50+ Spanish Idioms You Need to Know to Sound Like a Native

Q: How to learn Spanish using English?

To learn Spanish through English, start by focusing on everyday expressions and idioms used by native speakers. Begin with simple greetings like "Hola" (Hello) and "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?) . Then, explore common idioms that reflect real-life communication such as "estar como una cabra" (to be a little crazy). Practice by watching Spanish shows with subtitles, using language learning apps, and speaking with native speakers. Flashcards, repetition, and idiom-based quizzes can also help reinforce your vocabulary and understanding.

Q: Why are idioms important when learning Spanish?

Idioms are crucial for achieving fluency because they reflect how native speakers actually talk . They provide insights into Spanish culture, humor, and way of thinking. Understanding idioms like "tirar la toalla" (to throw in the towel) helps you comprehend conversations more naturally and respond appropriately. Mastering idioms makes your Spanish sound more authentic and less robotic, and helps you connect better with native speakers.

Q: Are Spanish idioms used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Many idioms are shared across Spanish-speaking countries, but some are region-specific . For example, an idiom popular in Spain might not be commonly used in Mexico or Argentina. However, core idioms like "estar en las últimas" (to be on your last legs) or "costar un ojo de la cara" (to cost an arm and a leg) are widely understood. Learning idioms also helps you recognise regional differences and adjust your language accordingly.

Q: What are some English words that come from Spanish?

Several English words are derived from Spanish, especially through trade, exploration, and cultural exchange. Some common examples include: Canyon (from "cañón") Mosquito (from "mosquito", meaning little fly) Patio (from "patio", meaning courtyard) Tornado (from "tronada", meaning thunderstorm) Rodeo (from "rodear", to surround) These borrowed words highlight the deep linguistic connection between Spanish and English.

Q: Is Spanish easier to learn than other languages?

For English speakers, Spanish is considered one of the easiest languages to learn . It uses the Latin alphabet, has relatively straightforward pronunciation, and a clear grammatical structure. Also, many Spanish words have English cognates, like nación (nation) or animal . Compared to languages like Russian or Arabic, Spanish has fewer complex grammar rules and a more familiar vocabulary, making it ideal for beginners.

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages globally. Known for its expressive idioms, learning Spanish through English can help you grasp context, tone, and nuance. By starting with popular idioms, learners can understand how native speakers think and communicate naturally.

Below is a curated list of must-know Spanish idioms and their English counterparts, helping you speak more like a native.

Table of Contents:

Estar como una cabra
- Literal Translation: To be like a goat
- Meaning: To be crazy or eccentric
- English Counterpart: To be as mad as a hatter
- Example in English: My uncle goes skydiving at 80, he’s as mad as a hatter.
- Example in Spanish: Mi tío salta en paracaídas a los 80 años, está como una cabra.
Ser más listo que el hambre
- Literal Translation: To be smarter than hunger
- Meaning: To be very clever or sharp
- English Counterpart: To be as sharp as a tack
- Example in English: That kid is as sharp as a tack, he always finds a way to get what he wants.
- Example in Spanish: Ese niño es más listo que el hambre, siempre sabe cómo salirse con la suya.
Ser un hueso duro de roer
- Literal Translation: To be a hard bone to gnaw
- Meaning: To be a tough or challenging person or situation
- English Counterpart: To be a tough nut to crack
- Example in English: The new boss is a tough nut to crack, not easy to persuade.
- Example in Spanish: El nuevo jefe es un hueso duro de roer, no es fácil convencerlo.
Tener más cuento que Calleja
- Literal Translation: To have more stories than Calleja
- Meaning: To make up excuses or exaggerate
- English Counterpart: To spin a yarn
- Example in English: Don’t believe everything he says, he loves to spin a yarn.
- Example in Spanish: No te creas todo lo que dice, tiene más cuento que Calleja.
Ser la oveja negra
- Literal Translation: To be the black sheep
- Meaning: To be the odd one out in a group or family
- English Counterpart: To be the black sheep
- Example in English: He was always the black sheep of the family for making different choices.
- Example in Spanish: Siempre fue la oveja negra de la familia por tomar decisiones distintas.
Tener mala leche
- Literal Translation: To have bad milk
- Meaning: To have a bad attitude or be bad-tempered
- English Counterpart: To have a chip on one's shoulder
- Example in English: That teacher has a chip on his shoulder, he’s always in a bad mood.
- Example in Spanish: Ese profesor tiene mala leche, siempre está de mal humor.
Ser de armas tomar
- Literal Translation: To be of weapons taking
- Meaning: To be a strong-willed or tough person
- English Counterpart: To be a force to be reckoned with
- Example in English: Watch out for her, she’s a force to be reckoned with and doesn’t let anyone walk over her.
- Example in Spanish: Cuidado con ella, es de armas tomar y no se deja pisar por nadie.
Ser pan comido
- Literal Translation: To be eaten bread
- Meaning: To be very easy
- English Counterpart: To be a piece of cake
- Example in English: The test was a piece of cake, I didn’t even study much.
- Example in Spanish: El examen fue pan comido, no tuve que estudiar mucho.
No tener pelos en la lengua
- Literal Translation: To not have hairs on the tongue
- Meaning: To be blunt or outspoken
- English Counterpart: To not mince one's words
- Example in English: My grandmother doesn’t mince her words, she always says what she thinks.
- Example in Spanish: Mi abuela no tiene pelos en la lengua, siempre dice lo que piensa.
Hablar por los codos
- Literal Translation: To talk through the elbows
- Meaning: To talk excessively
- English Counterpart: To talk nineteen to the dozen
- Example in English: My coworker talks nineteen to the dozen, she never stops talking.
- Example in Spanish: Mi compañera de trabajo habla por los codos, no se calla nunca.
Tener la lengua larga
- Literal Translation: To have a long tongue
- Meaning: To gossip or talk too much
- English Counterpart: To have a loose tongue
- Example in English: Don’t tell Juan anything, he’s got a loose tongue.
- Example in Spanish: No le cuentes nada a Juan, tiene la lengua muy larga.

Ahogarse en un vaso de agua
- Literal Translation: To drown in a glass of water
- Meaning: To overreact to a minor problem
- English Counterpart: To make a mountain out of a molehill
- Example in English: It’s not that big a deal, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
- Example in Spanish: No es para tanto, estás ahogándote en un vaso de agua.
Estar con la soga al cuello
- Literal Translation: To be with the rope around the neck
- Meaning: To be in a difficult or desperate situation
- English Counterpart: To be up against the wall
- Example in English: After losing his job, he’s up against the wall.
- Example in Spanish: Después de perder su trabajo, está con la soga al cuello.
Ser harina de otro costal
- Literal Translation: To be flour from another sack
- Meaning: To be a completely different matter
- English Counterpart: To be a horse of a different color
- Example in English: We can talk about that later, it’s a horse of a different color.
- Example in Spanish: Podemos hablar de eso luego, es harina de otro costal.
Estar en las últimas
- Literal Translation: To be in the last ones
- Meaning: To be on the verge of exhaustion, death, or bankruptcy
- English Counterpart: To be on one’s last legs
- Example in English: The car is on its last legs, I don’t think it’ll last much longer.
- Example in Spanish: El coche está en las últimas, no creo que dure mucho más.
Salir el tiro por la culata
- Literal Translation: The shot goes out through the tail
- Meaning: To backfire or go wrong
- English Counterpart: To blow up in one’s face
- Example in English: He tried to surprise her but it blew up in his face.
- Example in Spanish: Quiso sorprenderla pero le salió el tiro por la culata.
Tirar la toalla
- Literal Translation: To throw the towel
- Meaning: To give up
- English Counterpart: To throw in the towel
- Example in English: After so many tries, he decided to throw in the towel.
- Example in Spanish: Después de tantos intentos, decidió tirar la toalla.

Costar un ojo de la cara
- Literal Translation: To cost an eye from the face
- Meaning: To be extremely expensive
- English Counterpart: To cost an arm and a leg
- Example in English: That sports car costs an arm and a leg.
- Example in Spanish: Ese coche deportivo cuesta un ojo de la cara.
Tener la sartén por el mango
- Literal Translation: To have the frying pan by the handle
- Meaning: To be in control of the situation
- English Counterpart: To have the upper hand
- Example in English: In this negotiation, they have the upper hand.
- Example in Spanish: En esta negociación, ellos tienen la sartén por el mango.
Tener más lana que un borrego
- Literal Translation: To have more wool than a lamb
- Meaning: To be very wealthy
- English Counterpart: To have money to burn
- Example in English: That businessman has money to burn.
- Example in Spanish: Ese empresario tiene más lana que un borrego.
Dar en el clavo
- Literal Translation: To hit the nail
- Meaning: To get it exactly right
- English Counterpart: To hit the nail on the head
- Example in English: Your comment hit the nail on the head, it was exactly what we needed to hear.
- Example in Spanish: Tu comentario dio en el clavo, era justo lo que necesitábamos oír.
Ver las estrellas
- Literal Translation: To see the stars
- Meaning: To feel extreme pain
- English Counterpart: To see stars
- Example in English: I hit my foot on the table and I saw stars.
- Example in Spanish: Me golpeé el pie contra la mesa y vi las estrellas.
Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja
- Literal Translation: To have the fly behind the ear
- Meaning: To suspect something or feel uneasy
- English Counterpart: To smell a rat
- Example in English: It didn’t feel right, I smell a rat.
- Example in Spanish: No me dio buena espina, tengo la mosca detrás de la oreja.

Quedarse de piedra
- Literal Translation: To stay like a stone
- Meaning: To be shocked or stunned
- English Counterpart: To be dumbfounded
- Example in English: I was dumbfounded when I heard the news.
- Example in Spanish: Me quedé de piedra cuando escuché la noticia.
Dejar con la boca abierta
- Literal Translation: To leave someone with their mouth open
- Meaning: To amaze or surprise someone
- English Counterpart: To leave someone speechless
- Example in English: The show left me speechless.
- Example in Spanish: El espectáculo me dejó con la boca abierta.
Ponerse las manos en la cabeza
- Literal Translation: To put one’s hands on the head
- Meaning: To be shocked or horrified
- English Counterpart: To tear one’s hair out
- Example in English: When he saw the mess, he tore his hair out.
- Example in Spanish: Cuando vio el desastre, se puso las manos en la cabeza.
Estar hecho un ají
- Literal Translation: To be made a chili
- Meaning: To be very angry
- English Counterpart: To be hot under the collar
- Example in English: After the argument, he was hot under the collar.
- Example in Spanish: Después de la discusión, estaba hecho un ají.
Hacerse la vista gorda
- Literal Translation: To make oneself the fat view
- Meaning: To turn a blind eye
- English Counterpart: To turn a blind eye
- Example in English: The teacher turned a blind eye to the students’ absence.
- Example in Spanish: El maestro se hizo la vista gorda ante la falta de los alumnos.
Ver el mundo color de rosa
- Literal Translation: To see the world in pink
- Meaning: To see life optimistically
- English Counterpart: To see the world through rose-colored glasses
- Example in English: She always sees the world through rose-colored glasses, even in tough times.
- Example in Spanish: Ella siempre ve el mundo color de rosa, incluso en tiempos difíciles.

Estar en boca de todos
- Literal Translation: To be in everyone’s mouth
- Meaning: To be talked about by everyone
- English Counterpart: To be the talk of the town
- Example in English: Since he won the award, he’s been the talk of the town.
- Example in Spanish: Desde que ganó el premio, está en boca de todos.
Meter la pata
- Literal Translation: To put the paw in
- Meaning: To make a mistake or blunder
- English Counterpart: To put one’s foot in it
- Example in English: I really put my foot in it during the meeting.
- Example in Spanish: En la reunión metí la pata al decir eso.
Tener algo entre ceja y ceja
- Literal Translation: To have something between the eyebrow and the eyebrow
- Meaning: To be obsessed with something
- English Counterpart: To have something stuck in one’s mind
- Example in English: Since watching that movie, she’s had it stuck in her mind.
- Example in Spanish: Desde que vio esa película, tiene eso entre ceja y ceja.
A otro perro con ese hueso
- Literal Translation: To another dog with that bone
- Meaning: To reject a lie or excuse
- English Counterpart: Tell it to the marines
- Example in English: You think you can fool me? Tell it to the marines.
- Example in Spanish: ¿Crees que me vas a engañar? a otro perro con ese hueso.
Poner los puntos sobre las íes
- Literal Translation: To put the dots over the i’s
- Meaning: To clarify something precisely
- English Counterpart: To dot the i’s and cross the t’s
- Example in English: Before signing, we need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.
- Example in Spanish: Antes de firmar, hay que poner los puntos sobre las íes.
Hacer buenas migas
- Literal Translation: To make good breadcrumbs
- Meaning: To get along well with someone
- English Counterpart: To hit it off
- Example in English: From day one, they hit it off.
- Example in Spanish: Desde el primer día, hicieron buenas migas.

Estar como un fideo
- Literal Translation: To be like a noodle
- Meaning: To be very thin
- English Counterpart: To be as thin as a rake
- Example in English: After the illness, he is as thin as a rake.
- Example in Spanish: Después de la enfermedad, está como un fideo.
No saber ni papa
- Literal Translation: To not know even a potato
- Meaning: To know nothing about a topic
- English Counterpart: To not have a clue
- Example in English: On that subject, he doesn’t have a clue.
- Example in Spanish: Sobre ese tema, no sabe ni papa.
Estar en su salsa
- Literal Translation: To be in one’s sauce
- Meaning: To feel comfortable or in one’s element
- English Counterpart: To be in one’s element
- Example in English: When he’s with his friends, he is in his element.
- Example in Spanish: Cuando está con sus amigos, está en su salsa.
Poner toda la carne en el asador
- Literal Translation: To put all the meat on the grill
- Meaning: To give it your all
- English Counterpart: To go all out
- Example in English: To win the game, they went all out.
- Example in Spanish: Para ganar el partido, pusieron toda la carne en el asador.
Comerse el marrón
- Literal Translation: To eat the brown
- Meaning: To take the blame for something
- English Counterpart: To take the fall
- Example in English: In the end, I had to take the fall for the mistake.
- Example in Spanish: Al final, yo tuve que comerme el marrón por el error.
Tener un hambre canina
- Literal Translation: To have a dog’s hunger
- Meaning: To be extremely hungry
- English Counterpart: To be starving
- Example in English: After running, I was starving.
- Example in Spanish: Después de correr, tenía un hambre canina.

Matar dos pájaros de un tiro
- Literal Translation: To kill two birds with one shot
- Meaning: To achieve two things at once
- English Counterpart: To kill two birds with one stone
- Example in English: With this plan, we kill two birds with one stone.
- Example in Spanish: Con este plan matamos dos pájaros de un tiro.
Tener algo en la punta de la lengua
- Literal Translation: To have something on the tip of the tongue
- Meaning: To almost remember something
- English Counterpart: To have it on the tip of one’s tongue
- Example in English: I can’t remember his name, I have it on the tip of my tongue.
- Example in Spanish: No logro recordar su nombre, lo tengo en la punta de la lengua.
No dar pie con bola
- Literal Translation: To not hit a ball with the foot
- Meaning: To not get anything right
- English Counterpart: To miss the mark
- Example in English: Today I am missing the mark at work.
- Example in Spanish: Hoy no doy pie con bola con el trabajo.
Hacer castillos en el aire
- Literal Translation: To build castles in the air
- Meaning: To dream about unrealistic things
- English Counterpart: To build castles in the sky
- Example in English: Stop building castles in the sky and get to work.
- Example in Spanish: Deja de hacer castillos en el aire y ponte a trabajar.
Quedarse sin blanca
- Literal Translation: To be left without a white (coin)
- Meaning: To run out of money
- English Counterpart: To be broke
- Example in English: After the holidays, I was broke.
- Example in Spanish: Después de las vacaciones, me quedé sin blanca.
Ir al grano
- Literal Translation: To go to the grain
- Meaning: To get straight to the point
- English Counterpart: To get to the point
- Example in English: In the meeting, he got straight to the point.
- Example in Spanish: En la reunión, fue directo al grano.