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
You probably know what “la cuenta” means if you have been at a Spanish restaurant. “El cuento” is not a bill just for boys. It means a tale, a short story, or simply, a story. Un cuento chino: a complicated and unbelievable story, a cock-and-bull story. Tener más cuento que
A mitad de año: halfway through the year, at midyear. A lo largo de este año: over the course of this year. A lo largo de los años: over the years. A sus (29, 35, 42, etc) años: at the age of (29, 35, 42, etc) /at (29, 35, 42,
(1) MUERTO DE CANSANCIO This expression is used to indicate that someone is extremely tired, and may be translated as follows: Estuve trabajando todo el día. ¡Estoy muerto de cansancio! I’ve been working all day long. I’m dead tired! (2) MUERTO DE ENVIDIA This expression means that the speaker
Cuestión de vida o muerte: a matter of life and death. Dar muerte a algo / alguien: to kill something or someone. De mala muerte (colloquial): lousy, crappy. De muerte (col.): (susto) terrible; (fantástico) fantastic, terrific, out of this world. Debatirse entre la vida y la muerte: be fighting for
¡A la/su orden!: At your service! You’re welcome! (Conceder) la orden de: (to grant) a military or civil honor for services rendered. Del orden de: approximately. El orden del día: items to be discussed at a meeting or assembly. Estar a la orden del día: to be in vogue, something
Buena obra: a good deed. Estar en obras: to be under construction or under repairs. Cuerpo de la obra: main part of a book, brochure, pamphlet. Cerrado por obras: to be closed for repairs. Manos a la obra: let’s start (doing something), let’s go. Mano de obra: workforce, labor force.
There are many colloquial ways to talk about “estar borracho” (“to be drunk”) that may vary from country to country; here we have some frequently used ones: Estar ebrio: this is the most educated or formal way of expressing “to be drunk”. Estar/ir mamado: in several countries, this is one
Echar fuego por los ojos: to be angry, furious. Echar leña al fuego: to add fuel to the fire. Estar entre dos fuegos: to be caught between a rock and a hard place. No hay humo sin fuego: where there’s smoke there’s fire. Pedir fuego a alguien: to ask someone