The Words — Expressions, Page 2

te andan pedaleando la bicicleta - two friends looking at a phone together, one breaking bad news to the other

te andan pedaleando la bicicleta: Nobody in this sentence owns a bicycle Aug 26, 2026

me cae gordo - a woman at a desk showing a colleague something on her phone with a look of distaste

me cae gordo: Nothing to do with weight, everything to do with dislike Aug 17, 2026

ya párale - a woman losing patience with a small boy waving a pencil at the homework table

ya párale: Say it flat and it stops being playful Aug 13, 2026

tirar la onda - a man leaning in over a bar table to a woman who is enjoying the attempt

tirar la onda: A Condesa bar, two beers in, nobody has said anything direct yet Aug 11, 2026

me caga - a man at a desk shutting his laptop while a colleague keeps talking

me caga: Aimed at traffic, a boss, and the rain, all in one day Aug 10, 2026

¿qué onda contigo? - a woman with folded arms confronting a young man in a kitchen doorway

¿qué onda contigo?: 'You okay?' or 'what is wrong with you?' Only the tone tells Aug 7, 2026

estar en chinga - a man hunched over a laptop in a cafe window with his headphones on and a torta untouched

estar en chinga: Sent at 9:40pm from an office on Reforma Aug 6, 2026

ya estuvo - a grandmother raising a finger between two young men arguing across the dinner table

ya estuvo: The two words a Mexican mother uses to end a conversation Aug 3, 2026

mala onda - a young man eating a taco while his friend glares at the empty plate beside him

mala onda: A verdict you cannot quite justify out loud Aug 2, 2026

¿qué pex? - a young man walking into a friend's living room with his hands out in greeting

¿qué pex?: Fine at nineteen. At forty it sounds like you are trying Jul 31, 2026

me cae bien - a young man giving a thumbs up about someone as he walks with a friend

me cae bien: Approval that stops well short of romance Jul 30, 2026

echarse un taco - a young man walking toward a taco stand at golden hour

echarse un taco: Two coworkers, 2pm, already halfway out the door Jul 29, 2026

de plano - a woman with a mug wagging a finger while a younger woman listens

de plano: Sounds neutral. Lands like a door closing Jul 27, 2026

echar los perros - a young man leaning on the wall over a woman, laying on the charm

echar los perros: You throw dogs at someone. Somehow that means you like them Jul 21, 2026

al tiro - a delivery rider outside a shop pulling his helmet on while checking his phone

al tiro: Being told to be sharp, usually right after you were not Jul 19, 2026

¿qué hongo? - two friends greeting each other outside a cafe near the university

¿qué hongo?: Nonsense on purpose. Only works with people who know you Jul 17, 2026

me da hueva - a young man slumped on some steps waving off a friend holding a soccer ball

me da hueva: You have the energy. You do not have it for this Jul 16, 2026

me cae - two women on a park bench, one insisting on something with both hands

me cae: A gut reaction, used as a way to swear you mean it Jul 14, 2026

hasta atrás - a young man sitting on a curb at night holding his head while a friend crouches beside him

hasta atrás: Third mezcal in, and the friend has gone quiet Jul 8, 2026

órale pues - a woman on the phone at a sidewalk table, agreeing to something with a grin

órale pues: 'Now' plus 'then'. Somehow that is a goodbye Jul 7, 2026

¿qué rollo? - two friends gripping hands in the doorway of a barber shop

¿qué rollo?: The low-key 'what is the deal' that CDMX runs on Jul 4, 2026

echar la hueva - a young man stretched out asleep on a red sofa with his phone on his chest

echar la hueva: Literally about testicles. In practice, a nap Jul 2, 2026

estar pedo - one friend holding another up outside a bar at night

estar pedo: Everyone uses it. Nobody uses it in front of their suegra Jul 1, 2026

neta del planeta - a woman swearing on her chest to a skeptical friend on a schoolyard wall

neta del planeta: Hyperbole bolted onto a word that already meant truth Jun 30, 2026