Is there a Mexican equivalent to "cover your ass"

Factual Questions
1

Okay, long story about how my boss and another Director got into a discussion about how to say “cover your ass” (CYA) in Mexican slang.

Now, I know how you would literally translate this, but what I’m looking for is a slang equivalent to the intent of “cover your ass”. Like doing a papertrail after the fact to the corporate office to cover your ass…

Hell, it doesn’t even have to Mexican slang. I’ll take any Spanish slang from any Spanish speaking country/region.

BTW, I looked this up in Mexican Slang: A Guide. No luck, but man I learned a lot about how to make a pass at a man in Spanish! Woot!

2

Shouldn’t that be a Spanish equivalent?

3

Sorry, I just read the rest of your post. The part where you do in fact say “Spanish.” :smack: :smack: :smack:

4

Actually, “Mexican equivalent” would make sense, as slang usage can vary from country to country. I’d think nothing of saying, “What’s the Australian equivalent of [American slang term]?” Even though I realize that both countries speak English.

And totally useless to the point at hand, but fascinating in and of itself: Vulgar Spanish has a verb that means “to perform anal sex upon”: encular. You can guess what the reflexive form means! :smiley:

5

there are several phrases that very loosely convey the idea:

“pa’que parezca” = to make it seem like
mete los papeles pa’que parezca = do the paperwork so it seems like we followed procedure

“pa’meter la coba” = to create the illusion, to tell the [false] story
as above

“cubrir todas las bases” = to cover all the bases (also used in english)

none of them is a perfect match, though. I can’t think of a straight equivalent to CYA. (and believe me, it is not because the notion doesn’t exist! maybe we are just more discrete talking about it)

6

Try:

Guarde tu espalda

It’s not literal, but has the same sentiment.

You have to check that the context is understood; it can be used also for “watch your back,” and a warning can get misunderstood as a threat.

7

Cubrir la espalda, cover your back, would be more accurate.

8

Oh and I meant to say that that isn’t really slang nor unique to Mexican Spanish. I can’t think of an equivalent slang term.