Por la boca muere el pez

M

magnus98

Senior Member
English
Can anyone tell me what this: "por la boca muere el pez" means, and what its derivation is? For the mouth dies the fish, doesn't made sense!

Thanks,

Evan
 
    • It's an old Spanish saying, which refers to people getting into trouble by what they say, just like fish, when they get caught by a worm on a hook.

    It's similar to saying a person "puts his foot in his mouth."

    In other words, you've got to be careful how you use your mouth.
     
    Hola:

    Quisiera saber cómo se diría en inglés: "Por la boca muere el pez", vamos, cuál sería la traducción de este famoso dicho español.

    Gracias.

    Saludos.
     
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    Tiene algo que ver con quedarse callado, ¿no?

    Sería "Loose lips sink ships", creo. Es una expresión idiomática.
     
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    That was a WWI slogan, as was:
    "Careless talk cost lives".
    and:
    "Even the walls have ears. - Las paredes oyen".

    The next two do not have direct English equivalents:
    "El que dice lo que quiere oye lo que no quiere".
    "En boca cerrada no entran moscas".

    From Billie Holliday:;
    "and if you can't say anything real nice, better not to talk at all, that's my advice."
     
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    Because of his mouth, is why the fish dies. Like with people who talk about others

    an old Spanish "dicho"
     
    Sinceramente, es muy fácil entender para cualquier pescador de caña. El anzuelo le agarra al pescado por la boca (abierta). ¡Pronto al sartén!
     
    elcarnicero88 said:
    Loose lips sink ships, me parece buena versión en inglés.
    Click to expand...

    That English phrase is too specific, and refers only to wartime espionage. It is not used in a general sense, as is the Spanish saying.

    Masood said:
    Can it mean "It's best to keep schtum"?
    Click to expand...

    That must be BrEn, as I've never heard the word schtum.

    If the context were such that the Spanish phrase meant "don't ask too many questions," we could say "curiosity killed the cat."

    As a set proverb, we also have "silence is golden," but I rarely hear it used in real situations. Another possibility is "choose your words carefully; you may have to eat them."

    I would say that the translation of the Spanish will depend on the specific context.
     
    Creo que silence is golden puede funcionar también según sea el contexto.
    La frase que más me gusta es loose lips sink ships. Una gran verdad.
     
    gato radioso said:
    Creo que silence is golden puede funcionar también según sea el contexto.
    La frase que más me gusta es loose lips sink ships. Una gran verdad.
    Click to expand...
    Con respeto,'loose lips..." no es la misma cosa. No es una alerta o aviso que se debe callar o sufrir las consecuencias personalmente. Era especificamente para ellos que trabajaban en el departamento de guerra, o en la industria de guerra, y para los marineros.
     
    pops91710 said:
    Con respeto,'loose lips..." no es la misma cosa. No es una alerta o aviso que se debe callar o sufrir las consecuencias personalmente. Era especificamente para ellos que trabajaban en el departamento de guerra, o en la industria de guerra, y para los marineros.
    Click to expand...
    :thumbsup::thumbsup:
     
    magnus98 said:
    Can anyone tell me what this: "por la boca muere el pez" means, and what its derivation is? For the mouth dies the fish, doesn't made sense!

    Thanks,

    Evan
    Click to expand...
    It means "too much talking will get you into trouble" or "be discreet", also you can say "loose lips sink ships"
     
    pauvargas200 said:
    It means "too much talking will get you into trouble" or "be discreet", also you can say "loose lips sink ships"
    Click to expand...
    Entiendo que no necesariamente se refiere a que una persona hable mucho, aunque puede darse el caso. A veces, una frase basta para "morir por (abrir) la boca". Con poco se puede delatar o exponer una persona.
     
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