Spanish Idioms

Humans say the weirdest things sometimes. I’m not talking about babies and little kids, I’m talking about humans in general. Every language seems to have their own idioms, expressions, and sayings that don’t really make sense when they’re literally translated. It can be very difficult to learn and understand Spanish idioms or idioms from any foreign language. It is important that you learn to speak Spanish in sentences and get a good base before you start learning Spanish idioms. Also, if you are learning them, be sure to use them in context and ask people if it makes sense. Think about it, how often have you heard some English idiom and been confused? Be sure to ask a native speaker, if you can, if your new idiom makes sense and if it sounds right. Here is a video about an English idiom that got me laughing:

I hope you were able to laugh about that. The idiom doesn’t really make sense, but it’s used anyway. Here are a few Spanish idioms for you to learn:

meter la pata | to say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time, to put your foot in your mouth
Ejemplo: ¿Por qué dijiste eso, Juan? ¡Metiste la pata!
Example: Why did you say that, John? You put your foot in mouth!

aburrirse como una ostra | to be bored as an oyster, to be or get very bored
Ejemplo: Esta fiesta fue un desastre. Nos aburrimos como una ostra.
Example: That party was a disaster. We were bored stiff.

aflojar el billete | to loosen the bill, to loosen up and spend money
Ejemplo: Para salir de ese apuro, el jefe tuvo que aflojar el billete.
Example: To get out of that jam, the boss had to loosen up and spend money.

ahogarse en un vaso de agua | to drown in a glass of water, to sweat the small stuff, to worry about something unimportant
Ejemplo: No te preocupes. No te ahogues en un vaso de agua.
Example: Don’t worry. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

I use “meter la pata” more than any of these Spanish idioms. I use it often because I tend to put my foot in my mouth on occasion. I will tell some embarrassing story about myself and say, “Metí la pata”. I would love to hear your experiences of putting your foot in your mouth.

Challenge: Cuéntame de la última vez que metiste la pata. (Tell about the last time you put your foot in your mouth.)