Cada loco con su tema
/KAH-dah LOH-koh kohn soo TEH-mah/
Everyone has their own obsession, strange habit, or topic they always talk about. It's a way to acknowledge or dismiss someone's peculiar fixation.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'each crazy person with their theme'.
It's used like 'to each his own,' acknowledging that everyone has unique passions.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Mi tío no para de hablar de la pesca. En fin, cada loco con su tema.
B2My uncle won't stop talking about fishing. Oh well, to each his own.
A ella le encanta coleccionar dedales antiguos. Yo no lo entiendo, pero cada loco con su tema.
B2She loves collecting antique thimbles. I don't get it, but everyone has their thing.
Juan está construyendo una réplica de la Torre Eiffel con palillos. ¡Cada loco con su tema!
B2Juan is building a replica of the Eiffel Tower with toothpicks. To each their own!
📜 Origin Story
This is a classic piece of folk wisdom, so old that its exact origin is unknown. It's not from a specific book or event, but rather from centuries of people-watching. The saying simply captures a universal truth: people tend to have their own unique passions, worries, or subjects they can't stop talking about. It’s a phrase born from the simple, everyday observation of human nature and our funny little quirks.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Gentle Way to Say 'That's Weird, But OK'
Use this phrase to comment on someone's strange hobby, obsession, or constant topic of conversation. It's not usually mean; it's more of a resigned, sometimes affectionate, acknowledgment of their quirkiness. It's the verbal equivalent of shrugging your shoulders and saying, 'Well, that's just how they are!'
Use it to End a Conversation
Sometimes, when someone is going on and on about their 'tema' and you want to politely signal that you're done talking about it, you can say 'Bueno, cada loco con su tema' to gently change the subject.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Use It as a Direct Insult
Mistake: "Saying it directly to someone's face in a serious argument, as if you're actually calling them crazy."
Correction: While 'loco' means crazy, the phrase is generally used to comment *about* a situation or a person's known quirk, often in a lighthearted tone. Using it aggressively turns it from a folksy saying into a direct insult.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and used frequently in everyday conversation.
Latin America
Widely understood and used, though some countries might have their own local variations like 'Cada quien con su cada cual' or 'Cada cual con su tema'.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Cada loco con su tema
Question 1 of 1
You use 'Cada loco con su tema' when you want to...
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is calling someone 'loco' (crazy) in this phrase offensive?
Not usually. In this context, 'loco' is softened and means something more like 'quirky' or 'eccentric'. It's used to describe a behavior, not to diagnose a mental illness. Tone is very important, but it's almost always used with a sense of lightheartedness or resignation.