Common Spanish Idioms and Expressions

aburrirse como una ostra

to be as bored as an oyster; to be bored to death

hacer buenas migas con alguien

to make good friends with someone

no oir ni el vuelo de una mosca

to not hear a fly; it is so quiet you could hear a pin drop

la última gota que hace rebosar la copa

the straw that breaks the camel's back

no poder ver a alguien ni en pintura

to not be able to stand the sight of someone

el mundo es un pañuelo

small world

salir de Guatemala y meterse en Guatepeor

out of the frying pan and into the fire

tener la sartén por el mango

to be the one in charge

no saber ni papa de

to know nothing about

ser como guitarra en un entierro

to be like a sore thumb, to stick out like a sore thumb

ahogarse en un vaso de agua

to drown oneself in a glass of water

como si no hubieses roto un plato en tu vida

as if you hadn't broken a plate in your life

dar calabazas a alguien

to reject someone

estar como boca de lobo

to be pitch dark

ser un elefante en una cacharrería

to be a bull in a china shop

llamar al pan pan y al vino vino

to call bread bread and wine wine, to be straight-talking

tomarle el pelo a uno

to pull one's leg, to pull someone's leg

te conozco bacalao, aunque vengas disfrazado

I know what your little game is/I know what you're up to

hay cuatro gatos

nobody is there, there are only a few people

acostarse con las gallinas

to go to bed early