This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

KudoZ question not available

English translation: All this trouble for me?

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Cuánta molestia...
English translation:All this trouble for me?
Entered by: Yvonne Becker

14:59 Nov 11, 2005
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Spanish term or phrase: Cuánta molestia...
Esta es otra de esas expresiones sutiles y sarcásticas. Una persona (ZZZ) está haciendo todo lo posible por agradar a otra, pero porque está asustado y se lo quiere meter en el bolsillo. La persona a quien trata de impresionar (XXX) se da cuenta de la falsedad de sus acciones y le dice esta expresión. Sería más o menos lo mismo que decir "me sorprende tanta molestia de tu parte" y subliminalmente quiere decir "por qué tanto esfuerzo, qué te traes entre manos?" o "y ese cambio de actitud a qué se debe?", pero, como dije antes, se nota que XXX sabe por qué ZZZ se está esforzando tanto.

"XXX SIGUE VIENDO LA CARPETA MIENTRAS YYY ESTÁ JUNTO A ÉL CUANDO ZZZ IRRUMPE EN LA OFICINA. AMBOS LO VEN. DETRÁS VIENE LA SECRETARIA.

ZZZ:
Jefe, pasaba por aquí y quise traerle un cafecito a ver si...

SECRETARIA:
Excelencia, le dije que estaba ocupado...

XXX:
No se preocupe. (A ZZZ) Lo estábamos esperando, ZZZ, pase.

ZZZ LES DA LA ESPALDA MIENTRAS SIRVE LOS CAFÉS.

ZZZ:
No sabía que la señorita YYY iba a estar aquí y por eso traje dos tazas nada más, pero si quiere llamo para que traigan otra.

XXX:
**Cuánta molestia**.

DIRECTOR: (ENTREGÁNDOLE UNA TAZA A XXX)
Con lechita, como le gusta, excelencia.

YYY:
A mí también me gusta con leche, señor ZZZ. Igual que a XXX (VE A XXX CON COMPLICIDAD CUANDO LO LLAMA POR SU SOBRENOMBRE) Si no es mucha molestia..."
Yvonne Becker
Local time: 05:06
You went to so much trouble for me? [shorter] All this trouble for me?
Explanation:
that is the English equivalent
Selected response from:

Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
Grading comment
Me gusta porque mantiene el toque de ironía. Gracias a todos
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7You´re being much too kind
George Rabel
5How kind of you!
Valeria Verona
5You went to so much trouble for me? [shorter] All this trouble for me?
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
4What a trouble...
Paola Giardina


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Cuánta molestia...
How kind of you!


Explanation:
O "That's very kind of you".
Suerte =)

Valeria Verona
Chile
Local time: 05:06
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Cuánta molestia...
You´re being much too kind


Explanation:
Maybe this variant captures the nuance of the implied sarcasm.

George Rabel
Local time: 05:06
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 83

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Roxana Cortijo
13 mins
  -> Gracias, Roxana
agree  Carmen Riadi
18 mins
  -> Gracias, Carmen
agree  franglish
29 mins
  -> Muchas gracias, Franglish
agree  Hebe Martorella
50 mins
  -> Muchas gracias, Hebe
agree  Clare Macnamara: Hi George, Good idea! much too or far too kind
1 hr
  -> Muchas gracias, Clare
agree  Margarita Gonzalez
2 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, Marga
agree  jmcdonough (X)
5 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, j
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Cuánta molestia...
What a trouble...


Explanation:
Otra opción que juega un poco con la ambigüedad, empleando el término "trouble" en su sentido de "estar en problemas", "estar preocupado", "tomarse la molestia". Creo que de esta manera se da más la impresión de ese sarcasmo que busca el autor.

Paola Giardina
Argentina
Local time: 06:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X): This is no idiomatic: Please don't go to any trouble =the expression
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Cuánta molestia...
You went to so much trouble for me? [shorter] All this trouble for me?


Explanation:
that is the English equivalent

Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Me gusta porque mantiene el toque de ironía. Gracias a todos
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search