Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
a piece of work
Portuguese translation:
um osso duro de roer, um pé no saco, uma chata, uma cricri
Added to glossary by
Oliver Simões
Nov 14, 2017 17:45
6 yrs ago
10 viewers *
English term
United States
BA in Transl., MA in ESL, 15 yrs of exp.
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Spanish to Portuguese, and 2 more.
a piece of work
May offend
English to Portuguese
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
adult romance book
Ronan congratulates Ava on how well she handled his stepmother Veronica, who happened to be arrogant, nosy, and bitchy when she met Veronica (Ronan's fiancée) for the first time. In this segment, he means to say Veronica is a "piece of shit". How to convey the double meaning in translation? Any help is greatly appreciated.
"My stepmother’s a piece of work. No one could have done better.”
"My stepmother’s a piece of work. No one could have done better.”
Proposed translations
(Portuguese)
| 4 | um pé no saco |
Luiza Kipper
|
| 4 +1 | uma figura |
airmailrpl
|
| 4 | cansativa, para não dizer outra coisa |
Luiza Kipper
|
Proposed translations
19 hrs
Luiza Kipper
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Specializes in field
Brazil
Strict quality standards and deadlines
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
5
Selected
um pé no saco
Outra opção.
1 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Obrigado a todos pelas sugestões. Acabei optando por uma tradução alternativa (osso duro de roer). Creio que "uma figura" não traduz a mesma ideia, que é algo negativo, compatível com as chatices da personagem. Segundo o Dicionário Informal, "uma figura" é alguém que se destaca, o que obviamente pode ser algo positivo. Devido a esse sentido ambíguo, achei por bem não incluí-la no Glossário."
33 mins
Luiza Kipper
Brazil
Brazil
Native in Portuguese
Specializes in field
Brazil
Strict quality standards and deadlines
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
Related KudoZ points
:
5
cansativa, para não dizer outra coisa
O duplo sentido ocorre com a expressão vulgar "pé no saco". Ou simplesmente use a variante vulgar.
"Para não dizer outra coisa" equivale à expressão do inglês "to put it mildly/lightly".
"Para não dizer outra coisa" equivale à expressão do inglês "to put it mildly/lightly".
+1
1 hr
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
Portuguese
Works in field
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
227
uma figura
a piece of work => uma figura
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Note added at 2 days 16 hrs (2017-11-17 10:22:57 GMT) Post-grading
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a piece of work
15:21 Nov 15 [Click here to delete your post]
phrase mainly American informal. used to say that someone is unusually unpleasant or behaves unusually badly. Dee was married to Vernon at one time and she was a piece of work.
someone is a piece of work (phrase) definition and synonyms ...
Definition of piece of work
:a complicated, difficult, or eccentric person
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/.../someon...
piece of work
Someone who -- although often interesting -- is difficult to get along with on an every day basis. They often make simple things overly complex, or argue points ad infinitum.
piece of work
Unaware of one's foolishness. Originates from "What a Piece of Work is Man" monologue from Hamlet. More precisely an ironic reflection of how little most men achieve despite being endowed with relatively enormous powers to act and reason. Generally used as a sarcastic "compliment."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days 16 hrs (2017-11-17 10:22:57 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
a piece of work
15:21 Nov 15 [Click here to delete your post]
phrase mainly American informal. used to say that someone is unusually unpleasant or behaves unusually badly. Dee was married to Vernon at one time and she was a piece of work.
someone is a piece of work (phrase) definition and synonyms ...
Definition of piece of work
:a complicated, difficult, or eccentric person
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/.../someon...
piece of work
Someone who -- although often interesting -- is difficult to get along with on an every day basis. They often make simple things overly complex, or argue points ad infinitum.
piece of work
Unaware of one's foolishness. Originates from "What a Piece of Work is Man" monologue from Hamlet. More precisely an ironic reflection of how little most men achieve despite being endowed with relatively enormous powers to act and reason. Generally used as a sarcastic "compliment."
Discussion
someone is a piece of work (phrase) definition and synonyms ...
Definition of piece of work
:a complicated, difficult, or eccentric person
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/.../someon...
piece of work
Someone who -- although often interesting -- is difficult to get along with on an every day basis. They often make simple things overly complex, or argue points ad infinitum.
piece of work
Unaware of one's foolishness. Originates from "What a Piece of Work is Man" monologue from Hamlet. More precisely an ironic reflection of how little most men achieve despite being endowed with relatively enormous powers to act and reason. Generally used as a sarcastic "compliment."
Espero ter ajudado, boa sorte!