This Spanish slang phrase is used to express indifference or to say that someone doesn't care about something at all. 'Pirulí' is a Spanish candy lollipop, used here as a metaphor to denote insignificance. Examples Spanish: A Juan le importa un pirulí lo que piensen los demás de él. English: John couldn't care less about […]
le ronca la manigueta
A Cuban slang phrase used to express disbelief, surprise, or annoyance, similar to 'I can't believe it' or 'it's out of control' in English. Examples Spanish: ¿El niño hizo qué? ¡Le ronca la manigueta! English: The kid did what? I can't believe it!
le sacaron el dinero con alicate
A Spanish slang phrase that means someone was cheated out of their money or tricked into giving their money. Examples Spanish: Juan compró un coche usado, pero le sacaron el dinero con alicate porque el coche tenía muchos problemas mecánicos. English: Juan bought a used car, but they cheated him out of his money because […]
leche
In Spanish slang, 'leche' literally means 'milk'. However, it can be used in various contexts with different meanings. It's often used to express surprise, annoyance or admiration. Examples Spanish: ¡Qué leche! Se ha vuelto a olvidar las llaves en casa. English: What the hell! He's forgotten his keys at home again.
lechú
A colloquial term in Spain, primarily used in Madrid, that refers to a young, inexperienced person or a rookie. Examples Spanish: Eres un lechú, todavía te queda mucho por aprender. English: You're a lechú, you still have a lot to learn.
leer la cartilla
To scold or reprimand someone, often in a serious and formal manner; it can also mean to set someone straight or lay down the rules. Examples Spanish: Mi madre me leyó la cartilla después de llegar tarde a casa. English: My mother scolded me after I came home late.
leña
In Spanish slang, 'leña' is a term often used to refer to a beating or a rough treatment. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a severe critique or a difficult situation. Examples Spanish: ¡Si sigues comportándote así, te vas a llevar una leña! English: If you keep behaving like this, you're going to […]
lenguetero
A person who talks too much or tends to gossip. Examples Spanish: No compartas tus secretos con Juan, es un lenguetero. English: Don't share your secrets with Juan, he is a chatterbox.
lenguilarga
A person who talks too much or can't keep a secret. Literally translates to 'long tongue'. Examples Spanish: No le cuentes tus secretos a Ana, es una lenguilarga. English: Don't tell your secrets to Ana, she's a blabbermouth.
levantar una roncha
A phrase used to express causing trouble, annoyance, or discomfort to someone. It can also mean provoking someone's anger or hostility. Examples Spanish: No me hables de él, solo logra levantar una roncha. English: Don't talk to me about him, he only manages to annoy me.
lezna!
In Spanish slang, 'lezna' usually refers to a person who is annoying or bothersome. It is a derogatory term used to describe someone who is irritating or a nuisance. Examples Spanish: ¡Deja de ser una lezna y déjame en paz! English: Stop being a nuisance and leave me alone!
librar la coca
This phrase is used in Spain and it means to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation, similar to the English idiom 'dodge a bullet'. Examples Spanish: ¡Menos mal que llegué a tiempo para la reunión, me libré la coca! English: Thank goodness I arrived on time for the meeting, I dodged a bullet!
liga
In Spanish slang, 'liga' is often used to refer to a rubber band. It can also be used to refer to a sports league or a garter. Examples Spanish: Necesito una liga para recoger mi cabello. English: I need a rubber band to tie up my hair.
ligar
A Spanish slang term meaning to flirt or to pick up someone romantically. Examples Spanish: Juan siempre intenta ligar cuando vamos a la discoteca. English: Juan always tries to flirt when we go to the disco.
limazo
A term used in Spain, which means a hard hit or a punch. It can be used both literally, referring to physical violence, or figuratively, indicating a strong emotional blow. Examples Spanish: Juan le dio un limazo a la puerta que la hizo temblar. Mi jefe me dio un limazo al decirme que estaba despedido. […]
limber
In Puerto Rican slang, 'limber' refers to a homemade frozen treat made from fruit juice or milk, similar to an ice pop or a slushie. Examples Spanish: Cuando hace calor, me encanta hacer limber de coco para refrescarme. English: When it's hot, I love making coconut limber to cool off.
limón
In Latin American slang, 'limón' is often used to refer to a person who is bright, intelligent, or clever. However, its primary meaning is 'lemon'. The slang usage can vary depending on the region. Examples Spanish: Eres un verdadero limón, resolviste ese problema matemático muy rápido. English: You're a real limón, you solved that math […]
limpiarle la cacharra
A colloquial phrase that means 'to scam someone' or 'to trick someone out of their money' Examples Spanish: Juan le limpió la cacharra a su amigo vendiéndole un coche que no funcionaba. English: Juan scammed his friend by selling him a car that didn't work.
liquear
In Spanish slang, 'liquear' refers to the act of leaking or revealing confidential or secret information intentionally or unintentionally. Examples Spanish: No debes liquear la información de la empresa a nadie. English: You should not leak the company's information to anyone.
llaga
In Spanish slang, 'llaga' is often used to refer to a person who is annoying or bothersome. Examples Spanish: Deja de ser tan llaga y déjame trabajar en paz. English: Stop being such a pain and let me work in peace.
llamar para atrás
This term literally translates to 'call back'. It is used to refer to the action of returning a phone call. Examples Spanish: No te preocupes, si no contesto, te voy a llamar para atrás. English: Don't worry, if I don't answer, I will call you back.
llegar con la peste
A Spanish slang phrase that literally translates to 'arrive with the plague'. It is used to describe someone who brings bad luck or problems wherever they go. Examples Spanish: Cada vez que Juan viene a la fiesta, siempre ocurre algo malo. Realmente él siempre llega con la peste. English: Every time Juan comes to the […]
llevar la voz cantante
To be the one who makes the decisions or controls a situation, similar to 'to call the shots' in English Examples Spanish: En todas las reuniones de la empresa, es el jefe quien lleva la voz cantante. English: In all the company meetings, it's the boss who calls the shots.
llevarse hasta los clavos de la cruz
This phrase is used to describe someone who takes everything when leaving a place or ending a relationship. It's similar to the English expression 'take everything but the kitchen sink'. Examples Spanish: Cuando Juan rompió con su novia, se llevó hasta los clavos de la cruz. English: When Juan broke up with his girlfriend, he […]
llorar a moco tendido
This Spanish idiom is used to describe someone crying uncontrollably or intensely. Examples Spanish: Después de la pelea, ella estaba llorando a moco tendido. English: After the fight, she was crying her eyes out.
lloriqueo
Lloriqueo is a Spanish slang term, often used to describe someone who is whining or complaining excessively, similar to the continuous crying of a baby. Examples Spanish: Deja de lloriqueo, la vida no es tan mal como piensas. English: Stop whining, life is not as bad as you think.
llover sobre mojado
This phrase literally translates to 'rain over wet', and is used to describe a situation where the same unfortunate event occurs repeatedly, or when someone insists on a subject that is already known or obvious. Examples Spanish: Tener que repetir lo mismo una y otra vez se siente como llover sobre mojado. English: Having to […]
lo dices y no lo sabes
A phrase used when someone unintentionally says something that is actually true or prophetic, similar to the English phrase 'you said it without knowing'. Examples Spanish: Te vas a enamorar de ella, lo dices y no lo sabes. English: You're going to fall in love with her, you say it without knowing.
lo mismo raspa que pinta
This phrase is used to indicate that someone or something is versatile, or capable of doing many different things. It is similar to the English idiom 'Jack of all trades'. Examples Spanish: Mi tío trabaja como mecánico, cocinero y hasta pintor, lo mismo raspa que pinta. English: My uncle works as a mechanic, a cook, […]
lo pasaron por la piedra
A Spanish slang phrase used to indicate that someone has been through a hard time or had a tough experience. It literally translates to 'they passed him through the stone'. Examples Spanish: Después de trabajar 12 horas al día durante una semana, realmente lo pasaron por la piedra. English: After working 12 hours a day […]