ponerse manos a la obra
/poneɾse manos a la obɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get busy' is translated into Spanish as ponerse manos a la obra.
The idiom ponerse manos a la obra is used to express the transition from planning or talking to actually starting a task or project.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the phrase is based on the reflexive verb ponerse, you must conjugate it to match the subject, such as nos ponemos manos a la obra (we get busy) or se pusieron manos a la obra (they got busy).
How do you pronounce it?
/poneɾse manos a la obɾa/
Did you know?
- The word obra in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the English word 'opera', as both originate from the Latin 'opus' meaning 'work'.
- Unlike the English 'get busy', which can occasionally have a romantic or sexual connotation, ponerse manos a la obra is strictly focused on productivity and tasks.
- While the phrase translates literally to 'put hands to the work', it is often accompanied by a physical gesture of rolling up one's sleeves to signal the start of a project.
Examples in context
- Es hora de ponerse manos a la obra.It is time to get busy.
- Si queremos terminar, hay que ponerse manos a la obra.If we want to finish, we have to get busy.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are in their kitchen looking at a pile of dirty dishes.
- AlejandroLucía, tenemos que lavar todo esto.Lucía, we have to wash all of this.
- LucíaTienes razón, hay que ponerse manos a la obra.You are right, we need to get busy.
- AlejandroYo lavaré los platos y tú los secas.I will wash the dishes and you dry them.
- LucíaTrato hecho, Alejandro.Deal, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, la, obra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
