Learning Spanish idioms is one of the most fun ways to sound like a native 🗣️. Idioms are expressions whose meaning cannot be deduced literally from the words themselves. In this blog, you’ll discover common idiomatic expressions, their meanings, funny phrases, and even love-related idioms 💘. Idioms also help you understand cultural references and make your Spanish more expressive and natural 🌟.
🧐 What are some idiomatic expressions in Spanish?
Spanish has thousands of idiomatic expressions that make conversations lively and colorful. Some of these idioms can sound funny or surprising if translated literally! Let’s explore some useful ones:
🥛 Dar una leche – Literally 'to give a milk', but it means to hit someone. This idiom is often used in casual or informal speech.
Example: Si sigues así, te voy a dar una leche. → If you keep doing that, I’m going to hit you. 😅
🍳 Estar frito – Literally 'to be fried', but it means to be in trouble or desperate. Perfect for exams, work problems, or tricky situations.
Example: Estoy frito con este examen. → I’m in trouble with this exam. 😬
👁️💰Costar un ojo de la cara – Literally 'to cost an eye from the face', means something is very expensive. Often used for shopping, travel, or luxury items.
Example: Ese coche cuesta un ojo de la cara. → That car costs an arm and a leg.
🦶🐱Buscarle tres pies al gato – Literally 'to look for three feet on the cat', means to complicate something unnecessarily. Use it when someone makes a simple problem harder than it is.
Example: No busques tres pies al gato, es fácil. → Don’t overcomplicate it, it’s easy.
💡 Tip: Idioms often have cultural references. Learning them helps you understand jokes, movies, and conversations with native speakers.
💘 Spanish idioms about love
Love and relationships inspire some of the most creative idioms in Spanish 💌. These expressions are perfect for conversations, messages, or even literature:
😍 Estar colado por alguien – Literally 'to be soaked for someone', means to have a crush.
Example: Estoy colado por Ana. → I have a crush on Ana.
💘 Tener un flechazo – Literally 'to have a little arrow', means to fall in love at first sight. Romantic and cinematic!
Example: Fue un flechazo cuando la vi. → It was love at first sight when I saw her.
🐍 Hacer la cobra – Literally 'to do the cobra', means to dodge someone’s kiss or romantic advance.
Example: Intentó besarla y ella le hizo la cobra. → He tried to kiss her and she dodged it.
🎃 Dar calabazas – Literally 'to give pumpkins', means to reject someone romantically.
Example: Me dio calabazas en la cita. → He/She rejected me on the date.
💡 Tip: Love idioms often reflect emotions vividly. Using them can make your Spanish sound warmer and more expressive.
🤓 Spanish idioms for A level learners
At A level Spanish, using idioms can make your writing and speaking more sophisticated 🌟. They show a deeper understanding of the language and culture. Some examples suitable for learners:
🪨 Quedarse de piedra – Literally 'to stay like a stone', means to be shocked or surprised.
Example: Me quedé de piedra cuando me contó la noticia. → I was shocked when he told me the news.
✍️Poner los puntos sobre las íes – Literally 'to put the dots on the i’s', means to clarify or make something perfectly clear.
Example: Es hora de poner los puntos sobre las íes en este asunto. → It’s time to clarify this matter.
😴 No pegar ojo – Literally 'not to stick an eye', means to not sleep at all. Common for exams, stress, or parties.
Example: Anoche no pegué ojo. → I didn’t sleep a wink last night.
💡 Tip: Using idioms in exams or essays can impress teachers and boost your grade if used correctly.
😂 Funny Spanish idioms
Spanish is full of idioms that make conversations funny and expressive 😆. Some examples:
🏠💨 Tirar la casa por la ventana – Literally 'throw the house out of the window', means to spend a lot of money.
Example: En su boda tiraron la casa por la ventana. → They spent a fortune on their wedding.
🐾 Meter la pata – Literally 'to put the paw in', means to make a mistake or blunder.
Example: Metí la pata en la reunión. → I messed up in the meeting.
⚔️🧱Estar entre la espada y la pared – Literally 'between the sword and the wall', means to be in a difficult situation.
Example: Estoy entre la espada y la pared con este problema. → I’m in a tight spot with this problem.
🪰👂Ir con la mosca detrás de la oreja – Literally 'to go with the fly behind the ear', means to be suspicious or doubtful about something.
Example: Voy con la mosca detrás de la oreja con ese trato. → I’m suspicious about that deal.
💡 Tip: Funny idioms make your Spanish more natural and enjoyable. Use them to add humor to your conversations.
📚 Spanish Idioms and Their Meanings
Here’s a quick recap of the idioms we’ve learned, with meanings in English:
🥛 Dar una leche → to hit someone
🍳 Estar frito → to be in trouble / desperate
👁️💰Costar un ojo de la cara → to be very expensive
🐱 Buscarle tres pies al gato → to complicate unnecessarily
😍 Estar colado por alguien → to have a crush
💘 Tener un flechazo → love at first sight
🐍 Hacer la cobra → to dodge someone’s romantic advance
🎃 Dar calabazas → to reject someone romantically
🪨 Quedarse de piedra → to be shocked
✍️ Poner los puntos sobre las íes → to clarify
😴 No pegar ojo → to not sleep at all
🏠💨 Tirar la casa por la ventana → to spend a lot
🐾 Meter la pata → to make a mistake
⚔️🧱 Estar entre la espada y la pared → to be in a difficult situation
🪰👂 Ir con la mosca detrás de la oreja → to be suspicious / doubtful
✨ Conclusion
Learning Spanish idioms is not only fun but also essential to speak like a native 🗣️💬. From funny phrases to love expressions like dar calabazas, idioms add emotion, humor, and color to your Spanish 🌟. Practice using them in writing, conversations, and storytelling to improve your fluency and confidence.
💡 Tip: Keep a list of idioms and try to use one every day. Check out Spanish media, movies, and songs to see them in context 🎬🎵.
🎉 Interactive quiz
Instructions: Choose the correct option. Good luck! 😊🍀
Which idiom do you find the funniest? 😂 Have you ever used any Spanish idioms in real life? 🗣️ Which idiom about love would you like to try using in a conversation? ❤️
👇Tell us in the comments! 💬
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