meterse en camisa de once varas: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin Americaarchaicliterary
  • To put on a shirt made from eleven varas (an old unit of measure); literal, historical phrasing.

  Examples

  Beta

  • En tiempos antiguos, la gente se metía en camisa de once varas para protegerse del frío.

    In ancient times, people put on a shirt made of eleven varas to protect themselves from the cold.

  • El sastre metió la tela en camisa de once varas para hacer la camisa más larga.

    The tailor folded the fabric into a shirt of eleven varas to make the shirt longer.

  • Para la fiesta tradicional, se metieron en camisa de once varas, siguiendo la costumbre antigua.

    For the traditional party, they put on shirts made of eleven varas, following the old custom.

  • Cuando metí la camisa de once varas en el armario, noté que estaba muy vieja y desgastada.

    When I put the eleven-varas shirt into the closet, I noticed it was very old and worn out.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americaidiomaticcolloquialformal
  • To involve oneself in an unnecessarily complicated, risky, or troublesome matter; to create or enter into needless difficulties.

  Examples

  Beta

  • No quiero meterme en camisa de once varas discutiendo con ellos sobre ese tema complicado.

    I don't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble arguing with them about that complicated issue.

  • Si decides aceptar ese contrato sin leerlo bien, te estarás metiendo en camisa de once varas.

    If you decide to accept that contract without reading it carefully, you'll be getting yourself into unnecessary trouble.

  • Marta se metió en camisa de once varas cuando intentó arreglar el problema sin ayuda profesional.

    Marta got herself into trouble when she tried to fix the problem without professional help.