Tirar la casa por la ventana

to spare no expense; **to spare no expense**; **to go all out**; **to splash out**; **to pull out all the stops**

Tirar la casa por la ventana means to spend lavishly, spare no expense or celebrate with exceptional generosity.

It suggests spending far more than usual, often with enthusiasm rather than irresponsibility.

The expression is commonly associated with weddings, birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.

• organises an extravagant celebration
• buys something very expensive
• spends much more than expected
• decides that cost is not the priority
• celebrates a major life event

Unlike many idioms, the origin of this expression is widely accepted.

In the nineteenth century, winners of Spain's national lottery were said to celebrate by throwing old furniture and household belongings out of their windows before buying new ones.

The image became firmly associated with sudden wealth and extravagant spending.

From there, tirar la casa por la ventana came to mean celebrating without worrying about the cost.

This historical origin is one reason the expression has survived so vividly.

Although the idiom refers to spending large amounts of money, it does not necessarily imply financial irresponsibility.

Very often, Spaniards use it for occasions that are considered worth the expense:

• weddings;
• milestone birthdays;
• retirement parties;
• Christmas celebrations;
• once-in-a-lifetime holidays.

The underlying idea is that some moments deserve exceptional generosity.

This is one of the few famous Spanish idioms whose historical explanation is both colourful and plausible.

The image of lottery winners celebrating by replacing everything in their homes was so striking that it became part of the language itself.

Even today, when Spaniards say:

"Vamos a tirar la casa por la ventana."

nobody imagines a flying house.

Everyone immediately understands that it is time for a celebration without half measures.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

They threw the house out of the window.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• They went all out.
• They spared no expense.
• They really splashed out.

The focus is on extraordinary spending, not on the house itself.