Why Meter Is Much More Than "To Put In"
Meter literally means to put something inside something else. It is a regular verb, but natives use it all day in chunks that have nothing to do with boxes or pockets: getting into trouble, making a mistake, picking on someone.
Its reflexive form meterse is where most of the fun is. For more on reflexive verbs, see Reflexive Verbs Chunks. Learn the six chunks below and you will sound much less like a textbook.
Pattern 1: Meter algo en… — "To put something into…"
The literal meaning, and still the most useful one. Use en for the container or place. For plain placing on a surface, poner is the better verb; see [Poner] Chunks.
- Mete la ropa en la maleta. — Put the clothes in the suitcase.
- Metí las llaves en el bolsillo. — I put the keys in my pocket.
- Mete el pollo en el horno. — Put the chicken in the oven.
Chunk to learn:
Meter + [algo] + en + [lugar]
Pattern 2: Meterse en… — "To get into / get involved in…"
With se, the subject goes into something itself: a bed, a mess, someone else's business. The most famous warning in the Spanish-speaking world starts here.
- No te metas en mis asuntos. — Don't get involved in my business.
- Se metió en un lío enorme. — He got himself into a huge mess.
- Me metí en la cama a las diez. — I got into bed at ten.
Chunk to learn:
Meterse en + [un lío / asuntos / la cama]
Pattern 3: Meter la pata — "To put your foot in it"
Spanish says almost the same as English: you put your leg (pata is an animal's leg) where it should not go. Use it for any embarrassing mistake or something you should not have said.
- ¡Metí la pata! — I messed up!
- Creo que metí la pata con Ana. — I think I put my foot in it with Ana.
- Metió la pata en la reunión. — He blundered in the meeting.
Chunk to learn:
Meter la pata / Metí la pata
Pattern 4: Meterse con alguien — "To pick on someone"
Use con plus a person for teasing, provoking, or starting trouble. It is common from the schoolyard to the bar.
- No te metas con él. — Don't mess with him.
- ¿Por qué te metes conmigo? — Why are you picking on me?
- Se meten con mi hermano en el colegio. — They pick on my brother at school.
Chunk to learn:
Meterse con + [persona] / No te metas con…
Pattern 5: Meter prisa / miedo / presión — "To rush / scare / pressure"
Here meter plants a feeling in someone. Use me, te, le for who feels it. It works just like dar prisa and dar miedo; see [Dar] Chunks.
- No me metas prisa. — Don't rush me.
- Esa película me mete miedo. — That movie scares me.
- Mi jefe nos mete mucha presión. — My boss puts a lot of pressure on us.
Chunk to learn:
Meter + [prisa / miedo / presión] + a + [persona]
Pattern 6: ¿Dónde te metes? — "Where have you been hiding?"
A warm, informal complaint to a friend who vanished. It literally asks "where are you putting yourself?". In Spain you will hear ¿dónde te has metido?; in Latin America, ¿dónde te metiste? is the usual form. For more on llamar, see [Llamar] Chunks.
- ¿Dónde te metes? Hace días que no sé nada de ti. — Where have you been? I haven't heard from you in days.
- ¿Dónde te habías metido? — Where had you been hiding?
- No sé dónde se ha metido mi móvil. — I don't know where my phone has got to.
Chunk to learn:
¿Dónde te metes? / ¿Dónde te has metido?
Meter vs. Poner
Poner puts something on a surface or in a general position; meter puts it inside something. Pon el libro en la mesa but mete el libro en la mochila. When the container is closed or tight, reach for meter.
Start with metí la pata and no te metas con…. You will hear both in the first week of real conversation.
This post is part of the Spanish Chunk Series — a growing collection of chunk patterns for natural Spanish.