To be an art to it

[Artrella]

The example was "There was an art to it ("it" being "making sandwiches"). I've checked up my dictionaries and I couldn't find this expression. Although I more or less understand the meaning (because in Spanish we have a similar expression), I want you to provide me with a meaningful example to confirm my hunch. Bye Bye people! Art

 

[Rob625]

At the beginning of Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", the two characters are tossing a coin. Every time it comes down heads. One of them remarks: "There is an art to the building up of suspense."

It means, roughly, "It is not entirely simple". There is something to be learnt, or something that goes beyond what is rational or scientific.

There is an art to translating prose.

 

[jacinta]

The example was "There was an art to it ("it" being "making sandwiches"). I've checked up my dictionaries and I couldn't find this expression. Although I more or less understand the meaning (because in Spanish we have a similar expression), I want you to provide me with a meaningful example to confirm my hunch. Bye Bye people! Art

Hello, Art,

Just one little correction I thought you would like to know: this should be "I've checked my dictionaries" or "I've checked with my dictionaries", not "checked up".

 

[Sharon]

Artrella,
What is the expression in Spanish?

 

[LadyBlakeney]

There is an art to making sandwiches = Hacer sandwiches es (todo)un arte.

I apologize for this little bit of Spanish.

 

[Artrella]

I've just found this: " There's a knack to using this corkscrew". Is it the same as "there's an art to it"? A.

 

[Artrella]

Hello, Art,

Just one little correction I thought you would like to know: this should be "I've checked my dictionaries" or "I've checked with my dictionaries", not "checked up".

I've just seen your message! Thanks for the correction! art

 

[cuchuflete]

The example was "There was an art to it ("it" being "making sandwiches"). I want a meaningful example to confirm my hunch. Art

confirm your hunch, or your lunch?


Some years ago a book was published with a title like,
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

There is an art to deciphering non-native queries in English. One must bifurcate the brain into English and Spanish[for example] components, and then overlay both on the text to determine the intention of the question, which is often hidden between the lines... It is like seeing the bread on the outside of the sandwich, and trying to intuit what sort of meat might be inside.

Predicting the future requires only brazen self-confidence. There is, however, an art to predicting the past.

saludos,
Cuchu

 

[Artrella]

confirm your hunch, or your lunch?


Some years ago a book was published with a title like,
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

There is an art to deciphering non-native queries in English. One must bifurcate the brain into English and Spanish[for example] components, and then overlay both on the text to determine the intention of the question, which is often hidden between the lines... It is like seeing the bread on the outside of the sandwich, and trying to intuit what sort of meat might be inside.

Predicting the future requires only brazen self-confidence. There is, however, an art to predicting the past.

saludos,
Cuchu

C, I have my brain bifurcated for a long time now. That's why my shrink "strikes a good income" out of me. I'd better read that book...
I've been "talking" to a German girl from another forum and THIS WAS REALLY DIFFICULT because her Spanish is appalling and my German is ... beginning right now. I do never eat meat sandwiches, just in case.
I've read the "lunatic thread", you made me roar with laughter! Maybe we should have to create a special forum for "crazy people".

Thanks for cheering me up!

 

[cuchuflete]

Artrella, by the lunatic thread, were you referring to a specific topic, or to any thread in which either of us has participated?

' I do never eat meat ' = I never do eat meat
Jamás consumo la carne, que las palabras son más sabrosas.

ciao
C

 

[Artrella]

Artrella, by the lunatic thread, were you referring to a specific topic, or to any thread in which either of us has participated?

' I do never eat meat ' = I never do eat meat
Jamás consumo la carne, que las palabras son más sabrosas.

ciao
C

Today I've found that I'm becoming more and more scatterbrained. First and foremost (wow!), I don't like "I never do eat meat" I'd rather say "Never do I eat meat" just for the sake of emphasis. In second place (wow! again) I said -in my previous mail- "we should have to create" (????????) so what about it????? As far as your response is concerned (wow, wow and wow!), let me tell you that I'm wondering what you intended to mean by the lunatic thread (imagine, I cannot yet deciphrer what I -myself- intended to say) Now, seriously (if that be possible) I think I've read some thread about madness or ... well, never mind!
I was remarkably struck (or stricken in US, is it?) by the last sentence... I'd probably seem a complete ignoramus to you, but whose phrase is this? You left me thinking about it... Au revoir, C.

 

[cuchuflete]

"Never do I eat meat" just for the sake of emphasis. I'm wondering what you intended to mean by the lunatic thread (imagine, I cannot yet deciphrer what I -myself- intended to say) Now, seriously (if that be possible) I think I've read some thread about madness or ... well, never mind!
I was remarkably struck (or stricken in US, is it?) by the last sentence... I'd probably seem a complete ignoramus to you, but whose phrase is this? You left me thinking about it... Au revoir, C.

You raise some fascinating metaphysical questions:

1. "Never do I eat meat" just for the sake of emphasis." Then why do you eat it?

2.I'm wondering what you intended to mean by the lunatic thread? I intended nothing at all. I was citing your prior message. As I am a gringo, and you a fine Argentine lady, and above all because you are a woman, How on earth could I possibly know what YOU meant by YOUR own words?

3. The author of the last line of my post was a distant relative,

Don Diego Puede Ser, a.k.a. James Mabbe
If you believe that, then we have already begun the new lunatic thread.


Buen provecho,
cuchu

 

[garryknight]

I've just found this: " There's a knack to using this corkscrew". Is it the same as "there's an art to it"? A.

Not exactly. "There's a knack" really implies "there's a skill" involved, or maybe a bit of "know-how". Some people might contend that the word "art" can be used in this way, although I'd say that "there's a science to using this corkscrew" would get closer than "there's an art".

But a great many people aren't as picky as I am and would say, "Art? Science? Knack? Skill? Know-how? A mí me es igual."

 

[Artrella]

Not exactly. "There's a knack" really implies "there's a skill" involved, or maybe a bit of "know-how". Some people might contend that the word "art" can be used in this way, although I'd say that "there's a science to using this corkscrew" would get closer than "there's an art".

But a great many people aren't as picky as I am and would say, "Art? Science? Knack? Skill? Know-how? A mí me es igual."

Garry, talking about the devil... is savvy the same as know-how? THk Art

 

[jacinta]

Garry, talking about the devil... is savvy the same as know-how? THk Art

The difference between savvy and knowhow:

I am savvy to the difference.
I have the knowhow to understand the difference.

Savvy is used as a verb. Knowhow is a noun.

 

[jacinta]

Garry, talking about the devil... is savvy the same as know-how? THk Art

The difference between savvy and knowhow:

I am savvy to the difference.
I have the knowhow to understand the difference.

Savvy is used as an adjective. Knowhow is a noun.

 

[Perrin]

The difference between savvy and knowhow:

I am savvy to the difference.
I have the knowhow to understand the difference.

Savvy is used as an adjective. Knowhow is a noun.

And just to be confusing, savvy is also used as a noun... "He has political savvy."

Also, savvy implies being wise about something, whereas know-how implies having the knowledge to be able to do something well or correctly.

 

[ant]

I was thinking…in all the sayings involving the word ‘art’, there are at least 3 cases: the true Art of, say, Michelangelo (the Art with the capitalized A); the art/skills of, say, carpentry; and the emphatic use of Art of, say, motorcycle maintenance
we have the saying ‘impara l’arte e mettila da parte’, i.e. ‘learn your trade and put it aside’ (not sure of my translation) ; or the so called ‘scuole di arti e mestieri’, i.e. the mediaeval confraternities of the various craftsmen; I think this art involves manual skills, whereas know-how is related only to the knowledge of how doing something. Ok, just to join you...

 

[garryknight]

I was thinking…in all the sayings involving the word ‘art’, there are at least 3 cases: the true Art of, say, Michelangelo (the Art with the capitalized A); the art/skills of, say, carpentry; and the emphatic use of Art of, say, motorcycle maintenance

¡Qué coincidencia! Just this afternoon I was reading "1001 Pitfalls In Spanish" and came across this list (in the section on masculine and feminine nouns):

el arte: art, craft, appliance, artefact
los artes: the crafts
las artes: the fine arts
las malas artes: trickery

This list doesn't exactly mirror yours, unless you consider motorcycle maintenance as a form of trickery. I certainly would; I used to own a 125 cc moped (¿'motito'?) and I had a devil of a job to maintain it.