Arrimar el ascua a su sardina
To pull the ember towards one's own sardine.
to look out for number one; **to look out for number one**; **to look after one's own interests**; **to feather one's own nest**; **to put oneself first**; **to turn things to one's own advantage**
Arrimar el ascua a su sardina means to look after one's own interests, to feather one's own nest, to put oneself first, to look out for number one, or to turn a situation to one's own advantage.
Cada uno arrima el ascua a su sardina.
Everyone looks after their own interests.
Está claro que arrima el ascua a su sardina.
It's obvious he's putting himself first.
Siempre intenta arrimar el ascua a su sardina.
She's always trying to turn things to her own advantage.
En esa negociación todos arrimaban el ascua a su sardina.
In those negotiations, everyone was looking out for number one.
It usually implies selfishness or partiality.
- defends only their own interests
- manipulates a situation for personal benefit
- favours themselves over others
- argues in a biased way
- takes advantage of a shared situation
The expression comes from traditional cooking over an open fire.
When several people cooked food at the same hearth, moving the glowing embers closer to one's own sardine meant improving one's own meal at the expense of everyone else's.
This everyday image became a metaphor for pursuing one's own interests without much concern for others.
The expression often carries mild criticism.
It suggests that someone is being selfish rather than openly dishonest.
In politics and public debate, it is frequently used to accuse individuals or organisations of defending only their own interests instead of the common good.
Spanish has several expressions describing selfish behaviour:
- Arrimar el ascua a su sardina → to look after one's own interests.
- Mirar por uno mismo → to look after oneself.
- Ir a lo suyo → to think only about oneself.
- Llevar agua a su molino → to turn things to one's own advantage.
Among them, arrimar el ascua a su sardina is one of the most picturesque because it transforms an ordinary scene around a shared fire into a vivid metaphor for human self-interest.
Do not translate the expression literally.
English speakers would never say:
He pulled the ember towards his sardine.
Instead, use expressions such as:
- He's looking out for number one.
- She's looking after her own interests.
- He's putting himself first.
- She's turning the situation to her own advantage.
Choose the translation according to whether the emphasis is on selfishness or personal benefit.
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