was inside the lines—we wuz robbed! "

Answer 3

Let me give another twist here. In Mexico "el partido" can also be a political party and the phrase nos robaron el partido refers to political corruption and is quite common to hear here. Sometimes "el partido" is replaced with the name of the party PRI or PAN for example.

Interesting :) - RelaxingCup, Nov 8, 2013

Thanks for this information. So, "nos robaron el partido" could imply that people feel that they are exploited by the party or the taxes they pay are stolen by it? - joygogo, Nov 8, 2013

Yes. The people feel that much of the public money ends up in the pockets of politicians. - gringojrf, Nov 8, 2013

Answer 4

I don't know either Joy. Literally, that clearly makes no sense.

I would say there are two options.

1) it is wrong .

or .

2) it is a set phrase or expression "frase hecha" that the natives just know means that.

In English, if a team or their fans feel they lost a game (sports event) due to a bad decision by a referee or other official, it is pretty common to hear the phrase "we were robbed"

I have no idea in Spanish though. We might have to wait to hear from one of those natives.

I'll go with number 2. - RelaxingCup, Nov 8, 2013

Thanks, Roger! Your explanation is very helpful! And click my question again. Look at what I found! - joygogo, Nov 8, 2013

Answer 5

"Partido: also means "game" like el juego. If we were robbed it would be "robamos del partidö."

Hola, kirk. After reading your answer, I still don't get it. I understand "nos robaron(they robbed us)", but why does this sentence need "el partido" anyway? - joygogo, Nov 8, 2013

kirk, it would be "nos robaron el partido" literally, "the game was robbed from us" - chileno, Nov 8, 2013