FREGAR LOS TRASTES
"Fregar (lavar) los trastes" ( to do the dishes ) is a recent addition to my Bilingual Phraseological Dictionary in progress. I recently came across the expression and added it to my Spanish vocabulary. At my age, I am still learning new phrases and words in both languages. Laura Esquivel gives a citation and usage: "... le correspondía lavar los pañales del más pequeño de sus hijos y luego ponerlos a remojar en una cubeta, lavar los trastes del desayuno." ( Tan veloz como el deseo , 2001. México.) Common in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, and more than in Spain. Pots and pans would be a good translation for "trastes." But I must go. My wife has just told me "tienes que fregar los trastes antes de acostarte." Her wish is my command.