Mexico, Quality, Indirect Feedback

Silent Disapproval

Hacerle la ley del hielo a alguien, “to apply the law of ice to someone,” means that a person or a group agrees to stop dealing with someone. The Diccionario del español de México of El Colegio de México gives the example “Sus compañeros de trabajo le hicieron la ley del hielo por envidia” (His coworkers gave him the ice treatment out of envy). In 2018, Milenio listed the ley del hielo among the forms of workplace harassment.

Darle el avión a alguien, “to give someone the airplane,” means to pretend to pay attention to what someone says. In one of the dictionary’s examples, a speaker says that the end of a term shows whether the students valued the teacher or only gave the teacher the airplane.

A Public Scolding

In March 2016, the governor of Aguascalientes, Carlos Lozano de la Torre, visited a neighborhood of the state capital with the federal secretary Rosario Robles. In front of her, he scolded his own secretary of social development, Juan Manuel Gómez, over a task that was not yet done. “¡Hoy mismo!” (Today!), he shouted.

Expansión reported that hours later the governor apologized. “Les pido una disculpa si ofendí a un compañero colaborador” (I apologize if I offended a fellow collaborator), he said. He added: “Es mi carácter, es mi manera de resolver las cosas” (It is my character, it is my way of solving things).

In Front of Everyone

In 2019, a subdirectora, an assistant director, of Conafe, the federal agency for community education, accused its director general, Cuauhtémoc Sánchez Osio, of workplace harassment. Eje Central reported her account. According to her, he told her: “Te voy a regañar frente a todos, pero tú aguanta y no me contestes nada” (I am going to scold you in front of everyone, but you put up with it and do not answer me).

In her account, he explained the purpose. “La idea es que todos los directores escuchen el regaño y así me respeten” (The idea is that all the directors hear the scolding and so respect me).

What Happens Is That

Es que…, “it is that…,” and lo que pasa es que…, “what happens is that…,” often open an explanation. In 2026, a study in Verbum et Lingua, a journal hosted by the University of Guadalajara, examined how speakers in Puebla soften what they say. It found that they did so mainly by justifying themselves. The justification, the author wrote, builds “una imagen de honorabilidad, empatía y honestidad” (an image of honorability, empathy and honesty).

What the Boss Wants to Hear

In September 2021, IDC Online reported the Mexican results of “Los Escuchados y los No Escuchados” (The Heard and the Unheard), a survey in 11 countries by the Workforce Institute of UKG and Workplace Intelligence. “El 56% puntualiza en que es más probable que le diga a su jefe lo que quiere oír” (56 percent say that they are more likely to tell their boss what the boss wants to hear).

“El 31% prefiere no hablar para evitar ‘una política interna tóxica'” (31 percent prefer not to speak, to avoid “toxic internal politics”). At the same time, “el 92% de los mexicanos aseguró sentir que sus jefes escuchan sus inquietudes, pero no accionan” (92 percent of Mexicans said that they feel their bosses listen to their concerns but do not act). The article does not say how many workers were surveyed in Mexico.

Praise in Public, Scold in Private

In October 2017, the Mexican marketing magazine Merca2.0 published a column by Leoncio Cruz titled “Se felicita en público y se regaña en privado” (Praise in public, scold in private). The column repeats the rule in capital letters: “SE PREMIA EN PÚBLICO Y SE CASTIGA EN PRIVADO” (Reward in public, punish in private).

Saying No Without Saying No

In 2019, BBC Mundo asked Mexican scholars why it is hard for Mexicans to say no. Alí Albarrán of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at UNAM said: “Decir que no a alguien que te está ofreciendo algo de buena voluntad es considerado una ofensa” (Saying no to someone who offers something in good will is considered an offense). The anthropologist Roger Bartra said that “it is not very polite to say no openly.”

The article describes the common solution: “para no decir no, dicen que sí, pero no ponen un plazo” (to avoid saying no, they say yes, but they set no date).

Leaving a Good Impression

Quedar bien, “to come out well,” means to leave a good impression and keep things pleasant. Mexican Spanish has many phrases that serve it.

Sí, cómo no: “Yes, of course.”

Primero Dios: “God first,” meaning “God willing.”

Ahí lo vemos: “We will see about it.”

Ahí nos vemos: “See you there.”

Each can be a firm promise. Each can also be a kind way to leave a request open.