I covers 30 Spanish idioms that capture essential cultural expressions and practical language tools for language learners, educators, and enthusiasts. I presents 25 expressions unique to Spanish culture alongside 5 idioms shared with French, each paired with its English equivalent.
Drawing on findings from linguistic studies at the University of Salamanca, this resource provides accurate translations and clear insights into everyday language. It is benefit for you for mastering idiomatic expressions while deepening cultural understanding.
Spanish Idioms and Their English Equivalents
| Spanish Idiom | English Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Más vale tarde que nunca | Better late than never |
| No hay mal que por bien no venga | Every cloud has a silver lining |
| A lo hecho, pecho | Face the consequences |
| Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente | Out of sight, out of mind |
| Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo | Experience outweighs cunning |
| El que no llora, no mama | Those who do not ask get nothing |
| Entre la espada y la pared | Between a rock and a hard place |
| A mal tiempo, buena cara | Keep a good face in adversity |
| Vale su peso en oro | Worth its weight in gold |
| Echar leña al fuego | Add fuel to the fire |
| Poner los puntos sobre las íes | Dot the i’s |
| Estar en las nubes | Be daydreaming |
| Llevarse el gato al agua | Achieve success against the odds |
| Tirar la casa por la ventana | Spend extravagantly |
| Buscarle tres pies al gato | Overcomplicate matters |
| Dar en el clavo | Hit the nail on the head |
| Hacer la vista gorda | Turn a blind eye |
| Estar como una cabra | Act irrationally |
| Ver las estrellas | See stars |
| Salir de Guatemala y entrar en Guatepeor | Go from bad to worse |
| Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando | A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush |
| Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta | Overextending leads to little accomplishment |
| Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos | Foster ingratitude |
| Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres | Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are |
| A caballo regalado no le mires el diente | Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth |
| Matar dos pájaros de un tiro | Kill two birds with one stone |
| Costar un ojo de la cara | Cost an arm and a leg |
| No tener pelos en la lengua | Speak plainly |
| De tal palo, tal astilla | Like father, like son |
| Tomar el toro por los cuernos | Take the bull by the horns |
Spanish Idioms
Más vale tarde que nunca
Meaning: Delayed action holds more value than no action.
Example: Spanish: “Llegué tarde a la reunión, pero más vale tarde que nunca.” English: “I arrived late to the meeting, but better late than never.”
No hay mal que por bien no venga
Meaning: A negative situation may produce a positive result.
Example: Spanish: “Perdí el tren, pero no hay mal que por bien no venga.” English: “I missed the train, but every cloud has a silver lining.”
A lo hecho, pecho
Meaning: Accept the consequences of one’s actions.
Example: Spanish: “Cometió un error y a lo hecho, pecho.” English: “He made a mistake and must face the consequences.”
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente
Meaning: What is unseen does not affect feelings.
Example: Spanish: “No supe del problema; ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.” English: “I did not know about the problem; out of sight, out of mind.”
Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo
Meaning: Experience provides wisdom beyond natural ability.
Example: Spanish: “Confío en sus consejos, pues más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.” English: “I trust his advice, as experience is a great teacher.”
El que no llora, no mama
Meaning: One must express needs to obtain help.
Example: Spanish: “Pidió apoyo porque el que no llora, no mama.” English: “He asked for support because those who do not ask receive nothing.”
Entre la espada y la pared
Meaning: To be in a difficult situation with limited choices.
Example: Spanish: “Estaba entre la espada y la pared al tomar la decisión.” English: “He was between a rock and a hard place when making the decision.”
A mal tiempo, buena cara
Meaning: Maintain a positive attitude during hardship.
Example: Spanish: “Durante la crisis, mostró a mal tiempo, buena cara.” English: “During the crisis, he kept a positive attitude.”
Vale su peso en oro
Meaning: Something that is extremely valuable.
Example: Spanish: “Su experiencia vale su peso en oro.” English: “His experience is extremely valuable.”
Echar leña al fuego
Meaning: To worsen an already difficult situation.
Example: Spanish: “Sus comentarios echaron leña al fuego.” English: “His comments added fuel to the fire.”
Poner los puntos sobre las íes
Meaning: To clarify details precisely.
Example: Spanish: “El director puso los puntos sobre las íes en la presentación.” English: “The director clarified the details in the presentation.”
Estar en las nubes
Meaning: To be distracted or lost in thought.
Example: Spanish: “Durante la clase, estuvo en las nubes.” English: “He was distracted during class.”
Llevarse el gato al agua
Meaning: To succeed despite difficulties.
Example: Spanish: “Ganó el concurso y se llevó el gato al agua.” English: “He won the contest and succeeded against the odds.”
Tirar la casa por la ventana
Meaning: To spend money extravagantly.
Example: Spanish: “Celebraron la boda y tiraron la casa por la ventana.” English: “They celebrated the wedding extravagantly.”
Buscarle tres pies al gato
Meaning: To complicate a simple matter unnecessarily.
Example: Spanish: “Analizó la situación y buscó tres pies al gato.” English: “He overcomplicated the situation.”
Dar en el clavo
Meaning: To hit the mark exactly.
Example: Spanish: “Su idea dio en el clavo.” English: “His idea hit the mark.”
Hacer la vista gorda
Meaning: To ignore a misdeed deliberately.
Example: Spanish: “El árbitro hizo la vista gorda ante la infracción.” English: “The referee ignored the foul.”
Estar como una cabra
Meaning: To act in an eccentric or crazy way.
Example: Spanish: “El vecino está como una cabra.” English: “The neighbor behaves in an eccentric manner.”
Ver las estrellas
Meaning: To experience a sudden impact that causes disorientation.
Example: Spanish: “Después del golpe, vio las estrellas.” English: “After the hit, he was momentarily disoriented.”
Salir de Guatemala y entrar en Guatepeor
Meaning: To move from a bad situation to a worse one.
Example: Spanish: “El cambio de trabajo fue salir de Guatemala y entrar en Guatepeor.” English: “The job change took him from bad to worse.”
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando
Meaning: It is preferable to retain a sure thing rather than risk it for more.
Example: Spanish: “Aceptó la oferta, recordando que más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.” English: “He accepted the offer, knowing a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta
Meaning: Taking on too many tasks results in poor performance.
Example: Spanish: “Inició varios proyectos; quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta.” English: “He started several projects; overreaching yields little.”
Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos
Meaning: Those supported may repay with ingratitude.
Example: Spanish: “Ayudó a su compañero, y cría cuervos te sacarán los ojos.” English: “He helped his colleague, but was later betrayed.”
Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres
Meaning: Your company reflects your character.
Example: Spanish: “Observa a sus amigos; dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.” English: “Look at his friends; they reflect his character.”
A caballo regalado no le mires el diente
Meaning: Do not scrutinize a gift.
Example: Spanish: “Aceptó el libro sin críticas, porque a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.” English: “He accepted the book without criticism, knowing not to scrutinize a gift.”
Spanish and French Idioms
Matar dos pájaros de un tiro
Meaning: To achieve two outcomes with one action. The French equivalent is “Faire d’une pierre deux coups.”
Example: Spanish: “Resolvió dos problemas; matar dos pájaros de un tiro.” English: “He solved two problems; he achieved two results with one action.”
Costar un ojo de la cara
Meaning: Something is extremely expensive. The French equivalent is “Coûter les yeux de la tête.”
Example: Spanish: “El viaje costó un ojo de la cara.” English: “The trip was extremely expensive.”
No tener pelos en la lengua
Meaning: To speak in a direct and frank manner. The French equivalent is “Ne pas avoir sa langue dans sa poche.”
Example: Spanish: “El profesor no tiene pelos en la lengua.” English: “The professor speaks in a frank manner.”
De tal palo, tal astilla
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents. The French equivalent is “Tel père, tel fils.”
Example: Spanish: “Su actitud confirma que de tal palo, tal astilla.” English: “His attitude shows that like father, like son.”
Tomar el toro por los cuernos
Meaning: To confront a difficult situation directly. The French equivalent is “Prendre le taureau par les cornes.”
Example: Spanish: “Decidió tomar el toro por los cuernos durante la crisis.” English: “He decided to confront the crisis directly.”
What are Spanish idioms?
Spanish idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings extend beyond the literal interpretation of their words, reflecting historical and cultural influences.
Why do Spanish idioms matter?
They offer insights into cultural heritage and everyday language use, as supported by research from linguistic departments at leading universities.
How can I learn Spanish idioms?
Regular practice with authentic materials, participation in language courses, and use of trusted resources like Lit-devices.com contribute to effective learning of these expressions.
What distinguishes Spanish idioms from literal expressions?
These idioms encapsulate cultural nuances and historical context that literal expressions do not convey, providing depth to language mastery.
For further learning on idioms and literary devices, visit Lit-devices.com for writing courses and literary devices courses also E-books and other writing books, notes.