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Metaphors & other Expressions
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53
Language - Spanish
Professional
09/21/2008
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Cards

Term
Desnudar a un santo para vestir otro.
 Definition
To rob Peter to pay Paul.
Term
Cuando las víboras andaban paradas.
 Definition
Way back when. Way back in the mists of time. In the old days.
Term
Como quitarle un pelo a un gato.
 Definition
Just a drop in the bucket.
Term
Comer frijoles y repetir pollo.
 Definition
Talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk.
Term
Cada perico a su estaca. Cada changa a su mecate.
 Definition
Each to his own.
Term
Beben agua en el mismo jarrito.
 Definition
They're as thick as thieves. They're like hand and glove.
Term
A otro perro con ese hueso. ¡Y un jamón!
 Definition
You're putting me on.
Term
Meter (la) pata.
 Definition
To make a mistake.
Term
Buscar tres pies al gato.
 Definition
To make things unnecessarily difficult. To split hairs.
Term
Aquí hay gato encerrado.
 Definition
There's something fishy here. I smell a rat.
Term
Con bombos y platillos. (kettle drums and cymbals)
 Definition
With a lot of fanfare.
Term
Mi media naranja. La mitad de mi naranja.
 Definition
My better half. My spouse.
Term
En menos que canta un gallo. En un santiamén.
 Definition
In no time at all. Quick as a wink. In the blink of an eye.
Term
El burro que no rebuzna porque olvidó la tonada.
 Definition
Not to know to come in out of the rain.
Term
Llevar piedras al cerro.
 Definition
Singing to the choir. Trying to sell ice to an Eskimo.
Term
Eso es harina de otro costal. Otro gallo nos cantará.
 Definition
That is a horse of a different color. That's another story.
Term
Estar como agua para chocolate. Estar fuera de sí.
 Definition
To be hopping mad. To be beside oneself.
Term
Estar como perro en barrio ajeno.
 Definition
To feel like a fish out of water. To be a square peg in a round hole.
Term
Estar entre la espada y la pared.
 Definition
To be between the devil and deep blue sea. To be backed into a corner.
Term
Hacer lo que otro no puede hacer por uno. Ir a donde el rey va solo.
 Definition
To go to the washroom. To go to see a man about a dog. To go powder one's nose.
Term
Tener dedos de viejito.
 Definition
To have one's toes all wrinkled up (from the water). To be wrinkled like a prune.
Term
Al hecho, pecho.
 Definition
You can’t unring a rung bell. What’s done is done. You've made your bed, now lie in it.
Term
Más larga que la cuaresma.
 Definition
Never ending.
Term
Hacer patitos en el agua.
 Definition
To skip stones on the water.
Term
Meter gato por liebre.
 Definition
To take one in. To cheat.
Term
Como Pedro por su casa.
 Definition
Like he owned the place.
Term
Más loco que una cabra.
 Definition
As mad as a hatter. As crazy as a loon. Cuckoo.
Term
Hacerse de la boca chiquita.
 Definition
To be prissy or fussy.
Term
Le patina el coco.
 Definition
He’s got a screw loose. She's not playing with a full deck. He's one sandwich short of a picnic.
Term
Por sus pistolas.
 Definition
Just because.
Term
Por un pelito de rana.
 Definition
By the skin of his teeth. It was a close call. That was a close shave.
Term
Prietitos del mismo arroz.
 Definition
All in a day’s work. Occupational hazards.
Term
¡Qué nombrecito!
 Definition
What a tongue twister!
Term
Cargarse con el muerto. Quedarse como el que chifló en la loma.
 Definition
To be left holding the bag.
Term
Quedarse con un pie en el estribo.
 Definition
To be left in the dust. To be left behind.
Term
Contigo pan y cebolla.
 Definition
I'll be with you through thick and thin.
Term
¿Quién le pone el cascabel al gato?
 Definition
Who will tackle the problem?
Term
Saberlo de buena fuente.
 Definition
Straight from the horse’s mouth.
Term
Sacarse el gordo.
 Definition
To hit the jackpot.
Term
Salir de Guatemala y meterse en Honduras. Salir de Guatemalas y meterse en guatepeor.
 Definition
Out of the frying pan, into the fire. To go from bad to worse.
Term
Más listo que un coyote. Más vivo que el que asó la manteca.
 Definition
Smart as a whip. Smart as a tack.
Term
Trabajar para el gobierno. Trabajar para el inglés.
 Definition
Work without pay or profit. Work for nothing.
Term
¡Véte a bañar! ¡Vete a ver si ya puso la cochina! ¡Vete a echar pulgas a otra parte!
 Definition
Go jump in a lake! Go fly a kite! Go lay an egg!
Term
Vivito y coleando.
 Definition
Alive and kicking. Bright eyed and bushy-tailed.
Term
Hecho y derecho.
 Definition
Full-grown. Proper. Real.
Term
Y colorín, colorado, este cuento se ha acabado.
 Definition
And they lived happily every after.
Term
Yo tengo una tía que toca la guitarra.
 Definition
What’s that got to do with the price of tea in China?
Term
Tomar cartas en el asunto.
 Definition
Do something about it.
Term
Como el agua de Xochimilco.
 Definition
Clear as mud.
Term
Dar la suave a uno.
 Definition
To sweet-talk someone. To butter someone up.
Term
No es un plato de mi gusto.
No es un santo de mi devoción.
 Definition
It’s not my cup of tea.
It’s not my thing.
Term
es mejor que guindes los guantes y sigas tu camino
 Definition
To hang up your gloves. Give it up.
Term
a troche y moche (Mex y Ven: a trocha y mocha)
 Definition
at all costs, cueste lo que cueste, a como dé lugar, como sea, disparatada e inconsideradamente.
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