¡Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes! (Jalisco, don’t back down!) is a 1941 film directed by Joselito Rodríguez and starring Jorge Negrete. The film site Sensacine México calls the title “una frase nacional” (a national phrase) and “una declaración de carácter” (a declaration of character).
Rajarse is one of the Mexicanisms recognized by the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua. It means “retractarse, o faltar a una promesa” (to back down, or to break a promise).
Confianza means trust. It also means familiarity between people.
De confianza, a person one can rely on, or a close and intimate one.
En confianza, in private, between people who trust each other.
Agarrar confianza, to grow at ease with someone over time.
Pásale, con confianza, “come in, make yourself at home,” said to a guest.
Tomarse confianzas, to take liberties, to act with more familiarity than the relationship allows.
Más vale malo por conocido que bueno por conocer. “Better the bad one you know than the good one you have yet to know.”
In February 2015, a telephone poll of 600 adults by the firm GCE asked Mexicans to match popular sayings with the political parties. 51 percent matched this one to the PRI.
Hoy por ti, mañana por mí. “Today for you, tomorrow for me.” The saying goes with a favor that is given now and may be returned later.
Una mano lava la otra, y las dos lavan la cara. “One hand washes the other, and both wash the face.”
Te doy mi palabra, “I give you my word.”
Palabra de honor, “word of honor.”
Lo prometido es deuda, “what is promised is a debt.”
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho, “from saying to doing is a long way.” The Ministry of Public Education uses the saying as the title of a school lesson on sayings.