KudoZ question not available

English translation: in a shambles

12:08 Jun 18, 2015

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Other

Spanish term or phrase: estar desbaratado

Hi, the phrase occurs in a spoken response from a Dominican Republic informant, who is asked what progress means to him:

“En lenguaje así del de uno, sería no estar desbaratado, en la olla, pues”

I get the idea of being disorganised, 'broken', in a state... but I can't come up with a suitably colloquial turn of phrase to convey the idea (target language is international English, so shouldn't be particularly country specific, if possible!). And if anyone has a different take on what it means in this country, that would also be helpful :)

thanks in advance

Lucy Phillips KudoZ activity Questions: 301 (7 open) (9 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 488 United Kingdom
Local time: 11:37

English translation:in a shambles

Explanation:
I think "in a shambles" would be a good colloquiel fit, because other more precise translations like "thrown into confusion" or "disarrayed" don't really fit.

Selected response from:

Kate Quillen
Spain
Local time: 12:37

Grading comment

thanks Kate. Actually in the end, I didn't have to translate this term in my section of the text, but your answer is much appreciated!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

in a shambles

Kate Quillen

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

in a shambles

Explanation:
I think "in a shambles" would be a good colloquiel fit, because other more precise translations like "thrown into confusion" or "disarrayed" don't really fit.

Kate Quillen
Spain
Local time: 12:37
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

thanks Kate. Actually in the end, I didn't have to translate this term in my section of the text, but your answer is much appreciated!

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