1. A penny for your thoughts
Ask someone what they are thinking
•
Un duro (euro) por tus pensamientos.
2. Add insult to injury
Make a bad situation even worse
•
Echar leña al fuego.
3. Be a hot potato
Refer to an issue which many people are talking about
•
Ser la comidilla.
4. Once in a blue moon
When something happens very rarely
•
Una vez en la vida. De ciento en viento.
5. Caught between two stools
Find it difficult to choose between two options
•
No saber a qué carta quedarse.
6. See eye to eye
Say that two (or more people) agree on something
•
Ser uña y carne.
7. Hear it on the grapevine
Hear a rumour about something or someone
•
Saber algo por radio macuto/patio.
8. Miss the boat
Miss your chance to do something
•
Perder el tren o una buena oportunidad.
9. Kill two birds with one stone
To do two things at the same time
•
Matar dos pájaros de un tiro.
10. Be on the ball
Understand a situation well
•
Coger al vuelo.
11. Cut corners
Do something badly to save money or time
•
Hacer algo de forma
chapucera. •
Saber algo de buena fuente.
When something is very expensive
•
Costar un ojo de la cara.
14. The last straw
Another issue that makes a difficult situation unbearable
•
La gota que colma el vaso.
15. Take something with a pinch of salt
Not to take what someone says too seriously
•
Hacer oidos sordos. Tomar algo a chirigota.
16. Sit on the fence
Not want to choose or make a decision
•
Lavarse las manos como Pilatos.
17. Have the best of both worlds
Have all the advantages that a situation can offer
•
Obtener varias ventajas de una sola situación.
18. Pull wool over other people's eyes
Mislead someone in order to hide your true intentions
•
Confundir a alguien para sacar provecho propio.
19. Be feeling a bit under the weather
Feeling slightly ill
•
Sentirse un poco mal o indispuesto.
20. Speak of the devil!
Used when the person you have just been talking about arrives.
•
Hablando del rey de Roma...por la puerta asoma.
12. Hear something straight from the horse's mouth
Hear something from the
13. Costs an arm and a leg
Idioms related to the sea
authoritative source
1. Burn one's boats Commit yourself to a course of action with no turning back
•
Quemar los barcos. Sin vuelta atrás.
2. Take the wind out of someone's sails
Make someone feel less confident by doing something unexpected
•
Meter palos en las ruedas.
3. Be in the doldrums.
Be sad
•
Estar alpargatado. Con el ánimo por los suelos.
4. Sail close to the wind
Take risks and go to the limits of what is acceptable
•
Correr riesgos más allá de lo prudente.
5. When my boat comes in
When I make my fortune
•
Ayúdate primero que Dios te ayudará después. Ser artífice de tu propio destino.
6. All in the same boat
When everyone is faced with the same difficulties
•
Estar todos en el mismo barco. Correr la misma suerte.
7. Push the boat out
Spend more money that is usual on something
•
Gastar sin medida. Ser un manirroto.
8. Send down the hatch
Eat or drink something quickly
•
Engullir.
9. Trim one's sails
Change tactics in order to suit the circumstances better
•
Cambiar la hoja de ruta. Tirar por otros derroteros.
10. Be money for old rope
Earn money for little or no effort
•
Ganar el sueldo desde la cama.
11. Take the helm
Take charge
•
Tomar el mando.
12. Be ship shape and Bristol fashion
Be all neat and tidy
•
Estar de punta en blanco.
13. A shot across the bows
A warning
•
Lanzar una voz de alarma.
14. Be a loose cannon
An unpredictable person likely to cause offence
•
Ser una mina a la deriva. Un peligro andante.
15. Be on an even keel
A situation is calm and not likely to change
•
La mar está como un plato.
16. Be brassed off
Be angry
•
Estar cabreado.
17. Clear the decks
Clear things away ready for action
•
Preparar el campo de operaciones.
18. Be above board
Do things that are legal, honest and open
•
Actuar a las claras, sin dobleces ni engaños.
19. Rock the boat
Do something to upset a calm situation
•
Incordiar.
20. Weather the storm
Put up with a difficult situation until it passes
•
Capear el temporal.
21. Be in deep water
Be in trouble
•
Estar con el agua al cuello.
22. Be all at sea
Be confused with a situation
•
No saber a qué carta quedarse o qué acción emprender.
23. Keep one's head above water:
Just manage either to pay all your bills or to keep up with work commitments
•
Llegar a fin de mes. Estar al día con las obligaciones y compromisos.
24. Tread water
Not make any progress but not fall behind either
•
Estar empantanado.