Native and non-native Spanish speakers, share some of your everyday sayings, idioms, expressions or what you have learned so far.
As a native English speaker, I know how important it is to use sayings, idioms and/or expressions in our daily conversations. In my opinion, they give a taste to the conversation or the language in general. Though they give taste to the language, they are not easy to learn nor understand. And what makes them much harder for most of us to learn or even understand it, new language learners, is that most of these sayings,etc, don't make much sense if you translate it word by word. Therefore, I would like if we all share some of the daily sayings, idioms and expressions in Spanish. Anyway, share some of what you know/use frequently, or learned so far. Please, include the translation of it and an example, if possible, so that we learn how to use it in a context.
No creo lo que me estás diciendo;no me tomes el pelo.
I don't believe what you are saying; don't mock me/don't make fun of me(Literally: don't take/pull my hair.)
A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.
Don't complain about a gift because it is for free.
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Keep it up!
¡Ánimo con el español!
10 Answers
Al que quiere celeste que le cueste. If you really want something work for it.
¿Dormí con vos? I heard this one a lot! Literally means: Did I sleep with you? People tell you this when you don't say hi to them.
¡Cuesta un ojo de la cara! When something is really expensive. Also more vulgarly... ¡Me cuesta un huevo!
Está re papa. For example: Este exámen está re papa. This test is very easy
Quedarse en la luna de Valencia/ Vivir en la luna de Valencia. When someone is distracted, this is a saying that you would definately hear from a teacher when you are not paying attention ¡Vivís en la luna de Valencia!
Se hace el vivo. He pretends to know everything or to be cool but he is not.
Me chupa un huevo. This is vulgar but it's very common. Means I don't care, It's the same for me. For a more equal translation i would say I don't give a s*** about it
Hago lo que se me cante. I do whatever I want.
Bajar un cambio. It's like calm down! For example when to people are discussing and someone start yelling you say ¡Baja un cambio!
A caballo regalado no se busca colmillo. (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.)
El perro que come huevos ni quemandole el osico deja la maña. (When a person keeps making the same mistakes no mater what they are told leave them to their own demise.)
Más vale aquí corió que aquí morió. (It's better to run away and live to fight another day.)
No hay mal que por bien no venga. (Every cloud has a silver lining.)
Let sleeping dogs lie. (Muerto perro muerta la rabia.)
Here is another one used when someone is trying to change the subject or introducing something not related to the discussion.
English: This is a horse of a different color.
Spanish (Mex.): Esto es un ajonjolí de otro mole (moe-lay). (This is a sesame seed from another mole)
Mole is a thick sauce from the Puebla region of Mexico made from chili ancho (dried poblano), Mexican Chocolate, peanuts, sesame seeds and other scrumptious spices.)
One my husband uses a lot: "This isn't my first rodeo," meaning "This isn't the first time I've done this" or "I'm experienced at this."
Este no es mi rodeo primer .
A few more I've heard and use.
"Mucha Lana"......lots of wool. Use this when something is too expensive or cost too much. Comes from the times when wool was a means of paying for items purchased or for bartering for services.
"Much Plata"....lots of silver.
"Vamos al Grano".......let''s get to the point.
"Creo Ques".......left overs. Like recalentados. My mother in law would use it when we asked her what's for dinner. She would reply "Creo que" tengo un poquito de arroz, de frijolitos, de carne, de ensalad, etc.
este arroz ya se coció......this rice is cooked. I've heard it used when something is over. Especially if it took a long time to get done or was difficult to complete.
ahogarse en un vaso de agua- to make a mountain out of a molehill
aburrirse como una ostra- to be bored stiff
acostarse con las gallinas- to go to bed early
venderse como rosquilla- to sell like hotcakes
traerse algún manejo sucio- to be up to something shady
Well, how about 2 more.
1) When you are having one of those days when everything is going bad and you are at the end of your rope, a phrase (dicho) used in Mexico is...
"No mas falta que un perro me mee". The only thing I'm missing is that a dog pees on me. Might be little crude maybe.... but we've probably all felt that way at one time or another.
2) If you are fed up dealing with a group or team that has you at wits end and you want to re-establish that you are in charge. Somewhat aggressive but if needed.
"¡Aquí mis chicharrones truenan y mi palabra es la ley!". Here my words thunder and my word is the law. Be careful when you use this one.
Que
"que" + adjective
How + adjective
Examples
que loco
que pasa
que inteligente
. "It's water under the bridge."
This means that you should forgotten because you can't see it anymore.
