10 expressions that are not so easy to figure out (18)
Here are 10 common random idioms you may have trouble with if you hear them for the first time:
Expression | Approximate literal translation (what you might think you actually heard) | Explanation |
¡no me falles! (MX) | Don’t fail me. | Don’t let me down. Don’t disappoint me. |
haz de cuenta. (Hacer de cuenta que.., hacer cuenta que…) | Do of account? | to pretend, to imagine. Haz de cuenta que no yo estoy aquí. Pretend that I am not here. |
Hacerse guaje. (MX) | what? | to play dumb. |
Agarrarse del chongo. (MX). Agarrarse de las greñas. |
to grab each other from the bun (hair). |
A catfight. (fig.) |
un pantallazo (MX) |
What? from pantalla, screen. |
A screen capture image, screengrab. |
Un libro de hace 500 años. | A book of 500 years ago. | A 500 year old book. (Also, un libro que tiene 500 años). |
Se le pasaron las copas. (Pasársele las copas a alguien). | What? The glasses of wine passed him by? | To have too many drinks. Excess of drinks. |
¡No es para tanto! (No ser para tanto). | It isn’t for so much. | Don’t worry, it’s not that important, it’s not that serious. |
¡no te fijes! (MX) |
What? Don’t pay attention? |
Don’t worry. No problem. Don’t even mention it. |
No hagas caso. (no hacer caso). |
Don’t make a case? |
Ignore it. (hacer caso=to pay attention, to listen, to heed). |
Originally posted on 20110228. Last updated on 20210311 (spanishNY.com) top