Spanish word of the day: Estar hasta las narices

What does estar hasta las narices mean?

Estar hasta las narices (idiomatic expression) – Literally “to be up to your nostrils,” this colorful Spanish idiom means to be completely fed up, tired, or exasperated with something or someone. It’s used when you’ve reached your limit and just can’t put up with a situation any longer.

Example sentences with estar hasta las narices

• Estoy hasta las narices de tanto tráfico cada mañana.
  🚗😤 I’m fed up with all the traffic every morning.

• Mi hermana está hasta las narices de hacer siempre las mismas tareas en casa.
  🏠😠 My sister is sick and tired of always doing the same chores at home.

• Todos estamos hasta las narices de las reuniones interminables.
  🕒🙄 We’re all fed up with endless meetings.

This idiom uses the verb estar. If you need to remember how to conjugate it, our conjugation tables can help with that!

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Estar hasta las narices in context

You’ll hear estar hasta las narices in everyday Spanish when people talk about situations that have pushed them to their limit—whether it’s work stress, annoying habits, or daily frustrations. It’s a strong but still polite way to express that you’ve had enough, often used with a touch of humor or exaggeration.

If you want to sound natural in Spanish, use estar hasta las narices to vent about anything that’s driving you crazy or when you need to let off steam. It’s a phrase that’s instantly relatable and adds personality to your conversations about life’s little (or big) annoyances.