prometer menos y entregar más
/pɾometeɾ menos i entɾeɡaɾ mas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "under promise and over deliver" can be said in Spanish as prometer menos y entregar más.
This phrase is commonly used in professional, business and management contexts in Spanish-speaking countries to describe a strategy for managing client or stakeholder expectations.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal translation of the English idiom, using prometer (to promise), menos (less), entregar (to deliver/hand over) and más (more).
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾometeɾ menos i entɾeɡaɾ mas/
Did you know?
- While entregar means 'to deliver' in a business sense, it is also the word used when someone turns themselves in to the police.
- The verb entregar originally stems from the Latin 'integrāre', which means 'to make whole', a concept very different from the modern sense of 'handing over' an object.
- While the phrase is a direct translation of the English idiom, it is so common in corporate Spanish that it is often used in its English form 'under promise and over deliver' in multinational offices.
Examples in context
- Nuestra estrategia es establecer expectativas conservadoras y superarlas para sorprender a nuestros clientes.Our strategy is to set conservative expectations and exceed them to surprise our clients.
- Es mejor prometer menos y entregar más.It is better to under promise and over deliver.
- En este negocio, debemos prometer menos y entregar más.In this business, we must under promise and over deliver.
- Ella siempre prefiere prometer menos y entregar más.She always prefers to under promise and over deliver.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a strategy for a new client project.
- MaríaMateo, ¿qué estrategia usaremos con el cliente?Mateo, what strategy will we use with the client?
- MateoPropongo prometer menos y entregar más para impresionarlos.I propose to under promise and over deliver to impress them.
- MaríaEs una excelente idea para generar confianza.That is an excellent idea to build trust.
- MateoAsí, ellos estarán muy contentos con el resultado final.That way, they will be very happy with the final result.
