Descripción: Useful list of idiomatic expressions in Spanish
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Lists of Idiomatic Expressions One of the most difficult aspects of a language to master is the usage of idiomatic expressions. Idiomatic expressions are phrases that carry a specific meaning within the language. Normally, there is no logical way of translating them word by word. The only way to learn them is to memorize them, and to practice their use. Below, you will find a series of Spanish idiomatic expressions expressions grouped by types, according to the verb or the preposition they contain, and their English counterparts. Expresiones con DAR (Idioms with DAR) dar a
to face; to look out upon
dar la espalda
to turn one’s back
dar a conocer
to make known
dar gritos
to shout
dar a luz
to give birth
dar gusto
to please
dar un abrazo
to embrace
dar la hora
to strike the hour
dar asco
to disgust
dar gato por liebre
to gyp; to swindle
dar la bienvenida
to welcome
dar las gracias
to thank
dar brincos
to jump
dar guerra
to cause a lot of trouble
dar los buenos (días, tardes)
to say good (morning, afternoon)
dar largas
to prolong an affair
dar calabazas
to jilt; to flunk
dar lata
to make a nuisance of oneself
dar la cara
to take responsibility
dar lugar a
to give cause for
dar carta blanca
to give someone a free hand
dar una mano
to lend a hand
dar con
to come upon; to find
dar lo mismo
to make no difference
dar con la puerta en las narices
to slam the door in one’s face
dar la nota
to stand out
dar cuenta de
to give a report on
dar pena a
to aggrieve
dar cuerda a
to wind
dar que hablar
to give grounds for criticism
dar de alta
to discharge (a patient)
dar que hacer
to cause trouble
dar de baja
to drop (from a list)
dar que pensar
to give grounds for suspicion
dar de beber (comer)
to give a drink (to feed)
dar palos de ciego
to swing out wildly
dar de palos
to beat; to thrash
dar parte
to inform
dar en
to strike against; to hit
dar un paseo
to take a walk (continued)
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dar por + past participle part iciple to consider
dar una vuelta
to take a stroll
darse por aludido
to take it personally
darse a
to devote oneself to
dar a hecho
to take for granted
darse cuenta de
to realize
dar por muerto
to consider dead
darse de baja
to withdraw; to drop out
dar por sentado
to take for granted
darse í darse í nfulas nfulas
to put on airs
ón dar raz ó n
to give account
darse la mano
to shake hands
ón dar la raz ó n
to agree with
darse darse por + past participle part iciple to consider oneself
dar recuerdos a
to give regards to
darse por vencido
to give up
dar rienda suelta a
to give free rein to
darse prisa
to hurry
dar al traste con
to destroy; to spoil
dá rsela rsela a uno
to make a fool out of someone
dar voces
to shout
dá rselas rselas de
to pose as; to claim to be
dar vueltas a
to think something over
Expresiones con ECHAR (Idioms with ECHAR) echar ech ar a + infinitive infinit ive
to start to
echar en cara
to throw in one’ one’s face
echar a perder
to ruin; to spoil
echar en el olvido
to forget completely
echar abajo
to demolish
echar flores
to flatter
echar al correo
to mail
echar mano a
to lay hands on
echar la bronca a uno
to give someone a dressing down
echar ra í íc es
to take root
echar chispas
to be furious; to be angry
echar todo a rodar
to make a fizzle
echar la culpa
to blame
echarse atr á ás s
to lean backwards; to retract
echar de comer
to feed (animals)
echarse a dormir
to lie down to sleep
echar de menos
to miss
árselas ech ech á r selas de
to boast of being
Expresiones con ESTAR (Idioms with ESTAR) á despejado est á despejado
it’ it’s clear
estar al corriente de
to be up to date
á nublado est á nublado
it’ it’s cloudy
estar apurado
to be in a hurry
estar a
to be priced at
estar calado
to be soaked to the skin
estar a dos velas
to be broke
estar como pez en el agua to be right at home
estar a punto de
to be about to
estar con el alma en vilo
to be in suspense
estar a sus anchas
to be comfortable
estar conforme con
to be in agreement with
estar al caer
to be about to happen
estar de acuerdo
to be in agreement
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
estar de buen humor
to be in a good mood
estar en el limbo
to be lost
estar de mal humor
to be in a bad mood
estar en todo
to have a finger in everything
ás estar de m á s
to be in excess
estar en un tris
to be about to happen
estar de paso
to be passing through
estar fuera de s í
to be beside oneself emotionally
estar de sobra
to be in excess
estar hecho polvo
to be worn out
estar de vuelta
to be back
estar hecho una fiera
to be furious
estar en Babia
to daydream
estar hecho una sopa
to be soaked
estar loco de remate
to be completely crazy
estar en brazos de Morfeo to be sleeping estar en condiciones
to be in good shape
estar estar para + infinitive
to be about to
estar en forma
to be in good shape
estar pez
to ignore (something)
estar en la luna
to have one’ one’s head in the clouds
estar sin blanca
to be flat broke
estar en las nubes
to daydream
Expresiones con HABER (Idioms with HABER) haber de + infinitive
to be supposed to; to have to
haber lodo
to be muddy
haber gato encerrado
there is something fishy
haber neblina
to be foggy
haber sol
to be sunny
hay luna
there is moonlight
haber polvo
to be dusty
hay que + infinitive
it is necessary; one must
Expresiones con HACER (Idioms with HACER) hace + time express expression + que + preterite
ago
hacer calor
to be warm
hace mucho tiempo
long time ago
hacer caso de
to pay attention to; to notice
hace poco
a little while ago
hacer cola
to line up
hacer su agosto
to make a killing
hacer da ñ ño o
to harm; to damage
hacer alarde
to boast
hacer de
to work as; to act as
ón hacer alusi ó n
to allude
hacer de cuenta
to pretend; to act as though
ñicos hacer a ñ i cos
to break to pieces
hacer de nuevo
to do over
hacer buen tiempo
to be good weather
hacer de las suyas
to be up to one’ one’s old tricks
hacer buenas migas
to hit it off with someone
hacer de tripas coraz ó ón n to pluck up courage
hacer burla de
to make fun of
hacer falta
to be in need of (continued)
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hacer el favor
to do a favor
ñas s hacer se ñ a
to signal
hacer frente
to face; to take the responsa responsabili bility ty
hacer viento
to be windy
hacer fresco
to be cool (weather)
hacer un viaje
to take a trip
ío hacer fr í o
to be cold (weather)
hacer una visita
to pay a visit
hacer fuerza
to exert force
hacerse
to become
hacer juego
to match
hacerse con
to provide oneself with
hacer el papel de
to play the role of
hacerse ilusiones
to fool oneself
hacer mal tiempo
to be bad weather
hacerse de rogar
to like to be coaxed
hacer mofa
to mock; to scoff at
hacerse tarde t arde
to become late
hacer moris mor isquetas quetas
to play pranks
hacerse da ñ ño o
to hurt oneself
hacer las paces
to make peace
hacerse de la vista gorda
to turn a blind eye
hacer pedazos
to break to pieces; to tear
hacerse el muerto
to play dead
hacer un pedido
to place an order
hacerse el sueco
to pretend not to understand
hacer una pregunta
to ask a question
hacerse el tonto
to play dumb
hacer saber
to inform
érsele hac é r sele agua la boca to make someone’ someone’s mouth water
Expre xpres siones con PON PO N ER (Idiom (Idioms s wit with h PON PO N ER ER)) poner al corriente
to inform
poner las cartas sobre la mesa
to lay one’ one’s cards on the table
poner al d í ía a
to bring someone up to date
poner pies en polvorosa
to take to one’ one’s heels
poner al sol
to expose to the sun
poner por las nubes
to praise highly
poner aparte
to set aside
poner los puntos sobre las í las í es es
to dot the i’i’s and cross the t’ t’s
poner nuevo
to humiliate; to reprimand
poner reparos
to make objectionss
poner como un trapo
to wipe the floor with someone
ponerle el cascabel al gato
to stick one’ one’s neck out
poner las cosas en claro to clear things up; to explain ponerse ponerse + adjective adjecti ve
to beco become me (involuntarily)
poner de manifiesto
to make public
poners pone rse e a + infinitive
to begin to
poner en apuros
to put in a jam
ponerse bien
to get well
poner en claro
to make clear
ponerse ponerse colorado colorado
to blush
poner en duda
to question
ponerse de acuerdo
to come to an agreement
poner en marcha
to start; to get going
ponerse de pie
to stand up
ponerse en rid í ículo c ulo
to make look ridiculous
poner el grito en el cielo to complain bitterly poner mala cara
to give a dirty look
poner la mesa
to set the table
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pon é rsele rsele la carne de gallina to get goose pimples
List of Idiomatic Expressions
Expr xpres esiones iones con con TENER TEN ER (I (Idiom dioms s wit with h TENER) TEN ER) tener a bien
to find it convenient
tener mundo
to be sophisticated
tener á tener á ngel ngel
to be charming
tener los nervios de punta
to have one’ one’s nerve on the edge
ños s tener a ñ o
to be old
tener ojo de buen cubero
to have accurate eye
tener buena estrella
to be lucky
tener p á á jaros en la cabeza to have bats in the belfry
tene coraz ó ón de piedra
to be hard-hearted
tener palabra
to keep one’ one’s word
tener calor
to be hot
tener la palabra
to have the floor
tener cuidado
to be careful
tener pensado
to intend to
tener la culpa
to be to blame for
tener un pico de oro
to be very persuasive
tener un disgusto
to have a falling out
tener por + past participle to consider
tener dolor
to have a pain
tener presente
to bear in mind
tener en cuenta
to take into account
tener prisa
to be in a hurry
tener en mente
to have in mind
tener que + infinitive
to have to do something
tener en la punta de la lengua
to have on the tip of one’ one’s tongue
tener que ver con
to have to do with
tener entendido que
to understand that
tener raz ó ón n
to be right
tener é tener é xito xito
to be successful
tener sed
to be thirsty
tener fr í ío o
to be cold
tener sue ñ ño o
to be sleepy
tener ganas de
to feel like
tener suerte
to be lucky
tener gracia
to be funny
üenza nza tener verg ü e
to be ashamed
tener hambre
to be hungry
no tener arreglo
not able to be helped
tener los huesos molidos
to be exhausted
no tener la menor idea
to not have the slightest idea
tener inconveniente
to mind; to object to
no tener nombre
to be unspeakable
ástima tener l á s tima (a alguien)
to feel sorry for someone
no tener un pelo de tonto to be nobody’ nobody’s fool
tener la lengua larga
to have a big mouth
no tener pelos en la lengua to be very outspoken
íos tener l í o s
to have difficulties
no tener pies ni cabeza
to not make any sense
tener lugar
to take place
no tener raz ó ón n
to be wrong
tener madera para
to be made for
no tener remedio
not able to be helped
tener mala cara
to look bad
no tener donde caerse muerto
to be penniless
tener malas pulgas
to be short-tempered
no tenerlas todas consigo
to be anxious; to be worried
tener miedo de
to be afraid of
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Expre xpres siones con TO TO M AR (Idioms (Idiom s wit with h TO TO M AR) tomar a broma
to take as a joke
tomar la palabra
to take the floor
tomar a pecho
to take to heart
tomar partido
to side with
tomar al pie de la letra
to take literally
tomar el pelo
to pull someone’ someone’s leg
tomar algo a bien
to take something well
tomar por su cuenta
to take charge of
tomar algo a mal
to take something badly
ábano ano por las hojas to be off the track tomar el r á b
tomar aliento
to catch one’ one’s breath
tomar las de Villadiego
to take to one’ one’s heels
tomar en serio
to take seriously
tomarse la molestia
to take the trouble
tomar la delantera
to get ahead of
árselo tom á r selo con calma
to take it easy
Otras Expresiones Verbales (Other Verbal Idioms) acabar aca bar de + infinitive infinitiv e
to have just
burlarse de
to make fun of
acabar aca bar por + infinitive
to end up
buscar tres pies al gato
to split hairs
acercarse a
to approach
í no caber en s í
to be beside oneself; to be presumptuous
acordarse de
to remember
caer del cielo
to come out of the blue
alegrarse de
to be glad of
caerse el alma a los pies
to be down in the dumps
alejarse de
to go away from
cambiar de
to change
cambiar de idea
to change one’ one’s mind
andar de boca en boca to be generally known andar de mal en peor
to get worse and worse
carecer de
to lack
andar con rodeos
to beat about the bush
casarse con
to marry
andarse por las ramas
to beat around the bush
codearse con
to hobnob with
apoderarse de
to take possession of
consentir en
to consent to
apoyarse en
to lean on
consistir en
to consist of
consultar con la almohada
to sleep on it
apresurarse apresurarse a + infinitive infinit ive to hurry to aprovecharse de
to take advantage of
contar con
to rely on
armarse un esc á ándalo n dalo
to cause a row
convenir en
to agree on
arrepentirse de
to repent
costar trabajo
to be difficult
asistir a
to attend
cuidar a
to take care of (a person)
asomarse a
to appear at (a window)
cuidar de
to take care of (a thing)
asombrarse de
to be astonished
cuidarse de
to be careful about
atreverse atreverse a + infinitive
to dare to
cumplir con
to fullfill
bajar de
to get off
decir cuatro cuatro verdades
to tell someone a thing or two
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
ío no decir ni p í o
to not say a word
ir por cuenta de la casa
on the house
no decir ni esta boca es m í ía a
to not say a word
ir sobre ruedas
to run smoothly
dejar caer
to drop
ir tirando
to get by
dejar de + infinitive
to fail to; to stop
ir viento en popa
to run smoothly
dejar dicho
to leave word
pensar en
to think of
dejar plantado
to stand someone up
perder cuidado
to not worry
dirigirse a
to address; to make one’ one’s way to
perder de vista
to lose sight of
diponers diponerse e a + infinitive
to get ready to
perder el juicio
to go out of one’ one’s mind
dorar la p í íldora l dora
to sugarcoat something
perder los estribos
to lose one’ one’s poise
dormir a pierna suelta
to sleep like a log
quedar boquiabierto
to be left agape in shock or bewilderment
dormir como un lir ó ón n
to sleep like a dormouse
quedar en
to agree on
dormir la mona
to sleep off a hangover
quedarle algo
to have (something) left
dormirse en los laureles
to rest on one’ one’s laurels
quedarle bien
to fit; to be becoming
quedarse con
to keep
empe ñ ñarse a rse en + infinitive to insist on; to persist in enamorarse de
to fall in love with
quedarse de una pieza
to be dumbfounded
encogerse de hombros
to shrug one’ one’s shoulders
quedarse sin blanca
to be flat broke
enterarse de
to become aware of; to find out out about about
ñas s quemarse las pesta ñ a
to burn the midnight oil
faltarle un tornillo
to have a screw loose
quejarse de
to complain about
fiarse de
to trust
querer decir
to mean
fijarse en
to stare at; to notice
quitarse de encima
to get rid of
gozar de
to enjoy
re í írse r se de
to laugh laugh at; at; to make fun of
reparar en
to look at; to notice
hablar hasta por los codos to talk incessantly no importar un comino
to not give a damn about
romperse la cabeza
to rack one’ one’s brain
insistir en
to insist on
saber + infinitive
to know how to do something
ir a la mitad
to go 50-50
saber de memoria
to know by heart
ir al grano
to get straight to the point
sacar a bailar
to lead out for a dance
ir de compras
to go shopping
sacar de quicio
to drive crazy
ir de juerga
to go on a spree
sacar en claro
to make clear (continued)
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ía sacar una fotograf í a
to take a picture
traerle al retortero
to trouble one by overwork
sacar el jugo
to work (one) hard
traerse entre manos
to be up to something
sacar ventaja de
to profit by
tratar de + infinitive
to try to
salir a
to resemble; to take after
tratarse de
to be a question of
salir adelante
to be successful
tropezar con
to come upon
salir al encuentro
to go to meet
valer la pena
to be worthwhile
salir al paso
to run into; to confront
valer lo que pesa
to be worth its weight in gold
salir bien
to do well
venir a menos
to decay
salir de
to dispose of
venir al suelo
to fall to the ground
salir ganando
to come out a winner
venir de perilla
to come in the nick of time
alirse con la suya
to have one’ one’s own way
venir de perlas
to be just right
saltar a la vista
to be obvious
ver las estrellas
to feel acute pain
servir de
to serve as
ver los cielos abiertos
to see a great opportunity
servir para
to be useful for
verlo todo negro
to be pessimistic
ñar r con so ñ a
to dream of
volver a + infinitive
to . . . again
subir a
to get on (something)
volver a las andadas
to go back to one’ one’s old ways
tardar en + infinitive infinitive
to delay
volver atr á ás s
to go back
temblar de
to tremble with
volver en s í
to regain conciousness
tirar de
to pull
volver loco
to drive crazy
tocar madera
knock on wood
volverle el alma al cuerpo to recover from a shock
tocarle a uno
to be one’ one’s turn
volverse loco
traer a colaci ó ón n
to bring up to discussion
to lose one’ one’s mind
Expresiones con A (Idioms with A) a bordo
on board
a ciegas
blindly
a caballo
on horseback
a ciencia cierta
with complete certainty
a cada instante
at every moment
a cr cr é édito d ito
on credit
a campo raso
in the open
a diestra y siniestra
right and left
a c á ántaros n taros
cats and dogs (to rain)
a diferencia de
in contrast to; unlike
a casa
home (to go)
a duras penas
with great difficulty
a causa de
because of
a escondidas
on the sly
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
a eso de + time
at about + time
a menudo
often
ón de a excepci ó de
with the exception of
a oscuras
in the dark
a favor de
in favor of
a partir de
from a particular moment on
a fin de cuentas
after all
a pesar de
in spite of
a fin de que
in order that
a pie
on foot
a finales
in the latter part of
a pierna suelta
without a care
a fines de
late in
a pocos pasos
at a short distance
a fondo
thoroughly
a primera vista
at first sight
a fuerza de
by dint of
a principios de
at the beginning of; early in
a gatas
on all fours
ósito a prop ó s ito
by the way; on purpose
a gusto
at will
a prueba de
resistant to
a la fuerza
by force
ón de a raz ó de
at the rate of
a la larga
in the long run
a rega ñ ñadientes a dientes
reluctantly
a la moda
in style
a sabiendas
knowingly
a la vez
at the same time
a saltos
by leaps and bounds
a la vuelta de
at the turn of
a solas
alone
a las claras
openly
a tiempo
on time
a las mil maravillas
wonderfully
a tientas
blindly
a lo largo de
alongside
a todo trance
at all costs
a lo lejos
in the distance
a tontas y a locas
helter-skelter
a lo mejor
may be
és de a trav é
through; across
a los cuatro vientos
in all directions
a veces
sometimes
a mano
handmade
al aire libre
in the open air
a mano derecha
on the right-hand side
al amanecer
at daybreak
a mano izquierda
on the left-hand side
al anochecer
at nightfall
a m á s tardar
at the vary latest
al azar
by chance
a mediados de
at about the middle of
al cabo de
at the end of
a medio tiempo
part time
al contado
cash
ía al mediod í a
at noon
al contrario
on the contrary
a menos
unless
ía al d í a
up-to-date; current
a merced
at the mercy of
al d í ía siguiente
next day (continued)
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al fin
finally
al parecer
apparently
al fin y al cabo
in the end; after all
al pie de la letra
word for word
al lado de
next to
al poco rato
shortly
al menos
at least
al principio
at first
al mismo tiempo
at the same time
és al rev é s
inside out
al o í ído d o
confidentially
Expresiones con DE (Idioms with DE) de acuerdo con
in accordance with
de mal en peor
from bad to worse
de ahora en adelante
from now on
de mala gana
unwillingly
de antemano
ahead of time
de manera que
so that
de aqu í en í en adelante
from now on
de memoria
by heart
de arriba a abajo
from top to bottom
de moda
in fashion
de buena fe
in good faith
de modo
so that
de buena gana
willingly
de nada
you are welcome
de buenas a primeras
on the spur of the moment
ún modo de ning ú
by no means
de cabo a rabo
from beginning to end
de nuevo
again
de cuando en cuando
from time to time
de otro modo
otherwise
de este modo
in this way
de par en par
wide open
de frente
straight ahead
de pie
standing
de hecho
in fact
de prisa
rapidly; in a hurry
de golpe
suddenly
de pronto
suddenly
de hoy en adelante
from now on
de puntillas
on tiptoe
de improviso
unexpectedly
de repente
suddenly
de lo contrario
otherwise
de repuesto
spare; extra
de lo lindo
very much; a great deal
de rodillas
kneeling
de sobra
too many
de una vez
once and for all
de sol a sol
from sunrise to sunset
de vacaciones
on vacation
de s ú bito bito
suddenly
de veras
really; really; truly
de todos modos
anyhow
de vez en cuando
from time to time
de un momento a otro
at any moment
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
Expresiones con EN (Idioms with EN) en adelante
in the future
en lugar de
instead of
en balde
in vain
en marcha
under way
en breve
in short
en medio de
in the middle of
en broma
jokingly
en ninguna parte
nowhere
en busca de
in search of
en otras palabras
in other words
en cambio
on the other hand
en pleno d í ía a
in broad daylight
en casa
at home
en poder de
in the hands of
en caso de
in case of
en presencia de
in the presence of
en conjunto
as a whole
en punto
on the dot
en contra de
contrary to
en realidad
as a matter of fact
en cuanto
as soon as
en resumen
in summary
en cuanto a
in regard to
en seguida
at once, immediately
en efecto
in fact; actually
en suma
in short
en el acto
right away
en tanto
in the meantime
en el fondo
deep down
en todas partes
everywhere
en todo caso
in any event about; in connection with
en el momento preciso in the nick of the time en espera de
awaiting
en torno a
en estado
pregnant
en un abrir y cerrar de ojos in the twinkling of an eye
