pan y perro
I was trying to reply to the thread of this topic, but it was deleted, so here is my reply.
I think a similar saying is "cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos."
A similar, though not identical, saying in English is "No good deed goes unpunished."
15 Answers
Heidita said:
Vicky, If you had read the forum rules, this would not have happened.
Better yet, read the rules and then read a couple of "longish" threads to get a feel for how things work in the forum. (Sort of like listening to a conversation for a while before jumping in.)
Vicky said:
I totally said I was sorry.
It's fine. Out of curiousity, do you know the history of the sword'
I totally said I was sorry.
Vicky said:
Ok ok everyone is arguing all because I was brand new to the site and I put help in a box that said "words". I apologise for that. >.< But it is rather confusing to a newby like me to open up a box and it says words.... So! My small suggestion would be instead of words it should say, "Type here what you would like translated". ROFL...Anyways...back to the sword...any other ideas'? This is really interesting!!!!
Vicky, If you had read the forum rules, this would not have happened.
Ok ok everyone is arguing all because I was brand new to the site and I put help in a box that said "words". I apologise for that. >.< But it is rather confusing to a newby like me to open up a box and it says words.... So! My small suggestion would be instead of words it should say, "Type here what you would like translated". ROFL...Anyways...back to the sword...any other ideas'? This is really interesting!!!!
Quentin said:
Then how about "Kill them all and let God sort them out".
James Santiago said:
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"'I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....But that's not what the proverb really means (AFAIK). It's more like "It's a waste of time/money/effort trying to help people."
still laughing . . .
James Santiago said:
but found that the threads were being deleted only inconsistently. Even threads with no replies were hanging around for hours sometimes.I wonder if the mods could set up the site so that threads with certain words in the title (help, translate, etc.) would require moderator approval before posting.
*
yes...wouldn't that be great....(sighing)
But no, it is not possible. And I always delete threads immediately when I am here...but I am not here all the time, so these things happen.
I leave some threads with "help" or something in the title when they already have like 10 answers in deference to the posters. Though often with rather frustrating results...as the thread " How do to say" is one of the most visited and there you are...it will not be useful in the future because of its title. (sic)*
Then how about "Kill them all and let God sort them out".
James Santiago said:
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"'I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....But that's not what the proverb really means (AFAIK). It's more like "It's a waste of time/money/effort trying to help people."
>
I have the sword but I'm here because we had no idea what it meant and couldn't get an accurate translation from anyone local. So I'm thankful for all the input...I'm re-adding the picture of the sword :D
James Santiago said:
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"? I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....
But that's not what the proverb really means (AFAIK). It's more like "It's a waste of time/money/effort trying to help people."
James! Chat talk! ¡Una palmada!
James Santiago said:
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"? I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....
But that's not what the proverb really means (AFAIK). It's more like "It's a waste of time/money/effort trying to help people."
As far as I´m concerned, whoever has the sword can dictate what it means. But I think Quentin has the best explanation so far.
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"?
I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....
But that's not what the proverb really means (AFAIK). It's more like "It's a waste of time/money/effort trying to help people."
You never seen the old movies where they refer to invaders or the enemy in a battle with the epithet "foreign dogs"?
I would think if written on a sword it would translate some like "show your enemy any mercy and it will come back to bite you in the ....
James Santiago said:
.However, I can't understand why this proverb would be on a sword.
>
Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes'
Yep, although it's usually crows, not ravens. It's a pretty common proverb.
I think the idea of these and the English one I gave is that sometimes, although you try your best to do the right thing, the outcome ends up hurting you, or your work is not appreciated. You might say this about an ungrateful friend who doesn't appreciate your help. At least that's how I have always understood these Spanish proverbs. Maybe a native can confirm or refute this.
However, I can't understand why this proverb would be on a sword.
As to the deletion of threads, I must say that it is frustrating. When it was first announced that such threads would be deleted, I was asked not to reply to them. I went along with that request, but found that the threads were being deleted only inconsistently. Even threads with no replies were hanging around for hours sometimes.
I wonder if the mods could set up the site so that threads with certain words in the title (help, translate, etc.) would require moderator approval before posting.
Are you referring to this one?
Quien da pan a perro ajeno, pierde pan y pierde perro.
Heidita deleted it because the title was "help." Very interesting, though.
I got from that: whoever gives bread to a strange dog, loses the bread and loses the dog. Don't know what it means.
Raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes'
