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ANDAR CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS: Chilean Spanish Expression

Here is another illustration from my book Speaking Chileno: A Guide to Spanish from Chile. This drawing illustrates the Chilean Spanish expression andar con el culo en las manos.

Chilean Spanish Expression Andar con el culo en las manos

Chilean Spanish Expression: (ANDAR) CON EL CULO EN LAS MANOS

• Literal translation:
to be with the ass in the hands (or similar “to be holding your ass”)

• Meaning:
1) to be scared witless
2) to be worried about something

• Example:
“Este es el mes en el que estamos todos con el culo en las manos por no saber si pasamos de año.”

Check out these other Chile Spanish Slang Expressions articles.

Jared Romey

Founder of the Speaking Latino Spanish Teachers Community, host of the World Language Teacher Summit, and author of 12 books about Spanish varieties.