tirar el dinero
Lemma Details
Translation: to waste money; to throw money away; to squander money
Part of Speech: idiom
Etymology: This Spanish idiom combines 'tirar' (to throw) with 'el dinero' (the money). The verb 'tirar' comes from Latin 'tirare' meaning 'to pull' or 'to draw', which evolved to include the meaning of throwing or casting away. The imagery is literal - of physically throwing away money, representing wasteful spending.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
No compres otra chaqueta que no necesitas, es tirar el dinero.
Don't buy another jacket you don't need, it's throwing money away.
Invertir en esa empresa fue tirar el dinero porque quebró al mes siguiente.
Investing in that company was a waste of money because it went bankrupt the following month.
Gastar tanto en un hotel de lujo es tirar el dinero cuando solo vas a dormir allí.
Spending so much on a luxury hotel is wasting money when you're only going to sleep there.
Mnemonics
- Visualize literally throwing money out a window to remember this idiom's meaning
- Think of 'tirar' (throw) + 'dinero' (money) = throwing away value
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to criticize excessive or unnecessary spending. It's often used by parents to teach children about financial responsibility or in discussions about consumer behavior and financial management.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'tirar el dinero' specifically implies wasteful spending, 'gastar dinero' is neutral and simply means 'to spend money' without the negative connotation of waste.
This word:
Comprar ropa que nunca usas es tirar el dinero.
Buying clothes you never wear is wasting money.
Notes: 'Tirar el dinero' always has a negative connotation of poor financial decision-making.
Mnemonic: 'Tirar' suggests throwing away, while 'gastar' is neutral spending.
Explanation: 'Tirar el dinero' means wasteful spending with no return, while 'invertir dinero' means to invest money with the expectation of future returns.
Confused word:
Invertí dinero en acciones que aumentaron su valor.
I invested money in stocks that increased in value.
Notes: The distinction is about purpose and outcome - investment vs. waste.
Mnemonic: Think of 'invertir' as putting money to work, while 'tirar' is throwing it away.