buscar las pulgas — meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
  • To look for minor faults or imperfections; to nitpick.
  • To search deliberately for reasons to criticize someone or something.

  Examples

  Beta

  • María siempre busca las pulgas en cada informe que entrego, como si nada estuviera bien.

    María always looks for minor faults in every report I submit, as if nothing was ever right.

  • No entiendo por qué estás buscando las pulgas en ese proyecto; está bastante completo.

    I don't understand why you are nitpicking that project; it's quite complete.

  • Si seguimos buscando las pulgas en su trabajo, nunca vamos a avanzar con este plan.

    If we keep looking for minor faults in his work, we'll never move forward with this plan.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
  • To provoke trouble or pick a fight; to act in a way that invites conflict or trouble.

  Examples

  Beta

  • No vayas a buscar las pulgas con Jorge hoy, porque está de mal humor y podría estallar.

    Don't go looking for trouble with Jorge today, because he's in a bad mood and could explode.

  • Cada vez que Ana busca las pulgas en las reuniones, termina en una discusión desagradable.

    Every time Ana provokes trouble in meetings, it ends in an unpleasant argument.

  • ¿Por qué buscas las pulgas con los vecinos? Ellos solo quieren vivir en paz.

    Why are you picking fights with the neighbors? They just want to live in peace.