cantarle las cuarenta a alguien

USAGE NOTE
This idiom may be literally translated as "to sing someone the forty things."
cantarle las cuarenta a alguien
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
intransitive verb phrase
1.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
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).
(idiom)
(to tell someone what you think of them)
a. to give someone a piece of one's mind
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
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).
(idiom)
Jorge llegó tarde otra vez, así que le canté las cuarenta.Jorge was late again, so I gave him a piece of my mind.
b. to tell someone a few home truths
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).
(idiom)
La jefa nos trata muy mal. Alguien tendría que cantarle las cuarenta.The boss treats us very badly. Someone should tell her a few home truths.
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