Mexicanismos 2 Flashcards
(117 cards)
1
Q
to be flabbergasted
A
quedarse con el ojo cuadradoCuando me duplicaron el sueldo, me quedé con el ojo cuadrado.Con su habilidad, dejó a todos con el ojo cuadrado.Cuando ví cómo lo hacía, me quedé con el ojo cuadrado.
2
Q
Angry, furious
A
Pararse de pestañas. parado de pestaña. Tenemos mucho que platicar; me tienes parado de pestaña.
3
Q
Be fixated on something
A
traer entre ceja y cejaTraigo entre ceja y ceja comprar un nuevo coche. I have been mulling over buying a new car. 2 Ese Ramón me trae entre ceja y ceja. That Ramón has a grudge against me. ¿Por qué tiene Estados Unidos entre ceja y ceja a Huawei? Why is the US fixated on Huawei?
4
Q
an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
A
Hay que ponerse el huarache antes de espinarse.
5
Q
bite off more than you can chew
A
No te pongas con Sansón a las patadas.Ahora sí el Metrobús se puso con Sansón a las patadas. This time the Metrobus picked on someone too big for him.
6
Q
come to blows
A
agarrarse del chongoLos diputados en tribuna se agarraron del chongo por un micrófono. The congressmen in session came to blows over a microphone.
7
Q
sweet talk, toadyish flatterysweet talker
A
hacer la barba
barbero
No me hagas la barba. De todas formas no te voy a prestar nada. Don’t try to butter me up. Either way, I am not loaning you anything at all.
8
Q
to eat
A
mover el bigoteVamos, muchachos. Es hora de mover el bigote.
9
Q
to get on one’s nerves
A
sacar canas verdesMi hijo no me hace caso; me está sacando canas verdes. Translation: My son doesn’t listen to me and he’s really getting on my nerves.
10
Q
trick, cover up
A
dar atole con el dedo¡No más mentiras y atole con el dedo! Stop lying and pulling the wool over our eyes!
11
Q
how about them apples
A
Échate ese trompo a la uñaImagine the skill required to get that top in sweet gyration, perfectly balanced on your fingernail—a true feat! Out of that childhood game came the in-your-face saying Échate ese trompo a la uña, literally, throw that top on your fingernail. Choose this saying when you want to rub your achievements in your opponent’s face. It’s the equivalent of: Look who’s laughing now!
12
Q
bump
A
chipoteFROM the Nahuatl xixipóchtic, a chipote is the lump that forms when you get hit on the head. By extension, you might see:¿Cómo puede reparar los chipotes en sus llantas? Dos semanas después de la fiesta, vimos un chipote en la curva del virus.
13
Q
Show signs of age/senility, senile, senility, homeopathic doctor
A
chochear, chocho/a, la chochez, chochero
EVER visited a homeopathic doctor? In many countries they dispense medicine in the form of little white balls, known here as chochos. This has given rise to the verb chochear, to convalesce, and to the noun chochero, the homeopathic doctor himself. Ya tiene 90 años. Se la pasa chocheando. He’s already 90 years old. He just spends his time taking pills.
14
Q
body aches
A
cuerpo cortado
15
Q
flu
A
la gripa (elsewhere gripe)¿Tiene la gripa? Vete con el chochero.
16
Q
congested
A
mormado, aALTHOUGH glanders, or muermo in Spanish, is a disease that principally affects horses and other animals, one of its symptoms, states the Merck Veterinary Manual, is “high fever… and a thick, nasal discharge.” It is easy to imagine how some jokester began to apply the term to humans. If you have the flu, you might describe your symptoms as: Doctor, tengo un fiebre alto y estoy mormado.
17
Q
shower
A
la regaderaNEED a shower? If so, you won’t take a ducha, as in many Latin countries, but rather head to the regadera, the shower. One man tweeted: 1 Ya estoy enfadado de bañarme en mi regadera y no en la playa. I am sick of bathing in my shower and not at the beach.Me voy a dar un regaderazo.
18
Q
calf muscle
A
chamorroMEET the local word for the calf, that fleshy back part of your leg below the knee. This differs from the standard Spanish pantorilla. Once again the word started with animals and migrated to humans. Sound familiar? Híjole, me duele el chamorro después de tanto ejercicio.
19
Q
to be worried sick
A
andar con el jesus en la bocaHijo, ¿dónde estuviste? Desde hace horas, ¡he andado con el Jesús en la boca!
20
Q
toothless
A
chimueloAquí el más chimuelo masca fierro. Here even the most toothless of men chews iron. [Even our weaklings are tough.]
21
Q
totally (with respect to a person)
A
hasta por debajo de la lenguaGanaron 10–0. Les dieron hasta por debajo de la lengua. They won 10–0. They obliterated them. 2 En el aeropuerto lo revisaron hasta por debajo de la lengua. At the airport they inspected every inch of his body.
22
Q
gross
A
¡Fúchila!
23
Q
blonde, buddy
A
guero, aRoberto está noviando con la güerita de al lado. Roberto is dating the blonde girl next door. 2 Pásele, güerito, ¿qué le ofrecemos? Como on in, buddy, what are you looking for?
24
Q
to get goosebumps
A
enchinarse la piel
Cuando la escuché cantar, se me enchinó la piel. When I heard her sing, it gave me goosebumps.
25
piggyback
a papuchi
FOR some, one of the fondest childhood memories is that of your father or mother carrying you piggyback. In Northwestern Mexico use this option, sometimes written a papuchi. In standard Spanish it is a caballito. This term varies greatly by region, so ask around for the local equivalent. Papí, llévame a papuchi hasta el mar.
26
put yourself in harm's way
ponerse de pechitoCreo en darles segundas oportunidades a la personas. Pero no hay por qué ponerse de pechito. I believe in giving people second chances. But there is no reason to put yourself in harm’s way. 2 Si sabes que la pandemia es seria, ¿porque te pones de pechito? If you know how serious the pandemic is, why are you risking it?
27
so good at something you can do it with your eyes closed
con la mano en la cinturaA: ¿Crees que Roberto pueda diseñar una app para nosotros? B: ¡Con la mano en la cintura!
28
fat roll
lonjaEspero que la sauna me ayude a bajar esa lonja.
29
urinal
mingitorioRecuerda que el celular cuenta con 30 veces más microbios que el mingitorio.
30
sounds good
andale, puesA: Nos vemos a las cuatro.B: ¡Ándale, pues!
31
that's right
¡École! CONSIDER this Italian import as another way to say: Así es, or That’s right. A: ¿Estos limones están en oferta? B: ¡École! Están a mitad de precio.
32
Let's do it! Go for it!
IN northern Mexico and especially in Sonora, you will hear this phrase regularly. The fierro, or iron, refers to a firearm, but as a unit it indicates agreement and wholehearted support. Its meaning ranges from Right on! to Let’s do it! or Go for it!. A: ¿Vamos a la fiesta mañana? B: ¡Fierro, pariente! A: Are we going to the party tomorrow? B: Let’s do it, bro. Other variants include: ¡Fierro, machuca! and ¡Fierro a las 300!—all with similar meanings.
33
okay
saleSINCE salir in Spanish means to leave, you might think at first that the speaker is suggesting that you hit the road, but all to the contrary. He’s merely asking you for the green light. If you are in accord, respond with another Sale. If you are really in accord, or just want to rhyme, opt for Sale vale. A: Te pago mañana a las 8. ¿Sale? B: Sale vale.A: I’ll pay you tomorrow at 8. OK? B: Okie dokey.
34
are we there yet
ya meritoExhausted of unending COVID-19 isolation precautions, one woman posted: Me siento como el burro de Shrek preguntando, ¿Ya merito?. I feel like Shrek’s donkey always asking: Are we there yet?.
35
to the maximum
a todo darMi bici ya está bien viejita, pero me ha dejado rodar a todo dar.My bike is really old, but it has allowed me to have a beautiful ride. 2 Mi hermana debe tener locos a los vecinos cantando a todo dar. My sister must be driving the neighbors nuts singing at the top of her lungs. 3 ¡Que se lo pases a todo dar! Have a great time!
36
pretty
chulo, aEMBRACE this popular synonym for bonito—pretty or beautiful. Ever visit San Diego, California? Then perhaps you’ve heard of the suburb known as Chula Vista. This literally means Beautiful View. The noun form is chulada, popular in the exclamation: ¡Qué chulada! 1 ¡Qué chula la playera! What a beautiful T-shirt! 2 ¡Qué chulada de mujer! What a beautiful woman!
37
cool
chidoESPECIALLY popular around Mexico City, chido also describes the beautiful and the cool. ¡Qué chido el coche nuevo de tu abuela! Your grandma’s new car is really cool! In northern Mexico, change the d for an l. ¡Qué chilo!IN Mexico’s far northwest corner sits the city of Tijuana, on the border with Southern California. This is their regional equivalent of ¡Qué chido! above. One man posted this: ¡Qué curado estaría escaparnos e irnos a la playa! How great it would be to get away and go to the beach!Conversely, in Monterrey and Guadalajara, it takes on the sense of comical. ¡Qué curada esa película! What a funny movie!Also, padre. This also explains why in other parts of the country the synonym ¡Qué curada! is popular. Cura is merely another term for priest. 1 ¡Qué padre que regresen los autocinemas!
38
casual chatting
cotorrearEl confinamiento me tiene tan aburrido que ayer me marcó un extorsionador y acabamos cotorreando.No te precoupes. Solo te estaba cotorreando. Don’t worry. I was just kidding.
39
joke around
echar carrillaToda la tarde se la pasaron echando carrilla. They spent the whole afternoon joking around. Lo bueno es que sé aguantar la carrilla, aunque en ocasiones duele. It’s good that I can handle all the teasing, even though sometimes it hurts.
"dar carrilla!"
"hacer carrilla"
Means teasing someone.
Making fun of someone in a cheerful affectionate way.
40
hug / show affection
apapacharVoy a comprarle a mi mamá su comida favorita para apapacharla. I am going to buy Mom her favorite food to treat her. 2 Esposa a esposo: Hoy necesito que me apapaches. Wife to husband: Today I need some TLC.
41
flattery
echar floresNo te estoy echando flores. De verdad cantas muy bonito. I am not trying to flatter you. You really do sing beautifully.
42
do your best
echarle ganasA: Estoy muy enfermo. B: Pos, échate ganas y te vas a recuperar. A: I am very sick. B: Well, do all you can to get better.
43
hurry up, get to it, okay
orale¡Órale, te estás tardando! Hurry up! You’re taking too long!Vete a hacer tus tareas. ¡Órale! Go do your homework. Get to it! 3 ¡Órale! Te presto el dinero. OK, I’ll loan you the money.
44
take advantage of a situation
hacer leña del árbol caídoNo es que quiera hacer leña del árbol caído, pero como Edgar ya se fue, ¿podría yo ocupar su oficina? It’s not that I am trying to take advantage of the situation, but since Edgar left, could I move in to his office?
45
long weekend
un puente¡Qué padre! ¡Este fin de semana hay puente! Awesome! This is a long weekend!
46
made it, got away with it
librarloPensé que iba a reprobar la matemática, pero lo libré. I thought I was going to flunk math, but somehow I made it. 2 El policía me iba a multar, pero al final lo libré. The policeman was going to fine me, but in the end I got away with it.
47
cheater, botched job/trick
chapucero, a
La chapuza
IN standard Spanish chapucero is an adjective describing a botched job. When a project fails to meet the customer’s expectation, he feels cheated. That’s the extended meaning here. Ese Carlos siempre gana en póker. Es chapucero.
48
crooked
chueco, achueco is just the opposite. It refers to what is crooked, in any sense. 1 Dame otro clavo. Este está chueco. Give me another nail. This one is crooked.No confío en ese doctor. Es chueco. I don’t trust that doctor. He’s dishonest.
49
selfish opportunist
gandallaEl gandalla no batalla.¡Hoy se pasaron de gandalla! ¡Dos facturas en un solo mes! Today you took jerk to a new level! Two bills in one month!
50
you can't win if you don't cheat
El que no tranza, no avanza.Here tranzar means to cheat. At least one young man seems to buck the trend. He posted: Prefiero morir pobre que ser tranza.
51
cop
la chotaPOSSIBLY an import of the English verb shutter, chota is a slang term for the police. The Diccionario del español de México offers this example: 1 ¡Aguas, ahí viene la chota! Look out! The cops are coming! If an individual policeman is the subject, use the masculine definite article.El chota me paró
52
thief
rateroNo entres en ese fraccionamiento. Son puros rateros. Don't go into that neighborhood. They're a bunch of thieves.
53
kick the bucket
chupar faros
Que se hizo el ratero de abajo?Ya chupó faros. Que paso con la licuadora? Ya chupó faros. According to a theory, during the Mexican revolution, some poor souls asked for a smoke as their last wish. What brand? One of the cheapest: faros.
54
keel over (die)
flash in the pan
petatear
llamarada de petate
When a family member died, the Aztecs would wrap the cadaver in a petate, a natural-fiber rug or mat, and buried it. The petate was also a makeshift bed. Petate fibers were also highly combustible and could be used as kindling. The flame was short livedTengo ganas de limpiar con mucho cloro... de esas limpiadas que casi me petateo con el olor.
55
to be swindled
bailarseloIf you get danced on, you have been swindled. Llegas emocionado a comer lo guardado, y al darte cuenta, te lo bailaron.Se lo bailaron con un billete falso.
56
a serious fall, or falling for a scam
caer redondoAl volver a casa, me resbale y cai redondo.Llegue tan cansado que cai redondo en la cama.Le vendieron el coche a doble el precio y cayo redondo
57
to steal, like at a government wide level
carrancearVenustiano Carranza served as Mexico's 37th president from 1917-1920. Rampant corruption during his term spawned a new verb.Que paso con el proyector. Los jefes lo carrancearon.
58
to get suckered, taken advantage of (?)
chamaquearleNos chamaquearon con el Tratado de Libre Comercio
59
sweet talk (persuasive, manipulating and deceitful words)
chorearNo me vayas a chorear(Compare to chorrear (pour))
60
Don't come to me with the same lame excuses
No me vengas con que a chuchita la bolsearon.Urban legend was that Jesusa, nicknamed Chuchita, worked as a maid. When her employers sent her to buy groceries, she would come back empty handed and said "me bolsearon" - a pickpocket came. Chuchita's excuse soon became worn out.
61
to give a whipping
dar un chicotazoXicotl was a wasp. From this word, the Mexican Spanish chicote was born, initially an animal whip. It now encompasses any physical or figurative whipping. Corre, que tu papa te va a dar un chicotazoDespues de un choque, toma en cuenta el chicotazo para prevenir futuras lesiones.
62
read someone the riot act
leerle la cartillaCuando Jose comenzo a faltar al trabajo, el jefe le leyo la cartilla.
63
to be done for
ya nos cargo el payaso (as in they are carrying you off after the bull gored you)Es necesario proteger a nuestros doctores. Si ellos caen, ya nos cargo el payaso
64
hit you where it hurts
darle en la torreIn chess, the rook (Spanish:torre) is a valuable pieceSoy electricista y no puedo hacer trabajo desde la casa; me dieron en la torre
65
a sudden turn of events that can be either good or bad depending on context
llover en la milpa
La depreciacion del peso frente al dolar se resentira en el bolsillo en los proximos meses... no nos deja de llover en la milpitaQue audifonos mas fifis! Parece que ya llovio en la milpa.
66
mess up
regarla This curious verb, always with the pronoun la, signals a great blunder.Esta a punto de regarla.
67
I drew the short straw.
tocarle bailar con la mas fea.
68
fight, troubleunpasteurized milk
broncaleche broncase armo una bronca entre los pandilleros. A fight broke out between gang members.Temo que mi sentido de humor un dia me vaya a meter en una bronca. I fear that my sense of humor one day is going to get me in trouble.
69
wild party or bedlam
el mitoteFrom nahuatl mitotique, an indigenous dancer at a party where liquor ran freelyExtrano salir al mitoteDespues de la violencia racial, se armo el mitote.
70
you hate or greatly dislike
caer gordoComo me cae gordo que se vaya el internet a cada ratoHay alguien en el trabajo que le caiga gordo? Is there anyone at work that you can't stand?
71
vulgarities
leperadas (adjective form is lepero)Cuando le reclamaron sus ausencias, respondio con puras leperadasNo seas lepero ni inculto. Be neither foul mouthed nor unmannered.
72
to go overboard
pasarse de tuesteEstas bien, no tienes fiebre? Ya te checaste o te pasaste de tueste?Parece que te pasaste de tueste
73
doesn't pay attention or know you exist
no pelarleSiempre quien si me interesa no me pela. It always happens that the one I'm interested in doesn't even know I exist.Esposa al marido: No me pelas. Wife to husband: You never show me any attention.
74
a dark place
Los examenes me traen por la calle de la amargura. Exams have made my life miserable.
75
now we're in trouble
caerle el chahuistlechahuistle is a plague that affects corn and other grainsHoy perdi mi empleo. Ahora si nos cayo el chahuistle
76
make one's life a living hell
hacersele la vida de cuadritosNeta que yo no entiendo porque cuando se separan siempre le andan queriendo hacer la vida de cuadritos al ex.
77
when it rains, it pours
llover sobre mojado
Primero llego la pandemia y luego el huracan. Esta lloviendo sobre mojado.
78
open a can of worms
meterse en camisa de once varasPoco despues de iniciar la renovacion de la casa, me di cuenta que me habia metido en camisa de once varas
79
cheat sheet
acordeonCuando sacas el acordeon a mitad del examen y el profe se te queda viendo, ya sabes que estas en problemas
80
play hookie
irse de pintaFui mal alumno. Solia irme de pinta
81
spoil
chiquearNo me gusta que mis hijos pasen mucho tiempo con sus abuelos; los chiquean demasiado
82
old
grandeMis papas ya estan grandes. My parents are now up in years.
83
husband who does the bulk of the household chores
mandilon (apron: mandil)
84
your exacting requests are finally met
asi, si baila mi hija(as in a father who is picky about which guy can dance with his daughter)
85
phrase to tell an amorous couple to get their hands off each other
chiflando y aplaudiendoOigan, muchachos, chiflando y aplaudiendoSince whistling and clapping would be a deterrent to other activities, it's a humorous way to encourage them to cool it.
86
to give birth
aliviarseMaria ya se alivio. Maria finally gave birth.
87
boy/girl
childish actions
Group of kids
chamaco, a
chamacadas
Chamacada
Mi chamaco acaba de graduarse de la prepa. My boy just graduated from high school.Deja de tus chamacadas. Stop acting like a kid.
88
to cry
chillarDesde que perdio el bebe, Carmen no puede hacer mas que chillar. Since she lost the baby, Carmen has been unable to stop crying.
89
kid
chavo, aTengo cinco chavos. Mi hija es demasiada chava para tener novios.
90
child of tender age or baby
chilpayateMe toca viajar sola con un chilpayate hiperactivo de 13 kilso en mis piernas por tres horas. Dame pacienciaSe me esta antojando tener un chilpayate, senal inequivoca de que se me esta pasando el tren
91
twin or good buddy
cuatePablo y yo somos cuates.
92
baby or young kid
escuincleEscuincle was a breed of hairless dog for Aztecs. Perhaps because most babies enter the world bald, the term was later applied to them.Se fueron al Gabacho para que la mama diera a luz; asi el escuincle tendra doble nacionalidad
93
first steps
hacer sus pininos
Raul esta haciendo sus pininos como abogado
94
Kid
Collection of kids
huerco, a
huerquería
Desde huerco le ha gustado el futbolDe huerquilla me daba miedo la oscuridad; hoy me dan miedo los recibos de la luz. When I was a girl I was afraid of the dark; today I am afraid of the light billsThis Northern Mexican term for boy comes from the latin Orcus, Roman god of the underworld, and by extension, the underworld itself.
95
young person
plebeDesde plebe me ha gustado la aventura. Since I was young, I've liked adventurePlebes mandenle buenas vibras a mi mama para que ya se recupere. Hey guys, send some good cheer to my mom so that she gets better.
96
brother or close friend
No, amor, no se donde anda mi carnalGracias, carnal, por la deliciosa cena
97
shortie
chaparro, aser alta es chido hasta que te enamoras de un chaparritoChaparro is a term of endearment and a common nickname.
98
trash can or jail
bote (trash can is usually cesta de basura)Oigan muchachos, que se hizo el bote de basura?Alfredo ya no vive aqui; lo metieron al bote.
99
locks
chapasAyer intentaron rober en la casa donde vivo. Nos dijeron que cambiaramos las chapas de las puertas.
100
bedroom
recamara (elsewhere it might be dormitorio, cuarto, or habitacion)Esta casa tiene tres recamaras y dos banos completos.
101
kitchen sink
la tarjaHay que taller bien la tarja y luego secarla
102
community land
el ejidoBefore the 1910 Mexican Revolution, a small number of wealthy Mexicans and foreigners owned the majority of the country's farmland. Gradually over the following decades, the government allotted large parcels, or ejidos, to community groups. Community groups had usufruct rights only, meaning they could use the land and get fruit, or profit, from it. Then, in 1992, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari modified the Constitution, paving the way for ejidos to be privatized. Even so, the term persists in place names in rural areas, a reminder of Mexico's checkered land reform history.
103
build a house
fincar (finca is a farm in standard spanish)Javier y Laura fincaron en Chimalhuacan.
104
Neighborhood
Fraccionamiento (or frac)When developers divvy up and sell off a property piece by piece, it's known as a fraccionamientoJorge vive en el fraccionamiento El Tecojote. Compre la pizza aqui mismo en el frac.
105
express gratitude for a free thing that comes your way
A quien le dan pan que llore
106
Macaroni salad
Sopa fria
107
Platter or badge
charola (bandeja is usual term)Que charola mas chula. What a beautiful platterAl llegar al lugar de los hechos, el policia mostro su charola. Upon arriving at the crime scene, the officer showed his badge.
108
something to eat
itacatefrom nahuatl word meaning stomachWhen a party ends the host may realize they made too much food. Remedy? He prepares doggy bags of leftovers and hands them to departing guests. Such gift bags were itacates, or second stomachs. The meaning has now shifted from the container to its contents. No te olivdes de traer tu itacate. Don't forget to bring something to eat.
109
have gotten out of control
salirse del huacalA huacal was a wooden container where dishes could be washed. But that wasn't its only purpose. It also served as a storage bin for fruits and sometimes live animals. But if the animal wasn't tied to the container, he might wiggle his way out. Similarly, when someone leaves their figurative huacal, they've gone too far and matters are out of hand. Esta semana, en el aeropuerto que todavia ni empieza y ya ha tenido mas tropezones que bambi, los precios se salieron del huacal. This week, in the airport whose construction has not yet begun and which has stumbled more than bambi, prices have gotten out of control.
110
styrofoam cup
unicelMe podrias dar el cafe un un unicel por favor?
111
I'm way ahead of you
Cuando tu vas por la leche, yo ya voy rodando los quesos
112
exaggerate
echar mucha crema a los tacosBajale! Estas echando mucha crema a los tacos
113
once bitten, twice shy
el que con leche se quema, hasta el jocoque soplajocoque is a buttermilk-based creation similar to yogurt that is served coldDesde que se divorcio, Enrique no ha querido volver a noviar. El que con leche se quema, hasta el jocoque sopla.
114
Giant beer bottle
caguama (from the name of a dish that included caguama turtle meat - the turtle's color matched the large brown jars)Que ganas de una caguama en este calor
115
beer
chela (which means blonde woman)From chela comes the mixed drink michelada, a refreshing combo of beer, lime juice and spices. Michelada is a contraction of mi chela helada, that is, my cold beer.
116
Squirt
Un chisguete
117
soda
refresco (soda and gaseosa are used elsewhere)La nueva normalidad en los aviones no incluye ni cacahuatitos ni refrescos.
