Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
no podrá meter ni las manos
English translation:
will fall flat on his face
Added to glossary by
Thomas Walker
Aug 19, 2016 00:20
7 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
no podrá meter ni las manos
Spanish to English
Other
Government / Politics
Current affairs
I encountered this expression in an opinion piece in a Mexican newspaper, about the US presidential election. It concerns a proposal by a coalition of 56 scientific organizations to ask the presidential candidates to respond to a list of 20 questions involving science, technology, and innovation; and maybe later to have a forum to discuss these issues. I think I have a pretty good handle on what the phrase means - "he [Trump] won't be able to do much", or "won't be able to do anything" - but I'm having a hard time coming up with an English equivalent that satisfies me.
Here's the context:
"Aunque las preguntas están planteadas en una forma muy educada y amable, me parece que si la candidata del Partido Demócrata y el aspirante republicano a la presidencia aceptan participar, se puede prever que ocurrirá una masacre, en la que Donald Trump ***no podrá meter ni las manos…*** A menos que en lapso muy corto de tiempo, sus asesores lo obliguen a virar completamente en sus concepciones científicas, lo cual de todas maneras podría considerarse una derrota a los ojos de algunos electores."
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Here's the context:
"Aunque las preguntas están planteadas en una forma muy educada y amable, me parece que si la candidata del Partido Demócrata y el aspirante republicano a la presidencia aceptan participar, se puede prever que ocurrirá una masacre, en la que Donald Trump ***no podrá meter ni las manos…*** A menos que en lapso muy corto de tiempo, sus asesores lo obliguen a virar completamente en sus concepciones científicas, lo cual de todas maneras podría considerarse una derrota a los ojos de algunos electores."
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
33 mins
Robert Carter
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
Works in field
Mexico
Translating full-time since 1998
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
100
Selected
won't be able to do anything about it / will fall flat on his face
The phrase "no meter ni los manos" is used in Mexico to describe the moment when someone falls over or is attacked without managing to put a hand up in front of them to protect their face. I don't think you can use the "fall flat on his face" metaphor here as the first part talks about him being "slaughtered", so perhaps simply "he won't be able to do a thing about it" would work.
It basically means he'll be defenseless.
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Note added at 58 mins (2016-08-19 01:18:35 GMT)
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Perhaps you could use "he won't have a hope" or "he won't have the slightest chance" i.e. of coming out of with any credibility, or even "he'll get beaten to a pulp" or something along those lines.
It basically means he'll be defenseless.
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Note added at 58 mins (2016-08-19 01:18:35 GMT)
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Perhaps you could use "he won't have a hope" or "he won't have the slightest chance" i.e. of coming out of with any credibility, or even "he'll get beaten to a pulp" or something along those lines.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: I like 'will fall flat on his face'.
4 hrs
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Thanks, Muriel.
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| agree |
philgoddard
: Flat on his face is perfect. I wonder if it's also a reference to his famous hands.
7 hrs
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Thanks, Phil, you may have a point, although it doesn't mention his "diminutivas manos" :-)
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| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: I like "… flat on his face", or perhaps even something like "left totally floundering" or "… out of his depth"//hmmh, in that case how about st like "like a lamb to the slaughter"?
9 hrs
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Thanks, Carol. My only problem with all of these, my own effort included, is that they don't quite chime with the preceding "masacre" metaphor.
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| agree |
James A. Walsh
: Yep, "flat on his face"
11 hrs
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Thanks, James.
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| agree |
JohnMcDove
: Not a chance in Hell, despite any warning or warming signs!!! :-)
2 days 3 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Robert, & everyone who contributed - a lively & helpful discussion. Based on the overall tenor of the piece, I went with "flat on his face""
56 mins
despite his economic standing, he is lost anyway
Esta expresión significa que ni el dinero que posee lo sacará del apuro. Meter la mano en el sentido de poder cambiar el resultado aún por el poder económico e influencias que posee.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Robert Carter
: I think you've misunderstood the idea here. It's talking about being able to address questions about science and technology, areas in which he's completely ignorant, e.g. climate change, vaccines, etc. Saludos.
9 mins
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You may be right, I forgot to include all information. Thanks
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13 mins
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
23
will not even be able to have any impact on
Quizás.
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Note added at 15 mins (2016-08-19 00:35:12 GMT)
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"will not be able to do anything about (it)"
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-08-19 01:23:36 GMT)
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"won't be able to have any impact on the outcome"
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Note added at 15 mins (2016-08-19 00:35:12 GMT)
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"will not be able to do anything about (it)"
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Note added at 1 hr (2016-08-19 01:23:36 GMT)
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"won't be able to have any impact on the outcome"
4 hrs
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
468
will be at a loss to defend himself
I think this captures the meaning more accurately, though it's not an idiom.
+4
1 hr
will be a sitting duck
Really just another synonymous phrase to add to Robert's collection, but the Spanish expression seems to me to call for quite a colloquial register, and I like this particular option for several reasons: it's idiomatic, it expresses the idea of Trump being an easy and inept target, and (I must admit) I like the idea of Donald as a duck. It kind of puts him in his place.
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Note added at 5 hrs (2016-08-19 05:26:06 GMT)
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I really don't agree with Muriel's objection to this phrase in context. She says a sitting duck is a targeted object—well, the same is true of Trump, who will have questions fired at him. What the Spanish means is that Trump won't be able to give effective answers to the questions put to him. He will be helpless to defend himself. Surely when you call someone a sitting duck you mean precisely that: the person is an easy target with no effective means of defence. A sitting duck isn't trying to defend itself? Really? It would if it could, but it can't. Just like Trump.
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Note added at 5 hrs (2016-08-19 05:26:06 GMT)
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I really don't agree with Muriel's objection to this phrase in context. She says a sitting duck is a targeted object—well, the same is true of Trump, who will have questions fired at him. What the Spanish means is that Trump won't be able to give effective answers to the questions put to him. He will be helpless to defend himself. Surely when you call someone a sitting duck you mean precisely that: the person is an easy target with no effective means of defence. A sitting duck isn't trying to defend itself? Really? It would if it could, but it can't. Just like Trump.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Robert Carter
: Nice one Charles! I had thought of "a deer in the headlights" but it doesn't work with the massacre metaphor, whereas this one does.
14 mins
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That's very nice of you, Robert. Cheers :)
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| neutral |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: It's because of his style. I see the man all the time and he never stops moving; when he's caught he wiggles and squirms. His ghost writer said he fidgets constantly and has the attention span of a gnat. I can't see him sitting still to be a target.
3 hrs
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No. Trump, like a sitting duck, may try defend himself but won't be able to. // But none of that's relevant. You're taking the metaphor too literally. It simply means easy to shoot at, with no effective defence; it doesn't imply sitting still at all.
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| agree |
neilmac
: Almost any metaphor that involves shotguns and DT is fine by me... :)
8 hrs
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My sentiments precisely. Cheers, Neil ;)
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| agree |
Heather Oland
10 hrs
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Thanks, Heather :)
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| agree |
JohnMcDove
: Concept is clear, besides any literal interpretation. Better "sitting duck" than "Sitting Bull"... We don't particularly want a Little Bighorn déjà vu... ;-) /../ You're welcome, Charles. Uffff... Let's be ready to experience whatever it happens...
2 days 2 hrs
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He can't get elected, can he? But I thought Brexit couldn't happen, and it did... Thanks, John ;)
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14 hrs
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
84
they'll make mincemeat out of him / he'll be like a lamb to the slaughter
i.e., he'll be annihilated; he won't stand a chance
…
Following Robert's response to my suggestions regarding his answer I decided to post this as a separate suggestion rather than merely a peer response, as I don't quite regard this as merely a synonym of earlier suggestions
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Note added at 14 hrs (2016-08-19 15:12:36 GMT)
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OOPS, forgot this: "make mincemeat of
phrase of mincemeat
1.
informal
defeat decisively in a fight, contest, or argument.
"a hostile Public Prosecutor would make mincemeat of her""
…
Following Robert's response to my suggestions regarding his answer I decided to post this as a separate suggestion rather than merely a peer response, as I don't quite regard this as merely a synonym of earlier suggestions
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Note added at 14 hrs (2016-08-19 15:12:36 GMT)
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OOPS, forgot this: "make mincemeat of
phrase of mincemeat
1.
informal
defeat decisively in a fight, contest, or argument.
"a hostile Public Prosecutor would make mincemeat of her""
2 days 3 hrs
he will be powerless - helpless - impotent / he will be bound hand and foot (metaphorically)
Utterly unable -- to do anything.
Quedará atado de pies y manos...
estar atado de pies y manos - to be bound hand and foot
have one's hands tied
Another couple of options.
He will be inevitably trumped.
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Note added at 2 days3 hrs (2016-08-21 04:18:55 GMT)
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The other "heated" versions could be (as in my agree to Robert)
he will have not a chance in Hell...
Or
he will be hoisted with his own petard (a bit freer) ... his own petardSSSS
Quedará atado de pies y manos...
estar atado de pies y manos - to be bound hand and foot
have one's hands tied
Another couple of options.
He will be inevitably trumped.
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Note added at 2 days3 hrs (2016-08-21 04:18:55 GMT)
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The other "heated" versions could be (as in my agree to Robert)
he will have not a chance in Hell...
Or
he will be hoisted with his own petard (a bit freer) ... his own petardSSSS
Discussion
But if we are going to take metaphorical set phrases literally rather than in their lexicalised meanings, the same kind of argument would make "lamb to the slaughter" unsuitable, to my mind. Lambs are not dragged kicking and screaming to the slaughter; they are led unsuspecting: cute, innocent, trusting, vulnerable, not resisting because not even aware they're in danger. None of which sounds like Trump to me.
I share your reservations about whether the original premise is true. Those who know and care about the scientific issues in such a debate will of course find Trump's answers pathetically inadequate, but such people are not potential Trump voters anyway. The millions of Americans Trump appeals to don't trust experts and will probably feel that Trump has won the arguments. They apparently believe him on climate change, for example.
Of course, the original premise--that he would be stumped--doesn't really hold up. He always finds a way to make himself look good. In one of the videos when he is confronted with his bankruptcies and financial losses, he points to his temple and says "Genius! Sheer genius!" When questioned about a Trump project that went south, he said: "I just licensed the use of my name. I wasn't responsible for what happened." He always has a smart answer.