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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 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 m ake know n dar gritos to shout
dar a luz to give birth dar gusto to please
dar un abrazo to em brace dar la hora to strike the hour
dar asco to disgust dar gato por liebre to gyp; to swindle
dar la bienvenida to w elcom e dar las gracias to thank
dar brincos to jum p dar guerra to cause a lot of trouble
dar los buenos to say good dar largas to prolong an affair
(días, tardes) (m orning, afternoon)
dar calabazas to jilt; to flunk dar lata to m ake a nuisance of
oneself
dar la cara to take responsibility dar lugar a to give cause for
dar carta blanca to give som eone a free hand dar una mano to lend a hand
dar con to com e upon; to find dar lo mismo to m ake no difference
dar con la puerta to slam the door dar la nota to stand out
en las narices in one’s face
dar cuenta de to give a report on dar pena a to aggrieve
dar cuerda a to w ind 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 w ildly
dar de palos to beat; to thrash dar parte to inform
dar en to strike against; to hit dar un paseo to take a w alk
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dar por + past participle 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 w ithdraw ; to drop out
dar por sentado to take for granted darse í nfulas to put on airs
dar raz ón to give account darse la mano to shake hands
dar la raz ón to agree w ith darse por + past participle 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 d á rsela a uno to m ake a fool out of
som eone
dar voces to shout d á rselas de to pose as; to claim to be
dar vueltas a to think som ething over
Expresiones con ECHAR (Idioms with ECHAR)
echar a + infinitive to start to echar en cara to throw in one’s face
echar a perder to ruin; to spoil echar en el olvido to forget com pletely
echar abajo to dem olish echar flores to flatter
echar al correo to m ail echar mano a to lay hands on
echar la bronca a uno to give som eone echar ra í ces to take root
a dressing dow n
echar chispas to be furious; to be angry echar todo a rodar to m ake a fizzle
echar la culpa to blam e echarse atr á s to lean backw ards; to retract
echar de comer to feed (anim als) echarse a dormir to lie dow n to sleep
echar de menos to m iss ech á rselas de to boast of being
Expresiones con ESTAR (Idioms with ESTAR)
est á despejado it’s clear estar al corr iente de to be up to date
est á nublado 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 hom e
estar a punto de to be about to estar con el alma en vilo to be in suspense
estar a sus anchas to be com fortable estar conforme con to be in agreem ent w ith
estar al caer to be about to happen estar de acuerdo to be in agreem ent
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estar de buen humor to be in a good m ood estar en el limbo to be lost
estar de mal humor to be in a bad m ood estar en todo to have a finger in everything
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
em otionally
estar de sobra to be in excess estar hecho polvo to be w orn 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 en brazos de Morfeo to be sleeping estar loco de remate to be com pletely crazy
estar en condiciones to be in good shape estar para + infinitive to be about to
estar en forma to be in good shape estar pez to ignore (som ething)
estar en la luna to have one’s head estar sin blanca to be flat brokein the clouds
estar en las nubes to daydream
Expresiones con HABER (Idioms with HABER)
haber de + infinitive to be supposed to; haber lodo to be m uddy
to have to
haber gato encerrado there is som ething fishy haber neblina to be foggy
haber sol to be sunny hay luna there is m oonlight
haber polvo to be dusty hay que + infinitive it is necessary; one m ust
Expresiones con HACER (Idioms with HACER)
hace + time expression + ago hacer calor to be w arm
que + preterite
hace mucho tiempo long tim e ago hacer caso de to pay attention to; to notice
hace poco a little w hile ago hacer cola to line up
hacer su agosto to m ake a killing hacer da ñ o to harm ; to dam age
hacer alarde to boast hacer de to w ork as; to act as
hacer alusi ón to allude hacer de cuenta to pretend; to act as though
hacer a ñ icos to break to pieces hacer de nuevo to do over
hacer buen tiempo to be good w eather hacer de las suyas to be up to one’s old tricks
hacer buenas migas to hit it off w ith som eone hacer de tripas coraz ón to pluck up courage
hacer burla de to m ake fun of hacer falta to be in need of
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
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hacer el favor to do a favor hacer se ñ as to signal
hacer frente to face; to take hacer viento to be w indy
the responsability
hacer fresco to be cool (w eather) hacer un viaje to take a trip
hacer fr í o to be cold (w eather) hacer una visita to pay a visit
hacer fuerza to exert force hacerse to becom e
hacer juego to m atch hacerse con to provide oneself w ith
hacer el papel de to play the role of hacerse ilusiones to fool oneself
hacer mal tiempo to be bad w eather hacerse de rogar to like to be coaxed
hacer mofa to m ock; to scoff at hacerse tarde to becom e late
hacer morisquetas to play pranks hacerse da ñ o to hurt oneself
hacer las paces to m ake peace hacerse de la to turn a blind eye
vista gorda
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 dum b
hacer saber to inform hac é rsele agua la boca to m ake som eone’s m outh w ater
Expresiones con PONER (Idioms with PONER)
poner al corriente to inform poner las cartas to lay one’s cards
sobre la mesa on the table
poner al d í a to bring som eone up to date poner pies en polvorosa to take to 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 to dot the i’s and
sobre lasí es cross the t’s
poner nuevo to hum iliate; to reprim and poner reparos to m ake objectionss
poner como un trapo to w ipe the floor ponerle el cascabel to stick one’s neck out
w ith som eone al gato
poner las cosas en claro to clear things up; to explain ponerse + adjective to becom e (involuntarily)
poner de manifiesto to m ake public ponerse a + infinitive to begin to
poner en apuros to put in a jam ponerse bien to get w ell
poner en claro to m ake clear ponerse colorado to blush
poner en duda to question ponerse de acuerdo to com e to an agreem ent
poner en marcha to start; to get going ponerse de pie to stand up
poner el grito en el cielo to com plain bitterly ponerse en rid í culo to m ake look ridiculous
poner mala cara to give a dirty look pon é rsele la carne de gallina to get goose pim ples
poner la mesa to set the table
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Expresiones con TENER (Idioms with TENER)
tener a bien to find it convenient tener mundo to be sophisticated
tener á ngel to be charm ing tener los nervios to have one’s nerve on
de punta the edge
tener a ñ os to be old tener ojo de buen cubero to have accurate eye
tener buena estrella to be lucky tener p á jaros en la cabeza to have bats in the belfry
tene coraz ón de piedra to be hard-hearted tener palabra to keep one’s w ord
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 blam e 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 m ind
tener en cuenta to take into account tener prisa to be in a hurry
tener en mente to have in m ind tener que + infinitive to have to do som ething
tener en la punta to have on the tip tener que ver con to have to do w ith
de la lengua of one’s tongue
tener entendido que to understand that tener raz ón to be right
tener é xito to be successful tener sed to be thirsty
tener fr í o to be cold tener sue ñ o to be sleepy
tener ganas de to feel like tener suerte to be lucky
tener gracia to be funny tener verg ü enza to be asham ed
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 m ind; to object to no tener nombre to be unspeakable
tener l á stima (a alguien) to feel sorry for som eone no tener un pelo de tonto to be nobody’s fool
tener la lengua larga to have a big m outh no tener pelos en la lengua to be very outspoken
tener l í os to have difficulties no tener pies ni cabeza to not m ake any sense
tener lugar to take place no tener raz ón to be w rong
tener madera para to be m ade for no tener remedio not able to be helped
tener mala cara to look bad no tener donde to be penniless
caerse muerto
tener malas pulgas to be short-tem pered no tenerlas todas consigo to be anxious;
to be w orried
tener miedo de to be afraid of
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Expresiones con TOMAR (Idioms with TOMAR)
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 w ith
tomar al pie de la letra to take literally tomar el pelo to pull som eone’s leg
tomar algo a bien to take som ething w ell tomar por su cuenta to take charge of
tomar algo a mal to take som ething badly tomar el r á bano por las hojas to be off the track
tomar aliento to catch one’s breath tomar las de Villadiego to take to one’s heels
tomar en serio to take seriously tomarse la molestia to take the trouble
tomar la delantera to get ahead of tom á rselo con calma to take it easy
Otras Expresiones Verbales (Other Verbal Idioms)
acabar de + infinitive to have just burlarse de to m ake fun of
acabar por + infinitive to end up buscar tres pies al gato to split hairs
acercarse a to approach no caber en s í to be beside oneself; to
be presum ptuous
acordarse de to rem em ber caer del cielo to com e out of the blue
alegrarse de to be glad of caerse el alma a los pies to be dow n in the dum ps
alejarse de to go aw ay from cambiar de to change
andar de boca en boca to be generally know n cambiar de idea to change one’s m ind
andar de mal en peor to get w orse and w orse carecer de to lack
andar con rodeos to beat about the bush casarse con to m arry
andarse por las ramas to beat around the bush codearse con to hobnob w ith
apoderarse de to take possession of consentir en to consent to
apoyarse en to lean on consistir en to consist of
apresurarse a + infinitive to hurry to consultar con la almohada to sleep on it
aprovecharse de to take advantage of contar con to rely on
armarse un esc á ndalo 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 w indow ) cuidar de to take care of (a thing)
asombrarse de to be astonished cuidarse de to be careful about
atreverse a + infinitive to dare to cumplir con to fullfill
bajar de to get off decir cuatro verdades to tell som eone a thing
or tw o
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
no decir ni p í o to not say a w ord
no decir ni esta to not say a w ord
boca es m í a
dejar caer to drop
dejar de + infinitive to fail to; to stop
dejar dicho to leave w ord
dejar plantado to stand som eone up
dirig irse a to address; to m ake one’s
w ay to
diponerse a + infinitive to get ready to
dorar la p í ldora to sugarcoat som ething
dormir a pierna suelta to sleep like a log
dormir como un lir ón to sleep like a dorm ouse
dormir la mona to sleep off a hangover
dormirse en los laureles to rest on one’s laurels
empe ñ arse en + infinitive to insist on; to persist in
enamorarse de to fall in love w ith
encogerse de hombros to shrug one’s shoulders
enterarse de to becom e aw are of;to find out about
faltarle un tornillo to have a screw loose
fiarse de to trust
fijarse en to stare at; to notice
gozar de to enjoy
hablar hasta por los codos to talk incessantly
no importar un comino to not give a dam n about
insistir en to insist on
ir a la mitad to go 50-50
ir al grano to get straight to the point
ir de compras to go shopping
ir de juerga to go on a spree
ir por cuenta de la casa on the house
ir sobre ruedas to run sm oothly
ir tirando to get by
ir viento en popa to run sm oothly
pensar en to think of
perder cuidado to not w orry
perder de vista to lose sight of
perder el juicio to go out of one’s m ind
perder los estribos to lose one’s poise
quedar boquiabierto to be left agape in shock
or bew ilderm ent
quedar en to agree on
quedarle algo to have (som ething) left
quedarle bien to fit; to be becom ing
quedarse con to keep
quedarse de una pieza to be dum bfounded
quedarse sin blanca to be flat broke
quemarse las pesta ñ as to burn the m idnight oil
quejarse de to com plain about
querer decir to m ean
quitarse de encima to get rid of
re í rse de to laugh at; to m ake fun of
reparar en to look at; to notice
romperse la cabeza to rack one’s brain
saber + infinitive to know how to do
som ething
saber de memoria to know by heart
sacar a bailar to lead out for a dance
sacar de quicio to drive crazy
sacar en claro to m ake clear
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Expresiones con A (Idioms with A)
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sacar una fotograf í a to take a picture
sacar el jugo to w ork (one) hard
sacar ventaja de to profit by
salir a to resem ble; to take after
salir adelante to be successful
salir al encuentro to go to m eet
salir al paso to run into; to confront
salir bien to do w ell
salir de to dispose of
salir ganando to com e out a w inner
alirse con la suya to have one’s ow n w ay
saltar a la vista to be obvious
servir de to serve as
servir para to be useful for
so ñ ar con to dream of
subir a to get on (som ething)
tardar en + infinitive to delay
temblar de to trem ble w ith
tirar de to pull
tocar madera knock on w ood
tocarle a uno to be one’s turn
traer a colaci ón to bring up to discussion
traerle al retortero to trouble one by
overw ork
traerse entre manos to be up to som ething
tratar de + infinitive to try to
tratarse de to be a question of
tropezar con to com e upon
valer la pena to be w orthw hile
valer lo que pesa to be w orth its weight in
gold
venir a menos to decay
venir al suelo to fall to the ground
venir de perilla to com e in the nick of tim e
venir de perlas to be just right
ver las estrellas to feel acute pain
ver los cielos abiertos to see a great opportunity
verlo todo negro to be pessim istic
volver a + infinitive to . . . again
volver a las andadas to go back to one’s old w ays
volver atr á s to go back
volver en s í to regain conciousness
volver loco to drive crazy
volverle el alma al cuerpo to recover from a shock
volverse loco to lose one’s m ind
a bordo on board
a caballo on horseback
a cada instante at every m om ent
a campo raso in the open
a c á ntaros cats and dogs (to rain)
a casa hom e (to go)
a causa de because of
a ciegas blindly
a ciencia cierta w ith com plete certainty
a cr é dito on credit
a diestra y siniestra right and left
a diferencia de in contrast to; unlike
a duras penas w ith great difficulty
a escondidas on the sly
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List of Idiomatic Expressions
a eso de + time at about + time
a excepci ón de w ith the exception of
a favor de in favor of
a fin de cuentas after all
a fin de que in order that
a finales in the latter part of
a fines de late in
a fondo thoroughly
a fuerza de by dint of
a gatas on all fours
a gusto at w ill
a la fuerza by force
a la larga in the long run
a la moda in style
a la vez at the sam e tim e
a la vuelta de at the turn of
a las claras openly
a las mil maravillas w onderfully
a lo largo de alongside
a lo lejos in the distance
a lo mejor m ay be
a los cuatro vientos in all directions
a mano handm ade
a mano derecha on the right-hand side
a mano izquierda on the left-hand side
a m á s tardar at the vary latest
a mediados de at about the m iddle of
a medio tiempo part tim e
al mediod í a at noon
a menos unless
a merced at the m ercy of
a menudo often
a oscuras in the dark
a partir de from a particular m om ent on
a pesar de in spite of
a pie on foot
a pierna suelta w ithout a care
a pocos pasos at a short distance
a primera vista at first sight
a principios de at the beginning of; early in
a prop ósito by the w ay; on purpose
a prueba de resistant to
a raz ón de at the rate of
a rega ñ adientes reluctantly
a sabiendas know ingly
a saltos by leaps and bounds
a solas alone
a tiempo on tim e
a tientas blindly
a todo trance at all costs
a tontas y a locas helter-skelter
a trav é s de through; across
a veces som etim es
al aire libre in the open air
al amanecer at daybreak
al anochecer at nightfall
al azar by chance
al cabo de at the end of
al contado cash
al contrario on the contrary
al d í a up-to-date; current
al d í a siguiente next day
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Expresiones con DE (Idioms with DE)
de acuerdo con in accordance w ith de mal en peor from bad to w orse
de ahora en adelante from now on de mala gana unw illingly
de antemano ahead of tim e de manera que so that
de aqu 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 w illingly de nada you are w elcom e
de buenas a primeras on the spur of the m om ent de ning ú n modo by no m eans
de cabo a rabo from beginning to end de nuevo again
de cuando en cuando from tim e to tim e de otro modo otherwise
de este modo in this way de par en par w ide 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 m uch; a great deal de rodillas kneeling
de sobra too m any de una vez once and for all
de sol a sol from sunrise to sunset de vacaciones on vacation
de s ú bito suddenly de veras really; truly
de todos modos anyhow de vez en cuando from tim e to tim e
de un momento a otro at any m om ent
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al fin finally
al fin y al cabo in the end; after all
al lado de next to
al menos at least
al mismo t iempo at the sam e tim e
al o í do confidentially
al parecer apparently
al pie de la letra w ord for w ord
al poco rato shortly
al principio at first
al rev é s inside out
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Expresiones con EN (Idioms with EN)
en adelante in the future en lugar de instead of
en balde in vain en marcha under w ay
en breve in short en medio de in the m iddle of
en broma jokingly en ninguna parte now here
en busca de in search of en otras palabras in other w ords
en cambio on the other hand en pleno d í a in broad daylight
en casa at hom e en poder de in the hands of
en caso de in case of en presencia de in the presence of
en conjunto as a w hole en punto on the dot
en contra de contrary to en realidad as a m atter of fact
en cuanto as soon as en resumen in sum m ary
en cuanto a in regard to en seguida at once, im m ediately
en efecto in fact; actually en suma in short
en el acto right aw ay en tanto in the m eantim e
en el fondo deep down en todas partes everyw here
en el momento preciso in the nick of the tim e en todo caso in any event
en espera de aw aiting en torno a about; in connection w ith
en estado pregnant en un abrir y cerrar de ojos in the tw inkling of an eye
en esto at this point en un santiam é n in the tw inkling of an eye
en fin in conclusion en vano in vain
en frente de in front of en vez de instead of
en general by and large en vigor in force
en la actualidad at the present tim e en vista de since
en libertad free en voz alta aloud
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