ser de mear y no echar gota: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin AmericaneutralliteralMachine
  • To be the sort that would provoke the need to urinate yet allow no drop to be released; a literal, bodily image.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Después de tanto beber café, sentí que era de mear y no echar gota, una sensación muy incómoda.

    After drinking so much coffee, I felt like needing to pee but not being able to, a very uncomfortable feeling.

  • Cuando tuve esa infección, la doctora me dijo que era de mear y no echar gota, y que debía seguir el tratamiento al pie de la letra.

    When I had that infection, the doctor told me I had a strong urge to urinate but couldn't, and that I had to follow the treatment exactly.

  • Es molesto estar de mear y no echar gota porque provoca mucha ansiedad y malestar.

    It’s annoying to feel like needing to pee but not being able to because it causes a lot of anxiety and discomfort.

  • En el hospital, me explicaron que ser de mear y no echar gota es síntoma de un problema urinario que hay que tratar pronto.

    At the hospital, they explained that the feeling of needing to pee but not releasing any urine is a symptom of a urinary problem that must be treated soon.

• 2.

  SpainLatin AmericavulgarcolloquialinformalMachine
  • To be extremely ridiculous, contemptible, or pathetic; to be so bad or absurd that it evokes scorn or incredulity.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Cuando vi ese programa de televisión pensé que era de mear y no echar gota, no podía creer lo absurdo que era.

    When I saw that TV show, I thought it was ridiculously bad; I couldn't believe how absurd it was.

  • No creo que ese plan funcione, la verdad es que es de mear y no echar gota, nadie lo tomaría en serio.

    I don't think that plan will work; honestly, it's so ridiculous that no one would take it seriously.

  • ¿Has leído las críticas? Dicen que la película es de mear y no echar gota, un desastre total.

    Have you read the reviews? They say the movie is ridiculously bad, a total disaster.