Pasado mañana? Pasada? (the day after tomorrow)

Question

Why is it "pasado mañana" and not "pasada mañana"?

Pasado is an adjective. Doesn't it agree with anything? Is it because pasada is a noun already and means something unrelated? ![alt text][1]

[1]: http://www.rodandocine.com/posters/images/20070921233641_the day after tomorrow.jpg

Sorry Rabbit, you chose a picture that didn't want to be chosen. When looking at the URL of the pic, try to avoid the ones with percent signs in them. - LateToDinner, Aug 17, 2010

Answer 1

It is a very logical and interesting question, actually. The expression "pasado mañana" is simply an idiom, which means you don't really analyse it - you just take it. But for the sake of curiosity, here is a likely explanation:

(Habiendo) pasado (el día de) mañana = (Having) past tomorrow's (day)

"Pasado" here is actually being used as a past participle, and the whole long expression just got shortened like that for convenience.

My best guess.

Answer 2

Yes, I've wondered about this too. Perhaps "pasado" refers to día, which is masculine, and it is omitted, but assumed to be understood?