cuspe de galiña

Galician

Alternative forms

• cuspe de pita

Etymology

Literally, “hen saliva” (birds don't produce it).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuspe de ɡaˈliɲa/ [ˈkus̺.pɪ ð̞ɪ ɣ̞ɑˈli.ɲɐ]

• IPA^(key): (standard) /ˈkuspe de ɡaˈliɲa/ [ˈkus̺.pɪ ð̞ɪ ɣ̞ɑˈli.ɲɐ]
• IPA^(key): (gheada) /ˈkuspe de ħaˈliɲa/ [ˈkus̺.pɪ ð̞ɪ ħɑˈli.ɲɐ]

Noun

cuspe de galiña m (plural cuspes de galiña)

1. (idiomatic) a non existent remedy or solution to a problem that the speaker thinks of as irresolvable

   Descaralláchelo enteiro, amigo. Agora bótalle cuspe de galiña

   You totally messed it, pal. Now put some hen saliva

Usage notes

Frequently cuspe de galiña is simply shortened to cuspe (“saliva”): Rompíchelo? Agora bótalle cuspe! ― Did you break it? Now put some saliva on it!

References

• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “cuspe de galiña”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “cuspe de galiña”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN