Partir peras

not to be on good terms; **not to be on good terms**; **not to get along**; **not to be on speaking terms**; **to be at odds**; **to have fallen out**

Partir peras means to enjoy a close, friendly relationship with someone.

However, in modern Spanish it is used overwhelmingly in the negative:

No estar para partir peras means not to be on good terms, not to get along, or to be unwilling to behave amicably.

• two people have argued
• there is obvious tension between them
• they are not speaking normally
• relations are cold or hostile
• friendship has broken down

The expression comes from the symbolic act of sharing a pear.

Sharing food has traditionally represented friendship, trust and goodwill.

To split a pear with someone suggested a close and harmonious relationship.

Over time, the negative form became much more common than the original affirmative meaning.

Today, if a Spaniard says:

No están para partir peras

they usually mean that the relationship is tense after an argument.

The expression often implies that any attempt at friendly conversation would be uncomfortable or impossible.

Spanish has several idioms describing relationships between people:

• Hacer buenas migas → to hit it off.
• Estar de morros → to be sulking with someone.
• No estar para partir peras → not to be on good terms.
• Hacer las paces → to make peace.

Among them, no estar para partir peras is one of the most idiomatic because its original positive image of sharing food has almost disappeared, leaving the negative expression as the one most Spaniards use today.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

They're not splitting pears.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• They're not on good terms.
• They don't get along.
• They're not on speaking terms.
• They've fallen out.

The focus is on the relationship rather than on the argument itself.