Translation Article 646, “cold shoulder, crack the whip.” Definitions, origins, translations to Spanish and Portuguese
Michael D. Powers, Ph.D., USCCI
US Certified Court Interpreter 1980 / Ph.D. Spanish Portuguese 1981 / 24 years university professor / Estimates: 12,000+ depositions, hearings, etc. / 850 trials / 3000 documents / Conference Interpreter 650 conferences
Translation Article 646, “cold shoulder, crack the whip.” Definitions, origins, translations to Spanish and Portuguese
1) cold shoulder
Definition
This is a common idiom that means to reject somebody or be deliberately unfriendly toward somebody.
Origin
In Wikipedia, a very interesting explanation of the etymology of this phrase is given as the mistranslation of Latin in the Vulgate Bible:
"Cold shoulder" is a phrase used to express dismissal or the act of disregarding someone. Its origin is attributed to Sir Walter Scott in a work published in 1816, which is in fact a mistranslation of an expression from the Vulgate Bible. There is also a commonly repeated incorrect folk etymology.
The expression "cold shoulder" has been used in many literary works, and has entered into the vernacular. It has been used as a description of aloofness and disdain,[1] a contemptuous look over one's shoulder,[2] and even in the context of a woman attempting to decline the advances of an aggressive man.[3] Overall, it remains widely popular as a phrase for describing the act of ignoring someone or something, or giving an unfriendly response.”
Translations
Spanish
1) frialdad
[coldness, frigidness, coldheartedness, frigidity, cold shoulder, lack of enthusiasm]
2) indiferencia
[indifference]
3) despliegue de desprecio deliberado
[display of deliberate depreciation]
Portuguese
1) olhar por cima do ombro
[look over one’s shoulder]
2) tratar com frieza
[treat with coldness / indifference]
3) virar a cara
[turn one’s face]
4) indiferença
[indifference]
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5) (colloquial) dar um gelo em alguém
[give a piece of ice to somebody]
2) Crack the whip
Definition
This is an idiom used more in the UK than in the US, although used in both. It means to make someone behave better or work harder through the use of authority.
Origin
There is agreement among etymologists that this saying originated from the riding of horse buggies or horses for herding purposes, and the auditory sound of the whip cracking is a good reminder for the horses to obey their authority. Where there is some discord is when it originated. Some say it originated by in the 1600’s whereas other say it was toward the end of the nineteenth century.
Translations
Spanish
1) comandar ferozmente
[ferociously command]
2) tener a raya
[have under strict control / at bay / in check]
3) tratar con mano dura
[treat or deal with a hard / strong hand]
4) aplicar la ley del rigor
[enforce the law of strictness]
Portuguese
1) descer o chicote
[descend / come down (with) the whip]
Sources
WordReference English-Portuguese Dictionary app, 2024
WordReference English-Spanish Dictionary app, 2024
Word Magic Complete and Unabridged English-Spanish Dictionary 8.8.0 2020 by Word Magic Software Ltda.
López Fuentes, Sinda. Oxford Portuguese Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 2015.
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