vacas flacas

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Spanish

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Etymology

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Literally, lean cows; an allusion to the story in Genesis, chapter 41, in which Pharaoh has a dream in which seven lean cows devour seven fat cows. The dream is interpreted by Joseph to mean that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine (see Joseph (Genesis) § Joseph in prison). Compare French vaches maigres.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˌbakas ˈflakas/ [ˌba.kas ˈfla.kas]
  • Syllabification: va‧cas fla‧cas

Noun

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vacas flacas f pl (plural only)

  1. (idiomatic) leanness, little prosperity
    los años de las vacas flacasthe lean years

Antonyms

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See also

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Further reading

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