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
2. Te tira los tejos
Literal Translation: Throw disks at you
Meaning: To flirt
English Equivalent: To pick up, to hit on someone
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Comiendo moscas
Literal Translation: Eating flies
Meaning: To go off-topic
English Equivalent: Go off on a tangent
7. Buena onda!
Literal Translation: Good wave!
Meaning: Very good
English Equivalent: Good vibes! Cool!
8. Ponte las pilas!
Literal Translation: Put in your batteries!
Meaning: Pay attention
English Equivalent: Wake up, look alive, put some energy into it
9. 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!
10. Ser pan comido
Literal Translation: To be bread eaten
Meaning: Be easy to do
English Equivalent: A piece of cake
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11. Ojo!
Literal Translation: Eye!
Meaning: To be careful
English Equivalent: Watch yourself, I’m watching you
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. Va pedo
Literal Translation: He goes fart
Meaning: To be drunk
English Equivalent: He’s plastered, smashed
17. Dar la lata
Literal Translation: Give the can
Meaning: To pester
English Equivalent: Be a nuisance, be a pain
18. Monta un cristo
Literal Translation: Make a Christ
Meaning: Complain loudly and bitterly
English Equivalent: Make a scene, kick up a fuss
19. Hace su agosto
Literal Translation: Make his August
Meaning: To make a lot of money
English Equivalent: To make a killing
20. Es un Viva la Virgen
Literal Translation: Hail to the Virgin
Meaning: Cheerfully unconcerned about the future
English Equivalent: Happy-go-lucky
21. 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
22. Estar hecho un ají
Literal Translation: To be made a chili
Meaning: To be very angry
English Equivalent: To be hopping mad
23. 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
24. Quedarse de piedra
Literal Translation: Be like a stone
Meaning: To be shocked
English Equivalent: To be flabbergasted, gob-smacked
25. Papando moscas
Literal Translation: Catching flies
Meaning: To daydream
English Equivalent: Twiddle one’s thumbs
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Have a laugh with these hilarious Spanish expressions
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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.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
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4 comments
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”.
haha wonderful! Thanks for sharing Susie 🙂
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
My pleasure 🙂 Thanks Annalise.