Learn: Spanish Idioms and Expressions: Meanings and Usage

Ser agua pasada

water under the bridge

Venirle como anillo al dedo

to fit like a glove

Dios los cría y ellos se juntan

birds of a feather flock together

Estar con la soga al cuello

rope around your neck

Estar hecho añicos

to be shattered/worn out

Poner su grano de arena

to do one's bit / to make a contribution

Ahogarse en un vaso de agua

to get worked up about nothing

Estar en apuros

to be in a tight spot or difficult situation

Echarse a perder

to spoil, to ruin, to lose its good taste

Como llovido del cielo

to come out of the blue

Contra viento y marea

come hell or high water; against all odds

Poner el dedo en la llaga

to touch a raw nerve

Armar un alboroto

to cause a commotion

Dar envidia

envy

Darse por vencido

to give up, surrender

No caber un alfiler

to be full to the brim

Estar en ayunas

to be fasting (religious reasons often)

Al parecer

apparently, seemingly

Ser uña y carne

to be as thick as thieves (one and meat)

Estar por los suelos

to be at rock bottom

Tener los días contados

to have numbered days

Salir como una bala

to go out like a bullet

Perder los estribos

to lose one's temper

Ajustar cuentas

to settle up, to settle the account

Llover a cántaros

to rain cats and dogs

Ir al grano

to get to the point, to cut to the chase

Pasarse de + adjetivo

to be too + adjective

Estar entrado en años

to be well along in years

Darle mala espina

to make suspicious / to make uneasy / to give someone the creeps

Estar al corriente

to be caught up (with current events)

Dejar mucho que desear

to leave much to be desired

Estar chiflado

to be nuts

Ir por buen camino

to be on the right track

Quitarse años

to make someone look younger

De un tirón

all at once

Quedarse con la boca abierta

to be left with one's mouth open, shocked, flabbergasted

Meterse en la boca del lobo

to enter the lion's den

Estar hecho una furia

to be furious

Faltarle un tornillo

to have a screw loose

De buenas a primeras

suddenly

Dejarse llevar

go with the flow

Llevar la batuta

to be the boss, to be in command

Hoy por ti, mañana por mí

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours

Dormir como un tronco

Sleep like a log

Quedarse tan campante

as cool as a cucumber

No caber de contento

to be overjoyed

Estar en ascuas

to be on pins and needles

A toda costa

at all costs