Home Language HacksExpressions & Idioms 25 Hilarious Spanish Idioms That’ll Brighten Your Day

25 Hilarious Spanish Idioms That’ll Brighten Your Day

by Michele
4 comments
Common Spanish Idioms and Expressions
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Ready to take your Spanish to the next level? Then you NEED to learn these commonly used hilarious Spanish idioms and expressions.

Sharing hilarious common expressions is quickly becoming one of my favourite topics to write. So, today I’ve chosen some of the best everyday Spanish expressions. Once you’re done with these, be sure to know which Spanish expressions to avoid. And, if you’re hungry for more hilarious expressions, check out my articles on French and Italian.

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, so it’s the obvious choice for my next post. Here I will share some useful and common Spanish expressions that will help improve your fluency and grasp of this beautiful language. When you’re done with these, watch out for those Spanish false friends.

Vamos a empezar! Let’s start!

Common Spanish Idioms

1. Mas cara que espalda

Literal Translation: More face than back
Meaning: To behave or speak rudely,  show no respect
English Equivalent: Have a lot of cheek

Spanish Idioms - Mas cara que espalda

2. Te tira los tejos

Literal Translation: Throw disks at you
Meaning: To flirt
English Equivalent: To pick up, to hit on someone

Spanish Idioms - Te tira los tejos3. No saber ni papa de algo

Literal Translation: Not to know even a potato about something
Meaning: To have no idea about something
English Equivalent: Not to have a clue

Spanish Idioms - No saber ni papa de algo4. Disfrutar como un enano

Literal Translation: To enjoy yourself like a dwarf
Meaning: To have a great time
English Equivalent: Have a whale of a time

Spanish Idioms - Disfrutar como un enano5. Tirar la casa por la ventana

Literal Translation: Throw the house through the window
Meaning: Pay any amount of money to achieve something
English Equivalent: Spare no expense, pull out all the stops

Spanish Idioms - Tirar la casa por laventana6. Comiendo moscas

Literal Translation: Eating flies
Meaning: To go off-topic
English Equivalent: Go off on a tangent

Spanish Idioms - Comiendo moscas7. Buena onda!

Literal Translation: Good wave!
Meaning: Very good
English Equivalent: Good vibes! Cool!

Spanish Idioms - Buena onda8. Ponte las pilas!

Literal Translation: Put in your batteries!
Meaning: Pay attention
English Equivalent: Wake up, look alive, put some energy into it

Spanish Idioms - Ponte las pilas9. Me pica el bagre

Literal Translation: The catfish is biting me
Meaning: I’m very hungry
English Equivalent: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!

Spanish Idioms - Me pica el bagre10. Ser pan comido

Literal Translation: To be bread eaten
Meaning: Be easy to do
English Equivalent: A piece of cake

Spanish Idioms - Ser pan comido


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11. Ojo!

Literal Translation: Eye!
Meaning: To be careful
English Equivalent: Watch yourself, I’m watching you

Spanish Idioms - Ojo12. Creerse la última coca-cola en el desierto

Literal Translation: You think you’re the last coke in the desert
Meaning: To believe that you are better than everyone else
English Equivalent: The bee’s knees, to think that you’re the bomb, the best thing since sliced bread

Spanish Idioms - Creerse la ultima coca cola en el desierto13. Estar como una cabra

Literal Translation: To be like a goat
Meaning: To be crazy
English Equivalent: Be off your rocker, be a fruitcake, be off your head

Spanish Idioms - Estar como una cabra14. Corto de luces

Literal Translation: Short of lights
Meaning: To be stupid or ditsy
English Equivalent: The lights are on but nobody’s home, not the brightest bulb in the shed, not the sharpest tool in the shed

Spanish Idioms - Corto de luces15. Hablando del rey de Roma

Literal Translation: Speaking of the king of Rome
Meaning: To be talking about someone as they appear
English Equivalent: Speak of the devil, to have itchy ears

Spanish Idioms - Hablando del rey de Roma16. Va pedo

Literal Translation: He goes fart
Meaning: To be drunk
English Equivalent: He’s plastered, smashed

Spanish Idioms - Va pedo17. Dar la lata

Literal Translation: Give the can
Meaning: To pester
English Equivalent: Be a nuisance, be a pain

Spanish Idioms - Dar la lata18. Monta un cristo

Literal Translation: Make a Christ
Meaning: Complain loudly and bitterly
English Equivalent: Make a scene, kick up a fuss

Spanish Idioms - Monta un cristo19. Hace su agosto

Literal Translation: Make his August
Meaning: To make a lot of money
English Equivalent: To make a killing

Spanish Idioms - Hace su agosto20. Es un Viva la Virgen

Literal Translation: Hail to the Virgin
Meaning: Cheerfully unconcerned about the future
English Equivalent: Happy-go-lucky

Spanish Idioms - Es un Viva la Virgen21. Tomar el pelo

Literal Translation: To take hold of the hair
Meaning: To play a trick on someone
English Equivalent: To pull one’s leg, make fun of

Spanish Idioms - Tomar el pelo22. Estar hecho un ají

Literal Translation: To be made a chili
Meaning: To be very angry
English Equivalent: To be hopping mad

Spanish Idioms - Estar hecho un aji23. Estar más sano que una pera

Literal Translation: To be healthier than a pear
Meaning: To be and feel healthy
English Equivalent: To be as fit as a fiddle

Spanish Idioms - Estar mas sano que una pera24. Quedarse de piedra

Literal Translation: Be like a stone
Meaning: To be shocked
English Equivalent: To be flabbergasted, gob-smacked

Spanish Idioms - Quedarse de piedra25. Papando moscas

Literal Translation: Catching flies
Meaning: To daydream
English Equivalent: Twiddle one’s thumbs

Spanish Idioms - Papando moscas


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25 Common Spanish Idioms and Expressions


Over to you!

Which one of these Spanish expressions is your favourite? Do you know any hilarious Spanish expressions?
Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

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4 comments

Susie November 20, 2016 - 20:41

In Mexico they say, “por si Las moscas”. Literally it means, “in case of flies”. The English equivalent would be to prepare in advance for something “just in case”.

Reply
Michele November 20, 2016 - 23:21

haha wonderful! Thanks for sharing Susie :)

Reply
Annalise November 16, 2016 - 16:33

These are great! I’ve been learning Spanish for a few years now and I’ve used a few but I definitely want to try some more of these out!
x

Reply
Michele November 17, 2016 - 14:00

My pleasure :) Thanks Annalise.

Reply

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