Quedarse frito

/keh-DAR-seh FREE-toh/

To fall fast asleep; to conk out or crash.

Level:B1Register:InformalCommon:★★★★★

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To stay/get fried"

What It Really Means:

To fall fast asleep; to conk out or crash.

English Equivalents:

To be out like a lightTo crashTo conk outTo be dead to the world

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, 'quedarse frito' means 'to get fried', like a piece of food.

✨ Figurative

In reality, it means to fall asleep very quickly and deeply, like you've 'crashed'.

Key Words in This Idiom:

quedarsefrito

📝 In Action

Estaba tan cansado del viaje que me quedé frito en el sofá.

I was so tired from the trip that I crashed on the sofa.

No hagas ruido, que el bebé por fin se ha quedado frito.

Don't make any noise, the baby has finally fallen fast asleep.

La película era tan aburrida que a la media hora ya estaba todo el mundo frito.

The movie was so boring that half an hour in, everyone was already out like a light.

📜 Origin Story

This phrase is a fun visual comparison. Think about what happens when you fry food: it becomes still, quiet, and stops moving. The idiom humorously compares a person who falls into a deep, sudden sleep to a piece of food being 'fried'—they become completely still and unresponsive. It's an exaggeration that perfectly captures the feeling of crashing from exhaustion.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use for Sudden, Deep Sleep

This is your go-to phrase when someone falls asleep very quickly or is sleeping so soundly you can't wake them. It works for a long night's sleep or an unplanned nap on the couch.

Keep it Casual

‘Quedarse frito’ is very informal and friendly. It’s perfect for telling a story to friends or talking about family, but you wouldn't use it in a formal setting.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Don't Confuse with 'Estar Frito'

Mistake: "Thinking 'estar frito' also means to be asleep."

Correction: Be careful! While 'quedarse frito' means to fall asleep, 'estar frito' means 'to be screwed' or 'to be toast'. The verb is crucial: 'quedarse' (to become/stay) signals the change into sleep, while 'estar' (to be) describes a bad situation. For example, 'Si no termino el informe, estoy frito' ('If I don't finish the report, I'm toast').

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and used by people of all ages. You will hear it constantly.

🌎

Latin America

It's understood in many countries, especially in places like Argentina, but it's much less common than in Spain. Many countries have their own popular equivalents, like 'quedarse jetón' in Mexico.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

dormir como un tronco

To sleep like a log

caer redondo

To fall flat, to conk out

⇆Opposite Meanings

pasar la noche en blanco→

To have a sleepless night

estar desvelado

To be wide awake (when you should be sleeping)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Quedarse frito

Question 1 of 1

If your friend says 'Anoche me quedé frito en el sofá', what happened?

🏷️ Tags

Food & DrinkCommonly UsedBody Parts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'quedarse frita' for a woman?

Yes, absolutely. Like many adjectives in Spanish, 'frito' changes with gender. You would say 'Él se quedó frito' for a man and 'Ella se quedó frita' for a woman. If it's a group of all women, it's 'Ellas se quedaron fritas'.

Is this idiom considered rude or funny?

It's definitely not rude! It's a humorous, informal, and very common expression. People use it to describe themselves and others in a lighthearted way. It just adds a bit of color to the conversation.