mira-tú-por-dónde

English translation: well would you look at that/well what do you know

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:mira-tú-por-dónde
English translation:well would you look at that/well what do you know
Entered by: Marie Wilson

15:30 Jan 9, 2021
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Idiomatic expression from a novel
Spanish term or phrase: mira-tú-por-dónde
Hola a todos,

Me crucé con una expresión cuyo significado inglés me ha costado encontrar. Proviene de una novela escrita por Carlos Ruiz Zafón llamada 'La Sombra del Viento'. A continuación les enseño como aparece en el libro:

"Mi padre asintió, ponderando la casualidad con gesto de mira-tú-por-dónde. Me concedió un minuto de tregua antes de volver al ataque, esta vez con aire de acordarse de repente de algo."

Gracias de antemano!

Matt
Matthew Leedham
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:26
well would you look at that/wel,what do you know
Explanation:
A couple of options
mira (tú) por dónde (mire usted por dónde): expresión para denotar asombro ante algo que resulta sorprendente o inesperado, sobre todo cuando se trata de una casualidad.
https://www.espanolavanzado.com/uso-de-palabras/1003-mira-po...

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Note added at 19 mins (2021-01-09 15:49:54 GMT)
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Typo on the second "wel", sorry, I'm trying out new glasses

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Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2021-01-10 18:39:02 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to be of help!
Selected response from:

Marie Wilson
Spain
Local time: 11:26
Grading comment
Thanks! This is really helpful.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5well would you look at that/wel,what do you know
Marie Wilson
4 +1go figure
Steven Huddleston
4well I never
neilmac


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
go figure


Explanation:
This phrase is used to express surprise at an unlikely event or circumstance.

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Note added at 59 mins (2021-01-09 16:29:35 GMT)
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"go figure" has the virtue of being equally colloquial.


    https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/go-figure
Steven Huddleston
Mexico
Local time: 04:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 39
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you! Yes I agree, this sounds more American.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: OK for a US audience...
16 hrs
  -> Thank you Neilmac.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
well I never


Explanation:
An option.
"My father nodded, pondering the coincidence with a "well, I never" expression..."

You could also use something like "looking surprised/with a surprised expression/look"...


con gesto de = with an expression of/ with a X expression

Another option could be "perplexed" which is like a decaf version of the Spanish "perplejo"...

"My father nodded, pondering the coincidence while looking slightly perplexed..."


Example sentence(s):
  • She looked over at me with a 'Well I never expression'....
  • Bear is looking slightly perplexed tonight after his long journey ...

    https://www.facebook.com/adventuresoftedandbear/photos/bear-is-looking-slightly-perplexed-tonight-after-his-long-journey-from-the-midla/1479
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:26
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 155
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
well would you look at that/wel,what do you know


Explanation:
A couple of options
mira (tú) por dónde (mire usted por dónde): expresión para denotar asombro ante algo que resulta sorprendente o inesperado, sobre todo cuando se trata de una casualidad.
https://www.espanolavanzado.com/uso-de-palabras/1003-mira-po...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2021-01-09 15:49:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Typo on the second "wel", sorry, I'm trying out new glasses

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2021-01-10 18:39:02 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to be of help!

Example sentence(s):
  • Theo subtly unlocked the office door and pushed it open, casting a ‘well-would-you-look-at-that’ expression
  • He has a "Well, what do you know?" expression on his face. He slowly backs out of the doorway and closes it behind him
Marie Wilson
Spain
Local time: 11:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
Grading comment
Thanks! This is really helpful.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phil:-)

agree  Helena Chavarria: This is what came to mind as soon as I saw the question, before I clicked on it.
5 hrs
  -> Many thanks, Helena:-)

agree  neilmac: Well I never... :-)
17 hrs
  -> Thanks, Neil, plenty of possibilities

agree  Thayenga
1 day 16 hrs
  -> Thanks, Thayenga :-)

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
2 days 1 hr
  -> Thanks, Yvonne :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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