Estar hasta las chanclas

/es-TAR AS-tah las CHAN-klas/

To be extremely drunk; wasted. It can also mean to be completely fed up with something.

Level:B2Register:SlangCommon:★★★☆☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To be up to the flip-flops."

What It Really Means:

To be extremely drunk; wasted. It can also mean to be completely fed up with something.

English Equivalents:

To be wastedTo be hammeredTo be fed upTo be sick and tired of something

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'to be up to the flip-flops,' which doesn't make much sense!

✨ Figurative

The actual meaning of 'estar hasta las chanclas', showing a very drunk person at a party looking dizzy.

In reality, it's used to say someone is completely wasted or hammered.

Key Words in This Idiom:

chanclas

📝 In Action

No le hagas caso, está hasta las chanclas y no sabe lo que dice.

Don't pay attention to him, he's totally wasted and doesn't know what he's saying.

Después de tres horas en el tráfico, llegué a casa hasta las chanclas.

After three hours in traffic, I got home completely fed up.

En la boda de mi primo, todos terminamos hasta las chanclas.

At my cousin's wedding, we all ended up hammered.

📜 Origin Story

This is a colorful Mexican expression. Its origin isn't written down, but it's a play on other 'estar hasta...' (to be up to...) phrases like 'estar hasta la coronilla' (to be up to the crown of your head), which means you're fed up. Since 'chanclas' (flip-flops) are at your feet, saying you're 'up to the flip-flops' is a funny, illogical exaggeration. It paints a picture of being so completely overwhelmed by alcohol or frustration that you're metaphorically submerged in it.

⭐ Usage Tips

Primarily for Drunkenness

While it can mean 'fed up', its most famous and frequent use is to describe someone being extremely drunk. It's not for being just a little tipsy; it's for when someone is truly hammered.

Sound Like a Local in Mexico

This is a classic piece of Mexican slang. Using it correctly in an informal setting will make you sound much more natural. Just be aware that it's very regional and might not be understood in Spain or parts of South America.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Formal Situations

Mistake: "Saying 'El gerente estaba hasta las chanclas en la reunión' ('The manager was wasted at the meeting')."

Correction: This is strictly slang for casual conversations with friends. In a formal or professional context, it would sound very inappropriate. To say someone is fed up formally, you'd use 'harto' or 'muy cansado'.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇲🇽

Mexico

Extremely common and widely understood. It's a hallmark of informal Mexican Spanish.

🌍

Central America

Understood in some countries, often due to the influence of Mexican media, but not as widespread.

🇪🇸

Spain

Not used at all. A person from Spain would be confused by this phrase. They use expressions like 'estar como una cuba' or 'ir ciego' to mean very drunk.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

estar hasta las manitas

Literally 'to be up to the little hands,' another Mexican slang term for being very drunk.

estar hasta la coronilla

To be up to the crown of the head; the classic way to say you are 'fed up' with something.

⇆Opposite Meanings

estar sobrio como un juez

To be 'sober as a judge'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Estar hasta las chanclas

Question 1 of 1

Your friend in Mexico City tells you, 'Ayer en la fiesta, terminé hasta las chanclas.' What does he mean?

🏷️ Tags

ClothingSocial InteractionsMexicoCommonly Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'estar hasta las chanclas' for things other than being drunk or fed up?

No, its meaning is limited to those two states of being overwhelmed, with 'drunk' being the most common by far. Don't use it to say you are 'full' of food, for example.

Is this expression offensive?

It's not offensive, but it is very informal slang. It's the kind of thing you'd say among friends. You wouldn't use it when talking to your grandmother or your boss.