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

unos exiguos pantalones a años luz de ser cortos

English translation: skimpy shorts that left nothing to the imagination

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:unos exiguos pantalones a años luz de ser cortos
English translation:skimpy shorts that left nothing to the imagination
Entered by: Lisa McCarthy

01:00 Sep 25, 2008
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Modern Novel
Spanish term or phrase: unos exiguos pantalones a años luz de ser cortos
Se agacha dándome la espalda, con las piernas muy abiertas, poniendo a prueba la resistencia de *unos exiguos pantalones a años luz de ser cortos*.

OK. So in the protagonist's dream, which is supposed to be kind of over the top and silly, this dangerous sexy lady is wearing short shorts. This is the problem I have: in English I can't say "tight trousers that are light years away/beyond being short" because trousers are not the same as shorts. Any ideas? I really appreciate the help.
UK English, and thanks very much! :)
Kate Major Patience
Spain
Local time: 19:13
skimpy shorts that left nothing to the imagination/that were far from decent
Explanation:
Just another way of saying the same thing if you don´t mind moving away from a literal translation

maybe you could use ""(tight little) HOTPANTS" instead of shorts (it is a provocative dream after all!)
Selected response from:

Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Local time: 19:13
Grading comment
Great response, thanks everyone. Deborah's answer was excellent, but I actually used Lisa's, which is lovely and simple and fits perfectly. Thanks everyone. :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6a pair of skimpy shorts that were light years away from covering her thighs/legs
Bubo Coroman (X)
4 +2tiny pants light years away from being shorts.
jsalas
4 +2wee short shorts light years (away) from being demure
Cinnamon Nolan
4 +2skimpy shorts that left nothing to the imagination/that were far from decent
Lisa McCarthy
5the scanty pants were far from being short.
COSME R. COLÓN
3 +1Her little shorts were light years beyond skimpy/small... et al
Melissa Valeen
4scanty shorts, WAY beyond short/light years from short
kironne
3pants so skimpy that they would make a lingerie salesperson (or aficionado) so confused
Milena Bosco (X)
3tight shorts if you could call them that, / if that is what you would call them, so skimpy were they
bcsantos


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
a pair of skimpy shorts that were light years away from covering her thighs/legs


Explanation:
maybe someone else has a better idea :-)

Bubo Coroman (X)
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 151

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mónica Sauza: Good! However, I would use "meager" for "skimpy"... ;)
11 mins
  -> many thanks for the suggestion Mónica! Hugs :-) Deb
agree  Melissa Valeen: agreed, I also posted skimpy (sorry)
11 mins
  -> thanks Melissa, and your answer has the benefit of being "skimpier" than mine! chuckle :-) Deb
agree  Rosa Elena Lozano Arton: Really amazing again!
1 hr
  -> many thanks Rosa Elena :-) Deborah
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
5 hrs
  -> thanks again Bea, hugs :-) Deb
agree  MarinaM
18 hrs
  -> many thanks Marina, enjoy your afternoon! :-) Deborah
agree  Egmont
18 hrs
  -> gracias otra vez Egmont, un abrazo :-) Deborah
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
tiny pants light years away from being shorts.


Explanation:
ok

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2008-09-25 01:37:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

tiny trousers light years away from being shorts

jsalas
United States
Local time: 13:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Sure, but in UK English 'pants' are underwear! :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marian Martin (X): Tiny is a good alternative to skimpy.Also like the parallel "being shorts/being short" :-)
7 mins
agree  Melissa Valeen: agree as well, "skimpy", as I said, sounds a little too Penthouse.
56 mins
neutral  Cinnamon Nolan: Pants=trousers=LONG, not short.
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
wee short shorts light years (away) from being demure


Explanation:
or "minuscule hot pants .... being modest".

HTH.

Cinnamon Nolan
Spain
Local time: 19:13
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Melissa Valeen: HAH we are getting shorter and shorter.... they should be nanoshorts.
4 mins
  -> LOL Thanks, Melissa! :-) (getting towards a g-string....)
agree  kironne: Wee!! I like that!!
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Kironne! ;->
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Her little shorts were light years beyond skimpy/small... et al


Explanation:
Alternatively: Hip-hugging shorts/hiphuggers/hotpants, skimpy/little/small shorts

What's wrong with saying "shorts"? Although I don't like "hotpants" (sounds like something my MUM would say, but if it's a ridiculous dream...), the terms "skimpy" or "hip-huggers" bring to mind the semi-pornographic tone of your Manga man. If the tone is more sensuous, you could substitute with "little" shorts (my modest shot at it). You could also somehow make a reference to the woman's legs appearing "light-year" like, but that may be straying too far.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-09-25 02:33:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Her tiny shorts, which couldn't be touched in a thousand light years..."
...which couldn't be reached by light years
...beyond a light year's reach

any combos sound good?

Melissa Valeen
Mexico
Local time: 11:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Bubo Coroman (X): this is a neat way to say it!
45 mins
  -> thanks...this story sounds fun!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
pants so skimpy that they would make a lingerie salesperson (or aficionado) so confused


Explanation:
I do not really like the "light years" reference, very common in Italian, so I opted for a different approach, that in my mind gives the idea.
I hope it will help you in finding the best answer to your question.

Have a nice day, Milnea



Milena Bosco (X)
Italy
Local time: 19:13
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in CatalanCatalan
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
scanty shorts, WAY beyond short/light years from short


Explanation:

Had the urge to contribute!

: )

kironne
Chile
Local time: 13:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
tight shorts if you could call them that, / if that is what you would call them, so skimpy were they


Explanation:
..

bcsantos
Gibraltar
Local time: 19:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 36
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
skimpy shorts that left nothing to the imagination/that were far from decent


Explanation:
Just another way of saying the same thing if you don´t mind moving away from a literal translation

maybe you could use ""(tight little) HOTPANTS" instead of shorts (it is a provocative dream after all!)

Lisa McCarthy
Spain
Local time: 19:13
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 104
Grading comment
Great response, thanks everyone. Deborah's answer was excellent, but I actually used Lisa's, which is lovely and simple and fits perfectly. Thanks everyone. :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Karen Vincent-Jones (X): I like "that left nothing to the imagination", as this is a common expression, as is the Italian "light years away". Any literal translation sound forced in English.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks a lot Karen!
agree  Berni Armstrong: nothing to the imagination does it for me too!
23 hrs
  -> Thanks Berni!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
the scanty pants were far from being short.


Explanation:
Common language usage.

COSME R. COLÓN
United States
Local time: 13:13
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
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