Admin
Here is another batch of ten colloquial Spanish language expressions, their literal meaning, and their closest equivalent in English.
Some are humorous, others are very informal, and a few can sound rude or pejorative — so learn them, but use them carefully or just recognize them when you hear them.
| Spanish Expression | Literal Translation | Natural English Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| (estar) entre azul y buenas noches | to be between blue and good night (apparently is has a poetic origin, dusk, twilight) | in a vague/undefined state | when something is unclear, undecided, or in-between (not fully one thing or the other). |
| (darse) baños de pueblo | (to give oneself) baths of people | humbling experiences / mixing with everyday people | Figurative: to stay down-to-earth (usually with politicians or celebrities). It could be to walk between a crowd, to mix with the crown and greet citizens or fans by hand. |
| en caliente | in hot | right away / immediately | Informal, common |
| pélame / ¿por qué no me pelas? | peel me / why don’t you peel me? | pay attention to me / why are you ignoring me? | Slangy, playful or annoyed tone. Maybe vulgar? Mexico. |
| dar bola | to give ball | to pay attention / to give the time of day | Informal, often used in negative “no me dio bola”. More common in South America. |
| estar en pelotas | to be in balls | to be naked | Informal, can sound vulgar so use with caution |
| tener cola que le pisen | to have a tail they can step on | to have a shady past / to have skeletons in the closet | Figurative, often used about politicians |
| ¿a poco? | really? / is it so? | seriously? / no way! | Very common and friendly. It conveys disbelief. Very common in Mexico. |
| de la que me salvé | from the one I was saved | dodged a bullet. That was close. Also estuvo cerca. | Common, informal. |
| agarrar a alguien de su puerquito | to treat someone as their piggy | to bully, to abuse. OR..to just tease someone over and over. To constantly make fun of someone. | Informal, it could be playful or it could not so playful. School language. |
Note for students:
Expressions like “estar en pelotas” can sound vulgar, so it’s better to understand them before using them in formal or respectful conversation.
Funny external video about Ya me agarró de su puerquito
