Una mujer con las pantalones muy bien puestos

English translation: A woman who could man-up to any challenge/who was calm, cool and collected.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:Una mujer con las pantalones muy bien puestos
English translation:A woman who could man-up to any challenge/who was calm, cool and collected.

02:09 Sep 16, 2014
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2014-09-19 20:54:09 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Spanish term or phrase: Una mujer con las pantalones muy bien puestos
Era una mujer con las pantoles muy bien puestos.

It's not about wearing pants but more about the character of a woman. What would be the best English phrase to translate?
anlin23
A woman who could man-up to any challenge/who was calm, cool and collected.
Explanation:
More similar ways to put this come to mind, but I think it would depend on what register you're going for. I almost put "A woman who's got *alls" but quickly backed off!
Selected response from:

Michael torhan (X)
United States
Local time: 23:25
Grading comment
Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5or: a woman who has it all tied down
David Hollywood
5strong woman
Bea22
4 +1She was a force to be reckoned with
James A. Walsh
4A woman with a strong character
Phoenix III
4A woman who could man-up to any challenge/who was calm, cool and collected.
Michael torhan (X)
4A woman with the guts to do anything
Judith Armele
4a ballsy woman
Lisa Jane
4A woman who definitely wears the trousers
neilmac
4A woman who has her program together
Paul García
4An assertive, independent woman.
Edward Tully
4a down to earth woman
jude dabo


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
or: a woman who has it all tied down


Explanation:
:)

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Note added at 17 mins (2014-09-16 02:26:47 GMT)
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or: a woman on the gravy train

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Note added at 18 mins (2014-09-16 02:27:24 GMT)
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or: a woman who has it all wrapped up

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Note added at 18 mins (2014-09-16 02:28:02 GMT)
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so many ways to say this so will be fun to hear other versions :)

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Note added at 21 mins (2014-09-16 02:30:29 GMT)
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but it could be just as simple as "the woman wears the trousers"

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Note added at 22 mins (2014-09-16 02:31:15 GMT)
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but I don't think this catches it

David Hollywood
Local time: 03:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 136
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A woman with a strong character


Explanation:
One option.

Phoenix III
United States
Local time: 02:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 12
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A woman who could man-up to any challenge/who was calm, cool and collected.


Explanation:
More similar ways to put this come to mind, but I think it would depend on what register you're going for. I almost put "A woman who's got *alls" but quickly backed off!

Michael torhan (X)
United States
Local time: 23:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Know what, in the context I'm working in, that's probably the best answer. Thanks, it hadn't occurred to me!

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30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
strong woman


Explanation:
one who has ´los pantalones bien puestos´, is a strong, even very strong woman, not afraid of a situation, or, in case of difficult situations can handle everything; could also be daring, takes challenges, you coould even say a tomboy, but she will never take a no for an answer ..

Bea22
Mexico
Local time: 23:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
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44 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A woman with the guts to do anything


Explanation:
...

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Note added at 45 minutos (2014-09-16 02:54:08 GMT)
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Or to deal with anything

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Note added at 53 minutos (2014-09-16 03:03:01 GMT)
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Or a woman with some guts.

Judith Armele
Mexico
Local time: 00:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a ballsy woman


Explanation:
in a word!
an aggressive masculine sort of courage and feistiness.

or less of a slang word with a similar meaning is

gutsy

Adj. 1. gutsy - marked by courage and determination in the face of difficulties or danger; robust and uninhibited; "you have to admire her; it was a gutsy thing to do";



Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 07:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A woman who definitely wears the trousers


Explanation:
6,600 results on Google for "woman who wears the trousers".

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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-09-16 09:00:58 GMT)
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Although I must admit this answer is a bit "pants" :)

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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-09-16 09:04:23 GMT)
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How about "feisty"?
feist·y/ˈfīstē/ adjective (of a person, typically one who is relatively small or weak) lively, determined, and courageous.


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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-09-16 09:05:16 GMT)
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Funnily enough, I recently read a feminist article complaining about adjectives like this being applied to powerful women. Go figure.

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 07:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 155
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Era una mujer con las pantalones muy bien puestos
She was a force to be reckoned with


Explanation:
My take.

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Note added at 9 hrs (2014-09-16 11:50:14 GMT)
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Actually, seeing that the ST says “muy bien”, you could say:

"she was a real force to be reckoned with"



    Reference: http://tinyurl.com/m85a9u6
James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 07:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 48

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  neilmac: Avoids any sexist issues, unlike some of the suggestions. I have several female friends who would NOT be amused if told to "man up" or "grow a pair"....
22 hrs
  -> Ha! Yeah, I have 9 sisters and many female friends who would also not be amused by such comments... Cheers, Neil :)
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
A woman who has her program together


Explanation:
'pantalones' makes clear there's nothing ditzy here...

Paul García
United States
Local time: 02:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 12
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
An assertive, independent woman.


Explanation:
Another option!

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Note added at 14 hrs (2014-09-16 16:22:47 GMT)
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Another option occurred to me - "a woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it".

Edward Tully
Local time: 07:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 152
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1 day 9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a down to earth woman


Explanation:
another option

jude dabo
Local time: 06:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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