These fixed expressions mean more than the literal meanings of their individual words.

The idea

Meter la pata means make a mistake, tomar el pelo means tease someone, and estar en las nubes means be distracted or daydream.

Examples

  • Metí la pata al enviar el archivo equivocado.I made a mistake when I sent the wrong file.
  • Metimos la pata al llegar el día equivocado.We made a mistake by arriving on the wrong day.
  • ¿Me tomas el pelo con la sorpresa?Are you teasing me about the surprise?
  • Le tomaron el pelo a Pablo por su sombrero nuevo.They teased Pablo about his new hat.
  • Ana está en las nubes y no oye la pregunta.Ana is distracted and does not hear the question.
  • Estoy en las nubes porque pienso en el viaje.I am distracted because I am thinking about the trip.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Tone and context matter: tomar el pelo can be playful or unwelcome, so do not assume how someone feels about it.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the expression for making a mistake. (Meter la pata / Estar en las nubes)

    Show answer or example answer

    Meter la pata

    Meter la pata expresses making a mistake.

  2. Choose the expression for teasing someone. (Tomar el pelo / Meter la pata)

    Show answer or example answer

    Tomar el pelo

    Tomar el pelo expresses teasing someone.

  3. Choose the expression for being distracted. (Estar en las nubes / Tomar el pelo)

    Show answer or example answer

    Estar en las nubes

    Estar en las nubes expresses being distracted.

Use it today

Choose the idiom that matches the mistake, teasing or distraction described in each situation.