Interesting Expressions

Question

The object of this game is to learn the colloquial expressions of both English and Spanish.

For example: It's raining cats and dogs. Está lloviendo a cántaros. This phrase is the equivalent.

Rules: Put the English expression with its Spanish counterpart. Be creative and enjoy!

I just got 1k in reputation!!!!! - lucas322, Aug 2, 2010

Congratulations, lucas! - Pajaro44, Aug 2, 2010

Thanks! - lucas322, Aug 2, 2010

Yes, Congratulations Lucas ! May it be just the first step of many towards future success! - FELIZ77, Aug 2, 2010

Answer 1

Me importa un rábano - I don´t care or I don´t give two hoots.

Just an addition

Teacher to a young lad at front of the class - Do you know what apathy means.

Young lad - no, and I don't care.

Funny!Funny!Funny! - Brynleigh, Aug 2, 2010

Eddy, I love the picture hahaha lol :) - FELIZ77, Aug 3, 2010

Answer 2

Let bygones be bygones = Lo pasado, pasado está

Along the same lines, "What's done is done" = "Lo hecho, hecho está." I see a format! ;) - MacFadden, Aug 2, 2010

Also: "lo pasado pisado." - 00e657d4, Aug 2, 2010

Oh never heard that one, I like it Bill. - margaretbl, Aug 2, 2010

Answer 3

quedarse al cargo = to hold the fort

Answer 4

To go off with a bang and out like a light

Entrada de caballo y salida de burro

lit: to enter on a horse and leave on a donkey

Would it not be more like, "Come in with a shout, go out with a whimper."? - Echoline, Aug 2, 2010

Or, "Come in with a bang, go out with a fizzle."? - Echoline, Aug 2, 2010

Or something, "To go out like a light" means to lose consciouness or fall heavily asleep. - revmaf, Aug 2, 2010

Answer 5

To let the cat out of the bag = to give the game away, tell everything or reveal the secret

= descubrirlo todo (Reveló el secreto) (Esp)

Answer 6

This is one interesting expression which I have recently used in a caption for Picture of the day

To Hit the roof (ceiling) = to explode in anger**

= Ponerse como una fiera o poner el grito en (el) cielo ( Esp)

taken from the book:

2001 Spanish and English Idioms/Modismos Españoles e Ingleses (2nd Edn)

by Eugene Savaiano and Lynn Winget

Where´s the expression? - Eddy, Aug 2, 2010

To hit the ceiling Eddy :) - FELIZ77, Aug 2, 2010

Yes but you hadn´t posted the Spanish phrase. It´s there now I see, hehe. - Eddy, Aug 2, 2010

.....en el cielo. - 00e657d4, Aug 2, 2010

Guillermo the book from which I had taken this just gave 'en cielo' at the end of the phrase - FELIZ77, Aug 2, 2010

Answer 7

Hold your horses! : ¡Para el carro!

Answer 8

He has a screw loose - Tiene un tornillo suelto/flojo. - Le falta un tornillo. - Tiene un cable pelado. - Tiene un cable suelto.

Answer 9

Dando y dando, pajarito volando.(Giving and giving, the bird is flying)

Scratch my back and I will scratch yours.

(it means if you do me a favour, I will do you a favour.)

Answer 10

to blow the whistle on somebody (inform on them)

= delatar a alguien (Esp)

Joe should have said that one - nizhoni1, Aug 2, 2010

lol why? - FELIZ77, Aug 2, 2010

Joe's in the police dept. - Yeser007, Aug 2, 2010

Two more weeks and I retire! - 002262dd, Aug 2, 2010

Okay Joe Cool have you made a list of all you are going to do after you have retired ? lol - FELIZ77, Aug 3, 2010

Answer 11

A diario una manzana es cosa sana An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Oh I've heard: Una manzana al día, del médico te libraría - margaretbl, Aug 2, 2010

Answer 12

Ponerse las pillas Get going!

Answer 13

No jugar con una baraja de naipe completa. Not playing with a full deck (of cards)

Answer 14

Flog a dead horse Esforzarse en vano... Ok not to flog a dead horse, B U T, is everyone checking that these wonderful phrases are added to the wonderful Phrasebook?

Answer 15

In this case, the literal translation works pretty well.

Donde el vino entra, la verdad sale.

Where the wine enters, the truth exits.