búscate una vida
/buskate una bida/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get a life' is translated into Spanish as búscate una vida.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they should have a more interesting, eventful or worthwhile existence. It is often used as a sharp, dismissive insult toward someone who is being boring, intrusive or wasting their time.
Meaning: to have a more interesting, eventful, or worthwhile existence (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb busca (look for/seek), the reflexive pronoun te (for yourself) and una vida (a life).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
búscate una vida is highly informal.
Did you know?
- If you say this to someone in a very formal setting using the 'usted' form, búsquese una vida, it creates a hilarious and jarring contrast between the polite grammatical structure and the incredibly rude sentiment.
- While búscate una vida is a direct translation, Spanish speakers often use the phrase no tienes nada mejor que hacer to express the same dismissive sentiment.
- If said with a certain intonation, búscate una vida can be used playfully between very close friends to tease someone about a trivial obsession.
Examples in context
- Búscate una vida.Get a life.This example shows the phrase used on its own.Tatoeba #10507720 by ecorralest101, translation #1130078 by cntrational
- Búscate una vida, hombre.Get a life, man.This example shows the phrase used with the word hombre.Tatoeba #1562919 by erjabi, translation #926889 by U2FS
- Búscate una vida y deja de molestarme.Get a life and stop bothering me.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A brother and sister are arguing in the living room.
- Elena¡Deja de criticar todo lo que hago!Stop criticizing everything I do!
- AlejandroBúscate una vida, Elena.Get a life, Elena.
- ElenaNo me hables así, Alejandro.Don't talk to me like that, Alejandro.
- AlejandroPues ya eres muy mayor para esto.Well, you are too old for this.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
