Dominican idioms - dominicanismos Archives - Page 2 of 7

E’ má’ la sal que el chivo

Literal translation: there’s more salt than goat (in this dish). Meaning: of a situation - it is more trouble than it is worth. Significado: “Es más la sal que el chivo”: no vale la pena, es más el esfuerzo que el resultado. Use: general

Pasar crujía

Literal translation: to go through a corridor. Meaning: to go through hardship. Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles. Use: general, colloquial. Example: Aquí estoy, pasando crujía. (Here I am, going through hardship - an answer to the question: How are you? often heard in the DR).

Te volviste buche y pluma’

Literal translation: you turned into maw and feathers. Meaning: to tell someone they failed to live up to a promise, fulfill a commitment or simply do something they said they would do (such as showing up at a party). “Buche y pluma” can be used to refer to people, organizations or the government. Significado: esta frase se usa cuando una persona no cumple una promesa o no hace algo que dijo que haría, como asistir a una fiesta. “Buche y pluma” puede usarse para referirse a personas, organizaciones y el gobierno. Use: general Example: Me quedé esperándote anoche en la…

Tragarse un cable

Literal translation: to swallow a cable. Meaning: to go through difficult times. Especially used to refer to economic hardship. Significado: pasar por momentos difíciles. Usado especialmente en casos de dificultad económica. Use: general Example: Y tu hermano, ¿cómo está? - Tragándose un cable en Nueva York. Hace un año que no consigue trabajo.

Cuando el hambre da calor, la batata es un refresco.

Literal translation: “When being hungry makes you hot, a sweet potato is a cool beverage.” Meaning: anything tastes good when you are very hungry. Significado: cualquier comida sabe bien cuando usted tiene mucha hambre. Use: colloquial, general

El que menos corre, vuela.

Literal translation: “The one who runs less, flies”. Meaning: Referring to people in a place (city, country or organization) - to mean that they are very sly or have street smarts and so one should be careful. Significado: Al referirse a gente en un lugar (ciudad, país u organización) - que son muy astutos o maliciosos y que uno debe cuidarse. Use: general, colloquial. Example: En este país, el que menos corre, vuela. (In this country, the one who runs less, flies).

A falta de pan, casabe.

Literary translation: “In the absence of bread, cassava bread”. “Casabe” is bread made of grated cassava root (yucca). Yucca root is abundant in Hispaniola island and was a staple of the native Taino inhabitants. Cassava bread is part of the Taino heritage and the recipe, as well as the look of it hasn’t changed much over the years. Here’s a video in Spanish of how Casabe is made in the Dominican Republic. Meaning: Settle for what you can get. Enjoy what you have if you can’t get what you want. (This is used to refer to food, circumstances, and people).…

Coger cuerda

Literal translation: to take the wind. Meaning: to become angry or visibly upset when someone makes a joke at your expense or is “messing” with you. Significado: enfadarse cuando alguien hace una broma sobre usted o trata de bromear con usted. Use: general, colloquial