If you want to live and breath Spanish you will have to learn to use it’s common expressions and sayings as well. Underneath you’ll find a list of 501 common and familiar expressions used throughout Spain and South America. You will see them listed together with the English translation.
Easily search and filter the expression you are looking for using the search box underneath.
Spanish Expressions
| Spanish expression | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan | A word to the wise (is enough) |
| A buenas horas mangas verdes | Too little too late |
| A caballo regalado, no le mires el diente | Beggards can’t be choosers |
| A duras penas | To barely achieve something |
| a las primeras de cambio | suddenly |
| A lo hecho, pecho | Don’t cry over spilled milk. What is done, is done |
| A ojo de buen cubero | Approximately. |
| A otra cosa mariposa | It's time to move on |
| A palabras necias, oídos sordos | Like water off a duck’s back |
| A propósito | By the way |
| A sangre fría | In cold blood |
| A vivir que son dos dias | Live it up. Seize the day |
| Acabarse en punta | To die |
| Acostarse con las gallinas | To go to bed with the chickens / go to bed early |
| Agarrarase a un clavo ardiendo | The clutch at straws |
| Ahogar las penas | To drown ones sorrows |
| Al pan,pan … y al vino, vino | To call a spade a spade |
| Anda ya! | Pull the other one. |
| Andar con pies de plomo | To be very careful |
| andar en pretensiones | To be looking for a wife |
| Andarse con mil ojos | To be very careful. |
| Anímate! | Cheer up! |
| Arrimar el hombro | To help. |
| Arrimar el hombro | Give a hand |
| Así es la vida | That’s life |
| Baja de las nubes | Get real |
| Borracho como una cuba | Pissed as a newt |
| Borron y cuenta nueva | Kiss and make up |
| Buscar el príncipe azul | To look for the perfect man |
| Buscar la quinta pata al gato | To make something way more complicated than it is |
| Buscar una aguja en un pajar | To look for a needle in a haystack |
| buscarle tres pies al gato | to go looking for trouble |
| Buscarle tres pies al gato | To make something more complicated than necessary |
| Cada dos por tres | To happen frequently |
| Cada loco con su tema | To each his own |
| Cada una tiene lo que se merece | People get what they deserve |
| Cálmate! | Keep your hair on! |
| Cambia de tema | Shut up |
| Cara o cruz | Heads or tails |
| Casarse de penalti | To have shotgun wedding |
| Cierra la puerta | Were you born in a field/barn? |
| Coger el toro por los cuernos | To take the bull by the horns. |
| Comer la papa | To have lunch |
| Comerse a alguien con los ojos | To eat someone with the eyes. Find someone attractive |
| Cómo es eso? ¿Por qué? | How come ? |
| como si estuvieras en tu casa | Make yourself at home |
| como un burro en una cacharrería | like a bull in a china-shop |
| Con la soga al cuello | To be in a situation with a lot of pressure |
| Corta el rollo | Cut the bullshit |
| Cortar el bacalao | To call the shots |
| Costar un ojo de la cara | To be very expensive. |
| costar un pico | To cost a tidy sum |
| costar una riñonada | To cost a lot |
| Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos | I gave you a stick to break my own head with |
| Cruza los dedos | Cross your fingers |
| Cruzando los dedos. | Cross your fingers. |
| Cruzarse de brazos | To fold one’s arms, to stubbornly resist something, to be closed off. |
| cual tiene lo suyo | nobody is perfect |
| Cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan | When the cat is away, the mice will play |
| Cuando se cierra una puerta, se abre una ventana | Where one door closes, another one open |
| Cuenta conmigo | Count me in |
| Cuesta un riñon | It costs the earth |
| dar a luz | giving birth |
| Dar alguien con la puerta en las narices | To slam the door in someone’s face |
| dar en el blanco | to hit the mark |
| Dar en el clavo | Hit the nail on the head |
| Dar en la nariz | To suspect. |
| Dar gato por liebre | To trick someone, to rip someone off |
| dar hasta la camisa | to give the shirt off one’s back |
| Dar la cara | Face the music |
| Dar la espalda a alguien | To give the cold shoulder. |
| dar la piel | to die |
| Dar la vuelta a la tortilla | To turn the situation around |
| darse a Satán | to get incredibly angry |
| darse de cabezadas | to rack one’s brains |
| Date prisa! | Hurry up |
| De buena fe | To do something with good intentions |
| De nada. | You're welcome. |
| De ninguna manera! | No way! |
| De punta en blanco | Well dressed for a special occasion |
| de silla a silla | in private |
| De tal palo, tal astilla | Like father, like son |
| De verdad! | Really! |
| Déjame en paz | Leave me alone |
| Dejarse la piel | To work your fingers to the bone |
| Depende de ti | It is up to you |
| Desempedrar la calle | To shoot off |
| Despertarse como una rosa | Wake up like a rose |
| Desvelar un secreto | Let the cat out of the bag |
| Dime cuanto (para comida o bebidas) | Say when |
| Dios los cría y ellos se juntan | Birds of a feather flock together |
| Disfrutar como un enano | Have a whale of a time |
| Donde comen dos, comen tres | There’s always room for one more |
| Dormir a pierna suelta | To sleep soundly. |
| dormir a pierna suelta | To sleep soundly |
| dormir como un tronco | To sleep like a log |
| Dormirse en los laureles | To cease to make an effort after achieving success |
| echar buen pelo | To be coming along |
| echar buena pluma | To shape up nicely |
| Echar en cara | To throw something in someone’s face. |
| echar los riñones | To sweat one’s gut out |
| Echar una mano a alguien | To lend a hand |
| echarse al o en el surco | To knock off |
| el cabe de pala | unexpected opportunity/chance |
| El habito no hace al monje | Clothes do not take the man |
| el más pintado | cleverest |
| En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo | The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot |
| en dos trancos | in two shakes |
| En la variedad está el gusto | Variety is the spice of life |
| En mi opinión | To my mind |
| En un abrir y cerrar de ojos | In the blink of an eye. |
| Encontrar tu media naranja | To find the perfect or ideal partner |
| Enrrollarse como persiana | To go on and on |
| Entrar los siete males | To be in hell |
| Entre broma y broma la verdad asoma | There is truth in every joke |
| Entre la espada y la pared | Having to choose between two bad things |
| Es agua debajo del puente | It has happened and cannot be changed. Water under the bridge |
| Es agua pasada | It is water under the bridge |
| Es el ultimo grito | It’s cutting the edge |
| Es la gota que colma el vaso | It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back |
| Es lo que hay | It is what it is |
| Esta chupado | Piece of cake |
| Esta hasta en la sopa | To be everywhere |
| Esta lloviendo a cantaros | It's raining cats and dogs |
| Esta para chuparse los dedos | Its finger licking good |
| Esta para mojar pan | To spread someone in a cracker. |
| Esta ronda la pago yo | This round’s on me |
| estar a la sombra | To be in jail |
| estar al pie del cañón | To be ready to act |
| estar chorreando sangre algo | To still be very new |
| Estar como un fideo | To be thin as a rail |
| Estar como un tren | To look gorgeous |
| Estar como una cabra | To be crazy |
| Estar como una cuba | To be as drunk as a lord |
| Estar como una sopa | To be soaked to the bone |
| Estar como unas castañuelas | To be happy as a clam |
| Estar con el agua al cuello | To be up to one’s neck. |
| Estar en el quinto pino | To be in the boonies |
| estar en la onda | To be on the ball |
| estar en las Batuecas | To have one’s head in the clouds |
| Estar enfadado | To be in a bad mood |
| Estar forrado | To be loaded (rich) |
| Estar frito | To be sleeping |
| Estar hasta en la sopa | To find the same person anywhere and everywhere you go |
| Estar hasta las narices | To be fed up |
| estar hasta los topes de algo | To be fed up with something |
| estar hecho polvo | To be worn out |
| Estar hecho un flan | To be like jelly |
| estar hecho una sopa | To be soaking wet |
| Estar loco con contento | To be over the moon |
| Estar mala uva | To be grumpy, in a bad mood |
| Estar mas fresco que una lechuga | To be as fresh as a daisy |
| estar más seco que una pasa | To be very skinny |
| Estar metido hasta la cabeza en algo | To be fully involved. |
| Estar para chuparse los dedos | To be to lick one’s fingers. To be delicious. |
| Estar para mojar pan | To be hot |
| Estar pelado | To be broke |
| Estar pez | To not know something |
| Estar piripi | To be merry, to be tipsy |
| Estar roque | To be fast asleep |
| Estás de broma. | You're kidding. |
| Estirar la pata | To kick the bucket |
| Esto es cosa de dos | It takes two to tango |
| Estoy de mala leche | To be pissed off |
| Faltarle un tornillo | To be insane |
| Fue bonito mientras duró | It was good while it lasted |
| Hablando del rey de Roma | Talk of the devil |
| Hablar de trapos | To talk about clothes |
| Hablar por los codos | To talk a lot |
| Hace su agosto | To make a lot of money |
| Hacer borrón y cuenta nueva | Wipe the slate clean |
| hacer de las suyas | To be up to your usual tricks |
| Hacer el mono | To be the clown |
| Hacer el pino | To do a handstand |
| Hacer el primo | To be taken in |
| Hacer la pelota | To suck up |
| Hacer oídos sordos | To turn a deaf ear. To make ears deaf. |
| Hacer puente | Take a long holiday weekend |
| hacer todo lo posible | to go all out |
| Hacerse la boca agua | to make one’s mouth water. |
| Hacerse la boca agua | To make ones mouth water |
| Hay ropa tendida! | Be careful what you say |
| Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa | Every law has its loopholes. |
| Hincar los codos | To study hard. |
| Hoy por tí, Mañana por mí | You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours |
| iandar a la rebatiña de algo ( | to argue over something |
| Importar un pimiento | Doesn’t matter / don’t give a crap |
| Ir como pollo sin cabeza | To run around like a headless chicken |
| ir con mucho ten con ten | To be very careful |
| Ir de flor en flor | To show your wild oats |
| Irse por las ramas | To beat around the bush |
| iser de lo que no hay | to be incredible |
| La curiosidad mató al gato | Curiosity killed the cat |
| la pensión de tapujo | Short-time hotel |
| La piel de gallina | Goosebumps |
| La taleguilla de la sal | money for the daily expenses |
| La tercera va la vencida | Third time’s a charm |
| la vida de perros | the dog’s life |
| Las apariencias engañan | Looks can be deceiving |
| Las penas compartidas saben a menos | Two in distress makes sorry less |
| Le have la vida impossible | Is giving him hell |
| levantarse con las gallinas | get up with the chickens |
| Levantarse con mal pie | To wake up on the wrong side of the bed |
| Ligar con alguien | Chat someone up |
| Ligarse a alguien | To hook up/ pick up someone |
| Llarse la manta a la cabeza | To take the plunge |
| Llegar a las manos | To come to blows. |
| llevar qué rascar | not to get over it easily, to chew on that |
| Lo hice por ayudarte | For your own good |
| Lo importante es participar | The important thing is to participate |
| Lo mereces | It serves you right. |
| Lo primero es lo primero | First things first |
| Luchar por una causa perdida | To fight for a lost cause |
| Mala hierba nunca muere | Weed never dies |
| Marear la perdiz | To daze the partridge |
| Más chulo que un ocho | To be too cool |
| Mas feliz que un regaliz | As happa as a clam |
| Más vale lo malo conocido que lo bueno por conocer | Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t |
| más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer | Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know |
| Más vale maña que fuerza | Brain over brawn |
| más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando | A biedt in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| Más vale prevenir que curar | Better to prevent than to cure |
| Más vale tarde que nunca | Better late than never |
| Matar dos pájaros de un tiro | To kill two birds with one stone |
| Me equivoque | I made a mistake |
| Me estas tomando el pelo? | Are you pulling my leg? |
| Me estás tomando el pelo. | You're pulling my leg. |
| Me importa 3 pepinos | I don’t care |
| Me pone enfermo | It drives me up the wall |
| Me suena a chino | Difficult to understand |
| Me suena. | It rings a bell. |
| Mejor curarse en salud | Its better to precent than to cure |
| Mejor malo conocido que bueno por conocer | New brush sweeps clean but old broom knows all the corners |
| Mejor solo que mal acompañado | Its ok to be alone sometimes |
| Mejor tarde que nunca | Better late than never. |
| mentir más que un sacamuelas | to tell big lies |
| meter la pata | to shoot yourself in the foot |
| Meter la pata | To make a mistake |
| meterse en camisa de once vara | to bite off more than one can chew |
| Meterse hasta la cabeza en algo | To be fully involved/completely immersed |
| Metérsele a alguien hacer algo entre ceja y ceja | To get it into one’s head to do something. |
| Meti la pata | I put my foot in it |
| mirar las telarañas | to have one's head in the clouds |
| Montar el pollo | To case a scene in public |
| Morderse la lengua | Bite your tongue. To not to say a word.. |
| Mucho ruido y pocas nueces | all mouth and no trousers |
| Nacer con un pan bajo el brazo | To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth |
| Nadar entre dos aguas | Sit on the fence |
| ni a la de tres | not possible |
| Ni más ni menos | No more, no less |
| Ni soñarlo! | no way |
| No buscarle pulgas al perro | Let sleeping dogs lie |
| No caerá esa breva. | There’s no such luck |
| No dar alguien su brazo a torcer | To not give in. |
| No dar pie con bola | Can’t do anything right |
| No dar tu brazo a torcer | to stand one’s ground |
| No es oro todo lo que reluce | All that glitters is not gold |
| No estoy catolico | To not feel well |
| No faltará mas/Por supuesto | By all means |
| No hay color | There is no comparison |
| No hay mal que por bien no venga | Every cloud has a silver lining |
| No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír | No one’s as deaf as those who don’t want to listen |
| No hay tanto pan para tantos chorizos | pork barrel politics |
| No hay tu tia | No way, no chance |
| No importar un pepino/rábano | To be irrelevant |
| no llegarle a uno la camisa al cuerpo | to jump out of one’s skin, |
| No me extraña | No wonder |
| No muerdas la mano que te da de comer | Don’t bite the hand that feeds you |
| No pegar un ojo | Not being able to sleep |
| no pintar nada | to have no say |
| No por mucho madrugar, amanece más temprano | Getting up early doesn’t make the sun rise sooner |
| no saber uno lo que se pesca | not to have a clue what it’s all about |
| no tener cabo ni cuerda | to make no sense whatsoever |
| No tener dos dedos de frente | To not be very smart. |
| No tener ni pies ni cabeza | To make no sense at all. |
| No tener pelos en la lengua | To not mince words. |
| No tener pies ni cabeza | Not to make any sense. It absurd or without logic |
| no tener tiempo ni para rascarse | to not have a minute |
| No tengo ni idea | I haven't got a clue. |
| O somos o no somos. | We have to take action now |
| Ojalá | If only |
| Ojo por ojo y diente por diente | An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth |
| Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente | What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over |
| Ostras! | Holy moley! |
| Pagar en efectivo | To pay cash |
| para servirle | at your service |
| para todo trote | for everyday use |
| Pasarse de la raya | To do something that can’t be tolerated |
| pedir peras al olmo | to ask for a the moon |
| pellizcar los céntimos | to count every penny |
| Peor es nada | better than nothing |
| Perder el norte | To lose track |
| Perder los estribos | To get angry |
| Perro flaco, todo son pulgas | It never rains but it pours/when it rains, it pours |
| Perro ladrador, poco mordedor | Barking dogs never bite |
| Pillar el toro | Catch the bull |
| Pillar el truco | To get the hang of it |
| Pillarse un pedo | To get drunk |
| plantar la carrera | to quit college |
| Poner al mal tiempo buena cara | To put on a happy face. What can’t be cured myst be endured. |
| Poner el dedo en la llaga | To rub salt into the wound. To put the finger in the sore place. |
| Poner el mal tiempo, buena cara | To put on a happy face / look at the bright side |
| poner las cosas en su sitio | to set the record straight |
| Poner los ojos en blanco | To roll one’s eyes. |
| ponerse como un tomate | feel embarrassed or humiliated |
| Ponerse las pilas | turn the juice on |
| Ponerse morado | To eat like a horse |
| Ponerse rojo como un tomate | To feel very embarrassed about something |
| Ponérsele los pelos de punta a alguien | To be very scared. |
| Por la boca muere el pez | Loose lips sink ships |
| Por si acaso | Just in case |
| Por si las moscas | Just to be on the safe side |
| Por tu propio bien | For your own sake |
| puesto en el burro | In for a penny, in for a pound |
| Qué aproveche. | Bon apetit. |
| Qué cara! | What a cheek! |
| Qué lío! | What a mess! |
| Que me quiten lo bailado | Nobody can take away the good times I’ve had. |
| Que sea o que dios quiera | It’s in the lap on the gods |
| Qué timo! | What a rip off. |
| Quedar seco | to drop dead |
| Quedarse de piedra | To be shocked |
| quedarse para tía | To be an old maid |
| quedarse/estar tan campante | to act like nothing has happened |
| quedarse para vestir santos ( | to be left on the shelf |
| Quédate con el cambio. | Keep the change. |
| Quemarse Las Cejas | to stay up late working on something |
| quemarse las pestañas | to study/work far into the night |
| Quien fue a Sevilla, perdió su silla | You snooze, you loose |
| Quien no arriesga, no gana | Nothing ventured, nothing gained |
| Quien ríe el último, ríe mejor | He who laughs last, laughs best |
| Rajarse por | to nearly kill |
| Recetar largo | to have a long wish list |
| Regalarle el oído a alguien | To flatter someone. |
| Regar una comida con vino | To have wine with a meal |
| Revelar un secreto | Let the cat out of the bag |
| Reventar de envidia | to be bursting with envy |
| Romper el hielo | To break the ice |
| saber la biblia en verso | to know absolutely everything |
| saber un rato de algo | to know a lot about something |
| sacar a alg. con los pies adelant | to bury |
| sacar tajada | to make a haul |
| salir con algo | To come out with something |
| Salir del armario | To come out of the closet (to be gay) |
| Salir el tiro por la culata | To backfire |
| Salir por piernas | To rush out of a place. |
| Salirse con la suya | To succeed at getting something through annoying methods |
| Salud! | Cheers! |
| Seguir en sus trece | To be headstrong or stubborn |
| señor | when pigs learn to fly |
| sentar el real o sus reales | to settle down |
| Ser carne de cañón | To be fish bate/thrown under the bus |
| Ser cuatro gatos | To be very few people |
| Ser del año de la pera | To be very very old |
| ser despedido | Get the sack |
| Ser el año de la pera | To be out of fashion |
| Ser el ombligo del mundo | To be the bellybutton of the world. To be the center of the universe. |
| Ser firme como una roca | To be as solid as a rock |
| Ser la gallina de los huevos de oro | To be a source of wealth |
| Ser la media naranja | To be the better half |
| Ser la oveja negra | To be good for nothing |
| Ser más astuto que un zorro | To be smart like a fox |
| Ser mas raro que un perro verde | Stranger than a green dog |
| ser más sordo que una tapia | to be deaf |
| Ser pan comido | Be a piece of cake |
| Ser todo oídos | To be all ears. To be very interested. |
| Ser un bicho raro | To be a freak/weirdo |
| Ser un bombón | To be very good looking |
| Ser un caracol | To be very slow |
| Ser un caradura | To be cheeky |
| Ser un cero a la izquierda | To be worthless |
| Ser un chaquetero | To be a flip-flopper |
| Ser un chorizo | To be a thief |
| Ser un don nadie | To be a nobody |
| Ser un gallina | To be a coward |
| Ser un melón | Not very intelligent |
| Ser un melón | To be not very smart or intelligent |
| Ser un pez gordo | To be a big fish |
| ser un piropo ambulante | to be very pretty |
| ser un pozo sin fondo | to be like a bottomless pit |
| Ser una gallina | To be a chicken |
| Ser una rata | A treacherous person, a person who cheats or mocks another one |
| Ser uña y carne | To be inseparable. |
| Si algo mal, sonríe | if something went wrong, just smile |
| Siéntete como en tu casa | Make yourself at home |
| Sin pelos en la lengua | To be straightforward, to be completely honest |
| Sírvete | Help yourself |
| Sobre gustos no hay nada escrito | There’s no accounting for tastes |
| sobresaliente con tres eses | failed |
| soltar el trapo | to burst out laughing |
| soltar un pedo | to fart |
| subirse al campanario | to go up the wall |
| Subirse al carro | Get onboard |
| Te falta un verano | You are out of your mind |
| Te invito | My treat |
| temblar como un flan | Shaking like a pudding, being nervous |
| Ten cuidado! | Watch out! |
| Tener a alguien hasta las narices | To be fed up. |
| Tener a sartén por el mango | Take the bit between one’s teeth. |
| Tener agallas | To have the guts to do something. |
| tener buenas tragaderas | to be a big eater |
| Tener dos dedos de frente | Be on the ball |
| tener el santo de cara | to be lucky |
| tener el santo de espaldas | to have bad luck |
| Tener enchufe | To be well connected |
| Tener la cabeza dura | To be stubborn. |
| Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja | To be suspicious, to smell a rat. |
| Tener la negra | To have bad luck |
| tener las riendas | to have things under control |
| Tener mala leche | To be a bad apple |
| Tener mas cara que espalda | To be cheeky |
| Tener más vidas que un gato | To be a very lucky person |
| Tener memoria de pez | To have a bad memory |
| Tener mucha cara | To be shameless. |
| Tener mucha mano izquierda | To be very diplomatic. |
| Tener pocas luces | to be a sandwich short of a picnic |
| tener qué rascar | not to get over it easily, to chew on that |
| tener riñones | to have courage |
| Tener sangre azul | To belong to a royal or very rich family |
| tener sangre de chinches | to be a real pest |
| tener sangre en el ojo | to want to take revenge |
| tener telarañas en los ojos | to be blind |
| Tener vista de lince | To have an eagle eye |
| Tener vista de lince | To have an excellent vision |
| Tengo que irme. | I must be off. |
| Tente tieso! | To keep your chin up |
| tiene mas razón que un santo | he was spot on |
| Tirar de la manta | Let the cat out of the bag |
| Tirar la casa por la ventana | Pull out all the stops |
| Tirar la toalla | To throw in the towel |
| Tirar los tejos | Chat someone up |
| tirarse a muerto | To play a fool |
| tirarse un pedo | to fart |
| To tener pies ni cabeza | Not to make any sense |
| Tocando madera | Touch wood. |
| tocar todos los registros | to pull out all the stops |
| Todo a su debido tiempo | All in good time |
| Todos los caminos llevan a roma | All (the) roads lead to Rome |
| Tomamos la penúltima | Have one for the road |
| Tomamos la penúltima | Let's have one for the road |
| tomar soleta | to beat it |
| Tomarle el pelo a alguien | To pull someone’s leg. |
| traer y llevar | to gossip about |
| Tú eliges. | It's up to you. |
| un[a] cabeza de corcho | a blockhead |
| un[a] cabeza torcida | hypocrite |
| una aguafiestas | A wet blanket |
| una buena pieza | nasty customer |
| una libra | A quid |
| una resaca | A hangover |
| Una verdad como un templo | A glaring truth |
| Unas veces se gana, otras se pierde | You win some you loose some |
| Vale mucho dinero | It cost a lot of money |
| Ver todo color de rosa | To be or see everything with excessive optimism |
| Vete a freir esparragos | Go to hell, go jump in the lake. |
| vivir a lo gran | to live like a king |
| Ya estamos otra vez | Here we go again |
| Yo también | Same here |
Did we miss a saying? Or do you feel like we could update it with a new saying? Don’t be shy and send us a message. We’d be happy to hear about it and add it to the list.
Have fun with this list of Spanish Expressions. Hope it helps you get fluent in no time.