Chaucha y palitos
/CHOW-chah ee pah-LEE-tohs/
For a very small amount of money; for next to nothing; for peanuts.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'a green bean and little sticks'.
It means to get paid very little, or to buy something for 'peanuts'.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Conseguí esta bicicleta por chaucha y palitos en una venta de garaje.
B2I got this bicycle for peanuts at a garage sale.
Mi primer trabajo era terrible, me pagaban chaucha y palitos.
B2My first job was terrible, they paid me next to nothing.
No vale la pena el esfuerzo si lo vas a vender por chaucha y palitos.
B2It's not worth the effort if you're going to sell it for a song.
📜 Origin Story
This colorful expression comes from Argentina and compares a small sum of money to things of very little value. 'Chauchas' (the local word for green beans) were historically a very common and cheap vegetable. 'Palitos' (little sticks) are essentially worthless. Putting them together creates a powerful image of an amount so tiny it's barely worth mentioning.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Use It
Use 'chaucha y palitos' when you want to emphasize how cheap something was or how low a salary is. It carries a slightly negative or dismissive tone, implying the amount is insignificant or even insulting.
Think 'Peanuts'
The best way to remember this is to connect it directly to the English idiom 'for peanuts'. Both use cheap food items to represent a tiny amount of money.
❌ Common Pitfalls
It's a Regional Expression
Mistake: "Using this phrase in Spain, Mexico, or other countries where it's not common."
Correction: This is a hallmark of Rioplatense Spanish (Argentina and Uruguay). In Spain, you'd say 'por cuatro duros'. In Mexico, you might say 'por unos cuantos pesos'. Using 'chaucha y palitos' outside of its region will likely cause confusion.
🌎 Where It's Used
Argentina
Extremely common and widely understood. A classic Argentinian expression.
Uruguay
Very common and widely understood, just like in Argentina.
Other Latin American countries
Largely unknown. The word 'chaucha' for green bean is not universal ('ejote' in Mexico, 'vainita' in Peru, 'habichuela' in Colombia).
Spain
Not used. The equivalent would be 'por cuatro duros' or 'por dos perras'.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Chaucha y palitos
Question 1 of 1
If your Argentinian friend says they are working 'por chaucha y palitos', how do they feel about their salary?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'chaucha y palitos' considered rude?
It's not rude, but it is very informal and a bit colloquial. You would use it with friends, family, or in casual conversation. It would sound out of place in a formal business meeting, unless used for specific, informal emphasis.