100 Spanish Idioms Native Speakers Actually Use

Understand real Spanish! 100 idioms and expressions that native speakers use every day. 🎯 What's inside: • 100 idioms for levels B1-B2 • Common expressions with meanings • Real-life examples and pronunciation

100 flashcards for learning vocabulary

Vocabulary list

no tener ni idea

to have no clue

estar hecho polvo

to be exhausted / wiped out

meter la pata

to put one's foot in it

tomar el pelo

to pull someone's leg

dar en el clavo

to hit the nail on the head

echar una mano

to lend a hand

ir al grano

to get to the point

no dar abasto

to not be able to cope

estar hasta las narices

to be fed up

costar un ojo de la cara

to cost an arm and a leg

dar la lata

to be a pest / to nag

quedarse en blanco

to go blank / to draw a blank

ponerse las botas

to stuff oneself / to make a killing

estar en las nubes

to have one's head in the clouds

dar la vuelta a la tortilla

to turn the tables

no pegar ojo

to not sleep a wink

hacer la vista gorda

to turn a blind eye

estar como una cabra

to be crazy / nuts

matar dos pájaros de un tiro

to kill two birds with one stone

tirar la toalla

to throw in the towel

tener mala leche

to be bad-tempered / mean

ser pan comido

to be a piece of cake

echar un vistazo

to take a look

tener buena pinta

to look good / promising

dar plantón

to stand someone up

echar de menos

to miss [someone/something]

no tener pelos en la lengua

to not mince words

pillar el punto

to get the hang of it

estar de capa caída

to be down in the dumps

hacer el ridículo

to make a fool of oneself

dar calabazas

to reject / to dump someone

echar raíces

to put down roots / to settle

tener morro

to have nerve / to be cheeky

ir viento en popa

to go swimmingly / great

perder los estribos

to lose one's temper

dar gato por liebre

to rip off / to con

no dar pie con bola

to not get anything right

estar hasta el moño

to be sick and tired of

meter cizaña

to stir up trouble

dormir a pierna suelta

to sleep like a log

poner los cuernos

to cheat on someone

tener enchufe

to have connections / pull

echar leña al fuego

to add fuel to the fire

estar forrado

to be loaded / rich

irse por las ramas

to beat around the bush

dar la nota

to make a scene / to stand out

echar un polvo

to have sex [vulgar]

tener cara dura

to have a lot of nerve

no tener sangre en las venas

to be cold-blooded / heartless

llevarse como el perro y el gato

to fight like cats and dogs

hacer borrón y cuenta nueva

to wipe the slate clean

echar balones fuera

to dodge the issue / to deflect

dar por hecho

to take for granted

quedarse de piedra

to be stunned / shocked

tener la sartén por el mango

to have the upper hand

poner el dedo en la llaga

to hit a sore spot

salir rana

to turn out badly / to be a letdown

estar manga por hombro

to be a mess / in disarray

estirar la pata

to kick the bucket / to die

ser uña y carne

to be inseparable / thick as thieves

echar por tierra

to ruin / to wreck

dar la espalda

to turn one's back on

ponerse morado

to gorge oneself / to pig out

tener tablas

to be experienced / have stage presence

no dar una

to not get anything right

estar en el ajo

to be in on it / in the loop

ser clavados

to be spitting image / identical

dar juego

to be useful / to go a long way

no tener ni pies ni cabeza

to make no sense at all

echar pestes

to badmouth / to curse

pintar bastos

things look bad / trouble ahead

tener el colmillo retorcido

to be shrewd / savvy

quedarse a cuadros

to be gobsmacked / shocked

irse de la lengua

to spill the beans / to blab

pasar la noche en blanco

to have a sleepless night

cortar el bacalao

to call the shots / to be boss

ser un borde

to be rude / standoffish

dar cuerda

to wind up / to egg on

tener coco

to be smart / brainy

estar en la luna

to be spaced out / daydreaming

montar un pollo

to make a scene / cause a fuss

pillar cacho

to hook up / to score [slang]

flipar en colores

to be totally amazed / shocked

ir de culo

to be overwhelmed / swamped

poner verde

to badmouth / to trash-talk

pillar un pedo

to get wasted / hammered

tener miga

to have more to it than meets the eye

dar la brasa

to bore / to pester someone

echar un cable

to help out / to lend a hand

tener manga ancha

to be lenient / easy-going

ir de cráneo

to be in deep trouble / losing it

dar corte

to feel embarrassed

pasarlo bomba

to have a blast / great time

poner de vuelta y media

to insult / to give a dressing-down

comerse el coco

to overthink / to worry too much

echar cuentas

to do the math / to figure out

ser la leche

to be unbelievable / incredible

dar el cante

to stick out / to draw attention

tener huevos

to have guts / balls [vulgar]

importar un pimiento

to not give a damn