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raferguson

May 25, 2010, 8:57 PM

Post #1 of 13 (5492 views)

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Caña?

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I looked up Caña, and came up with nothing that made sense in the context of the following sentence. The sentence was commenting on politics and culture in Spain, essentially saying that Spain really needed to change.

Necesitamos más caña y menos estado de derecho y demás pamplinas.

But what does caña refer to in this sentence?

Gracias de antemano.

Ricardo

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

norteño

May 25, 2010, 10:01 PM

Post #2 of 13 (5488 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Caña?

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LaRousse, published in Spain, says (in Spanish) "energy and intensity with which something is done, or a positive attribute that something possesses", and gives as an example "Esta canción tiene mucha caña". Perhaps this discussion from an excellent translation site will help:

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/idioms_maxims_sayings/3528043-dar_ca%C3%B1a.html

eyePad

May 26, 2010, 4:56 AM

Post #3 of 13 (5475 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Caña?

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typical dense idiom of spain. Here is my try
"We need more vigorous action and less talk of rights and other sweet talk"

edit: Caña can be idiomatic. In this context it is like a cane used to beat somebody, ie, to take action and do something by attacking a problem. That's the idea I get anyway. And 'estado de derecho' usually means 'rule of law' but that doesn't flow so well.
apáñatelas como puedas

(This post was edited by eyePad on May 26, 2010, 8:11 AM)

Peter

May 26, 2010, 5:31 AM

Post #4 of 13 (5471 views)

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Re: [eyePad] Caña?

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In this context it is like a cane used to beat somebody...
___________

Or like a riding crop or a switch to drive a horse or mule team?

zaragemca

Jun 2, 2010, 8:50 AM

Post #5 of 13 (5365 views)

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Re: [Peter] Caña?

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Greetings, to all the friends. A little bit of history. When the cultivation of sugar cane in Cuba took place, the Spaniard found out that the Africans working in the field, could survive the long hours of labor, by drinking the juice of sugar cane. In the process of manufacturing sugar, they found out several components from the sugar cane, ( depending on the type), including, Dextrosa which is use for medical applications, and the 'cortex', which is used now for furniture manufacturing. So when Spaniard are talking about to give, cana, it is about to give, 'fuerza, resistencia, vigor, durabilidad, a una accion', . Instead of talking, just for the talking. Gerry Zaragemca
International Club of Percussionists

eyePad

Jun 2, 2010, 7:05 PM

Post #6 of 13 (5341 views)

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Re: [zaragemca] Caña?

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That is incredible information! Are you Cuban? It is not in the DRAE or PDP. Which just goes to show you the DRAE can be wrong! (And of that I have no doubt) Thank you for the information!
apáñatelas como puedas

zaragemca

Jun 13, 2010, 9:50 AM

Post #7 of 13 (5213 views)

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Re: [eyePad] Caña?

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Greetings, yes I'm Cuban and researching the history of my people, I have learned a lot of details of the languages and meanings, which are of use in Spanish. Your brother, Gerry Zaragemca
International Club of Percussionists

joaquinx

Jun 18, 2010, 6:57 PM

Post #8 of 13 (5152 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Caña?

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Caña is also the distilled liquor from fermented sugar cane. It's a locally prepared brew, distilled once, clear, with a potency of around 25%. I goes down quickly and leaves slowly leaving a residue of a dull, throbbing headache.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 8:03 PM

Post #9 of 13 (5145 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Caña?

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That sounds like charanda

joaquinx

Jun 18, 2010, 8:07 PM

Post #10 of 13 (5142 views)

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Re: [Peter] Caña?

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In Reply To

That sounds like charanda

Yea, like rum, it all comes from the sugar cane plant. Charanda, I believe, only comes from Michoacán. Caña, on the other hand, comes from the cane field worker's stills.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 9:25 PM

Post #11 of 13 (5130 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Caña?

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It's nowhere as good as cheap rum. It runs around 25% and is dirt-cheap. Not too bad a flavor mixed with Coke. When it's time to break up the party just break out the charanda and tell everyone it's all that's left.

esperanza

Jun 18, 2010, 9:37 PM

Post #12 of 13 (5128 views)

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Re: [Peter] Caña?

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There's charanda--and then there's charanda. It depends on which brand you drink, whether it's blanco or reposado--and what you mix it with. I spent some time at a charanda distillery in Uruapan last week and drank a torito--charanda mixed with pineapple juice and some other ingredients--and was really wowed. Pitchers of torito will be the go-to drink at my next hot-weather party.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Peter

Jun 18, 2010, 9:58 PM

Post #13 of 13 (5123 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Caña?

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By all means, let us in on what else is in that torito. Pineapple juice sounds good with charanda. I've had some charanda that is better than others, but any self-respecting Michoacano will make a joke about the stuff before he will think about telling you it's good booze.