matar el gusanillo
- Dictionary
USAGE NOTE
This idiom may be literally translated as "to kill the small worm."
matar el gusanillo
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.).
1. (idiom) (to keep hunger momentarily away) (Mexico) (Spain)
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).
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to stave off hunger
María se comió un par de galletas para matar el gusanillo.Maria ate a couple of cookies to stave off hunger.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Necesito comer algo para matar el gusanillo.I need to eat something to keep me going.
Con esta bolsa de papas matarás el gusanillo hasta la hora del almuerzo.This bag of chips will take the edge off your hunger until lunch.
2. (idiom) (to satisfy a need) (Mexico) (Spain)
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).
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Spain
a. to get one's fix (colloquial) (idiom)
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).
No se espera que la banda salga de gira en los próximos dos años, así que mataremos el gusanillo con su nuevo álbum en vivo.The band isn't expected to tour in the next two years, so we can get our fix by listening to their new live album.
b. to scratch the itch (colloquial) (idiom) (United States)
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).
Regionalism used in the United States
Cuando echo de menos andar por la montaña, me voy a caminar por el parque para matar el gusanillo.When I miss hiking in the mountains, I go for a walk in the park to scratch the itch
Examples
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