20 Common Spanish Idioms and What They Mean
These 20 common Spanish idioms will help you understand everyday conversations and express ideas more naturally.
Idioms rarely translate word for word. Their use and frequency can also vary by country, region, and situation, so pay attention to context and register.
Below, each expression includes a literal translation, its usual meaning, and a natural example.
1. Dar en el clavo
Literal meaning: To hit the nail
What it really means: To hit the nail on the head; to get something exactly right
Example: Tu explicación dio en el clavo. Your explanation hit the nail on the head.
2. Dormirse en los laureles
Literal meaning: To fall asleep on one’s laurels
What it really means: To rest on one’s laurels; to stop making an effort after a success
Example: El equipo ganó el campeonato, pero no puede dormirse en los laureles. The team won the championship, but it cannot rest on its laurels.
3. Entre la espada y la pared
Literal meaning: Between the sword and the wall
What it really means: Caught between a rock and a hard place; facing two difficult choices
Example: Estoy entre la espada y la pared: tengo que aceptar el traslado o dejar el trabajo. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place: I have to accept the transfer or leave the job.
4. Con la soga al cuello
Literal meaning: With the rope around one’s neck
What it really means: Under severe pressure or in a desperate situation
Example: Con tantas deudas, se siente con la soga al cuello. With so much debt, he feels under severe pressure.
5. Le falta un tornillo
Literal meaning: He or she is missing a screw
What it really means: He or she has a screw loose; the person is behaving strangely
This informal expression can sound insulting, especially when used to describe someone’s mental health, so use it carefully.
Example: ¿Va a nadar en enero? Creo que le falta un tornillo. Is he going swimming in January? I think he has a screw loose.
6. Dos pájaros de un tiro
Literal meaning: Two birds with one shot
What it really means: To kill two birds with one stone; to accomplish two things at once
Example: Voy al trabajo en bicicleta: hago ejercicio y ahorro dinero. Mato dos pájaros de un tiro. I cycle to work, so I exercise and save money. I kill two birds with one stone.
7. La gallina de los huevos de oro
Literal meaning: The hen that lays the golden eggs
What it really means: A continuing source of money or success; the goose that lays the golden eggs
Example: Ese producto es la gallina de los huevos de oro de la empresa. That product is the company’s golden goose.
8. Meter la pata
Literal meaning: To put one’s foot in
What it really means: To put one’s foot in it; to make a blunder
Example: Metí la pata al preguntarle por su ex. I put my foot in it by asking about her ex.
9. Pasarse de la raya
Literal meaning: To cross the line
What it really means: To go too far or behave unacceptably
Example: La broma fue cruel; te pasaste de la raya. The joke was cruel; you crossed the line.
10. Pedir peras al olmo
Literal meaning: To ask an elm tree for pears
What it really means: To ask for or expect something impossible
Example: Esperar que termine todo hoy es pedir peras al olmo. Expecting him to finish everything today is asking the impossible.
See also:
Spanish Idioms Quiz: How Many of These Do You Know?
11. Poner el dedo en la llaga
Literal meaning: To put one’s finger in the wound
What it really means: To touch a sore spot or bring up a painful issue
Example: Al mencionar el fracaso del proyecto, puso el dedo en la llaga. By mentioning the project’s failure, she touched a sore spot.
12. Salirse con la suya
Literal meaning: To come away with one’s own
What it really means: To get one’s own way
Example: Quería cenar pizza y al final se salió con la suya. He wanted pizza for dinner and eventually got his own way.
13. Ser pan comido
Literal meaning: To be eaten bread
What it really means: To be very easy; to be a piece of cake
Example: El examen fue pan comido. The exam was a piece of cake.
14. Ser un cero a la izquierda
Literal meaning: To be a zero on the left
What it really means: To be insignificant or count for nothing in a situation
Example: En esa decisión, mi opinión fue un cero a la izquierda. In that decision, my opinion counted for nothing.
15. Tener agallas
Literal meaning: To have gills
What it really means: To have courage; to be brave
Example: Tuvo agallas para admitir su error. She had the courage to admit her mistake.
16. A duras penas
Literal meaning: With great hardship
What it really means: With great difficulty; barely
Example: A duras penas pude terminar el trabajo a tiempo. I barely managed to finish the work on time.
17. Costar un ojo de la cara
Literal meaning: To cost an eye from one’s face
What it really means: To cost a fortune; to cost an arm and a leg
Example: Ese coche cuesta un ojo de la cara. That car costs an arm and a leg.
18. Perder los estribos
Literal meaning: To lose the stirrups
What it really means: To lose one’s temper
Example: Perdió los estribos cuando oyó la noticia. He lost his temper when he heard the news.
19. Echar leña al fuego
Literal meaning: To throw firewood on the fire
What it really means: To add fuel to the fire; to make a conflict or problem worse
Example: Criticarlo delante de todos solo echó leña al fuego. Criticizing him in front of everyone only added fuel to the fire.
20. De buena fe
Literal meaning: In good faith
What it really means: Sincerely, honestly, or with good intentions
Example: Hizo la oferta de buena fe. She made the offer in good faith.
Conclusion
Learning idioms makes real conversations easier to follow. Start with a few that match situations you often discuss, and notice how speakers use them in context.
Writing practice
Choose one idiom above and write a sentence that fits its meaning and register.
