IdiomBody & Senses
Spanish
Spanishpor la cara
Meaning: Boldly and undeservedly; without earning it or paying for it; purely out of audacity or shamelessness.
Literally: For the face
Example: “Entró al concierto por la cara, sin entrada.” — He got into the concert without a ticket; he's got a nerve.
Origin: The face (cara) stands for nerve or cheek, as in tener cara or tener más cara que espalda. Getting something por la cara is getting it on nerve alone, without paying or earning it, and the phrase also means "for no reason at all" (me echaron por la cara, they threw me out for nothing). Spain also says por el morro and por la jeta.
More Spanish idioms
- a todo mecate (Mexican Spanish) At full speed; with maximum effort; going all out.
- viva estampa An exact likeness; someone or something that looks exactly like another.
- éramos pocos y parió la abuela as if that wasn't enough, things went from bad to worse.
- de un plumazo suddenly or in a single swift action, as if accomplished with one stroke of a pen.
- ni a tiros absolutely not; under no circumstances.
- a la buena de Dios To proceed carelessly or without proper planning, leaving the outcome to chance or fate.
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