Echar el arroz

Question

I am hoping someone can tell me what this text I received means. I am assuming that "echar el arroz" is an idiomatic expression with which I am unfamiliar since a literal translation doesn't make sense in the conversation.

By way of context, the conversation is a discussion about when a number of participants will be able to meet up to go for a sea kayak trip together.

"si yo voy, será el lunes por la tarde, pero después de las 4 ... si no, voy a echar todo el arroz."

Answer 1

Okay. I just got lucky enough to have two Spanish native speakers stop by so I asked them. The context is that of a boat trip. The writer is saying that if he goes out on a boat trip before 4pm he will "throw up what he has eaten" ie "vomit" as it will be too soon after eating his lunch.

Yes, I think you are right. Echar could be vomit or in my country we would say mostly arrojar. - polenta1, Apr 8, 2017

En algunos lugares es "echar la papa." - jtaniel, Apr 8, 2017

Thanks mate that is worth a badge , so have one. - ray76, Apr 9, 2017

Thanks Ray. - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 9, 2017

Answer 2

Hello Erikandalusia,

Welcome to our Spanishdict community forum

I would say almost certainly that echar todo el arroz is a regional, idiomatic expression, probably from Spain as they use the verb echar in many of their expressions, and while I am not a native Spanish speaker, from the context that you have kindly provided I would make an intelligent guess at the translation to mean:

"si yo voy, será el lunes por la tarde, pero después de las 4 ... si no, voy a echar todo el arroz."

Yes, I (will) go, it will be (on) Monday afternoon, but after 4 (pm) if not, I am going to give up on it (cancel going)

I recommend that you wait for confirmation by native Spanish speakers

I hope this helps

Estoy de acuerdo. Eso era mi adivinanza también. Pero sí, estoy buscando una confirmación y preferiblemente un poco de explicación si existe. - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 8, 2017

no have Spanish classes with a native Spanish teacher and I will ask her about that one in my next class on Monday evening. Where did you hear it, please? If in Spain, which region? Andalucia? - FELIZ77, Apr 8, 2017

Correction; I have Spanish classes - FELIZ77, Apr 8, 2017

Andalucia, Costa del Sol. Have just luckily been given the answer by some natives (from Granada province). - ErikainAndalusia, Apr 8, 2017