Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

para lo que me pagan

English translation:

for the pittance/amount I\'m paid

Added to glossary by schmetterlich
Oct 17, 2018 02:59
5 yrs ago
Spanish term

para lo que me pagan

Non-PRO Spanish to English Other Education / Pedagogy
Es así como se producen insuficiencias en su desempeño y baja la autoeficacia profesional, además de la despersonalización frente a sus colegas y al trabajo que realiza, llegando a afirmar: “Hago como que trabajo”, “para lo que me pagan”, “a mí nadie me dice cómo debo enseñar”, “el Estado tiene la culpa de todo”. Por lo expuesto, se hace necesario conocer los distintos enfoques de autoestima,...

Thanks!
Change log

Oct 17, 2018 11:02: Yvonne Gallagher changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (2): Robert Carter, Charles Davis

Non-PRO (3): Carol Gullidge, philgoddard, Yvonne Gallagher

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Discussion

Chema Nieto Castañón Oct 18, 2018:
Just in case it helps;
'For the pittance I'm paid,' Brendan defended himself from the other enf of the bar (...), 'they're lucky I even turn up'.
https://books.google.es/books?id=vOnNCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT332&lpg=P...

'That's stealing,' she'd told him angrily (...). 'You're ripping off taxpayers' (...)
'Yeah, well, I'm a taxpayer too. For the pittance I'm paid I deserve it, so zip it.'
https://books.google.es/books?id=qD4ExKZLV3IC&pg=PA69&lpg=PA...

"I work way too much for the pittance I'm paid..."  


Well, these are examples of an equivalent usage and sense to that of "para lo que me pagan", although I understand that this Engish expression (For the pittance I'm paid) is far from being just as common as the Spanish "para lo que me pagan" is...
Chema Nieto Castañón Oct 18, 2018:
I understand the difficulty of finding an equivalent expression in English.
La expresión original es una figura retórica que supone una excusa o justificación para "pasar", para no involucrarse, para no trabajar o esforzarse en exceso, para no "pensar" o preocuparse más allá de la mecánica laboral necesaria para cumplir la función específica encomendada (útil o no), etc. "Para lo que me pagan" es una justificación genérica que puede utilizarse sola o con una coletilla (Pej. Para lo que me pagan, yo paso).
Charles Davis Oct 18, 2018:
@Robert I agree on both points.
Gabrielle Oke Oct 18, 2018:
Thanks for the support Robert.
Gabrielle Oke Oct 18, 2018:
I think that all of you are correct, but as a stand alone English phrase, I feel that either "Not for what I'm getting paid" or "Not on this salary", would fit the context better. Of course, that's just my opinion. This is turning out to be a very interesting and informative discussion :)
Robert Carter Oct 18, 2018:
Incidentally, there's no way this is a non-Pro question.
Robert Carter Oct 18, 2018:
Well explained, Charles. I think depending on the context here, the phrase on its own could be interpreted in both the way you mention and as David and I have expressed it, but I feel Gabrielle's version using a negative hits the mark here perfectly.
Charles Davis Oct 17, 2018:
Para "Para lo que me pagan" is not the same as "Por lo que me pagan". It means "considering what I'm paid", implying "considering how little I'm paid I can't be expected to work any harder". "Para" is used here:

"5. como partícula adversativa, significando el estado en que se halla actualmente algo, contraponiéndolo a lo que se quiere aplicar o se dice de ello. Con buena calma te vienes para la prisa que yo tengo" (DLE).

In other words, it expresses the contrast between how little I'm paid and how much I'm expected to do for it. It doesn't mean "in return for what I'm paid".

Do we use "for what I'm paid"/"for the pittance I'm paid" to mean that? I'm not sure.

Proposed translations

+5
20 mins
Selected

for the pittance/amount I'm paid

"for the pittance I'm paid...they're lucky I even turn up"
https://books.google.com.mx/books?isbn=1784292877


What they say:
I’m working way too much for the amount I’m paid.

What they mean:
I feel overworked and undervalued.

https://cultureiq.com/5-examples-of-miscommunication-workpla...
Peer comment(s):

agree Joshua Parker
2 hrs
Thanks, Joshua.
agree neilmac
3 hrs
Thanks, Neil.
agree Chema Nieto Castañón : for the pittance I'm paid... se ajusta perfectamente al tono y al sentido del original
5 hrs
Thanks, Chema, yes, it does work, but I think Gabrielle's version is more idiomatic.
agree Cristina Tomàs White
7 hrs
Thanks, Cristina.
agree Yvonne Gallagher
7 hrs
Thanks, Yvonne.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks!"
+2
19 mins

for what I get paid

would do it IMO

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Note added at 20 mins (2018-10-17 03:20:11 GMT)
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certain feeling of resentment involved here...

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Note added at 21 mins (2018-10-17 03:20:49 GMT)
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thinks he doesn't get enough

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Note added at 24 mins (2018-10-17 03:24:07 GMT)
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put your mind in the situation and ok
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard : There are lots of ways to say this, but you were the first.
6 hrs
thanks Phil
agree Cristina Tomàs White
7 hrs
thanks Cristina
Something went wrong...
+3
32 mins

Not for what I'm getting paid/ Not on this salary

I've seen this expression translated a few times as: Not for what I'm getting paid..., Not on this salary, etc.

This phrase is very popular in films depicting the lives of minimum wage citizens.

For example: You want me to get off my break early? Not on this salary.

This phrase is heavily related to dissatisfaction with one's job. I've attached some articles below
Example sentence:

You want me to get you coffee and take out the trash? Not on this salary.

Peer comment(s):

agree Ventnai
2 hrs
Thanks Ventnai!
agree Robert Carter : I think you're right. For English, the expression really works better in the negative, I feel. Nicely done.
23 hrs
Thanks Robert!
agree Charles Davis : I like "Not on this salary".
1 day 2 hrs
Thanks Charles!
Something went wrong...
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