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Verb conjugation

arreglárselas

to cope, to make do, to get by, to get along, to manage

Usage

A fixed reflexive idiom meaning to manage, cope, or get by — often with a specific challenge attached: arreglárselas para + infinitive ("to manage to do something") or arreglárselas sin algo ("to make do without something"). The pronoun cluster (se + las) is invariable; it doesn't refer to any actual feminine plural noun.

Examples
  • No sé cómo se las arregla con tan poco dinero.I don't know how she manages with so little money.
  • Nos las arreglaremos sin coche esta semana.We'll manage without a car this week.
  • Siempre te las arreglas para llegar tarde.You always manage to arrive late.
Common mistake

Dropping or changing the las — learners sometimes try arreglárselo or just arreglarse, but the expression is fixed as arreglárselas; the las is a frozen part of the idiom, not a real object pronoun to be matched to context.

Simple tenses

Imperative (imperativo)

arréglatelas
nosotrosarreglémonoslas
vosotrosarregláoslas

Other

Gerund (gerundio)

arreglándoselas

Infinitive (infinitivo)

arreglárselas

Want to practice? Try a conjugation exercise.

Frequently asked questions

What does "arreglárselas" mean?

"arreglárselas" means "to cope, to make do, to get by, to get along, to manage".

What is the Imperative (imperativo) of "arreglárselas"?

The imperative (imperativo) of "arreglárselas" is: tú arréglatelas, nosotros arreglémonoslas, vosotros arregláoslas.