si la Guaira es lejos, es porque ya he ido

English translation: Been there, done that, got the t-shirt

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:si la Guaira es lejos, es porque ya he ido
English translation:Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Entered by: Mauricio Martinez

21:10 Nov 16, 2020
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Folklore
Spanish term or phrase: si la Guaira es lejos, es porque ya he ido
Estoy traduciendo un libro lleno de refranes en donde aparece esto que usamos mucho en Venezuela para decir que si "digo que esto es así, es porque tengo evidencia". La Guaira es una ciudad costera a 1 hora de Caracas y los caraqueños la utilizamos mucho en este sentido. Ahora, quisiera conocer la opinión de ustedes con mis propuestas y, si tienen una propuesta más exacta, pues bienvenida sea. Trato de buscar un equivalente en inglés a modo de refrán que sea comprensible y que no deje al lector más confundido. Pensé en colocar a modo más general "if I say China is far, is because I have been there", o también parafraseando otro dicho venezolano / colombiano que reza "If I say the donkey is black is because I have its hairs in my hand", pero creo que esta opción podría ser igualmente confusa y no transmitirá la idea directamente.

¡Agradezco de antemano sus contribuciones!
Mauricio Martinez
Panama
Local time: 02:23
If I say so, it's because I've already been there
Explanation:
"Been there" doesn't have to be a physical place. See the song: "Been there; done that!" and the following definition:

been there, done that - Urban Dictionarywww.urbandictionary.com › define › term=been there, ...
An expression used to say that one has been in the situation or experienced that which another is talking about. It is usually a negative scenario that is being ...

I think this solution fully captures your explanation of the idiom without going too far fetched--which I understand was your concern.
Selected response from:

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 00:23
Grading comment
Excellent, Muriel. This fully captures the idea without making it too complicated for the reader. Thank you for the suggestion!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Carol Gullidge
4 +3If I say so, it's because I've already been there
Muriel Vasconcellos
4 +3and I know my onions
David Hollywood
5 +1Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Jacqueline Lamb
4If La Guaira seems far away, it's because I've already been there.
Barbara Cochran, MFA


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
If La Guaira seems far away, it's because I've already been there.


Explanation:
I see nothing wrong with translating it literally, to get across the idea.

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 03:23
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much for the suggestion!

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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.


Explanation:
A well-known and fairly self-explanatory English idiom, conveying a similar idea: it IS a duck, because all the evidence points to this...

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Carol! This is a very useful option for this context that I will keep in mind. Maybe a little bit long for putting it in the book but definitely helpful to keep it in the glossary.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: nice
6 hrs
  -> thanks, David!

agree  Natalia Pedrosa
10 hrs
  -> thanks Natalia!

agree  Shilpa Baliga: Nice, but a bit long?
12 hrs
  -> thanks Shilpa! Yes, I'd have preferred a shorter quote, but there is usually some translation loss with metaphors, etc, and one has to prioritise. Perhaps "Facts is facts' would be better, possibly from Dickens, but I can't find any proof!

agree  Haleigh Lecklitner: I agree with this statement, this is a very famous saying in English.
19 hrs
  -> Many thanks, Haleigh!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
If I say so, it's because I've already been there


Explanation:
"Been there" doesn't have to be a physical place. See the song: "Been there; done that!" and the following definition:

been there, done that - Urban Dictionarywww.urbandictionary.com › define › term=been there, ...
An expression used to say that one has been in the situation or experienced that which another is talking about. It is usually a negative scenario that is being ...

I think this solution fully captures your explanation of the idiom without going too far fetched--which I understand was your concern.

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 00:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Excellent, Muriel. This fully captures the idea without making it too complicated for the reader. Thank you for the suggestion!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carol Gullidge: yes, or possibly even (and along the same lines) "...already been down that road"
43 mins
  -> Thanks, Carol! I love your added piece. Very nice.

agree  Jacqueline Lamb
10 hrs
  -> Thank you, Jacqueline!

agree  Michele Fauble
20 hrs
  -> Thank you, Michele!
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
and I know my onions


Explanation:
idiomatic rendering

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Note added at 7 hrs (2020-11-17 04:25:45 GMT)
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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Know your onions'?. To be experienced in or knowledgeable about a subject.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2020-11-17 04:27:07 GMT)
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and you could add "on that score"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2020-11-17 04:27:42 GMT)
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meaning "in that regard"

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Note added at 7 hrs (2020-11-17 04:41:35 GMT)
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depends on how idiomatic you want to be in this context

David Hollywood
Local time: 04:23
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much, David! This option would work well in this context too.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jacqueline Lamb
3 hrs
  -> thanks Jacqueline

agree  Shilpa Baliga: Nice!
6 hrs
  -> thanks Shilpa

agree  Carol Gullidge: ye, i.e., "I know what I'm talking about"
8 hrs
  -> thanks Carol
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Si la si la Guaira es lejos, es porque ya he idoGuaira es lejos, es porque ya he ido
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt


Explanation:
This means that a person knows something from personal experience

Example sentence(s):
  • It isn´t easy to bring up five children on a very small income
  • Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Jacqueline Lamb
Spain
Local time: 08:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: This is actually a very accurate idiomatic expression which I did not come across in my head before for unexplainable reasons. Very evident. Thank you very much for your suggestion.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Aída Pacheco
11 hrs
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