Me da cosa

Cosa, thing, is one of those generic words that has many uses, some of them unexpected. Recently we covered una cosa ... otra cosa. Now let's look at some other common expressions with cosa.

Me da cosa

The expression me da cosa is used to convey that something makes your feel fear or some other uncomfortable negative emotion.

• Es que me da cosa. The thing is, it kind of freaks me out.
• Me da cosa ir a su casa por lo que va a decir su mamá. I don't feel comfortable going to his house. I'm worried about how his mother would react.

The general formula is me da followed by an emotion. Me da asco = It makes me sick (disgust). Me da mala espina = It creeps me out. I have a bad feeling (of distrust or doubt) about that.

Cositas

The diminutive cositas is often used euphemistically. Sus cositas = his/her genitals, private parts.

Hacer cosas

Speaking of euphemisms, hacer cosas can have sexual overtones: Vamos a tu casa para hacer cosas = Let's go to your place to fool around. Don't confuse this with vamos a hacer una cosa, a way of prefacing a proposal, especially one that is already considered decided by the speaker. Vamos a hacer una cosa. So here's what we're going to do. At this point the speaker goes on to share details of the plan.

Contar las cosas

The word cosas can refer to gossip, recent happenings or one's activities in general. It is often paired with the verb contar. Cuéntame las cosas = Tell me what's going on. No tienes derecho a contar mis cosas = You have no right to talk about me.

Sometimes cosa is closer in meaning to 'situation'. Ya me explicó cómo estuvo la cosa = He explained what happened. ¿Está muy grave la cosa? = Are things really bad? Las cosas no fueron como tu piensas = It's not what you're thinking.

Dime una cosa

Dime una cosa is a standard way of prefacing a request for personal information. Dime una cosa: ¿Te gusto o no te gusto? Can I ask you a question? Do you like me? Te voy a decir una cosa = There's something I want you to know.

Cosas de mujeres

Son cosas de mujeres is a stock reply meaning: it's a female thing; it's girl talk; you're a guy, so you wouldn't understand. Son cosas de hombres = it's a guy thing. I've also heard son cosas de ustedes, which meant: that's your business; I'm staying out of it.

Pensar las cosas

Pensar las cosas means 'think things over'. Piensa las cosas antes de hacerlas. Look before you leap. Nada más piensa bien las cosas = Just think things over carefully.

Dejar las cosas

Dejar las cosas means 'leave things the way they are'. Deja las cosas como están y ya. Let sleeping dogs lie. Leave well enough alone. With quedar: No se pueden quedar las cosas así = We have to do something.

Stuff

Cosas works for 'stuff' in general, especially personal belongings. Deja tus cosas en la mesa y vamos. The informal word chivas is also heard from time to time.

The only thing

Remember that expressions like the interesting thing are usually translated with lo and without cosa

• Lo único que me interesa. The only thing that interests me.
• Lo interesante es que ... The intereting thing is that ...
• Lo bueno es que ... The good thing is that ...

To sound natural, avoid using cosa with lo in these and similar expressions.