meter la gamba

Question

Just found another one that I like ..

Meter la gamba - (to put one's foot in it).

Might need a bit of help with that one? Why la gamba?

Annie.

Answer 1

you can perfectly say meter la gamba....for instance: no quiero meter la gamba con éste asunto....it´s the same than meter la pata, and, why the gamba...hehehe, why not', it´s just an set expression...

Answer 2

I think Heidi's explanation is the most likely. Instead of "meter la pata", which is the standard expression, someone found it funny to say "gamba" (foot) instead of "pata" (foot), pretty much like when people say "chao" (sometimes even written as "ciao") instead of "adiós". The chess term "gambit" (and "gambito" in Spanish) are both borrowed from Italian "gambetto", trip, from "gamba".

Answer 3

Que yo sepa, este dicho viene no de la gamba de comer, sino de la palabra "gamba" en italiano, que traducido es "pierna".

Tenemos varios dichos con palabras italianas: es un trovatore matutino (se me ocurre así a bote pronto)

Answer 4

Marisa,
Is it because 'la pata' or 'la gamba' have a lot of 'feet'?

Marisa Estrada said:

-meter la pata-, is bettergamba es el sinónimo de camarón, shrimpDepends on the country which spanish is spoken.

>

Answer 5

-meter la pata-, is better
gamba es el sinónimo de camarón, shrimp
Depends on the country which spanish is spoken.