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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

Donde manda capitán no manda marinero

English translation:

...as an old saying states, “Where a captain rules, a sailor has no sway” (frase original en nota)

Added to glossary by Rafael Serrano
Jan 5, 2008 19:45
16 yrs ago
17 viewers *
Spanish term

Donde manda capitán no manda marinero

Spanish to English Social Sciences Poetry & Literature Proverbs, sayings
Es un dicho muy conocido.
Proposed translations (English)
5 +10 ...as an old saying states, “Where a captain rules, a sailor has no sway” (frase original en nota)
4 +6 what the boss says goes/if two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind
4 +4 There can only be one boss.
4 +1 I/you/they have to do as I’m/you’re/I'm told
4 +1 where one man rules the others follow
4 +1 The cock rules the roost
4 +1 The captain rules the roost
4 +1 Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room (Winston Churchill)
4 it is the captain and not the sailor who calls the shots

Discussion

Lydia De Jorge Jan 5, 2008:
..in view of which I take back my suggestion because as they say "the boss may not always be right, but he's always the boss".
Rafael Serrano (asker) Jan 5, 2008:
Contexto «... esa fue mi sugerencia para solucionar el problema, pero usted se saltó el conducto regular y en lugar de consultar con mi jefe o el jefe de mi jefe, usted le pidió opinión al dueño de la compañía, el cual dio su opinión. Frente a ello tengo que retirar mi sugerencia porque como dice el dicho donde manda capitán, no manda marinero"...»
Vanessa Rivera Rivier Jan 5, 2008:
Hi!!! Please take a look at: http://www.proz.com/?sp=h&id=470055

Proposed translations

+10
52 mins
Selected

...as an old saying states, “Where a captain rules, a sailor has no sway” (frase original en nota)

Tal vez vale la pena intentar una traduccin de la frase tradicional:
...as an old saying states, “Where a captain rules, a sailor has no sway”
(con frase original entre paréntesis o en nota)
Peer comment(s):
agree Gary Smith Lawson : I agree it's a saying worth translating literally, as the meaning remains clear.
44 mins
Thank you Gary!
agree Nelida Kreer : I support your effort, because it retains flavor. Perhaps: as the saying goes, "etc etc, a sailor HOLDS no sway"? Regards.
1 hr
HOLDS good Niki, thanks!
agree Elizabeth Medina : Agree, & with Niki-K too.
1 hr
Thank you Elizabeth!
agree Robert Copeland : This is a nice choice as well
2 hrs
Thank You Robert!
agree Gacela20
2 hrs
Thank you Gacela!
agree patyjs : absolutely...works well!
3 hrs
Thank you Pat!
agree Patrice
4 hrs
Thank you Patrice!
agree Marian Martin (X)
4 hrs
Gracias!
agree littleflorecita : :) I believe this translates how folkloric the reference is, and it does convey the meaning. :)
7 hrs
Gracias florecita!
agree franglish : ... with Niki's 'sailor holds no sway'
13 hrs
Gracias!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Excelente idea, Sandra. Muchas gracias a todos."
+6
4 mins

what the boss says goes/if two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind

what the boss says goes/if two men ride on a horse, one must ride behind
Un par de ideas. Suerte.

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1083672
Peer comment(s):
agree Janine Libbey : Also "Donde hay patrón, no manda marinero".
24 mins
agree Ximena P. Aguilar
45 mins
agree Erin DeBell
1 hr
agree JPW (X) : But I would use the first one only.
1 hr
agree nigthgirl
6 hrs
agree Carol Gullidge : I like what the boss says goes
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
8 mins

I/you/they have to do as I’m/you’re/I'm told

Oxford

donde manda capitán no manda marinero I/you/they have to do as I’m/you’re/
they’re told

Mike :)
Peer comment(s):
agree Ines Garcia Botana : Perfect
56 mins
Thank you, Ines - Mike :)
Something went wrong...
+1
17 mins

where one man rules the others follow

the boss is not always right, but he's always the boss
Peer comment(s):
agree Juliana Brown : or perhaps 'where one man leads, others follow'.
26 mins
Something went wrong...
+4
32 mins

There can only be one boss.

Alternate version "There is only one boss."

Una búsqueda de estas dos frases demuestra que son ampliamente usadas.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 38 mins (2008-01-05 20:24:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Al haber visto tu información adicional del contexto, creo que esta versión encaja bien en tu texto.
Peer comment(s):
agree yolanda Speece : like the "Highlander" movies, there can be only one.
46 mins
agree Victoria Porter-Burns :
2 hrs
agree Robert Copeland
3 hrs
agree weareaccurate : I like this one more
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
44 mins

The cock rules the roost

Hay 326,000 ejemplos en Internet de "rules the roost" ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Edward Tully : didn't see you answer! I think "rules the roost" keeps the naval imagery
12 hrs
thanks Edward, happy Reyes! :-) Deborah
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

The captain rules the roost

If you want to keep the naval connection!
MovieTome User Contributions - Reviews by Mac-Ale- [ Traduzca esta página ]Roberts wants off a supply ship and a battle assignment, but as is accurate, the Captain rules the roost. My favorite... [+] Read Full Review ...
www.movietome.com/users/Mac-Ale/contributions?mode=reviews - 112k - En caché - Páginas similares
[ Más resultados de www.movietome.com ]

Maasdam Mechanical Problems - Page 4 - Cruise Message Boards ...- [ Traduzca esta página ]... court using the fine points of maritime law, I think I'll just stick with the fact that the Captain rules the roost on his ship and follow his wishes. ...
boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=100591&page=4&highlight=maasdam - 129k - En caché - Páginas similares

Peer comment(s):
agree Bubo Coroman (X) : a typical expression!
12 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
19 hrs

Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room (Winston Churchill)

... the organ grinder of course being the capitán, and the monkey being the marinero, in this context.

Winston Churchill was famous for his pithy sayings - this one is very widely known

Organ grinder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaA Winston Churchill (British politician, 1874 - 1965) quote, "Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room",
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_grinder - 32k
Peer comment(s):
agree Bernardo Tonasse : Excellent one!
3578 days
Many thanks!
Something went wrong...
23 hrs

it is the captain and not the sailor who calls the shots

possible alternative
Something went wrong...
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