translation of "Qué cara"

Question

In the Flashcard list "El acuerdo y el desacuerdo" the eleventh entry is - What a cheek, which is translated as "Qué cara".

I don't understand this expression. Could anybody shed light on how this expression is used?

Gracias por ayudarme,

Saludos

Jim

Answer 1

Hi Jim!

He's got a cheek! -> ¡qué cara tiene!, ¡vaya morro! (ser descarado(a).

Answer 2

This [removed]as is the case with many idioms), is not universally used in all Spanish speaking countries. However, it would be used pretty much the same way as "what cheek!"

I take it as a shortened version of "qué caradura" or "qué cara tan lavada", referring, I suppose, to the perfectly bland expression some cheeky people are capable of adopting when committing their particular act of impertinence or outrage.

¡Pero qué cara tiene Jgundy de andar haciendo preguntas idiomáticas en el Foro!

How cheeky of Jgundy to be asking idiomatic questions on the Forum!

Answer 3

It seems fairly self-explanatory unless you do not understand that context for cheek in English. ¡Qué descaro! [What a nerve!] is synonymous.

descaro What impudendence! How impertinent!

cheek synonyms: nerve, audacity, brass, gall.

You are correct - I did not understand the context of cheek in English. I've heard brits say that something was "cheeky'" but thought that was limited to brits. thanks for the answer. - jgundy, Jan 5, 2012

Answer 4

Hello jgundy and welcome to the SpanishDict forum

''íQué cara!'' = (Can be translated approximately as: ) ''What a cheek!''/ ''What impudence!''/ ''What a nerve!'' or ''How cheeky!''

I hope this helps

Answer 5

In the Uk we would say "What a brass neck!" for example.

When we say What a cheek! cheek literally =spanish, mejilla,

the Spanish say, literally, "What face!" =í Que cara! Same idea really.

Check out this series of definitions, option 6 answers your query. cara