El Ministerio del Tiempo S01E02: Spanish study pack

Show 7 more expressions

a la fuerza ahorcanneeds must, you do what you have to do (when you have no choice)

colloquial

A fixed popular saying. Used to accept an unpleasant but unavoidable situation. Literal meaning: 'they hang you by force' (i.e. you had no say in it).

No me gusta madrugar, pero a la fuerza ahorcan cuando el trabajo empieza a las seis.I don't like getting up early, but needs must when work starts at six.

no dar ni píoto not say a word, to keep completely silent

colloquial

'Pío' is the chirp of a bird; the expression means someone uttered nothing at all. Used when someone is suspiciously or disappointingly silent.

Le pregunté qué había pasado y no dio ni pío en toda la tarde.I asked him what had happened and he didn't say a single word all afternoon.

apaga y vámonosthat's it, it's all over, we might as well give up

colloquial

A fixed idiom meaning the situation is hopeless or the conversation is over. Tone is resignedly humorous rather than angry.

Si encima empieza a llover con todo el equipo fuera, apaga y vámonos.If on top of everything it starts raining with the whole team out, we might as well pack it in.

tener huevosto have guts, to take nerve (admiration or disbelief at someone's audacity)

vulgar

Literally 'to have eggs/balls'. Can express either admiration ('that takes guts') or indignant disbelief ('the nerve!'). Context and intonation determine which reading applies.

Tiene huevos presentarse aquí después de lo que hizo.It takes some nerve to show up here after what he did.

menudo pájarowhat a character, what a piece of work (said of someone behaving craftily or outrageously)

colloquial

'Pájaro' literally means 'bird' but colloquially refers to a sly, cunning, or unruly person. 'Menudo' here is an intensifier meaning 'what a…'.

Menudo pájaro ese vecino; siempre encuentra la manera de escaquearse.What a character that neighbour is; he always finds a way to dodge responsibility.

habrase vistocan you believe it, whoever heard of such a thing (indignant exclamation)

colloquial

A fixed rhetorical exclamation expressing outrage or disbelief. Often followed by a noun phrase: 'habrase visto tamaña desvergüenza'. Very common in heated speech.

¡Habrase visto! Lleva una hora esperando y ni siquiera le han dado las gracias.Can you believe it! He's been waiting an hour and they haven't even thanked him.

importar un huevo / un pepinoto not give a damn, couldn't care less

vulgar

'Me importa un huevo' is the mildly vulgar form; 'un pepino' or 'un bledo' are softer alternatives in the same slot. All convey total indifference.

Me importa un huevo lo que piensen los demás de mi forma de vestir.I couldn't give a damn what other people think about how I dress.

Time of Glory

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