crecer como la espuma
/kɾeθeɾ komo la espuma/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'grow like a weed' can be translated into Spanish as crecer como la espuma.
This idiom is commonly used to describe children growing taller very quickly or the rapid expansion of a business or phenomenon.
Meaning: grow rapidly (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to grow like the foam' (as in the foam on top of a liquid or beer).
Which one should you use?
While English uses the metaphor of a 'weed' to denote rapid growth, Spanish uses the metaphor of 'foam' (espuma) to describe the same phenomenon.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial expression Crecer como chicharro is used in Spain to describe fast growth.
Did you know?
- The root of the verb crecer is the same source that gave English the word 'crescent', linking the act of growing to the shape of the moon.
- The English 'weed' in the original idiom often carries a negative connotation of being invasive, whereas the Spanish espuma is a neutral metaphor for sheer speed and volume.
- In Spanish, espuma refers to any kind of foam, from the bubbles on a beer or a cappuccino to the sea foam on a beach.
Examples in context
- Ese bebé parece crecer como la espuma.That baby seems to grow like a weed.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries como, crecer, crecer como la espuma, espuma, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
