Idioms are an essential part of learning any language, providing colorful ways to express thoughts and feelings that may not be easily translated word for word. In this article, we will explore some common Spanish idioms and their English equivalents, helping English speakers understand the nuances of Spanish expressions.
Estar en la luna
This Spanish idiom translates to “to be on the moon,” and is used to describe someone who is daydreaming or not paying attention.
Cuando le hablo, siempre está en la luna.
Ponerse las pilas
Literally meaning “to put in the batteries,” this idiom is used to tell someone to get active, work hard, or be alert.
Tienes un examen mañana, ¡ponte las pilas!
Tirar la casa por la ventana
This phrase means “to throw the house through the window,” and it is used when someone spends a lot of money on something, especially a celebration.
Ganó la lotería y decidió tirar la casa por la ventana con una fiesta enorme.
No tener pelos en la lengua
This translates to “not having hairs on the tongue,” and it describes a person who speaks frankly or bluntly, without holding back.
Siempre me dice la verdad porque no tiene pelos en la lengua.
Tomar el pelo
“To pull someone’s hair” is the literal translation, but this idiom means to tease or fool someone.
No me tomes el pelo, sé que no es verdad lo que dices.
Costar un ojo de la cara
This vivid expression means “to cost an eye from the face,” implying that something is very expensive.
Este coche me costó un ojo de la cara.
Quedarse de piedra
Literally meaning “to stay like a stone,” this is used when someone is extremely surprised or shocked.
Me quedé de piedra cuando me enteré de la noticia.
Ser pan comido
This idiom translates to “to be eaten bread,” which means something is very easy to do.
No te preocupes por el examen, va a ser pan comido.
Echar agua al mar
Meaning “to throw water into the sea,” this expression is used to describe an action that is pointless or redundant.
Darle más consejos es como echar agua al mar.
A otro perro con ese hueso
This phrase translates to “to another dog with that bone,” and is used when someone does not believe what they are being told.
¿Quieres que te crea esa historia? A otro perro con ese hueso.
Buscarle tres pies al gato
This means “to look for three feet on the cat,” referring to making things more complicated than they are or finding problems where there are none.
No busques tres pies al gato, simplemente acepta la situación como es.
Matar dos pájaros de un tiro
Translating to “kill two birds with one shot,” this idiom is similar to the English “kill two birds with one stone,” meaning to achieve two goals with a single action.
Si estudiamos juntos, podemos matar dos pájaros de un tiro.
Ver las estrellas
Meaning “to see the stars,” this expression is used when someone experiences severe pain or difficulty.
Cuando me golpeé la cabeza, vi las estrellas.
Tapar el sol con un dedo
This translates to “cover the sun with a finger,” and it is used to describe a situation where someone is trying to deny or hide an obvious truth.
Intentar ignorar el problema es como tapar el sol con un dedo.
Understanding these idioms can help English speakers not only improve their Spanish language skills but also gain deeper insights into the cultural contexts in which these expressions are used. Idioms add flavor to conversations and can be a fun aspect of language learning, reflecting the creativity and humor inherent in human communication.
