What role does "las" play when used with verbs like arreglárselas?

Question

I know what arreglárselas means but why is the "las" there? What does it refer to in a sentence or what is its function in the sentence? I'm familiar with "las" as a plural article and as it is used as a direct object pronoun, but don't really understand how it is used when paired with verbs like this one since the "las" is always there regardless of the subject and object of the sentence. (e.g. me las arreglo, te las arreglas, se las arregla, nos las arreglamos, os las arreglais, se las arreglan)

Answer 1

After some searching I was able to look this up in a grammar book so thought I would share. Turns out the object pronouns la and las are used in certain idioms without any antecedent so you just have to memorize which goes with the idiom.

When you use these idioms the la or las (respective to the idiom) is there regardless of the gender or plurality of the direct object present (if any).

For example here las appears but nothing in the sentence is plural and feminine:

Te las arreglarás bien en su clase. (You'll manage fine in his class).

Some other idiom examples of this:

tenérsela jurada a alguien = to have it in for someone

vérselas con = to explain oneself to

I see this is an old post but I just came across "arreglárselas" and was wondering the same thing so I thought I should thank you for this very nice explanation! Too bad you had to answer your own question..lol..but I t hink that would be more satisfying! - 004d9596, Jan 27, 2017

Answer 2

I understand that the verb itself is also used without the "las" being there, but I'm referring to the instance when it is used to mean "to make do" as is listed under the usage as a pronomial verb in the dictionary.

My confusion is that the las seems to be there even when there doesn't seem to be a direct object or one that is both plural and feminine. For example in the sample sentences listed in the dictionary:

nos las arreglamos como pudimos -> we did the best we could

¡arréglatelas como puedas! -> that's your problem!

Or in this example sentence someone wrote in another answer regarding arreglárselas:

Me las arregle para escaparme de mi casa.
I made it through sneaking out of my home.

I've seen it occur with other verbs too not just with arreglárselas though at the moment I can't think of other examples. When arreglárselas is used in the sense of "to manage to do something/to make do with..." is "las" always part of the usage regardless of what the direct objects are? Or does it ever change to la/lo/los/etc.?

Thank you for the help!

Answer 3

Las refers to the things (in plural) of feminine gender being arranged or repaired - the direct object of the sentence.

Answer 4

If you look in our dictionary you will see that the verb can also be intransitive and that the "las" may not be there.

intransitive verb

• 7) (quedar)

• ¿cómo vas a ir? — ya arreglé con Carlos -> how are you going? — I've already arranged to go with Carlos (Am)

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