Sentar plaza de

[Tyrn]

Hi,

sentó plaza de soldado is translated as enlisted.

I did a bit of research and found nothing. Is there such an idiom?

[Rusty]

The verbal locution sentar plaza has the long-standing meaning of entrar a servir de soldado (according to the DRAE, the de soldado is omitted).

This same verbal phrase can be used with the meaning of establecerse (as a dentist, etc.) or hacerse (hacerse soldado), but then the locution is followed by the preposition 'de'.

The locution can also be used in the figurative sense of pretense (pretending to be something one isn't), invoked when ridiculing or mocking another's charade.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty.

As I've seen "sentar plaza de" used more frequently, is when someone is so good at something, that they acquire a positive reputation for it:
- El profesor siempre hacía maravillosos discursos y sentó plaza de orador.
The professor always made wonderful speeches and established his fame as a skilled public speaker.
- Después de dar dos clases de astronomía en el pueblo, senté plaza de profeta y me pedían consejo de acuerdo a sus horóscopos.
After giving two lessons of astronomy in the small town, I was awarded the status of a prophet and they asked me for advice according to their horoscope.
- Es un artista auténtico que ha sentado plaza de original.
He is a genuine artist who has a reputation of being truly original.
- La señorita Pérez ha sentado plaza de persona respetable a lo largo de su vida y es por eso que la homenajeamos el día de hoy.
Miss Pérez has conducted herself as a respectable person throughout her life and that is the reason why we honour her.

[poli]

The corresponding idiomatic English expression is to be well suited (to be a). Thanks for clarifying a term I never heard before.