Phrases and Idioms

[hypnotik1]

There are many phrases and idioms that do not translate literlly from Spanish to English and Vice Versa.

Lets try and compile a list of some of the more common ones, and some of the best translations for them. This can work both ways, Spanish --> English and English ---> Spanish.


Here are a few idioms that I've found (feel free to add or make corrections)

To cry like a baby - Llorar a lágrima viva

To take a joke - Soportar una broma

To hit the nail on the head - Dar en el clavo

To have a weakness for - Tener debilidad por

It's all over - Ya se acabó

To come in handy - Servir bien

What is done is done - Lo hecho, hecho está (a lo hecho, pecho)




I'll add more later...

[qwerty]

I don't have any to contribute, but you've got a good start there.

[sosia]

llover a cántaros -> to rain bucketsful
hasta el día del juicio final -> when the cows come home ¿?

[celador]

un dia sí, un dia no. / every other day

[hypnotik1]

Escrito originalmente por sosia

llover a cántaros -> to rain bucketsful

I think, "To rain Cats and Dogs" is the best fit for this.

I dont think I've eve heard anyone say it's raining bucketsful.

[sosia]

I've never heard "it's raining bucketsful", but it was in Tomisimo's dictionary.
I prefer ""To rain Cats and Dogs"

[Tomisimo]

Escrito originalmente por hypnotik1

I think, "To rain Cats and Dogs" is the best fit for this.

I dont think I've eve heard anyone say it's raining bucketsful.

You're right, I haven't heard to rain bucketsful either, but I have read it in English literature. I think it's used in other versions of English from other places or other times.

So I think to rain cats and dogs or simply to pour down rain would be right.

[hellothere]

Oh, what's the Spanish equivalent of "You're pulling my leg!"?

I'm much better at thinking of English idioms. Here are a couple.

I'm all ears.
To fall in love
To give someone a hand
To go nuts

There's are so many more. How would you translate some of these into spanish?

[hypnotik1]

Here's what I've heard for these idioms.

To pull someones leg - Tomar el pelo a ...
In Spanish you pull hair, not legs. lol
Tomisimo says - A otro perro con ese hueso.
Which sounds kinda gross. Something about a dogs penis.

I'm all ears - Soy todo oídos
To fall in love - Enamorar
To give someone a hand - Echar una mano a - Ayudar
To go nuts - Volver loco/a

[sosia]

I agree with hypnotik
To pull someones leg - Tomarle el pelo a alguien
I'm all ears - Soy todo oídos
To fall in love - Enamorarse
To give someone a hand - Echar una mano a alguien , Ayudar
To go nuts - Volver loco/a
---------------------------
A otro perro con ese hueso.( literally To another dog with that bone!)
Go try that on somebody else.
Don't try that one on me.
Don't be trying that on me.
I'm not biting on that one.
You're not getting me to bite.
You're not getting me to bite on that/that one.
Go fool someone else


full: A otro perro con ese hueso, que yo roido lo tengo
I'm not a fool (naive), go tell that to someone else.
I know you're pulling my leg, go tell that to someone else.

similar: !A otro con este cuento!

some dog's
atar los perros con longaniza --> to have money to burn
llevarse como el perro y el gato --> to fight like cat and dog
tiempo de perros --> awful weather

saludos