Spanish language learning forums - Hubo de vérselas con la dificultad

"Haber de" + infinitive is used to express the obligation or the need to do something.
"Vérselas" is an idiomatic expression meaning that someone has to face an adverse situation.

- Marcelino hubo de vérselas con la dificultad.
Marcelino had to deal with the difficulty.

Some examples of "haber de" + infinitive:
- Olvidé las llaves y ahora he de llamar al cerrajero. :approx: Olvidé las llaves y ahora tengo que llamar al cerrajero.
I forgot my keys so now I have to call the locksmith.
- No he visto hoy a María. Habías de llamarla para ver si está bien. :approx: No he visto hoy a María. Deberías (de) llamarla para saber si está bien.
I haven't seen Maria today. You should call her to see if she's alright.
- Mi hijo no limpió su cuarto, pero habrá de querer jugar Minecraft.
My son didn't clean his room, but he will want to play Minecraft. (...and he will not be allowed to.) :wicked:

In "vérselas", the personal pronouns "lo"/"la"/"las" do not refer to any explicit subject. Here are some examples:
- El vecino chocó mi coche, pero se las va a ver conmigo.
The neighbor crashed my car but he will have to deal with me. (As mad as I am now.)
- No hables con él. Se las da de conocedor, pero no sabe nada.
Don't talk to him. He poses as a connoisseur but he knows nothing.
- ¡Pásalo bien! = ¡Pásala bien!
Have a good time!
- (In Mexican slang) ¡Chócalas!
High five!
- Desde el accidente intento llevármela tranquila.
Since that accident, I try to take things easy.
- Si no sabes cómo hacer el trabajo, arréglatelas solo. No te puedo resolver todo.
If you don't know how to do the job, get creative to find a solution. I can't do everything for you.