What I wouldn't give

Question

¿Cómo se diría esta frase en español?

Ejemplos:

-I'm going to Turkey next week.
-Ah, what I wouldn't give to go!

-I can speak Russian and Tagalog.
-What I wouldn't give to be able to speak a foreign language!

Sé que podría decir algo como "Cómo me gustaría...," pero quisiera saber si existe algo mejor.

Answer 1

Por un Beso... no sé que daría por un Beso. -- Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870)

Answer 2

La proxima semana voy para Turquia,
Ah! lo que daria por ir.
I can speak russian and tagalog - Puedo hablar ruso y tagalog
What i wouldn't give to be able to speak a foreign language - Lo que daria por poder hablar otro idioma

Answer 3

I agree that those two are more common, but I maintain that my version is also used in conversation. Puede ser que mis amigos sean más listos que los tuyos. (Jeje, te estoy tomando el pelo)

Answer 4

Well, who knows? I just can't imagine anyone saying that in a conversation, except maybe in a novel. Something like this seems more likely:

I'd give anything to be able to speak Spanish!!
Wow, I'd give my right arm to be able to go on that trip!

James Santiago said:

Interesting that you think so. I use it myself. Of course, its register is somewhat higher than "Dude, I could totally go for...," but it certainly doesn't sound old-fashioned to my ear.

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Answer 5

If you remove the article it sounds more poetic / old-fashioned:

No sé qué daría porque esta situación terminara pronto (Los episodios nacionales - Benito Pérez Galdós, around 1875)

Answer 6

I am always taken aback when Spanish has some construction that is exactly like the English, especially when I had thought that the English was idiomatic. It's a reminder of how closely related the two languages really are.

Thanks very much!

Answer 7

¡Lo que daría por poder ir!
¡Lo que daría por poder hablar algún idioma extranjero.

It doesn't sound old fashioned in Spanish.

Answer 8

Interesting that you think so. I use it myself. Of course, its register is somewhat higher than "Dude, I could totally go for...," but it certainly doesn't sound old-fashioned to my ear.

Answer 9

That sounds really old-fashioned . . . is that the register you're looking for?

(sorry, no help with the español)