no quiso meter la pata
Grammar & Usage
How it works
This phrase combines the negated third-person singular preterite of 'querer' ('no quiso') with the idiomatic verbal complement 'meter la pata' (literally 'to stick one's paw in'). In this context, 'no quiso' indicates a past intention or active reluctance to act carelessly. 'Meter la pata' is a widely used colloquial idiom across the Spanish-speaking world meaning to make an embarrassing blunder or mistake.
Sample sentences
Prefirió quedarse callado porque no quiso meter la pata delante del jefe.
He preferred to stay quiet because he didn't want to mess up in front of the boss.
Ella no quiso meter la pata y revisó el informe tres veces antes de enviarlo.
She didn't want to screw up and checked the report three times before sending it.
No opinó sobre el tema delicado porque no quiso meter la pata con la familia.
He didn't comment on the sensitive topic because he didn't want to put his foot in his mouth with the family.
Quick facts
Mnemonic
Sign in for a creative sound-alike story that makes "no quiso meter la pata" unforgettable 🧠
Get an AI-generated memory hook for no quiso meter la pata — a vivid scene that locks the word in your brain 🧠
Example
Prefirió quedarse callado porque no quiso meter la pata delante del jefe.
He preferred to stay quiet because he didn't want to mess up in front of the boss.
Ella no quiso meter la pata y revisó el informe tres veces antes de enviarlo.
She didn't want to screw up and checked the report three times before sending it.
Sign in for AI-generated examples tailored to your level ✨