+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: "A mil"

 
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    2
    Rep Power
    0

    Default "A mil"

    A friend keeps using the phrase "a mil" in emails to me. He's Peruvian, if that makes a difference. Oh, and he never uses accent marks and misspells things all the times, which make translating a challenge, lol. But he seems to write this consistently the same... It seems like he's saying he's busy in context, but all the translators and dictionaries I've look through only have it as meaning the literal "a thousand", and that doesn't make sense in context:

    "Lo siento he estado a mil."
    "A mil con el trabajo."
    "Yo estoy a mil, sin conexcion de internet, y ayer me quede sin baetria en el celular..."

    Thanks for any help!

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Texas, USA
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    5020

    Default Re: "A mil"

    I am not familiar with this phrase either but I'm pretty sure you are right in your interpretation that he means busy or overloaded much like we would say "a ton".
    vicente

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    329
    Rep Power
    685

    Default Re: "A mil"

    Yeah, the sense of "estoy a mil" is that the person is really busy and that is why he/she didn't have time to write to you. I have also come across "a full" with the same meaning.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    215
    Rep Power
    347

    Default Re: "A mil"

    Hi!! Scottj is right. "Estar a full" or "estar a mil" mean exactly the same and they're vey commonly used in informal writing or speaking.

    Saludiños,

    Bel

  5. #5
    Senior Member Ezequiel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Posts
    392
    Rep Power
    454

    Default Re: "A mil"

    My guess is that "estoy a mil" is a shortened version of "estoy a 1000km por hora", which in terms of speed would mean that you're so busy that you just can't stop doing things fast, one right after another.

  6. #6
    Forum User walterzev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Montevideo, Uruguay
    Posts
    61
    Rep Power
    424

    Smile Re: "A mil"

    Yes, it means you are soooooooooooo busy, so very busy that you cant`take care of anything else or perform any other duty you have been assigned to.
    Like I am running at a speed of 1000 km/h, I can`t stop, I can`t lose any time, I have so many things to do now.

    Hope it helps.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    329
    Rep Power
    685

    Default Re: "A mil"

    I agree with the 1000km interpretation, but I wonder where the "a full" expression comes from...

  8. #8
    Forum User walterzev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Montevideo, Uruguay
    Posts
    61
    Rep Power
    424

    Smile Re: "A mil"

    Quote Originally Posted by ScottJ
    I agree with the 1000km interpretation, but I wonder where the "a full" expression comes from...
    It`s about the same.

    "Full" is the English word meaning complete and taken as such into this expression in Spanish to mean you are full of stuff to do, your To Do ist is full, complete.

    So, instead of Estoy a mil (running at 1000 km/h), they say estoy a "full", so busy... my schedule does not have any empty or blank entry, I am exhausted, sorry I can`t take care of that, etc, you choose according to the context.

    This expression I understand is used mostly among teens and young adults.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    329
    Rep Power
    685

    Default Re: "A mil"

    I suppose that makes the most sense...I was just curious as to whether there was a different story of origin.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Ezequiel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Posts
    392
    Rep Power
    454

    Default Re: "A mil"

    Could "a full" come from "at full capacity" or "at full speed" and turned into spanish slang?

    Sounds reasonable to me =P

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11-16-2017, 08:03 AM
  2. guión en español: "24-hour service" = "24-hora servicio"?
    By shikamoo in forum Spanish Language Topics
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-21-2017, 02:17 PM
  3. "Subeybaja", "Sube y baja", "Subibaja"
    By Salvadorm in forum Spanish Language Topics
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-10-2014, 04:56 PM
  4. "Srta. ¿Me traería un vasito de coca, por favor?" MANERAS DE DECIR "AZAFATA"
    By danielad in forum General Spanish to English Translation
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 06-26-2013, 09:39 AM
  5. Correct translation for the phrase "love life" and "hate death"?
    By Cjayrc in forum General English to Spanish Translation
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 03-31-2009, 09:31 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •