Spanish grammar
Idioms of protest
Talk about protest and resistance with everyday idioms.
From the scene Poner el grito en el cielo (To hit the roof)
In short
Protest idioms: poner el grito en el cielo, estar hasta las narices, no dar su brazo a torcer, dar la cara.
Your turn
Which one goes with she is fed up with all the offers?
Options: puso el grito en el cielo · no da su brazo a torcer · está hasta las narices de tanta oferta
Show answer
she is fed up with all the offers → está hasta las narices de tanta oferta
How it works
Poner el grito en el cielo = to hit the roof, protest loudly.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Don Ramón, los vecinos necesitan que usted dé la (blank).
Options: cara · brazo · cielo
Show answer
Don Ramón, los vecinos necesitan que usted dé la cara.
Don Ramón, the neighbours need you to face up to this.
Good to know
Estar hasta las narices (de) = to be fed up (with). No dar su brazo a torcer = not to give in.
Good to know
Defender a capa y espada = to defend tooth and nail. Dar la cara = to face up to things, speak up in person.
she hit the roof puso el grito en el cielo
Tomás
¿Ya supiste? Doña Elena puso el grito en el cielo.
Did you hear? Doña Elena hit the roof.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Ya supiste? Doña Elena (blank).
Options: está hasta las narices de tanta oferta · no da su brazo a torcer · puso el grito en el cielo
Show answer
Tomás
¿Ya supiste? Doña Elena puso el grito en el cielo.
Did you hear? Doña Elena hit the roof.
she is fed up with all the offers está hasta las narices de tanta oferta
Nuria
Normal. Está hasta las narices de tanta oferta.
No wonder. She's fed up to the back teeth with all the offers.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Normal. (blank).
Options: Puso el grito en el cielo · No da su brazo a torcer · Está hasta las narices de tanta oferta
Show answer
Nuria
Normal. Está hasta las narices de tanta oferta.
No wonder. She's fed up to the back teeth with all the offers.
she won't give in no da su brazo a torcer
Tomás
Y no da su brazo a torcer. Dice que de aquí no la saca nadie.
And she won't give in. She says nobody is getting her out of here.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank). Dice que de aquí no la saca nadie.
Options: puso el grito en el cielo · está hasta las narices de tanta oferta · no da su brazo a torcer
Show answer
Tomás
Y no da su brazo a torcer. Dice que de aquí no la saca nadie.
And she won't give in. She says nobody is getting her out of here.
she defends us tooth and nail nos defiende a capa y espada
Tomás
Doña Elena nos defiende a capa y espada. ¿Y usted?
Doña Elena defends us tooth and nail. And you?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena (blank). ¿Y usted?
Options: nos defiende a capa y espada · puso el grito en el cielo · está hasta las narices de tanta oferta
Show answer
Tomás
Doña Elena nos defiende a capa y espada. ¿Y usted?
Doña Elena defends us tooth and nail. And you?
I'll face up to it (in person) daré la cara
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| she hit the roof | puso el grito en el cielo |
|---|---|
| she is fed up with all the offers | está hasta las narices de tanta oferta |
| she won't give in | no da su brazo a torcer |
| she defends us tooth and nail | nos defiende a capa y espada |
| I'll face up to it (in person) | daré la cara |
More lines from the story
- TomásDon Ramón, los vecinos necesitan que usted dé la cara.Don Ramón, the neighbours need you to face up to this.
- Ramón¿Dar la cara? Yo doy la cara todos los días. Mírala.Show my face? I show my face every day. Look at it.