Falta el mal mayor

English translation: the greater evil

20:05 Oct 8, 2020
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Law (general)
Spanish term or phrase: Falta el mal mayor
This is from a script by an Argentine filmmaker.
HUGO baila con ISABEL, en su casa. Le anuncia que el bebé que esperan es un varón. HUGO le dice que no se quiere separar nunca más de ella. ‘Siento que todo lo que hice en mi vida fue para encontrarte’. ISABEL le pide que huyan. HUGO quiere entregarse a la policia. ‘Falta el mal mayor’.

Nothing on the web...could this be he turns himself in but will then snitch on higher ups in a criminal ring? Thanks
Wendy Gosselin
Argentina
Local time: 08:41
English translation:the greater evil
Explanation:
the greater evil is still out there.

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Note added at 47 mins (2020-10-08 20:53:21 GMT)
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Meaning: The worst is still to come
Selected response from:

Liliana Garfunkel
Argentina
Local time: 08:41
Grading comment
thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4the greater evil
Liliana Garfunkel
Summary of reference entries provided
The opposite: un mal menor
Helena Chavarria

  

Answers


31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
the greater evil


Explanation:
the greater evil is still out there.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2020-10-08 20:53:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Meaning: The worst is still to come

Liliana Garfunkel
Argentina
Local time: 08:41
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Adrian MM.: https://eng.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/business-comme...
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Adrian!

agree  María Marta Semberoiz: Excelente.
3 hrs
  -> Muchas gracias, María!

agree  philgoddard: I don't think your first suggestion sounds very English, but I agree with the second.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phil! It doesn't sound very English, but Rachel Bernard also used the phrase, so I'm excused ;) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25464248-moon-shades

agree  David Hollywood: agree with option 2
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, David!
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Reference comments


28 mins
Reference: The opposite: un mal menor

Reference information:
Mal menor, menor de los males o menor de dos males es un principio ético que justifica la elección de un mal con tal de evitar otro mal mayor.

La condición del principio es la de un dilema estrictamente binario, es decir, que no haya posibilidad de una tercera opción (tertium non datur); por ejemplo que la opción que se ofrezca sea entre la acción1​ que suponga un mal y la omisión​ que suponga otro mal distinto (lo que oblige a evaluar cuál de los dos males es menor).

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal_menor#:~:text=Mal menor, m...

The lesser of two evils principle (or lesser evil principle and lesser-evilism) is the principle that when faced with selecting from two immoral options, the one which is least immoral should be chosen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_of_two_evils_principle

Something to do with the worst of two evils?

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Note added at 31 mins (2020-10-08 20:37:34 GMT)
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The worst has still to come?

Helena Chavarria
Spain
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 373
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