If you’re a GCSE or A-level student preparing for your Spanish speaking exams, using Spanish idioms is a quick and easy trick for sounding more like a native speaker.
Memorising a list of set phrases can also help you to feel confident on the day of your speaking test: if you find that you've quedado en blanco (your mind has gone blank) thanks to exam nerves, you can draw on these handy sayings to keep the conversation going!
In this guide, you’ll find 50 of the most common Spanish idioms complete with their literal meaning, figurative meaning, and examples. Don't worry, they're all safe to use in everyday conversations or exam settings! You’ll also discover some tips on how to learn Spanish idioms effectively and understand their context in the Spanish-speaking world.
Key Takeaways
- Spanish idioms can help you to sound more authentic during speaking exams
- Idioms don't always have direct translations - thinking figuratively can help you to understand their meanings
- Spanish speakers use a range of idioms when talking about relationships, money, emotions, the weather, and many other topics
- Studying with a Spanish tutor online or in person is an effective way to improve your speaking skills
Why Use Spanish Idioms in Speaking Exams?
Idiomatic expressions are one of the best ways to show a strong grasp of the Spanish language:
- More complex than literal translations: being able to use idioms in an exam shows your ability to think abstractly in your target language.
- Idioms capture the spirit of a language: including phrases that describe emotions, relationships and shared experiences helps you to speak more fluently and authentically.
- Beyond grammar and vocabulary: using popular Spanish idioms signals the depth of your Spanish language skills to examiners, revealing deeper cultural and historical understanding.
Beyond language tests, incorporating more Spanish idioms into your study plan can help you to build deeper connections with native speakers, understand song lyrics, TV shows, and even humour that often doesn’t translate directly:
For example:
- Describing something as ser pan comido (literally “to be eaten bread”) means that it is very easy. The English language equivalent is “a piece of cake”.
- The exact translation of Dar gato por liebre is “to give a cat instead of a hare,” but its figurative meaning is “to cheat someone” - similar to “a bait and switch”.
Let’s explore some of the most popular Spanish idioms that you can confidently use in your next speaking test or conversation in a Spanish-speaking country.
How to Learn Spanish Idioms Effectively
If you want to learn Spanish idioms quickly, try these methods:
- Use mnemonic devices — for example, remember ser pan comido by picturing an easy task as “already eaten bread.”
- Group idioms by theme (work, emotions, school, etc.) so you can recall them in context.
- Compare with English idioms to understand the figurative meaning better.
- Listen to native speakers or watch series from Spain and Latin America to hear how idioms are naturally used.
Let's take a look at the full list, we're you'll find idioms grouped by topic and complete with explanations, literal translations, and examples.
Intelligence and Common Sense
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Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
No tener dos dedos de frente
|
To not have two fingers of forehead
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To lack common sense
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“¡No le digas eso al profesor! No tienes dos dedos de frente.”
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"Don’t say that to the teacher! You’ve got no common sense."
|
|
Tener la cabeza en su sitio
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To have one’s head in place
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To have good judgement
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“María siempre sabe qué hacer; tiene la cabeza en su sitio.”
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"María always knows what to do; she has her head screwed on."
|
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Andar con pies de plomo
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To walk with lead feet
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To tread carefully
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“Con ese examen, más vale andar con pies de plomo.”
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"With that exam, it’s best to tread carefully."
|
|
Tener los pies en la tierra
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To have feet on the ground
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To be realistic
|
“Juan es una persona responsable; tiene los los pies en la tierra.”
|
"Juan is very responsible; he’s very down to earth."
|
|
Estar hecho un lío
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To be a mess
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To be confused
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“Estoy hecho un lío con estas instrucciones.”
|
"I’m so confused by these instructions."
|
Communication and Honesty
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
No tener pelos en la lengua
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Not to have hairs on one’s tongue
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To speak openly / not mince words
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“Ella no tiene pelos en la lengua, siempre dice la verdad.”
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"She doesn’t mince her words; she always tells the truth."
|
|
Ir al grano
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To go to the grain
|
To get to the point
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“Vamos al grano, ¿qué quieres decir?”
|
"Let’s get to the point — what do you mean?"
|
|
Hacer la vista gorda
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To make the fat eye
|
To turn a blind eye
|
“El profesor hizo la vista gorda con los que hablaban.”
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"The teacher turned a blind eye to those who were talking."
|
|
Tomar el pelo
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To take someone’s hair
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To pull someone’s leg
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“¡Me estás tomando el pelo! No te creo.”
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"You’re pulling my leg! I don’t believe you."
|
|
Hablando del rey de Roma
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Speaking of the King of Rome
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Speak of the devil
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“¡Hablando del rey de Roma! Justo llega Luis.”
|
"Speak of the devil! Luis has just arrived."
|
Work, Effort, and Motivation
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
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Ponerse las pilas
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To put in your batteries
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To get moving / get your act together
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“Si quieres aprobar, ¡ponte las pilas!”
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"If you want to pass, get your act together!"
|
|
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda
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God helps the early riser
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The early bird catches the worm
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“Siempre estudio temprano, a quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.”
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"I always study early — the early bird catches the worm."
|
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No dormirse en los laureles
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Not to sleep on your laurels
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Don’t get lazy after success
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“Ganaste, pero no te duermas en los laureles.”
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"You won, but don’t rest on your laurels."
|
|
Tirar la toalla
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To throw the towel
|
To give up
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“No tires la toalla, aún puedes mejorar.”
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"Don’t give up; you can still improve."
|
|
Echar una mano
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To throw a hand
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To help out
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“¿Puedes echarme una mano con los deberes?”
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"Can you lend me a hand with the homework?"
|
Feelings and Personality
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Estar de buen humor
|
To be of good humour
|
To be in a good mood
|
“Hoy el profesor está de buen humor.”
|
"The teacher is in a good mood today."
|
|
Tener un corazón de oro
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To have a heart of gold
|
To be very kind
|
“Mi abuela tiene un corazón de oro.”
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"My grandmother has a heart of gold."
|
|
Estar hecho polvo
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To be made of dust
|
To be exhausted
|
“Después del entrenamiento, estoy hecho polvo.”
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"After training, I’m exhausted."
|
|
Estar de mala leche
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To be of bad milk
|
To be in a bad mood
|
“Siempre estás de mala leche!”
|
"You’re always grumpy!"
|
|
Ver las cosas de color de rosa
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To see things pink-coloured
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To be optimistic
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“Ella siempre ve las cosas de color de rosa.”
|
"She always sees the bright side of things."
|
|
Tener la cabeza llena de pájaros
|
From such a stick, such a splinter
|
Like father, like son
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“Ambos son músicos: de tal palo, tal astilla.”
|
"They’re both musicians — like father, like son."
|
Friendship and Relationships
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Ser uña y carne
|
To be nail and flesh
|
To be inseparable friends
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“Sofía y Lucía son uña y carne.”
|
"Sofía and Lucía are inseparable."
|
|
Ser la oveja negra
|
To be the black sheep
|
To be different/odd one out
|
“Soy la oveja negra de la familia.”
|
"I’m the black sheep of the family."
|
|
Pasar página
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To turn the page
|
To move on
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“Terminó con su pareja y decidió pasar página.”
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"He broke up with his partner and decided to move on."
|
|
De tal palo, tal astilla
|
From such a stick, such a splinter
|
Like father, like son
|
“Ambos son músicos: de tal palo, tal astilla.”
|
"They’re both musicians — like father, like son."
|
|
Encontrar la media naranja
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Find the half orange
|
To find your soulmate
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"Pronto encontrarás a tu media naranja"
|
"You'll find your soulmate soon."
|
Life Lessons and Challenges
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Más vale tarde que nunca
|
Better late than never
|
Same meaning
|
“Más vale tarde que nunca.”
|
"Better late than never."
|
|
No hay mal que por bien no venga
|
No bad comes without good
|
Every cloud has a silver lining
|
“Perdí el tren, pero conocí a mi amigo — no hay mal que por bien no venga.”
|
"I missed the train but met my friend — every cloud has a silver lining."
|
|
A mal tiempo, buena cara
|
In bad weather, good face
|
Keep smiling
|
“Aunque suspendí el examen, a mal tiempo, buena cara.”
|
"Even though I failed the exam, I’ll keep smiling."
|
|
No todo lo que brilla es oro
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Not all that shines is gold
|
Appearances can deceive
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“Ese coche parece bueno, pero no todo lo que brilla es oro.”
|
"That car looks good, but not everything that glitters is gold."
|
|
Estar en un aprieto
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To be in a tight spot
|
To be in a difficult situation
|
“Estoy en un aprieto porque he olvidado el pasaporte."
|
"I'm in a tight spot because I forgot my passport."
|
Money and Value
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Costar un ojo de la cara
|
To cost an eye from the face
|
To cost an arm and a leg
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“Ese móvil cuesta un ojo de la cara.”
|
"That phone costs an arm and a leg."
|
|
Matar dos pájaros de un tiro
|
To kill two birds with one shot
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To do two things at once
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“Estudio inglés y veo series: mato dos pájaros de un tiro.”
|
"I study English and watch series — two birds with one stone."
|
|
Buscar una aguja en un pajar
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To look for a needle in a haystack
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To search for something impossible
|
“Encontrar mis llaves es buscar una aguja en un pajar.”
|
"Finding my keys is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
|
|
Estar entre la espada y la pared
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To be between the sword and the wall
|
To be stuck between two choices
|
“Estoy entre la espada y la pared.”
|
"I’m between a rock and a hard place."
|
|
Ser un cero a la izquierda
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To be a zero to the left
|
To be insignificant
|
“En ese grupo él es un cero a la izquierda.”
|
"In that group, he's a nobody."
|
Everyday Spanish Expressions
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
El tiempo vuela
|
Time flies
|
Time passes quickly
|
“¡Ya es junio! El tiempo vuela.”
|
"It’s already June — time flies."
|
|
Llover a cántaros
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To rain by the jug
|
To rain heavily
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“Está lloviendo a cántaros.”
|
"It’s raining cats and dogs."
|
|
Estar en apuros
|
To be in tightness
|
To be in trouble
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“Si no entrego el trabajo, estaré en apuros.”
|
"If I don’t hand in the work, I’ll be in trouble."
|
|
No pegar ojo
|
Not to stick an eye
|
Not to sleep a wink
|
“Estuve tan nervioso que no pegué ojo.”
|
"I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep a wink."
|
|
Estar en las últimas
|
To be in the last ones
|
To be exhausted
|
“Después del examen, estoy en las últimas.”
|
"After the exam, I’m completely drained."
|
Wisdom and Perspective
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Tener la sartén por el mango
|
To hold the frying pan by the handle
|
To be in control
|
“Ahora tú tienes la sartén por el mango.”
|
"Now you’re the one in control."
|
|
Ojo por ojo, diente por diente
|
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth
|
Revenge / equal payback
|
“No creo en eso de ojo por ojo.”
|
"I don’t believe in that ‘eye for an eye’ idea."
|
|
Ser pan comido
|
To be eaten bread
|
To be very easy
|
“El examen fue pan comido.”
|
"The exam was a piece of cake."
|
|
Meter la pata
|
To put the paw in
|
To make a mistake
|
“Metí la pata hablando de su ex.”
|
"I put my foot in it by mentioning her ex."
|
|
Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando
|
A bird in the hand is worth more than 100 flying
|
It's better to be content with what you have
|
"Deje de apostar! Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando!
|
"Stop gambling! A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!"
|
Surprise and Emotion
|
Spanish Idiom
|
Literal Translation
|
Figurative Meaning
|
Example (Spanish)
|
Example (English Translation)
|
|
Quedarse de piedra
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To turn to stone
|
To be stunned
|
“Me quedé de piedra al oír la noticia.”
|
"I was stunned when I heard the news."
|
|
Estar como pez en el agua
|
To be like a fish in water
|
To feel at ease
|
“En el escenario, se siente como pez en el agua.”
|
"On stage, he feels completely at home."
|
|
Estar como una cabra
|
To be like a goat
|
To be a bit crazy (in a fun way)
|
“¡Bailar bajo la lluvia! Estás como una cabra.”
|
"Dancing in the rain! You’re a bit crazy."
|
|
Estar en las últimas
|
To be in the last moments
|
To be exhausted
|
“Después del trabajo, estoy en las últimas.”
|
"After work, I’m totally wiped out."
|
Final Tips for Mastering Spanish Idioms
Using these 50 Spanish idioms will boost your Spanish vocabulary, improve your Spanish speaking fluency, and make you sound natural and confident. To make things easier:
-
Find a private Spanish tutor to help you with common idioms for language exams.
-
Learn idioms in context, not as isolated words.
-
Understand both the literal translation and the actual meaning.
-
Use idioms like estar hasta las narices (to be fed up), darle la vuelta a la tortilla (to turn the tables), or donde comen dos, comen tres (there's always room for one more) in everyday life to sound like a native Spanish speaker.
-
Listen to Spanish instructors, podcasts, and music from Latin America and Spain to hear how common Spanish idioms are used naturally.
- Check out the UK Language Project's article on How to Sound Like a Native Speaker for tips on linguistic connectors and word emphasis.
Idioms help to create bridges between language learners and native speakers. Mastering them helps you speak Spanish with confidence and personality - whether you’re sitting your oral exam, chatting with friends, or describing your feelings.
Exploring other languages can give use fantastic insights and new perspectives - learn as many idioms as you can!
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