As you’re learning Spanish, hearing phrases that don’t quite match up to their literal translations can feel a bit confusing. But these fun sayings, or modismos (idioms) in Spanish, make lessons more enjoyable and help you sound more like a local.
Explore a variety of Spanish idioms and their English equivalents to get a good laugh while you learn more about both languages.
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What is an idiom in Spanish?
The term “idiom” is defined as “an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements or the general grammatical rules of a language.” In other words, idioms are not phrases that you can understand by simply interpreting their Spanish words individually.
Examples of Spanish idioms
Idioms in Spanish might include odd animal references, nouns and adjectives that don’t usually go together, or any other unusual combination of words.
1. Meter la pata (to screw up)
The literal translation of meter la pata is “to put one’s foot in it.” It’s a common way of saying “making a mistake” and could also be translated to English as “to screw up.”
- Juan no quería meter la pata y decir algo inapropiado, por lo que se calló. = Juan didn’t want to screw up and say something inappropriate, so he kept quiet.
2. Estar en las nubes (daydreaming)
The literal translation of estar en las nubes is “to be in the clouds.” It means to be daydreaming or not paying attention. In English, the idiom is similar: “have your head in the clouds.”
- María está en las nubes: no ha escuchado nada de lo que le he dicho. = María is not paying attention: she hasn’t heard anything I said to her.
3. Hacer la vista gorda (to ignore something)
The literal translation of hacer la vista gorda is “to make the view fat.” It means to ignore something that you know is wrong or to purposely not pay attention to it. In English, the similar idiom is “to turn a blind eye.”
- El profesor hace la vista gorda cuando llegamos tarde. = The teacher ignores it when we arrive late.
4. Dejar plantado/a a alguien (to stand someone up)
The literal translation of dejar plantado/a a alguien is “to leave someone planted.” It means to not show up for a date or appointment. In English, the saying is “to stand someone up.”
- Ana me dejó plantado en el cine. ¡Nunca llegó! = Ana stood me up at the movies. She never arrived!
Please note how the adjective plantado is masculine (ending in an “-o”) because we’re assuming the speaker is a man. It has nothing to do with Ana’s gender. Always remember to correlate the adjective with the noun it is modifying.
5. Caer bien / caer mal (to like someone / to dislike someone)
The literal translation of caer bien is “to fall well,” and it means to like someone. The literal translation of caer mal is “to fall badly,” and it means to dislike someone.
- Aunque generalmente me caen mal los abogados, Juan me cae muy bien. = Although I generally dislike lawyers, I like Juan a lot.
6. Hacer oídos sordos (to ignore someone)
The literal translation of hacer oídos sordos is “to make deaf ears.” It means to ignore or not listen to someone, like the Spanish idiom hacer la vista gorda. The English equivalent would be “to turn a blind eye.”
- Ignoré sus críticas e hice oídos sordos a sus palabras. = I ignored their criticisms and turned a blind eye to their words.
7. Ser uña y carne (to be very close)
The literal translation of ser uña y carne is “to be nail and flesh.” It means to be inseparable, like good friends. In English, the idiom is “to be joined at the hip.”
- María y Sofía son uña y carne; siempre están juntas. = María and Sofía are inseparable; they’re always together.
8. No hay mal que dure cien años (tough times will pass)
The literal translation of no hay mal que dure cien años is “there is no evil that lasts a hundred years.” It means that tough times will pass eventually, nothing bad can last forever, and people can overcome adversity. A similar saying in English is “this, too, shall pass.”
- Estamos pasando por momentos difíciles, pero recuerda que no hay mal que dure cien años. = We’re going through tough times, but remember that these tough times will pass.
9. No hay mal que por bien no venga (there’s something positive in every negative)
The literal translation of no hay mal que por bien no venga is “there is no bad thing that doesn’t bring good.” Its English equivalent would be “every cloud has a silver lining.” It means that something positive can come out of every negative situation.
- Perdí mi trabajo, pero no hay mal que por bien no venga: finalmente voy a poder comenzar mi propio negocio. = I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining: I will finally be able to start my own business.
10. A mal tiempo, buena cara (keep a positive attitude in difficult times)
The literal translation of a mal tiempo, buena cara is “in bad times, a good face.” It means to maintain a positive attitude or appearance even during difficult times.
- Aunque esté pasando por un mal momento, trato de mantener mi compostura. A mal tiempo, buena cara. = Even though I’m going through a tough time, I try to put on a brave face. In bad times, a good face.
11. Dar en el clavo (to be right)
The literal translation of dar en el clavo is to “hit on the nail,” or, closer to its English counterpart, “to hit the nail on the head.” It means to be right or to say something accurately.
- No lo creí posible, pero dio en el clavo con la solución. = I didn’t believe it to be possible, but he hit the nail on the head with the solution.
12. De tal palo, tal astilla (to be like your parent)
The literal translation of de tal palo, tal astilla is “of such a stick, such a splinter.” It means that children often resemble their parents in character or behavior. Its English equivalent would be “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
- Mi hijo tiene la misma pasión por la música que yo. De tal palo, tal astilla. = My son has the same passion for music as me. He’s just like me.
13. A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente (don’t complain about something given to you)
The literal translation of a caballo regalado, no le mires el diente is “don’t look at the teeth of a gift horse.” Its English equivalent is the expression “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” It means that when you receive something for free, you shouldn’t complain about its quality or condition.
- Aunque no es de la marca que quería, no puedo quejarme. A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes. = Even though it’s not the brand I wanted, I can’t complain. Don’t look at a gift horse in the mouth.
14. Echar agua al mar (to do something pointless)
The literal translation of echar agua al mar is “to throw water into the sea.” It means to do something pointless or futile.
- Seguir discutiendo es como echar agua al mar, no llegaremos a ninguna solución. = Continuing to argue is pointless, we won’t reach any solution.
15. Salir el tiro por la culata (to backfire)
The literal translation of salir el tiro por la culata is “the shot goes out through the back of the barrel.” It means that a plan or action has backfired, resulting in a failure or negative outcome.
- Intenté impresionarla con un regalo caro, pero me salió el tiro por la culata, y se ofendió. = I tried to impress her with an expensive gift, but it backfired, and she got offended.
16. Hacerse el tonto (to play dumb)
The literal translation of hacerse el tonto is “to become the fool.” The English equivalent would be the phrase “to play dumb.” It means pretending to be oblivious to something to avoid the responsibilities or consequences associated with it.
- Vi a mi amiga María en el parque el otro día, pero me hice el tonto y seguí caminando. Cada vez que hablamos, pierdo al menos dos horas. = I saw my friend Maria at the park the other day, but I played dumb and kept on walking. Every time we speak, I waste at least two hours.
17. Ser la oveja negra (to be the odd one out)
The literal translation of ser la oveja negra is “to be the black sheep,” and it holds the same meaning as the English expression. It means to be the odd one out or the person who stands out from the rest of the group due to different behavior or characteristics.
- En su familia de médicos, él es la oveja negra de la familia porque no quiere ni estudiar ni trabajar. = In his family of doctors, he is the black sheep of the family because he doesn’t want to study or work.
18. El que no llora no mama (if you don’t ask, you won’t receive it)
The literal translation of el que no llora no mama is “he who doesn’t cry, doesn’t suckle.” It means that if you don’t ask or express your needs, you won’t receive what you want.
- Si no le pides un aumento, no te lo dará. El que no llora no mama. = If you don’t ask for a raise, you won’t get it. He who doesn’t cry, doesn’t suckle.
19. Estar con el corazón en la boca (to be very tense)
The literal translation of estar con el corazón en la boca is “to be with the heart in the (one’s) mouth.” This expression means to be extremely tense, as if your heart had beaten its way out of your chest.
- Después de estar ganando por dos goles por dos goles durante casi todo el partido, Mbappé metió dos goles—estuve con el corazón en la boca el resto del partido. ¡Casi nos ganan! = After we were up by two goals for almost the entire match, Mbappé scored two goals—I was very tense for the rest of the match. They almost beat us!
20. Ponerse las pilas (to get your act together)
The literal translation of ponerse las pilas is “to put on the batteries.” It means to get your act together or make an effort.
- Tienes que ponerte las pilas si quieres aprobar el examen. = You have to get your act together if you want to pass the exam.
21. Ser pan comido (to be easy)
The literal translation of ser pan comido is “to be eaten bread.” It means that something is really easy. In English, the similar idiom is “a piece of cake.”
- Este examen será pan comido; he estudiado mucho. = This exam will be easy; I’ve studied a lot.
How to expand your knowledge of Spanish idioms
Spanish language idioms aren’t always covered in traditional textbooks, language learning classes, or language learning programs online. So, the key to learning Spanish, including idioms, is immersion. Try these activities to familiarize yourself with Spanish idioms and their real meanings:
- Watch movies or TV shows and listen to music in Spanish: Pay attention to idiomatic expressions used in pop culture and explore Spanish slang, too. It can help you acquaint yourself with their usage and context. Plus, you’ll learn how to pronounce them correctly.
- Read books and articles in Spanish: Explore literature and publications in Spanish to encounter idiomatic expressions in written form. Look up unfamiliar idioms and their meanings! Start with this list of must-read Spanish books, or check out these Spanish language news sources!
- Find a language partner or pen pal: Connecting with a native Spanish speaker who is interested in learning your language can provide opportunities to exchange idioms and expand your understanding!
- Join a conversation club or language exchange group: Engaging in conversations with native speakers is a great way to learn and practice idiomatic expressions. Social media can be a great place to find groups like these!
- Use language learning resources: Use language learning platforms like Rosetta Stone that include lessons on real-world conversations.
Immerse yourself in Spanish idioms
Mastering idiomatic expressions is an essential step in becoming fluent in Spanish! These phrases, deeply rooted in culture and language, provide insights into how native speakers think and communicate. While idioms may seem puzzling at first, embracing them through immersion is the key to understanding and using them effectively.
Don’t settle for mere translations: Let Rosetta Stone help you extend your knowledge beyond rote memorization. Embrace the power of Dynamic Immersion to discover the true essence of Spanish idioms and the Spanish language, speaking with the confidence of a native speaker.
Written by Diego Rodríguez
Polyglot copywriter, linguist, multi-instrumentalist, and Rosetta Stone user himself, Diego has worked as language coach and copywriter for companies such as Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, Rolls Royce, and more. After a brain tumor nearly killed him and left him unable to speak, his drive to relearn his five languages simultaneously left him a renewed passion for them, as well as a deeper understanding of how they work and relate to one another.
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