Al nopal sólo se le arriman cuando tiene tunas
/al noh-PAL SOH-loh seh leh ah-RREE-mahn KWAN-doh TYEH-neh TOO-nahs/
Describes opportunistic people or 'fair-weather friends' who only appear when they can get something from you.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means people only approach the nopal cactus when it has fruit (tunas).
It describes people who are only friendly when they can get something from you.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Desde que ganó la lotería, tiene muchos 'amigos'. Ya sabes, al nopal sólo se le arriman cuando tiene tunas.
C1Since he won the lottery, he has a lot of 'friends'. You know, people only come around when there's something to gain.
Ese político solo visita nuestro barrio en época de elecciones. Al nopal sólo se le arriman cuando tiene tunas.
C1That politician only visits our neighborhood during election season. People only get close to the cactus when it has fruit.
📜 Origin Story
This is a classic Mexican proverb rooted in the country's landscape. The 'nopal,' or prickly pear cactus, is a national symbol of Mexico. It's a tough, spiny plant that's not very pleasant to be around. However, it produces a delicious fruit called a 'tuna.' The imagery is clear: people are willing to brave the cactus's thorns, but only when there's a sweet reward. It perfectly captures the idea of people who only show up when there's something to gain.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Proverb of Warning
Use this proverb to comment on or warn against opportunistic people. It has a slightly critical or cynical tone, pointing out someone's selfish motives. It's more of a wise saying than something you'd say directly to the person you're criticizing.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not Just About Cacti
Mistake: "Thinking this can only be used in a rural or agricultural context."
Correction: This is a widely understood metaphor in Mexico and can be applied to any situation involving fair-weather friends, from business to personal relationships, even in big cities.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this idiom? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
Advanced Uses of 'se'
The word 'se' here creates an impersonal sentence, meaning the action is done by 'people in general' rather than a specific subject (e.g., 'se le arriman').
Indirect Object Pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les)
The pronoun 'le' is used to show that the action of approaching ('arriman') is directed *to* the cactus, reinforcing the indirect object 'Al nopal'.
🌎 Where It's Used
Mexico
Extremely common and deeply ingrained in the culture. It's a quintessential Mexican 'dicho' (saying).
Central America
Understood in some countries, but much less common than in Mexico.
Spain
Largely unknown. A Spaniard would likely understand the literal meaning but not the established figurative sense.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Al nopal sólo se le arriman cuando tiene tunas
Question 1 of 1
If you say about someone, 'Al nopal sólo se le arriman cuando tiene tunas,' what are you implying?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'nopal' and a 'tuna'?
A 'nopal' is the Spanish word for the prickly pear cactus, a plant very common in Mexico. Its green pads are often cooked and eaten. A 'tuna' is the sweet, edible fruit that grows on the cactus. Don't confuse it with 'atún,' which means tuna fish!