Hoy no doy una

Josh · #1 April 25, 2010, 09:04 PM

My dictionary says hoy no doy una means - today I can't get anything right. Is that correct? What does the statement literally mean?

**Rusty** · #2 April 25, 2010, 09:29 PM

I think the sense of 'to hit (something)', one of the many different meanings of dar, is being used. But I could be off base.
Today I'm not hitting a thing. = Hoy no doy una.

hermit · #3 April 26, 2010, 01:19 PM

Agreed, Rusty. Opposite, in a way, from "...hitting the nail on the head"?

¿Como "no dar con el clavo", o varios comparaciones tocante a los deportes?

"Today I'm batting Zero..."

irmamar · #4 April 27, 2010, 01:59 AM

The complete sentence is "no dar una a derechas", although it's common to shorten it in this way (no dar una). Don't ask me why.

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #5 April 27, 2010, 08:41 AM

@Irma: Interesting... I've always only heard "No dar una" (a secas).

irmamar · #6 April 28, 2010, 01:58 AM

Sí, es más habitual la forma corta, pero la larga también la he oído a veces. Me pregunto por qué la derecha siempre es "la buena" y la izquierda es "la mala".

**AngelicaDeAlquezar** · #7 April 28, 2010, 10:17 AM

¿Porque es siniestra? ;D

Yo creo que es porque antes se creía que los zurdos eran diabólicos, pero ni idea de dónde viene semejante idea.

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Hoy no doy una

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.