Home › Idioms

ni a tiros

Meaning: absolutely not; under no circumstances.

Language: Spanish

Literally: not even by gunshots

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The phrase pictures violent coercion—even being shot at—as insufficient to make someone do something, emphasizing resolute refusal.

More idioms — Daily Life

  • a la buena de Dios — To proceed carelessly or without proper planning, leaving the outcome to chance or fate.
  • cuéntame una de vaqueros — A challenge to someone to stop lying or exaggerating; an equivalent of "pull the other on…
  • cortar por lo sano — To sever a problem decisively rather than manage it halfway, making a clean break or radi…
  • de tres al cuarto — Worthless, shoddy, or of poor quality.
  • 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.

More Spanish idioms

  • no sé qué y no sé cuánto — An undefined or vague something; an indescribable quality or collection of things.
  • con pies de plomo — To proceed with extreme caution or wariness; to tread carefully in a delicate situation.
  • tomar el toro por los cuernos — To face a difficult problem directly and courageously rather than avoiding it.
  • caer en gracia — To charm someone instantly or be liked right away.
  • lío de faldas — A romantic or sexual entanglement with a woman; an affair.
  • estar entre dos aguas — To be undecided or unable to choose between two options; to sit on the fence.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…