Common Idioms

Idioms, or modismos / expresiones idiomáticas, are phrases whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words alone. They are a vital part of natural, fluent Spanish. In this lesson, you will learn essential Spanish idioms, their origins, and how to use them in conversation.

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Why Learn Idioms?

• They make your Spanish sound natural — native speakers use idioms constantly in everyday conversation.
• They help you understand others — if someone says me estás tomando el pelo, you need to know they mean "you're pulling my leg," not literally pulling their hair.
• They enrich your expression — instead of saying something is easy, you can say es pan comido (it's a piece of cake).
• They connect you to the culture — many idioms reflect cultural values, history, and humour.

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Essential Spanish Idioms

1. Estar como una cabra

Meaning: To be crazy / mad

Literal meaning: To be like a goat

Origin: Goats are known for their unpredictable, erratic behaviour, jumping and climbing in unexpected ways. Spaniards began associating this behaviour with craziness.

Usage:

• Mi vecino está como una cabra. Se pone a cantar a las tres de la mañana. — My neighbour is crazy. He starts singing at 3 AM.
• ¿Quieres saltar en paracaídas? ¡Estás como una cabra! — You want to skydive? You're crazy!

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2. Costar un ojo de la cara

Meaning: To cost a fortune / To be very expensive

Literal meaning: To cost an eye from your face

Origin: This expression dates back to at least the 16th century and emphasises that something costs so much it's like losing a body part.

Usage:

• Ese bolso me costó un ojo de la cara, pero me encanta. — That bag cost me a fortune, but I love it.
• Las entradas para el concierto cuestan un ojo de la cara. — The concert tickets cost a fortune.

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3. Ser pan comido

Meaning: To be very easy / A piece of cake

Literal meaning: To be eaten bread

Origin: Eating bread is one of the simplest, most effortless things you can do — hence something easy is like bread already eaten.

Usage:

• No te preocupes por el examen. Es pan comido. — Don't worry about the exam. It's a piece of cake.
• Para ella, correr una maratón es pan comido. — For her, running a marathon is a piece of cake.

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4. No tener pelos en la lengua

Meaning: To speak one's mind / To be very direct / Not to mince words

Literal meaning: To not have hairs on your tongue

Origin: If you had hairs on your tongue, they would stop you from speaking clearly. Someone without hairs on their tongue speaks freely and directly.

Usage:

• Mi abuela no tiene pelos en la lengua. Te dice las cosas como son. — My grandmother doesn't mince words. She tells you things as they are.
• Me gusta que no tienes pelos en la lengua. La sinceridad es importante. — I like that you speak your mind. Honesty is important.

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5. Meter la pata

Meaning: To put your foot in it / To make a blunder

Literal meaning: To put your paw in (it)

Origin: Likely from the idea of an animal stepping where it shouldn't — into a trap or a muddy hole.

Usage:

• Metí la pata cuando le pregunté a Laura por su novio. Resulta que habían roto. — I put my foot in it when I asked Laura about her boyfriend. Turns out they had broken up.
• Ten cuidado con lo que dices en la reunión. No metas la pata. — Be careful what you say in the meeting. Don't put your foot in it.

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6. Tomar el pelo

Meaning: To pull someone's leg / To wind someone up / To joke with someone

Literal meaning: To take someone's hair

Origin: The exact origin is debated, but one theory links it to the old practice of barbers chatting with and joking with customers while pulling their hair.

Usage:

• ¿Me estás tomando el pelo? ¡No me creo que hayas ganado la lotería! — Are you pulling my leg? I don't believe you've won the lottery!
• No le hagas caso a Pedro, te está tomando el pelo. — Don't pay attention to Pedro, he's winding you up.

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7. Ir al grano

Meaning: To get to the point / To cut to the chase

Literal meaning: To go to the grain

Origin: From agriculture — separating the grain (the valuable part) from the chaff (the useless part). Going to the grain means getting to what matters.

Usage:

• Deja de dar rodeos y ve al grano. ¿Qué es lo que quieres? — Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. What do you want?
• No tenemos mucho tiempo, así que voy a ir al grano. — We don't have much time, so I'll get straight to the point.

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8. Ponerse las pilas

Meaning: To get one's act together / To start working hard / To buckle down

Literal meaning: To put your batteries in

Origin: A modern idiom comparing a person to a device that needs batteries to start functioning. When you "put your batteries in," you start working energetically.