noh teh-NEHR goh-YEH-teh
Literally, this means 'to not have a neck' (like the neck of a bottle).
It's used to describe something that is absurd, illogical, or just makes no sense.
Que te pidan cinco años de experiencia para tu primer trabajo no tiene gollete.
B2That they ask for five years of experience for your first job is absurd.
¡Pagar tanto por una botella de agua no tiene gollete! Es un robo.
B2Paying so much for a bottle of water makes no sense! It's a rip-off.
La explicación que me dio no tenía gollete, era pura mentira.
C1The explanation he gave me was completely illogical, it was a total lie.
The word 'gollete' refers to the narrow neck of a bottle or jar. The idea behind the idiom is that something 'without a neck' is misshapen, incomplete, or lacks a fundamental, logical structure. Just like a bottle without a neck is useless and makes no sense, a situation that 'no tiene gollete' lacks logic and reason. It's something you can't 'get a handle on' because it's so absurd.
Use 'no tener gollete' when you want to strongly express that something is completely senseless, unfair, or ridiculous. It carries a tone of disbelief and frustration, making it more emphatic than simply saying 'no tiene sentido' (it doesn't make sense).
Mistake: “Using this phrase to talk about a person's physical neck.”
Correction: This idiom is always figurative. It refers to a lack of logic, not a lack of a body part. If you want to talk about a physical neck, use the word 'cuello'.
Mistake: “Using this idiom with a Spanish speaker from Spain.”
Correction: This expression is very common in countries like Chile and Peru but is virtually unknown in Spain. A Spaniard would likely be confused, so it's best to use 'no tiene ni pies ni cabeza' or 'no tiene sentido' with them.
Extremely common and widely used in everyday speech to mean something is absurd or makes no sense.
Also very common and understood with the same meaning.
Used and understood, similar to its use in Chile and Peru.
Very rare to non-existent. Most speakers from Spain would not understand this idiom.
Question 1 of 1
If your Chilean friend says a new rule at work 'no tiene gollete', what do they mean?
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Not at all. It's an informal but common way to express frustration or disbelief at a situation, not a person. You can safely use it in everyday conversation to criticize an idea, a price, or a rule that you find absurd.
