arrancarme los pelos
/arankaɾme los pelos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "pull my hair out" is translated into Spanish as arrancarme los pelos.
The phrase is used figuratively to express extreme frustration, stress or desperation. For example, you can say Estoy que me arranco los pelos to informally express that you are about to rip your hair out.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb arrancar (to pull out/tear out), the reflexive pronoun me (myself) and los pelos (the hairs).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the reflexive form arrancarse to indicate that the action is being performed on one's own hair. When conjugated in the first person present tense, the reflexive pronoun me moves to the front of the verb, as seen in me arranco los pelos.
How do you pronounce it?
/arankaɾme los pelos/
Did you know?
- While arrancarse los pelos is about frustration, the phrase tirarse los pelos can be used as a highly theatrical gesture to express intense grief or mourning.
- In Spanish, you do not say mi pelo (my hair) in this idiom, but rather los pelos (the hairs), because the reflexive pronoun me already establishes that the hair belongs to you.
- In Spanish, the word pelos refers to coarse hair, while the more delicate hair on your head is often referred to as cabello in formal settings.
Examples in context
- Este examen me va a hacer arrancarme los pelos.This exam is going to make me pull my hair out.
Example conversation
Daniel is struggling with a difficult puzzle.
- DanielNo puedo resolver este puzzle, voy a arrancarme los pelos.I can't solve this puzzle, I'm going to pull my hair out.
- LucíaTranquilízate, Daniel, yo te ayudo.Calm down, Daniel, I will help you.
- DanielEs que es demasiado difícil.It's just that it is too difficult.
- LucíaMira bien aquí, Lucía cree que ya lo encontró.Look closely here, Lucía thinks she already found it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
