Andá a cantarle a Gardel

/an-DAH ah kan-TAR-leh ah gar-DEL/

To tell someone you don't believe them, that their request is impossible, or that they should just get lost. It's a strong, informal dismissal.

Level:B2Register:InformalCommon:★★★☆☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"Go sing to Gardel"

What It Really Means:

To tell someone you don't believe them, that their request is impossible, or that they should just get lost. It's a strong, informal dismissal.

English Equivalents:

Go tell it to the marinesYou're wasting your breathGet lostYeah, right

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, the phrase means 'Go and sing to Gardel'.

✨ Figurative

In reality, it's a way to say 'I don't believe you' or 'Go away'.

Key Words in This Idiom:

andarcantarGardel

📝 In Action

—Te juro que vi un ovni. —¡Dale, andá a cantarle a Gardel! No te creo nada.

—I swear I saw a UFO. —Oh, come on, go tell it to the marines! I don't believe you at all.

¿Que te preste el coche nuevo? ¡Andá a cantarle a Gardel!

You want me to lend you the new car? Get lost!

Dice que va a terminar todo el trabajo para mañana. Sí, claro... que le cante a Gardel.

He says he'll finish all the work by tomorrow. Yeah, right... he's wasting his breath.

📜 Origin Story

This phrase comes directly from the cultural identity of the Río de la Plata (Argentina and Uruguay). Carlos Gardel was the undisputed king of tango, a legendary singer who died tragically in a plane crash in 1935. He is still revered as a national hero. The idiom's logic is simple and blunt: Gardel is dead, so going to sing to him is pointless because he can't hear you. Therefore, telling someone to 'go sing to Gardel' is a poetic way of saying 'what you're saying is falling on deaf ears,' 'you're wasting your time,' or 'the person who would believe that nonsense is long gone.'

⭐ Usage Tips

The Ultimate Brush-Off

Use this phrase when you want to strongly express disbelief or completely dismiss someone's idea, complaint, or excuse. It's a conversation-ender.

Keep It in the River Plate

This is a hyper-regional idiom. It's essential slang in Argentina and Uruguay but will likely get you blank stares in Spain, Mexico, or Colombia. Use it to sound like a true 'porteño' (person from Buenos Aires).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Situations

Mistake: "Telling your boss 'Andá a cantarle a Gardel' when you disagree with a deadline."

Correction: This is very informal and can be perceived as rude or aggressive. Keep it for casual conversations with friends who understand you're not being genuinely hostile.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇦🇷

Argentina

Extremely common, iconic, and understood by everyone. A key part of the local slang known as 'lunfardo'.

🇺🇾

Uruguay

Also very common and widely used, sharing the same cultural reverence for Gardel.

🌍

Rest of World

Largely unknown. Using it outside of the Río de la Plata region will probably lead to confusion.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️ Similar Meanings

Andá a freír churros

Go fry churros (A Spanish equivalent for 'get lost').

Contate otro cuento

Tell yourself another story (i.e., I don't believe that one).

⇆ Opposite Meanings

Te creo a pie juntillas

I believe you completely/without question.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Andá a cantarle a Gardel

Question 1 of 1

If an Argentine friend says '¡Andá a cantarle a Gardel!' to you, what do they most likely mean?

🏷️ Tags

Music & DanceSocial InteractionsInsultsLatin America

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Carlos Gardel and why is he in an idiom?

Carlos Gardel was a legendary tango singer and actor, considered one of the most important cultural figures in Argentina and Uruguay. His death in 1935 cemented his iconic status. The idiom uses him because he is a universally recognized figure in the region who is famously deceased, making the act of singing to him a perfect metaphor for a pointless or unbelievable endeavor.