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.
From our tongue twisters
- Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. — A relentless run on the 'tr' sound.
- El cielo está enladrillado, ¿quién lo desenladrillará? — A brutal test of the rolled 'r' and 'l'.
- Como poco coco como, poco coco compro. — A bouncy 'co' drill — the word order and meaning flip with each repetition.