Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
se me volaron los pájaros
English translation:
I got carried away
Added to glossary by
Charles Davis
Mar 11, 2014 20:06
10 yrs ago
4 viewers *
Spanish term
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
se me volaron los pájaros
Spanish to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Talking about conscious awareness of certain reactions as opposed to being unaware of what is producing these reactions.
–¿Cómo puede ser que se llegue a tener consciencia de algo que no es consciente?
–En cierto sentido es como usted sugiere, no se tiene consciencia, al menos no una consciencia vivencial que llegue manifiestamente a la corteza cerebral, que es la que registra una carga afectiva y emocional cuando se experimenta un hecho de la vida cotidiana por simple que sea como rascarse o tomar agua. En cambio, puede adquirirse una consciencia intelectual, especialmente si uno está atento a que ciertas reacciones nuestras nos llaman la atención porque exceden lo que nosotros mismos consideramos razonable.
Hay un dicho popular que grafica esto de una manera simbólica inmejorable, para significar que algo superó nuestra intención racional se suele decir que “se me volaron los pájaros”, o sea actué de una manera inesperada e incontrolable.
I understand the concept but can't come up with a suitable equivalent in English. Any ideas?
–¿Cómo puede ser que se llegue a tener consciencia de algo que no es consciente?
–En cierto sentido es como usted sugiere, no se tiene consciencia, al menos no una consciencia vivencial que llegue manifiestamente a la corteza cerebral, que es la que registra una carga afectiva y emocional cuando se experimenta un hecho de la vida cotidiana por simple que sea como rascarse o tomar agua. En cambio, puede adquirirse una consciencia intelectual, especialmente si uno está atento a que ciertas reacciones nuestras nos llaman la atención porque exceden lo que nosotros mismos consideramos razonable.
Hay un dicho popular que grafica esto de una manera simbólica inmejorable, para significar que algo superó nuestra intención racional se suele decir que “se me volaron los pájaros”, o sea actué de una manera inesperada e incontrolable.
I understand the concept but can't come up with a suitable equivalent in English. Any ideas?
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Mar 12, 2014 22:31: Charles Davis Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+8
9 mins
Selected
I got carried away
This is the nearest I can think of, and I think it's more or less what it means, though it's less picturesque than the Spanish (which I find as "se me volaron los patos" too).
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Note added at 26 mins (2014-03-11 20:33:12 GMT)
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In Argentina, at least, it often seems to be used to mean "I lost my temper" or "I lost my rag" or just "I lost it", though I don't think that's quite what it means in your context.
"Se me volaron los pajaritos...!!
... Estimados amigos de FN, no es que estè enojado ni mucho menos (lo digo por el tìtulo del post), es que literalmente se me volaron los pajaritos... les comento: "
He goes on to say that the birds literally flew away while he was trying to photograph them, but the first part shows what the expected metaphorical meaning would be here.
http://www.fotonat.org/showthread.php?bid=2&threadid=1585
But the more general "get carried away" idea is suggested by this, about an Argentine diputada:
"A mi no se me volaron los pajaritos por ser diputada nacional"
http://www.eldiariodelapampa.com.ar/index.php?option=com_con...
In other words, I've still got my feet on the ground, I haven't lost touch with what I believe in.
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Note added at 26 mins (2014-03-11 20:33:12 GMT)
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In Argentina, at least, it often seems to be used to mean "I lost my temper" or "I lost my rag" or just "I lost it", though I don't think that's quite what it means in your context.
"Se me volaron los pajaritos...!!
... Estimados amigos de FN, no es que estè enojado ni mucho menos (lo digo por el tìtulo del post), es que literalmente se me volaron los pajaritos... les comento: "
He goes on to say that the birds literally flew away while he was trying to photograph them, but the first part shows what the expected metaphorical meaning would be here.
http://www.fotonat.org/showthread.php?bid=2&threadid=1585
But the more general "get carried away" idea is suggested by this, about an Argentine diputada:
"A mi no se me volaron los pajaritos por ser diputada nacional"
http://www.eldiariodelapampa.com.ar/index.php?option=com_con...
In other words, I've still got my feet on the ground, I haven't lost touch with what I believe in.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: I think this works!
6 mins
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Thanks, Carol! It's what came to mind browsing through examples of the expression. I ought to add a bit of backup.
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| agree |
Robert Forstag
: Because the present case bears no relation to any concrete circumstance and only calls for a *generic equivalent*, this would seem to be a safe choice. (For example, "I lost it" often refers specifically to anger or sorrow (at least in US English).
21 mins
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In UK English too. Thank you, Robert!
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| agree |
JH Trads
1 hr
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Thanks, Hugo!
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
1 hr
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Thanks, Rachel!
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| agree |
David Ronder
1 hr
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Thanks, David!
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| agree |
Rachael West
12 hrs
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Thanks, Rachael!
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| agree |
Evans (X)
13 hrs
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Thanks, Gilla!
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| agree |
MollyRose
20 hrs
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Thanks, Molly!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "twas hard to decide here and thanks for all the input ... I've gone with Charles as it best fits the overall context ... thanks again to all :)"
+2
14 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
138
I don't know what came over me/ I was acting on pure impulse
By the time I realised what I'd done/said, it was too late
---
by no means a direct translation, but could work in the context.
If the saying applies to something you said (by mistake) rather than an action, you could use something like "the words just flew out of my mouth", "it just came out", or "I just couldn't stop myself"
---
by no means a direct translation, but could work in the context.
If the saying applies to something you said (by mistake) rather than an action, you could use something like "the words just flew out of my mouth", "it just came out", or "I just couldn't stop myself"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Pablo Julián Davis
: Good one (your first proposal is the one that I think really works)
5 hrs
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many thanks Pablo - I agree :)
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| agree |
Jenniferts
5 hrs
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many thanks Jenniferts!
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18 mins
the engine rules the man
Or "Above control. I'm in a raging storm,
Where seas and skies are blended"
Both from Isaac Watts, "Reliquiae Juveniles". I feel a rather flowery, poetic answer is appropriate.
Where seas and skies are blended"
Both from Isaac Watts, "Reliquiae Juveniles". I feel a rather flowery, poetic answer is appropriate.
+1
19 mins
Blanca Collazo
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
Puerto Rico
Fast and Accurate Low Cost Translations
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Puerto Rican) 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
I lost it!
...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: I like this even better!
2 mins
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| neutral |
Charles Davis
: This is quite often what it means (that is, I lost my temper, I got uncontrollably angry), but not always, and I think not here.
8 mins
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16 hrs
I lost out in a jiffy
cheers
Discussion
The soul as a bird goes back a long way. There was something biblical at the back of my mind but I confess I needed Google to identify it:
"Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped."
Psalm 124.7