To be in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two unpleasant options. Examples Spanish: No sé si quedarme en este trabajo mal pagado o arriesgarme a buscar otro: estoy entre la espada y la pared. English: I don't know whether to stay in this low-paying job or risk looking for another one: […]

This phrase is used to describe someone who wants to be involved in everything, even the things they have nothing to do with. It essentially means 'to want to have your cake and eat it too'. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre quiere estar en todas, está en la procesión y quiere tocar las campanas. English: Juan […]

To be in a difficult situation or under a lot of pressure, similar to the English expression 'to be at the end of one's rope'. Examples Spanish: Con todas estas deudas, realmente estoy con la soga al cuello. English: With all these debts, I'm really at the end of my rope.

A colloquial expression used in some Latin American countries to describe a person who is always present but rarely or never contributes anything of value. In English, it can be translated as 'to be like a frog in a latrine'. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre está en las reuniones, pero nunca aporta nada. Está como sapo […]

This is a Venezuelan slang term that is used to describe a person who is annoying or bothersome. Examples Spanish: No invites a Juan a la fiesta, está hecho una ladilla. English: Don't invite Juan to the party, he is such an annoyance.

A phrase used to describe someone or something that is in a very bad or pitiful state. It's equivalent to the English expression 'in a sorry state'. Examples Spanish: Después de la fiesta, la casa está como el matapiojo. English: After the party, the house is in a sorry state.

This phrase is used to describe someone or something that is extremely common or ubiquitous, similar to saying 'as common as white rice' in English. Examples Spanish: Mi vecino está como el arroz blanco, en todas las partes. Siempre lo veo en todas las tiendas del barrio. English: My neighbor is like white rice, everywhere. […]

This phrase is used when someone is interfering in matters that do not concern them or are being nosy. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre está en los asuntos de los demás, está buscando lo que no se le ha perdido. English: Juan is always involved in other people's business, he's looking for what he hasn't lost.

This phrase is used to refer to a completely different matter or issue. It is similar to the English phrase 'that's another story' or 'that's a different kettle of fish'. Examples Spanish: Sí, he terminado el informe, pero en cuanto a la presentación, eso son otros veinte pesos. English: Yes, I've finished the report, but […]

This phrase is used to express that a certain topic or situation is different, unrelated or too complex to be compared with another one. Its literal translation is 'That's flour from another sack'. Examples Spanish: Podríamos hablar de política todo el día, pero la economía, eso es harina de otro costal. English: We could talk […]

This phrase is used to express the impossibility or absurdity of a situation, similar to the English phrase 'getting blood from a stone.' It suggests requesting or expecting something from a person or situation that is unlikely or impossible to provide it. Examples Spanish: Pedirle a Juan que llegue temprano es como pedirle peras al […]

This phrase translates to 'it's like raining over wet ground.' It is used to describe a situation where someone adds unnecessary comments or actions to something that is already clear or resolved. Examples Spanish: Le dije a Juan que ya sabía todo sobre el problema. Él empezó a explicarlo de nuevo, eso es como llover […]

This phrase is used to express that you don't like someone or something, or that you do not feel comfortable with a particular person or situation. It literally translates to 'He/She/It is not a saint of my devotion'. Examples Spanish: 'No me inviten a la fiesta de Pedro. Ese no es santo de mi devoción'. […]

This is a spanish idiom literally translating to 'A new broom sweeps well'. It is often used to describe someone who is new to a job or position and is performing very well, or to express that new things often work better or are more efficient. Examples Spanish: Jorge es el nuevo gerente y está […]

This phrase is not a slang, but a literal statement that translates to 'It's a risk being alive'. It's typically used to express the inherent risks and uncertainties of life. Examples Spanish: Con todas las cosas malas que están pasando en el mundo, es un peligro estar vivo. English: With all the bad things happening […]

This phrase is not exactly a slang term, but a common saying or proverb in Spanish. It translates to 'It's better to prevent than to have to remedy (regret)'. It means that it's always better to prevent a problem from happening than to have to fix it or deal with the consequences later. Examples Spanish: […]

This phrase literally translates to 'a known evil is better than an unknown good.' It is used to express the idea that it's better to stick with a situation or person you are familiar with (even if it's bad), than to risk going for an unknown (even if it could turn out good). Examples Spanish: […]

This phrase is not really slang, but a widely used saying in Spanish. It translates directly as 'It's better to give than to receive.' It is used to express the idea that giving or helping others is more rewarding than receiving help or gifts. Examples Spanish: Como dice el dicho, 'es mejor dar que recibir', […]

This is a humorous Spanish phrase used to describe someone who is extremely lazy. It literally translates to 'he's lazier than the upper jaw', suggesting that even the upper jaw, which doesn't move during talking or eating, is more active than the person in question. Examples Spanish: Mi hermano no ayuda en casa, es más […]

This phrase literally translates as 'more stubborn than a mule'. It is used to describe someone who is extremely stubborn or obstinate. Examples Spanish: Mi abuelo no quiere usar su teléfono nuevo. ¡Es más terco que una mula! English: My grandfather doesn't want to use his new phone. He is more stubborn than a mule!

This phrase is used informally to describe someone or something as being very ugly or unpleasant. It literally translates to 'he/she/it is uglier than a drug case', which is an exaggerated way of saying someone or something is extremely unattractive or distasteful. Examples Spanish: No me gusta ese edificio, es más feo que un caso […]

This phrase is used to denote a situation where something or someone appears to have changed, but in reality, remains the same. It literally translates to 'It's the same dog with a different collar'. Examples Spanish: Aunque cambiaron al gerente del proyecto, es el mismo perro con otro collar. English: Even though they changed the […]

A phrase used to describe a situation, event or thing that is old news, outdated, or no longer relevant. Examples Spanish: Ya no te preocupes por eso, es de clavo pasado. English: Don't worry about that anymore, it's old news.

This phrase literally translates to 'it's like a blind man leading another blind man.' It is used to describe a situation where a person who doesn't know much about a subject is trying to guide or teach someone else about the same subject. Examples Spanish: Si yo te enseño física cuántica, es como un ciego […]

This is a Spanish proverb used to describe a person who neither enjoys something themselves, nor lets others enjoy it. Its literal translation is 'He is like the dog in the manger, who neither eats nor lets others eat.' Examples Spanish: Luis es como el perro del hortelano, que ni come ni deja comer. No […]

This phrase is equivalent to the English expression 'like looking for a needle in a haystack'. It refers to something that is extremely difficult or nearly impossible to find because it is lost in a sea of similar things. Examples Spanish: Encontrar a una persona honesta en la política es como buscar una aguja en […]

A Spanish idiom used to describe a situation that was already complicated and then something happens to make it even more complicated. It literally translates to 'We were many and grandmother gave birth'. Examples Spanish: Ya teníamos problemas con el proyecto y, para colmo, el jefe nos ha dado más trabajo. ¡Éramos muchos y parió […]

This phrase is used to describe a situation where a person meets someone who challenges them or is their match. It means 'to meet your match' in English. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre se salía con la suya hasta que se encontró con la horma de su zapato en María. English: Juan always had his way […]

This phrase is used to advise moderation in marriage. It suggests that in married life, neither indifference (soso) nor excess (salado) is beneficial. Examples Spanish: Si quieres un matrimonio feliz, recuerda: en vida de matrimonio, ni soso ni salado. English: If you want a happy marriage, remember: in married life, neither bland nor salty.

This phrase translates to 'In what world does he/she live?' It is used to express disbelief or confusion about someone's actions, decisions, or perspectives, suggesting they are out of touch with reality. Examples Spanish: ¿En qué mundo vive? No se da cuenta de la gravedad de la situación. English: In what world does he live? […]