Idioms with 'Meter' - to put

Question

I was amazed to see how many idioms are made up using the verb 'meter' and thought it would be fun to share some others that you may know

Hopefully these are pretty standard and well known that a moderator won't be needed although I'll do my best to check them. (please remember though that I'm on the other side of the world to most of you so will be checking them while you're sleeping :p)

A-Z won't really work in this situation but the idioms are usually just meter+a couple of words so there shouldn't be much room for error.

I'll use a well known English saying to start things off:

Meterse en la boca del lobo - to enter the lion's den (literally 'the wolf's mouth')

Answer 1

meterse en líos - to get into trouble

Nice, an adaptation of Dandi's one :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

Answer 2

Meter cizaña - to start trouble between people...

that's an interesting one - so cizaña means darnel (as in the plant that looks like wheat but isn't) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

Yes, Ia semilla es venenosa. - LuisaGomezBartle, Jul 11, 2010

Answer 3

Se le metió en la cabeza = he got it into his head (some crazy thing)

Kewl bananas :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

Answer 4

Meterse en lo ajeno - to meddle in other people's business

Aquel hombre siempre se mete en lo ajeno.

I've also read: Meterse donde no lo/la llaman: to get involved in things that are not your business. Juan siempre se meter donde no lo llaman - Sheily, Jul 9, 2010

Also 'meter las narices en todo' - to snoop around, stick one's nose into everything - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

that word ajeno is an interesting one - 'another's or someone elses' :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

I like "meter las narcies en todo." - Delores--Lindsey, Jul 10, 2010

Meterse en lo que no le incumbe. - LuisaGomezBartle, Jul 12, 2010

Also "No te metas" - Mind your own business - 005faa61, Jul 12, 2010

Answer 5

Meter coco: to put coconut. To rack one's brains, concentrate on something.

"Metí coco para resolver el problema" : I racked my brains to resolve the problem.

I like that one :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

Answer 6

Meter la pata: to put one's foot in, to make a mistake, to put your foot in your mouth!

Bien hecho!! :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 9, 2010

Answer 7

Meterse en camisa de once varas.

To bite off more than you can chew.

Yowies! - margaretbl, Jul 14, 2010

Great pic! - 005faa61, Jul 21, 2010

Answer 8

Meter mano! Try it! or Go for it, or Do it!

That sounds like a handy one, nice and easy to use :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

"Meter mano" has a double meaning or "albur"... but I guess we're not getting into that. - MadderSky, Jul 14, 2010

Answer 9

No saber dónde meterse - to not know where to turn

or I guess 'don't know where to put yourself?' Nice one :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 10, 2010

Gracias, Maria-Claire :-) - Delores--Lindsey, Jul 10, 2010

Answer 10

Me has metido en un bien lío. = You have gotten me into a right mess/such a mess.

Me he metido en un lío. = I have gotten myself into a mess.

That's a goodie :) So you could say: "Estoy metido en un lío, y no sé cómo voy a salir" - I'm in a right mess and don't know how I'm going to get out of it! - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 9, 2010

I hope I never have to say that! - 003487d6, Jul 9, 2010

lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 9, 2010

Answer 11

No me meto para nada ..... No me atrevo

I don´t dare

Nice :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 12, 2010

Answer 12

¡quién le metió esas ideas en la cabeza?! (Who gave him those ideas?)

Margaret I'm shocked, perhaps it's a bit ruder than you think? - but while we're here - is it missing a 'por' - métetelo por donde .. - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 14, 2010

scare it was rude so I deleted! - margaretbl, Jul 14, 2010

bien hecho!! :) - now I'll give you my vote lol :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 15, 2010

Answer 13

Meter palos en las ruedas

To throw a throw a spanner in the works

Answer 14

Donde te metes? ------> Where are you ?

Meter paza -----> say bad words for somebody to someone else.

Meter la pata ------> I'm wrong / lost (equivocarse). I lost my way.

are you sure it's paza Jorge? Meter la pata can also mean 'put your foot in it' :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 11, 2010

Answer 15

Meter miedo a alguien. (Scare someone). Gee these should all be you-know-where.....