Estar de Rodríguez
To be a Rodríguez.
no exact English equivalent; **to be home alone while the family is away**; **to have the house to oneself**; **to be left behind while one's family is on holiday**; **to have a few days of bachelor freedom**; **to enjoy some bachelor-style freedom**; **to have a few days of freedom**
Estar de Rodríguez means to stay at home while one's partner and family are away on holiday, especially when one remains behind because of work.
Este verano estoy de Rodríguez: mi mujer y los niños se han ido al pueblo.
I'm home alone this week while my family is away.
Estoy de Rodríguez toda la semana porque ellos están de vacaciones.
I'm on my own this week because my family is on holiday.
Se ha quedado de Rodríguez y piensa salir todas las noches.
My wife and the kids have gone away, so I've got the house to myself.
Cuando se queda de Rodríguez, aprovecha para ver a sus amigos.
He's got a few days of bachelor-style freedom while his family is away.
It can also imply taking advantage of the temporary freedom to enjoy oneself, go out, party or behave more independently than usual.
- stays in the city while their family goes on holiday
- has to continue working while their partner is away
- temporarily lives alone because their family has gone away
- enjoys a few days of bachelor-like freedom
The expression became popular in Spain in the 1960s, particularly through the film El cálido verano del señor Rodríguez (1965), directed by Pedro Lazaga.
The film tells the story of a married man, Roberto Rodríguez, whose wife and children leave for their summer holidays while he remains in Madrid because of work.
His temporary freedom from family responsibilities became a popular cultural image.
The surname Rodríguez subsequently became a generic label for any man in the same situation.
The expression reflects a very specific piece of Spanish twentieth-century holiday culture.
During the traditional summer holidays, it was common for wives and children to spend several weeks away in a village, at the coast or elsewhere while the husband remained in the city working.
The expression is now used more loosely and does not necessarily imply that the person is a man or that the reason for staying behind is work.
The expression is a good example of how popular culture can create permanent idioms.
The ordinary surname Rodríguez became associated with the stereotypical married man temporarily enjoying life without his family.
Today, someone can say:
«Este fin de semana estoy de Rodríguez.»
even when the situation has nothing to do with the original film.
The surname has effectively become a common noun within this particular expression.
Do not translate:
Estoy de Rodríguez.
as:
I'm being Rodríguez.
Rodríguez is functioning as a generic surname.
A natural translation would be:
I'm home alone while my family is away.
If the speaker is emphasising the opportunity to enjoy some freedom:
I've got the house to myself for a few days.
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