"Of all places" in Spanish--native speaker please help

Question

Is there an equivalent expression in Spanish for "of all places"--used to refer to a highly unlikely place for something and usually with a hint of incredulity. For example: "The best meal I ever had was in, of all places, a bus station."

Would "en todos de los lugares" work? I've seen this phrase on the internet but I don't know if the nuance of incredulity is part of this expression.

Good question, and a useful expression in English, Jackie. :) I'll be watching for the answer as well. - Findy, Nov 1, 2014

Oops, I mean Jacky. ;) - Findy, Nov 1, 2014

Yes, good question - Joydeep_Singh, Nov 2, 2014

Answer 1

De todos los lugares...

In Spanish you have to say what else, so you cannot elide the phrase, like in English.

I thought that you couldn't but it's a common mistake English speakers make in assuming that you can elide the rest of teh context like in English no wonder they get int difficulties with translating. - FELIZ77, Nov 1, 2014

elide was a new English word for me. I had to look it up. - gringojrf, Nov 2, 2014

Glad to be of help. ;) - chileno, Nov 2, 2014

Que es "elide", Que significa? (perdone la falta de tildes o acentos escritos) - Daniela2041, Nov 5, 2014

Answer 2

I would probably default to using something akin to "oddly enough" or "as strange as it seems" rather than try to put "of all places" in Spanish.

La mejor comida que he tenido fue, por raro que parezca, en una estación de autobuses.

I agree, this conveys the unlikeliness best of all. - annierats, Nov 2, 2014

Of all places is very common where I grow up. - gringojrf, Nov 2, 2014

I like this one. - Daniela2041, Nov 5, 2014

Answer 3

Also not a native speaker

...de todos los lugares.

De todos los lugares para encontrar mis llaves, fueron en la cama.

Thanks to Chileno for the correction.

"estaban" en la cama. - chileno, Nov 2, 2014

Answer 4

How about "créalo o no" ¿Does this seem OK? It translates to "believe it or not" I think that this Spanish expression get the idea across a little better. "de todos los lugares" and other expressions that I have seen here are sort of word for word translation but it doesn't have the same feeling as "of all places" I vote for MY expression. =)

Answer 5

Thanks everyone. "De todos los lugares" it is.

In addition, l found this variant in the records (Hansard?) of the European Parliament: "... sobre todo, entre todos los lugares, aquí en Estrasburgo."

This seems correct too - Joydeep_Singh, Nov 2, 2014

It is correct but I don't think there is any hint of surprise in it. - annierats, Nov 2, 2014

I agree, not much surprise, more like sarcasm. The speaker was talking about places where there was financial waste - Jacky658, Nov 2, 2014

Fair enough. - annierats, Nov 2, 2014

I agree with Annie, "entre todos los lugares" means nothing more than "among all places". You should use MyHeadAboveWater´s suggestion, it has a nuance of disbelief, which is the focus of the phrase - not the place - 005faa61, Nov 2, 2014

"between" all the places. - chileno, Nov 2, 2014

No, joven chileno. "Beteen" is used for 2 things. "Among" is used for 3 or more things. "All places" has the nuance of many places - not just 2 - 005faa61, Nov 3, 2014

Any natives here? ;^) - chileno, Nov 3, 2014

Answer 6

I just want to bump this up. You might try editing your post title to "Native Spanish speakers - of all places"

My thought on this as a non-native would be to say "de todos sitios disponibles", because I think the irony lies not in the expression but in the context of its use. But again maybe we can get some hispanohablante input!

Answer 7

¿Es "de todas partes" casi el mismo?

no, "from" all places. - chileno, Nov 2, 2014

"lo" mismo. - chileno, Nov 2, 2014

It IS sort of the same- if you're after a word for word translation but it doesn't have the same sentido as my offering or that of "Myheadabovewhater" who offered "por raro que parezca." - Daniela2041, Nov 6, 2014