dejarlo todo
/dexaɾlo todo/from spelling rules
The phrase "drop everything" in Spanish is translated as dejarlo todo.
You use dejarlo todo when you want to describe stopping all current activities immediately to deal with something more urgent.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb dejar (to leave/to let), the enclitic pronoun lo (it) and the word todo (everything/all).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to say 'drop everything and go', you would conjugate the verb and move the pronoun: déjalo todo y vete.
How do you pronounce it?
/dexaɾlo todo/
Did you know?
- While dejarlo todo means 'drop everything' in a literal sense, it is often used in Spanish songs and literature as a romantic idiom for abandoning one's entire life or social status for a lover.
- While dejarlo todo means to stop activities, using the verb soltar instead of dejar would imply a physical release, like literally letting go of a handle or a rope.
- The word todo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'total', both stemming from the Latin 'tōtus'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, déjelo todo y venga a la reunión.Please drop everything and come to the meeting.
- El jefe nos pidió que abandonáramos todo y nos dirigiéramos a la oficina.The boss asked us to drop everything and come to the office.
- ¡Deja todo y salgamos a divertirnos!Drop everything and let's go have some fun!
- Tienes que dejarlo todo y venir ahora mismo.You have to drop everything and come right now.
- Si suena la alarma, debes dejarlo todo.If the alarm sounds, you must drop everything.
- Tu jefe te llamó y dijo que tienes que dejarlo todo.Your boss called and said you have to drop everything.
- A veces hay que dejarlo todo por la familia.Sometimes one must drop everything for family.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are at home when a sudden emergency call comes in.
- AlejandroElena, tenemos una emergencia, hay que dejarlo todo.Elena, we have an emergency, we have to drop everything.
- Elena¿Qué pasa, Alejandro? ¿Es algo grave?What is happening, Alejandro? Is it something serious?
- AlejandroMi hermano necesita ayuda urgente en el hospital.My brother needs urgent help at the hospital.
- ElenaEntiendo, vamos de inmediato.I understand, let's go immediately.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries todo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
