watch paint dry

Spanish translation: mirar la hierba crecer

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:watch paint dry
Spanish translation:mirar la hierba crecer
Entered by: Marina Herrera

20:36 Nov 15, 2006
English to Spanish translations [PRO]
Marketing - Management / capacitación de empleados
English term or phrase: watch paint dry
An* survey indicates 51 percent of customers
would rather than deal with a rude
customer service person.
Can anyone think of a comparable expression in Spanish?
Gracias por adelantado!
Marina Herrera
Local time: 05:00
mirar la hierba crecer
Explanation:
I have seen this used in Spanish.
Selected response from:

Christina Keating (X)
United States
Local time: 04:00
Grading comment
Thanks to all who filled my head with things that I'd rather not do. I agree with Vocabulum, that to watch the paint dry isn't as drastic as some of those other suggestions, even the more dramatic Hispanics!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4mirar la hierba crecer
Christina Keating (X)
3 +3pensar en la mortalidad del cangrejo...
Helena Genel
4prefiero morir / suicidarme / cortarme las venas / antes que...
Rafael Molina Pulgar
4ver crecer mis canas
Roberto Rey
3sacarse una muela
George Rabel


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
pensar en la mortalidad del cangrejo...


Explanation:
No sé, sólo se me ocurrio

Helena Genel
United States
Local time: 02:00
Native speaker of: Spanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
2 mins

agree  Vocabulum (X): De acuerdo también, aunque creo que es más común decir "la INmortalidad del cangrejo"
37 mins
  -> Probablemente tengas razón; yo he escuchado ambas versiones

agree  Gabi Ancarol (X): ademas es tan bonito! :)
16 hrs
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
sacarse una muela


Explanation:
Aunque lo de sacarse una muela es un tanto más radical que mirar a la pintura secarse, es una frase que existe en español y se utiliza en contextos semejantes. Si hay otra menos dolorosa, no se me ocurre en este momento.

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Note added at 11 mins (2006-11-15 20:48:24 GMT)
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El Ministerio de la Verdad » Blog Archive » Top Ten #3 - La NFL- [ Translate this page ]Digamos que prefiero sacarme una muela de juicio sin anestesia que ver MTV o el Canal de las Estrellas. Que mejor manera de pasar un lunes en la noche que ...
blog.masterzen.net/?p=21 - 14k - Supplemental Result


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IMPORTANTE. fraude en concesionario [Archivos] - Foros de Debates ...- [ Translate this page ]ramon2005. 11-10-2005, 04:57 PM. prefiero sacarme una muela que llevar el coche al taller= !salvese quién pueda". TAMARIT33. 11-10-2005, 08:46 PM ...
debates.coches.net/archive/index.php?t-39326.html - 7k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages





George Rabel
Local time: 05:00
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 20
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
mirar la hierba crecer


Explanation:
I have seen this used in Spanish.

Christina Keating (X)
United States
Local time: 04:00
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to all who filled my head with things that I'd rather not do. I agree with Vocabulum, that to watch the paint dry isn't as drastic as some of those other suggestions, even the more dramatic Hispanics!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vocabulum (X): Totalmente de acuerdo. IMHO, la frase "watch paint dry" no apunta ni a dolor ni a actos drásticos, sino al colmo de lo aburrido. Algo así como "watch the fishing channel on TV" ;)
29 mins

agree  Silvia Brandon-Pérez: En realidad me gustan todas las opciones, pero escojo la tuya
2 hrs

agree  Victoria Frazier: Perfecta para los Estados Unidos
2 hrs

agree  Roxanna Delgado
5 hrs
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20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
prefiero morir / suicidarme / cortarme las venas / antes que...


Explanation:
En español somos más drásticos.

Rafael Molina Pulgar
Mexico
Local time: 03:00
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 64
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
ver crecer mis canas


Explanation:
A que me crezca el pelo

Mas opciones

Roberto Rey
Colombia
Local time: 04:00
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 14
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