USEFUL EXPRESIONS

(A) QUID - Una libra esterlina. IM QUIDS IN -Sacar tajada/algo de

dinero/salir ganando.
(A) WET BLANKET - Un aguafiestas/cenizo. PARTY POOPER. I DONT
WANT TO BE A JINX/I DONT WANT TO JINX YOU. JINX Gafe, cenizo.
(A) HANGOVER - una resaca. Related: BINGE DRINKING Beber para
emborracharse. THE HAIR OF THE DOG (THAT BITE YOU)
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER - Ms vale tarde que nunca. Related: YOU
ONLY LIVE ONCE
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY Ms vale prevenir que curar.
BLESS YOU! - Jess! (cuando alguien estornuda)
BON APETIT - Qu aproveche. ENJOY YOUR MEAL
BY THE WAY - A propsito, por cierto.
BY ALL MEANS - No faltara mas/Por supuesto/Desde ya
CHAT SOMEONE UP - Ligar con alguien. PICK UP. PICk UP LINE (frase
seductora)
CHEER UP! - Anmate! PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE
CHEERS! - Salud!
CROSS YOUR FINGERS - Cruzando los dedos.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW? Por casualidad no sabrs?
GET THE SACK - Ser despedido. THEY GAVE YOU THE AXE/GET
AXED/GET CANNED
HELP YOURSELF Srvete. FEEL FREE TO

HOW COME? -Cmo es eso? Por qu? How come you arent at
work?
HURRY UP - Date prisa! HURRY UP WE ARE LIVING
I MUST BE OFF. - Tengo que irme.
I HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE. - No tengo ni idea. I HAVENT THE
FAINTEST/FOGGIEST IDEA
IF ONLY Ojal. LETS HOPE SO, I WISH. Examples if only (form):

If only we could afford to buy a place of our own.

If only you knew how hard I've tried to please you.

There's so much more I could do if only I had the time.

IT SERVES YOU RIGHT. Te est bien empleado, te lo mereces.

IT RINGS A BELL. - Me suena. THAT FACE RINGS A BELL
IT'S UP TO YOU - T eliges.
JUST IN CASE Por si acaso. Por si las moscas.
KEEP THE CHANGE. - Qudate con el cambio.
KEEP YOUR HAIR ON! - Clmate! Related: LET YOUR HAIR DOWN,
Echar una canita al aire, desmelenarse
LEAVE ME ALONE - Djame en paz. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT, GET
LOST/STUFFED, GO TO HELL
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG - Revelar un secreto, levantar la
liebre
LET'S HAVE ONE FOR THE ROAD - Tomamos la penltima
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME -Sintete como en tu casa, pngase
cmodo. MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE
NO WAY No puede ser

NO WONDER - No me extraa. No wonder why.

PISSED AS A NEWT- Borracho como una cuba

(IM PULLING YOUR LEG Te estoy tomando el pelo) PULL THE

OTHER ONE (it's got bells on) - Anda ya!
REALLY! - De verdad!
SAME HERE - Yo tambin. MEE TOO
SAY WHEN - Dime cuando (para comida o bebidas)
SPEAKING OF THE DEVIL - Hablando del rey de Roma
TEN BOB - 50 peniques
TO PAY CASH - Pagar en efectivo
TO MY MIND - En mi opinion. FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, IN MY
OPINION
TOUCH WOOD. - Tocando Madera
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF? - Qu opinas de?
WATCH OUT! - Ten cuidado! LOOK OUT
WERE YOU BORN IN A FIELD/BARN? Nota: Refirindose a si no
sientes el fro porque naciste en el campo o en un establo. La
conclusin es So CLOSE THE F**ing DOOR - Cierra la puerta
WHAT A RIP OFF - Qu timo! WHAT A REAL RIP OFF
WHAT A MESS! - Qu lo!
WHAT A CHEEK! - Qu cara! WHAT A NERVE! KID GOTS SOME
NERVE!
YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG - Me ests tomando el pelo.
YOU'RE WELCOME. - De nada.

YOU'RE KIDDING - Ests de broma. JUST TEASING

SPANISH TO ENGLISH (PERO

CMO SE DICE ESTO EN INGLS?)
VETE A TOMAR POR (EL) CULO! Fuck off! go fuck yourself!, fuck you!,
up yours! Screw you! (Que te jodan)
(LLEVAR) A BUEN PUERTO To lead to safe harbour/harbor/haven, to take
in the right direction, to pull off (sacar adelante), to reach a good conclusion.
Example: After living through such difficult times, she felt like she'd finally
arrived at a safe haven. Now, I think you know enough to pull all this off
properly.
(SER) FLOR DE UN DA To be short-lived; here today, gone tomorrow.
Example: His popularity was short-lived, So many of the new Internet
companies are here today, gone tomorrow.
QUE ES PARA HOY! Hurry up! get a move on! do it faster!, Thats due
today. Example: I have a math project thats due today!, I didnt know our
project was due today guys...I guess I really shot the food! (Para terminarlo
hoy, que hay que terminar hoy)

SALUD! Cheers, bottoms up! (Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa dentro)

YA ESTAMOS (OTRA VEZ)! There we go again!
A CUENTA DE QU? - And you're doing this why/because?, And why are
you doing this?
A QUE S? - Isnt it? arent you? wont we? right? Isnt that right? (tengo
razn o no?)
PERO QU MOSCA TE HA PICADO? Whats biting you/her/him?
Example: What's biting her? She hasn't said a word all morning.

QU VA A SER DE TI? Whats going to happen to you? / Who will take

care of you?
TENGO MONOS EN LA CARA? What are you staring at?, you staring at
me?
Y A TI QUE TE IMPORTA? None of your business, what the fuck do you
care? (vulgar). Example: What are you doing, honey? None of your business,
darling. What is going on here? What the fuck do you care, man?
A BOTE PRONTO Right off the bat, out of the blue, offhand. Example: I
can't remember any of their names offhand. In an offhand way (casually,
absent-mindedly) Como quien no quiere la cosa. He was very offhand about
it Se lo tom muy a la ligera.
A BUEN ENTENDEDOR - A word to the wise (is sufficient/enough).
Example: A word to the wise - if you're going to drive, don't go on a Friday
night until after the rush hour traffic.
A FLOR DE PIEL (About feelings) On edge, running high, raw, skin-deep,
close to the surface, under my skin, ever-present, exposed. Example:
Feelings were running high as the general election approached. The mood of
the crowd was running high when they saw the mother slap her child. The
accident set us on edge for several days (preocupado, nervioso, afectado)
A LA MS MNIMA/INMEDIATAMENTE At the drop of a hat. Example:
That girl is so emotional, she'll start crying at the drop of a hat (a la ms
minima). If you need help, just call on me. I can come at the drop of a hat
(inmediatamente, muy rpido). I can't go rushing off to Florida at the drop of
a hat (as sin pensar). We now have a situation where laws may be changed
at the drop of a hat (a la ms minima)
A LA VUELTA DE LA ESQUINA (Just) Around the corner/bend. Example:
The kids go to school just around the corner, Spring is just around the corner.
A LO HECHO, PECHO What is done is done, no use crying over spilled/spilt
milk (lamentarse por lamenter spilt milk under the bridge), man up (dont
be a pussy, brave it, be daring). Example: Now we've got to man up and take
care of ourselves.

A OJO DE BUEN CUBERO To guesstimate (estimate+guess), roughly

estimating, at a rough guess, at a bad guess, eye-balling, ballparking
(estimacin). Example: How high are we on this building? Guesstimating I

would say about ten or eleven stories. Don't know the answer? Make a
guesstimate.
A OTRA COSA, MARIPOSA Moving right-along, nothing to see here.
Let's talk about something else. More tea, Vicar? (to move the attention
after an embarrassing situation)
A PALABRAS NECIAS OIDOS SORDOS - For foolish talk, deaf ears. Foolish
words fall on deaf ears
A TODA HOSTIA As fast as possible, shot out (salir disparado, rpido)
A TOPE As hard as he can, all out, to be at your best. Muy/mucho: highly,
downright
A VER SI NO - Lets hope is not true, just you wait and see.
A VIVIR QUE SON DOS DAS Lifes too short, live it up, make hay while
the sun shines. Example: I've got a few hours to finish the housework before
the kids come home so I might as well make hay while the sun shines
ABARCAR MS DE LO QUE SE PUEDE chew.

To bite off more than one can

ADONDE FUERES HAZ LO QUE VIERES When in Rome, do as romans do.

AHUECAR EL ALA Hit the road, get the fuck/hell out of here (very vulgar),
fuck off (very vulgar), to clear off, to make yourself scarce (esfumarse)
AL MAL TIEMPO, BUENA CARA If life give you lemons, make a lemonade,
put on a brave face, put a brave face on (it)
AL TUNTN Random(ly), thoughtlessly, any old how (he does things any
old how), haphazardly. Just to say something (por decir algo)
AMIGO/A CON DERECHO A ROCE Friends with benefits, fuckbuddy (very
vulgar), fornifriend (a friend with which one fornicates casually with on an
ongoing or occasional basis)
ANDARSE CON CHIQUITAS Mess about/around, waste time, to beat
around the bush. Dont take shit (vulgar)- When you don't let other people
bring you down. Example: Frankie's cool, she don't take shit from no one!

ANDARSE CON RODEOS/POR LOS CERROS DE BEDA To beat around

the bush. Example: Please, knock it off, stop beating around the bush and
say to me whats the nature of the problem.
ARRIMAR EL HOMBRO Lend a hand, help out, lend a shoulder, to make
common cause. Useful phrase: We all have to buckle down and pull together.
ARROJAR LUZ Shed light on, shed some light on, shed light on an issue.
AUNQUE LA MONA SE VISTA DE SEDA, MONA SE QUEDA - You can put
lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig, you cant polish a turd (very vulgar)
BAO DE MASAS Walkabout, mingle with the crowd. Example: The Prime
Minister went walkabout in the town centre.
BARRER PARA CASA Look after oneself, look after number one, put
yourself first. Example: The others aren't my concern. I only look after
number one.
BONITO Y BARATO - Cheap and cheerful.
BRAGUETAZO Marriage for money, gold digger, jackpot-screw
BUSCARLE TRES PIES AL GATO To complicate the things unnecessarily,
to beat a dead horse (cuando es algo intil)
CACHONDO Divertido Funny, amusing, joker. Sexualmente Horny,
randy, turned on, hot, all hot and bothered. Example: I get horny. I get all hot
and bothered, He's gotten all hot and bothered on me, John gets hot and
bothered whenever Mary comes into the room. Est cachonda (sexualmente
atractiva) Shes so hot/smoking hot/drop dead gorgeous.
CADA MAESTRILLO TIENE SU LIBRILLO - Everyone has their own way of
doing things.
CAER MUY BAJO Stoop so (very) low. Example: I wouldnt stoop to
stealing. I wouldn't have thought he could stoop so low.
CALDERILLA Chump change. Shrapnel. Small/loose change.
CANTAMAANAS Bullshitter.
CANTAR LAS CUARENTA - To tell somebody a few home truths, tell
somebody a thing or two, tear someone off a strip/tear a strip off someone.

CHINO(S) Juego Spoof. Tienda Variety Store. Chino - Gook (derogatory

and vulgar). Colador chino - Conical strainer. Cuento chino Tall tale, cock
and bull story. Sonar a chino its all Greek to me. In English the word china
is also used for the porcelain crockery (the chinaware).
CHOLLO Cushy job (Un chollo de trabajo), He/Shes a catch Es un chollo
de ta/to. Bargain chollo (de barato).
COGIDO DE LOS PELOS/INVEROSMIL Far-fetched. Example: The man's
story was too far-fetched to be believable. I betcha you that it is a cock and
bull story.
COMERSE EL ESCENARIO Bring the house down.
COMO AGUA DE MAYO Like a breath of fresh air, just what the doctor
ordered (mano de santo), to be a real godsend.
COMO ALMA EN PENA Wandering (around) like a lost soul. Related: Mope
around (alicaido), downcast, depressed. Example: John is always moping
around the house. Useful expression: Down in the dumps. Example: She's
down in the dumps because all her friends are out of town. Spanish: Muy
deprimido, de bajn.
COMO DIOS MANDA/ES DEBIDO Properly, as is proper, as it is meant to
be. Example: Is that champagne properly chilled? To say the things properly,
this is a house, as it is meant to be. Properly speaking(hablando como es
debido, propiamente dicho)

COMO PEDRO POR SU CASA Like if he/she/you owned the place.

Example: And then he started to take everything out of the fridge like if he
owned the place. It was very rude on his part.
COMO PEZ EN EL AGUA To be in ones element, like a fish swimming in a
stream. Examples: Every time I go out on the stage, I feel like a fish
swimming in a stream. I think I was born to be on a stage, Mario is on his
element every time we surf. He's very good at it and enjoys every second
that is on top of his surfboard.
COMO UN LIBRO ABIERTO Be an open book. Example: Shes like an open
book, his life is like an open book.
CON LA IGLESIA HEMOS TOPADO Now we are really up against it!,
Weve run up against some powerful forces, you are fighting a losing battle,

you cant fight City Hall. Example: After getting no support for the destitute
for 10 years, I have learned you can't fight city hall.
COSECHARS LO QUE SIEMBRES What goes around, comes around.
COSER Y CANTAR Piece of cake, easy as pie
CUANDO EL RO SUENA, AGUA LLEVA Where there is smoke there is a
fire.
CUANTO ANTES MEJOR The sooner, the better.
CUATRO GATOS A handful of people
CUESTA DE ENERO Hard January, post-holiday budget crunch.
CULO INQUIETO Antsy pants, fidget-arse.
DALE QUE TE PEGO
DAR LAS UVAS And now, we have to wait till the cows come home. (hasta el
da del juicio final)
DAR MALA ESPINA Have a bad feeling about something, have a sinking
feeling about something. I dont like the look of it.
DE AQU EN ADELANTE/A PARTIR DE AHORA From now on, from that
moment on. Example: The new rules will apply to all members from now on //
From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor.
DE CARA A LA GALERA
DE CUALQUIER FORMA/SEA COMO SEA/COMO SEA One way or another.
Example: One way or another, I'm going to finish this job by next week, We'll
get there one way or another.
DE LA NOCHE A LA MAANA
DE PE A PA From A to Z, from top to bottom, from start to finish.
DE QUE SE TRATA
DE TAL PALO TAL ASTILLA Like father, like son, a chip off the old block.

DE TANTO EN TANTO/SE DAN MUY POCO/ES INFRECUENTE Few and far

between, once in a while. Example: Opportunities for promotion are few and
far between.
DEJADO DE LA MANO DE DIOS Godforsaken, forlorn.
DEJAR MARGEN DE MANIOBRA
DESPACITO Y BUENA LETRA Easy does it.
DEVANARSE LOS SESOS Rack/wrack/wear out ones brain.
DEVORAR Eat up, gobble up, garbage down, wolf down, bolt down, devour,
scarf (USA), scoff (scoff at reirse de) (UK). Examples: I gonna gobble you
up!, The teenager wolfed down the pizza. Obligar a comerse Force down.
Example: Can you force a bit more down?
DILOGO/CONVERSACIN DE BESUGOS
DIOS LAS CRA Y ELLAS SE JUNTAN - Birds of a feather flock together.
DORMIR COMO UN CEPORRO To sleep like a log/top.
DORMIRLA/DORMIR LA MONA To sleep it off.
DORMIRSE EN LOS LAURELES To sleep on ones laurels.
ECHADO PA LANTE
ECHAR LA SIESTA Take a nap, to kip down.
ECHAR LEA AL FUEGO
ECHARSE A LA CARRETERA/IRSE Hit the road.
EL DINERO MANDA Money talks.
EL HBITO NO HACE AL MONJE Clothes dont make the man.
EL MUNDO ES UN PAUELO Its a small world.
EMPALMAR (DE LA NOCHE AL DA) To pull an all-nighter to (to study, work
or for partying). If it is for partying only you can also say: He partied for three
days straight, she partied non-stop for several days.

EMPOLLAR Swot up, cram, bone up on, hit the books. Example: I've got to
swot up the French Revolution for tomorrow's test.
EMPOLLN Wonk, nerd, swot, grind.
EN MENOS DE LO QUE CANTA UN GALLO/CAGANDO LECHES As quick as a
wink, in the wink of an eye, lickety-split. Example: Grandma just slipped on a
bananna peel so I have to get her to the hospital lickety split! (cagando
leches)
ENCONTRAR LA HORMA DE SU ZAPATO Meet their match, find the perfect
match.
ENSEAR A ALGUIEN COMO FUNCIONA TODO
ENTRAR AL TRAPO Take the bait, fall for it. Example: I flirted with Kate,
teased her some, but she never took the bait. Others tried to focus on our
disagreements, but we didn't take the bait and instead talked about what we
can do together.
ERAMOS POCOS Y PARI LA ABUELA
ERES UNA CAJA DE SORPRESAS Youre full of surprises, you are a bag full of
surprises.
ERRE QUE ERRE Stubbornly, pigheadly
ES MS FCIL DECIRLO QUE HACERLO/DEL DICHO AL HECHO HAY MUCHO
TRECHO Easier said than done. Example: That's easier said than done, you
see...
ESO ES AGUA PASADA - Thats water under the bridge .
ESO ES OTRO CANTAR But that is another story/a different matter/another
subject/something separate/thing/story.
ESO EST POR VER It remains to be seen, we will see that soon, I/we dont
know yet.
ESPABILADO
EST ARRASANDO
EST HASTA EN LA SOPA/MALA HIERBA NUNCA MUERE En el sentido de ser
un pesado que est en todas partes incluso cuando ni siquiera est invitado.

Turn up like a bad penny. Example: She'll turn up again, like a bad penny, just
you see, Tom was the bad penny that always turned up.
ESTAR CASCADO Worn-out, broken-down, hoarse (de garganta)
ESTAR CON LA MISMA CANCIN You are always harping on the same old
story.
ESTAR ECHO UN CRISTO (Uk) Be a right mess, be a mess.
ESTAR EN LA CUERDA FLOJA Walking on thin ice, to be hang by a thread.
Example: I was on thin ice, and I knew it, his career now hung by a thread,
peace and democracy hang by a thread in this troubled country.
ESTAR EN LA LUNA To have your head in the clouds.
ESTAR HASTA EL MOO To be sick to death.
ESTAR HASTA LOS TOPES/PETADO Crowded, packed, chock-full, jammed,
cramped filled to the brims, bursting at the seams, chock-a-block with.
Example: It's an area that's chock-a-block with tourists.
ESTAR HECHO UN TRAPO/GUIAPO You look like shit! (vulgar), you are a
wreck!, knackered, wiped out. Example: Ive been really knackered for a
week.
ESTAR PEZ To know nothing at all about something, Dont have the
faintest/foggiest idea about something.
ESTAR SALIDO (SEXUALMENTE) Horny devil, randy git, horn dog.
ESTAR SIEMPRE CON LA MISMA CANCIN You are always harping on the old
same story
ESTAR/ESTN AL CAER When something is about to happen. Example: The
guests are about to arrive
ESTIRAR LA PATA Kick the bucket, dirt nap, snuff it. Example: After putting
Charles down for the dirt nap.
FALACIA Lie, fallacy.
FRANCHUTE/GABACHO (peyorativo) Froggy.
GAFAPASTA - Hipster

GANAR DE CALLE Effortlessly, easly, win hands down, win easly.

GOLPE BAJO Low bow, cheap shot
GORRN Sponger. Gorronear, vivir mantenido: Sponge off (he's been
sponging off his parents all his life)
GUIRI (peyorativo) Limey (very vulgar and derogatory)
HABIDOS Y POR HABER - Here, there and everywhere.
HABLAR DE T A T To speak on equal terms.
HACER BUENAS MIGAS- They get along very well. REMEMBER: GET ALONG
Llevarse bien
HACER DE TRIPAS CORAZN
HACER EL RIDCULO DEJAR EN RIDCULO
HACER LA PELOTA To suck up to, to butter up. Example: Kristen is already
sucking up to the new boss, He tried to butter up his boss in hopes of getting
an extra day off.
HACER LEA DEL RBOL CADO To kick a man when hes down.
HACER UNA MONTAA DE UN GRANO DE ARENA Make a mountain out of a
molehill.
HACERSE EL INOCENTE Play innocent.
HACERSE EL TONTO Play stupid. Example: Dont play stupid with me!
HARINA DE OTRO COSTAL - A horse of a different colour. Example:
Gambling is not the same as investing in the stock market. It's a horse of a
different color.
HASTA DECIR BASTA To a fault. Example: Shes beautiful and smart to a
fault. He's a very kind-hearted man, and generous to a fault.
HASTA DNDE S As far as I know. Example: As far as I know, I think this
movie won the Oscar for the best picture, the last year.
HOY POR M, MAANA POR TI You scratch my back, Ill scratch yours.

IR DE CULO Go poorly/badly, be snowed under up to your ears, be behind.

Example: Im behind on my work, the new season is going so badly.
IRSE A LA MIERDA/AL GARETE Go to the dogs, go tits-up, go down the
drain, go up the creek. Examples: He was a marvelous actor, but his drinking
problems caused his career to go to the dogs. It is sad to report that this
once first-class hotel has gone to the dogs. I hate to think of all that hard
work going down the drain! If everything goes tits-up, this is gonna be
considerably worse. If we don't get this contract, we're up the creek!, All
those people who have money invested in it are going to be up the creek (up
the creek is for a difficult situation)
IRSE CON LA MSICA A OTRA PARTE - They'll have to go elsewhere with their
song and dance, take their act somewhere else.
IRSE DE ROSITAS Get away with it/murder, get away/get off scot-free.
Example: Dave always gets away with murder because he's so charming.
Criminals such as these cannot be allowed to get away scot-free.
IRSE EL SANTO AL CIELO To lose your train of thought, draw a blank. Draw a
blank: He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank (means I
completely forgot), I used to write a lot of poetry but when I try now, I only
draw a blank (means it was disappointing; llevarse un chasco, una
decepcin)
LA ESPERANZA ES LO LTIMO QUE SE PIERSE Hope springs eternal, hope is
the last thing to go.
LA MISMA/EL MISMO QUE VISTE Y CALZA The one and only, the verysame
LANZAR COHETES
LAS APARIENCIAS ENGAAN Appearances can be deceptive.
LLEGAR Y BESAR EL SANTO To pull something off at the first attempt.
LLEVAR LA PALMA Takes the cake/biscuit/hat.
LLEVAR LA VOZ CANTANTE Lead the way
LLEVARSE A ALGUIEN DE CALLE
LLEVARSE COMO EL PERRO Y EL GATO They fight like cats and dogs.

LLEVARSE EL GATO AL AGUA To pull it off, win the day, comes through,
comes out on top. Examples: She always wins the day/comes through/comes
out on top/able to pull it off
LO BUENO SI BREVE, DOS VECES BUENO The shorter the better.
LO QUE FCIL VIENE, FCIL SE VA/COMO VIENE, SE VA Easy come, easy go.
LO VAS DEJANDO You always put it off
MAL DE MUCHOS CONSUELO DE TONTOS Two in distress make the
sorrow less. Related: Misery loves company (something that you say which
means that people who are feeling sad usually want the people they are with
to also feel sad)
MANOS A LA OBRA Lets get (down) to work, hands/shoulders to the
wheel (put your shoulders to the wheel), lets do it.
MS LISTO QUE EL HAMBRE To be as sharp as a tack/needle, smart as a
whip. Example: He may be old, but he's still as sharp as a tack.
ME SABE MAL Im sorry that you will be alone, I feel bad that , I feel really
sorry that
MIENTE MS QUE HABLA To be a real liar.
MONO Pretty, cute (aspecto). Overalls, dungarees, jumpsuit (de vestir, de
trabajo), cold turkey (abstinencia). Example: He was shivering and sweating
because he had no money to buy more drugs and was going cold turkey.
MORBOSO Morbid. Example: I was morbidly curious about the details of her
breakup. Malpensado sicko, psycho, ghoul (monster). De mente enferma
Macabre, morbid, unhealthy, kinky, unwholesome.
MORDER EL POLVO Bite the dust.
MORDER LA MANO DEL QUE TE ALIMENTA - To bite the hand that feeds you.
MOSCA COJONERA Pest, pain, pain in the neck/ass.
MUCHO RUIDO Y POCAS NUECES Much ado about nothing, to kick up/make
a fuss about nothing.
MSICA CELESTIAL Music to my ears. Example: What you are saying is
music to my ears.

NI FU NI FA Uh-huh, Yeah whatever, so-so.

NI ME VA, NI ME VIENE/ME IMPORTA UN PIMIENTO/BLEDO/UN RBANO Its
not skin off my nose, its not my business, i dont care. Example: Let them
cancel the whole project. It's no skin off my nose.
NO DEJES PARA MAANA LO QUE PUEDAS HACER HOY Dont leave till
tomorrow what you can do today, don't put off until tomorrow what you can
do today, dont procrastinate, nothing worth doing can be done overnight.
NO ES ORO TODO LO QUE RELUCE All that glitters is not gold.
NO EST EL HORNO PARA BOLLOS
NO ME EXTRAA
NO PUEDO EVITAR
NO SE COMO DECIROS/DECIRTE
NO SE HAN MOLESTADO NI EN
NO SE PUEDE CAER MS BAJO
NO VENDAMOS LA PIEL DEL OSO TODAVA/NO NOS FLIPEMOS Dont count
your chickens (before they are hatched). Related (in Pulp Fiction): Well, let's
not start sucking each other's dicks quite yet No nos empecemos a chupar
las pollas todava.
NORMAL Y CORRIENTE Bog-standard, run-of-the-mill, regular, any old.
NUNCA DIGAS NUNCA JAMS/DE ESTA AGUA NO BEBER Never say never.
OJOS QUE NO VEN CORAZN QUE NO SIENTE Out of sight, out of mind.
PAGAFANTAS Friend zone
PAGAR EL PATO Carry the can, pay the piper. Oh, oh, my moms old china,
she has weakness for these cups and saucers. I cannot belive it. Whos
gonna carry the can?. You can't get away with that forever. You'll have to pay
the piper someday.
PASAR FACTURA Take its toll on. Example: It looks like the tea has taken its
toll on his teeth, The recession has taken a heavy toll.

PASAR LA NOCHE EN VELA Burn the midnight oil, burning the candle at
both ends (con un super esfuerzo).
PASAR PGINA - It's time to turn over a new leaf, its time to move on.
PASMAROTE Idiot, halfwit, stay dumb. Example: Dont just stand there like
an idiot!
PELOTA Brown-nose, a butt-kisser, to be a suck-up, a toady. Example: What
a brown nose -- always sucking up to the boss, hoping for a promotion.
PERDER ACEITE
PERDER EL NORTE Lose ones way, lose direction, to be/feel all at sea, go
astray. Example: When she left, he felt all at sea, the money seems to have
gone astray. Hes losing his way and now he doesnt know what to do about.
PERRO LADRADOR POCO MORDEDOR A barking dog, (seldom) never bites.
PINCHAR A ALGUIEN PARA QUE HAGA ALGO
PISANDO HUEVOS
PLANCHAR LA OREJA/IRSE A LA PILTRA Hit the sack/hey, turn in.
POLVO ERES Y EN POLVO TE CONVERTIRS Dust to dust.
PONER A PUNTO Engines Tune up. People Prepared. Computer
systems Properly configured.
PONER CARA DE PKER Poker face. Put/Putting up a poker face, have a
poker face, example: Why does he always have a poker face all the time?
PONER EL CARRO ANTES DEL BURRO Dont put the cart before the horse.
PONER LA MANO EN EL FUEGO POR
PONER LOS PUNTOS SOBRE LAS ES To make something crystal clear, dot
the i's and cross the t's (hacer algo de forma meticulosa y cuidadosa)
PONER VERDE A ALGUIEN Call every name under the sun, call every word
in the book.
POR ACTIVA Y POR PASIVA - Ive tried all ways imaginable/every conceivable
way to...but its impossible.

POR ARTE DE MAGIA As if by magic, by magic arts.

POR H O POR B For one reason/thing or another.
POR LOS PELOS By the skin of your teeth, by a hairs breadth (We were a
hair's breadth away from winning a fortune, estar muy cerca de conseguir
algo), barely make/pass.
POR MOMENTOS La situacin est yendo a peor por momentos. By the
minute. Example: We became more annoyed by the minute, the movie is
becoming very boring by the minute.
PORQUE YO LO VALGO Because Im worth it.
PUES VA A SER QUE NO I dont think so, Im going to have to say no, Well
its going to be no
QUEDAR COMO EL CULO Look very bad.
QUEDARSE A CUADROS - Staggered, dumbfounded, gobsmacked (patidifuso).
Example: We were staggered to learn of the new policy.
QUEDARSE EN EL TINTERO Dont leave nothing unsaid, Leave something
unsaid, remain unsaid. No hay una expression exactamente igual o parecida.
QUEDARSE FRITO Fall asleep, Doze off, conk out. Be knackered/wiped
out/exhausted/whacked/wasted (estar molido de cansancio)
QUERER ES PODER Where there is a will there is a way.
QUIEN LA SIGUE LA CONSIGUE Who perseveres, succeeds, No pain, no
gain, If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, No guts, no glory (tener
agallas, huevos).
QUINTO PINO To be or live in the middle of nowhere, to live on the back of
the beyond, to live out in the sticks.
QUITARSE LA ESPINA To get even, pay off, get something off your back, to
have an old score to settle.
REBAJAS Discount, go bargain hunting (ir de rebajas), sale/s. Example: This
shirts, are they on sale?, It's official. the sales have begun.
REPELENTE Cheeky, smart-ass, smart-arse, obnoxious.

RIZAR EL RIZO Crown it all, split hairs. Example: Lets not split hairs
SABER A POCO
SABER RERSE DE SI MISMO
SACAR LOS TRAPOS SUCIOS To air the dirty laundry/linen in public, to hang
out ones dirty washing. Example: I was brought up to believe that it was
wrong to wash your dirty linen in public.
SALIR RANA Let down, disappoint, go pear-shaped. Example: We'd arranged
to be in France that weekend but it all went pear-shaped. Related: Fall
through. Example: I thought that the deal would be very profitable for my
business, but it fell through at the last minute.
SALVAR EL CULO Save ones butt/arse/ass.
SE VENA VENIR You could see it/that coming, I saw it coming.
SECCIN DE OPORTUNIDADES Cash-and-carry.
SENTIDO DEL RIDCULO
SER UN CUTRE Be a slapdash.
SER UN FANTASMA TO SHOW OFF (intentar deleitar a los dems),
LOUDMOUTH, TO BOAST/BRAG (fanfarronear, presumir). BLOWING YOUR
OWN TRUMPET
SER UN HORTERA/UNA HORTERADA He has no taste. Tastless, vulgar, tacky.
Be a tacky. Example: The show was tacky from start to finish.
SER UN PELICULERO Be showy. Que te gustan las pelculas Be a fond of
films/of the cinema/of movies.
SIN ESCATIMAR Money:
Spare no expense. Example: She spared no
expense in getting the house to look just right. Efforts: Spare no effort.
Example: We will spare no effort to find the culprit of this crime.
SIN PENA NI GLORIA (go) Unnoticed. Example: Don't think your hard work
has gone unnoticed. Also Average, forgettable: Example: The play was
incredibly average, It was a completely forgettable movie.
SUBIDN Feel rush/high, adrenaline rush.
SUDACA (peyorativo) Beaner, wetback, spic.

SUJETA LA SARTEN POR EL MANGO Call the shots/tune, hold the bull by the
horns, to have the upper hand.
SUJETAVELAS, CARABINA Play the gooseberry, to be the third wheel
TACAO Cheapskate. Mean, stingy
TE HA COMIDO LA LENGUA EL GATO Has the cat got your tongue?
TE PUEDES DAR CON UN CANTO EN LOS DIENTES
TE VAS A HERNIAR - don't work so hard, you're going to give yourself a
hernia
TENER ALGO ENTRE CEJA Y CEJA To get something into ones head, he's
taken it into his head to do it, have a bee in your bonnet.
TENER UN AS GUARDADO EN LA MANGA Have an ace up ones sleeve, an
ace in the hole.
TENER UNA ESPINA/ESPINITA CLAVADA Feel resentment, have a thorn in
ones side/knife in ones heart, have a grudge, have a chip on ones
shoulders.
TIRAN MS DOS TETAS QUE
TIRAR PIEDRAS CONTRA TU PROPIO TEJADO Foul your own nest, shit on
your own doorstep, shoot oneself in the foot, cut off his nose to spite his
face. Example: If you stay home because your ex-husband will be at the party,
aren't you just cutting off your nose to spite your face?, I am a master at shooting
myself in the foot. Again, he shot himself in the foot by saying too much to the
press.

TOCAR LOS COJONES/HUEVOS Deja de tocarme los huevos! - Dont

fuck/mess with me!, quit busting my balls/ass!
TOCARSE LOS COJONES/HUEVOS Idle, do bugger-all, bum around, to slack
off. Hanging out, hanging around (pasando el rato).
TODLOGO Know-it-all. Example: I found it shocking that some know-it-all
bum out on the street was telling me how to handle my taxes the right way.
TRATAR CON PINZAS - Handle with kid gloves.
TRILLADO Overuse, timeworn, outworn, trite, well-worn, commonplace.

TRIQUIUELAS/LOS TRUCOS/REPERTORIO A bag/box of tricks. Example:

He's familiar with all of an actor's bag of tricks, Due to a large bag of tricks,
Sasha always manages to slip quickly past his/her opponents.
TU PALABRA CONTRA LA MA Its my word against yours, its your word
against mine.
UN BUEN PARTIDO Good catch, perfect mate.
UN DA ES UN DA Its a special day, you only live once.
UN MANITAS Alguien que sabe hacer muchas cosas. Tambin con el sentido
peyorativo de ese tipo de personas que hacen muchas cosas pero en
realidad no dominan ninguna a la perfeccin. A Jack of all trades. Example:
He's a jack of all trades but a master of none.
UN TIRO POR LA CULATA To backfire. Example: His plan backfired when Sue
discovered the hidden presents.
UNA FLOR EN EL CULO - Your lucky star is shining, Lady luck is on your side,
always comes up smelling of roses.
VALOR SENTIMENTAL Sentimental value
VERDADES COMO PUOS Blindingly obvious, undeniable truth, the truth hit
him like a hammer, the truth hit him like a ton of bricks.
VETE TU A SABER Who knows, I cannot know it, go figure.
VIVIR DEL CUENTO To live off other people.
VIVITO Y COLEANDO Alive and kicking.
ZAPATERO, A TUS ZAPATOS Mind your own business.
INSOLACIN Sunstroke, insolation. Example: Beware with the sun, you
can get a sunstroke, why dont you carry a hat? Just in case.
CORTE DE DIGESTIN Stomach cramp, hydrocution. Example:
Hydrocution can be very dangerous, and life threatening. If you feel stomach
cramps while you are in water, swimming; probably is time to ask for some
help.
PONER LA CARNE DE GALLINA Goose bumps/pimples. It give/gave you
goose bumps or to have goose bumps, or get goose bumps. Example:

When the wind picked up it gave me goose bumps. When I hear that old
song, I get goose bumps. I never have goose pimples, but my teeth chatter
when it's cold.
PONER LOS PELOS DE PUNTA - To make one's hair stand on end (If it is for
a frightening or scary situation) Example: Some of the stories people told me
would make your hair stand on end. Goose bumps (for a touchy or moving
situation) Example: That incredible and fragile melody gave me goose
bumps. Maybe this movie is a little touchy-feely, but I get goose bumps
every time I see this scene.
PONERSE NERVIOSO. NERVIOS To get nervous/upset. Example: I get
very nervous in traffic jams. Useful expressions: A bundle of nerves Un
manojo de nervios. Nerves of steel Nervios de acero. War of nerves
Guerra psicolgica. Nerve-racking/wracking Angustioso, estresante.
Jitters (To get the jitters) Miedo, canguelo. Drives me crazy/up the wall
Me pone de los nervios, me pone enfermo/a. Fly off the handle, freak out,
lose control, lose your temper Perder los nervios/los papeles.
TOCAR LA FIBRA SENSIBLE To strike a chord in/with. Examples: Designer
Laura Ashley's clothes struck a chord with many women in the 1970's The
photo struck a chord in many Americans who witnessed the 9/11 attacks. Her
tale of woe struck a chord with Edward. Clearly the book has struck a chord,
as we can see from the hundreds of letters we have received from readers.
Also it is used as the expression Rings a bell. Example: Carson? That name
strikes a chord
POBRE DE M! Woe is me!
POR AS DECIRLO To call it this way, to call it that. If you will. Example: It's
relaxation; another form of meditation, if you will.
POLVORN/CAMPO DE MINAS Powder keg. The social powder keg.
Mienfield. Example: The issue of tax cuts is a potential minefield for the
government.
T SI QUE ERES Frase muy tpica. Ejemplo: -Este yogurt est pasado -T si
que ests pasado. In English, to translate this, it is all about intonation.
Example (capital letters for the strongest part of the intonation in each
phrase): -YOU are beautiful -No, you ARE beautiful. -Wow that room is very
ugly. No, you ARE ugly.

CALIENTAPOLLAS Cocktease(r), slut, slutty (behave)

YA/AHORA QUE LO MENCIONAS. YA/AHORA QUE LO DICES (But) Now
that you mention it.
MS QUISIERAS! In your dreams. Example: 'I think she likes me'. 'In your
dreams!'
MANTA/INTIL Good-for-nothing, clumsy
TIRAR DE LA MANTA Blow the whistle.
CHAPUZA Botch, botched job.
Y QUE HUBIESES DESCUBIERTO LA PLVORA - It's not as if he's done
anything amazingly original. Like if you were done an amazingly thing.
LA OCTAVA MARAVILLA The best thing since sliced bread.
APUNTAR MANERAS To show signs of what is to come, seem promising,
up-and-coming (prometedor). Example: She also remembered her time at
university to stress that John already showed signs of what was to come and
congratulate him for being able to reach out all over the world without ever
losing his roots. An up-and-coming young lawyer. They bought their new
home in an up-and-coming neighbourhood.
EL MUNDO AL REVS The world turned up-side down.
TENER MUCHO MUNDO To be a man/woman of the world, life experience.
Example: You're a man of the world, Roger, I'd appreciate your advice on a
rather delicate matter. Ver mundo travel around
NADA DEL OTRO MUNDO Nothing special.
DAR POR SENTADO Take for granted, consider a given, consider
something settled. Take someone for granted (to expect someone to
always be there and do things for you even when you do not show that you
are grateful). Example: I shouted at my boss because I'm sick of being taken
for granted. Take something for granted (to expect something always to
happen or exist in a particular way, and to not think about any possible
problems or difficulties so this is like the Spanish use of the expression).
Example: Losing my job taught me never to take anything for granted. We
take so many things for granted in this country

ALMA DE CNTARO Come on, dont be so nave!. Come on, idiot! (in
warm tone; not bad tempered or in an angry tone), dummy, bozo.
ALMA CNDIDA Poor innocent
NO HAY NI UN ALMA There is not a soul. Example: There is not a soul in
the street. There wasnt a soul in the church.
ALMA EN PENA Lost soul.
TODOS LOS CAMINOS LLEVAN A ROMA All roads lead to Rome.
NO SE CONQUIST ZAMORA EN UNA HORA Rome was not built in a
day.
APUNTALO EN MI CUENTA Put it on my slate/tab.
LA DOLOROSA Whats the damage? Also use to ask how much you have
to pay for something, like in the example: Weve mended your car.' 'Great.
What's the damage?'
PARTIR LA NOCHE/SALIR DE FIESTA A TOPE To paint the town red.
Example: Jack finished his exams today so he's gone out to paint the town
red.
YA HEMOS TERMINADO POR HOY Lets call it a day, time to call it a day.
Example: Let's call it a day. I'm tired. Call it quits, to stop doing something.
Example: A number of county fairs have called it quits because of a lack of
interest.
ESTO ES TODO POR HOY, VAMOS A CASA A DORMIR/HORA DE IRSE
Lets call it a night. Example: At midnight, I called it a night and went to bed.
Guest after guest called it a night, and at last we were alone. Related: The
party is over. Example: Ok, guys, the party is over, lets go home to hit the
hay a little.
LA NOCHE ES JOVEN The night is young, the night is still young.

ENGLISH-SPANISH-COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
CLOTHES AND FASHION
A BIT BELOW THE BELT - A comment that is below the belt is cruel and
unfair. Example: That remark about his weight was a bit below the belt.
Related: Unfortonate remark, out of line. Example: That comment was way
out of line.SPANISH: Golpe bajo, ser injusto, comentario fuera de lugar,
comentario inapropiado. Ejemplo: Ese comentario que acaba de hacer ha
sido un golpe bajo // Que comentario ms inapropiado y fuera de lugar.
ALL MOUTH AND NO TROUSERS All talk, no action. Example: He said
hed do it, but could you believe him? Hes all mouth and no trousers.
SPANISH: Pierde la fuerza por la boca, se le va la fuerza por la boca, es n
fantasma. Ejemplo: Vaya fantasma, es que se le va la fuerza por la boca.
FASHION VICTIM - Someone who always wears whatever is considered
fashionable, even if it does not suit them. Example: That looks terrible, youre only
wearing it because is in fashion. Youre such a fashion victim. SPANISH: Ser un
fashion victim.

FILL SOMEONE'S SHOES - To do the job that someone used to do.

Example: Not many people could fill the old man's shoes. SPANISH: Sustituir.
GET YOUR KNICKERS IN A TWIST - To get angry, annoyed, or upset.
Example: Dont get your knickers in a twist, please, it hasnt been a big deal.
SPANISH: Ponerse nervioso, no ponerse nervioso, (no) perder los papeles
HAVE/GET SOMETHING UNDER YOUR BELT - To achieve something that is
important and useful. Example: You need to get a few more qualifications
under your belt // Minnie has over four hundred wins under his belt..
SPANISH: Bajo el brazo, en su palmars/historial, en su haber. Ejemplo: Este
artista ya tiene unos cuantos lbumes bajo el brazo (en su haber) // Laura
tiene ms de cuatro victorias en su palmars.
ILL EAT MY HAT - A phrase telling the kind of thing that one would do if a
very unlikely event really happens. Example: If we get there on time, I'll eat

my hat // I'll eat my hat if you get a raise. . SPANISH Si eso es verdad/sucede
que me maten/me peguen un tiro.
KEEP SOMETHING UNDER YOUR HAT - To keep something secret.
SPANISH: No decir ni po, mantener algo en secreto.
KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON/KEEP YOUR HAIR ON - Used for telling someone
who is beginning to get angry not to get annoyed. SPANISH: No nos
pongamos nerviosos, no pierdas los papeles. Ejemplo: No nos pongamos
nerviosos, que no ha sido para tanto.
PUT YOUR (ONES) THINKING CAP ON - Used for telling someone to start
thinking about how to do something. SPANISH: Ponerse a pensar
detenidamente.
PUT YOURSELF IN MY/HIS/HER SHOES, PUT YOURSELF IN ANOTHER
PERSONS PLACE - in the situation that someone else is in. Example: But to
change your point of view, its better if you try to put yourself in his shoes //
What would you do if you were in my shoes? SPANISH: Ponerse en la piel de
alguien/en el lugar de alguien.
TIGHTEN YOUR BELT - To spend less money. Example: These moments are
being very bad for many people, so they have had to tighten their belt as
much as possible. SPANISH: Apretarse el cinturn. Ejemplo: En este clima
econmico actual lo mejor es apretarse el cinturn.
TO BE WITH IT/FASHION CONSCIOUS - Very interested in fashion and
wanting to wear fashionable clothes, spend time in fashionable places etc.
Example: Shes very fashion conscious.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO TRAVEL

GLOBETROTTER World traveller. Example: She's already something of a

globetrotter, having visited three continents. SPANISH: Un trotamundos.
ITCHY FEET - Very strong or irresistible impulse to travel. Example: Im
getting itchy feet // I have permanently itchy feet, which I attribute to having
spent most of my childhood in Africa. SPANISH: Tener muchas ganas de
viajar.
LIVE OUT TO THE SUITCASE - To stay very briefly in several places, never
unpacking one's luggage. Example: I hate living out of a suitcase. For my
next vacation, I want to go to just one place and stay there the whole time.
SPANISH: Vivir con la maleta en la mano, vivir con lo puesto, estar todo el
tiempo viajando.
SEE OFF Say farewell to the traveler. Example: He came to the airport with
me to see me off. SPANISH: Despedirse de alguien (antes de un viaje), decir
adios. Ejemplo: Vino a la estacin de tren conmigo para despedirse de mi.
THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER - Used for emphasizing that you can go
anywhere or do anything that you want to. Example: Now that youve
finished your career the world is your oyster. SPANISH: El mundo es tuyo,
tienes el mundo a tus pies.
TO GET YOUR JABS/SHOTS Before travel to Thailand you have to get
your jabs. SPANISH: Vacunarse antes de viajar.
TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND/YOUR HORIZONS - When you travel, you
learn things about the people and places you see. Example: Marie: I never
realized how well-off most Americans are until I visited India. Jane: So it's
true that travel broadens the mind, huh? Everyone who gets the chance
should go abroad. Travel broadens the mind. SPANISH: Viajar/ver mundo
amplia tus horizontes/abre la mente.
TRAVEL LIGHT Travel with not to much luggage. Example: My new car has
lots of cargo space, which is great for people like me who don't travel light.
SPANISH: Viajar con poco equipaje.
TRAVEL OFF THE BEATEN TRACK/PATH - Away from the frequently
traveled routes. Example: We found a nice little Italian restaurant off the
beaten track. SPANISH: Apartado de los lugares tpicos, apartado de las rutas

tursticas, sitio no atestado de turistas. Ejemplo: Encontramos un pequeo

pueblecito apartado de las rutas tursticas.
WHISTLE-STOP TOUR - An occasion when you visit a lot of places in a short
period of time. SPANISH: Viajar por muchos sitios.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
CULTURE
BEAT AROUND THE BUSH - To avoid answering a question; to stall; to
waste time. Example: Stop beating around the bush and answer my
question (and get to the point)
CHINESE WHISPERS (Group Games / Games, other than specified) a
game in which a message is passed on, in a whisper, by each of a number of
people, so that the final version of the message is often radically changed
from the original. Example: It was like chinese whispers, no one knew what
was going on. SPANISH: El juego del telegrama, telfono escacharrado/roto.
Ejemplo: Pareca el juego del telfono escacharrado, nadie saba ciertamente
que estaba pasando.
CULTURE VULTURE - A person considered to be excessively, and often
pretentiously, interested in the arts. Example: The new exhibition of pictures
just arrived to the city, and I guess due the incredible amount of culture
vultures is going to be a total success. SPANISH: Amante de la cultura,
cultureta (despectivo)
GET TO THE POINT - To arrive at a discussion or explanation of the purpose
of something. Example: Please get to the point of all this. Will you kindly get
to the point? SPANISH: Ve al grano.
KEEP UP APPEARANCES - To make things look all right whether they are or
not. We must keep up appearances even if it means little sacrifices here and
there. Things may be unpleasant, but we will keep up appearances. Example:
keeping up appearances is important in some cultures. SPANISH: Guardar las
apariencias.

LOSE FACE/SAVE FACE LOSE FACE: Lose status; to become less

respectable. Example: John is more afraid of losing face than losing money.
Things will go better if you can explain to him where he was wrong without
making him lose face. SAVE FACE: To do something so that people will
continue to respect you. Example: Are the ministers involved more interested
in saving face than telling the truth? SPANISH: Perder credibilidad/reputacin,
quedar en evidencia. Salvar las apariencias, salir bien parado.
PUT/LAY YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE - To tell people exactly what you
are thinking or what you are intending to do. Example: I'm going to lay my
cards on the table and say that I don't like the idea. SPANISH: Poner las
cartas sobre la mesa.
PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE/STIFF UPPER LIP- To act confident in a
difficult situation put up a brave front The engineers have put on a brave
face, saying the telescope can easily be repaired.
TO HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLD - A situation wherein one can enjoy
two different opportunities. (*Typically: enjoy ~; have ~; live in ~.)
Examples: When Don was a fellow at the university, he had the privileges of
a professor and the freedom of a student. He had the best of both worlds.
Donna hated to have to choose between retirement and continuing working.
She wanted to do both so she could live in the best of both worlds. SPANISH:
Lo mejor de cada casa, lo major de ambos.
WHEN IN ROME (DO AS ROMANS DO) - Used for saying that when you are
in a foreign country you should follow the local customs and ways of
behaving. Example: Wow, in this country I have to wait till 14 pm to eat You
know when in Rome. SPANISH: Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
CHILDREN AND CHILDHOOD

A CHILDS PLAY Something that can be done very easily. Example: Sneak
into the theatre through the back door was kind of a childs play (a cinch) //
Once you've mastered Italian, learning Spanish should be child's play.
ANKLE BITER Austral slang a child. SPANISH: Enano, retaco.
GROW UP! An expression to try to stop a childish situation, when an adult
is acting like a baby. Example: Oh come on! Grow up!
KIDDING - To say something that is not true, especially as a joke. Example:
Just kidding!
KNOCKED UP - (Pregnant) pejorative. SPANISH: Preada.
LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY - Very easy to do. SPANISH: Como
quitarle un caramelo a un nio. Ejemplo: Fue como quitarle el caramelo a un
nio.
RUG RAT - Is a pejorative term, intended to be humorous, for babies (who
crawl around on the rug like rats. SPANISH:
SPIT THE DUMMY - Australian Term: To indulge in a sudden display of anger
or frustration; to lose ones temper. The phrase is usually used of an adult,
and the implication is that the outburst is childish, like a baby spitting out its
dummy in a tantrum and refusing to be pacified. Example: He'll really spit
the dummy when he hears that he's been fired... SPANISH: Ponerse furioso
(pero de forma infantil), una rabieta/pataleta.
SPOILED-BRAT - Slang, pejorative (unpleasant or greedy child) Children
with no siblings are often thought of as being spoiled brats. SPANISH: Nio
malcriado/mimado, mocoso malcriado, nio engreido.
TANTRUM - An occasion when someone suddenly behaves in a very angry
and unreasonable way, often screaming, crying, or refusing to obey
someone. This word is usually used about children. have/throw a tantrum:
Alex threw a tantrum and screamed loudly. SPANISH: Una pataleta. Le dio un
berrinche/rabieta.
THROW YOUR TOYS OUT OF THE PRAM - To make an angry protest
against a relatively minor problem, in the process embarrassing the
protester. The analogy is with a baby who throws toys out of the pram in
order to get their parent to pay attention to them. The implication in the
idiom is that the protester is acting like a baby.

TO BE IN THE FAMILY WAY - The state of being pregnant. Example:

My

neighbor is in a family way.

TO HAVE A BUN IN THE OVEN Pregnant. SPANISH: Embarazada, en

estado de buena esperanza.
UP THE DUFF Pregnant, usually unplanned. Example: She's up the duff
and really confused right now. SPANISH: Embarazada, preada (un poco
vulgar)

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO RULES
AND OBLIGATIONS
BE UNDER THE THUMB Be under control. Being under the control of
another person (usually a woman) Example: God, he's under the thumb.
SPANISH: Dominado por, bajo el ltigo de (normalmente una mujer), ser un
calzonazos (criticized and given orders all the time by a wife or female
partner. Example: a henpecked husband). RELATED: BALL AND CHAIN. My
ball and chain (humorous slang) = my spouse. To have a ball and chain.
SPANISH: Estar atado.
BENDING THE RULES - To do something or to allow someone to do something
which is not usually allowed. Example: We don't usually let students take books
away, but I'm willing to bend the rules on this occasion. RELATED: MOVE/SHIFT
THE GOALPOSTS - To change the rules and make it difficult for people to

achieve something or to know what to do. Example: Problems arise when

people are shifting the goalposts and objectives are not clear. SPANISH:
Manipular las reglas, hacer una excepcin en las reglas.
GOODY/GOODIE TWO SHOES Someone who always tries to please people in
authority. SPANISH: Santurrn/ona, mojigato, el repelente nio Vicente.
IM GOING TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN - To assert something strongly.
Example: The boss put her foot down and refused to accept any more
changes to the plan // I think its time to put my foot down and stop this bad

behavior and establish some order. SPANISH: Ponerse serio, adoptar una
actitud firme, plantar cara. Ejemplo: Estos nios me estn volviendo loco. Es
hora de ponerse serio con ellos. RELATED: NIP IN THE BUD - To stop a bad
situation from becoming worse by taking action at an early stage of its
development. Example: We need to nip this bad behaviour in the bud.
SPANISH: Cortar de raiz. Ejemplo: Esto hay que cortarlo de raiz antes de que
nos genere ms problemas.
LAY DOWN THE LAW (TO SOMEONE) (ABOUT SOMETHING) - To scold
someone; to make something very clear to someone in a very stern manner.
Example: Wow, was she mad at Ed. She really laid down the law about
drinking to him. She laid down the law to Ed. She laid down the law about
drinking. SPANISH: Poner las reglas claras (bien claritas), sentar las reglas.
LET YOUR HEART RULE YOUR HEAD When you let your emotions rule
your intellect. SPANISH: Dejar llevarse por el corazn/por las emociones.
PLAY BY THE RULES Behave fairly and respect the rules. Example: The
problem with John is he doesnt play by the rules. SPANISH: Seguir/respetar/cumplir
las reglas, jugar limpio/segn las reglas.

WHO RULES THE ROOST - Be in charge of a household. Example: In most

families, it's actually the mother who rules the roost, not the father. SPANISH:
Llevar los pantalones, llevar la voz cantante.
WHO WEARS THE TROUSERS/CALLS THE SHOTS/TUNE - To be in a
position of control or authority. Example: Shes the one who wears the
trousers in the house. SPANISH: El que lleva los pantalones, estar al cargo,
sujetar la sartn por el mango, mandar, cortar el bacalao.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO AGE
A COFFIN DODGER - An old person, probably about to die very soon...
Example: Hey my grans 95, shes a coffin dodger SPANISH: Ms Viejo que
Matusaln (as old as the hills), muy viejo, alguien que parece desafiar a la
muerte (de lo viejo que es), un viejales.
GRUMPY OLD GIT/BAD TEMPERED - Unhappy and dissatisfied, often for no
obvious reason. Example: He always has was a man complaining about everything
with no reason at all, kind of a short-fuse man, a real mooder; but now that hes a

coffin dodger hes a real grumpy old git. RELATED: Grouchy, be in a bad mood.
SPANISH: Cascarrabias, viejo cascarrabias, malhumorado.

HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE - To be very old or ill and likely to die
soon. Example: Now Im 80 I have a foot in the grave. SPANISH: Tener un pie
en la tumba. Ejemplo: Madre ma 95 aos, bueno ya tiene un pie en la
tumba.
GETTING ON (A BIT) - Fairly old. Example: My dad is getting on a bit now.
SPANISH: Tener sus aos, envejecer. Ejemplo: Mi padre ya tiene sus aos.
NOT SPRING CHICKEN (ANYMORE) - To be rather old. Example: Im not a
spring chicken anymore. SPANISH: Ya no soy un chaval/jovencito/jovenzuelo.
OVER THE HILL - No longer young and therefore unable to do things that
you could do in the past. Example: Judging from Saturday's performance,
she's by no means over the hill yet. SPANISH: Personas que cumplen 40 y
ms, estar en la etapa media de la vida, empezar a pasarse el arroz, estar
acabado/caduco.
PAST IT - No longer able to do what you used to do because you are too old.
Example: Many employers seem to consider anyone over 50 to be past it.
SPANISH: Estar un poco pasado (de viejo), ya estoy viejo.
TO BE IN YOUR PRIME - During your best years, when you are strongest.
Example: When he was in his prime, he played professional soccer. SPANISH:
Juventud, en la flor de la vida. Ejemplo: Como puedes decir que eres viejo si
ests en la flor de la vida.
YOU ARE ONLY AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL You never are too old, so you
could keep doing whatever you want if you feel you can do it. What it
matters is how you feel with yourself. The psychological side of the age.
SPANISH: La edad no importa, lo importante es como te sientes, nunca se es
demasiado viejo.
YOUNG AT HEART An old person who is young at heart has a lively positive
attitude to life that is more typical of a younger person. SPANISH: Joven de
espritu.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
MOVIES
A BLUE/PORN/ADULT MOVIE A pornographic movie with explicit sex.
SPANISH: Pelcula porno/para adultos/X
A FEEL GOOD MOVIE A movie designed to leave you with a positive
feeling after seeing. SPANISH: Pelcula entraable, de buen rollo.
A MUST SEE: An expression to remark the quality of a work and to
encourage the people to see it. Example: That movie is a must see, you
cannot snub it and treat it like dirty garbage.
B-MOVIE - A film that is cheap to make and not very good. Example: The
new Carpenters film is gonna be a b-movie, man. Wow, hes back againto
his roots.
BORED TO TEARS/DEATH So boring. Example: The movie was so
incredibly slow and you always had the feeling that nothing happens; I was
bored to tears.
CHEESY Lacking style or good quality and slightly silly. Example: Wow
man, that flick is cheesy. The cheesiest song Ive ever heard.
CHICK FLICK - A movie thats probably going to be liked more by women
than men. Informal derogatory, a film aimed at or appealing to women.
SPANISH: Una peli para tas. Dont confuse it with CLICK FLICK, a movie or
video you can watch on Internet.
CLIFF-HANGER - A melodramatic serial in which each episode ends in
suspense. A movie with the same kind of ending. SPANISH: Pelculas con final
en suspense, situacin de suspense. Ejemplo: Como termin la pelcula, una
tensin, que nervios.
CLOBBER: To defeat someone easily. Example: Box Office Report: 'Dark
Knight Rises' Clobbers 'Total Recall' SPANISH: Machacar, ganar sin

despeinarse. Ejemplo: El caballero Oscuro machaca (gana sin despeinarse) a

Desafo Total.
CORNY - Corny stories, jokes, songs etc have been used so much that they
seem silly. Example: I know it sounds corny, but it was love at first sight.
Another definition: Trite, dated, melodramatic, or mawkishly sentimental.
SPANISH: Trillado, muchas veces visto, tambin sentimentaloide, sensiblero,
etc. Aburrido, sin gracia, rancio. Ejemplo: Vaya pelcula ms sensiblera,
demasiado tpica. Vaya broma, no tiene nada de gracia.
FLICK: Slang word for Movie. Example: Incredible flick, dude, undoubtedly a
must see.
FLOP/BOMB Example: The movie bombed at the box office. SPANISH: Un
fracaso de taquilla.
LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY Not very interesting. Example: What a
torture of film! It was like watching paint dry.
KEPP YOU, ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT if a story keeps you on the
edge of your seat, it is very exciting and you want to know what is going to
happen next. Example: It had me on the edge of my seat.
PULSE-POUNDING With a lot of emotion, frenetic, thrillingExample: A
pulse-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. SPANISH:
Trepidante, de mucha emocin.
SUCCESS Overwhelming success,
SUCKED Not a good film. Example: That movie sucked and this one sucks.
SPANISH: Una mierda/un asco de pelcula.
SUSPENSE-LADEN Full with suspense. SPANISH: Una pelcula cargada de
suspense (loaded with suspense).
TACKY - Cheap-looking. Used about something that looks cheap and of poor
quality or something that shows bad taste. Example: What a tacky shirt you
are wearing today!
TEAR-JERKER - A grossly sentimental story, drama, or performance.
Example: The other day we saw Titanic and it was a real tear-jerker. But a
good one. SPANISH Lacrimgena, sentimentaloide, dramn. Expresin
relacionada: Preprate los pauelos para ir a ver esta pelcula por que

TENT POLE: The term tent-pole refers to a broadcast programming or

motion picture expected to hold up (as is the function of a tent pole) and
balance out the financial performance of a movie studio or television
network. SPANISH: Pelcula estrella (bandera) de un estudio, xito de taquilla
(asegurado).
TOUCHY-FEELY - Tending to express feelings in an honest and physical way.
This word often shows that you dislike people like this. Example: Some
individuals resist holding hands in a circle, elaborate rituals, group hugs and
sing-a-longs, declaring them to be too touchy-feely and a waste of time.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
CHANGES
BY THE WAY SPANISH: Por cierto. Ejemplo: Por cierto, como est su mujer.
CHANGE HANDS - If something changes hands, it gets a new owner.
Example: The house has changed hands several times in the last few years.
If money changes hands, one person gives it to another as payment,
sometimes in a dishonest way. Example: No money actually changed hands.
SPANISH: Cambiar de dueo/de manos. Ejemplo: Este coche ha cambiado de
dueo muchas veces.
CHANGE THE RECORD When somebody keeps saying the same thing
over and over again in a very annoying way, you can say to him; oh, please
change the record. Ohh, for gods sake, change the record, will you?
SPANISH: Ohh, quieres dejar de decir eso? Estas una y otra vez dale que te
pego con la misma cancin // Pareces un disco rayado.
CHANGE YOUR HEART - A situation in which you change your opinion about
someone or something (you change your feelings about something or
someone). Example: The government seems to have had a change of heart
about nursery education. SPANISH: Un cambio de opinin de idea sobre algo

o alguien (cambio de sentimientos), un cambio de sentimientos hacia alguien

o algo. Ejemplo: Cuando mi padre invit a su hermana a la fiesta comprend
que sus sentimientos hacia ella haban cambiado // Mi hermano cambi de
parecer al ver a la nueva vecina de al lado.
CHANGE YOUR MIND/TUNE - To start saying something different about a
subject or situation, or to start behaving in a different way. Example: He soon
changed his tune when he saw how angry I was. SPANISH: Cambiar de
opinin/parecer drsticamente. Ejemplo: Ahora dices esto, pero el otro da
decas una cosa completamente diferente. Ests todo el da cambiando de
opinin, no hay quien te entinda.
CHANGE YOUR SCENARY/AIR - A period of time that you spend in a
different place in order to feel better or more healthy. Example: I fancied a
change of scene from London. SPANISH: Un cambio de aires. Ejemplo: Estas
vacaciones necesito un cambio de aires, llevo demasiado tiempo en la
ciudad.
GET CHANGE (Into/out of something) To put different clothes on.
Example: I used to get change into a more comfortable outfit when I arrive
home after work // I change out of my pyjamas before go to work.
SPEAKING OF SPANISH: Hablando de.
THAT REMINDS ME SPANISH: Eso me recuerda que
THEY CANNOT CHANGE (A LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE ITS
SPOTS/NEVER CHANGE ITS SPOTS) - Used for saying that someone will
never change their behaviour or character. Example: This kind of people
cant change.
TO CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM - To make major changes in an
activity that has already begun; to choose someone or something else after
it is too late. (Alludes to someone trying to move from one horse to another
while crossing a stream) Example: I'm already baking a cherry pie. I can't
bake an apple pie. It's too late to change horses in the middle of the stream.
SPANISH: Cambio de opinin/de idea/rumbo/tcticas, etc. Ejemplo: Era
demasiado tarde como para de repente cambiar de idea.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO THE
SENSES
THE FIVE SENSES: SIGHT, SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH, SOUND/HEARING.
AS DEAF AS A POST - Very deaf. Example: Didnt I speak clearly enough or
you are as deaf as a post. SPANISH: Ms sordo que una tapia. Ejemplo: Este
tipo esta ms sordo que una tapia.
AS BLIND AS A BAT Very blind. Example: How can she bake when she's as
blind as a bat? SPANISH: Ms ciego que un topo. Ejemplo: Como puede jugar
a los dardos si est ms ciego que un topo.
AS SOFT AS A BABYS BOTTOM/BUM Very soft and smooth to the touch.
Example: This fabric is as soft as babys bum. SPANISH: Ms suave que el
culo de un beb. Ejemplo: Ests recien afeitado y tu cara est tan suave
como el culo de un beb
TO SEE EYE TO EYE (WITH SOMEONE) - To agree with someone, or to
have the same opinion as them. Or to dont see eye to eye. Example: I don't
see eye to eye with my father on many things.
A SIXTH SENSE She must have a sixth sense. She knew I was coming but I
hadnt told her. SPANISH: Sexto sentido. Ejemplo: Mi sext sentido me dijo de
que algo no iba bien.
TO HAVE YOUR EYES/SIGHT SET ON SOMETHING I got my sight set on
a new car/holiday in Thailand. SPANISH: Tener los ojos puestos en algo.
ITS A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES
pleased to see. Also something
Example: Tanya walking in with
eyes. SPANISH: Da gusto verlo,
dao a la vista.

Someone or something that you are very

that is strange or unpleasant to look at.
a tray of cold drinks was a sight for sore
una alegra/un placer para la vista. Hacer

THAT PONGS/STINKS/NIFFS A bad odour.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES
GO HAYWIRE - To stop working or behaving correctly. Example: The TV had
gone completely haywire.
IN DEEP SHIT - In a lot of trouble Example: If you get caught carrying that
stuff, you'll be in deep shit. SPANISH: Llenarse de mierda hast alas orejas
(por meterse en un problema)
MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL - To make a major issue out of
a minor one; to exaggerate the importance of something. Example: Come
on, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. It's not that important. Mary is
always making mountains out of molehills. Spanish: Hacer una montaa de
un grano de arena, ahogarse en un vaso de agua (A tempest/storm in a
teapot)
OPEN A CAN OF WORMS - A very difficult issue or set of problems; an
array of difficulties. (*Typically: be ~; Open ~.) Example: This political
scandal is a real can of worms. Let's not open that can of worms! SPANISH:
Abrir la caja de Pandora, empezar a saltar la mierda (a todo el mundo, por un
escndalo que se mantena en secreto).
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE - From a bad situation to a
worse situation. (*Typically: get ~; go ~; jump ~.) Example: When I tried to
argue about my fine for a traffic violation, the judge charged me with
contempt of court. I really went out of the frying pan into the fire. I got
deeply in debt. Then I really got out of the frying pan into the fire when I lost
my job.

TAKE SOMETHING IN YOUR STRIDE To not be upset or troubled by

somethingI told her what had happened and she took it all in her stride. SPANISH:
Tomarse algo bien (sin enfadarse), asumir algo.

TEETHING PROBLEMS - Minor problems that a new company, project,

product etc may have in the beginning. Example: We had a few teething
problems with our new computer system, but it is all fine now. SPANISH:
Problemas iniciales/de arranque/de puesta a punto
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG - only the part of something that can be easily
observed, but not the rest of it, which is hidden. (Referring to the fact that
the majority of an iceberg is below the surface of the water.) Example: The
problems that you see here now are just the tip of the iceberg. There are
numerous disasters waiting to happen. SPANISH: La punta del iceberg. Es
muy comn empezar esta frase con: Esto no es ms que/esto es slo la
punta del iceberg. Ejemplo: Esto es slo la punta del iceberg, el problema es
muy, muy gordo.
UP THE CREEK (WITHOUT A PADDLE) AND UP A CREEK; UP SHIT
CREEK - In an awkward position with no easy way out. Example: I'm sort of
up the creek and don't know what to do. You are up a creek! You got yourself
into it, so get yourself out. SPANISH: Hasta el cuello/arriba de mierda,
enmarronado (con un marrn muy grande) Ejemplo: Con esta ltima
querella, ahora si que estoy hasta arriba de mierda.
UPS AND DOWNS - A variety of situations and experiences that are
sometimes good and sometimes bad. Example: The company has had its
share of ups and downs, but it seems to be doing well now.
VICIOUS CIRCLE - You need work experience to get a job, but you can't get
work experience without a job; it's a vicious circle. SPANISH: Crculo vicioso.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO THE
NEWS
A BAD JOURNALIST HACK (REPORTER/JOURNALIST) A journalist,
artist, or writer who does boring work or work that is not very good. A

professional person who is only interested in making money. SPANISH:

Periodista de poca monta.
AGONY AUNT/UNCLE A woman whose job is to give advice about personal
problems in a newspaper or magazine by answering people's letters. The
American word is advice columnist. SPANISH: Consejera sentimental en
prensa.
BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND - To ignore a problem or an unpleasant
situation and hope that it will disappear. SPANISH Hacer odos sordos/la
vista gorda, ignorar algo a propsito, mirar hacia otro lado.
I HAVENT THE FOGGIEST/FAINTEST IDEA I HAVENT GOT A CLUE Used for emphasizing that you do not know anything at all about something.
Example: I don't have the foggiest idea why he called me. SPANISH: No tengo
ni la menor idea, no tengo ni la ms remota idea, no tengo ni puta/puetera
idea (vulgar)
IT GOES IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER - Used for saying that
someone does not remember what you say or pay attention to it. SPANISH:
Entrar por un odo y salir por el otro.
JOURNALIST - Someone whose job is to report the news for a newspaper,
magazine, radio programme, or television programme. SPANISH: Reportero,
periodista.
KEEP TRACK OF SOMETHING To have all the information that you need
about something. Example: We need a system to keep track of all our
expenses. SPANISH: Mantenerse informado, seguir/estar al tanto de los
acontecimientos, hacer un seguimiento de
LOSE TRACK OF - To no longer know where someone or something is or
what is happening. Example: I've lost track of what she's doing now.
SPANISH: Perder la nocin, perder el rastro de, perder la pista de.
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS Used for expressing the hope that because no
news has been received about someone, nothing bad has happened to them.
SPANISH: Que no haya noticias/hayas recibido noticias no quiere decir nada
malo/no es nada malo/son buenas noticias.
RAG - A newspaper that is not very good. Rlated: Tabloid. SPANISH:
Periodicucho.

THE FUNNIES - The section of a newspaper that contains the comic strips
(=series of drawings that tell a story) SPANISH: Seccin de tiras cmicas.
THE GUTTER PRESS - Newspapers that contain a lot of shocking stories
about crime, sex, and famous people. SPANISH: Prensa del corazn (Gossip
magazines), sensacionalista, prensa amarilla/amarillista.
TO HAVE GOOD/BAD PRESS - Criticism/praise that appears in newspapers
and news magazines. Example: The company has been getting a fairly bad
press for its treatment of workers.
TO HIT THE HEADLINES - To become famous by being reported in the
news. SPANISH: Ser noticia, saltar a los titulares.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO CRIME
AND PUNISHMENT
CATCH SOMEONE RED HANDED - Be caught red-handed/in the act. To
be caught doing something wrong. Example: He was caught red-handed with
the money in his bag. SPANISH: Pillar a alguien con las manos en la masa,
pillar a alguien in fraganti.
COP/PIG/COPPER/FILTH/FUZZ Different slang words for policemen.
SPANISH: Polica, poli, madero, pasma, pitufo, etc.
CRIMINAL/CROOK - Someone who is dishonest, especially someone who
uses their position of power for their own personal advantage. A criminal,
especially one who steals money. Example: The bunch of crooks who run the

government, I dont want to buy a car from that guy, cos he looks like a
crook. SPANISH: Criminal, ladrn.
DAYLIGHT ROBBERY - Used for saying that you think something is much
too expensive. Example: -Jack: I just got charged 90 for a hoodie in
Abercrombie! -Will: Thats daylight robbery mate...
FELT OFF THE BACK OF THE LORRY - Used about something that is cheap
or free because it was probably stolen by the person who gave it to you.
Related: A dodgy product, bootleg. Example: Where did you get all this stuff?
- Well, lets just say they felt off the back of the lorry. SPANISH:
Producto/mercancias robadas. En Espaa a veces se utiliza una expresin
humorstica parecida. Ejemplo: Bueno y todos estos Cds, DVDs y BluRays
de dnde los has sacado? Has asaltado un camin de mercancias?
GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST - A punishment that is less severe than is
expected or usual. Example: When Billy tried to grab another cookie, he got
a slap on the wrist.SPANISH: Una sancin leve, una reprimenda, un tirn de
orejas, un azote en el culo.
GET AWAY WITH (IT)/GET AWAY WITH MURDER - To manage to do
something bad without being punished or criticized for it. Example: I am
wondering how he always manages to do all these things and get away with
murder? SPANISH: Irse de rositas, escaquearse, esquivar el castigo, salirse
con la suya, librarse. Ejemplo: Es automtico, se pone a comer en la mesa y
cuando toca fregar los platos siempre se libra // Se supona que bamos a ir
en dos coches pero al final uno de los conductores se sali con la suya y
ahora va a beber// Los dos acusados se fueron al final de rositas sin pagar
ninguno de sus crmenes.
I COULD MURDER A(ANY FOOD, DRINK, ETC) - Used to say that you
really want to eat or drink something. Example: I so thirsty, I could murder a
beer or two. SPANISH: Me muero por/matara por. Ejemplo: Me muero por
una buena pizza! // Podra matar por una buena paella ahora mismo.
TO NICK/THE NICK To steal something. Example: His wallet got nicked
when he was on holiday. To arrest someone. Example: He got nicked by the
police. Prison, the police station. Example: I got nicked last night for robbin 6
offy's in a mad offy grab frenzy , they sent me to the nick.
TO SQUEAL - To tell the police or someone in authority that someone has
done something wrong or illegal. Example: Max was afraid that the witness
would squeal on him to the cops. Sally threatened to squeal to the boss.

Please promise you won't squeal on me! SPANISH: Chivarse (como una puta.
Para decirlo de una forma muy, muy vulgar), delatar.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
GLOBALIZATION
WORLDY-WISE A worldly-wise person has a lot of experience and
knowledge of life. SPANISH: De mundo, que conoce mundo.
DEAD TO THE WORLD - Sleeping in a way that makes it very difficult to
wake you. SPANISH: Estar muerto (de cansancio), caer muerto, como muerto.
IN YOUR OWN (LITTLE) WORLD/IN ANOTHER WORLD/DREAMING
AWAY/SPACE OUT - Not realizing what is happening around you because
you are thinking about something else. SPANISH: Estar pensando en tu
mundo, pasarse el da soando, estar en Babia/pensando en las musaraas.
TO THINK THE WORLD OF SOMEONE - To like or to love someone very
much. Example: Mary thinks the world of her little sister. The old lady thinks
the world of her cats. SPANISH: Tener/sentir mucho aprecio/respeto por
alguien o algo. Related: OUT OF THIS WORLD - Wonderful and exciting.
This pie is out of this world. My boyfriend is just out of this world. SPANISH:
No es de este planeta, es incredible (algo fuera de este planeta) Ejemplo:
Este jugador de baloncesto no es de este planeta.
MAKE A WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE - To have an important effect make all
the difference (in the world) Example: Some food, some milk, and some
warmth made a world of difference to the small stray cat. The rains made a
world of difference to worried farmers. SPANISH: Haber un abismo/un mundo
de diferencia. Ejemplo: Hay un mundo de diferencia entre estos crepes y los
que hago yo en casa.
WELCOME TO MY WORLD Example: Dont worry about the mess in the
room! Im so untidy welcome to my world. SPANISH: Bienvenido a mi
mundo.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
TO BE/PLAY THE DEVILS ADVOCATE - To pretend to disagree with
someone in order to start an argument or interesting discussion.
WIND UP - To make someone angry or upset. Example: Please don't wind
him up he causes me enough trouble. SPANISH: Pinchar a alguien (para
discutir), tocar/hinchar las pelotas (vulgar) RELATED: Egg on, goad (to
deliberately make someone feel very angry or upset so that they react,
GOAD SOMEONE INTO DOING SOMETHING. Example: She was finally
goaded into losing her temper).
TO KEEP/HAVE AN OPEN MIND ABOUT SOMETHING - To be willing to
listen to other people's opinions about someone or something. Example: I
told the committee that I had an open mind on the matter.
OPEN-MINDED (PERSON) - Willing to consider new ideas. SPANISH: Abierto
de mente, una persona abierta.

LET SOMEBODY/SOMETHING BE - To not change anything related to

someone or something. Example: As long as no one complains about the
clubs, the authorities let them be.
PROS and CONS
GET/BE ON YOUR SOAPBOX - To tell other people your opinions in an
annoying way. Example: Get off your soapbox, please, youve been talking
all this time and I think you arent right. SPANISH: Ponerse a pontificar, decir
a los cuatro vientos. RELATED: GET ON YOUR HIGH HORSE.

BUDGE /NOT BUDGE - To refuse to change your opinion or decision about

something. Example: We've tried everything but they won't budge on the
price. Expression: Refuse to budge an inch.
SPEAK YOUR MIND - To say honestly what you think, even if it upsets or
offends someone. Example: She was an assertive woman who always spoke
her mind. SPANISH: Decir lo que piensas, hablar con franqueza, ser sincero.
Ejemplo: Me cae bien este tipo, siempre dice lo que piensa y no oculta nada.
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT/TO BITE YOUR TONGUE - To stop yourself
from saying something that might upset or annoy someone. Example: I
almost told her what I thought of her, but I bit my tongue. SPANISH: Morderse
la lengua, callarse (no querer decir algo en una situacin determinada)
Ejemplo: Tuve que morderme la lengua para no cantarle las cuarenta a ese
payaso // Podra haberle dicho algo pero me calle (me lo guard)
A BIT OF A GREY AREA - A situation in which the rules are not clear, or in
which you are not sure what is right or wrong. Example: that grey area
between legitimate protest and illegal disruption. SPANISH: Zona gris, terreno
desconocido, laguna.

ENGLISH-SPANISH COLLOQUIAL
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO
HONESTY AND LIYING
FIB A lie about something that is not important. To fib, a fibber
WHOPPER - A lie. A gross untruth. Example: Dan's been telling whoppers
again.
COME CLEAN/OWN UP - to admit that you have done something bad or
embarrassing. Example: Dan could have made this whole thing go away
simply by owning up. OWN UP TO. Example: Two local students later
owned up to the prank.

TO TELL THE TRUTH Used for saying what you really think or feel.
Example: To tell you the truth, I'm completely bored.
TO BEND THE TRUTH To say something that is not completely true in
order to achieve an aim. Example: He doesn't lie exactly he just bends the
truth.
BE ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH To say things that are not true, or to
not tell everything that you know.
A (LITTLE) WHITE LIE - A lie told to avoid making someone upset, not for
your own advantage or in order to harm someone else.
LIE THROUGH ONE'S TEETH - To lie boldly. Example: I knew she was lying
through her teeth, but I didn't want to say so just then. If John denies it he's
lying through his teeth, because I saw him do it.
AS FAR AS I CAN THROW HIM

ME QUEDO CON/QUEDARSE CON I stick with. Different uses of stick with:

Stick with someone. To stay close to someone and go with them wherever
they go, especially so that they can help or protect you. Example: Stick with
me and you'll be all right.
Stick with something. To continue to do or use something, and not change
it. Example: They're going to stick with the same team as last Saturday.
Stick with it. Example: We had a tough time for a few years, but we stuck
with it.

Stick with someone. If something sticks with you, you continue to

remember it clearly. Example: It was a moment that has stuck with me for
years.

EXPRESIONES Y VOCABULARIO - DURANTE LA MAANA

DESPIERTA! Wake up! Example: Wake up! Its too late and you have to go
to school. Related expression: Wake up and smell the coffee Se utiliza para
insinuar que alguien est distrado y est dejando pasar cosas a las que
debera prestar atencin. Por ejemplo en espaol: Espabila, despierta que
ests empanado
AFEITARSE To shave. Example: I shave every morning. This man is shaving
his undercheek. To have a shave. Example: I had a shave in the barber this
morning.
ALARMA DEL RELOJ Alarm. Clock alarm. To set the alarm (clock). Wake up
alarm.
ARREGLARSE To get ready. Example: Every morning I always get ready for a
few minutes to leave.
ATAJO Shortcut. To take a shortcut. Example: I usually take this shortcut
every morning to get to my work.
ATASCO Traffic jam. Example: The motorway was completely jammed this
morning. The traffic jams are one of the nightmares of the cities. Useful
expression: Sorry Im late. I was held up by traffic.
DESPERTARSE/ESTAR DESPIERTO Wake up - Open the eyes. Example: I wake
up every day at six oclock. Wake up call (phone call to wake somebody)
Wake. Stop sleeping. Examples: I woke at 5 o'clock this morning. Alan woke
to a quiet knocking on his door.
Awake. Example: Ive been awake for hours
To be awaken (estar despierto con los ojos abiertos, el despertar). The
awaken (el despertar
literario)
DUCHARSE To shower. To take/have a shower. Take is used in USA and have
is used in UK. Example: I'm going to have/take a nice hot shower and go to
bed. I havent had a shower in days. Im about to take/have a shower.

HACER LA CAMA Make the bed.

HORA PUNTA Rush hour.
IR CON APUROS/SALIR PITANDO Im in a hurry. Example: I dont have time
to listen to you. Im in a hurry. We talk later. Rush out/off, run off. Example: I
hate to rush off, but I am late for work. Dash out. Example: I dashed out into
the street, still in my pyjamas. Maria came dashing down the stairs.
IR/TRABAJAR A CONTRA RELOJ Work (run) against the clock. Example: It's
seems as though I am always working against the clock! These deadlines are
ridiculous.
LEVANTARSE DE LA CAMA To get up. Example: He never gets up before
nine.
ME HE QUEDADO DORMIDO Sleep in (tambin dormer hasta tarde),
oversleep. Example: We slept in again!
NO HE PODIDO PEGAR OJO I didnt sleep a wink. I didnt get a wink.
PEINARSE. To comb ones hair. Example: Before leave home. He gave his hair
a quick comb.
PREPARAR EL DESAYUNO To prepare breakfast. Examples: What did you
have for breakfast this morning? Ive prepared some English breakfast and
an Earl Grey tea, and now Im so stuffed and full that I think I dont gonna eat
at lunch.
QUEDARSE FRITO Doze off, conk out, fall asleep.
SACAR AL PERRO To walk the dog. Take the dog out. Example: I've got to
take the dog out.
TENGO ALGUNOS RECADOS QUE HACER I have some errands to do/run.
VESTIRSE To get dressed, put on some clothes. Example: He got up and
quickly got dressed.