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This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Aug 9, 2012 15:58
11 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

servir de alcahuetes

Spanish to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
This is from a letter by a Puerto Rican artist in the mid'20th century. he says that atr biennials
“se están prestando para servir de alcahuetes al mercado norteamericano”

Thanks!!
Proposed translations (English)
5 +3 cover-up//brown-nose
4 +3 procurer, go between
4 acting as spies for the NA market
4 suck up
4 be a pimp or madam (supply prostitutes)
4 pander to
3 (to serve as) eyes and ears for/of
3 serve as a sneak peek

Discussion

Marcelo González Aug 12, 2012:
typo = art biennials, not atr... referring to art exhibitions held every two years ---- influencing trends, including those in North America (which would subsequently influence the trends en la Isla. The following site includes a list of such biennials. Cheers from the Mariana Islands (el otro estado libro asociado) :-)
http://www.aica-int.org/spip.php?article464
Marcelo González Aug 11, 2012:
I think it might refer to a "sneak peek" of the North American/US market, with the idea being that this would subsequently influence the art scene on the island.
Lydia De Jorge Aug 9, 2012:
alcahuetear = When one accepts or condones the actions of another, even when they believe it might be wrong. The purpose is to gain favor or approval.
Blanca Collazo Aug 9, 2012:
Regarding Lydia´s comment,yes, someone who covers up for you is your "alcahuete", but I don't think there is a cover-up in this context.
jmleger Aug 9, 2012:
Al Quawad the Arabic source word means "messenger". Now you do what you want with that.
Frensp Aug 9, 2012:
To serve as foils/sidekicks This would not have been the first case where art biennials (and the local artists) would have been used as foils or sidekicks for outsiders, the international market, etc. Perhaps this cannot be said of a biennial but it is close to what I understand here.
Lydia De Jorge Aug 9, 2012:
Different meanings in different countries. In PR it's someone that helps cover up the truth.

Proposed translations

9 mins

acting as spies for the NA market

Declined
an alchahuete is more of a snitch. a tale teller. When I was a kid in Norhern Africa, we used a frenchified and shorter version. Being a "caouète" was not good for your general health.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Marjory Hord : Va con una de las definiciones de RAE (abajo) pero tal vez en el contexto no
11 hrs
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+3
18 mins

cover-up//brown-nose

Declined
In PR 'alcahuete' is someone who covers up for someone else by hidding the truth from others. We call them 'brown-nosers' in US.
Peer comment(s):
agree María Eugenia Wachtendorff
24 mins
agree Alexandra Bourne
1 hr
agree Rosa Paredes : cover up. Saludos :)
5 hrs
neutral Marcelo González : Hi Lydia. Do you think this fits the context very well? I just don't see it. The biennials serve as cover-ups???
2 days 8 hrs
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+3
20 mins

procurer, go between

Declined
It's like having that friend that helps you and let's you get your way in many ways.
Peer comment(s):
agree Alexandra Bourne
1 hr
agree Christian [email protected]
9 hrs
agree Altogringo : fits the context best I think
21 hrs
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1 hr

suck up

Declined

2.suck up - ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior; "She is playing up to the chairman"

in•gra•ti•ate ( n-gr sh - t )
tr.v. in•gra•ti•at•ed, in•gra•ti•at•ing, in•gra•ti•ates
To bring (oneself, for example) into the favor or good graces of another, especially by deliberate effort: She quickly sought to ingratiate herself with the new administration.
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9 hrs

be a pimp or madam (supply prostitutes)

Declined
So... I like the "go between" option.
Reference:

http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=alcahuete

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21 hrs

(to serve as) eyes and ears for/of

Declined
In the interest of providing options.
Definitely a context call and not enough sample to clearly tell the level of virulence in the tone of the letter.
I first thought of "springboard/launching pad to" and then "showcase for" (in the sense of escaparate) since it's talking about institutions.
This is a bit more neutral, but implies some of the snitch/hide the truth/sucking up elements that alcahuete seems to have.
Otherwise, I'm inclined towards go-between, because I don't think brown-noser fits the context.
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2 days 3 hrs

pander to

Declined
Another option to consider.
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2 days 5 hrs

serve as a sneak peek

Declined
If something serves as a sneak-peek, it provides a brief preview, in this case of what will be seen later in the US/North American market. This might retain some of the surreptitious (or "sneaky") meaning of alcahuete, the boundaries of which the author sought to extend a bit (by either playfully or critically using alcahuete to suggest an unfair glimpse into the future).

sneak peek (a definition)
an opportunity to see something before it is officially available
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sneak-pee...

they serve as a (sort of) sneak peek/sneak-peek of the...

I hope this helps.
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