pisarte los talones
/pisaɾte los talones/from spelling rules
The English phrase "stepping on your toes" translates to Spanish as pisarte los talones when used to mean following someone very closely or being right behind them.
How do you pronounce it?
/pisaɾte los talones/
Did you know?
- If you wish to describe someone interfering in your affairs or 'stepping on your toes' in a metaphorical sense, Spanish speakers often use the phrase meter las narices, which literally means 'to stick one's nose in'.
- While English uses 'toes' for this meaning, Spanish uses talones, which means 'heels'. To an English speaker, the phrase sounds like you are stepping on someone's heels rather than their toes.
- The verb pisar is used in the expression pisar el acelerador to mean 'stepping on the gas' in a car.
Examples in context
- Creo que mi compañero de trabajo se está entrometiendo en mis asuntos sin motivo.I think my coworker is meddling in my affairs without any reason.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are walking through a crowded street.
- AlejandroSofía, camina más lento, por favor.Sofía, please walk slower.
- Sofía¿Por qué? Voy a un ritmo normal.Why? I'm walking at a normal pace.
- AlejandroEs que estoy a punto de pisarte los talones.It's just that I'm about to be right behind you.
- SofíaEstá bien, me detendré un momento.Alright, I'll stop for a moment.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
