ser un rollo

Question

what does this mean? I know it means be a roll but exactly what does it mean?

Answer 1

Look into the Collins English to Spanish description of the word "rollo" which you can see here ----> Rollo

 

In particular, see description #6 which says:
"6.(informal(= aburrimiento) ? ¡qué rollo! what a pain! (very informal) ? ser un rollo [discurso, conferencia] to be dead boring (informal) [persona], to be a bore (informal), be a pain (very informal) ? lo de las lentillas es un rollo contact lenses are a real pain (informal)

Answer 2

2nd answer, rollo means lots of things, many more than just a roll.( It can be just a roll, a roll of paper, loo-paper, rolled up news-paper, ) As well as difficult, tiresome, boring, we have the very opposite: SD es un sitio que tiene rollo. ( SD is a website with great athmosphere).

Look it up in a dictionary! It's very useful and versatile depending on the combination of verb and rollo.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Este ejercísio es un rollo. This exercise is really annoying/ difficult/ tiresome.

Answer 4

Annie is right.

However, used as an idiom "rollo" is a bit regional. In Mexico it´s very commonly used as a "bad or difficult situation" ie: "Por ser metiche, ya te metiste en un rollo" (By being nosey, you got yourself into a mess).

Yes, I think the negative version is much more common. - annierats, Oct 9, 2012