Idioms 130, Etymology, 110, English: “fly in the ointment, jack of all trades, half baked, good faith, faux pas” Spanish, Portuguese
fly in the ointment
Definition: a detracting factor or element
Origin: quoted from wordhistories.net: “The phrase a fly in the ointment means a minor irritation that spoils the success or enjoyment of something. It is an allusion to the first verse of the Book of Ecclesiastes, 10: Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking sauour: so doeth a little folly, him that is in reputation for wisedome and honour.”
Spanish: el único problema [the only problem/issue], la única pega [the only trick / feeble excuse]
Portuguese: circunstância que estraga um prazer [a circumstance that ruins or rages something pleasant], mosca na sopa [fly in the soup]
jack of all trades
Definition: a person who can do passable work at various tasks; a hand versatile person
Origin: first known use was 1618. In timesofindia we quote the following regarding its meaning and origin: “The term is used derogatorily to describe a multi-skilled person with average efficiency. He is therefore a “Jack of all .. trades, but master of none”. The term’s origin goes back to when Jack was used as a generic name for any general representative of the common people. Usage of the phrase dates back to the fourteenth century and an example if found in John Gower’s Middle English poem Confessio Amantis.”
Spanish: hombre de muchos oficios [man of many trades], aprendiz de todos [apprentice in everything], hacelotodo [do-it-all]
Portuguese: pau para toda obra [a stick for every work], severino [fish on Portuguese coast], mão pra toda [a hand for everything]
half baked
Definition:
1) poorly developed or carried out: half-baked research
2) lacking adequate planning for forethought: a half-baked schemed
3) lacking in judgment, intelligence, or common sense: Attacking Disney, Florida’s larges private employer, is half-baked at best.
Origin: first-known use in sense 1 was 1621. According to theidioms.com, “Origin "Half-baked" is an old English idiom that originated in the 1600s. It literally meant under-cooked or under-baked at first, referring to food that was not thoroughly cooked. By the 1800s, the phrase was used in a figurative sense to indicate ideas, schemes, or opinions that were poorly thought out or incompletely developed ...”
Spanish: medio horneado [half baked], poco meditado [barely mediated], mal concebido [poory conceived]
Portuguese: meio cozinhado [half cooked], metade cozida [half prepared], mal panejado [poorly planned], mal terminado [poorly finished]
good faith
Definition: honest or truthfulness of purpose
First-known use: 14th century according to Merriam-Webster. As far as its use in the legal field, the following is quoted from legaldictionary.net: “Origin. 1890-1895. Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing. The covenant of good faith and fair dealing is a presumption that the parties to a situation will be honest and fair in their dealings, so as not to take advantage of the other parties, or to otherwise infringe upon their rights”.
Spanish: buena fe [good faith], buena intención [good intention], ausencia de fraude o engaño [absence of fraud or deceipt]
Portuguese: boa fé [good faith], boa intenção [good intention], leal [loyal]
faux pas
Definition: a significant or embarrassing error or mistake
First-known use: 1676 The following is from etymonline.com: “FAUX PAS Meaning: "breach of good manners, any act that compromises one's reputation," 1670s, French, literally "false… See origin and meaning of faux pas. Advertisement. faux pas (n.) ... False step (1700) translates French faux pas. To bear false witness is attested from mid-13c.”
Spanish: error craso de conducta social [a crass mistake in social behavior], metedura de pata social [a social screwup], metida de pata socia [screwing up socially]
Portuguese: passo em falso [false step], lapso [lapse], falta de etiqueta [lack of etiquette], dislates [absurdity or nonsense]
