Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
quem pode, pode
English translation:
It\'s alright for some.
Added to glossary by
Tania Pires
Apr 23, 2015 17:43
9 yrs ago
Portuguese term
Portugal
EN Translator
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
, Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal)
Works in: Portuguese to English, Spanish to English
quem pode, pode
Portuguese to English
Other
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Subtitles
This is a documentary where someone in a company is saying that the competition didn't have the same history as them so they don't have such a wonderful space. The other person answers with 'quem pode, pode', as if to say 'some people are lucky'.
What would be a proper expression for this? I know there's one about a silver spoon, but that's related to wealth, which isn't the case here.
Thanks in advance for your help!
What would be a proper expression for this? I know there's one about a silver spoon, but that's related to wealth, which isn't the case here.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
2 hrs
Colin Bowles
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
Brazil
Timely engineering and IT translations
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Its alright for some.
Suggestion. (Apostrophe in Its obviously but the keyboard Im using wont accept it for some reason).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2015-04-23 19:58:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here are some references:
https://www.google.com.br/search?q=its alright for some&ie=u...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2015-04-23 19:58:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Here are some references:
https://www.google.com.br/search?q=its alright for some&ie=u...
Note from asker:
| I like this one. Thanks Colin! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Marian Vieyra
: I like this one, very (UK) idiomatic, gets across the idea of resignation, mixed with envy and admiration.
22 mins
|
| agree |
Lindsay Spratt
12 hrs
|
| agree |
Diana Coada (X)
14 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Colin!"
+2
2 mins
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian , English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
they have what it takes
one way of saying it...
Note from asker:
| Thanks Katarina! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Claudio Mazotti
43 mins
|
|
Thanks, Claudio!
|
|
| agree |
Verginia Ophof
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Verginia!
|
|
| agree |
Beatriz Baker Méio
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Beatriz!
|
|
| disagree |
Diana Coada (X)
: Does not express the sarcasm or envy meant by the original phrase.
16 hrs
|
+1
34 mins
Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Flair and accuracy tailored to your text
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
He who can, does;
In other words, the person of ability simply gets on with achieving things rather than standing around bemoaning adverse circumstances. and his fate in general;
Nothing to do with being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, in my opibion;
Nothing to do with being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, in my opibion;
Note from asker:
| Thanks Oliver, this is more like it, but I didn't know you could say it without the rest of the sentence, it's usually 'he who can, does; he who cannot, teaches'. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
suesimons
: Yes, keep it simple & to the point!
15 mins
|
|
Thanks
|
|
| agree |
Paulinho Fonseca
24 mins
|
|
Thanks
|
|
| neutral |
Marian Vieyra
: Not sure this is actually a set phrase in English. I think the quote is 'those who can, do, those who can't, teach.
2 hrs
|
|
No; it can stand alone also;
|
|
| disagree |
Diana Coada (X)
: Does not express the sarcasm or envy meant by the original phrase.
16 hrs
|
-1
49 mins
Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
Norway
Norway
Native in Portuguese
Norway
Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
Engineer:Oil&Gas/Electron/Finan/Law/HSEQ
Native in: Norwegian , Portuguese
Works in: English to Portuguese, Norwegian to Portuguese, Portuguese to Norwegian, and 19 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
The only thing that overcomes luck is hard work
Depending on what the documentary wants to say.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Andrew Bramhall
: except that 'luck' is something positive; you have to say 'ill-luck', 'ill-fortune' or similar for it to make sense in English.
13 hrs
|
| disagree |
Diana Coada (X)
: Does not express the sarcasm or envy meant by the original phrase.
15 hrs
|
+2
1 hr
Ana Vozone
Native in Portuguese
Works in field
Will do!
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: European/Portugal) 
Works in: English to Portuguese, French to Portuguese, German to Portuguese, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Well, lucky you! / Well, lucky them!
Note from asker:
| Obrigada Ana! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Diana Coada (X)
: Yes, said either jokingly, sarcastically or with spite, this is the closest to the original meaning of the phrase.
25 mins
|
|
Thank you, Diana!
|
|
| agree |
Verginia Ophof
: some people have all the luck ?
1 hr
|
|
Thank you, Verginia!
|
+2
2 hrs
Nick Taylor
Native in English
Specializes in field
Portuguese to English, English to Portug
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
40
that's the way the cookie crumbles!
that's the way the cookie crumbles!
Note from asker:
| I like it, but it's a little long to put in a subtitle. Thanks Nick! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: Nice!
2 hrs
|
|
;-) thanks Muriel
|
|
| agree |
Douglas Bissell
21 hrs
|
|
cheers Douglas
|
Discussion
1. ("He who can, can"): http://en.wikinoticia.com/entertainment/gossip/5906-miley-cy...
2. ("Those Who Can, Can."): http://raisedonhoecakes.com/ROH/2011/04/28/those-who-can-can...
Creio que a expressão significa que quem pode/pôde fazer algo (mais ou melhor) faz/fez porque tem/teve condições/poder/dinheiro/conhecimento(s) para isso. Creio que é precisamente uma expressão muito pragmática e algo sarcástica que não recorre a elementos subjetivos e aleatórios como a sorte.
Creio que neste texto o interlocutor responde "quem pode, pode" para referir que a concorrência/o concorrente teve melhores condições (eventualmente mais dinheiro, ou melhores conhecimentos/contactos, etc., tudo menos "sorte") para conseguir um espaço tão maravilhoso.
A "sorte" é um elemento que coloca os concorrentes na mesma posição, situação em que a expressão "quem pode (mais/melhor), pode" perde o sentido. Esta expressão aplica-se para indicar que alguém tem "algo mais/uma vantagem concreta", por vezes "um privilégio", que não apenas a subjetividade e aleatoriedade da sorte.