How to Say ‘We can sit idly by’ in Spain Spanish
Podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados
po-de-mos ke-dar-nos de bra-sos kru-tha-dos
[po-de-mos ke-dar-nos de bra-sos kru-tha-dos]
💬 Usage Tip: [Quedarse de brazos cruzados] is a fixed expression meaning "do nothing / sit idly by." You can reuse it whole: [no podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados].
Phrase Breakdown
Podemos
[po-de-mos]
we can
First person plural ability or possibility.
Podemos intentar nuevamente.
We can try again.
quedarnos
[ke-dar-nos]
remain
To stay in the same place or condition.
Podemos quedarnos aquí.
We can remain here.
de
[de]
with
Indicates accompanying condition.
Quedamos con amigos.
We stayed with friends.
brazos
[bra-sos]
arms
Limbs attached to the shoulders.
Cruzamos los brazos.
We crossed our arms.
cruzados
[kru-tha-dos]
crossed
Positioned one over the other.
Está con los brazos cruzados.
He is with his arms crossed.
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