mano de pilón (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation
Part of Speech
Noun phrase
Phonetic transcription
/ˈmano de piˈlon/
Usage
"Mano de pilón" is an informal expression commonly used in Spanish, especially in certain regions like Spain and some Latin American countries. It is usually spoken and less frequently used in written text.
Example sentences
Me dio un golpe con la mano de pilón. (He hit me with a heavy hand.)
Prefiero arreglar las cosas sin tener que llegar a la mano de pilón. (I prefer to settle things without resorting to violence.)
Siempre usa la mano de pilón para abrir las tapas de los frascos. (He always uses sheer force to open jar lids.)
Idiomatic Expressions
"Mano de pilón" is part of several idiomatic expressions in Spanish:
Caer de mano de pilón
Translation: To happen unexpectedly
Example: El aumento de sueldo cayó de mano de pilón. (The raise came unexpectedly.)
Ir de mano de pilón
Translation: To go straight to the point; to proceed directly
Example: En la reunión, fue de mano de pilón al tema principal. (In the meeting, he went straight to the main topic.)
Dar mano de pilón
Translation: To hit someone or something with great force
Example: Si me vuelve a molestar, le daré mano de pilón. (If he bothers me again, I'll hit him hard.)
Etymology
The expression "mano de pilón" combines the word "mano" (hand) and "pilón" (a heavy wooden pestle used to crush food in a mortar). Hence, it figuratively refers to a strong or heavy hand.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms: Mano pesada (heavy hand), mano férrea (iron hand)
Antonyms: Mano suave (gentle hand), mano liviana (light hand)