This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

abrazo de medio lado

English translation: Pound hug

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:abrazo de medio lado
English translation:Pound hug
Entered by: Mike Sadler (X)

15:36 Aug 17, 2012
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Mexican Spanish
Spanish term or phrase: abrazo de medio lado
as in "saluda con un abrazo de medio lado"

Can somebody tell me what this handshake/embrace would be in English?

Thanks!
patinba
Argentina
Local time: 05:29
Pound hug
Explanation:
It's certainly a possibility, and what came to mind when I read the Spanish, but you may be able to decide based on the context.
The Wikipedia article explains it.
Selected response from:

Mike Sadler (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:29
Grading comment
Many thanks, just what I was looking for. Wikipedia describes it as "Combination hand shake and one-armed hug" Thanks to all for your input.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3side hug
Alex Hughes
4 +2half-hearted hug
Bernadet
3 +2Pound hug
Mike Sadler (X)
4 +1put an around each other / pat each other on the back
Peter Riccomini
4greets with half a hug
Luis Javier Otoya


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
greets with half a hug


Explanation:
It could also be a half-hug greeting.


    https://www.google.com.co/#hl=es&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22greeting+with+half+a+hug%22&oq=%22greeting+with+half+a+hug%22&gs_l=hp.3...11024.14007.2
Luis Javier Otoya
Local time: 03:29
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
half-hearted hug


Explanation:
I have never heard of a "half hug", but a "half-hearted hug" YES, or even a "limp handshake"

Bernadet
Local time: 10:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans
0 min
agree  Luis Javier Otoya
21 mins
disagree  Peter Riccomini: I've heard of it too, but that doesn't mean it's a good translation!
28 mins
agree  macimovic: Halfhearted http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halfhearted
1 hr
agree  liz askew: Great translation!
2 hrs
neutral  Charles Davis: I cannot understand how you get from "medio lado" to "halfhearted". Have you any evidence that this is what it implies? None of the references to "abrazo de medio lado" that I have seen involve any lack of enthusiasm.
4 hrs
disagree  James A. Walsh: I don't think "half-hearted" is the intended meaning here.
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Pound hug


Explanation:
It's certainly a possibility, and what came to mind when I read the Spanish, but you may be able to decide based on the context.
The Wikipedia article explains it.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_hug
Mike Sadler (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks, just what I was looking for. Wikipedia describes it as "Combination hand shake and one-armed hug" Thanks to all for your input.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: Could be, and thanks for the term, which I didn't know
1 hr
  -> Thanks. It's a really interesting example of translation difficulty. Well done to patinba for raising it!
agree  Claudia Luque Bedregal
18 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
side hug


Explanation:
This is the most common way to say this in the US. Its basically coming up next to someone and putting one arm around them. There are countless references made to it throughout pop culture.

Alex Hughes
United States
Local time: 03:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis
1 hr
agree  James A. Walsh: This would be my choice here.
12 hrs
agree  Claudia Luque Bedregal
18 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
put an around each other / pat each other on the back


Explanation:
Idiomatic equivalents in English to a very Latin custom!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2012-08-17 21:01:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, that should be 'put an *arm* around each other'

Peter Riccomini
Spain
Local time: 10:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: This is what it implies in practice, I think
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Charles
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search