how do you say "third wheel" in spanish

Question

Is there an idiom in Spanish that is similar to the idiom "third wheel" in English which means that an individual is with a couple and feels out of place.

Answer 1

Chaperón o chaperona. You can also say "Estar de más or Sobrar". Examples:

No quiero andar de chaperón de Luisa y Pedro. I don't want to feel a like third wheel with Luisa and Pedro.

Pedro y Luisa son pareja y no quiero estar de más. Pedro and Luisa are an item and I don't want to be the third wheel.

Pedro y Luisa son pareja y yo sobro allí. Pedro and Luisa are an item and I don't want to be the third wheel.

Answer 2

Incidentally, you may also hear "fifth wheel" in the US, no doubt a derivative of the rather nice phrase the Germans have: "das fünfte Rad am Wagen" (the fifth wheel on the car). The explanation being, of course, that any car with a fifth wheel (usually called the spare), needs only four wheels to run, hence no "immediate" need of a fifth. I think the key point is that an odd number is being used in each expression and that clearly leaves someone out.

Answer 3

The most similar idiom we use is :

Hacer mal tercio.

Vayan ustedes dos al cine, no me gusta hacer mal tercio.

You go to the movies, I hate being a third wheel.