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/Sounds like "AHL" (as in "art") + "gah" (as in "garden") + "REH" (as in "red") + "teh" (as in "ten")/

Meaning

Without direction, out of control, or in total chaos when everything goes off the rails and there's no stopping it. A nautical Caribbean expression adopted by Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to describe absolute mayhem.

Examples

The party went al garete after midnight.

My life's been al garete since I moved.

Regional synonyms

/Sounds like "AHL" (as in "art") + "gah" (as in "garden") + "REH" (as in "red") + "teh" (as in "ten")/

Meaning

A Puerto Rican (and Caribbean) expression for describing something out of control, neglected, or directionless. "Está al garete" can be an abandoned project, an uncontrolled person, a disordered party, or a badly managed country. Comes from nautical language ("irse al garete" means to drift away) and got applied to everyday speech with Caribbean flavor. Used daily in Puerto Rico with critical connotation.

Examples

The company is going off the rails.

The party got out of control.

Regional synonyms
Bandera de Chile
Al lote

Showing 2 definitions, sorted by votes

A person who desperately seeks approval and attention from the opposite sex by trying to seem different or special. The classic 'I'm not like the others' that everyone can spot from a mile away.