Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
no que le tumbara el rollo
English translation:
so that the whole thing doesn't backfire
Added to glossary by
Robert Forstag
Apr 17, 2006 19:40
18 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
Professional translator and interpreter
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
no que le tumbara el rollo
Spanish to English
Other
Slang
n/a
Again, a transcript of a conversation amongst students regarding stopping an action that had already been taken against someone.
I think I know what it means, I'm just not sure of how to translated it. Thanks in advance.
I think I know what it means, I'm just not sure of how to translated it. Thanks in advance.
Proposed translations
1 hr
Robert Forstag
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
22
Selected
that the whole think doesn't backfire
OR:
...that the whole thing doesn't [come back to] bite him in the ass
...that the whole thing doesn't come back to haunt him
If you are extracting this phrase from a conversation, then you do have context and providing this would be helpful....
Suerte.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-04-17 21:59:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
ERRATUM:
thinG
...that the whole thing doesn't [come back to] bite him in the ass
...that the whole thing doesn't come back to haunt him
If you are extracting this phrase from a conversation, then you do have context and providing this would be helpful....
Suerte.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2006-04-17 21:59:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
ERRATUM:
thinG
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
1 hr
Marian Greenfield
Native in English
Over 30 years in financial translation
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
so the whole thing doesn't come crashing down [around him/us/whatever....]
Franny, teju is right... a couple of lines of the conversation would help...
3 hrs
don't mess with my story
I'm giving myself a low confidence because it's extremely hard to be sure without having more context. I understand that this is all you have, but it is just a fragment.
My take on this is that someone told a tall tale to hide something, and this person is saying "don't mess things up for me, don't rat me out, don't contradict what I've already said (el rollo)".
When they said "tú tienes el poder de inventar un rollo allá", sounds as if this person is talking to someone who's able to concoct a story that's difficult to verify, whether it's true or not, or partially true. Hope this helps.
My take on this is that someone told a tall tale to hide something, and this person is saying "don't mess things up for me, don't rat me out, don't contradict what I've already said (el rollo)".
When they said "tú tienes el poder de inventar un rollo allá", sounds as if this person is talking to someone who's able to concoct a story that's difficult to verify, whether it's true or not, or partially true. Hope this helps.
18 hrs
not to lay him (his story) out for all to see
Or ..."not expose his whole scam.." or similar.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2006-04-18 14:39:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"... spill the beans completely..." etc..
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days52 mins (2006-04-20 20:32:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Now, with slightly more context, I think it more likely means "not to pull the rug out from under him " or something like that...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs (2006-04-18 14:39:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"... spill the beans completely..." etc..
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days52 mins (2006-04-20 20:32:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Now, with slightly more context, I think it more likely means "not to pull the rug out from under him " or something like that...
Discussion
Sorry :-(
¿Qué es "un rollo"?