What does "como fuegas" mean?

Question

I'm not sure that this is the correct spelling, or even that "fuegas" is the correct word. However, I heard it frequently when growing up in situations where the speaker was aggravated/impatient. It clearly had a negative connotation.

(I used to think it was "fiegas" but I don't think there's such a word in Spanish, although I could be completely wrong.)

Maybe some context would help.... "Grandma, can you give me another drink of water? I spilled my milk again. Can you help me, I don't understand this.... etc."

Grandmother: Oh, como fuegos!

thanks!

Answer 1

I have never heard "como fuegas" but if it was used in Mexico, most likely it was "¡Cómo friegas!" (You´re such pain in the a - -). This is a very common slang expression originating for the verb "fregar" (to scrub).

If you are being bothered by many things in general, you can also say "¡Me lleva la fregada!"

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MORF. conjug. c. acertar.

ya la fregamos.

1. expr. vulg. Méx. U. para indicar que algo resultó mal.

ya ni la friegas.

1. expr. vulg. Méx. U. para indicar a alguien que está siendo muy molesto.

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Interesting, giving this meaning and context, I think this is much more likely. Gets my vote. ;-P - DJ_Huero, Apr 7, 2011

Answer 2

Julian Chivi, THANK YOU! I have wondered what this meant for the last 40 years or so but since no one ever knew what I was talking about , I gave up trying to find out.

Sadly, your definition fits exactly. She spoke "Mexican" Spanish, was conversant in Mexican slang, and I KNEW it sounded like "fiegas" but obviously there is no such word! And yes, Felix77, she did indeed swear like a "trouper."

wow. thanks again.

"Fregar" is also used to indicate something breaking or becoming inoperable, ie: "Se me fregó el coche" also "Se me amoló el coche" (My car broke down) - 005faa61, Apr 8, 2011

Answer 3

Having read all the posts and comments above I can hardly imagine that your grandma swears like a trouper so she may well have said, as Bill indicated possible:

como prefieras o como quieres = as you prefer/wish

Or she could have said como fuego = meaning like fire (rather than like h&**)

I hope that helps

Answer 4

I would agree with the idea Kiwi Girl threw out there.

"Como fuegos" would be, "like hell".

Por ejemplo:

Person A:

Ey güey, ¿vamos a fumar?

Person B:

¡Como fuegos güey!

Answer 5

It means "Oh how you bother me," as in, "Como fuegas, Romo, stop beating me with a slipper.

Answer 6

You problably mean to say "Como quieras", which is roughly translated as "whatever" if the reply has a negative tone, or "as you wish" if the tone is more neutral. "Fuegas" doesn't exist in spanish, and "fuegos" doesn't make any sense in that context.

No, it wasn't "quieras," I'm sure. - NancyPH, Sep 11, 2010

Hm, other replies that could (somewhat) fit in there would be "como fuera", though that one is used as part of a sentence, or "como prefieras", "como quieras" - bill1111, Sep 11, 2010

Answer 7

caer como fuego

I can assure you this expression would never be used in situations like the one the OP mentioned ;-) - bill1111, Sep 11, 2010

what does this mean?? We are not talking about a nice gradma here... - NancyPH, Sep 11, 2010

Answer 8

Como - can mean as or like.

Fuego - means fire.

So I wonder if it's equivalent to the English 'like hell'? But that is a total guess

plus it sounds a bit harsh coming from a Grandma lol - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 11, 2010

Answer 9

Hi , you probably mean : como fuegOs

and it means : like fires .

I added some context since I still don't get it. :) - NancyPH, Sep 11, 2010