pagar los platos rotos
Lemma Details
Translation: to take the blame; to pay for someone else's mistakes; to be the scapegoat
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom literally translates to 'to pay for the broken plates/dishes.' It originated from the custom where servants would have to pay for dishes they broke while working. Over time, it evolved to refer to anyone who unfairly bears the consequences of others' actions. The imagery of broken plates represents damage or mistakes, while the act of paying for them symbolizes bearing responsibility or consequences that should belong to someone else.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Al final, el empleado más nuevo tuvo que pagar los platos rotos cuando el proyecto fracasó.
In the end, the newest employee had to take the blame when the project failed.
No quiero pagar los platos rotos por algo que no hice.
I don't want to take the blame for something I didn't do.
Siempre son los ciudadanos quienes pagan los platos rotos de las malas decisiones políticas.
It's always the citizens who pay for the mistakes of bad political decisions.
Mnemonics
- Imagine someone literally having to pay for plates that someone else broke - unfair!
- Think of 'paying' (pagar) as taking responsibility and 'broken plates' (platos rotos) as mistakes or problems.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This idiom is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries in everyday conversation, particularly in situations of unfair blame allocation. It's often used in workplace, family, or political contexts when someone is made to take responsibility for problems they didn't cause.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: Both idioms mean 'to take the blame' but 'pagar el pato' (literally 'to pay for the duck') is slightly more colloquial. They are used in very similar contexts.
Confused word:
Al final, yo pagué el pato por algo que no hice.
In the end, I took the blame for something I didn't do.
Notes: Both expressions are common throughout the Spanish-speaking world, though regional preferences may exist.
Mnemonic: 'Platos rotos' involves broken plates while 'pato' involves a duck - both are things you wouldn't want to pay for if you didn't break or eat them!