aceptar a regañadientes
verbCEFR B2
What does “aceptar a regañadientes” mean in English?
to accept reluctantly, grudgingly
to accept reluctantly, grudgingly (a regañadientes — concession made under pressure, without genuine agreement)
Example sentences
Aceptó las nuevas condiciones a regañadientes, pero dejó claro que esperaba compensaciones en la siguiente revisión.
He accepted the new terms reluctantly, but made it clear he would expect compensation at the next review.
A regañadientes, el sindicato aprobó el acuerdo salarial tras semanas de negociaciones tensas.
Reluctantly, the union approved the pay agreement after weeks of tense negotiations.
Lo haremos a regañadientes, pero lo haremos: no tenemos otra opción en este momento.
We will do it reluctantly, but we will do it: we have no other option at this point.
How to use it
Aceptar a regañadientes means 'to accept reluctantly', 'to agree unwillingly', or 'to go along with something under protest'. The adverbial phrase a regañadientes is fixed and invariable. Pattern: verb (usually aceptar, ceder, hacer, cumplir) + a regañadientes. Register: neutral-to-informal; highly idiomatic. Used in workplace and negotiation narratives to describe a concession that was extracted, not freely given. Common in press reporting of labour negotiations, political decisions, and B2B deal closures where one party was pressured.
Common mistake
A regañadientes is an invariable fixed phrase — do not attempt to conjugate or agree any part of it. The complete phrase a regañadientes acts as an adverb. It is informal/idiomatic, so in very formal writing, prefer reluctantly's formal equivalents: sin plena convicción, bajo presión, or con reservas. Don't confuse the high-register aceptar con reservas (formal written) with the more vivid and spoken a regañadientes.