palmo a palmo

English translation: Spanning every detail

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	palmo a palmo
English translation:	Spanning every detail
Entered by:	Lorena Zuniga

21:38 May 15, 2017

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

Spanish term or phrase: palmo a palmo

Los devotos de Santa Clara llegan al Parque Central a eso de media mañana y se sientan de cara al este. Llegan despacito, apoyándose en sus bastones y se saludan con la cordialidad de toda una vida. Se sientan en los poyos de toda una vida a tomar el sol, a reírse de sus miserables pensiones, a repasar palmo a palmo los setenta y pico de años de contemplar la misma ciudad, que nunca es la misma; pero eso sí, atentos todos, atentísimos todos al efímero milagro que produce la luz del sol cuando se filtra en una falda en el momento en que el paso de la dama abre el telón y el teatro de sombra muestra en escena la magnificencia de un par de piernas que se
pierden en las alturas de las caderas celestiales.

Lorena Zuniga KudoZ activity Questions: 68 (none open) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 0 Costa Rica
Local time: 19:23

Spanning every detail

Explanation:
Or more literally, span by span or inch by inch.

I would keep the reference to span/palmo as it gives a very clear image of the painstaking measuring up typical of the elderly going over every inch of their lives.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-05-15 22:41:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/span
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inch by inch
inch by inch
: very gradually or slowly

Selected response from:

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 03:23

Grading comment

Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

Every intrinsic/minuscule detail...

Phoenix III

down to the last tee/t/detail

David Hollywood

Spanning every detail

Lisa Jane

fine-combing through

James A. Walsh

Answers

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Every intrinsic/minuscule detail...

Explanation:
Sometimes it takes a tweak to get the point through.

Phoenix III
United States
Local time: 21:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 12

23 mins confidence:

down to the last tee/t/detail

Explanation:
various options

David Hollywood
Local time: 22:23
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 136

56 mins confidence:

Spanning every detail

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 03:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks!

1 hr confidence:

repasar palmo a palmo fine-combing through

Explanation:
That would be my take.

“…a repasar palmo a palmo los setenta y pico de años de contemplar la misma ciudad, que nunca es la misma;”

“…and fine-combing through the seventy-odd years of contemplating the same, ever-changing city;

James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 03:23
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 48

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

palmo a palmo

English translation: Spanning every detail

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

palmo a palmo

English translation: Spanning every detail

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language