a ver los aviones

English translation: to spot the planes /airplanes

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:a ver los aviones
English translation:to spot the planes /airplanes
Entered by: Jesús Morales

14:57 Apr 29, 2013
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
International Org/Dev/Coop / Human rights, Colombia
Spanish term or phrase: a ver los aviones
This is a transcript of an interview with women human rights defenders in Colombia talking about the threats they endure because of the work they do. The state assigns them a protection unit during the day, but at night they are left alone and vulnerable to attack by right-wing paramilitaries. One woman says:

"No es que me sienta tan protegida porque durante el día estoy con los escoltas pero en la noche quedo totalmente desprotegida que es donde me dicen en el último panfleto: usted no tiene las 24 horas las ratas de escoltas. Entonces están buscando como mi parte débil o el momento en que yo quede sola para sacarme totalmente de aquí, ***a ver los aviones*** como ellos me dicen."

This phrase has got me stumped, I haven't come across it before. I don't know whether she means they are threatening to kill her or rape her, or 'just' forcibly displace her. I would appreciate any ideas.
Jenny Westwell
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:52
to spot the planes /airplanes
Explanation:
This is what it reads in Spanish whatever the meaning...

I think it is like saying: We are going to take your for a stroll... meaning "we are going to kill you"
Selected response from:

Jesús Morales
Local time: 12:52
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. The most helpful of all was Jairo's discussion comment, because it gave me what I was really looking for: the perspective of a person truly familiar with the conflict in Colombia, and who could confirm that this is not a well-known idiom that can be translated using an "equivalent" well-known idiom. In the end I used 'to "watch the planes", as they put it', so I have chosen Jesús's answer because he was the first to confirm my feeling that the translation should be literal, in order to convey that it is what "ellos [the paramilitaries] dicen". Special thanks also to Andrés for his contributions to the discussion.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1to spot the planes /airplanes
Jesús Morales
4 +1to go for a ride/stroll/walk
Rosa Paredes
3 +1swim with the fishes
Yvonne Gallagher
3to look at/watch aeroplanes
AllegroTrans


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to spot the planes /airplanes


Explanation:
This is what it reads in Spanish whatever the meaning...

I think it is like saying: We are going to take your for a stroll... meaning "we are going to kill you"

Jesús Morales
Local time: 12:52
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. The most helpful of all was Jairo's discussion comment, because it gave me what I was really looking for: the perspective of a person truly familiar with the conflict in Colombia, and who could confirm that this is not a well-known idiom that can be translated using an "equivalent" well-known idiom. In the end I used 'to "watch the planes", as they put it', so I have chosen Jesús's answer because he was the first to confirm my feeling that the translation should be literal, in order to convey that it is what "ellos [the paramilitaries] dicen". Special thanks also to Andrés for his contributions to the discussion.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andrés Martínez: No sé si existe una expresión propia en inglés, pero por lo que he explicado arriba me parece una buena opción. La marcaría entre comillas, explicando brevemente de qué se trata.
12 mins
  -> Muchas gracias, Andrés. Desde luego entre comillas.

neutral  Rosa Paredes: Agree with your interpretation, but disagree with proposed translation. Cheers.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks. Do you have any suggestion? Oh! I just saw your suggestion.
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
swim with the fishes


Explanation:
might be alternative?

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/swim with the f...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swimming with...

or

Push up the daisies

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2013-04-29 15:38:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

thoug "pushing up daisies" doesn't have quite the same threat that is implied here

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pushing up daisies

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2013-04-29 15:39:14 GMT)
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TO swim...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2013-04-29 16:24:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or maybe simply

To rest in peace?

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 11:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Trudy Peters: I like the one with the fishes // Exactly!
1 day 7 hrs
  -> thanks Trudy! I think the woman is afraid for her life here (that she's going to be picked up and killed..).
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to go for a ride/stroll/walk


Explanation:
I do not think this is a Colombian expression. Given the context, it means taking the person to a different location to be killed or tortured.

Rosa Paredes
Canada
Local time: 07:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jesús Morales: It's a matter of opinion.
24 mins

agree  Julie Thurston
8 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to look at/watch aeroplanes


Explanation:
This is what it says but I do not know whether it is metaphorical or not

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
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