Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
se atiene a una hermana policía
English translation:
sticking with a helpful female police officer* (sister, see below)
Added to glossary by
TravellingTrans
Dec 5, 2014 02:24
9 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term
United States
Translating words, preserving meaning
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
se atiene a una hermana policía
Spanish to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Mexico / letter to prison authorities
I don't have much context to offer here, other than the fact that the extract below is from a short letter written to prison authorities in a Mexican town by the siblings of an inmate alerting them (in the vaguest of terms) to some supposed malfeasance on the part of a person whose actions have supposedly landed their brother in a prison in Michoacan:
También sabemos que dise [sic] que se atiene a una hermana policía.
My draft translation:
We also know that he says that he is going along with what his police officer sister is telling him to do.
Apparently, the malefactor in question is not himself a police officer.
Opinions? Am I on the right track? Other ideas?
Thank you.
También sabemos que dise [sic] que se atiene a una hermana policía.
My draft translation:
We also know that he says that he is going along with what his police officer sister is telling him to do.
Apparently, the malefactor in question is not himself a police officer.
Opinions? Am I on the right track? Other ideas?
Thank you.
Change log
Dec 9, 2014 23:59: TravellingTrans Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
TravellingTrans
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Timely Translation Turnaround
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: Spanish to English, Chinese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
10
Selected
sticking with a helpful female police officer* (sister, see below)
atenerse doesn't necessarily mean take refuge in sombeody's protection:
atener.
(Del lat. attinēre).
1. tr. ant. Mantener, guardar u observar algo.
2. intr. ant. Andar igualmente o al mismo paso que alguien.
3. prnl. Arrimarse, adherirse a alguien o algo, teniéndolo por más seguro.
4. prnl. Dicho de una persona: Ajustarse, sujetarse en sus acciones a algo. Atenerse a una orden, a lo dicho, a las resultas.
but we can see from definition 3 that it can mean to stick close to someone to be/feel safer
also the term "hermana" strikes me that it may be figurative and not a literal biological sister, in other words a female officer that is somehow sympathetic or helpful (hence the parenthesis)
the truth is I don't know but I'm offering this in case it might help
atener.
(Del lat. attinēre).
1. tr. ant. Mantener, guardar u observar algo.
2. intr. ant. Andar igualmente o al mismo paso que alguien.
3. prnl. Arrimarse, adherirse a alguien o algo, teniéndolo por más seguro.
4. prnl. Dicho de una persona: Ajustarse, sujetarse en sus acciones a algo. Atenerse a una orden, a lo dicho, a las resultas.
but we can see from definition 3 that it can mean to stick close to someone to be/feel safer
also the term "hermana" strikes me that it may be figurative and not a literal biological sister, in other words a female officer that is somehow sympathetic or helpful (hence the parenthesis)
the truth is I don't know but I'm offering this in case it might help
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anilu Fernandez (X)
1 day 11 hrs
|
|
cheers
|
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This is along the lines of my initial proposal (which I ended up "sticking with"). Thank you."
41 mins
Francois Boye
United States
United States
Specializes in field
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
He takes refuge in the protection by his police officer sister
atenerse a alguien=to take refuge in the protection by somebody
12 hrs
Phoenix III
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
True words...
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: Spanish to English, Spanish, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
relies on his police officer sister
We also know that he relies on his police officer sister, (Who tells him what to say)
Discussion
"Atente" a lo tuyo, ¡pero vaya problemas en los que te metes!
Suerte.
De todas maneras, creo que “me atendré” a mi traducción.
Gracias.
:)
Hermana policía no queda nada claro.
¿Hay algo antes y después que pueda ayudar?
Francamente difícil.