This phrase literally translates to 'From any cloud, a downpour can happen'. It is used to signify that problems or difficulties can arise unexpectedly, even from seemingly harmless or trivial situations. Examples Spanish: Nunca pensé que mi pequeña mentira causaría tanto problema. De cualquier nube sale un chubasco. English: I never thought my little lie […]

This phrase is used to express that even from the most unexpected or humble places, something significant or surprising can emerge. It's similar to the English saying 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' Examples Spanish: Nunca pensé que Juan, siendo tan tímido, sería un gran cantante. Bueno, de cualquier maya sale un ratón. English: […]

A phrase used to signify that everyone has a weakness or a vice. It can be used to justify one's guilty pleasures or indulgences. Literally translates to 'My grandma died of something'. Examples Spanish: '¿Otro helado? Pero, ¿no estás a dieta?' 'De algo murió mi abuela.' English: 'Another ice cream? But, aren't you on a […]

A Spanish saying used to express a fair exchange or quid pro quo, it literally translates to 'giving and giving, little birds flying'. It means that both parties involved in a transaction or exchange should both give something. Examples Spanish: Voy a ayudarte con tu mudanza, pero luego tendrás que ayudarme con la mía. Dando […]

A phrase used to warn someone to be careful of not only obvious dangers (represented by 'brave waters'), but also of those that seem harmless or quiet (represented by 'tame waters'). The underlying message is that sometimes, the most dangerous situations are those that appear safe or tranquil. Examples Spanish: No te fíes solo de […]

This phrase is used to suggest that in order to maintain good relationships or friendships, it's best to keep matters, especially those related to money, clear and straightforward. Examples Spanish: Mejor dividimos la cuenta por la mitad para evitar problemas. Ya sabes, cuentas claras conservan amistades. English: It's better if we split the bill in […]

This is not a slang phrase, but a common phrase in Spanish. It literally translates to 'Tell me everything, or tell me nothing', meaning the speaker wants to know all the details about a situation, or would rather not know anything at all. Examples Spanish: No me des solo una parte de la historia. Cúentamelo […]

This phrase is used to refer to when someone tells a story without mentioning the important details or the person who was responsible. It literally translates to 'tell the miracle but not the saint'. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre habla de sus éxitos en el trabajo pero nunca menciona a su equipo. Siempre cuenta el milagro […]

This phrase literally translates to 'four eyes see more than two'. It is not an insult but a saying that means two people working together will be more efficient because they will see more details, problems, solutions etc. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Examples Spanish: 'Cuatro ojos ven más que dos', por […]

This idiomatic phrase literally translates as 'When you are unlucky, even your wife cheats on you'. It is used to express the idea that when a person is going through a bad streak or a series of misfortunes, even the most unexpected negative things can happen. Examples Spanish: Perdí mi empleo, mi coche se averió […]

This phrase is not actually a slang, but a common saying or proverb in Spanish. It literally translates to 'When one door closes, a hundred open.' It is used to convey optimism, suggesting that when one opportunity or phase ends, many more possibilities become available. Examples Spanish: Perdí mi trabajo, pero no me preocupo mucho. […]

A Spanish slang phrase that literally translates as 'When you're going, I'm coming back.' It is used to express that someone is always one step ahead or more experienced than the person they're talking to. Examples Spanish: No trates de engañarme con tus trucos, cuando tú vas, yo vuelvo. English: Don't try to fool me […]

A phrase used to describe the situation when people start to leave or abandon something or someone when difficulties arise. It refers to the idea that rats are the first to abandon a sinking ship. Examples Spanish: Tan pronto como la empresa empezó a tener problemas financieros, los empleados empezaron a renunciar. Es cierto que […]

This phrase is used to describe someone who is always in trouble or doing something wrong. It literally translates to 'when they are not in jail, they are being searched for' Examples Spanish: 'Juan es muy problemático, cuando no está preso lo andan buscando.' English: 'Juan is very troublesome, when he's not in jail, he's […]

This phrase is used rhetorically to express disbelief, surprise, or irony when something unusual or unexpected happens regularly. Literally translates to 'When is it not Easter in December?' but in slang context it means 'When is this not happening?' Examples Spanish: ¿Cuándo no es Pascua en diciembre? Siempre te encuentro en esta biblioteca. English: When […]

This is a popular saying, not a slang term, that translates to 'When poverty enters through the door, love leaves through the window'. It is used to illustrate the concept that financial stress and hardship can cause strain in relationships, often leading to the loss of love. Examples Spanish: Desde que perdió su trabajo, han […]

This Spanish slang phrase literally translates to 'when there is hunger, there is no hard bread'. It is a metaphorical saying that means when you are in desperate need of something, you're not in a position to be picky. Examples Spanish: No es el mejor trabajo, pero ya sabes, cuando hay hambre, no hay pan […]

This proverbial phrase is used to express that when there are rumors or indications about something, there might be some truth behind it. The literal translation in English is 'When the river sounds, it carries water'. Examples Spanish: No quiero creer los rumores sobre Juan, pero ya sabes, cuando el río suena, agua lleva. English: […]

This phrase is used to express that rumors or gossip usually have some truth to them. It is comparable to the English saying 'Where there's smoke, there's fire.' Examples Spanish: No sé si ellos realmente están saliendo, pero 'cuando el río suena es porque algo trae'. English: I don't know if they are really dating, […]

This Spanish slang term literally translates to 'When God doesn't want, saints can't'. It is used to express the idea that if something is not meant to be, all the effort in the world cannot make it happen. It asserts a belief in destiny or fate. Examples Spanish: Intenté conseguir ese trabajo con todas mis […]

This Spanish idiom is used to convey the idea that once you have a reputation, it's hard to change it. This can be positive or negative. It is often used in a situation where someone's past actions continue to affect their current reputation. Examples Spanish: 'Juan siempre llega tarde a las reuniones, cría fama y […]

This phrase literally translates to 'Raise crows and they'll peck out your eyes'. It is used to express that if you do wrong deeds or raise ungrateful people, they may harm you in the future. Examples Spanish: Le di todo a mi hijo y ahora no quiere ayudarme. Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos. […]

This phrase is used to describe someone who believes they are better or more important than everyone else. It can roughly be translated as 'to believe oneself to be the last Coca Cola in the desert.' Examples Spanish: Ella se cree la última Coca Cola del desierto solo porque ganó la lotería. English: She thinks […]

This phrase literally translates to 'With patience, one goes far'. It signifies that patience can lead to great achievements or success in life. Examples Spanish: No te desesperes por aprender el idioma, recuerda que 'con paciencia se llega lejos'. English: Don't despair in learning the language, remember that 'with patience, one goes far'.

A humorous and informal Spanish phrase used to describe someone who is looking at something or someone with great admiration, surprise, or astonishment. Literally translates to 'with eyes of a shitting cow'. Examples Spanish: Cuando vio el nuevo coche de su amigo, lo miró con ojos de vaca cagona. English: When he saw his friend's […]

This phrase is a proverb that translates to 'With the same stick that you measure, you will be measured.' It means that the way you treat others is the way you will be treated. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre es grosero con todos, pero sabe que 'con la misma vara que midas serás medido', y algún […]

This phrase is used to refer to a situation where a friend's actions have been disappointing or hurtful, similar to the English saying 'With friends like these, who needs enemies?' Examples Spanish: Juan siempre me deja plantado cuando quedamos para salir. Con amigos así no hacen falta enemigos. English: Juan always stands me up when […]

This is a popular Cuban phrase often used to express surprise, irony, or disbelief. The literal translation is 'Buddy, buddy, but the chicken is worth two reales.' It is used to point out that something is more complicated or difficult than initially thought. Examples Spanish: 'Pensé que arreglar el coche sería fácil', 'Compay, compay, pero […]

This phrase is used to describe someone who is heading towards a difficult or dangerous situation, unaware of the potential consequences. It literally translates to 'like a cow going towards a cliff'. Examples Spanish: Juan sigue gastando su dinero sin pensar, es como vaca que va para risco. English: Juan keeps spending his money without […]

A Spanish idiomatic expression used to describe someone who is really upset or angry. Examples Spanish: Después de perder su trabajo, Juan estaba como un cienpie meado. English: After losing his job, Juan was as angry as a peed centipede.