Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

promesas ligeras

English translation:

empty promises

Added to glossary by Yvonne Becker
Oct 27, 2006 21:31
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

promesas ligeras

Spanish to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
En una canción romántica de un enamorado que extraña a alguien:

"Susurros al viento,
**promesas ligeras**.
Temblores que agitan
conciencias que pesan.

Canciones lejanas
que ríen y sueñan.
Colores que pintan
palabras sinceras."

No sé cuál sería la mejor acepción en este caso. Muchas gracias por adelantado.

Discussion

Yvonne Becker (asker) Nov 2, 2006:
Aquí va a ser difícil escoger la mejor opción, porque hay varias propuestas muy buenas. Logré comunicarme con la autora de la canción y me dice que com "ligeras" quizo decir "hechas a la ligera"
Yvonne Becker (asker) Nov 1, 2006:
Disculpa la tardanza, Gabriela. Estaba seleccionando entre las opciones que me proponían para conciencias que pesan. Én principio, decidí continuar la canción con: Tremors awakening / Thoughts that weight heavy
Gabriela Mejías Oct 29, 2006:
Hola, Yvonne: casi todas las propuestas me parecen buenas, pero como se trata de una poesía, si no nos das tu traducción del resto de los versos, no te podremos ayudar demasiado. El tema es la métrica y la rimaa...¿podrías darnos lo que pusiste después?

Proposed translations

+5
15 mins
Selected

empty promises

This is to jive with another question of yours.
Peer comment(s):

agree Vanessa Rivera Rivier
5 mins
agree garci
1 hr
agree trans4u : Most answers are pretty good but this one is the best, methinks.
2 hrs
agree Consult Couture
2 hrs
agree lafresita (X)
13 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Muchas gracias a todos"
+1
3 mins

vague promises

Posiblemente se refiere a promesas endebles. Ésta es mi sugerencia.
Peer comment(s):

agree lafresita (X)
1 min
Something went wrong...
5 mins

wispy promises

para darle un toque más romántico...
Something went wrong...
6 mins

vain promises

another option...
Something went wrong...
+1
6 mins

hollow promises

depending on your target style, maybe also flippant, frivolous, easy, hasty
Peer comment(s):

agree lafresita (X)
1 min
Something went wrong...
+1
25 mins

airy/flighty promises



either captures two senses: light and airy + not to be taken seriously
Peer comment(s):

agree lafresita (X)
13 hrs
thanks, Miroslawa!
Something went wrong...
1 hr

thoughtless promises

promises made in the heat of the moment without thinking it through.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-27 22:51:02 GMT)
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meaningless promises
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5 mins

floating promises/ drifting promises

Aunque literalmente seri'a light promises o algo asi', me parece que por el contexto algo como drifting promises o floating promises funciona por lo del viento etc...

Suerte

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-27 22:55:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fleeting promises might be a good option. I just thought of it.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

weightless promises

just whispered to the wind and opposite to a heavy conscience
Something went wrong...
+3
3 hrs

light promises

Tao Teh Ching 63 - Church of the East - [ Traduzca esta página ]Lindauer, In the end light promises seed scanty belief Abundant easiness seeds abundant difficulty. LinYutan, He who lightly makes a promise Will find it ...
wayist.org/ttc%20compared/chap63.htm - 30k

It's all in the degree of course - but wishful thinking, exagerrated emphasis and light promises are all grease to the diplomatic works of leadership, ...
sensibleelection.com/entry.php/3156 - 9k

Peer comment(s):

agree Mara Ballarini : agree. all other answers give a negative meaning, which I don't think is contained in the Spanish version here :-)
7 hrs
muy amable Mara! Saludos :)
agree Silvia Brandon-Pérez
12 hrs
muchas gracias silviantonia! saludos :)
agree Francisco Rodriguez
1 day 14 hrs
muchas gracias Francisco! Saludos :))
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9 hrs

pie crust promises

This is the equivalent English idiom. It's a line found in English song after song.

¡Suerte!
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10 hrs

frivolous/flirtatious promises

Since I don't think the Spanish version wants to transfer a negative meaning, I've agreed with Flavia; 'light promises' seems very good for this context, and I've added this two more options, that I think could fit in your context. :-)
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

unfounded promises

another option

unfounded promises. A typical ex-. ample is slimming products. Gen-. erally sellers of miracle products. cannot present research findings ...
www.kuluttajavirasto.fi/user/loadFile.asp?id=6117

12] These actions have involved products making allegedly unfounded promises to prevent colds, products allegedly deceptively touted as safe and natural ...
energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/06162004hearing1303/Beales2053.htm

Although I do hope, and firmly suspect, that no investor would seriously consider sponsoring such a collection of unfounded promises. ...
www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=46065

Ukrainian MP: Yushchenko feeds the people with unfounded promises
“Position of the World Trade Organization does not reflect the optimistic statement of President Yushchenko claiming that Ukraine would join the WTO this ...
politicom.moldova.org/stiri/eng/5443/

the Mail online
But the health food shops won't tell you that - they're just happy to peddle stuff to you on the basis of unfounded promises and ridiculous claims. ...
chat.dailymail.co.uk/dailymail/threadnonInd.jsp?forum=21&thread=9775304&message=12185262

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2006-10-28 08:19:37 GMT)
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or baseless

The Labour Party makes no baseless promises. The future will not be easy. But this time the peace must be won. The Labour Party offers the nation a plan ...
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/lab45.htm


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day1 hr (2006-10-28 23:17:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

changed mind a bit - careless promises

Careless promises. Every empty word that's spoken Each heartfelt promise carelessly broken This the stuff of shattered trust ...
poets.unknowncommunity.com/db/poems/28267?pl=none

The plumber who charmed me with his loose talk and careless promises of tomorrow didn’t turn up. Not on Wednesday. Not on Thursday. ...
www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/category.aspx?c=789&t=Sar...

Rash promises do such things: they are careless promises, made without concern for us, ourselves, or for God's creatures who surround us. ...
episcopaldailyofficeannotated.org/11-06-03.htm

... by Author | search by Poem | Register | Login. Title:, Careless promises. Category:, Love. Author:, Sue Q. View Poem | Post comment. Your Name:. Subject:
poets.unknowncommunity.com/db/mb?thread=28267

He left her starry eyed and two minutes pregnant, waving, as the van drove away with careless promises of tomorrow ringing in her ears. ...
www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=406597

Rash promises do such things: they are careless promises, made without concern for us, ourselves, or for God's creatures who surround us. ...
episcopaldailyofficeannotated.org/11-06-03.htm
Something went wrong...
1 day 1 hr

careless promises

thought I'd put it as a new answer - prefer this one

careless promises

Careless promises. Every empty word that's spoken Each heartfelt promise carelessly broken This the stuff of shattered trust ...
poets.unknowncommunity.com/db/poems/28267?pl=none

The plumber who charmed me with his loose talk and careless promises of tomorrow didn’t turn up. Not on Wednesday. Not on Thursday. ...
www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/category.aspx?c=789&t=Sar...

Rash promises do such things: they are careless promises, made without concern for us, ourselves, or for God's creatures who surround us. ...
episcopaldailyofficeannotated.org/11-06-03.htm

... by Author | search by Poem | Register | Login. Title:, Careless promises. Category:, Love. Author:, Sue Q. View Poem | Post comment. Your Name:. Subject:
poets.unknowncommunity.com/db/mb?thread=28267

He left her starry eyed and two minutes pregnant, waving, as the van drove away with careless promises of tomorrow ringing in her ears. ...
www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=406597

Rash promises do such things: they are careless promises, made without concern for us, ourselves, or for God's creatures who surround us. ...
episcopaldailyofficeannotated.org/11-06-03.htm
Something went wrong...
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