a malas: meaning & examples

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Language: Spanish

Meanings:

  • 1.

    SpainLatin AmericaGeneral Spanishinformalcolloquial
    • In a state of hostility or bad terms with someone; angrily or resentfully disposed toward another person (e.g., 'to be on bad terms').

    Examples

    Beta

    • Después de la discusión, Juan y María quedaron a malas y no se han vuelto a hablar.

      After the argument, Juan and María were on bad terms and haven't spoken since.

    • ¿Por qué estás a malas con tu hermano? Pensé que se habían reconciliado.

      Why are you on bad terms with your brother? I thought you had reconciled.

    • Aunque estaban a malas al principio, el tiempo ayudó a mejorar la relación entre ellos.

      Although they were on bad terms at first, time helped improve their relationship.

    • No quiero seguir a malas con nadie, prefiero resolver las diferencias cuanto antes.

      I don't want to remain on bad terms with anyone; I prefer to resolve differences as soon as possible.

  • 2.

    SpainLatin AmericaGeneral Spanishinformalcolloquial
    • With ill will or malicious intent; spitefully (used to indicate that an action is motivated by malice or is not meant kindly).
    • Not intended to offend or harm, when negated (e.g., 'no lo decía a malas' = 'I did not say it with malice').

    Examples

    Beta

    • No me lo dijo a malas, simplemente estaba frustrado por la situación.

      He didn't say it spitefully; he was just frustrated with the situation.

    • Ella lo criticó a malas, con la intención de hacerle daño, pero no lo logró.

      She criticized him spitefully, intending to hurt him, but she didn't succeed.

    • No actúes a malas, mejor intenta entender por qué tomó esa decisión.

      Don't act with malice; better try to understand why he made that decision.

  • 3.

    SpainLatin AmericaGeneral Spanishinformalcolloquial
    • As a last resort or by force if necessary; indicating the intention to become tough, stubborn, or uncompromising.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Si no me ayudas, lo haré a malas, aunque no quieras colaborar.

      If you don't help me, I'll do it by force, even if you don't want to cooperate.

    • La empresa avanzó a malas cuando no obtuvieron la aprobación del sindicato.

      The company pushed ahead stubbornly when they didn't get the union's approval.

    • No quería llegar a malas, pero tuve que ser firme para que me escucharan.

      I didn't want to get tough, but I had to be firm to be heard.

Examples:

  • ES: El jefe y yo estamos a malas, y yo quiero estar a buenas con él.
    EN: The chief and I are on the outs, and I want to get on the good side of him.
  • ES: Sin embargo, cuando están a malas...
    EN: However, when they are on bad, ...
  • ES: Por ejemplo, si vieran a Harry saliendo de su hotel por la noche daría pie a malas interpretaciones, ¿no le parece?
    EN: And if, for instance, Harry were to be observed leaving your hotel late at night, it might be misinterpreted. Mightn't it?
  • ES: Te acostumbra a malas costumbres
    EN: Gets you in the darndest habits
  • ES: Pero no me lo tomo a malas, yo habría hecho lo mismo de ser usted.
    EN: Oh, I take no offence. If I picked up your jacket, I would have done exactly the same.
  • ES: No te pongas a malas con nadie.
    EN: No use antagonizing anyone.
  • ES: - No sirvo a malas personas.
    EN: -I don't serve hotheads.
  • ES: Todos somos colegas, no hay necesidad de estar a malas con él.
    EN: We're all colleagues, there's no need to fight with him
  • ES: -Apuesto $50,000 a malas.
    EN: $50,000, they don't.
  • ES: Apuesto $5,000, a malas.
    EN: $5,000. They don't pass.
  • ES: Apuesto $50,000... a malas.
    EN: $50,000, they don't.
  • ES: Ya sé que no lo hiciste a malas.
    EN: You never wanted to hurt me.
  • ES: No lo decía a malas.
    EN: That's not what I meant.
  • ES: Muy exclusivo y muy sensible a malas relaciones públicas.
    EN: Very exclusive, and very scared of bad PR.
  • ES: "debido a malas influencias de supuestos intelectuales,
    EN: "due to bad influences from so-called intellectuals...
  • ES: Me voy a tener que poner a malas.
    EN: I'm gonna have to get crude here.
  • ES: Suena a malas noticias.
    EN: That sounds like bad news.
  • ES: "Llámame, tenemos que hablar". Suena a malas noticias.
    EN: "Call me, we have to talk." Sounds like bad news.
  • ES: Él es muy honesto, lo que puede llevar a malas consecuencias.
    EN: He is too honest, which may lead to bad consequences.
  • ES: Hay muchas reacciones a malas noticias.
    EN: People react to terrible news differently.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

a malas: Meaning, Examples & Usage (Spanish) | Idiomator