Translations 495, Idioms: “black book, breakup or break up, barking dogs seldom bite, break the ice.” Definitions, origins, in 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
Translations 495, English Idioms: “black book, breakup or break up, barking dogs seldom bite, break the ice.” Definitions, origins, in Spanish and Portuguese.
black book
definition
Meaning
1) a book containing a list of secret contacts
2) a record of who is out of favour with someone
3) a list of past romantic partners or close contacts
4) someone’s imaginary book, containing the names of people liable to be punished
5) generally, it just means a list of people that are currently disliked by the holder of said list
6) be in someone’s black books means to be in someone’s disfavor or trouble with someone
origin
The phrase first came into existence in the mid-1400s, and at that time, it alludes to a list of people who committed crimes.
Black books in English history began being used by the agents of King Henry VIII in the 1530s. It was a literal black book used as a way to keep track of people to be “punished” by the crown for being sinful in their ways. (rumours say because Henry VIII wanted to expand into their lands!)
A black book can also be considered a “blacklist” as is often spoken of in the entertainment or influence departments of a given business; for example, a food critic has the power to add someone to the restaurant business’s blacklist. The longer a blacklist or, the bigger a black book, the more influential a critic can become, and the more important it is to please them appropriately.
The term was recorded and defined in Terrae Filius: Or, The Secret History of the University of Oxford, by R. Newton Nicholas Amhurst (1726).
Translations
Spanish
lista negra [black list]
Portuguese
lista negra [black list]
livro negro [black book]
breakup, break up
meaning
also break-up, "a disruption, dissolution of connection, separation of a mass into parts," 1795, from verbal expression break up "separate, dissolve" (mid-15c.); see break (v.) + up (adv.). The verbal phrase was used of plowland, later of groups, assemblies, etc.; of things (also of marriages, relationships), from mid-18c. Break it up as a command to stop a fight, etc., is recorded from 1936.
Origin
Originally recorded in 1795 in the sense of marriages or relationships and way back in the fifteenth century for use on plowlands, etc.
Translations
Spanish
disolución [dissolution]
separación [separation]
deshacer una pareja [undo the couple]
terminar la relación [end the relationship]
cortar [cut]
Portuguese
dissolução [dissolution]
separação [separation]
rompimento [breakup, romantically]
cisão [split]
descomposição [disintegration]
tereminar um namoro ou amizade [end a courtship or friendship]
separar-se [become separated]
desmanchar [undo, break up]
briga [bicker, fight, quarrel]
desintegrar-se [disintegrate]
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acabar [do away with, end]
barking dogs don’t bite or barking dogs seldom bite
meanings
Meaning 1 ) to threaten someone, but not take action or follow through with threats 2 ) someone who makes a lot of noise but is harmless 3 ) be all show, posture or bluster 4 ) appear fierce or scary, but to be weak in reality
Origin
This old English proverb alludes to a dog that is busy barking, can’t bite. It’s not talking about dogs in reality but as a metaphor for someone who speaks a lot but doesn’t follow through with actions.
There is a similar quote from Chairman Mao in China using the phrase ‘paper tiger’. He claimed that ‘reactionaries (Western Imperialists) were paper tigers’. A paper tiger would be seen as a hollow or empty threat.
The Earliest printed record of the proverb can be traced back to 1719 in Dictionaire royal, François-Anglois, et Anglois-François, by Abel Boyer, a French-English lexicographer, journalist and miscellaneous write.
Translation
Spanish
el gato maullador, nunca buen cazador [the meowing cat, never a good hunter]
el perro que ladra no muerde [the dog that barks does not bite]
Portuguese
cão que ladra não morde [dog that barks does not bite]
break the ice
definition
break down social formality and stiffness
origin
The earlier meaning of this phrase, that is, 'to forge a path for others to follow', alludes of course to the breaking of ice to allow the navigation of boats. The figurative use is quite old and was recorded by Sir Thomas North in his 1579 translation of Plutarch's Lives of the noble Grecians and Romanes:
"To be the first to break the Ice of the Enterprize."
It wasn't until the latter part of the 17th century that it took on its current meaning of 'establish a relaxed relationship in socially awkward situations'; for example, Samuel Butler's Hudibras, 1664:
"The Oratour - At last broke silence, and the Ice."
Moving forward another two hundred years 'breaking the ice' reverts to its original usage, when specialist ice-breaking ships were introduced. These ships, known as ice-breakers, were equipped with strengthened hulls and powerful engines and were employed in the exploration of polar regions.
Soon after these ships were introduced the term 'ice-breaker' began to be applied to social initiatives intended to get strangers acquainted with one another. In 1883, Mark Twain used the phrase that way in Life on Mississippi:
"They closed up the inundation with a few words - having used it, evidently, as a mere ice-breaker and acquaintanceship-breeder - then they dropped into business."
Translations
Spanish
romper el hielo [break the ice]
iniciar conversación [initiate a conversation]
iniciar intercambios sociales [initiate social exchanges]
Portuguese
quebrar o gelo [break the ice]
Sources
Collins Spanish Unabridged Dictionary
Word Magic Complete and Unabridged English-Spanish Dictionary 8.8.0
Best Portuguese English Dictionary app
Word Reference Spanish English Dictionary app
Wlrd Reference Portuguese English Dictionary app