Hacer la cama
/ah-SEHR la KAH-mah/
To frame someone for a crime or wrongdoing; to set someone up to fail.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, 'hacer la cama' means 'to make the bed', a common daily chore.
Figuratively, it means to frame someone or set them up to take the blame.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado con ese compañero, es capaz de hacerte la cama para conseguir un ascenso.
C1Be careful with that colleague, he's capable of setting you up to get a promotion.
El detective se dio cuenta de que al sospechoso le habían hecho la cama para culparlo del robo.
C1The detective realized that the suspect had been framed to take the blame for the robbery.
📜 Origin Story
The figurative meaning of 'hacer la cama' plays on the idea of preparing a situation for someone. Just as you prepare a bed for someone to lie in, this idiom suggests you are carefully arranging a 'trap' or a set of false circumstances for someone to fall into. You're 'making the bed' of their downfall by planting evidence or creating a misleading situation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Everything!
This is a tricky one because 99% of the time you hear 'hacer la cama', it literally means 'to make the bed'. The figurative meaning of 'framing someone' is much rarer and is only used in contexts of crime, betrayal, or serious deception. If the conversation is about daily routines, it's literal. If it's about someone getting in trouble unfairly, it's figurative.
A Serious Accusation
Using this idiom figuratively is a strong accusation. It's not for lighthearted teasing. It implies a deliberate and malicious act of betrayal to make someone look guilty.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Assuming the Literal Meaning
Mistake: "Hearing 'Le hicieron la cama en el trabajo' and thinking someone kindly made a bed for their colleague at the office."
Correction: Always check the context! If the conversation involves problems, betrayal, or someone getting fired, it almost certainly means they were framed or set up.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
The figurative meaning is well-understood, especially in contexts of crime or politics, but it's not used as frequently in everyday conversation as its literal meaning.
Latin America
Usage varies. It's a known slang term for 'framing someone' in countries like Argentina and Uruguay. In other regions, different expressions might be more common, like 'poner un cuatro' (Venezuela) or 'tender una trampa'.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Hacer la cama
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says, 'Creo que mi jefe me hizo la cama y por eso me despidieron,' what does he mean?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the figurative meaning of 'hacer la cama' common?
No, it's much less common than the literal meaning ('to make the bed'). You'll hear it in specific situations involving betrayal, office politics, or crime stories. In everyday conversation, 'hacer la cama' almost always refers to the household chore.