poca cosa

not much

mediocre

poca cosa(poh-kah koh-sah)

phrase

1. (a small amount)

a. not much

¿Tienes dinero? - Poca cosa. Como mucho me llega para un café.

Do you have any money? - Not much. I have enough for a coffee at the most.

b. not a great amount

¿Queda algo de queso? - Sí, pero poca cosa. Tendríamos que comprar más.

Is there any cheese left? - Yes, but not a great amount. We should buy more.

c. very little

He decidido dejar a mi novio. Solo le interesa el dinero, el fútbol y poca cosa más.

I've decided to leave my boyfriend. He's interested in money, soccer, and very little else.

d.

no direct translation

Yo esperaba ver más cuadros impresionistas en la exposición, pero había poca cosa.

I was hoping to see more impressionist paintings at the exhibition, but there were hardly any.

Mis pertenencias son poca cosa, algunos libros y algo de ropa. Eso es todo.

My belongings don't amount to much, just a few books and clothes. That's all.

2. (not exceptional)

a. mediocre

Sus hermanas son excepcionales y tienen un futuro prometedor. Él en cambio es poca cosa.

His sisters are exceptional and have a promising future, while he's mediocre.

b. not good enough

Jacinto tiene muchas ínfulas, y nosotros le parecemos poca cosa.

Jacinto has a high opinion of himself, and he thinks we aren't good enough for him.

c. nothing much

A mí los efectos especiales de la película me parecieron poca cosa.

I thought the movie special effects were nothing much.

d. not much to look at

Ella es despampanante, pero su esposo es poca cosa.

She's stunning, but her husband isn't much to look at.

3. (not big)

a. small

Amelia nunca destacará, es tan tímida y tan poca cosa.

Amelia will never stand out. She's so shy and so small.

b.

no direct translation

¡Qué bajito y delgado es Luis! - Sí, es poca cosa.

Luis is so short and thin! - Yes, there's not much of him.

Claro que hay sitio para Carmencita en el carro. ¡Es tan poca cosa!

Of course there's room for Carmencita in the car. There's not much of her, is there?