a enemigo que huye, puente de plata

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, “an enemy who retreats deserves a silver bridge”. This aphorism was commonly used by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, a Spanish general from the Renaissance.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /a eneˌmiɡo ke ˌuʝe | ˌpwente de ˈplata/ [a e.neˌmi.ɣ̞o ke ˌu.ʝe | ˌpwẽn̪.t̪e ð̞e ˈpla.t̪a]

• IPA^(key): (everywhere but Argentina and Uruguay) /a eneˌmiɡo ke ˌuʝe | ˌpwente de ˈplata/ [a e.neˌmi.ɣ̞o ke ˌu.ʝe | ˌpwẽn̪.t̪e ð̞e ˈpla.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (Buenos Aires and environs) /a eneˌmiɡo ke ˌuʃe | ˌpwente de ˈplata/ [a e.neˌmi.ɣ̞o ke ˌu.ʃe | ˌpwẽn̪.t̪e ð̞e ˈpla.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay) /a eneˌmiɡo ke ˌuʒe | ˌpwente de ˈplata/ [a e.neˌmi.ɣ̞o ke ˌu.ʒe | ˌpwẽn̪.t̪e ð̞e ˈpla.t̪a]

• Audio (Peru):

  (file)

• Syllabification: a e‧ne‧mi‧go que hu‧ye, puen‧te de pla‧ta

Phrase

a enemigo que huye, puente de plata

1. (idiomatic) good riddance (Used to indicate that a departure, or loss is welcome.)