- Dictionary
USAGE NOTE
This idiom may also be written in the masculine, "antes muerto que sencillo." It was made popular by an eponymous Spanish teen-pop song released in 2004.
antes muerta que sencilla
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (colloquial) (idiom) (used to express that one doesn't want to look plain or simple)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
a. better dead than plain
¿No crees que ese vestido azul eléctrico es un poco exagerado? - Ya me conoces, cariño. Antes muerta que sencilla.Don't you think that electric-blue dress is a bit over-the-top? - You know me, honey. Better dead than plain.
b. better dead than basic
¿Has visto la moto tuneada de Felipe? - Sí que la he visto, sí. Como siempre, antes muerto que sencillo.Have you seen Felipe's pimped-out bike? - I've seen it all right. Better dead than basic, as usual.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Dice que no piensa boxear sin maquillaje. - ¡Esa es mi niña! Antes muerta que sencilla.She says she's not boxing without her makeup. - That's my girl! She'd rather be dead than plain.
Vas a unas discotecas rarísimas, Annie. - Antes muerta que sencilla, ¿sabes?You go to some weird clubs, Annie. - I'd rather be dead than basic, you know.
Examples
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