mexican hat dance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Informal
Quick answer
What does “mexican hat dance” mean?
A traditional Mexican folk dance, also known as 'Jarabe Tapatío', where dancers move around a sombrero placed on the ground.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional Mexican folk dance, also known as 'Jarabe Tapatío', where dancers move around a sombrero placed on the ground.
The term can refer to any situation involving elaborate or complex movements around a central point, or figuratively to describe convoluted social or political maneuvering.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term similarly. The dance is more commonly referenced in American English due to geographical and cultural proximity to Mexico.
Connotations
Generally neutral, associated with celebration and cultural heritage. In figurative use, can imply unnecessary complexity or showmanship.
Frequency
Low frequency in both. Higher in contexts discussing world music, dance, or Mexican culture.
Grammar
How to Use “mexican hat dance” in a Sentence
perform + [the] Mexican hat dancedance + [the] Mexican hat danceresemble + [a] Mexican hat danceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mexican hat dance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politicians seemed to mexican-hat-dance around the core issue for weeks.
American English
- He mexican-hat-danced his way through the convoluted regulations.
adverb
British English
- The committee members argued mexican-hat-dance-style, going in circles.
American English
- They moved mexican-hat-dance-fast around the conference table.
adjective
British English
- The meeting had a mexican-hat-dance quality to its circular arguments.
American English
- It was a real mexican-hat-dance scenario in the locker room after the win.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figurative use: 'The merger talks became a financial Mexican hat dance, with offers and counteroffers flying.'
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology, cultural studies, or dance history contexts to describe the specific folk tradition.
Everyday
Referring to the dance seen at festivals or in films, or humorously describing frantic activity.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields unless in a specialized cultural or performance context.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mexican hat dance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mexican hat dance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mexican hat dance”
- Incorrect: 'Mexican hat's dance' (apostrophe error).
- Incorrect: 'Mexican-hat-dance' (over-hyphenation as a single noun).
- Using lower case when it's the official name of the dance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Jarabe Tapatío' is the original and official name for the folk dance popularly known outside Mexico as the 'Mexican hat dance'.
When used figuratively, it can carry a slightly negative or frustrated connotation, implying wasted motion, unnecessary complexity, or evasion.
It is most famously performed by a couple—a man (charro) and a woman (china poblana)—though group versions exist.
It should be capitalised when referring specifically to the named cultural dance ('the Mexican Hat Dance'). In purely figurative, generic use, it is often lowercased ('a political mexican hat dance').
A traditional Mexican folk dance, also known as 'Jarabe Tapatío', where dancers move around a sombrero placed on the ground.
Mexican hat dance is usually neutral to informal in register.
Mexican hat dance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɛk.sɪ.kən ˈhæt ˌdɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɛk.sɪ.kən ˈhæt ˌdæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a political Mexican hat dance. (figurative: complex maneuvering)”
- “The negotiation turned into a regular Mexican hat dance.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hat (sombrero) in the centre of a dance floor, with dancers tapping and circling it like bees around a flower.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLEX ACTIVITY IS A RITUAL DANCE (e.g., 'The legal process was a Mexican hat dance of paperwork.')
Practice
Quiz
In its figurative sense, 'a Mexican hat dance' most likely describes: