8 Spanish Idioms You'll Run Into
Idioms can be tricky at first, so let's clear up the mystery and have a look at some interesting and entertaining idioms in Spanish!
Idioms are phrases or sayings. They can be somewhat tricky to understand, as context clues often aren't helpful. Let's have a look at some interesting and entertaining idioms in Spanish!
1. De tal palo, tal astilla
"De tal palo, tal astilla" is used to describe how a child is identical to the father or the mother and literally means "like a stick, like a chip". An English counterpart is "like father, like son" and can be used in a positive or negative way.
Migel adora estudiar cómo su padre. De tal palo, tal astilla.
Migel loves to study like his father. Like father, like son.
Bonus: A variant is "de tal padre, tal hijo" (like father, like son).
2. Tomando el pelo
Don't worry, you're not stealing someone's hair. "Tomar el pelo" (taking the hair) means someone is being messed with or mocked. A variant in English is "pulling someone's leg".
Ayer me dijiste que este dulce costaba 5 centavos, ahora me dices que cuesta 2 dólares, ¿Me estás tomando el pelo?
¡No puede ser! Me dijeron que vendrían en 2 horas, ¡Ya han pasado 5 horas! ¿Me están tomando el pelo?
3. Al pie de la letra
"Al pie de la letra" (at the foot of the letter) means a person gets something done perfectly by following a pattern or following instructions as exactly as possible. The closest phrase in English is "word for word" or "to the letter".
¡La comida quedó deliciosa! Solo tuve que seguir la receta al pie de la letra.
4. Pan comido
"Pan comido" (bread eaten) is used to talk about something that is very easy to do. It is said that something is "pan comido" when the task is quite simple and does not require a lot of effort to perform. This phrase always expresses energy and confidence because it is signaling that what needs to be done is so easy that it will not cause any problems. "A piece of cake" and "walk in the park" are similar idioms in English.
¡Ese examen de matemáticas fue pan comido!
No necesito suerte, esta competencia será pan comido.
5. Por si las moscas
We use the expression "por si las moscas" (in case the flies) and "por si acaso", as a way to prevent unpleasant consequences once we have taken some action, like "just in case" in English.
No sé si hoy lloverá, pero me voy a llevar el paraguas por si las moscas.
No me acuerdo si ese examen era para esta semana, pero estudiaré por si las moscas.
6. Meter la pata
Don't worry! You're not putting the foot anywhere, but you did screw something up! This expression (literally "putting the foot in") is used when someone makes a mistake, or something unfortunate happens.
Otra vez deje las llaves dentro del auto. ¡Esta vez sí que metí la pata!
7. Tener algo en la punta de la lengua
This might have happened to you before! "Tener algo en la punta de la lengua" means to not remember something, but be about to say it (i.e. had it on the tip of your tongue).
¿Cómo es que se llamaba? Te juro que lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.
8. Se me hace agua la boca
"Se me hace agua la boca" (my mouth is watering) is used to wish for something that we find very delicious, just like Homer Simpson does all the time! This phrase is commonly used to describe food:
Ese pastel huele delicioso. Se me hace agua la boca.
Amo la pizza, tan solo pensar en eso se me hace agua la boca.
Have other idioms? ¡Escribenos!
Do you know more idioms in Spanish? Reach out to us on Twitter, we'd be happy to hear them.