Uno tiene que buscarsela como pudiera

Question

I was listening to a Daddy Yankee song "Somos de calle" (as you do) and right at the start he says (I think): "ÿran tiempos dificiles, uno tiene que buscarsela como pudiera..."

It's very difficult to understand what he says but if that is correct I don't understand buscarsela. The "la" is especially confusing.

This is the link:Somos de calle

Answer 1

"Buscársela" is a set phrase, or an idiom, if you prefer. The technical term, if you want to know, is verbo doblemente pronominal, but in any case, the "se" must agree with the subject, and "la" simply sits there, although it probably refers to "life" itself. Try to check the dictionary next time:

buscársela.

1. loc. verb. coloq. Ingeniarse para hallar los medios de subsistencia.

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

In other words, buscársela = to manage on one's own, make a living as best as I can

You also have the idiom "buscarse la vida", with the same meaning.

Hi Lazarus
Just to clear up a point. My Collins Spanish dictionary lists "buscársela" as a modismo but with the following meaning and examples.

1) buscársela - to ask for trouble, to ask for it.
2) te la estás buscando - you´re asking for it, you´re asking for trouble.
3) él se la buscó - he asked for it.

I was wondering how that sits with your explanation above or have Collins got it wrong.

Answer 2

No, your Collins is right: that's another meaning that we use very often, but it didn't fit in the original context.

I've used Collins dictionaries for over 20 years, and I have never seen any significant mistake or omission.

Answer 3

Thank you for the replies. I assume then that "buscársela" is the same idea as "jugársela" which came up in another thread: A double pronoun construction which has its own specific meaning.

Exactly.

Answer 4

Thank you for the replies. I assume then that "buscársela" is the same idea as "jugársela" which came up in another thread: A double pronoun construction which has its own specific meaning.

Answer 5

It sounds like they are referring to having to make do however they can. You know, do what you have to in order to survive. The 'la' would be referring to whatever it was that had to be done.

Answer 6

"Buscársela" is a set phrase, or an idiom, if you prefer. The technical term, if you want to know, is verbo doblemente pronominal, but in any case, the "se" must agree with the subject, and "la" simply sits there, although it probably refers to "life" itself. Try to check the dictionary next time:

buscársela.
1. loc. verb. coloq. Ingeniarse para hallar los medios de subsistencia.
Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

In other words, buscársela = to manage on one's own, make a living as best as I can

You also have the idiom "buscarse la vida", with the same meaning.

Answer 7

It sounds like they are referring to having to make do however they can. You know, do what you have to in order to survive. The 'la' would be referring to whatever it was that had to be done.

Sorry Nathaniel, just correcting "due" to "do" as there may be Spanish trying to learn English. Our language is difficult enough as it is, hehe. For my part I would have said "one has to search for it as best they can".