Iosi, el espía arrepentido S01E08: Spanish study pack

Show 9 more expressions

manos extendidasopen hands, willingness to cooperate

Fixed phrase used to signal openness to reconciliation or negotiation. Functions as a diplomatic or conciliatory gesture in speech.

Después del conflicto, ella llegó con las manos extendidas para resolver las diferencias.After the conflict, she arrived with open hands to resolve the differences.

ir al granoto get to the point

colloquial

Very common fixed phrase used to cut preamble and address the real issue directly.

Dejá la introducción y vamos al grano: ¿aceptás la oferta o no?Skip the intro and let's get to the point: do you accept the offer or not?

de culoby sheer luck, by the skin of one's teeth

vulgar

Literally refers to the backside, but used figuratively to mean something happened purely by chance or narrow luck. Very informal, typical of casual spoken Argentine Spanish.

Llegué al examen de culo, el colectivo se demoró media hora.I barely made it to the exam by the skin of my teeth, the bus was half an hour late.

hijo de putason of a bitch

vulgar

Strong insult used to express fury or contempt toward someone. Depending on tone and relationship it can occasionally be used among close friends without offense, but in confrontational contexts it is genuinely hostile.

Cuando se enteró de lo que hicieron, los llamó hijos de puta y se fue.When he found out what they had done, he called them sons of bitches and left.

pelotudoidiot, fool, moron

vulgar

One of the most common Argentine insults. Ranges from affectionate ribbing between very close friends to a genuine, cutting insult depending on tone and context. Not appropriate in formal settings.

¡No seas pelotudo, mirá antes de cruzar la calle!Don't be an idiot, look before you cross the street!

dejate de joderstop messing around, cut it out, be serious

colloquial

Used to dismiss something as nonsense or to demand seriousness. The intensity can range from playful to genuinely irritated.

Dejate de joder y decime la verdad de una vez.Stop messing around and just tell me the truth.

idiota útiluseful idiot

Borrowed from political discourse. Describes someone manipulated into serving another's interests without being aware of it, then discarded when no longer needed.

El nuevo empleado se dio cuenta tarde de que lo habían usado como idiota útil.The new employee realized too late that he had been used as a useful idiot.

sálvese quien puedaevery man for himself, it's every person for themselves

colloquial

Fixed phrase used when a situation collapses and everyone acts purely in self-interest. Signals total breakdown of cooperation or trust.

Cuando anunciaron los despidos, fue sálvese quien pueda en toda la empresa.When the layoffs were announced, it was every man for himself throughout the company.

dar la carato show up and face the consequences, to stand up and take responsibility

colloquial

Implies someone is owning a situation rather than hiding or avoiding it. Can signal courage or obligation depending on context.

A pesar del escándalo, el director decidió dar la cara en la conferencia de prensa.Despite the scandal, the director decided to face the press conference head-on.

The Useful Idiot

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Key vocabulary