Spanish+Tip+of+the+Week

This week's tip is a good example of how literal translations can cause confusion and lead to red-faced embarrassment or even unintentional offense. -Do you possess a strong character or maybe you have friends or relatives who do? Perhaps you're married to someone who possesses a strong character? -**To describe people with strong characters, you say: Tener mucha madera - To have a lot of wood.** Por ejemplo: strong character, literally: My good friend Ramón has a lot of wood. -So, if you hear this phrase, you'll know that it has a totally different meaning in Spanish than it does in English so you won't be confused or get the wrong end of the stick - to stretch the wood link even further! **Tip #2:** If you know someone who is a lucky charm, who brings luck with them wherever they go, there is a great phrase in Spanish you can use:
 * Tip #1**
 * Mi amigo bueno Ramón tiene mucha madera** - My good friend Ramón has a

-**Sylvia tiene los santos de su parte** - **Sylvia is a lucky charm, literally, Sylvia has the saints on her side.**

It's another vibrant Spanish phrase reflecting the influence of the Church over Hispanic culture. But what about those unfortunate people who seem to bring bad luck with them wherever they go, a jinx as we say in English? **Really** easy, **the word for jinx in Spanish is Un/a gafe**. So:
 * -Diego es un gafe - Diego is a jinx**