- Dictionary
USAGE NOTE
This idiom may also be written "pagar a toca teja."
pagar a tocateja
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 pay in hard cash)
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. to pay in cash
Si pagas a tocateja, te hacen un descuento.They give you a discount if you pay in cash.
b. to pay cash in hand
¿Vas a pagar a tocateja? ¿No es demasiado dinero como para pagar así?Are you going to pay cash in hand? Isn't it too much money to pay like that?
c. to pay cash on the line (idiom) (United States)
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
No me gusta usar tarjetas. Prefiero pagar a tocateja.I don't like using cards. I prefer to pay cash on the line.
d. to pay on the nail (idiom) (United Kingdom)
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 Kingdom
Aquí no aceptan tarjetas de crédito, hay que pagar a tocateja.They don't take credit cards here. You have to pay on the nail.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
2. (idiom) (to pay in hard cash for)
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. to pay in cash for
Pagó la casa a tocateja. - ¿En serio? Eso tiene que ser blanqueo de dinero.He paid for the house in cash. - Seriously? That has to be money laundering.
b. to pay cash in hand for
Suelo pagarlo todo a tocateja porque no me gusta tener deudas.I usually pay for everything cash in hand because I don't like to have debts.
c. to pay cash on the line for (idiom) (United States)
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
Podríamos haber pagado el televisor a plazos, pero decidimos pagarlo a tocateja.We could have paid for the television in installments, but we decided to pay for it cash on the line.
d. to pay on the nail for (idiom) (United Kingdom)
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 Kingdom
Se sacó un fajo de billetes del bolsillo y pagó la computadora a tocateja.He took a wad of notes out of his pocket and paid for the computer on the nail.
Examples
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