General
al garete
What does al garete mean?
Describes something chaotic, adrift, or done rashly with no plan — a party, a plan, or a person gone off the rails.
"La fiesta se fue al garete cuando llegó la policía."
Origin
Nautical Spanish 'ir al garete' (to drift), idiomatic in Puerto Rico.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'al garete' mean?
It describes something wild, chaotic, adrift, or gone completely off the rails.
Where does 'al garete' come from?
From the nautical Spanish phrase 'ir al garete', meaning a boat drifting with no control.
How do you use 'al garete'?
Say something 'se fue al garete' when it fell apart or spun out of control, like a party that got out of hand.
Is 'al garete' vulgar?
No, it's informal but perfectly acceptable everyday Puerto Rican Spanish.
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