Como el perro de las dos tortas
/KOH-moh el PEH-rroh deh lahs dohs TOR-tahs/
To be caught between two choices and lose both due to indecision or greed.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'like the dog of the two cakes'.
It describes someone who, by trying to have two things at once, ends up with nothing.
📝 In Action
Quiso ir a dos fiestas la misma noche y al final se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas; no llegó a ninguna a tiempo.
B2He wanted to go to two parties on the same night and in the end, he was left like the dog with two cakes; he didn't get to either one on time.
Por intentar aceptar dos ofertas de trabajo a la vez, se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas cuando ambas empresas retiraron su oferta.
C1By trying to accept two job offers at once, he ended up with nothing when both companies withdrew their offers.
📜 Origin Story
This expression comes from a classic fable, often attributed to Aesop. The story tells of a dog carrying a piece of meat (or bread) in its mouth. As it crosses a river, it sees its reflection in the water and mistakes it for another dog with a bigger piece of meat. Greedily, it opens its mouth to snatch the other piece, but in doing so, drops its own into the river and is left with nothing. The 'two tortas' is a popular Spanish adaptation of this timeless tale about the perils of greed.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use it with 'Quedarse'
This idiom is most often paired with the verb 'quedarse' (to be left, to end up). For example, 'Al final, se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas' (In the end, he was left with nothing).
A Cautionary Tale
Use this phrase to describe a situation where someone's indecisiveness or greed led them to lose both options. It serves as a colorful way to say, 'They tried to have it all and ended up with nothing.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
It’s About the Final Result
Mistake: "Using the phrase just to describe someone who is currently undecided between two options."
Correction: The key to this idiom is the negative outcome. It's used after the person has already lost both things. If they are still just thinking about their choices, they haven't become 'the dog with two cakes' yet.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Very common and universally understood as a classic fable and expression.
Latin America
Widely known and understood, especially in countries like Mexico. The underlying fable is universal, so the meaning is clear even if other local expressions are also used.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Como el perro de las dos tortas
Question 1 of 1
If your friend 'se quedó como el perro de las dos tortas', what happened?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
In this idiom, what does 'torta' mean?
Historically, it refers to a simple, round bread or cake, which fits the fable. The meaning is understood regardless of whether you picture a cake (like in Spain) or a sandwich (like in Mexico). The key is that it's something desirable that the dog wants.