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    10 Expressions That Are Not so Easy to Figure Out. Barril sin Fondo

    A barrel with cash coming in, and out from the bottom.

    Spanish is full of phrases that don’t make sense if you just translate them word by word. Some are playful, some sarcastic, and some show everyday culture. Here is another batch of ten expressions with their real meaning in context. Spanish Expression Literal Translation Real Meaning Ahí muere (MX) There it dies “Let’s leave it […] More

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    El Monte de Piedad

    Monte de Piedad, a logo in white and red depicting its centuries-old Mexico City headquarters.

    When Spanish learners hear the expression llevar algo al Monte de Piedad, it can sound poetic, even mysterious. Literally, it means “to take something to the Mount of Mercy,” but in everyday Spanish it simply refers to pawning an item. This expression has deep roots, going all the way back to Renaissance Italy and the […] More

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    10 Spanish-language Expressions That Are Not Easy to Figure Out. Tres Doritos Después.

    Tres Doritos Después

    Everyday phrases that don’t translate directly Spanish is full of expressions that confuse students because the literal meaning does not match the actual usage. Some of them are playful, others are pejorative (so they are better learned than repeated), and a few are just Mexican. Here is a batch of ten more examples. Spanish expression […] More

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    El Burro

    El Burro

    In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word burro has many uses. It can mean donkey, it can mean a big burrito, or even a stubborn person. But in the school context, to ser burro / ser burra for female students, means something very specific: the least smart or the laziest student in the classroom. In other […] More