Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

mira-tú-por-dónde

English translation:

well would you look at that/well what do you know

Added to glossary by Marie Wilson
Jan 9, 2021 15:30
3 yrs ago
46 viewers *
Spanish term

mira-tú-por-dónde

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Idiomatic expression from a novel
Hola a todos,

Me crucé con una expresión cuyo significado inglés me ha costado encontrar. Proviene de una novela escrita por Carlos Ruiz Zafón llamada 'La Sombra del Viento'. A continuación les enseño como aparece en el libro:

"Mi padre asintió, ponderando la casualidad con gesto de mira-tú-por-dónde. Me concedió un minuto de tregua antes de volver al ataque, esta vez con aire de acordarse de repente de algo."

Gracias de antemano!

Matt
Change log

Jan 10, 2021 18:39: Marie Wilson Created KOG entry

Discussion

Cecilia Gowar Jan 9, 2021:
I thought in this case I would translate it as "who would have thought".
Interestingly, the published English translation conveys the same idea.

"'Yes.' My father nodded, considering the coincidence with an expression of mild surprise. He granted me a moment's peace before he chargedat me again, this time adopting the look of someone who has just rememberedsomething."
Taña Dalglish Jan 9, 2021:
It has been translated, at least some of it:
The Shadow of the Wind Carlos Ruiz Zafón Published by ...www.lovereading.co.uk › _download › extractPDF
Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Translated by ... Shadow of the Wind had been waiting there for me for years, probably since ... get my hands on the complete works and read them all by the end of the ... From what I can see, the text must be the original ...https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/292766/the-shadow-o...

philgoddard Jan 9, 2021:
Hi Matthew
Have you Googled this? There are lots of possible translations:
http://www.espanolavanzado.com/uso-de-palabras/1003-mira-por...

Proposed translations

+5
18 mins
Selected

well would you look at that/wel,what do you know

A couple of options
mira (tú) por dónde (mire usted por dónde): expresión para denotar asombro ante algo que resulta sorprendente o inesperado, sobre todo cuando se trata de una casualidad.
https://www.espanolavanzado.com/uso-de-palabras/1003-mira-po...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2021-01-09 15:49:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Typo on the second "wel", sorry, I'm trying out new glasses

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 3 hrs (2021-01-10 18:39:02 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to be of help!
Example sentence:

Theo subtly unlocked the office door and pushed it open, casting a ‘well-would-you-look-at-that’ expression

He has a "Well, what do you know?" expression on his face. He slowly backs out of the doorway and closes it behind him

Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard
2 hrs
Thanks, Phil:-)
agree Helena Chavarria : This is what came to mind as soon as I saw the question, before I clicked on it.
5 hrs
Many thanks, Helena:-)
agree neilmac : Well I never... :-)
17 hrs
Thanks, Neil, plenty of possibilities
agree Thayenga
1 day 16 hrs
Thanks, Thayenga :-)
agree Yvonne Gallagher
2 days 1 hr
Thanks, Yvonne :-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks! This is really helpful. "
+1
57 mins

go figure

This phrase is used to express surprise at an unlikely event or circumstance.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 59 mins (2021-01-09 16:29:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"go figure" has the virtue of being equally colloquial.
Note from asker:
Thank you! Yes I agree, this sounds more American.
Peer comment(s):

agree neilmac : OK for a US audience...
16 hrs
Thank you Neilmac.
Something went wrong...
17 hrs

well I never

An option.
"My father nodded, pondering the coincidence with a "well, I never" expression..."

You could also use something like "looking surprised/with a surprised expression/look"...


con gesto de = with an expression of/ with a X expression

Another option could be "perplexed" which is like a decaf version of the Spanish "perplejo"...

"My father nodded, pondering the coincidence while looking slightly perplexed..."
Example sentence:

She looked over at me with a 'Well I never expression'....

Bear is looking slightly perplexed tonight after his long journey ...

Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search