arrimar el ascua a su sardina

== Spanish == === Etymology === Literally, “to bring the embers closer to one's sardine”. Compare Portuguese puxar a brasa à sua sardinha. === Verb === arrimar el ascua a su sardina (idiomatic) to tip the balance in one's favour, look out for number one === See also === barrer para dentro llevar el agua a su molino === Further reading === “arrimar alguien el ascua a su sardina”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025