Alice in Wonderland

A fixed emphatic expression used to underscore urgency or alarm. The literal meaning ('by my hair and whiskers') is non-compositional; in context it functions like a startled oath.

Implies learning from a painful or embarrassing experience. The concept of 'escarmentar' goes beyond simply learning; it carries the weight of a correction received through consequence, not instruction.

A common Latin American formula for asking someone what they want or need. More polite and slightly more formal than just asking '¿qué quieres?'. Frequently used by shopkeepers or anyone addressing a person who approaches them.