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Menos mal que tienes buenos reflejos.

Menos mal que tienes buenos reflejos.
Thank goodness that you have good reflexes.
From Lesson 504:Expressing relief (menos mal que)·Spanish (Spain)

Breakdown of Menos mal que tienes buenos reflejos.

bueno
good
tener
to have
menos mal que
thank goodness that
el reflejo
the reflex

Questions & Answers about Menos mal que tienes buenos reflejos.

Since expressing emotion normally triggers the subjunctive, why is tienes in the indicative here?
You are right that emotions usually require the subjunctive! However, menos mal que is a major exception to that rule. Even though it expresses relief, it is always followed by the indicative. Think of it as stating a lucky fact rather than a subjective feeling.
What does menos mal actually mean word-for-word?
It literally translates to 'less bad'. By saying menos mal que, you are historically saying 'it is a less bad thing that...', which is exactly how Spanish speakers express 'thank goodness' or 'it is a good thing'.
Why is the adjective buenos placed before the noun reflejos?
Normally, adjectives go after the noun to describe a distinguishing trait. But common adjectives of quality, especially bueno and malo, are frequently placed before the noun to emphasize that inherent quality. buenos reflejos sounds much more natural here than reflejos buenos.
Can I drop the que like we sometimes drop 'that' in English?
No, you cannot drop it here. In English we can often say 'Thank goodness you have good reflexes', but in Spanish, the que is absolutely required to connect the phrase menos mal to the clause that explains why you are relieved.

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