Te voy a dar una paliza
/te boi a daɾ una paliθa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I will beat you up" is translated into Spanish as Te voy a dar una paliza.
This phrase is used as a direct physical threat to attack someone and cause them bodily harm. It is considered aggressive and confrontational.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Te voy a dar una paliza literally translates to "I am going to give you a beating".
Which one should you use?
While Te voy a dar una paliza is a common way to express this threat, you can replace the word paliza with tunda in the phrase Te voy a dar una tunda to convey a similar meaning of a physical beating.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may hear Te voy a poner una madriza to mean "I'm going to give you a severe beating". In Argentina, the expressions Te voy a reventar or Te voy a fajar are used to mean "I'm going to beat you up".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Te voy a dar una paliza uses the ir + a + infinitive construction, which expresses a near-certain future intention.
Did you know?
- While paliza is a threat of violence, it is also used colloquially to describe a sports game where one team wins by a huge margin.
- In Mexico, the word madriza comes from madera, meaning 'wood'. This links the threat of a beating to the same material as a wooden club or plank.
- In Argentina, the word fajar in Te voy a fajar also means 'to belt' or 'to gird'. This implies the action of striking someone as if using a leather belt.
Examples in context
- ¡Te voy a dar una paliza si no te callas!I will beat you up if you don't shut up!
- Si vuelves a tocar mis cosas, te voy a dar una paliza.If you touch my things again, I will beat you up.
- ¡Cuidado, que te voy a dar una paliza!Watch out, or I'll beat you up!
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are arguing intensely in a parking lot.
- Lucía¡No me provoques más, Mateo!Stop provoking me, Mateo!
- MateoNo me importa lo que digas.I don't care what you say.
- LucíaTen cuidado, porque te voy a dar una paliza.Be careful, because I will beat you up.
- MateoInténtalo si te atreves.Try it if you dare.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
