Quien mucho abarca poco aprieta

/kyen MOO-choh ah-BAR-kah POH-koh ah-PRYEH-tah/

Trying to do too many things at once will result in none of them being done well. It's a warning about the lack of focus.

Level:B2Register:NeutralCommon:★★★★☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"Whoever embraces a lot, squeezes little."

What It Really Means:

Trying to do too many things at once will result in none of them being done well. It's a warning about the lack of focus.

English Equivalents:

Don't bite off more than you can chewJack of all trades, master of noneSpreading yourself too thin

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'Whoever embraces a lot, squeezes little'.

✨ Figurative

It means if you try to do too many things at once, you won't do any of them well.

Key Words in This Idiom:

abarcarapretar

📝 In Action

Intenté estudiar para tres exámenes y trabajar a la vez. Al final, no me fue bien en ninguno. Ya sabes, quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.

I tried to study for three exams and work at the same time. In the end, I didn't do well in any of them. You know, don't bite off more than you can chew.

Mi consejo es que te centres en un solo proyecto. Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.

My advice is to focus on just one project. He who tries to do too much, accomplishes little.

📜 Origin Story

This is a classic Spanish proverb, or 'refrán', that comes from simple, everyday experience. Imagine trying to carry a huge armful of firewood or apples. If you grab too many at once ('mucho abarca'), your grip will be weak and you won't be able to hold them tightly ('poco aprieta'), causing you to drop everything. The saying applies this very physical and visual idea to any task in life, from work projects to personal goals.

⭐ Usage Tips

Giving Friendly Advice

This is a perfect, gentle way to advise a friend or colleague who is taking on too many responsibilities. It's a piece of timeless wisdom that sounds helpful, not critical.

Explaining Your Own Limits

You can also use it to explain why you are turning down a new task or project. For example, 'Me encantaría ayudar, pero ya tengo demasiado trabajo y, como dicen, quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

It's a Fixed Phrase

Mistake: "Trying to change the words or conjugate the verbs, like saying 'Yo mucho abarco, poco aprieto'."

Correction: Treat this like a single block of wisdom. It's a proverb, so it never changes. You always say the full phrase, 'Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta', exactly as it is.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common. It's a cornerstone of the 'refranero español' (the collection of Spanish proverbs) that everyone knows.

🌎

Latin America

Universally known and used across all countries, from Mexico to Argentina. It's a fundamental piece of shared cultural wisdom.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

No se puede estar en misa y repicando

You can't be at mass and ringing the bells (i.e., you can't be in two places or do two things at once).

⇆Opposite Meanings

Matar dos pájaros de un tiro

To kill two birds with one stone (i.e., to accomplish two things with a single action).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Quien mucho abarca poco aprieta

Question 1 of 1

Your friend is learning guitar, studying French, training for a marathon, and starting a new business all at once. What proverb could you use to advise them?

🏷️ Tags

Commonly UsedWork & BusinessDifficulty

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta' a formal or informal saying?

It's neutral and very versatile. As a traditional proverb, it can be used in informal chats with friends and family, but it's also perfectly acceptable in more formal settings, like a business meeting or a presentation, to make a point about the importance of focus.