Dar gato por liebre
/dar GAH-toh por LYAY-bray/
To deceive someone by giving them something of lower quality than what was promised or expected.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to give a cat for a hare'.
In reality, it means to be scammed or tricked with a low-quality substitute.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Compré un reloj de marca por internet, pero creo que me dieron gato por liebre. ¡Es de plástico!
B2I bought a brand-name watch online, but I think they sold me a pup. It's made of plastic!
El mecánico me cobró por una pieza nueva y original, pero me dio gato por liebre con una usada.
B2The mechanic charged me for a new, original part, but he pulled a fast one on me with a used one.
¡Ten cuidado en esa tienda! Son famosos por dar gato por liebre a los turistas.
B2Be careful in that shop! They're famous for swindling tourists.
📜 Origin Story
This colorful expression comes from the Middle Ages. In old inns and taverns, mischievous innkeepers would sometimes serve travelers cat meat instead of the more expensive hare meat. Since both animals look similar once skinned and cooked, it was an easy way to cheat customers out of their money. The saying caught on to describe any situation where someone is tricked with a lower-quality substitute.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Scams and Bad Deals
This is your go-to phrase for any situation where you've been deceived, especially in a purchase. Think fake products, shoddy repairs, or anything that wasn't what you paid for.
Focus on the Deception
The core of this idiom is the act of tricking someone on purpose. Use it when you want to emphasize that someone was cheated or swindled, not that they made an honest mistake.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not for Simple Mistakes
Mistake: "Using it when someone makes an honest error, like giving you the wrong change by accident."
Correction: This idiom implies intentional deceit. If it's an honest error, it's better to just say 'fue un error' (it was a mistake) or 'se equivocó' (he/she made a mistake).
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and universally understood.
Latin America
Widely known and used across most of Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina. It's a standard part of the Spanish language.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Dar gato por liebre
Question 1 of 1
If a friend says, 'El vendedor me dio gato por liebre', what happened?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'dar gato por liebre' for things other than buying products?
Yes, absolutely! While it's most common for commercial transactions, you can use it for any situation where you were promised one thing and deceptively given another. For example, if a politician promises better services but then cuts funding, you could say they 'dieron gato por liebre'.