Apr 6, 2016 15:44
8 yrs ago
Spanish term

la pana del tonto

Spanish to English Other Automotive / Cars & Trucks
Hola!

En Chile, quedar/estar en Panne (o en pana) quiere decir que tu auto ha dejado de funcionar por alguna u otra razón.
Un término muy conocido entre los chilenos es evitar "la pana del tonto," que quiere decir evitar que el auto deje de funcionar por no echarle bencina. No echarle bencina a un auto a tiempo, entonces, es provocar "la pana del tonto".

¿Existe algún término similar en inglés?

Gracias!!

Discussion

Abraal (asker) Apr 7, 2016:
Es bueno saber que no existe :) It is something Chilean people would say if they ran out of gas and coudn't make the car start because of it. They will look at each other and exclaim: "¡La pana del tonto!" in a rather angry tone, since it's a situation only fool people get into. Parents warn their children about the "pana del tonto" and how to avoid it, etc. It's good to know there's no expression in English, thanks for that :)
Robert Carter Apr 6, 2016:
I agree with Neil, I can't think of anything close to this in English, but perhaps if you post the whole sentence where this appear, we could make a workaround for it.
neilmac Apr 6, 2016:
No existe Bueno, quiero decir que no conozco ninguna frase hecha similar en inglés. Quedarse sin combustible = "run out of gas/petrol".

Reference comments

11 mins
Reference:

El tonto sin gas

En inglés, me parece que hace falta decir algo parecido a "Como idiota que soy, he quedado sin combustible..." ->"I ran out of gas like an idiot!"

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Note added at 12 mins (2016-04-06 15:56:53 GMT)
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http://www.chopcult.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11540&page=2

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Note added at 13 mins (2016-04-06 15:57:30 GMT)
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http://www.audiworld.com/forums/audi-allroad-18/so-like-idio...

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Note added at 15 mins (2016-04-06 15:59:40 GMT)
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No echarle bencina a un auto a tiempo, entonces, es provocar "la pana del tonto".
->
"So, forgetting to refuel in time means you will run out of gas like an idiot"...
Hay varias maneras de expresar la noción, pero por allí van los tiros.
Peer comments on this reference comment:

agree philgoddard
11 mins
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