Example: Llegó tarde y, por si fuera poco, olvidó los documentos.
Definition
"Por si fuera poco" is a Spanish expression used to introduce an additional fact or detail that exacerbates an already problematic situation, similar to saying 'as if that weren't enough' or 'on top of that' in English.
Translations
as if that weren't enough
alsof dat nog niet genoeg was
per si no fos prou
comme si cela ne suffisait pas
als ob das nicht genug wäre
Etymology
The expression "por si fuera poco" literally translates to 'in case it were little' and originates from the conditional form 'fuera' of the verb 'ser' (to be). It evolved as a way to emphasize that something is not only true but also adds to an existing problem or difficulty. Did you know it’s often used to heighten the impact of negative situations?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Por si fuera poco" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (B1) - parte 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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as if that weren't enough