Master Spanish Idioms Like a Native Speaker
Explore 75+ authentic Spanish expressions, phrases, and sayings with meanings, origins, and real-world examples from across Spain and Latin America.
Must-Know Spanish Idioms
Start with these essential expressions that every Spanish learner will encounter.
A quien madruga Dios le ayuda
★★★★★Starting your day or a task early gives you an advantage and leads to success and good fortune.
Ahogarse en un vaso de agua
★★★★★To get overwhelmed by a small, insignificant problem; to treat a minor issue as a major crisis.
Comerse el coco
★★★★★To overthink, worry excessively, or rack one's brain about something.
Costar un ojo de la cara
★★★★★To be very expensive.
Dar la lata
★★★★★To annoy, bother, or pester someone; to be a pain in the neck.
De tal palo tal astilla
★★★★★A child has the same qualities, behaviors, or faults as their parents.
Explore Idioms by Topic
Find expressions related to your interests, from food and money to animals and emotions.
Commonly Used
High-frequency idioms for every learner
Spain
Idioms particularly common in Spain
Social Interactions
Idioms on relationships and social dynamics
Body Parts
Physical metaphors for emotions and situations
Emotions
Nuanced expressions for feelings and states
Food & Drink
Spanish idioms related to Food & Drink
Animals
Animal-based expressions from folklore
Problems
Spanish idioms related to Problems
Money & Wealth
Spanish idioms related to Money & Wealth
Nature
Spanish idioms related to Nature
Time & Age
Spanish idioms related to Time & Age
Difficulty
Expressions about challenges and effort
House & Home
Spanish idioms related to House & Home
Anger
Spanish idioms related to Anger
Religion
Spanish idioms related to Religion
Colors
Color-based idioms and their meanings
Persistence
Spanish idioms related to Persistence
Failure
Spanish idioms related to Failure
Lies & Deception
Spanish idioms related to Lies & Deception
Humor
Funny and playful expressions
Work & Business
Spanish idioms related to Work & Business
Compliments
Spanish idioms related to Compliments
Behavioral & Character
Spanish idioms related to Behavioral & Character
Love & Romance
Spanish idioms related to Love & Romance
Situations & Circumstances
Spanish idioms related to Situations & Circumstances
Transportation
Spanish idioms related to Transportation
Friendship
Spanish idioms related to Friendship
Insults
Spanish idioms related to Insults
Family
Family-related idioms on cultural values
Surprise
Spanish idioms related to Surprise
Luck
Spanish idioms related to Luck
Weather
Meteorological metaphors for moods
Stupidity
Spanish idioms related to Stupidity
Honesty
Spanish idioms related to Honesty
Numbers
Spanish idioms related to Numbers
Betrayal
Spanish idioms related to Betrayal
Action
Spanish idioms related to Action
Clothing
Spanish idioms related to Clothing
The Complete Spanish Idiom Dictionary
Search, filter, and discover every idiom in our database.
A caballo regalado no le mires el diente
Don't be ungrateful or find fault with something you have received as a gift or a favor.
A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín
Everyone eventually gets what they deserve or faces the consequences of their actions; a day of reckoning will come.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando
You should pray for a good outcome, but you also need to take practical action and work hard to achieve your goals.
A quien madruga Dios le ayuda
Starting your day or a task early gives you an advantage and leads to success and good fortune.
Ahogarse en un vaso de agua
To get overwhelmed by a small, insignificant problem; to treat a minor issue as a major crisis.
Andar con pies de plomo
To act with great caution, to be very careful, or to proceed slowly and deliberately in a delicate situation.
Bajar la guardia
To let one's guard down; to become less careful, vigilant, or defensive.
Caer en saco roto
To be ignored, disregarded, or to come to nothing. It's used for advice, suggestions, or efforts that are completely wasted.
Comerse el coco
To overthink, worry excessively, or rack one's brain about something.
Comerse un marrón
To be stuck with an unpleasant task, problem, or situation that nobody else wants.
Como Pedro por su casa
To act with complete confidence and ease in an unfamiliar place, as if you own it. It can also mean to do something very easily.
Costar un ojo de la cara
To be very expensive.
Creerse el ombligo del mundo
To be self-centered and arrogant, acting as if you are the most important person in existence.
Cría fama y ponte a dormir
Once you've established a reputation (good or bad), it will stick with you, and people's perception of you is set. You don't need to do anything else to maintain it.
Dar calabazas
To reject a romantic advance; to turn someone down. It can also mean to fail someone in an exam.
Dar gato por liebre
To deceive someone by giving them something of lower quality than what was promised or expected.
Dar la lata
To annoy, bother, or pester someone; to be a pain in the neck.
Dar la vuelta a la tortilla
To turn a situation around completely; to turn the tables.
De la Ceca a la Meca
To go from one place to another in a restless or hectic way; to go all over the place.
De tal palo tal astilla
A child has the same qualities, behaviors, or faults as their parents.
Dorar la píldora
To make something unpleasant (like bad news or criticism) seem more attractive or acceptable than it really is.
Dormir a pierna suelta
To sleep very deeply and peacefully, without any worries.
Dormir la mona
To sleep off a period of drunkenness; to sleep while drunk to recover.
Echar leña al fuego
To make a bad situation, argument, or problem even worse.
Echar por la borda
To waste, discard, or ruin something valuable, like an opportunity, a relationship, or a lot of hard work.
Echar una mano
To help someone out, to lend a hand.
Estar al loro
To be alert, aware, on the lookout, or in the know.
Estar como una cabra
To be crazy, eccentric, or act in a wild and unpredictable way.
Estar como una regadera
To be crazy, eccentric, or out of one's mind in a quirky or silly way.
Estar de mala leche
To be in a bad mood, irritable, or grumpy.
Estar en Babia
To be daydreaming, absent-minded, or not paying attention to your surroundings.
Estar en las nubes
To be daydreaming, distracted, absent-minded, or not paying attention to what is happening around you.
Estar forrado
To be very rich, loaded with money.
Estar hasta las narices
To be completely fed up with something or someone; to be sick and tired of a situation.
Estar más sano que un roble
To be in excellent health; to be very healthy, robust, and strong.
Estar piripi
To be tipsy or slightly drunk in a cheerful way.
Estar sin blanca
To be broke; to have no money at all.
Flipar en colores
To be completely amazed, mind-blown, or extremely surprised by something.
Hablar por los codos
To talk a lot; to be very chatty or talkative.
Hacer buenas migas
To get along well with someone; to hit it off.
Hacer el agosto
To make a lot of money quickly, often by taking advantage of a specific situation; to make a killing.
Hacer la pelota
To flatter someone to gain favor; to suck up to someone.
Hacer novillos
To skip school or, less commonly, work; to play hooky.
Hacerse el sueco
To play dumb, feign ignorance, or pretend not to understand or hear something to avoid a responsibility.
Irse por las ramas
To get sidetracked, to go off on a tangent, or to beat around the bush.
La suerte está echada
The point of no return has been passed; a decision has been made and the outcome is now out of our hands.
Liarla parda
To cause a huge scene, to make a big mess, or to screw up big time.
Llover a cántaros
To rain very heavily; to pour down with rain.
Más viejo que Matusalén
To be extremely old, ancient, or outdated.
Meter baza
To chime in, join a conversation, or offer one's opinion, sometimes when it's not requested.
Meter la pata
To make a mistake, say something inappropriate, or screw up. To put your foot in your mouth.
Montar un pollo
To make a scene, cause a commotion, or kick up a fuss, usually in an angry or dramatic way.
No tener ni pies ni cabeza
To make no sense; to be completely illogical or nonsensical.
No tener pelos en la lengua
To be blunt, direct, and outspoken; to say what you think without filtering it.
Pasar la noche en blanco
To stay up all night without sleeping; to have a sleepless night.
Pasar una noche toledana
To have a terrible, sleepless night, often due to worry, noise, or discomfort.
Pasarse tres pueblos
To go way too far, to cross the line, to exaggerate, or to go over the top.
Planchar la oreja
To go to sleep; to hit the sack.
Poner los cuernos
To be unfaithful to one's romantic partner; to cheat on someone.
Poner pies en polvorosa
To flee quickly, to beat a hasty retreat, to skedaddle.
Ponerse las botas
To indulge, feast, or profit greatly from a situation; to have a field day.
Ponerse las pilas
To get energized, get your act together, or start working with more focus and effort.
Ponerse morado
To eat a lot of something; to stuff oneself with food; to pig out.
Por si las moscas
To do something 'just in case' or 'to be on the safe side'.
Quedarse en blanco
For your mind to go completely blank; to forget something you know.
Quedarse frito
To fall fast asleep; to conk out or crash.
Ser buena gente
To be a good, kind, and decent person; to be good-hearted.
Ser pan comido
To be very easy to do; a piece of cake.
Ser un trozo de pan
To be a very kind, generous, and good-hearted person.
Tener la sartén por el mango
To be in control of a situation; to have the upper hand.
Tener mala leche
To be in a bad mood, to be ill-tempered, or to do something with bad intentions.
Tener mucho morro
To be shameless, cheeky, or to have a lot of nerve. It describes someone who acts in their own self-interest without embarrassment, often at the expense of others.
Tener salero
To be charming, witty, graceful, or have a special spark.
Tirar la casa por la ventana
To spend a lot of money lavishly, especially on a celebration or a large purchase; to spare no expense.
Tomar el pelo
To tease someone, pull their leg, or trick them in a playful way.
Why Mastering Idioms Unlocks Fluency
Spanish idioms (modismos) are phrases where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. They're the secret sauce to sounding natural and truly understanding native speakers.
For example, "estar en las nubes" literally means "to be in the clouds," but it's used to mean "to be daydreaming." Learning these colorful expressions is key to moving from intermediate to advanced Spanish.
Did You Know?
Spanish has thousands of idioms, with huge variations between Spain and Latin American countries. What's common in Madrid might be unknown in Mexico City!
Understand Real Spanish
Native speakers use idioms constantly in movies, music, and daily conversation. Without them, you'll miss key context and humor.
Sound Like a Native
Using idioms correctly makes your Spanish sound more authentic and less like a textbook. It shows a deeper command of the language.
Gain Cultural Insights
Idioms are a window into the culture, history, and values of Spanish-speaking societies. They reveal how people view the world.
Level Up Your Spanish
Mastering common idioms is a hallmark of advanced proficiency and essential for tests like the DELE and SIELE.
Common Questions About Spanish Idioms
What's the difference between Spanish idioms in Spain vs. Latin America?
While many idioms are shared, regional variations are common. Spain has unique expressions like "ser la leche" (to be awesome), while Mexico might say "estar padre." Our database includes regional tags to help you distinguish between them.
How many Spanish idioms should I learn?
Start with 20-30 common, high-frequency idioms. As you advance, aim to learn a few new idioms each week. Focus on idioms relevant to your interests by exploring our categories.
Can I use these idioms in formal Spanish?
It depends. Each idiom is tagged with its register (formal, informal, slang). Some are fine for professional settings, while others are strictly casual. Always check the usage tips on each idiom's page.
How do I practice Spanish idioms?
Practice by 1) watching Spanish media and listening for expressions, 2) trying to use one new idiom a day in conversation or writing, and 3) using flashcards with example sentences to reinforce your memory.