Cortar el bacalao

/kor-TAR el bah-kah-LAH-oh/

To be in charge, call the shots, or be the boss of a situation.

Level:B2Register:InformalCommon:★★★★☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To cut the codfish."

What It Really Means:

To be in charge, call the shots, or be the boss of a situation.

English Equivalents:

To call the shotsTo run the showTo be top dogTo wear the pants

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this phrase means 'to cut the codfish'.

✨ Figurative

In practice, it means to be the one with authority, the person who 'calls the shots'.

Key Words in This Idiom:

cortarbacalao

📝 In Action

En esta casa, mi abuela es la que corta el bacalao.

In this house, my grandmother is the one who calls the shots.

No me preguntes a mí, pregúntale al jefe. Él es quien corta el bacalao aquí.

Don't ask me, ask the boss. He's the one who runs the show here.

Desde que ascendieron a Laura, está claro que ella corta el bacalao en el departamento.

Since Laura was promoted, it's clear she calls the shots in the department.

📜 Origin Story

This expression comes from a time when dried and salted codfish ('bacalao') was a very important and valuable food, especially in places far from the sea. In families, general stores, or even on ships, the person with the authority—usually the father of the family or the shop owner—was the one who had the privilege of cutting and distributing the precious cod. This simple act of slicing the fish symbolized their power and control over the resources, so 'cutting the cod' became a synonym for being the boss.

⭐ Usage Tips

Identify the Leader

Use this phrase to point out who has the real power or authority in any group, whether it's a family, a group of friends, or an office. It's about who makes the final decisions.

Use it with 'Quien'

It's very common to structure the sentence like this: '[Person] es quien corta el bacalao' (So-and-so is the one who calls the shots). This clearly identifies the leader.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not Just for Men

Mistake: "Thinking the phrase can only apply to a male boss, similar to the old-fashioned idea of the 'man of the house'."

Correction: This idiom is completely gender-neutral. You can say 'ella corta el bacalao' just as easily as 'él corta el bacalao'. It refers to the person with authority, regardless of gender.

Confusing it with Cooking

Mistake: "Using the idiom when you are literally just talking about preparing food."

Correction: While you can literally 'cut codfish' in the kitchen, this phrase is used figuratively 99% of the time. If you say 'Mi padre corta el bacalao', everyone will assume you mean he's the boss, not that he's making dinner.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and widely understood across all regions.

🌎

Latin America

It's understood in some countries, but it is much less common than in Spain. People are more likely to use other expressions like 'llevar los pantalones' (to wear the pants) or 'ser el que manda' (to be the one who commands).

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️ Similar Meanings

llevar la voz cantante

Literally 'to carry the singing voice'; to be the leader or main spokesperson.

llevar los pantalones

To wear the pants; to be the dominant person in a relationship or household.

⇆ Opposite Meanings

ser un cero a la izquierda

To be a zero on the left; to be a nobody or have no influence.

no pintar nada→

To not paint anything; to have no role or say in a matter.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Cortar el bacalao

Question 1 of 1

If your colleague says, 'En esta reunión, Sofía es la que corta el bacalao', what does she mean?

🏷️ Tags

Food & DrinkWork & BusinessCommonly UsedSpain

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cortar el bacalao' a formal or informal expression?

It's definitely informal. You would use it in everyday conversation with friends, family, or colleagues you know well. You probably wouldn't write it in a formal business report or academic paper.