Dec 20, 2021 09:18
2 yrs ago
23 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
24 years of experience in many countries
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, English to French, and 6 more.
se pegó a este
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Literature.
I would like to know the best translation of this phrase from Latin American Spanish into American English. Translator colleagues from Spain, feel free to send me your suggestions as well.
This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
Is okay to translate it as he got attached to him in order to follow him?
Here is the full paragraph for your review:
Se mantuvo escondido un rato mientras el ladrón rebuscaba su saco y cuando lo encontró, con mucho cuidado de no hacer ruido se pegó a este para salir detrás de él sin que se enterase, dejando una buena distancia para que no fuera descubierto, pudiendo así aprovechar la luz de la antorcha del bandido.
“”Cuando se aproximaban a la salida, el ladrón se detuvo, escuchó nervioso el jaleo que venía de la parte exterior de la cueva y apagó la antorcha
This is a translation about the story of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves.
Is okay to translate it as he got attached to him in order to follow him?
Here is the full paragraph for your review:
Se mantuvo escondido un rato mientras el ladrón rebuscaba su saco y cuando lo encontró, con mucho cuidado de no hacer ruido se pegó a este para salir detrás de él sin que se enterase, dejando una buena distancia para que no fuera descubierto, pudiendo así aprovechar la luz de la antorcha del bandido.
“”Cuando se aproximaban a la salida, el ladrón se detuvo, escuchó nervioso el jaleo que venía de la parte exterior de la cueva y apagó la antorcha
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | started following him |
Cecilia Gowar
|
| 4 | shadowed this one |
Carole Wolfe
|
| 3 | began/started tailing him |
Marcelo González
|
Proposed translations
+2
39 mins
Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
I read the Alethiometer
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
227
Selected
started following him
You could also say "became his shadow" but neither that nor "stuck to him" as the original says make sense since because he did so "at a certain distance".
Note from asker:
| Muchas gracias Cecilia. |
| Muchas gracias Cecilia. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
1 hr
Carole Wolfe
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Accuracy, Integrity, Promptness
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Russian to English, Spanish to English, English
shadowed this one
Definition from Oxford English and Spanish dictionary:
"Follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly."
"Follow and observe (someone) closely and secretly."
Example sentence:
He had been up all night shadowing a team of poachers.
Reference:
Note from asker:
| Thanks Carole! |
2 days 6 hrs
Marcelo González
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
PhD in Translation Studies
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
44
began/started tailing him
(informal) to tail (related to "putting a tail on someone, often said by law enforcement) = to follow
... tailing him, without the other noticing (or "without giving himself away") leaving enough distance in between so that he wouldn't be discovered / so as not to be discovered ...
giving himself away = (idiom) doing something that draws attention, revealing something intended to remain unknown or a secret
... tailing him, without the other noticing (or "without giving himself away") leaving enough distance in between so that he wouldn't be discovered / so as not to be discovered ...
giving himself away = (idiom) doing something that draws attention, revealing something intended to remain unknown or a secret
Note from asker:
| Thanks Mr. Marcelo. |
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