Idioms to Sound like a Native

So you are sitting at a Spanish public house.

You are unable to understand what people are saying, but it is loud.

You heard a fellow drinker telling about “throwing a house through a window”…

………….and an old man says you“he is healthier than a pear”…..

What the heck is around? 

You may scratch your head and may wonder why you are not able to translate the words, but not their situation or gist.

Well, you’ve just had your preliminary introduction to Spanish idioms.

Why Study Spanish Idioms?

Spanish idioms are normally used expressions by native speakers that have a metaphorical, not a word for word, meaning. All languages have idioms.E.g., a handful of English idioms are, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” and, “barking up the wrong tree.”

Idioms are vital for talking a language like a native, and there is no exception for Spanish.

There are many idioms in the Spanish language. A number of idioms are common to several Spanish language speakers and others are only used in one or a few Spanish-speaking countries. It is true that some of the Spanish idioms are only spoken in some particular region/s.

In this blog, we’ve collected some of the beneficial Spanish idioms that you may come upon.

1.Tomar el pelo

“Tomar el pelo” exactly means “to take the hair,” and is used when someone is trapping, cheating, or taking a dig at someone else, but in a friendly way. So if one of your friends tells you, he/she won $200 billion, you may say: “Me estástomando el pelo.” (You’re pulling my leg.)

2.Estarhecho un ají

The literally translation of “Estarhecho un ají” is “to be made a chili.” This Spanish idiom means that to be hopping mad (very angry) about something. E.g.“No le gustó el resultado. Estáhecho un ají.” (He didn’t like the result. He’s hopping mad.)

3.No tenerpelos en la lengua

“Not to have hairs on your tongue” is the literal translation of “no tenerpelos en la lengua”. This Spanish idiom means that someone is a straight shooter and will always speak their mind. For example: “Mi amigo no tienepelos en la lengua.”(My friend tells it how it is.)

4.Tirar la casa por la ventana

The literally translation of “Tirar la casa por la ventana” is “to throw the house through the window,” and the meaning of this idiom is “no expense has been spared” or “that money is no object”. For example: “Tiré la casa por la ventanacuandocompré mi nuevocoche.” (I spared no expenseswhile I was buying a new car.)

5.   Ser pan comido

The exact translation of “serpancomido” is “to be bread eaten,” and it means that something is very easy to do. This idiom is the English equivalent of saying something is a piece of cake. For example: “El trabajoes pan comido.” (The work is a piece of cake.)