English to Spanish Social Sciences Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

I have decided to compile a somewhat thorough English-Spanish glossary, a long-standing goal I have had for many years but never actually done. In approximately 10% of the cases, I am recurring to you, my colleagues on Proz, to ask you to help me get appropriate translations into Spanish of a number of idioms.

I want to assure everyone that ALL TRANSLATIONS WILL BE SHARED on the open forum we have in Proz. The way I guarantee this is by choosing “one answer” to which I incorporate many of the other answers, and then I click to save the question and answer on the open Proz forum.

Selection criteria: 1) extensive usage throughout the Spanish-speaking world. I am counting on your help, and since usually colleagues simply agree without adding where they know the translated term to be used, I am not able to specify this in the answers. This is not a commercial enterprise, but rather an informal exercise for the benefit of all of us. 2) Many times there are really creative idioms that are used which, although not used necessarily throughout the Spanish-speaking world, would be readily understood by all. I am particularly happy to include these in the open forum so that we can all enjoy them in our use, whether literally, or perhaps with an adaptation to the degree that each translator deems appropriate for that particular target population.
Please, when you agree with an answer, mention the countries in which you know such idiom to be used, if not already mentioned by another colleague. Since this project is so time-consuming and endless, and since, like you, I have such a heavy load of translations and interpreting jobs to do and cannot spend umpteen million hours on it, I must count on your help. And although simply listing countries because another translator says so is in no way scientific, at least it is an interesting start.

Finally, I know context is everything. Quite often I will give the meaning(s) in which I am interested, and I will attempt to include a sample. Some sources, such as the Random House Dictionary, already have an example, so there is no need for me to do this, since time is of essence.

Thank you for your help.


Definition: make a speedy or sudden departure from an awkward or hazardous situation rather than confront it or deal with it. Originally a nautical phrase meaning sever the anchor cable because of some emergency and make sail immediately.

Example: Monday :: Jul 11, 2005
White House Plans To Cut And Run From Iraq
There were reports out of Great Britain late yesterday on this, and now it is confirmed: after Italy signaled last week that it would go ahead and begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September as previously announced, Bush?s only remaining major ?coalition? partner is getting out too. That?s right, the Brits are cashing in also, with active planning to reduce their commitment from its current 8,500 troops down to 3,000 by mid-2006. But that may not be the biggest story.

In the newly-released British memos that disclosed the active planning for a British withdrawal, it is revealed that the Bush Administration, despite the ?we don?t cut and run? rhetoric from Bush lately, is planning to do... well, exactly that. The Brits mention in their memo that the Bush Administration is contemplating reducing US forces from 160,000 all the way down to 66,000 just before the 2006 midterms. The Post notes in its piece this morning that there is an active debate between the Pentagon civilian leadership and the commanders in the field on the wisdom of such a large withdrawal so fast. It would appear that Rummy and perhaps the White House, want for obviously political reasons to declare victory and bring a large number home just in time for the 2006 midterms. But the commanders in the field see a major problem with such a large withdrawal in a short period of time, given that the Iraqi security forces are by the commanders? own accounts so ill-prepared to assume responsibility for their own security.

Perhaps the recent move by the Iraqi government to form a military alliance with Iran wasn?t unknown to the Bushies after all. But it could also be that the Iraqi government saw that the Bush Administration was about to saw the branch off behind them and reduce troop levels for domestic political purposes, and decided to throw their lot in with their neighbor.

Please offer idioms of the same informal register. Thanks.