pie de plomo
/pje de plomo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "heavy foot" is translated into Spanish as pie de plomo.
This phrase is used to describe a tendency to drive a vehicle at high speeds.
Did you know?
- The word plomo shares the same Latin root plumbum as the English word 'plumber', which originally meant someone who worked with lead pipes.
- While plomo means 'lead' in the phrase pie de plomo, the word pie is also used in Spanish as an unadapted borrowing to refer to a 'pie' dessert.
- The word plomo is unusual because the Latin starting sound pl- typically evolved into ll- in Spanish. A fully popular development of the word would have resulted in llomo.
Examples in context
- No me gusta conducir con Roberto, es un conductor que le da al gas.I don't like driving with Roberto, he's a driver who hits the gas pedal.
- Ten cuidado, que tu padre tiene el pie de plomo.Be careful, your father has a heavy foot.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are in a car together.
- Mateo¡Baja la velocidad, Lucía!Slow down, Lucía!
- LucíaNo voy tan rápido.I'm not going that fast.
- MateoTienes pie de plomo hoy.You have a heavy foot today.
- LucíaEstá bien, voy a frenar.Okay, I will slow down.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, pie, plomo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
