Meter la pata
/meh-TEHR lah PAH-tah/
To make a mistake, say something inappropriate, or screw up. To put your foot in your mouth.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to put the paw/leg in'.
In reality, it means you've made a mistake or said something you shouldn't have.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
Metí la pata cuando le pregunté a María por su novio... no sabía que habían roto.
B1I put my foot in my mouth when I asked Maria about her boyfriend... I didn't know they had broken up.
¡Uy, creo que metí la pata! Le envié el correo electrónico a la persona equivocada.
B1Oops, I think I screwed up! I sent the email to the wrong person.
Intenta no meter la pata durante la entrevista de trabajo.
B2Try not to mess up during the job interview.
📜 Origin Story
This expression likely comes from the world of hunting. Hunters would set traps for animals. When an unsuspecting animal would step into the trap—literally 'meter la pata' (put its paw in)—it made a fatal mistake. The phrase then expanded to refer to any kind of irreversible mistake or blunder made by humans.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Any Kind of Mistake
This is your go-to phrase for almost any screw-up. Use it when you say something awkward, send a text to the wrong person, forget an important appointment, or make a mistake at work. It's incredibly versatile.
It's Always Your Fault
'Meter la pata' implies you are the one responsible for the mistake. It's something you actively did wrong, not something that just happened. It's a great way to own up to a blunder.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Pata' vs. 'Pierna'
Mistake: "Learners sometimes try to use 'pierna' (the word for a human leg) instead of 'pata'."
Correction: The idiom is fixed and always uses 'pata'. Even though you're talking about a human mistake, you must use 'pata', which usually refers to an animal's leg or paw. Saying 'meter la pierna' is incorrect and will sound very strange.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and used by everyone in all informal situations.
Latin America
Universally understood and widely used across all of Latin America. It's one of the most recognized idioms in the entire Spanish-speaking world.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Meter la pata
Question 1 of 1
You accidentally reveal a surprise party to the birthday person. Which phrase best describes what you did?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
How serious is a mistake when you 'meter la pata'?
It can range from a small, embarrassing social slip-up ('I called him by the wrong name') to a more significant error ('I deleted the wrong file'). The context determines the severity, but it's generally not used for tragic or life-threatening mistakes.
Can I use 'meter la pata' in a formal or professional setting?
It's informal, so it's best used with colleagues you know well. In a very formal presentation or with a high-level executive, you might prefer a more formal phrase like 'cometer un error' (to make a mistake).