Hasta el gorro

back

/ˈas·ta el ˈɣo·ro/

Up to the cap.

Frequency

ConversationVery common

JournalismOccasional

LiteraryRare

AcademicVery rare

In English

to be fed up with; **to be fed up with**; **to be sick and tired of**; **to have had enough of**; **to be up to one's ears in**; **to be fed up to the back teeth** (British)

Meaning

Estar hasta el gorro means to be fed up, to be sick and tired of something, to have had enough, or to be up to one's ears in something.

Examples

Estoy hasta el gorro de este trabajo.

I'm fed up with this job.

Estoy hasta el gorro de que siempre llegues tarde.

I'm sick and tired of you always being late.

Estamos hasta el gorro de sus quejas.

We're fed up with his complaints.

Ya estoy hasta el gorro de esperar.

I've had enough of waiting.

It is normally followed by de:

Estar hasta el gorro de algo/alguien.

It expresses irritation, boredom or exhaustion caused by something that has gone on for too long.

Used when

has become very tired of a person
is fed up with a repeated problem
cannot tolerate a situation any longer
has had enough of complaints, work or obligations
feels overwhelmed by something

Origin

The expression is based on the image of something filling a container to the very top.

Here, the "container" is metaphorically the person, and the gorro marks the highest possible level.

Being hasta el gorro therefore means having reached one's limit.

The metaphor is closely related to other Spanish expressions that describe excess by referring to the top of the body.

Cultural note

Hasta el gorro is a relatively mild expression.

There are much stronger colloquial alternatives, such as:

estar hasta las narices
estar hasta los cojones
estar hasta el coño

The first is common and mildly expressive; the latter two are vulgar.

Because hasta el gorro is comparatively harmless, it can be used in many everyday situations without sounding particularly aggressive.

Did you know?

Spanish has many expressions for reaching one's limit:

Estar hasta el gorro → to be fed up.
Estar hasta las narices → to be fed up / sick of it.
Estar hasta las cejas → to be up to one's neck.
Estar hasta arriba → to be completely full or overwhelmed.
No poder más → to be unable to take any more.

The progression is often visual: whatever is causing the problem has metaphorically risen higher and higher until it reaches the top of your head. ```

For English speakers

Do not translate:

Estoy hasta el gorro.

as:

I'm up to my cap.

Instead, use:

I'm fed up.

I've had enough.

I'm sick and tired of it.

If followed by de, use fed up with:

Estoy hasta el gorro de él.

→ I'm fed up with him.