Example: No quiero quedar mal en la reunión con mis amigos.
Definition
"Quedar mal" means to fail to make a good impression or to be perceived negatively in a social or professional context. For example, "No quiero quedar mal en la reunión con mis amigos" expresses the desire to avoid looking bad or disappointing others in a gathering.
Translations
to make a bad impression
slecht overkomen
quedar malament
faire mauvaise impression
schlecht ankommen
Etymology
The phrase "quedar mal" comes from the Spanish verb "quedar" meaning 'to remain' or 'to be left,' combined with "mal," meaning 'bad' or 'wrong.' Together, it literally translates to 'to remain badly,' referring to the impression one leaves on others. Did you know? This expression vividly captures the feeling of being judged unfavorably after an event.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Quedar mal" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (A2) - parte 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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to make a bad impression