Spanish idiom "Cogido con pinzas"
Hi everyone!

In Spanish we have the idiom "Está cogido con pinzas". The direct translation is " (something) is caught (or hung) with clothes peg".

It is used to describe that a reasoning hasn't enough base or the arguments are insufficient. For example:

- "I'm going to buy a new 3000€ laptop because I like to read the newspapers online"
- "Well,(your reasoning) it's caught with clothe pegs, I think that you don't really need a 3000€ laptop for newspaper reading, a 1000€ laptop is more than what you need actually.

My question is. Is there a similar idiom in English?

Thanks!!!

PD: Please, correct my writting!

Question

Spanish idiom "Cogido con pinzas"
Hi everyone!

In Spanish we have the idiom "Está cogido con pinzas". The direct translation is " (something) is caught (or hung) with clothes peg".

It is used to describe that a reasoning hasn't enough base or the arguments are insufficient. For example:

- "I'm going to buy a new 3000€ laptop because I like to read the newspapers online"
- "Well,(your reasoning) it's caught with clothe pegs, I think that you don't really need a 3000€ laptop for newspaper reading, a 1000€ laptop is more than what you need actually.

My question is. Is there a similar idiom in English?

Thanks!!!

PD: Please, correct my writting!

Answer

"You are caught with your hand in the cookie jar."

Hope this helps.

Answer

I don't think there is to be honest Juan Carlos. I can't think of one anyway!

Answer

He encontrado estas definiciones que pueden interesar a todos en general.
I came across these definitions in my search for the idiom. May be of help for others.
1-Hay que coger con pinzas todo lo que dice él — You have to take anything he says with a grain of salt
2-Tomaría esa información con pinzas — I would handle that information with great care
3-Este tema debes tratarlo con pinzas — Tread carefully on this issue
4-Lo defienden con pinzas — They defend it tentatively/at arm's length
https://www.espanolavanzado.com/significados
A late reply, but it may serve others who search for the same equivalent in Spanish.
Example: With all the fake news on the web today you have to fine-comb all the information to make it's true.
Con todas las noticias falsas que diambulan por la red, hay que tomarlo todo con pinzas para asegurarnos de que la información es veridica.