Not one foolish hair on your head

Has anyone ever said to you, “No tienes ni un pelo de tonto” (you don’t have even one foolish hair)?

Don’t worry. It’s kind of a strange thing to say, but it’s not an insult.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite!

If you don’t have even one foolish hair, that means you’re a smart person with your wits about you, someone who’s difficult to trick or fool.

Read this article in Spanish

No tener ni un pelo de tonto is just one of many Spanish sayings that talk about hair.

When used in colloquial expressions, pelo (hair) usually refers to a small quantity of something or to something that just barely happens.

A hair is one of the smallest and finest (but still visible) parts of the body. In fact, we lose hair from our head every day, often without realizing it.

That’s why when we use the word pelo as part of an expression, we’re referring to a small amount of something.

So, if someone says, “No tienes ni un pelo de tonto,” what do they mean? Well, just the opposite of what it might seem.

They are trying to say that you’re not the least bit foolish.

This means they’re paying you a compliment!

If you want to keep free of “foolish hairs” and learn more Spanish expressions with pelo, watch our video and find out all you have left to learn!