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agarrar hueso

English translation: get a piece of the pie by getting an easy government "job"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:agarrar hueso
English translation:get a piece of the pie by getting an easy government "job"
Entered by: Michael Powers (PhD)

02:54 Jun 20, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Spanish term or phrase: agarrar hueso
"Suponemos que debe cuando menos provocar desencanto entre los políticos profesionales, que dirán "para qué nos metemos ahí si como quiera no vamos a agarrar hueso"..."

I believe this phrase is primarily used in Mexico. And, while I'm rather sure I understand the broad meaning, I'm wondering if anyone might have a more artful, and less literal, translation.

Thanks!
Janet Doyle
Local time: 02:45
get a piece of the pie
Explanation:
Get more discussion results
Leonardo Schwebel: Si Rihanna fuera jalisciense... - [ Translate this page ]26 Feb 2009... lo que les interesa es cobrar sus sueldos, sus bonos, y agarrar hueso. ... La mejor definición de inteligencia me la dijo una vez Talina ...
leonardoschwebel.blogspot.com/.../si-rihanna-fuera-jalisciense.html - Cached

From the little research I just did on the Internet, as you can see, apparently it means: "collect their salaries, their bonuses ... and get a piece of the pie"

In other words, make some easy money

Mike

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-06-20 03:05:03 GMT)
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Quadratín, Manuel Andrade inauguró planta industrial Econotecho - [ Translate this page ]26 Nov 2006 ... No trabaja, a los diputados sólo interesa cobrar y agarrar hueso. ... la cual opera bajo un nuevo concepto de la construcción y ofrece ...
quadratintabasco.com.mx/noticias/nota,16733/ - Cached

He doesn't work. The representatives are only interested in collecting [money] and getting a piece of the pie.

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Note added at 12 mins (2011-06-20 03:06:28 GMT)
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Bienvenidos a Política al Día... Análisis Virtual de la Política ... - [ Translate this page ]... A LA CLASE POLITICA, AHORITA ANDA CON PURO NARCO PARA AGARRAR HUESO. ... EN OTRO CONCEPTO LASTIMA DE TODOS USTEDES QUE NO TIENEN PRINCIPIOS Y VALORES, ...
politicaaldia.com/_vti_script/padv3/pasillos/index.php?p=220... - Cached

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Note added at 13 mins (2011-06-20 03:07:34 GMT)
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Los gastos pendejos__4 - [ Translate this page ]Antes de agarrar hueso en el gobierno todos estos muertos de hambre no conocían la alfombra, .... 350 views · Definicion K 1442 views · Los Pende. ...
www.slideshare.net/tercote/los-gastos-pendejos4 - Cached

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Note added at 20 mins (2011-06-20 03:14:40 GMT)
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I have no doubt it means getting a government job; however, with that being said, it seems that the connotation is a government job in which the only, or at least main work is collecting money, to no longer be "muertos de hambre" as one of the sources states that I copied.

Maybe: "get a piece of the pie as a government employee"
Selected response from:

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 05:45
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3get a government (related) job
José J. Martínez
3 +4get a piece of the pie
Michael Powers (PhD)
4 +1to jump on the gravy train
Jenni Lukac (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
Para respaldar la respuesta de José
Jairo Payan

Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
get a government (related) job


Explanation:
it is Mex slang...the sentence means that we will land a government job anyhow

José J. Martínez
United States
Local time: 02:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jairo Payan: De acuerdo y tienes por qué saberlo. Es obtener un puesto en el gobierno. Ver mi aporte
42 mins
  -> Gracias...
agree  EleoE
1 hr
  -> gracias
agree  Charles Davis: "Land a government job" me parece exacto, aunque sea menos coloquial que "agarrar hueso". Implica a menudo enriquecerse ("ride the gravy train"), pero formalmente es lo que dices. (El que habla es el subcomandante Marcos.)
4 hrs
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
get a piece of the pie


Explanation:
Get more discussion results
Leonardo Schwebel: Si Rihanna fuera jalisciense... - [ Translate this page ]26 Feb 2009... lo que les interesa es cobrar sus sueldos, sus bonos, y agarrar hueso. ... La mejor definición de inteligencia me la dijo una vez Talina ...
leonardoschwebel.blogspot.com/.../si-rihanna-fuera-jalisciense.html - Cached

From the little research I just did on the Internet, as you can see, apparently it means: "collect their salaries, their bonuses ... and get a piece of the pie"

In other words, make some easy money

Mike

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2011-06-20 03:05:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Quadratín, Manuel Andrade inauguró planta industrial Econotecho - [ Translate this page ]26 Nov 2006 ... No trabaja, a los diputados sólo interesa cobrar y agarrar hueso. ... la cual opera bajo un nuevo concepto de la construcción y ofrece ...
quadratintabasco.com.mx/noticias/nota,16733/ - Cached

He doesn't work. The representatives are only interested in collecting [money] and getting a piece of the pie.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2011-06-20 03:06:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Bienvenidos a Política al Día... Análisis Virtual de la Política ... - [ Translate this page ]... A LA CLASE POLITICA, AHORITA ANDA CON PURO NARCO PARA AGARRAR HUESO. ... EN OTRO CONCEPTO LASTIMA DE TODOS USTEDES QUE NO TIENEN PRINCIPIOS Y VALORES, ...
politicaaldia.com/_vti_script/padv3/pasillos/index.php?p=220... - Cached

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2011-06-20 03:07:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Los gastos pendejos__4 - [ Translate this page ]Antes de agarrar hueso en el gobierno todos estos muertos de hambre no conocían la alfombra, .... 350 views · Definicion K 1442 views · Los Pende. ...
www.slideshare.net/tercote/los-gastos-pendejos4 - Cached

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2011-06-20 03:14:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have no doubt it means getting a government job; however, with that being said, it seems that the connotation is a government job in which the only, or at least main work is collecting money, to no longer be "muertos de hambre" as one of the sources states that I copied.

Maybe: "get a piece of the pie as a government employee"

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 05:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 365
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Remy Arce: I believe this would be a good English slang equivalent.
16 mins
  -> Thank you, Remy - Mike
agree  Jessica Noyes
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Jessica - Mike
agree  Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Beatriz - Mike
agree  neilmac: "Dipping their snouts in the trough" is a common version in Uk these days...
6 hrs
  -> Thank you, neilmac - I like that expression in the UK - how appropriate for many politicians - Mike
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to jump on the gravy train


Explanation:
Dec 2010 ... Retired TDs jump on the gravy train ... Public service shouldn't be a gravy train on which you are rewarded for the rest of your life, ...
www.independent.ie › Opinion › Letters; Dec 2010 ... For the $6000 difference why work a high-stress job, jump on the gravy train and let the government support you. ...
brainerddispatch.com/.../opi_20101207009.shtml - Estados Unidos - En caché; Mar 2011 ... Government workers in McFarlane's state have rallied for weeks against ... of obtaining an application and jump on this alleged gravy train. ...
jobs.aol.com › Articles & News - En caché

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 11:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 120

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: = "chuparse del bote"... as my indignado friends would say :)
1 hr
  -> Cheers and thanks, Neil. I like snouts in the trough too!
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Reference comments


49 mins
Reference: Para respaldar la respuesta de José

Reference information:
Se trata exclusivamente de ocupar cargos en el gobierno, no lo vi en google con la acepción de "agarrar tajada"

POR FIN se le hizo a Moises Yañez agarrar hueso dentro de la administración de César Duarte, tras casi un mes de que fue candidateado a varios de los encargos.
Primero lo mencionaron para la Fiscalía General, que ocupa actualmente Carlos Manuel Salas, luego para la Dirección de Gobernación, que sigue acéfala, y finalmente vino a ocupar la dirección de Vialidad.
http://www.tiempo.com.mx/notas/58809

Jairo Payan
Colombia
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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