Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
pau, pau; pedra, pedra
English translation:
call a spade a spade
Added to glossary by
Oliver Simões
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Jan 16, 2022 18:06
2 yrs ago
25 viewers *
Portuguese term
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
pau, pau; pedra, pedra
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Idiomatic Glossary
Pau, pau: pedra, pedra
Faça um teste. Pergunte a qualquer juiz do trabalho ou advogado trabalhista que você conheça qual a diferença entre uma empregada doméstica e uma diarista e todos dirão que a diarista trabalha até três dias por semana, e a empregada doméstica, a semana inteira. Responderam à sua dúvida? Óbvio que não! Limitaram-se a usar um surrado critério matemático para explicar um conceito jurídico. [O autor passa então a descrever as diferenças entre os dois termos de um ponto de vista jurídico. NT]
https://www.diritto.it/pau-pau-pedra-pedra/
Apparently, this expression is related to "calling a spade a spade". Is that the case?
I also thought of "mix apples and oranges", although it seems to me this would be a better translation for "trocar alhos por bugalhos": https://www.dicionariopopular.com/trocar-alhos-por-bugalhos/
What would you guys suggest for "pau, pau; pedra, pedra"? TL: EN-US
call a spade a spade: chamar as coisas pelo nome; dar nome aos bois
https://en.bab.la/dictionary/english-portuguese/call-a-spade...
Faça um teste. Pergunte a qualquer juiz do trabalho ou advogado trabalhista que você conheça qual a diferença entre uma empregada doméstica e uma diarista e todos dirão que a diarista trabalha até três dias por semana, e a empregada doméstica, a semana inteira. Responderam à sua dúvida? Óbvio que não! Limitaram-se a usar um surrado critério matemático para explicar um conceito jurídico. [O autor passa então a descrever as diferenças entre os dois termos de um ponto de vista jurídico. NT]
https://www.diritto.it/pau-pau-pedra-pedra/
Apparently, this expression is related to "calling a spade a spade". Is that the case?
I also thought of "mix apples and oranges", although it seems to me this would be a better translation for "trocar alhos por bugalhos": https://www.dicionariopopular.com/trocar-alhos-por-bugalhos/
What would you guys suggest for "pau, pau; pedra, pedra"? TL: EN-US
call a spade a spade: chamar as coisas pelo nome; dar nome aos bois
https://en.bab.la/dictionary/english-portuguese/call-a-spade...
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | Just call it as it is |
Douglas Bissell
|
Change log
Jan 16, 2022 18:14: Oliver Simões Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
20 mins
Douglas Bissell
Portugal
Portugal
Native in English
Specializes in field
Portugal
Business Language Solutions Pt>Eng
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Just call it as it is
I find the 'spade' idea racially unadvisable
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nick Taylor
: Of course! PC all the way, hey hey hey!
3 hrs
|
| neutral |
Lara Barnett
: But the essential meaning of "Spade" is not related to any type of person.// Then, if you do not use "gay" in an offensive way, there is no problem. I actually have a female cousin whose name is "Gay"!
1 day 21 hrs
|
|
True, but neither is the essential meaning of 'Gay'
|
Reference comments
2 days 22 hrs
Charles R. Castleberry
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Business, Legal & Financial Translation
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Portuguese to English
Reference:
In the late 1920s during the Harlem Renaissance, "SPADE" BEGAN TO EVOLVE INTO CODE FOR A BLACK PERSON …
So what does all of this mean for people who want to, well, "call a spade a spade"? I URGE CAUTION. Mieder concludes his case study with the argument that "to call a spade a spade" should be retired from modern usage: "RATHER THAN TAKING THE CHANCE OF UNINTENTIONALLY OFFENDING SOMEONE OR OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD, IT IS BEST TO RELINQUISH THE OLD INNOCUOUS PROVERBIAL EXPRESSION ALL TOGETHER."
Reference:
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/09/19/224183763/is-it-racist-to-call-a-spade-a-spade
Discussion
(...)
The equivalent expression in Spanish-speaking countries is "a llamar al pan pan, y al vino vino", which translates as "to call the bread bread, and to call the wine wine". The equivalent in French-speaking countries is "appeler un chat, un chat", which translates as "to call a cat a cat".[17]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_a_spade_a_spade
PS: The above passage confirms my hunch, so I consider this question resolved. Thanks.