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Learn how Spanish speakers use no hay pero que valga, poner peros, and related expressions when excuses are not going to work.
You tell someone they need to finish something today. They start with:
Sí, pero es que…
Yes, but it’s just that…
Maybe they are about to explain why they were busy. Maybe they have a very reasonable problem. Or maybe they are preparing a long list of excuses.
If you are not interested in hearing the excuses, you can say:
No hay pero que valga.
The message is clear: “No buts.” “No excuses.” “That is not a reason.” The decision has been made, the rule still applies, and the conversation is not going to turn into a negotiation.
What does “no hay pero que valga” mean?
No hay pero que valga literally says that there is no pero—no “but”—that is valid or accepted.
In natural English, it can mean:
No buts.
No excuses.
There is no excuse for that.
That does not change anything.
I do not want to hear it.
-Vas a ir a la reunión.
-Pero es que tengo otra cosa que hacer.
-No hay pero que valga.
You are going to the meeting. I have something else to do. No excuses.
No hay pero que valga is often said by parents, teachers, bosses, or friends who have heard enough reasons already.
Why is “pero” a noun here?
You already know pero as “but”:
Quiero ir, pero no tengo tiempo.
I want to go, but I don’t have time.
But Spanish can also use un pero as a noun. In that use, a pero is an objection, a condition, a problem, or a reason someone gives for not doing something.
Siempre tiene un pero.
He always has an excuse.
There is always some objection with him.
El plan está bien, pero le encuentro un pero.
The plan is good, but I see one problem with it.
So no hay pero que valga means that no objection or excuse is good enough to change the situation. Dictionaries translate the expression as “no buts” or “no excuses.”
Poner peros: finding reasons to object
If someone keeps finding problems, objections, or excuses, Spanish speakers may say that person is poniendo peros.
Poner peros means to object, find fault, raise objections, or keep coming up with reasons why something will not work.
No le pongas peros a todo.
Don’t find something wrong with everything.
Le pusieron muchos peros al proyecto.
They raised a lot of objections to the project.
Siempre le pone peros a mis ideas.
He always finds fault with my ideas.
Sometimes the objections are reasonable. Sometimes they are not. The phrase often suggests that somebody is being difficult, negative, or unwilling to cooperate. Dictionary entries translate ponerle peros a algo as “to raise objections,” “to find fault,” or “to pick holes in something.”
A common situation
Imagine that you are trying to choose a restaurant with a friend.
—¿Vamos por tacos?
—Pero está lejos.
—Bueno, ¿entonces pizza?
—Pero no quiero pizza.
—¿Sushi?
—Pero es caro.
At that point, you might say:
¡No le pongas peros a todo!
Stop finding something wrong with every option!
This is often the feeling behind poner peros: the person may not be saying “no” directly, but they keep placing one small obstacle after another in front of every idea.
Useful variations
You will hear several versions of the same idea.
No hay peros.
No excuses. No objections.
This is short, firm, and very common in everyday speech.
Aquí no hay peros.
There are no excuses here.
This sounds like a rule: there is no room for arguing or negotiating.
Sin peros.
No ifs, ands, or buts.
Lo haces, sin peros.
You are doing it—no excuses.
No me vengas con peros.
Don’t come to me with excuses.
This one is more personal and can sound annoyed:
Siempre hay un pero.
There is always a but.
There is always some excuse.
Use this when someone regularly finds a reason not to do something.
Not every “pero” is an excuse
This is worth remembering. A pero is not always bad.
Sometimes a person raises a real concern:
El departamento está bonito, pero queda muy lejos del trabajo.
The apartment is nice, but it is very far from work.
That is not necessarily poner peros. It may add useful information.
But if someone objects to every single possibility, even small details, then poner peros is a good description:
No quiere ayudar; solo le pone peros a todo.
He does not want to help; he only finds problems with everything.
The easy way to remember it
A pero is a “but.” When it becomes un pero, it is an objection, excuse, or reason someone uses to slow things down.
Poner peros means putting those objections in the way.
No hay pero que valga means none of those objections will work this time.
