What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the direct object pronoun lo (it) and the first-person singular past tense of clavar (to nail/to drive in a nail).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, ¡Lo clavé! is used to express the idea of 'nailed it' or 'hit the mark'. In Spain, you can use the expression ¡Lo bordé! to mean 'I nailed it'. In Argentina, the popular expression ¡La rompí! is used to communicate achievement or success. If you want to use slang to convey a strong sense of accomplishment, you can say ¡Lo peté! For an informal way to say 'I got it perfectly', use ¡Me salió de diez!
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'you nailed it' to a friend, change the verb to the second-person singular past tense lo clavaste. To say 'he/she nailed it', use the third-person singular past tense lo clavó.
Did you know?
- While lo clavé means 'I nailed it' in a positive sense, the verb clavar is also used in slang to describe being cheated or overcharged for a product.
- In Spain, the phrase lo bordé suggests you did something perfectly, but it actually comes from the art of embroidery, implying you 'edged' or 'bordered' the work with exquisite detail.
- While English speakers use 'nail' to imply precision, in many Spanish-speaking countries you would actually say la rompí, which literally means 'I broke it'.
Examples in context
- ¡Lo peté en el examen!I aced the exam!
- ¡La rompí en la presentación!I nailed the presentation!
- ¡Lo clavé en el examen!I nailed it on the exam!
- Esa nota de piano, lo clavé.That piano note, I nailed it.
- No sé cómo, pero lo clavé.I don't know how, but I nailed it.
Example conversation
Javier just finished a difficult presentation at work.
- María¿Cómo te fue con la presentación, Javier?How did it go with the presentation, Javier?
- Javier¡Muy bien, lo clavé!Very well, I nailed it!
- María¡Qué bueno! Me alegro mucho por ti.That's great! I'm very happy for you.
- JavierGracias, María. Fue un alivio.Thanks, María. It was a relief.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
