a ollos vistos

Galician

Alternative forms

• a olhos vistos (reintegrationist)

Etymology

Literally, “at sighted eyes”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aˈɔʎos ˈβistʊs]

Prepositional phrase

a ollos vistos

1. in plain sight
   • 1862, Manuel Magariños, Ferro-carril Compostelano:

     Cada vez a cousa engorda,
     como que incha a ollos vistos,
     Pro, si incha, non estoura;
     como o pelexo enteirizo
     da castaña agüenta e fofa
     pra levála o enemincho;
     Cando máis, si algo rebenta,
     e arregaña, é o ourizo,
     pra guindar limpa a castaña
     e roer fruto tan rico

     The thing grows at every time,
     as it swells in plain sight,
     but, although it swells, it does not burst;
     as the one-piece peel
     of the soft watery chestnuts
     you take to an enemy;
     at most, if something pops
     and cracks is the burr,
     to throw clean the chestnut
     and nibble such a rich fruit

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “a ollos vistos”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega