noh dar el BRAH-soh ah tor-SEHR
Literally, this means 'to not give one's arm to be twisted'.
In practice, it means refusing to change your mind or give in to pressure.
Intenté convencerlo durante horas, pero no dio su brazo a torcer.
B2I tried to convince him for hours, but he wouldn't give an inch.
Aunque todos estaban en su contra, la directora no dio su brazo a torcer y mantuvo la decisión.
C1Even though everyone was against her, the director stuck to her guns and maintained the decision.
This expression paints a very clear picture. It likely comes from physical contests like arm wrestling ('pulso' in Spanish) or general wrestling. In these fights, forcing your opponent to bend or 'twist' their arm is a sign of victory and their submission. Therefore, 'not giving your arm to be twisted' became a powerful metaphor for refusing to surrender or be defeated in any kind of conflict, argument, or negotiation.
Use this when you want to describe someone who is refusing to change their opinion, decision, or course of action, despite pressure from others. It can be seen as a negative trait (stubbornness) or a positive one (determination).
While the base phrase is 'dar el brazo', it's very common to make it possessive. You'll often hear 'no dio SU brazo a torcer' (he/she didn't give in) or '¡no des TU brazo a torcer!' (don't you give in!).
Mistake: “Saying 'dio su brazo a torcer' to mean someone was convinced by a good argument.”
Correction: The positive form, 'dar el brazo a torcer', means 'to give in' or 'to yield,' often implying it was due to pressure, not necessarily because they were logically persuaded. It suggests reluctance. For a more neutral way to say someone changed their mind, you could use 'cambió de opinión'.
Extremely common and used in all contexts, from casual conversation to politics.
Widely used and understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says, 'Mi papá no da su brazo a torcer con la política,' what does he mean?
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It depends entirely on the context! It can be a compliment, meaning someone is determined and principled ('She stuck to her guns'). It can also be a criticism, meaning someone is unreasonably stubborn ('He's just being pig-headed'). Your tone of voice and the situation will make the meaning clear.
