a uña de caballo

Spanish

Pronunciation

 
  • IPA(key): /a ˌuɲa de kaˈbaʝo/ [a ˌu.ɲa ð̞e kaˈβ̞a.ʝo] (most of Spain and Latin America)
  • IPA(key): /a ˌuɲa de kaˈbaʎo/ [a ˌu.ɲa ð̞e kaˈβ̞a.ʎo] (rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains, Paraguay, Philippines)
  • IPA(key): /a ˌuɲa de kaˈbaʃo/ [a ˌu.ɲa ð̞e kaˈβ̞a.ʃo] (Buenos Aires and environs)
  • IPA(key): /a ˌuɲa de kaˈbaʒo/ [a ˌu.ɲa ð̞e kaˈβ̞a.ʒo] (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay)

  • Syllabification: a u‧ña de ca‧ba‧llo

Adverb

a uña de caballo

  1. (idiomatic) riding (a horse) as fast as one can
    • 1891, Benito Pérez Galdós, Ángel Guerra:
      […] salir pitando para Portugal a uña de caballo.
      get out there and make for Portugal as fast as his horse's legs could carry him.
  2. (idiomatic) like a bat out of hell
    Synonyms: a matacaballo, con viento fresco, cagando hostias, cagando cerillas, cagando leches
    • 1894, Ricardo Palma, ​Tradiciones peruanas, Monja y cartujo:
      Entretanto don Alonso escapó a uña de caballo, y doña Elvira se fue a Chuquisaca y se refugió en la casa materna.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

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