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Caso general de suspensión y especiales
propiedad,posesión y dominio

Glossary entry

español term or phrase:

agarrar hueso

inglés translation:

get a piece of the pie by getting an easy government "job"

Added to glossary by Michael Powers (PhD)
Jun 20, 2011 02:54
12 yrs ago
español term

agarrar hueso

español al inglés Ciencias sociales Gobierno / Política
"Suponemos que debe cuando menos provocar desencanto entre los políticos profesionales, que dirán "para qué nos metemos ahí si como quiera no vamos a agarrar hueso"..."

I believe this phrase is primarily used in Mexico. And, while I'm rather sure I understand the broad meaning, I'm wondering if anyone might have a more artful, and less literal, translation.

Thanks!
Proposed translations (inglés)
3 +4 get a piece of the pie
4 +3 get a government (related) job
4 +1 to jump on the gravy train
References
Para respaldar la respuesta de José
Change log

Jul 4, 2011 11:13: Michael Powers (PhD) Created KOG entry

Discussion

Sam Cogdell Jun 20, 2011:
I can't offer these as answers because of the way the phrase is segmented. I think Jose and Michael have explained the meaning, and the gravy train reference is good, too. So I'll just throw out "if we're not going to get anything out of it" or "if there's nothing in it for us," or (depending on larger context), "if they won't throw us a bone."
Christine Walsh Jun 20, 2011:
@José Thanks, José. I imagined it to be something like that, but wasn't at all certain. Saludos, Christine
José J. Martínez Jun 20, 2011:
Christine, it is Mexican slang...used quite frequently to mean just that...that someone is gnawing (therefore the bone ) on a government job...
Christine Walsh Jun 20, 2011:
Looked it up, but still don't quite get the meaning. Can anyone clarify it? It's not used in Argentina, at least.

Proposed translations

+4
7 minutos
Selected

get a piece of the pie

Get more discussion results
Leonardo Schwebel: Si Rihanna fuera jalisciense... - [ Translate this page ]26 Feb 2009... lo que les interesa es cobrar sus sueldos, sus bonos, y agarrar hueso. ... La mejor definición de inteligencia me la dijo una vez Talina ...
leonardoschwebel.blogspot.com/.../si-rihanna-fuera-jalisciense.html - Cached

From the little research I just did on the Internet, as you can see, apparently it means: "collect their salaries, their bonuses ... and get a piece of the pie"

In other words, make some easy money

Mike

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-06-20 03:05:03 GMT)
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Quadratín, Manuel Andrade inauguró planta industrial Econotecho - [ Translate this page ]26 Nov 2006 ... No trabaja, a los diputados sólo interesa cobrar y agarrar hueso. ... la cual opera bajo un nuevo concepto de la construcción y ofrece ...
quadratintabasco.com.mx/noticias/nota,16733/ - Cached

He doesn't work. The representatives are only interested in collecting [money] and getting a piece of the pie.

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Note added at 12 mins (2011-06-20 03:06:28 GMT)
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Bienvenidos a Política al Día... Análisis Virtual de la Política ... - [ Translate this page ]... A LA CLASE POLITICA, AHORITA ANDA CON PURO NARCO PARA AGARRAR HUESO. ... EN OTRO CONCEPTO LASTIMA DE TODOS USTEDES QUE NO TIENEN PRINCIPIOS Y VALORES, ...
politicaaldia.com/_vti_script/padv3/pasillos/index.php?p=220... - Cached

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Note added at 13 mins (2011-06-20 03:07:34 GMT)
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Los gastos pendejos__4 - [ Translate this page ]Antes de agarrar hueso en el gobierno todos estos muertos de hambre no conocían la alfombra, .... 350 views · Definicion K 1442 views · Los Pende. ...
www.slideshare.net/tercote/los-gastos-pendejos4 - Cached

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Note added at 20 mins (2011-06-20 03:14:40 GMT)
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I have no doubt it means getting a government job; however, with that being said, it seems that the connotation is a government job in which the only, or at least main work is collecting money, to no longer be "muertos de hambre" as one of the sources states that I copied.

Maybe: "get a piece of the pie as a government employee"
Peer comment(s):
agree Remy Arce : I believe this would be a good English slang equivalent.
16 minutos
Thank you, Remy - Mike
agree Jessica Noyes
1 hora
Thank you, Jessica - Mike
agree Beatriz Ramírez de Haro
4 horas
Thank you, Beatriz - Mike
agree neilmac : "Dipping their snouts in the trough" is a common version in Uk these days...
6 horas
Thank you, neilmac - I like that expression in the UK - how appropriate for many politicians - Mike
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+3
4 minutos

get a government (related) job

it is Mex slang...the sentence means that we will land a government job anyhow
Peer comment(s):
agree Jairo Payan : De acuerdo y tienes por qué saberlo. Es obtener un puesto en el gobierno. Ver mi aporte
42 minutos
Gracias...
agree EleoE
1 hora
gracias
agree Charles Davis : "Land a government job" me parece exacto, aunque sea menos coloquial que "agarrar hueso". Implica a menudo enriquecerse ("ride the gravy train"), pero formalmente es lo que dices. (El que habla es el subcomandante Marcos.)
4 horas
Something went wrong...
+1
4 horas

to jump on the gravy train

Dec 2010 ... Retired TDs jump on the gravy train ... Public service shouldn't be a gravy train on which you are rewarded for the rest of your life, ...
www.independent.ie › Opinion › Letters; Dec 2010 ... For the $6000 difference why work a high-stress job, jump on the gravy train and let the government support you. ...
brainerddispatch.com/.../opi_20101207009.shtml - Estados Unidos - En caché; Mar 2011 ... Government workers in McFarlane's state have rallied for weeks against ... of obtaining an application and jump on this alleged gravy train. ...
jobs.aol.com › Articles & News - En caché
Peer comment(s):
agree neilmac : = "chuparse del bote"... as my indignado friends would say :)
1 hora
Cheers and thanks, Neil. I like snouts in the trough too!
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

49 minutos
Reference:

Para respaldar la respuesta de José

Se trata exclusivamente de ocupar cargos en el gobierno, no lo vi en google con la acepción de "agarrar tajada"

POR FIN se le hizo a Moises Yañez agarrar hueso dentro de la administración de César Duarte, tras casi un mes de que fue candidateado a varios de los encargos.
Primero lo mencionaron para la Fiscalía General, que ocupa actualmente Carlos Manuel Salas, luego para la Dirección de Gobernación, que sigue acéfala, y finalmente vino a ocupar la dirección de Vialidad.
http://www.tiempo.com.mx/notas/58809
Something went wrong...
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