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Spanish Idioms

Learn fixed expressions through their intended meaning, with notes on when to use them.

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Common Spanish idioms and their meanings

Meter la pata means to put your foot in it or make a blunder. Translate the meaning, not each separate word.

These are informal expressions. Review common verbs to change their infinitives for a person and tense.

  • meter la patato put your foot in it · meh-TEHR lah PAH-tah
  • estar en las nubesto daydream · ehs-TAHR ehn lahs NOO-behs
  • costar un ojo de la carato cost an arm and a leg · kohs-TAHR oon OH-hoh deh lah KAH-rah
  • echar una manoto lend a hand · eh-CHAHR OO-nah MAH-noh
  • tirar la toallato throw in the towel · tee-RAHR lah toh-AH-yah
  • ir al granoto get straight to the point · eer ahl GRAH-noh
  • andarse por las ramasto beat around the bush · ahn-DAHR-seh por lahs RRAH-mahs
  • tomar el peloto pull someone's leg · toh-MAHR el PEH-loh
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Spanish Idioms: full list

Review the meanings, pronunciation and usage notes, then use the printable worksheet to recall the Spanish.

Quick answer: to put your foot in it is meter la pata, to daydream is estar en las nubes, to cost an arm and a leg is costar un ojo de la cara, to lend a hand is echar una mano, to throw in the towel is tirar la toalla, to get straight to the point is ir al grano, to beat around the bush is andarse por las ramas, and to pull someone's leg is tomar el pelo.

Common Spanish idioms and their meanings

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
to put your foot in itmeter la patameh-TEHR lah PAH-tahTo make an embarrassing mistake.
to daydreamestar en las nubesehs-TAHR ehn lahs NOO-behsLiterally to be in the clouds; also to be distracted.
to cost an arm and a legcostar un ojo de la carakohs-TAHR oon OH-hoh deh lah KAH-rahInformal: to be very expensive.
to lend a handechar una manoeh-CHAHR OO-nah MAH-nohTo help someone.
to throw in the toweltirar la toallatee-RAHR lah toh-AH-yahTo give up.
to get straight to the pointir al granoeer ahl GRAH-nohTo address the main issue.
to beat around the bushandarse por las ramasahn-DAHR-seh por lahs RRAH-mahsTo avoid the main point.
to pull someone's legtomar el pelotoh-MAHR el PEH-lohTo tease or fool someone; add a person with a.

Spanish idioms for feelings and reactions

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
to be stunnedquedarse de piedrakeh-DAHR-seh deh PYEH-drah
to get your act togetherponerse las pilaspoh-NEHR-seh lahs PEE-lahsInformal encouragement to become active or focused.
to keep your mouth shutno abrir la bocanoh ah-BREER lah BOH-kahTo say nothing; tone depends on context.
to have a heart of goldtener un corazón de oroteh-NEHR oon koh-rah-SOHN deh OH-roh
to be fed upestar hasta las naricesehs-TAHR AHS-tah lahs nah-REE-sehsColloquial; expresses irritation.
to be all earsser todo oídossehr TOH-doh oh-EE-dohsTo listen with full attention.
to stay up all nightpasar la noche en blancopah-SAHR lah NOH-cheh ehn BLAHN-kohTo spend the night without sleeping.
to be over the moonestar en el séptimo cieloehs-TAHR ehn el SEHP-tee-moh SYEH-lohTo be extremely happy.

Spanish idioms about luck, speed and difficulty

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
a piece of cake (easy task)pan comidopahn koh-MEE-dohAn easy task: es pan comido.
from time to timede vez en cuandodeh BEHS ehn KWAHN-doh
just in casepor si las moscaspor see lahs MOHS-kahsColloquial equivalent of por si acaso.
against all oddscontra viento y mareaKOHN-trah BYEHN-toh ee mah-REH-ahDespite obstacles or opposition.
without a doubtsin lugar a dudasseen loo-GAHR ah DOO-dahs
little by littlepoco a pocoPOH-koh ah POH-koh
to kill two birds with one stonematar dos pájaros de un tiromah-TAHR dohs PAH-hah-rohs deh oon TEE-rohTo achieve two things with one action.
to add fuel to the fireechar leña al fuegoeh-CHAHR LEH-nyah ahl FWEH-gohTo make a conflict or problem worse.
Spanish Idioms chart with English meanings and Spanish answers
Spanish Idioms chart with English meanings and Spanish answers. Download the chart · Printable worksheet · Save to Pinterest

Questions about spanish idioms

What is a Spanish idiom?

An idiom is a fixed expression whose intended meaning may not follow from its individual words. Estar en las nubes describes distraction or daydreaming.

What does meter la pata mean?

It means to make a blunder or put your foot in it. The literal image is putting a paw or leg somewhere.

How do you say a piece of cake in Spanish?

For an easy task, say pan comido, as in es pan comido. A literal slice of cake needs a different translation.

Can you conjugate Spanish idioms?

Yes, when the expression contains a verb: metí la pata means I put my foot in it. The fixed words around the verb usually stay together.

Are Spanish idioms formal?

Many are conversational, including por si las moscas and estar hasta las narices. A neutral expression may be more suitable in formal writing.

What does tomar el pelo mean?

It means to tease or pull someone’s leg. Me estás tomando el pelo means you are pulling my leg.

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