"Ni ocho cuartos"

[Chip00]

I hear this phrase a lot and noticed Mirador used this on one of my posts and would like to know it's meaning.

I understand some may not be too happy with my incessant inquisitiveness about Dominican colloquiolisms but as I'm immersed in them all day I figure I might as well learn something useful.

Thanks to all.

 

[cuas]

Before TV was at everybody's reach, a lot of people were listining to a Cuban radio show called "Tres Patines". My father loved that comedy show. A lot of words from that show is being used by Dominicans. I think "ni ocho cuartos" came from that show but please do not kill me if I am mistaken. Still I prefer somebody else to say the meaning of that words because if I see it in a sentence and when it was used I will know the meaning.

 

[RenatoSosua]

ni qu? ocho cuartos!

ni qu? ocho cuartos!

la expresi?n se usa para subrayar el desacuerdo con algo, disconformidad que previamente se ha expresado de una forma exclamativa

?qu? dieta ni qu? ocho cuartos!

 

[Mephs]

Mirador explained the meaning of that phrase in the other thread:

The actual expression must have been:

"Que se yo, ni que ocho cuartos!".

Which is an expression of disagreement and exasperated disbelief.

The way to use it is ?Qu? <SOMETHING> ni qu? ocho cuartos!, substituting <SOMETHING> with what you are disagreeing with (usually a single word). Here's an example:

Por razones de seguridad, el taller recomend? un cambio de frenos completo.
?Qu? seguridad ni qu? ocho cuartos! ?Lo que quer?an es m?s dinero!

(I'm having a hard time thinking of an equivalent English phrase, but could be something like this):

For safety reasons, the shop recommended a complete brake job.
Safety my a$$! They just wanted more money!

Hope that helps

 

[Mirador]

...For safety reasons, the shop recommended a complete brake job.
Safety my a$$! They just wanted more money! ...

The expression ni que ocho cuartos is not vulgar. It is more like the English expression my foot, like in "safety, my foot, they just wanted more money".

The expression is old, very old, and comes from Spain. I suspect it could be derived from money (cuartos), and particularly a coin (piece of eight) which is the old Spanish dollar...

 

[Chirimoya]

Yes, it's not Dominican. My Mum and her family (Venezuela, Spain) who have no Dominican connections use it a lot.

 

[miguel]

Siii....

The expression ni que ocho cuartos is not vulgar. It is more like the English expression my foot, like in "safety, my foot, they just wanted more money".

The expression is old, very old, and comes from Spain. I suspect it could be derived from money (cuartos), and particularly a coin (piece of eight) which is the old Spanish dollar...

Absolutely right, in MY book, even though I prefer the English expression, "My AXX", like in "you call THAT a job well done, my axx.

Judge Judy would say that it means:

"Don't pee on my legs and tell me it's raining", haha.

Btw, Cuas:

I am a HUGE fan of "Trespatines".