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Bandera de México

/Sounds like "eh-char" + "bron" (as in "bronze") + "ca"/

To scold someone hard, to chew someone out. In Mexico, "echar bronca" is the quintessential Mexican scolding, the kind that leaves you shaking. It's when someone, usually a boss, parent, or authority figure, lets you have it for something you did wrong, and you just stand there taking it.

Example

"Mi jefa me echó una bronca por llegar tarde. -> My boss chewed me out for being late."

"No le digas nada o te va a echar bronca. -> Don't say anything to her or she'll give you an earful."

Word family
Regional synonyms:

Intensificador que significa muchísimo, en exceso. En Argentina y Uruguay se agrega a cualquier adjetivo para llevarlo al extremo: frío a cagarse, lejos a cagarse.