Dominican idioms - dominicanismos Archives - Page 5 of 7

Ser un hijo de Machepa

Literal translation: being Machepa’s son. Obviously, Machepa was not an illustrious member of Dominican society, but it’s hard to say who he/she was or how this idiom got started. Do you know who Machepa was? Meaning: being poor, unimportant or falsely accused. Generally refers to any situation in which you are getting the short end of the stick. Significado: ser pobre, ignorado o poco importante. Generalmente se refiere a situaciones en la cual al que le va mal es a usted. Use: colloquial, general

Ni lava ni presta la batea

Literal translation: you don’t wash nor lend your “batea”. Batea is a word inherited from the Tainos (native inhabitants of Quisqueya - Dominican Republic). It describes a big flat bowl usually made of wood used to wash gold in the river. Also used by Dominican women of past generations to carry and beat clothes in the river as they washed. It’s unclear if this idioms refers to washing gold or clothes. Meaning: you don’t do and you don’t let others do Significado: usted ni hace, ni deja hacer Use: colloquial, general

Pijotero

Meaning: person who does not like to share Significado: persona que no comparte lo suyo Use: general, colloquial

Ta’ pasao’

Literal translation: to be passed Meaning: to be out of line, to have no clue or to say an unfunny joke Significado: “estar pasado”: pasarse de la ralla, decir algo inapropiado, estar equivocado o contar un chiste sin gracia. Use: colloquial, urban

Eso se cae de la mata

Literal translation: that falls from the tree Meaning: that is obvious Significado: eso es obvio; no necesita explicación Use: colloquial, general

Guindar los tenis

Literal translation: to hang the tennis shoes. Meaning: to die Significado: “colgar los tenis”: morir. Use: colloquial

Morir en lo’ avance’

Literal translation: to die in the previews Meaning: to fail to accomplish something before even setting out to do it. To be stopped by someone else before you can try to do something. Also used to refer to romantic suitors who get rejected before they get a chance to woo the girl. Significado: “morir en los avances”: fracasar antes de comenzar a hacer algo, sin tener la oportunidad de hacer el esfuerzo. También usado para referirse a los pretendientes que son rechazados aun antes de declarar su amor. Use: colloquial, urban

Pelando pa’ que otro chupe

Literal translation: “peeling so someone else can suck.” This is a refence to fruit vendors on the streets of the Dominican Republic, who sell peeled oranges for their patrons to eat. Meaning: working so someone else can reap the fruits of my labor. This is very frequently just an ironic way of saying “I’m hanging in there”, a comical answer to give someone who asks how you are doing. Significado: trabajando para que otro disfrute de los resultados. Forma cómica de responderle a alguien que le pregunta cómo está. Otra forma de decir “más o menos”. Use: general, colloquial