15 Easy Spanish Idioms That Every Beginner Should Understand

Why should you care about knowing idioms? Because if you didn’t learn them, you wouldn’t know what this means: I need to hit the hay since I’ve got to hit the road early in the morning.  To a language learner, this can be a confusing sentence, as they often want to translate words by using their literal definition. Doing so will only leave you lost in conversation.

These English words don’t literally mean someone will “hit” the bed and then “hit” the road. They are idioms; phrases used in colloquial speech that are not translated literally.

Let’s explore 15 easy Spanish idioms from Latin America that every beginner should know. This will improve your language skills and enhance your understanding.

Don’t miss a thing! In this article, you will learn new Spanish idioms, their meanings, and English translations. ¡Empecemos!

15 Spanish Idioms To Learn Today

These Spanish idioms will prepare you for your next conversation in Spanish. They are mostly used in Latin American Spanish and are super helpful. Good luck! 

1. Cruzarse de brazos

Direct Translation:  To cross your arms

English Version: To sit there with your arms crossed and do nothing

Example: Roberto – Alguien se robó mi carro ayer, ¿oíste algo?
Sam –  Oí mucho ruido, pero estaba ocupado.
Roberto – ¡Qué lástima, te has sentado ahí con los brazos cruzados!

Roberto – Someone stole my car yesterday; did you hear anything?
Sam – I heard a lot of noise, but I was busy
Roberto – Too bad you sat there with your arms crossed and did nothing!

2. Ir al grano

Literal Translation: Go to the point

English Version: Get to the point

Example: ¡Por favor, vaya al grano de la conversación!
Please get to the point of the conversation!

3. Dar la cara

Literal Translation: To give the face

English Version: To face the music

Examples: No quiero decirles a mis padres mi decisión sobre la universidad. Pero, es hora de dar la cara.
I don’t want to tell my parents my decision about university. But, time to face the music.

4. No todo lo que brilla es oro

Literal Translation: Not all that shines is gold.

English Version: Not all that glitters is gold

Example: Maria – ¡Mamá! Conocí un chico muy amable.
Mama – Tranquila mi amor, no todo lo que brilla es oro.

Maria – Mom! I met a really nice boy.
Mom – Calm down my love, not all that glitters is gold.

5. Ser uña y mugre

Literal Translation: To be nail and dirt

English Version: To be best friends. 

Example: Jen y Amy son uña y mugre.
Jen and Amy are the best of friends.

6. Tirar la casa por la ventana

Literal Translation: To throw the house out the window

English Version: Spare no expense

Example: Ellos gastaron mucho dinero en la fiesta. ¡Van a tirar la casa por la ventana!
They spent a lot of money on the party. They are going to spare no expense! 

7. Mejor tarde que nunca

Literal Translation: Better late than never.

English Version: Better late than never.

Example: Llegué tarde a la fiesta. ¡Pero mejor tarde que nunca!
I arrived late to the party, but better late than never!

8. Meter la nariz

Literal Translation: To put the nose

English Version: Don’t stick your nose in someone else’s business.

Example: Santi – Mira, Ana y Juan estaban discutiendo durante su cita.
Maya – Basta Santi, no meta la nariz donde no debe.

Santi – Look, Ana and Juan got into an argument during their date.
Maya – Enough Santi; don’t stick your nose in their business.

9. Caer la cara de la vergüenza

Literal Translation: To fall the face of shame

English Version: To hang your head in shame

Example: Tina – Ay, había un artículo en la revista sobre amores entre dos actores.
Marta – Se les debería caer la cara de la vergüenza por publicar las vidas personales de otros.

Tina – Oh, there was a magazine article about an affair between two actors.
Marta – They should hang their heads in shame because they publish the personal lives of others.

10. Tener la cabeza en su sitio

Literal Translation: Keep your head in place

English Version: To keep your head on straight

Example: Hana es madura y lista. Ella recibió una oferta muy buena de esa compañía. Ella tiene la cabeza en su sitio. 
Hana is mature and smart. She got a very good offer from that company. She has her head on straight.

11. Ser la mano derecha de alguien

Literal Translation: To be the right hand of someone.

English Version: To be my right-hand man.

Example: Mi vecino siempre me ayuda. Él es mi mano derecha. 
My neighbor always helps me. He’s my right-hand man.

12. Costar un ojo de la cara

Literal Translation: To cost an eye of your face

English Version: To cost an arm and a leg

Example: Ximena – ¿Cuánto cuesta la casa con la hermosa vista?
Joel – Un millón de dólares.
Ximena – ¡Esa casa cuesta un ojo de la cara! 

Ximena – How much did the house with a view cost?
Joel – A million dollars.
Ximena – That house cost you an arm and a leg!

13. Tener mente de pollo

Literal Translation: To have a mind of a chicken

English Version: Bird-brained

Example: ¿Miguel está tarde otra vez? ¡Pienso que tiene mente de pollo!
Miguel’s late again?! I think he’s a bird brain!

14. No Tener Pies Ni Cabeza

Literal Translation: To have neither feet nor head

English Version: To make no sense

Example:  ¿Por qué terminó con la chica rica de la buena familia? No tiene pies ni cabeza.
Why did he break up with the rich girl from a good family? It makes no sense at all!     

15. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente

Literal Translation: Sleeping shrimps get carried by the current

English Version: If you snooze, you lose

Example: Necesitas levantarte temprano mañana y prepárate para la entrevista. ¡Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente!
You need to get up early tomorrow and prepare for the interview. If you snooze, you lose!

In Case You Missed the Boat

Did you catch that idiom? There isn’t actually a boat to miss, but you may have missed seeing our previous articles on idioms.

Here are references to amazing articles that will teach you more Spanish idioms:

• 20 Spanish Idioms – Study up on this list of idioms so you can take your Spanish to another level.  
• Common Spanish Idioms – Some idioms are easier to understand because they exist in Spanish and English. While others….not so much. Commit these idioms to memory and improve your Spanish.
• Body Part Idioms – Scroll down half way in this article on body parts for Spanish idioms that refer to body parts.

With this new knowledge, you will be able to habla hasta por los codos en español (talk a lot in Spanish).

¡Ya sabes más!

Now that you have learned Spanish idioms, you can communicate in Spanish even better than before! Sign up for a free trial class today and start using these idioms with a native Spanish-speaking teacher at Homeschool Spanish Academy!

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