"Regreso como Pluto, con el rabo entre las piernas"

Question

My mom used to say this expression: "Regreso como Pluto, con el rabo entre la piernas" (no, it's not a joke) to decribe a person who did not get what he wanted and come back home frustrated and dissapointed. Is there a phrase like this in English (a phrasal verb) that has the same meaning?

Answer 1

My grandmother used to say something quite a bit like that in English. It was:

"He came back home like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs," referring to someone who came back beaten and discouraged.

El Chavo, a popular Mexican tv show for kids used to say: Vuelve el perro arrepentido, con su mirada tan tierna, con el hocico partido y con el rabo entre las piernas" jajaja - Benz, Mar 13, 2010

Answer 2

It is the same in English... with his tail between his legs. Everyone knows how a dog looks with its tail between its legs. We often use it to describe someone who becomes ashamed or someone who thinks they are powerful, handsome, etc but gets ignored or insulted. For example, a guy who thinks he is very handsome and important but is turned away by a woman that he is certain will love him immediately.

Answer 3

I am confused by the use of Pluto. Perhaps this is not Pluto the planet, but Pluto the Disney dog character?

Indeed. - Deanski, Apr 28, 2011

Pluto the what? It is now one of at least 3 dwarf planets. No longer an actual planet. - 0074b507, Apr 28, 2011

Of course it's the Disney dog character!..... my mom used this name as example... - Doriz, Apr 28, 2011