Montar un pollo
/mon-TAR oon POH-yoh/
To make a scene, cause a commotion, or kick up a fuss, usually in an angry or dramatic way.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to set up a chicken', which makes no sense!
In reality, it means to cause a scene or make a big fuss.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
El niño montó un pollo en el supermercado porque no le compraron un dulce.
B2The child threw a tantrum in the supermarket because they didn't buy him a candy.
No montes un pollo por una tontería así, no vale la pena.
B2Don't make a scene over something so silly, it's not worth it.
Cuando le dijeron que su vuelo estaba cancelado, montó un pollo tremendo en el aeropuerto.
C1When they told him his flight was canceled, he kicked up a huge storm at the airport.
📜 Origin Story
This is a fun one! The story goes that this expression is actually a mix-up. The original phrase was likely 'montar un poyo' (with a 'y'). A 'poyo' is a stone bench often found in public squares. Orators would stand on a 'poyo' to give speeches. If the speech was controversial or terrible, the crowd would get angry and cause a scene. Over time, the word 'poyo' (bench) got confused with the much more common word 'pollo' (chicken), creating the funny and memorable image we have today!
⭐ Usage Tips
For Public Scenes
Use this when someone is making a loud, embarrassing, and often angry scene in public. It's perfect for describing tantrums, loud arguments in a restaurant, or someone complaining dramatically.
It's Always Negative
This expression always has a negative feel. You 'montas un pollo' when you are overreacting or behaving badly. It's not a good thing!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Think About the Chicken
Mistake: "Trying to connect the meaning of the phrase to an actual chicken."
Correction: The chicken part is just a historical quirk. Forget about the bird and just remember that the phrase means 'to make a scene'. The mental image of someone setting up a chicken can be a funny way to remember it, but it has nothing to do with the meaning.
🌎 Where It's Used
Spain
Extremely common and used daily. Everyone will understand it.
Latin America
Less common than in Spain. While it might be understood in some countries, local expressions like 'hacer un escándalo' or 'hacer un berrinche' are often preferred.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Montar un pollo
Question 1 of 1
If someone 'monta un pollo' in a restaurant, what are they doing?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'montar un pollo' for a child's tantrum?
Yes, absolutely! It's a perfect and very common way to describe a child throwing a tantrum in a public place, like a supermarket or a park.
Is 'montar un pollo' considered a rude expression?
The expression itself isn't rude, but it describes rude behavior. You would use it to talk *about* someone making a scene, but you probably wouldn't say '¡Estás montando un pollo!' to the person directly unless you wanted to escalate the argument.