Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Portuguese term or phrase:
não deixar pedra sobre pedra
English translation:
raze (something) to the ground
Added to glossary by
Oliver Simões
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Feb 17, 2023 18:57
1 yr ago
18 viewers *
Portuguese term
não deixar pedra sobre pedra
Portuguese to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Dictionary of Idioms
1) "Tudo, absolutamente tudo foi refeito na cidade depois que os maciços bombardeios aliados na Segunda Guerra não deixaram pedra sobre pedra." (about the city of Dresden in Germany)
2) "Em ritmo alucinante, não deixaram pedra sobre pedra nas conquistas sociais dos últimos anos e deram uma guinada tão forte para a direita que o Brasil corre o risco de cair no mar." (Ricardo Kotscho on the first week of the Bolsonaro regime)
não deixar pedra sobre pedra: arrasar completamente (Dicionário Criativo)
I wonder if there's something other than "razed to the ground" for no. 1 and if there's an idiom that can be used in both.
L2: EN-US
Register: idiomatic
2) "Em ritmo alucinante, não deixaram pedra sobre pedra nas conquistas sociais dos últimos anos e deram uma guinada tão forte para a direita que o Brasil corre o risco de cair no mar." (Ricardo Kotscho on the first week of the Bolsonaro regime)
não deixar pedra sobre pedra: arrasar completamente (Dicionário Criativo)
I wonder if there's something other than "razed to the ground" for no. 1 and if there's an idiom that can be used in both.
L2: EN-US
Register: idiomatic
Proposed translations
(English)
4 | Lay waste (to) |
Trevor Krayer
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4 -1 | to leave no stone unturned |
David Kane
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3 | scorched earth policy |
Silvia Tratnik
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Change log
Feb 17, 2023 20:28: Oliver Simões Created KOG entry
Feb 17, 2023 23:43: Oliver Simões changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/2407412">Oliver Simões's</a> old entry - "não deixar pedra sobre pedra"" to ""raze (something) to the ground""
Proposed translations
-1
28 mins
to leave no stone unturned
Another sort of meaning it has is to do something completely, to not forget to do anything.
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Note added at 29 mins (2023-02-17 19:27:28 GMT)
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There are a few examples of this translation here https://www.linguee.com.br/portugues-ingles/search?source=au...
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Note added at 29 mins (2023-02-17 19:27:28 GMT)
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There are a few examples of this translation here https://www.linguee.com.br/portugues-ingles/search?source=au...
Note from asker:
Thanks, Dave. I concur with Phil. I already have "leave no stone unturned" in the dictionary. It translates into PT as "fazer todo o possível", "fazer tudo o que é possível". |
This article and comments might help clarify. https://www.mairovergara.com/leave-no-stone-unturned-o-que-significa-esta-expressao/ |
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
philgoddard
: No, this means to try every possible course of action. It might fit other contexts, but not these two.
10 mins
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I think it works fine in the second example, but not the first for sure. I missed the part of him wanting a phrase for both examples. I imagine that is impossible, as they are two different meanings.
|
50 mins
scorched earth policy
I believe this modulation might fit these contexts somehow.
From https://politicaldictionary.com/words/scorched-earth/: In politics, a scorched earth policy usually means a total disregard for the people who are hurt by one’s campaign or one’s policies. The goal is victory, not peace and prosperity. That’s probably why “scorched earth” is usually a criticism flung around by pundits who disapprove of a particular politician.
From https://politicaldictionary.com/words/scorched-earth/: In politics, a scorched earth policy usually means a total disregard for the people who are hurt by one’s campaign or one’s policies. The goal is victory, not peace and prosperity. That’s probably why “scorched earth” is usually a criticism flung around by pundits who disapprove of a particular politician.
Note from asker:
Thank you. Not sure how this would apply to sentence no. 1. :-) |
13 hrs
Lay waste (to)
As far as idiomatic expressions go, I think this fits with both contexts. It is particularly used in the context of war, but I don't think it would be out of place in a political context.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-lay-... If something or someone lays waste an area or town or lays waste to it, they completely destroy it.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-lay-... If something or someone lays waste an area or town or lays waste to it, they completely destroy it.
Example sentence:
The war has laid waste large regions of the countryside.
Discussion
"The same was happening concerning Muammar Gaddafi – they totally destroyed and razed the social-equality-based state to the ground."
"The century-old governance system was razed to the ground."
"During the civil war, the formal educational system was razed to the ground."
For my context: "At a staggering pace, they have razed the social gains of recent years to the ground and have swung so sharply to the right that Brazil is [now] in danger of falling into the precipice/abyss." (How true!)
And have you tried this? http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/raze