Is there an idiomatic translation of "metan en dibujos"?

Question

Here's the original sentence: "El pueblo desea ver que se cumpla con la ley y no se metan en dibujos." I'm curious about that last phrase, "metan en dibujos." Does it have an idiomatic translation?

Answer 1

The people want to see that it complies with the law and does not complicate things unessarily.

meterse en dibujos = to complicate things unnecessarily (from HARRAP'S Spanish English dictionary)

Answer 2

By the context, I would guess that it would translate into something like "the town wants to see that the law is obeyed and that they not get into mischief/trouble"

This would be a guess as I have never seen the phrase used this way, it may be a regional usage. You might want to have a look at this thread that discusses an alternative usage of the word to mean telling stories or lying (usually to stay out of trouble). I did notice that many of the respondents to the question who had heard it used this way were porteños, so it may be characteristic of Spanish as it is spoken in Argentina. In any case, here is the link: dibujo

Answer 3

Hello

Too bad the context fails to meet the eye. My imagination however would describe it as follows:

"El pueblo desea ver que se cumpla con la ley y no se metan en dibujos."

"The village wished to see that it would be lawful, and it would not end up with images on paper."

Quote: I'm curious about that last phrase, "metan en dibujos."

Meterse, to keep busy with. Has to do with the mentality in latin cultures. All talks no action. Act upon the law, not draw drawings.

Good luck! Buena suerte!