como quien no quiere la cosa

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Spanish

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Etymology

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Literally, like someone who doesn't want the thing.

Adverb

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como quien no quiere la cosa

  1. (idiomatic) just like that; as if it were nothing; without a care in the world
    • 1896, Ricardo Palma, Tradiciones peruanas - Octava serie:
      El Señor, de rato en rato, metía la mano en la manga y llevaba a la boca una cereza; y como quien no quiere la cosa, al descuido y con cuidado dejaba caer otra, que San Pedro sin hacerse el remolón se agachaba a recoger, engulléndosela en el acto.
      Every so often The Lord put his hand up his sleeve and brought out a cherry to eat, and without a care in the world, accidentally or on purpose, would drop another on the ground, which Saint Peter, without idleness, would bend down to scoop up and eat.
    • 1921, Miguel de Unamuno, La tía Tula:
      Y cuando le tiro algún avance y le hablo, así como quien no quiere la cosa, del fin que deben tener nuestras relaciones, hace como que no oye y como si estuviera atendiendo a otra
      And when I make a move to speak to him, as if it were unwillingly, about where our relationship is heading, he pretends not to hear and acts like he's doing something else
    • 2013, Juan José Bocaranda, No Son Cuentos:
      pretende, como quien no quiere la cosa, que tú le cubras los gastos;
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. (idiomatic) on the Q.T.

Further reading

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