All language learners know that the best way to impress a native speaker is by coming out with fancy idioms and quirky expressions that will really blow their socks off! Weaving in more of these elaborate sayings into your Spanish will make you stand out from the pack and sound like a natural. On your next trip to Spain or Latin America, make sure to come out with one of these expressions…

 

Verlo todo de color rosa – to see everything in pink

After a year to forget, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel and we’re all trying to stay positive about the months ahead. When someone is excessively optimistic, “verlo todo de color rosa” is the expression to use.

 

 

Buscar tres pies al gato – to look for three feet on a cat

We all know someone who likes to over-complicate things unnecessarily… in Spanish you would say they are ‘looking for three feet on a cat’. We can’t quite get our head around this strange idiom, but it’s a very useful one to have in your repertoire!

 

Lavarse las manos – to wash your hands

At this point, we know all too well about the importance of washing your hands regularly. Funnily enough however, ‘lavarse los manos‘ also means ‘to avoid taking any responsibility’, so be sure to use this saying in the right context to avoid confusion!

 

 

No tener ni pies ni cabeza – to neither have feet or a head

Another classic example that you’ll be using a lot in no time, “no tener ni pies ni cabeza” means ‘to not make sense’. Literally translated as ‘to neither have feet or a head’, this expression doesn’t make a lot of sense either.

 

Ser pan comido – to be eaten bread

In every language there is always an equivalent to ‘a piece of cake’ or to describe something that is very easy. In Spanish, they literally say that it is ‘eaten bread’ and it’s a simple but effective expression to use for any language learners!

 

 

Tomar el pelo – to take your hair

When you are teasing and making fun of one of your close friends, you would say that you are pulling their leg, or ‘taking their hair’ in Spanish.

 

Estar hecho un ají – to be made a chilli

If you have had a bad day at work or are getting angry about something, ‘estar hecho un ají‘ might come in handy for when you’re feeling red hot.

 

Estar más sano que una pera – to be healthier than a pear

During lockdown, a lot of us have turned into couch potatoes (I for one!) and have spent more and more time in front of screens. At the same time, there are plenty of exercise junkies out there who have turned to working out or running to fill the time at home. In English, we would say they are ‘fit as a fiddle’, whereas in Spanish they would be known as ‘being healthier than a pear’.

 

 

No tener pelos en la lengua – to not have hairs on your tongue

British people are renowned for being overly polite and not speaking their mind a lot of the time. However, the Spanish language is more direct and people generally say it how it is…”no tienen pelos en la lengua“!

 

Ser uña y carne – to be fingernail and flesh

Everyone has a BFF or someone they are inseparable from, and in Spanish they would say that they are ‘fingernail and flesh’ as opposed to ‘two peas in a pod’.

 

 

Se me hace agua la boca – to make one’s mouth water

This expression is universal and pretty much the same in every language, however it’s an important one to know for when you’re tucking into some delicious tapas and want to let the world know how mouth-watering it is!

 

Echar agua al mar – to chuck water into the sea

What’s something really pointless? Chucking water into the sea! This logical expression is a funny yet impressive Spanish saying to weave into your language and will undoubtedly draw a lot of praise.

 

 

Want to learn more of these handy expressions? Why not sign up to one of our online or face-to-face Spanish courses starting next month! We have courses for all abilities available throughout the week and you can find out more here.