Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
al primer contraste
English translation:
at the first setback
Added to glossary by
schmetterlich
Jun 28, 2018 06:41
5 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term
Translator
Native in: Spanish 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Portuguese to Spanish, and 2 more.
al primer contraste
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
History
En vano los déspotas se miraban con semblante alegre después de las jornadas desgraciadas de Guaqui y Amiraya: ellos creyeron que el espíritu de LIBERTAD desaparecería al primer contraste.
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Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +6 | at the first setback |
Charles Davis
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| 4 | at the first sign of resistance |
Muriel Vasconcellos
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Proposed translations
+6
1 hr
Selected
at the first setback
I am pretty sure "contraste" is being used here in this learned and rather unusual sense. Contrastar can mean "4. tr. p. us. Resistir, hacer frente." ( http://dle.rae.es/?id=Ad9qk2K ), and "contraste" can mean "11. m. Contienda o combate entre personas o cosas" ( http://dle.rae.es/?id=AdC2D9J ). The context here suggests to me that the meaning is the the one given in the following related definition in the Diccionario de americanismos:
"contraste.
I. 1. m. Bo, Ur. p.u. Revés, infortunio, derrota. cult."
http://lema.rae.es/damer/?key=contraste
It says it's used in Bolivia and Uruguay, but I think it's more widespread than that, and that it's clearly the meaning in the following Peruvian text of 1847:
"obrará contra su gobierno al primer contraste que sufra en una lucha provocada solo por su ambicion"
https://books.google.es/books?id=mJM0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA...
"contraste.
I. 1. m. Bo, Ur. p.u. Revés, infortunio, derrota. cult."
http://lema.rae.es/damer/?key=contraste
It says it's used in Bolivia and Uruguay, but I think it's more widespread than that, and that it's clearly the meaning in the following Peruvian text of 1847:
"obrará contra su gobierno al primer contraste que sufra en una lucha provocada solo por su ambicion"
https://books.google.es/books?id=mJM0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Toni Castano
: Also my reading.
57 mins
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Thanks, Toni :-)
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| agree |
Robert Forstag
2 hrs
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Thanks, Robert :-)
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| agree |
Chema Nieto Castañón
4 hrs
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Many thanks, Chema :-)
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| agree |
Francois Boye
: Americans would have said 'at the first pushback'
10 hrs
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Thanks, François :-)
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| agree |
MollyRose
: I never heard of "at the first pushback." I googled it and found this link. I understand it to mean that someone pushes back, not the same as a setback. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/14/magazine/14wwln_safire.t....
12 hrs
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Thanks, Molly :-) I must admit I'd never heard it before. Thanks for clarifying!
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| agree |
Muriel Vasconcellos
: I"m American, and 'pushback' would not work very well here, IMHO. But I might say 'at the first sign of resistance'.
13 hrs
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Thanks, Muriel :-) It occurs to me now that in view of the reference to the battles of Huaqui and Amiraya the sense is probably closer to "defeat".
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
14 hrs
Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Each translation a gem!
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
50
at the first sign of resistance
I like Charles' answer, and this would also work, IMO.
Discussion