A1 Idiom غیر رسمی

Ser un cero a la izquierda

To be useless/of no importance

معنی

To be insignificant or have no value in a situation.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

In Spain, this phrase is often used with a tone of 'indignación' (outrage). It's a common way to protest against bureaucracy. In many LatAm countries, the phrase is used frequently in romantic contexts to describe a 'third wheel' or someone being 'ghosted' by a crush. The phrase highlights the importance of 'protagonismo' (being a protagonist) in Hispanic social life; being a zero is the ultimate social failure.

🎯

Use it for self-deprecation

It's a great way to show humility or humor when you don't know a topic. 'En matemáticas, soy un cero a la izquierda'.

⚠️

Don't use it for objects

This idiom is almost exclusively for people or their opinions. You wouldn't call a broken phone a 'cero a la izquierda'.

معنی

To be insignificant or have no value in a situation.

🎯

Use it for self-deprecation

It's a great way to show humility or humor when you don't know a topic. 'En matemáticas, soy un cero a la izquierda'.

⚠️

Don't use it for objects

This idiom is almost exclusively for people or their opinions. You wouldn't call a broken phone a 'cero a la izquierda'.

خودت رو بسنج

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'ser'.

En mi antiguo trabajo, yo ___ un cero a la izquierda.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: era

We use 'ser' (imperfect 'era') to describe a status or characteristic in the past.

Which sentence is grammatically correct for a woman speaking?

A woman wants to say she is ignored at home:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Soy un cero a la izquierda.

'Cero' is masculine, so 'un' is always used.

Match the situation to the phrase.

You are in a meeting and your boss never lets you speak.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Eres un cero a la izquierda.

This fits the context of having no influence or voice.

Complete the dialogue.

Pedro: '¿Vienes a la reunión?' Marta: 'No, no voy. Total, allí soy ___.'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: un cero a la izquierda

Marta feels her presence doesn't matter, so she uses the idiom.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'ser'. جای خالی A1

En mi antiguo trabajo, yo ___ un cero a la izquierda.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: era

We use 'ser' (imperfect 'era') to describe a status or characteristic in the past.

Which sentence is grammatically correct for a woman speaking? Choose A2

A woman wants to say she is ignored at home:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Soy un cero a la izquierda.

'Cero' is masculine, so 'un' is always used.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching A1

You are in a meeting and your boss never lets you speak.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Eres un cero a la izquierda.

This fits the context of having no influence or voice.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

Pedro: '¿Vienes a la reunión?' Marta: 'No, no voy. Total, allí soy ___.'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: un cero a la izquierda

Marta feels her presence doesn't matter, so she uses the idiom.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

3 سوال

It can be. Calling someone else a 'cero a la izquierda' is an insult to their importance. Using it for yourself is just expressing a feeling.

Yes, 'Somos unos ceros a la izquierda', but it is much more common in the singular.

No. Always 'un cero', even for women.

عبارات مرتبط

🔄

No pintar nada

synonym

To have no role or importance.

🔗

Ser el último mono

similar

To be the least important person in a hierarchy.

🔗

Ser la mano derecha

contrast

To be the most important helper/assistant.

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