spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch

9.9

A humorous saying men use to remember important things before leaving the house

idiom

: gafas, testículos, billetera y reloj

Before heading out, I always check my spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch.

Examples

Before heading out, he laughed and went through his spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch routine.
The phrase spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch helps some men remember to check their essentials.
He joked that he always recites spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch before leaving the house.
Did you remember your spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch today?
He always reminds himself to check his spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch before leaving home.
Before leaving for work, John recited his spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch mantra.
Every time he goes out, he makes sure to run through his spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch checklist.

Surface Forms

spectacles main

Morphology

spectacles, + testicles, + wallet + and + watch

The phrase is a simple coordinated list of literal nouns whose combined use signals a checklist of things to remember; a B1 learner who knows the words 'spectacles', 'testicles', 'wallet' and 'watch' and sees the context ('Before heading out, I always check...') will readily infer the intended meaning. While the specific humorous/rhyming pairing (and the cultural jokey use of 'testicles') is pragmatic nuance that may be unfamiliar, the core referential meaning is compositional and transparent.

Etymology

Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch began as a humorous memory trick men say before leaving the house. Imagining someone touching their spectacles, then their testicles, then checking their wallet and watch makes a clear image, so the phrase is used as 'a quick checklist' to remember the essentials.