de tres al cuarto
Meaning: Worthless, shoddy, or of poor quality.
Language: Spanish
Literally: of three to the quarter
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Origin uncertain; the phrase may derive from old Spanish monetary or measurement terms, though the exact historical basis is unclear. The numbers suggest something incomplete or cheap.
More idioms — Daily Life
- venir mal dadas — For things to go wrong or turn out badly.
- hacer antesala — To wait in an outer room or lobby, often in a position of subordination or anticipation.
- lío de faldas — A romantic or sexual entanglement with a woman; an affair.
- sacar el ascua con mano ajena — To get someone else to do one's dirty work or take the blame for one's own wrongdoing.
- contante y sonante — Money in ready cash; actual payment rather than promises or credit.
- de Pascuas a Ramos — Once in a blue moon; extremely rarely or at great intervals.
More Spanish idioms
- estar entre dos aguas — To be undecided or unable to choose between two options; to sit on the fence.
- arrimar el ascua a su sardina — To arrange matters selfishly in one's own favor; to look out for oneself at others' expen…
- lobo con piel de cordero — A person who appears harmless or trustworthy but is actually dangerous or deceitful.
- dar coces contra el aguijón — To resist or rebel futilely against something stronger or inevitable.
- no ganar para sustos — To be plagued by constant troubles and misfortunes; to suffer setback after setback.
- perder la chaveta — To go crazy; to lose one's grip on sanity or self-control.
From our false friends
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.
- Pretender — Actually means 'to aim for', 'to try to achieve', or 'to claim'. For pretend (fake), say…