If you are learning Spanish, it is likely that you have heard some confusing expressions that do not make sense when you translate them directly into your mother tongue. Don’t worry! It’s not that you haven’t heard it well, it’s probably just an expression or saying that can’t be translated literally. Sayings or popular expressions are phrases that are used in a figurative sense, rather than their literal meaning. These types of expressions are very frequent in any language, and in most cases, they are closely related to the culture with which the language is associated.MODISMOS in Spanish are what we know as IDIOMS in English. These are set phrases whose meaning cannot be deduced based on the meanings of the individual words.
Here are some examples:
Some other expressions are:
Quedarse con la boca abierta – Stay with your mouth open Meaning: Be surprised by something. Pasar la noche en blanco – Spend the night in white Meaning: To not being able to sleep. Perder la cabeza – Lose one’s head Meaning: Go mad or go crazy. Costar un ojo de la cara – Cost an eye of the face. Meaning: Is expensive Echar una mano – Bear a hand Meaning: To help someone. Meter la pata – To put the feet Meaning: Make a mistake or as popularly know, screw up No tener pelos en la lengua – Not to have hairs in the tongue Not mincing the tongue, say things clearly and directly.Remember!
When learning a language, it is not only important to learn the formal way of speaking, but also to be able to understand the informal variant. This is the type of language that we will hear on the street, in social interactions, on television shows, etc. The best way to achieve this is to learn from native speakers, as they have a deeper understanding of their own language and how to use it in real life.
