Thread: Spanish idioms

Hi! It's time for a Spanish idioms thread, so here goes:

Spanish idiom: El campo fértil no descansado, tórnase estéril.
Literal translation: The unrested fertile field turns sterile.
English: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Spanish idiom: Ahora que hay modo.
Literal: Now that there is a way or mood.
English: Make hay while the sun shines.

Spanish idiom: El perico dice lo que sabe, pero no sabe lo que dice.
Literal translation: The parrot says what he knows, but does'nt know what he says.
English: To learn something parrot fashion.

Spanish idiom: Le patina el coco.
Literal translation: His coconut (head) slips.
English: He has a screw loose.

Idiom: Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos.
Literal: Faces we see, hearts we don't know.
English: You can't judge a book by its cover.

Spanish idiom: Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.
Literal translation: A bird in the hand is worth more than a hundred flying.
English: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Spanish idiom: Saberlo de buena fuente.
Literal translation: To know it from a good source.
English: To hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

Spanish idiom: Sacarse el gordo.
Literal translation: To draw the fat one.
English: To hit the jackpot.

Post your spanish idioms as well!

Laura

I suddenly feel like missing my Spanish class. I didn't learn the language pretty well, though I got an average grade of 1.75. Too bad. Guess, not all people can learn different languages easily. It's hard to learn Spanish because of the tenses and genders. But, if given a chance, I'd study it again. Here's my idiom contribution:

SP: Haz bien y no mires a quien.
TR: Do right and do not look at others.
ENG: Mind your own business.

SP: Gato escaldado del agua fria huye.
TR: The scalded cat flees cold water.
ENG: Once bitten twice shy

SP: Más vale llegar a tiempo que en convidado
TR: Better to arrive on time than to be invited
ENG: First come, first served

SP: Mientras que en mi casa estoy, rey soy.
TR: While in my house, I am king.
ENG: A man's house is his castle.

SP: Prietitos del mismo arroz.
TR: The little black one's of the same rice.
ENG: It's all in a day's work.

SP: Si esta víbora te pica, no hay remedio en la botica.
TR: If this snake bites you, there's no remedy in the pharmacy.
ENG: You're playing with fire.

SP: Vivito y coleando
TR: Alive and wagging tail
ENG: Alive and kicking

Hi oopsie-daisy! I love your name, too cute

Great idioms.. especially:

"SP: Gato escaldado del agua fria huye.
TR: The scalded cat flees cold water.
ENG: Once bitten twice shy"

That's too funny... a scalded cat! I will give that idiom a try with a Panamanian and will share the reaction I'll get.

Cool idioms... but are they really used on a day to day basis?

This topic is really interesting. I really wanted to learn other language that’s why I envy my parents because during their time, Spanish is included as a part of the curriculum.

Originally Posted by Kitty

Cool idioms... but are they really used on a day to day basis?

Catch you later! Running around like a chicken with its head cut off... That is the coolest thing since sliced bread... That's the bees knees! Any of these (sorry I could only come up with cheesy ones!) are basic English idiomatic phrases, how often do you use them? At least daily I should think, English is riddled with them!
Por ejemplo:
L: Hey Kitty, are coming to breakfast?
K: I'll be there in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
L: Sweet. Do you want a big breakfast?
K: Yes, please. I'm hungry enough to eat a ____________ (or I'm as hungry as a _________________)

¿Claró?

Yes--they are used all the time!

Cheers.

It's funny when you look at these idioms, both the English and Spanish. You don't realize how silly they are until you try to read them literally.