Pasame una lana primero, y después arreglamos

So there I was talking with my profesora, and I asked her for something, and this is what she tells me:

Pasame una lana primero, y después arreglamos

I couldn't help but laugh.  Not because I knew what she said, but because I knew it was supposed to be funny, and because yet again I had the deer in headlights look on my face. 

Now let's see if we can figure out what this means.

One word in our phrase you may not recognize is lana. Lana is a colloquial term for dinero, or as we say in English, money.  Plata is another colloquial term you may hear for money.

Arreglar is another verb that may be new to you.  Like so many verbs in Spanish, Arreglar has several meanings:  to fix something, to clean up, and to sort or work things out.  The last definition is the one we're interested in.  And since we're talking about Arreglar, I'll also mention that it's reflexive cousin Arreglarse means to get to ready, or dressed, as well as a few other things.  It's a good verb to learn, I've heard it on more than one occassion.

But let's get back to our phrase.  I think we know enough to make a good translation:

Pasame una lana primero, y después arreglamos
Pass me some money first, and then we'll work it out

When can you use this phrase?  Anytime someone asks you for a favor, big or small, is a perfect time to use this.  I'm sure your amigos will get a good laugh and be impressed with your Spanish as well.  

¡Hasta la próxima!

vete tú a saber

I actually like this nifty little phrase.  Sometimes I ask myself where these things come from, and who makes them up?  ¿Quien sabe? (Who knows?)

Actually, I just told you what today's bit of Spanish means -- Who knows?

It's a colloquial way of saying "Quien sabe". 

Since I've learned this bit of Spanish, I've heard it on several occassions, so it's something you'll want to put in your Spanish toolbox. 

You can use it in the exact same way we use "who knows" in English.

As usual, let's look at some examples:

¿Cuál es el sentido de la vida?  Vete tú a saber.
What's the meaning of life?  Who knows.

¿Cuál es el sentido de la vida? Quien sabe.
What's the meaning of life? Who knows.

Just remember that "quien sabe" is a bit more proper, while vete tú a saber is more informal, but other than that, use which ever one you like!

¡Hasta la próxima!

¡Chócalas!

If you're shaking your head trying to figure out what ¡Chócalas!   means,  then I feel a whole lot better because I had no idea what it meant either.   The good news is the translation is both simple, fun and surprisingly universal...it's not just for México.   

It means.....High five!

You can actually say this a few different ways...

¡Dame esos cincos!

¡Chócala!

¡Choca esos cinco!

Technically speaking, chócalas implies that you'll high-five with both hands, while chócala only uses one.  But my always helpful Spanish tutor informs me that you'll hear chócalas even if you only high-five with one hand.

Now you're well prepared to go watch a game of futbol and celebrate that goal the right way!

¡Hasta luego!