La Chilindrina y Doña Florinda contra los hombres de la vecindad

What does “la carne de burro no es transparente” mean?

La carne de burro no es transparente literally means “donkey meat isn’t transparent,” and it is what you say when somebody plants themselves right in front of you and blocks your view. The joke folds in burro as “dummy”: you can’t see through you, and you’re a bit of a donkey for standing there. It is a childhood classic across Mexico, hugely popularized by El Chavo del 8.

You will hear it shouted in front of a TV, at a window, or in any crowd: ¡Quítate, que la carne de burro no es transparente! It pairs naturally with the blunt imperative quítate (“move”). Its overtones are playful and a touch rude, fine among friends and family but not something you’d say to a stranger you want to keep on good terms with.