Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

a carta descubierta

English translation:

laying his card on the table / openly / honestly

Added to glossary by Ricardo Galarza
Apr 21, 2011 10:27
13 yrs ago
Spanish term

carta descubierta

Spanish to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
FRom a text about an Argentine painter, I know that this expression is sometimes used in poker, but I dont understand its application here:
Cuando uno observa obras como El lápiz del maestro en la que “el absoluto realismo del lápiz, parece casi como que realizara una conversación con el observador para guiarlo, a carta descubierta, desde la realidad hasta las descomposición emotiva de la realidad en forma abstracta” , claramente comprende que en ese “absoluto realismo” del lápiz (o del timbre o del dominó) lo que XXX estaba haciendo era llevar a la pintura, en sus propios términos, a una discusión que tenía lugar en el campo artístico de esos años.

Thanks!
Change log

May 19, 2011 18:12: Ricardo Galarza Created KOG entry

Proposed translations

+1
59 mins
Selected

laying his card on the table / openly / honestly


I'd use the first one.
Peer comment(s):

agree Altogringo : but to use the phrase, the plural cards is better. Laying all his cards on the table means he's hiding nothing, holding nothing back. Might have to tweak the phrasing a la Lourdes to fit the context.
4 hrs
Thanks, Altogringo. I like it too.
neutral Robert West : The problem is with "his". It seems the realism itself is holding the conversation...
4 hrs
If it is indeed a personification of the pencil's realism, I would use "its" instead of "his," but I wouldn't change the translation because I think it is exactly the meaning intended here.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks"
+1
3 hrs

with an open heart

puede no ser literal pero cuando descubres tus cartas estas abriendo tu corazon y el texto habla de esta relacion entre el artista y su obra.
Peer comment(s):

agree Altogringo : because the phrase can't fit literally into this context very well. But both you and Ricardo have given Wendy the concept to work with IMO.
2 hrs
gracias!
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+1
5 hrs

open-heartedly

combining the first two answers.

As it's a "conversation", perhaps you could use heart-to-heart
Peer comment(s):

agree Thayenga : me gusta "heart-to-heart" :)
1 hr
Thanks Thayenga :)
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14 hrs
Spanish term (edited): a carta descubierta

to uncharted spaces / territories; to an uncharted map

I think 'carta' is used here in the sense of 'map'. If that's corrected, 'uncharted' helps to preseve the connection.
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-1
15 hrs

through an open letter

for a wide audience to follow.
Peer comment(s):

disagree philgoddard : Did you read the context at all?
14 hrs
yes i did.Open letter fits!!
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