Everyday Spanish idioms and what they really mean

Idioms are the phrases that do not mean what their words say. Learning them is one of the fastest ways to sound natural, and they are a lot more fun than a grammar table. Each entry below gives the literal translation first, so you can see where the idea comes from, then the meaning you will actually hear.

Some of these are common across the Spanish-speaking world. Others belong mainly to Spain, and each entry says so.

¡La leche!

• Literal: "The milk!"
• Meaning: An exclamation of surprise, similar to "No way!" or "Wow!" It can be mild or strong, depending on your tone.
• Where: Mainly Spain.
• Example: ¡La leche, qué calor hace hoy! (Wow, it is so hot today!)

Estar en las nubes

• Literal: "To be in the clouds."
• Meaning: To be daydreaming or not paying attention.
• Example: Perdona, estaba en las nubes. ¿Qué has dicho? (Sorry, I was miles away. What did you say?)

Tomar el pelo

• Literal: "To take the hair."
• Meaning: To tease someone, pull their leg or trick them as a joke.
• Example: No te creas lo que dice, solo te está tomando el pelo. (Do not believe what he says, he is just winding you up.)

Ser pan comido

• Literal: "To be eaten bread."
• Meaning: To be very easy.
• Example: El examen fue pan comido. (The exam was a piece of cake.)

Costar un ojo de la cara

• Literal: "To cost an eye of the face."
• Meaning: To be very expensive. The English equivalent is "to cost an arm and a leg."
• Example: Ese restaurante cuesta un ojo de la cara. (That restaurant is incredibly expensive.)

No tener pelos en la lengua

• Literal: "To have no hairs on the tongue."
• Meaning: To speak frankly, sometimes bluntly, without holding back.
• Example: Mi abuela no tiene pelos en la lengua. (My grandmother says exactly what she thinks.)

Estar hecho polvo

• Literal: "To be made of dust."
• Meaning: To be exhausted or in very bad shape.
• Example: Después del viaje, estoy hecho polvo. (After the journey, I am completely worn out.) Use hecha if you are a woman.

Using idioms well

• Start with two or three. Use them in the right situations rather than all at once. Native speakers notice when idioms are forced.
• Mind the register. ¡La leche! suits a conversation with friends. Avoid it in a formal email or a job interview.
• Check the regional use. An idiom that is common in Spain may sound unusual in Mexico, and the other way around. Listening to native speakers, in films or podcasts, is the best guide.

Practice

Pick the meaning of each idiom.

For the grammar behind these examples, see Ser vs estar, which explains why estar hecho polvo uses the verb for a temporary state.