Inklingo

Le tiró los galgos

/leh tee-ROH los GAHL-gohs/

To flirt with, hit on, or make a romantic pass at someone.

Level:B2Register:InformalCommon:★★★☆☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:
"He/she threw the greyhounds at him/her."
What It Really Means:
To flirt with, hit on, or make a romantic pass at someone.
English Equivalents:
To hit on someoneTo make a pass at someoneTo come on to someone

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal
A literal depiction of 'le tiró los galgos', showing a person throwing two greyhound dogs at another person.

Literally, this means 'to throw the greyhounds at someone'.

✨ Figurative
The figurative meaning of 'le tiró los galgos', showing a person flirting with another at a party.

In practice, it means to flirt with someone or make a romantic advance.

Key Words in This Idiom:

tirar
tirar
to throw
→
galgo

📝 In Action

En la fiesta, Carlos no paraba de mirarla y finalmente le tiró los galgos.

B2

At the party, Carlos couldn't stop looking at her and finally hit on her.

Creo que esa chica te está tirando los galgos, ¡no para de sonreírte!

B2

I think that girl is coming on to you; she won't stop smiling at you!

📜 Origin Story

This expression comes from the world of hunting. Greyhounds ('galgos') are incredibly fast dogs used to chase down prey like rabbits. The idiom creates a vivid picture of someone 'unleashing their best dogs'—that is, their best flirting techniques—in a determined effort to 'catch' the person they're interested in. It implies a direct and energetic pursuit.

⭐ Usage Tips

For a Direct Approach

Use this phrase when someone is making a very clear and direct romantic advance. It's for more than just a subtle hint; it describes an active attempt to flirt or seduce. The verb 'tirar' changes depending on who is doing the flirting (e.g., 'Te estoy tirando los galgos' - I'm hitting on you).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not for Subtle Hints

Mistake: "Using it to describe a very shy or subtle sign of interest, like a quick glance from across the room."

Correction: This idiom is for a more obvious, active attempt. For subtle interest, you might say someone 'le hace ojitos' (makes eyes at them) or 'le echa miraditas' (gives them little looks).

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Very common and widely understood, especially among younger and middle-aged generations.

🌍

Argentina & Uruguay

Also used and understood, fitting in with the local slang.

🌍

Other Latin American countries

Less common. Other expressions like 'echar los perros' (Colombia, Venezuela), 'coquetear', or 'ligar' are more frequently used.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️ Similar Meanings

echar los perros

Literally 'to throw the dogs', also means to hit on someone. Common in Colombia and Venezuela.

tirar los tejos

Literally 'to throw the tiles', another Spanish idiom for making a pass at someone.

⇆ Opposite Meanings

dar calabazas→

To reject someone's romantic advances (literally 'to give pumpkins').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Le tiró los galgos

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says that Juan 'le tiró los galgos' a María, what did Juan do?

🏷️ Tags

AnimalsLove & RomanceSocial Interactions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can women also 'tirar los galgos'?

Absolutely! The expression is completely neutral. Both men and women can 'tirar los galgos' to someone they are interested in. You just change the verb and pronouns to fit the situation, like 'Ella me tiró los galgos' (She hit on me).