Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
hacerse el bobo
English translation:
play dumb or turn a blind eye
Added to glossary by
patinba
Nov 9, 2015 12:39
8 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Spanish term
hacerse el bobo
Spanish to English
Social Sciences
Slang
This is from Colombia, a sex worker speaking of how she was raped in jail:
"Me golpearon los policías y me metieron en una jaula con compañeros y locos que me robaron hasta los zapatos y uno de ellos me violó y los policías se hicieron los bobos"
Does this mean the police turned a blind eye?
Thanks.
"Me golpearon los policías y me metieron en una jaula con compañeros y locos que me robaron hasta los zapatos y uno de ellos me violó y los policías se hicieron los bobos"
Does this mean the police turned a blind eye?
Thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +7 | played dumb |
patinba
|
| 4 +1 | To ignore |
Phoenix III
|
Change log
Nov 14, 2015 12:41: patinba Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+7
2 mins
Selected
played dumb
Yes Laura, it does mean they turned a blind eye.
Note from asker:
| Thanks for the speedy response, patinba! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
James A. Walsh
9 mins
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Thank you!
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| agree |
Richard Lackey (X)
10 mins
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Thank you!
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| agree |
Charles Davis
: Yes. In this particular context I think I'd be inclined to use "turned a blind eye", in fact. // Well, maybe, though I'd say it's a common set phrase and not particularly fancy. But "play dumb" is fine, certainly.
18 mins
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Thanks Charles, although I think "turned a blind eye" is a bit of a fancy turn of phrase for a Colombian prostitute.
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| agree |
Luz Esther
: Turned a blind eye, yes
45 mins
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Thanks, Luz
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| agree |
franglish
: or looked the other way.
1 hr
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Thank you!
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| agree |
neilmac
: I prefer "turned a blind eye" too. Or "pretended not to notice"...
2 hrs
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Ok Neil! Thanks!
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| agree |
David Ronder
17 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks again for the confirmation on the meaning of this one. I ended up using turned a blind eye. "
+1
10 mins
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
:
20
To ignore
A person with limited capacity to understand produces the same result as one who chooses to ignore. At the end of the day .... Impunity reigns.
Discussion