mentar la soga en casa del ahorcado: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 2.

  SpainLatin AmericaproverbialcolloquialMachine
  • To bring up a subject that is especially inappropriate, insensitive, or hurtful given someone's misfortune; to aggravate a person by referring to a particularly sore topic.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Cuando le recordaron su despido en la fiesta, él dijo que era mentar la soga en casa del ahorcado.

    When they reminded him of his firing at the party, he said it was like bringing up a sore subject.

  • No deberías mentar la soga en casa del ahorcado hablando de sus problemas económicos frente a ella.

    You shouldn't bring up her financial problems in front of her; it's like rubbing salt in the wound.

  • Cada vez que mencionan el accidente, siento que mentan la soga en casa del ahorcado y todos se ponen incómodos.

    Every time they mention the accident, it feels like bringing up a sore subject and everyone gets uncomfortable.

• 1.

  SpainLatin AmericaneutralproverbialMachine
  • To mention the rope in the house of the hanged (literal phrasing of the proverb).

  Examples

  Beta

  • El viejo refrán dice que no se debe mentar la soga en casa del ahorcado para no empeorar la situación.

    The old saying goes that you shouldn't mention the rope in the house of the hanged so as not to worsen the situation.

  • Durante la reunión, alguien mentó la soga en casa del ahorcado al recordar el accidente fatal.

    During the meeting, someone brought up a sore subject by mentioning the rope in the house of the hanged recalling the fatal accident.

  • No es prudente mentar la soga en casa del ahorcado cuando alguien está atravesando un mal momento.

    It's not wise to bring up a sensitive topic when someone is going through a tough time.

  • Al hablar de sus errores, Carlos mentó la soga en casa del ahorcado y empeoró su imagen.

    When talking about his mistakes, Carlos brought up a sensitive issue and worsened his image.