Tener la sartén por el mango

/teh-NER lah sar-TEN por el MAN-go/

To be in control of a situation; to have the upper hand.

Level:B2Register:InformalCommon:★★★★☆

💡 Understanding the Idiom

Literal Translation:

"To have the frying pan by the handle"

What It Really Means:

To be in control of a situation; to have the upper hand.

English Equivalents:

To have the upper handTo be in the driver's seatTo call the shotsTo hold all the cards

🎨 Literal vs. Figurative

💭 Literal

Literally, this means 'to have the frying pan by the handle'.

✨ Figurative

The actual meaning of 'tener la sartén por el mango', showing a person confidently leading a business negotiation.

In practice, it means to be in charge or have control of a situation.

Key Words in This Idiom:

tener

to have

→

sarténmango

📝 In Action

En esta negociación, nosotros tenemos la sartén por el mango.

In this negotiation, we have the upper hand.

Desde que consiguió esa información, ella tiene la sartén por el mango y puede decidir qué hacer.

Ever since she got that information, she's in the driver's seat and can decide what to do.

No te preocupes, con la nueva ley de nuestro lado, tenemos la sartén por el mango.

Don't worry, with the new law on our side, we're calling the shots.

📜 Origin Story

This idiom comes straight from the kitchen. Imagine two people trying to cook with one frying pan. The person holding the handle is in control. They decide where the pan goes, what happens to the food, and they are safe from the heat. The handle is the point of control, so holding it means you're the one in charge of the whole situation.

⭐ Usage Tips

Show Who's in Charge

Use this idiom to describe who has the power or control in any situation, from a simple argument between friends to a major business negotiation.

It's About Control, Not Just Cooking

While the image is from the kitchen, the idiom applies to any context where there's a power dynamic: relationships, work, politics, sports, etc. It's all about having the power to make the key decisions.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'mango' (handle) with 'mango' (fruit)

Mistake: "Thinking the phrase involves the fruit 'mango', which can be confusing for learners."

Correction: In this context, 'mango' means 'handle'. The image is of a frying pan handle, which gives you control, not the tropical fruit. They are two different words that happen to be spelled the same.

🌎 Where It's Used

🇪🇸

Spain

Extremely common and used in all contexts, from casual conversation to business.

🌎

Latin America

Very widely used and understood across most countries. It's a standard, well-known idiom.

🔗 Related Idioms

↔️Similar Meanings

llevar la voz cantante

To be the leader or main person in charge (literally 'to carry the singing voice').

cortar el bacalao

To call the shots (literally 'to cut the codfish'). Primarily used in Spain.

⇆Opposite Meanings

estar a merced de alguien

To be at someone's mercy.

no tener ni voz ni voto

To have no say in the matter (literally 'to have neither voice nor vote').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: Tener la sartén por el mango

Question 1 of 1

If your colleague says, 'En este proyecto, María tiene la sartén por el mango', what does she mean?

🏷️ Tags

House & HomeCommonly UsedSocial Interactions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this idiom in a formal or business setting?

Yes, absolutely. While it's common in informal speech, it's also perfectly acceptable and frequently used in more formal contexts like business meetings or negotiations to describe who has the strategic advantage.

Is there a verb for when someone takes control?

Yes, you can use the verb 'coger' or 'tomar'. For example, 'Ella le cogió la sartén por el mango' means 'She took control of the situation from him'.