Aguantar los trapos | To stand one’s ground

After some time, I recently came across this expression which, although not that frequent, really carries an interesting meaning. It’s used in the same way as we’d use to stand your ground in English.

Originally, it was heard when referring to the attitude of football fans when confronting the opposite team’s fan, usually in a violent fashion. Opposite gangs would try to steal each other’s flags as trophies, and that’s how the phrase possibly was born.

With time, it became more of a go-to expression when you’re maintaining a position (like never backing down/ never giving up) or alternatively, to being patient in difficult times.

For example, when I googled to find examples of the expression I found:

• “Hay que aguantar los trapos, lo económico es cuestión de tiempo.”
• “La mayoría de los empresarios de la provincia se ha puesto a disposición para aguantar los trapos.”

Sometimes, it’s just chopped off to aguantar.

Cool expression to know, I think.

Until next time!

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