Spanish Lies & Deception Idioms
Master 7 authentic Spanish expressions about lies & deception with meanings, examples, and pronunciation guidance
Understanding Spanish Lies & Deception Idioms
Spanish lies and deception idioms expose dishonesty, manipulation, and trickery. From "tener más cara que espalda" (to have more face than back/be shameless) to "meter gato por liebre" (to deceive, literally "to put cat for hare"), these expressions help Spanish speakers identify, criticize, and warn about deceitful behavior.
When to Use These Expressions
Deception idioms are used when calling out lies, warning about scams, describing manipulative people, or discussing dishonest situations. They appear in cautionary tales, complaints, and when exposing or discussing fraud and trickery.
Learning Tips for Lies & Deception Idioms
- Learn idioms for different deception types: lies, scams, manipulation
- Practice recognizing warning expressions—they protect against fraud
- Understand that these are often used with moral indignation
- Note both the deceiver and the deceived perspectives
Most Common Lies & Deception Idioms
Start with these high-frequency expressions used daily by native speakers
Hacer la vista gorda
★★★★★Literal: "To make the sight fat"
Meaning: To pretend not to see something; to intentionally ignore a wrongdoing or problem.
Dar el gatazo
★★★★☆Literal: "To give the big cat-smack"
Meaning: To deceive someone by making a low-quality or fake item look authentic and valuable.
Dar gato por liebre
★★★★☆Literal: "To give cat for hare"
Meaning: To deceive someone by giving them something of lower quality than what was promised or expected.
Complete List of Lies & Deception Idioms
Dar el gatazo
"To give the big cat-smack"
To deceive someone by making a low-quality or fake item look authentic and valuable.
Dar gato por liebre
"To give cat for hare"
To deceive someone by giving them something of lower quality than what was promised or expected.
Dorar la píldora
"To gild the pill"
To make something unpleasant (like bad news or criticism) seem more attractive or acceptable than it really is.
Hacer de chivo los tamales
"To make the tamales out of goat meat."
To cheat on a romantic partner; to be unfaithful.
Hacer la vista gorda
"To make the sight fat"
To pretend not to see something; to intentionally ignore a wrongdoing or problem.
Hacerse el sueco
"To make oneself the Swede."
To play dumb, feign ignorance, or pretend not to understand or hear something to avoid a responsibility.
Hacerse guaje
"To make oneself a gourd."
To play dumb, feign ignorance, or pretend not to understand something, usually to avoid responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Lies & Deception Idioms
What are Spanish deception idioms?
Spanish deception idioms include "meter gato por liebre" (to deceive/swindle), "tener más cara que espalda" (to be shameless), "hacer la vista gorda" (to turn a blind eye), "dar gato por liebre" (to deceive), and "ser un embustero" (to be a liar). These describe various forms of dishonesty and trickery.
How do Spanish speakers warn about deception?
Spanish speakers use vivid idioms to warn about scams and deception, often invoking animal metaphors or physical impossibilities. Expressions like "meter gato por liebre" (passing off cat meat as rabbit) come from historical scams, making them culturally rich warnings about dishonesty.
Have more questions about learning Spanish idioms? Browse our complete idiom guide or explore our learning resources.
Browse All Spanish Idiom Categories
Ready to Master More Spanish Idioms?
Explore our complete collection of 7+ Spanish idioms organized by category, difficulty level, and regional usage. Perfect for intermediate to advanced learners.
View All Spanish Idioms →