Spanish Failure Idioms
Master 9 authentic Spanish expressions about failure with meanings, examples, and pronunciation guidance
Understanding Spanish Failure Idioms
Spanish failure idioms describe setbacks, defeats, and disappointments. From "tirar la toalla" (to throw in the towel) to "irse al traste" (to go to waste), these expressions help Spanish speakers process and communicate failures, mistakes, and unsuccessful attempts with varying degrees of severity and hope for recovery.
When to Use These Expressions
Failure idioms are used when discussing setbacks, describing failed attempts, processing disappointments, or warning about potential failures. They appear in personal reflection, business post-mortems, and when offering comfort after losses.
Learning Tips for Failure Idioms
- Learn different failure intensities—from minor setbacks to total disasters
- Practice both describing failure and encouraging recovery
- Understand cultural attitudes toward failure—varies by region
- Note idioms that suggest learning from failure vs. giving up
Most Common Failure Idioms
Start with these high-frequency expressions used daily by native speakers
Meter la pata
★★★★★Literal: "To put the paw/leg in"
Meaning: To make a mistake, say something inappropriate, or screw up. To put your foot in your mouth.
Caer en saco roto
★★★★☆Literal: "To fall into a broken sack."
Meaning: To be ignored, disregarded, or to come to nothing. It's used for advice, suggestions, or efforts that are completely wasted.
Echar por la borda
★★★★☆Literal: "To throw overboard"
Meaning: To waste, discard, or ruin something valuable, like an opportunity, a relationship, or a lot of hard work.
Complete List of Failure Idioms
Caer en saco roto
"To fall into a broken sack."
To be ignored, disregarded, or to come to nothing. It's used for advice, suggestions, or efforts that are completely wasted.
Como el perro de las dos tortas
"Like the dog of the two cakes"
To be caught between two choices and lose both due to indecision or greed.
Echar por la borda
"To throw overboard"
To waste, discard, or ruin something valuable, like an opportunity, a relationship, or a lot of hard work.
Le cortaron las piernas
"They cut off his/her legs."
To suddenly and unfairly destroy someone's hopes, dreams, or chances of success, especially when they were close to achieving a goal.
Meter la pata
"To put the paw/leg in"
To make a mistake, say something inappropriate, or screw up. To put your foot in your mouth.
Nadar y ahogarse en la orilla
"To swim and drown on the shore."
To fail at the very last moment after having completed all the hard work; to give up when success is just within reach.
No dar pie con bola
"To not give foot with ball"
To not get anything right; to be clumsy or screw up repeatedly.
Quedarse sin el pan y sin las tortas
"To be left without the bread and without the cakes."
To try to get two things at once, often out of greed or indecision, and end up with neither. To lose out on everything.
Ya nos cargó el payaso
"The clown has already carried us."
We're done for; we're screwed. It signifies a situation that has gone catastrophically and irreversibly wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Failure Idioms
What are Spanish failure idioms?
Spanish failure idioms include "tirar la toalla" (to throw in the towel/give up), "irse al traste" (to go to waste), "fracasar" (to fail), "estar por los suelos" (to be rock bottom), "echar por tierra" (to ruin/waste), and "salir mal" (to turn out badly). These describe various types and degrees of failure.
How do Spanish cultures view failure?
Attitudes toward failure vary across Spanish-speaking cultures. Generally, there's strong emphasis on perseverance ("no tirar la toalla") and learning from mistakes. Family and community support after failure is typically strong, with encouragement to try again rather than shame for failing.
Have more questions about learning Spanish idioms? Browse our complete idiom guide.
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