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/Sounds like "EHL" (as in "egg") + "noh" (as in "note") + "PAHL" (as in "park") + "EHN" (as in "egg") + "LAH" (as in "lava") + "FREHN" (as in "fresh") + "teh" (as in "ten")/

Meaning

An ironic Mexican expression calling out someone who denies their Mexican or indigenous roots when it is completely obvious they have them. The image is of a nopal cactus growing right out of your forehead: your origins are written all over your face, no matter how hard you try to pretend otherwise.

Examples

He moved to the US and now refuses to speak Spanish, yet his roots are written all over his face.

Do not deny where you come from, anyone can see it in a second.

Regional synonyms

An old, beat-up, barely functional device or machine that you keep using because you can't afford a new one. It's the gadget that's held together by hope and prayers.