Spanish Expression · Advanced
tomar cartas en el asunto
to take matters into one's own hands / to intervene
Pronunciation: to-MÁR KÁR-tas en el a-SÚN-to
Meaning
To get involved in a situation to deal with it or solve a problem, often when others haven't.
Example
Si no resuelven el problema, tendré que tomar cartas en el asunto.
If they don't solve the problem, I'll have to take matters into my own hands.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice tomar cartas en el asunto out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level Spanish expression.