Monarca S01E09: Spanish study pack

Show 8 more expressions

de un jalónall at once, in one pull, cold turkey

colloquial

Literally 'in one tug'. Used figuratively to mean doing something completely and without stopping, especially breaking a habit abruptly.

Dejó el cigarro de un jalón, sin parches ni nada.He quit smoking cold turkey, no patches or anything.

tragó camotehe was left speechless, he had to swallow his pride

colloquial

Literally 'swallowed sweet potato'. Used when someone is forced to accept a humiliating situation or is left with nothing to say. Specific to Mexican Spanish.

Cuando le demostraron que estaba equivocado frente a todos, tragó camote.When they proved him wrong in front of everyone, he had to swallow his pride.

estar de la chingadato be really messed up, to be awful

vulgar

Expresses that a situation is terrible or deeply unfair. The root chingada is among the most versatile and loaded words in Mexican Spanish.

La situación en el trabajo está de la chingada desde que llegó el nuevo gerente.The situation at work has been really messed up since the new manager arrived.

estar heavyto be intense, serious, or shocking (used as an adjective)

colloquial

Borrowed from English and fully integrated into Mexican youth and informal speech. Used to describe a situation or piece of news that is overwhelming or disturbing.

Lo que me contaste del accidente está muy heavy.What you told me about the accident is really intense.

no mamesno way, you're kidding me, are you serious

vulgar

Extremely common in Mexican Spanish for expressing disbelief, surprise, or mild outrage. Toned-down versions ('no manches') exist for less vulgar contexts.

¿No mames, de verdad te ofrecieron ese trabajo?No way, did they really offer you that job?

zafarseto break free from, to get out of (a bad situation or relationship)

colloquial

Literally 'to come loose'. Used figuratively for escaping from a person, habit, or situation that has a hold over someone.

Lleva años queriendo zafarse de esa amistad tóxica pero no puede.She has been wanting to break free from that toxic friendship for years but can't.

colmar los huevosto push someone past their limit, to be fed up

vulgar

Equivalent to 'to have had it up to here'. The phrase signals the moment a person's patience has been completely exhausted.

Ya me colmaste los huevos con tus excusas.I've had it with your excuses.

gajes del oficiooccupational hazards, the price you pay for the job

A set phrase used to acknowledge that a job or role comes with unavoidable inconveniences or risks. Common across registers.

Trabajar fines de semana es gajes del oficio cuando eres chef.Working weekends is an occupational hazard when you're a chef.

Borges' Judas

Expressions to listen for

Key vocabulary