No levantar cabeza

not to get back on one's feet; **not to get back on one's feet**; **not to recover**; **not to catch a break**; **to go from bad to worse**; **to remain down on one's luck**

No levantar cabeza means not to recover, not to get back on one's feet, to be unable to catch a break, or to remain in a prolonged period of difficulty or bad luck.

It usually refers to problems that continue over time rather than to a single setback.

• suffers one problem after another
• cannot recover financially
• remains ill for a long time
• experiences repeated failures
• goes through an extended period of bad luck

The expression comes from the physical posture of someone weighed down by hardship.

People who are defeated, exhausted or overwhelmed often lower their heads.

Being unable to levantar cabeza ("raise one's head") became a natural metaphor for failing to recover from adversity.

Over time, the idiom expanded to include economic, emotional, professional and sporting difficulties.

The expression often conveys sympathy.

Unlike some idioms about failure, no levantar cabeza usually implies that the person is making an effort but circumstances continue to go against them.

For that reason, it often carries a compassionate rather than critical tone.

Spanish has several expressions describing difficult periods:

• No levantar cabeza → not to recover.
• Tener la negra → to have a run of bad luck.
• Estar pasando una mala racha → to be going through a bad patch.
• Ir de mal en peor → to go from bad to worse.

Among them, no levantar cabeza is especially common because it emphasises the idea of remaining stuck in adversity without yet managing to recover or move forward.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would not normally say:

He can't raise his head.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• He can't get back on his feet.
• She just can't catch a break.
• They haven't recovered yet.
• He's been down on his luck for months.

Choose the translation according to the context.