en alas de cucaracha

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, “on cockroach's wings”.

Adjective

en alas de cucaracha (invariable)

1. (colloquial, idiomatic, El Salvador, Honduras) in a difficult situation; tense; uneasy

   Luego de las elecciones, el país se encontraba en alas de cucaracha.

   After the elections, the country was in a dificult situation.

   El criminal está en alas de cucaracha luego de ser encontrado culpable.

   The culprit was in a difficult situation after being found guilty.

Usage notes

Often preceded by estar.

Further reading

• “estar”, in Diccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish), Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2010
• “poner”, in Diccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish), Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2010