INGLÉS - Idiomatic Expressions

8/20/2019 INGLÉS - Idiomatic Expressions

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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

(continued)



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

(continued)

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List of Idiomatic Expressions



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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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

(continued)



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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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

(continued)



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



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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INGLÉS - Idiomatic Expressions

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