Phrases with Lo

The Spanish word lo can be used as a subject pronoun, an object pronoun or a definite article. We have several lessons on the topic, which you can read by clicking here. Lo is a very useful word, and there're many common phrases that use this particle. Let's study some examples.

The phrase por lo tanto means "as a result" or "therefore"

Este puerro, no lo he limpiado previamente, por lo tanto,

This leek, I haven't cleaned it previously, therefore,

vamos a limpiarlo.

we are going to clean it.

Caption 55, Cómetelo - Crema de brócoli
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The phrase por lo pronto means "for now" or "for the time being"

...y yo por lo pronto pienso avisarle a toda la familia.

...and I for the time being plan to let the whole family know.

Caption 18, Yago - 9 Recuperación
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The phrase por lo visto means "apparently"

Por lo visto fue en una perfumería.

Apparently it was in a perfume shop.

Caption 42, Yago - 12 Fianza
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The phrase por lo general is equivalent to the adverb generalmente. It means "generally"

Pero por lo general encontramos sistemas de alarmas.

But generally we find alarm systems.

Caption 11, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas
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The phrase a lo largo de means "throughout"

al menos va cambiando a lo largo de las estaciones.

at least is changing throughout the seasons.

Caption 10, Clara explica - El tiempo
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While a lo lejos means "at a distance" or "in the distance"

El cielo está nublado y a lo lejos tú

The sky is cloudy and in the distance you

Hablando de lo que te ha pasado.

Speaking of what has happened to you.

Captions 5-6, Christhian canta - Hombres G - Temblando
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In fact, you can add the phrase a lo to certain adjetives to talk about the way something is being done or someone is doing something. For example, a lo loco means "like crazy."

Yo echo un poco de pintura ahí

I put a bit of paint there

a lo loco

like crazy [spontaneously]

Captions 92-93, Zoraida en Coro - El pintor Yepez
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Another common example is a lo tonto (like a dumb, in a dumb way, for nothing).

Hazlo bien. No lo hagas a lo tonto.
Do it right. Don't do it foolishly.

¿Para qué esforzarse a lo tonto?
Why go to all that trouble for nothing?

This phrase always uses the neutral singular form of the adjective. Even if you are talking to a girl or a group of people, you will always use the same. For example:

Lucía siempre se enamora a lo tonto del primer hombre que cruza su camino.
Lucia always falls in love inanely with the first man that crosses her path.

In Mexico, you will also hear the expression al ahí se va (literally, "in a there-it-goes way"). It means to do things without care, plan, or thinking. This is pronounced quite fast, by the way, almost as a single word. Translations vary:

Completé el examen al ahí se va porque no estudié.
I completed the exam with mediocrity because I didn't study.

Tienen más hijos al ahí se va y sin planear en el futuro.
They have more kids without thinking and planning for the future.

Finally, there's the expression a la buena [voluntad] de Dios (leaving it to God's goodwill). You may find it in phrases involving the idea of entrusting what you do to God, but it's more commonly used to express that something is done rather haphazardly, without care, skill, effort and or plan.

El aeropuerto se construyó a la buena de Dios.
The airport was built haphazardly.