Spanish Idioms I

Some of the most popular Spanish Idioms 

Ser más fuerte que un roble (be as strong as an ox)

Meaning

A person who is as strong as an ox is very strong.

For example

Pide a Roberto que lo levante, él es más fuerte que un roble (Get Roberto to lift it, he's as strong as an ox).

Aburrirse como una ostra (be bored to death/tears)

Meaning

To be very bored.

For example

El discurso se alargó una hora. Estaba aburrido como una ostra (The speech went on for an hour. I was bored to death.)

Agarrar el toro por los cuernos (take the bull by the horns)

Meaning

To do something difficult in a determined and confident way.

For example

¿Porqué no agarras el toro por los cuernos y le dices que se vaya? (Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?).

Estar de vuelta (To be back)

Meaning

If a person "está de vuelta", they have returned to a previous place.

For example

Mi jefe estará de vuelta en dos horas. (My boss will be back in two hours.)

Estar al corriente de (To be up-to-date)

Meaning

If a person "está al corriente de algo", they are modern or know the latest information about something.

For example

Ustedes necesitan estar al corriente de las noticias de su país.

(You guys need to be up-to-date with your country's news.)

Dar la cara por (stand up for)

Meaning

To defend something that you believe is important (principle, right), or to defend a person who is being criticized.

For example

Sus amigos dieron la cara por él cuando otras personas dijeron que era culpable.

(His friends stood up for him when other people said he was guilty.)

Estar en forma (To be in good shape)

Meaning

If a person "está en forma", they are fit and healthy.

For example

Roberto es muy guapo y está en forma.

(Roberto is very handsome and he is in good shape.)

Blanco y en botella (It sticks out a mile)

Meaning

To be very obvious. "Blanco y en botella" = milk

For example

Por supuesto él es infeliz - blanco y en botella.

(Of course he's unhappy - it sticks out a mile)

Estar en el séptimo cielo (be in seventh heaven)

Meaning

To be extremely happy.

For example

Desde que se casaron han estado en el séptimo cielo.

(Since they got married they've been in seventh heaven)

Estar en las nubes (To daydream)

Meaning

"Estar en las nubes" is a creative and non-logical thought process. In other words what most people do when they get bored in a classroom.

For example

Pedro está enamorado y parece que está en las nubes.

(Pedro is in love and it seems like he is daydreaming.)

Dar el chivatazo (Spill the beans)

Meaning

"Dar el chivatazo" is when you tell people secret information.

For example

Fue entonces cuando ella amenazó con dar el chivatazo sobre su aventura con el presidente.

(It was then that she threatened to spill the beans about her affair with the president.)

Para que conste (For the record)

Meaning

"Para que conste / que conste" is something that you say when you are about to tell someone something important that you want them to remember.

For example

Y que conste, nunca dije que yo iba a hacerlo.

(Just for the record, I never said I was going to do it.)

Cantarle las cuarenta a alguien (To have a go at someone)

Meaning

"Cantarle las cuarenta a alguien" is used to criticize someone angrily.

For example

Ella me ha cantado las cuarenta esta mañana - ella dice que no estoy haciendo mi parte de las faenas de casa.

(She had a go at me over breakfast this morning - she said I wasn't doing my share of the housework.)

Dar una vuelta / Estar de picos pardos (Out and about)

Meaning

"Dar una vuelta o estar de picos pardos" is used when you go out of your place and you move about to different places in a slow relaxed manner, especially for pleasure.

For example

- ¿Pasasteis mucho tiempo en el hotel?.

- No, la mayor parte del tiempo estuvimos danto una vuelta/de picos pardos.

(- Did you spend much time at your hotel?

- No, we did not. Most of the time we were out and about.)

Tenerlo en la punta de la lengua (be on the tip of your tongue)

Meaning

If something you want to say "lo tienes en la punta de la lengua", you think you know it and that you will able to remember it very soon.

For example

¿Cuál es su nombre otra vez? Espera, lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.

(Now what's her name again? Hang on, it's on the tip of my tongue).

Día sí, día también (day in, day out)

Meaning

If you do something "Día sí, día también", you do it every day over a long period, often causing it to become boring.

For example

Pedro llevó la misma corbata día sí y día también.

(Pedro wore the same tie day in and day out).

Al fin y al cabo (at the end of the day)

Meaning

"Al fin y al cabo" is something that you say before you say what you believe to be the most important fact of a situation.

For example

Al fin y al cabo, lo que importa es que seas feliz.

(At the end of the day, what matters is that you're happy).