se les viene la noche

Question

"se les viene la noche" (sorry forgot the context)

i have two questions:

1. What does "les" refer to?

2. What is "se" here? Everytime when I saw "se", I can't decide if it's part of the reflexive verb or all the other uses.....

Thanks.

Answer 1

"se les viene la noche"

It is a pronominal usage that probably brings a feeling like “brought itself” or somesuch

“les” presumably is whoever would be in the prior context

Itself on them came the night.

To put it in good colloquial English:

Night fell upon them.

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/venir

venirse

REFLEXIVE VERB

1. (from one place to another)

a. to come

Se vino una tormenta mientras nadábamos en la playa. A storm came upon us as we swam at the beach.

El perro se vino sin ser llamado.The dog came without being called.

Thank you. very helpful. What's the difference between venir and venirse? they both seem to mean "to come" - sunflowerhk, Jul 14, 2016

You first said it's a pronominal usage, and then added that "venirse" is a reflexive verb. So, is it pronominal or reflexive? - sunflowerhk, Jul 14, 2016

The dictionalry labels it as reflexive, I would call it pronominal, as it more is an intensifier than something that changes meaning. - bosquederoble, Jul 14, 2016

Answer 2

En sentido figurado, "venirse la noche" (a alguien) también significa estar en problemas.

In a figurate sense, "venirse la noche" (a alguien) also means "to be in trouble".

Después de recibir un gol unos minutos antes de que acabara el partido, se le vino la noche a la selección de Francia.

After receiving a goal few minutes before the end of the game, the selection of France was in deep trouble.

After conceding a goal a few minutes before the end of the game, the French national team was in deep trouble.

Better in English - after conceding a goal a few minutes before .. the French national team ... - Mardle, Jul 12, 2016

I liked your answer - Mardle, Jul 12, 2016

Thank you, Mardle! - LuisCache, Jul 12, 2016

De nada - Mardle, Jul 13, 2016