dicho y hecho
Lemma Details
Translation: no sooner said than done; said and done; words into action
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This Spanish phrase combines 'dicho' (the past participle of 'decir', meaning 'to say') and 'hecho' (the past participle of 'hacer', meaning 'to do' or 'to make'), connected by the conjunction 'y' ('and'). It literally translates to 'said and done', emphasizing the immediacy between stating an intention and carrying it out. The construction parallels similar expressions in other languages that highlight the relationship between words and actions, such as the English 'no sooner said than done'.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Dijo que vendría a las cinco y, dicho y hecho, llegó puntual.
He said he would come at five and, no sooner said than done, he arrived on time.
Prometió resolver el problema antes del fin de semana y, dicho y hecho, lo solucionó el viernes.
She promised to solve the problem before the weekend and, true to her word, she solved it on Friday.
Dicho y hecho, apenas mencioné que tenía hambre y ya estaba preparando algo de comer.
No sooner said than done, I barely mentioned I was hungry and she was already preparing something to eat.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'dicho' as 'dictated' and 'hecho' as 'acted' - what was dictated was immediately acted upon.
- Remember that 'hecho' sounds like 'fact' - turning words into facts.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in Spanish-speaking cultures to emphasize efficiency and promptness in fulfilling promises or carrying out stated intentions. It reflects a cultural value placed on following through with one's word.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'dicho y hecho' indicates immediate action following words, 'del dicho al hecho hay gran trecho' means the opposite - that there's a big gap between saying and doing something (equivalent to 'easier said than done').
Notes: These phrases represent opposite concepts about the relationship between words and actions in Spanish culture.
Mnemonic: 'Dicho y hecho' is short and quick like the action it describes; 'del dicho al hecho hay gran trecho' is longer, suggesting the distance between words and action.
Explanation: 'Dicho y hecho' refers to immediate action after speaking, while 'hecho y derecho' means 'proper' or 'full-fledged' (literally 'made and right').
Confused word:
Ya es un hombre hecho y derecho con responsabilidades.
He is now a proper grown man with responsibilities.
Notes: Both are fixed expressions but refer to completely different concepts.
Mnemonic: 'Dicho y hecho' starts with 'dicho' (said) while 'hecho y derecho' starts with 'hecho' (done/made) - the starting word indicates the focus.