Phrase · 🤨 Expressing reservations
Esos datos hay que tomarlos con pinzas.
That data needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.
C1urging caution about informationAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Esosdeterminerthoseese · masc. · pl.datosnoundata, factsdato · masc. · pl.hay3verb(hay que) one has tohaber · present · 3rd sing.queconjunctionthattomarlos1verbto take themtomar · infinitiveconprepositionwithpinzas2nountweezers, tongs; (con pinzas) with cautionpinza · fem. · pl..
- tomarlos → datos: refers to
- hay → tomarlos: hay que + infinitive
- Esos → datos: m. pl.
Word for word: “Those data, one has to take them with tweezers.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1The fronted topic esos datos is picked up by los on the infinitive. Topicalisation, clitic doubling and lo as an attribute →
- 2tomar con pinzas (Latin America) = to treat with caution, with a pinch of salt.
- 3hay que + infinitive: impersonal obligation. Verbal periphrases I: acabar de, empezar a, volver a, hay que →