a tomar por saco

a toˈmaɾ poɾ ˈsa.kodismissal, idiom

What does a tomar por saco mean? a tomar por saco is a Spanish strong that translates to “to hell with it / fuck it” in English.

to take by the sack

01

"to hell with it / fuck it"

An expression used to send someone away angrily, or to give up on a task that is too frustrating.

Throwing your hands up after struggling with a crossword puzzle for an hour.

Spain

Context

  • Informal settings where profanity is accepted
  • Expressing strong frustration or emphasis

Avoid

  • Professional or formal settings
  • Around elders or authority figures
  • Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations

Cultural Context

A distinctly Spanish euphemism for 'vete a tomar por culo'. The 'saco' usually refers to a sack or bag, giving it plausible deniability to avoid the anatomical vulgarity of 'culo' (ass). If an Ikea shelf collapses for the third time during assembly, a Spaniard will throw the screwdriver and yell '¡A tomar por saco!' meaning 'Fuck this, I'm done.'

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3 / 5character attack, sexual act

pajero

paˈxe.ɾo

wanker / lazy bastard / flake

Someone who masturbates a lot; figuratively, a supremely lazy person or someone who talks a lot but never follows through.

4 / 5scatological, character attack

comemierda

ˌko.meˈmjeɾ.ða

arrogant prick / stuck-up bitch / full of shit

A deeply arrogant, conceited person who thinks they are better than everyone else, or alternatively, a complete fool.

4 / 5exclamation, anatomical

la concha de la lora

la ˈkon.tʃa ðe la ˈlo.ɾa

for fuck's sake / godfuckingdammit

An exclamation of extreme frustration, surprise, or anger. It vividly expresses that a situation has gone completely wrong.

3 / 5sexual, gendered slur

puta

ˈpu.ta

whore / bitch / fucking (as intensifier)

Prostitute or promiscuous woman; used as general expletive or intensifier. When combined with 'madre' becomes extremely severe.

4 / 5sexual, homophobic

puto

ˈpu.to

fucking (intensifier) / male whore / faggot

Male prostitute; homophobic slur; or intensifier similar to 'fucking'.

3 / 5class-based, intensifier

pinche

ˈpin.tʃe

fucking / damn / stupid

Kitchen helper in Spain; in Mexico, a versatile intensifier meaning 'fucking' or 'damn'.

4 / 5verb, sexual

follar

foˈʎaɾ

to fuck / to shag

To have sexual intercourse. It is the absolute standard vulgar verb for sex in Spain.

2 / 5anatomical, character attack

pelotudo

pe.loˈtu.ðo

idiot / moron / dumbass

Stupid person, idiot. Similar to boludo but slightly more insulting in Argentina.