Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| estirar la pata | /estiˌɾaɾ la ˈpata/ |
| colgar los guayos | /kolɡaɾ los ɡwaʝos/ (from spelling rules) |
| irse al otro barrio | /iɾse al otɾo barjo/ (from spelling rules) |
| colgar los tenis | /kolˌɡaɾ los ˈtenis/ |
| petatearse | /petateaɾse/ (from spelling rules) |
These expressions are all used to describe the act of dying.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase estirar la pata literally means 'to stretch the leg'.
Which one should you use?
Estirar la pata is a blunt, somewhat irreverent way to say someone died, similar to 'kick the bucket'. In contrast, colgar los tenis is a more euphemistic and softer colloquial way to say someone died compared to estirar la pata. Similarly, irse al otro barrio is a common euphemism used to avoid saying the word 'death' directly, literally meaning 'to go to the other neighborhood'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Estirar la pata is an informal expression, and petatearse is also colloquial. For a softer approach, use the euphemistic colgar los tenis or irse al otro barrio.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form petatearse is a reflexive verb. For example, you would say él se petateó to mean 'he kicked the bucket'.
How do you pronounce it?
/estiˌɾaɾ la ˈpata/
Did you know?
- The expression petatearse refers to the petate, a traditional woven palm mat used in Mexico for sleeping and occasionally for wrapping a body for burial.
- While the English 'kick the bucket' implies a sudden action, the Spanish phrase estirar la pata is a reference to the physical stiffening of limbs during rigor mortis.
- The word pata in the phrase estirar la pata may actually trace its origins back to the Arabic word for 'duck', baṭṭ, via the Andalusian dialect.
Examples in context
- Creo que mi viejo gato está por estirar la pata. Ya no es tan juguetón como antes.I think my old cat is about to kick the bucket, he's not as playful as he used to be.
- El pobre anciano espichó mientras dormía plácidamente.The poor old man kicked the bucket while peacefully sleeping.
- No quiero estirar la pata todavía.I don't want to kick the bucket yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kick the bucket” translations and entries estirar la pata, irse al otro barrio, colgar los tenis, petatearse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colgar, estirar, estirar la pata, irse, la, los, pata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
