"echarse a perder"

Question

¿Me cierras el refrigerador? No quiero que las cosas se echen a perder.

I have 3 questions about the above 2 sentences.

1. For the 1st sentence, can I say, "Do you close the refrigerator for me?"

2. As a beginner, how do I know "(se) echen a perder" is actually a phrase?

3. Do you think the 2 sentences sound logical?

   If the 1st sentence is written as "Thanks for closing the refrigerator for me. I don't want the things go bad/sour." wouldn't it sound better?

Answer 1

¿Me cierras el refrigerador?

This means "Will you close the refrigerator for me?" (Not my refrigerator)

Me indicates who is affected by the action. It could be my refrigerator or someone elses, but this phrase does not state who the owner of the refrigerator is.

I agree with Julian. - gringojrf, Jun 25, 2013

Hola, Julian. Thanks for your answer. So, the sentence is a polite way to ask if you can do something for me? Then, that will make more sense. - joygogo, Jun 25, 2013

Joygogo - yes, this is a polite way of asking "WILL you do something" but politeness can also be shown with imperative by additional wording - 005faa61, Jun 25, 2013

Thank you very much! - joygogo, Jun 26, 2013

Answer 2

Me cierras is an indirect use of the possessive. You are literally saying: Can you close MY refrigerator? This is in contrast with Cierras el refrigerador?

Echarse a perder is an idiomatic expression meaning to go to waste / to spoil. It can also mean to go out of order.

Se echó a perder el conmutador (The phone console went out of order)

Se echaron a perder los mangos en el patio.

Thanks for your answing and telling me another meaning of "echarse a perder." - joygogo, Jun 25, 2013

This is very clear to me . Thanks. I needed that very phrase. - katydew, Jun 25, 2013

Answer 3

i guess is not an incorrect way to say it, but I never use it. I just use the Imperative alone.

echarse a perder = to rot (itself)/go to waste (or to waist if you will....just kidding)

Yes, but like I told you, the first one is regional or whatever. you will be surprised at what you will be reading once you learn to look for this type of things.

Thanks! And what will the sentence be if you use the imperative? - joygogo, Jun 25, 2013

cierra el refri instead of me cierra el... or ciérrame el ... - chileno, Jun 25, 2013

Thank you! - joygogo, Jun 25, 2013

you are welcome. :) - chileno, Jun 26, 2013

Answer 4

Do you close the refrigerator for me?

It is more common in English to say, "Will you close the refrigerator for me?" because you are asking for a future action.

"Do you" is an action in the present.
"Did you" is an action in the past.

Will you close the refrigerator for me?
¿Cerrarás el refrigerador para mí?

You are correct. But remember that many near future actions use the present indicative in Spanish. - gringojrf, Jun 25, 2013