verle las orejas al lobo

USAGE NOTE
This idiom may be literally translated as "to see the wolf's ears."
verle las orejas al lobo
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.
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 realize the danger one's in)
a. to see the writing on the wall
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)
Tras el golpe de estado militar, muchos empresarios le vieron las orejas al lobo y abandonaron el país.After the military coup, many businessmen saw the writing on the wall and left the country.
b. to get a fright
Cuando tuvo el infarto, le vio las orejas al lobo y dejó de beber alcohol.When he had his heart attack, he got a fright and stopped drinking alcohol.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Yo se lo había advertido, pero ellos, hasta que no lo perdieron todo, no le vieron las orejas al lobo.I'd warned them, but they wouldn't realize something was wrong until they've lost everything.
Luis no daba golpe, pero, cuando empezaron a despedir a gente, le vio las orejas al lobo y se puso las pilas.Luis wouldn't do a lick of work, but when they started firing people, he saw what was coming and got his act together.
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