Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
embosocado
English translation:
a member of the Champagne unit
Added to glossary by
ldillma
May 11, 2007 22:20
17 yrs ago
Spanish term
embosocado
Spanish to English
Other
Military / Defense
slang
This term is being used colloquially NOT as related to "ambush", etc, but to refer to soldiers who manage to get cushy posts, far from the front during war, etc. I understand exactly what it means and will give several examples below, I just don't know if there is a term in English for this specifically (as opposed to a more general "skiver", "dodger", "shirker", or whatever) Am not happy with those and hoping for a more specific one - any help much appreciated. Here are some examples:
1. El cabo medita sobre el envidiable destino de la caterva de emboscados que habita aquel edificio, guerreros felices que ignoran lo que es la guerra
2. Solo los bribones prosperan ...los emboscados, los que nunca han disparado un tiro...
3. X realizo un buen trabajo, eliminando .. jefecillos enchufados y emboscados que hacen intransitables Prado del Rey
1. El cabo medita sobre el envidiable destino de la caterva de emboscados que habita aquel edificio, guerreros felices que ignoran lo que es la guerra
2. Solo los bribones prosperan ...los emboscados, los que nunca han disparado un tiro...
3. X realizo un buen trabajo, eliminando .. jefecillos enchufados y emboscados que hacen intransitables Prado del Rey
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | a member of the Champagne unit |
teju
|
| 4 | pertrechado |
Luis Zepeda
|
| 3 +1 | rear echelon mother f*ck*r (REMF's) |
psicutrinius
|
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Selected
a member of the Champagne unit
People with connections in high places were usually assigned to what is called champagne units. I've copied several links below.
Draft evaders
Not everyone who is conscripted is willing to go to war. In the United States, especially during the Vietnam Era, many young people used their family's political connections to ensure that they were placed well away from any potential harm. Those with political influence often joined the military and served in what was termed a Champagne unit.
Conscription - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many would avoid military service altogether through college deferments, ... quite easy for those with some knowledge of the system to avoid being drafted. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription - 108k - May 10, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Champagne unit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Champagne unit is a pejorative term used to describe US military units that had been staffed by celebrities or people from wealthy or politically powerful ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_unit - 21k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
MAGPIE » THE CHAMPAGNE UNIT.
From the start, Bush’s military record shows evidence of favoritism, beginning with the ... got into the Texas Guard’s “champagne unit” (along with the sons ...
www.arthurmag.com/magpie/?p=451 - 59k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Military Families Speak Out Capital Region: The Cost of War at ...
For these men and women there was no safe "Champagne Unit," no other options, ... a war in front of a military facility, especially a military hospital. ...
www.mfsocap.org/snews/SD1130183666 - 17k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Comment is free: Hail the deserter-in-chief
Now George Bush rarely misses a chance to turn up at a military base or a ... The unit in which Bush served was known as a 'Champagne unit,' where the ...
commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_williams/2007/04/hail_the_deserter_inchief.html - 111k - May 10, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Draft evaders
Not everyone who is conscripted is willing to go to war. In the United States, especially during the Vietnam Era, many young people used their family's political connections to ensure that they were placed well away from any potential harm. Those with political influence often joined the military and served in what was termed a Champagne unit.
Conscription - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many would avoid military service altogether through college deferments, ... quite easy for those with some knowledge of the system to avoid being drafted. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription - 108k - May 10, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Champagne unit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Champagne unit is a pejorative term used to describe US military units that had been staffed by celebrities or people from wealthy or politically powerful ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_unit - 21k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
MAGPIE » THE CHAMPAGNE UNIT.
From the start, Bush’s military record shows evidence of favoritism, beginning with the ... got into the Texas Guard’s “champagne unit” (along with the sons ...
www.arthurmag.com/magpie/?p=451 - 59k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Military Families Speak Out Capital Region: The Cost of War at ...
For these men and women there was no safe "Champagne Unit," no other options, ... a war in front of a military facility, especially a military hospital. ...
www.mfsocap.org/snews/SD1130183666 - 17k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Comment is free: Hail the deserter-in-chief
Now George Bush rarely misses a chance to turn up at a military base or a ... The unit in which Bush served was known as a 'Champagne unit,' where the ...
commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_williams/2007/04/hail_the_deserter_inchief.html - 111k - May 10, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I like both options very very much and although I actually feel the REMF is denotatively more accurate (because it's less "American" and this is a Spanish Civil War text so the champagne reference might sound out of place), at the same time, it's a term used by a variety of people, including a bishop, so I felt I just couldn't choose the palabrota option (although in one instance when it's uttered by a soldier, I still may use "rear echelon bastard" or something similar). If the proz system would let me select more than one, I would certainly give you both the points. Thank you both. xLisa"
25 mins
Luis Zepeda
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
United States
Experienced Translator and Interpreter
Native in: English 
, Spanish
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
11
pertrechado
See definition from Harrap's Spanish/English Dictionary:
pertrechar
1 vt
(a) (ejército) to supply with food and ammunition
(b) (equipar) to equip
2 pertrecharse vpr pertrecharse de to equip oneself with
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2007-05-11 22:47:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It would also apply to a cushy position or post
pertrechar
1 vt
(a) (ejército) to supply with food and ammunition
(b) (equipar) to equip
2 pertrecharse vpr pertrecharse de to equip oneself with
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2007-05-11 22:47:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It would also apply to a cushy position or post
+1
9 hrs
psicutrinius
Spain
Spain
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Spain
30 yrs+. Very accurate, demonstrably
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain) 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, Catalan to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
rear echelon mother f*ck*r (REMF's)
Had my doubts for quite a while before entering the phrase, both because this is not something you will see often in print and because it is applied BOTH to the character you describe and to the sort of unwavering officers who -from the rear echelon- never hesitate in sending the grunts into harm's way.
Therefore, this is ambiguous, and this is the other reason.
Ah, by the way, in Spain, the "dodgers" (military or otherwise), are referred to as "escaqueados". There is a verb ("escaquearse") which, curiously enough, I have always seen or heard in the reflexive form, as quoted.
Here is one of the definitions for the word provided by the DRAE:
escaquear.
3. prnl. coloq. Eludir una tarea u obligación en común.
Therefore, this is ambiguous, and this is the other reason.
Ah, by the way, in Spain, the "dodgers" (military or otherwise), are referred to as "escaqueados". There is a verb ("escaquearse") which, curiously enough, I have always seen or heard in the reflexive form, as quoted.
Here is one of the definitions for the word provided by the DRAE:
escaquear.
3. prnl. coloq. Eludir una tarea u obligación en común.
Discussion