patas arriba

Question

In word of the day, someone used "patas arriba" as a translation of "head over heels." In English the phrase is usually used as part of "head over heels in love." But I've only been able to find "patas arriba" used in the sense of "turned upside down."

Is that right?

It's right,upside down. - annierats, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 1

I think that that (upside down) is what she was writing, when she wrote "I don't know how to say 'head over heels' in Spanish. That she used a literal translation for lack of a translation of the idiom.

head over heels in love = locamente enamorado/a or estar tragado de alguien

But considering the picture (a bullfight) the real idiom would be a bit weird.

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Here's a youtube clip to never forget the tragado-construction again ; - )

I had to turn down the volume to make it through the second viewing. - rogspax, Feb 14, 2013

But the viewing is rather awful .... you're weird, rog ;-)) - mcl020, Feb 14, 2013

Agreed on both counts, but II found the music More awful, and one element of the viewing and least tending towards pleasantish. - rogspax, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 2

I used to think it meant ' belly up' as in dead ..

But all it means is upside down.

thanks for that one - rogspax, Feb 14, 2013

for me is upsise down - jennycohen1, Feb 19, 2013

Answer 3

I used to think it meant ' belly up' as in dead ..

But all it means is upside down.

Ha. I would have thought the exact same thing. Thanks for saving me. And, I've been meaning to look up "upside down" for a while now too, so thanks.

Now I need the same phrase on the other axis, or figuratively.

i.e. what is "backwards" or "the other way around" or "the converse" ???

Thanks for the thread all.