The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms

by Peter Weibel

  palmarla (pop.) to cash/hand in one’s chips (fam., hum.) cascar[la]

  el palmo span

  palmo a palmo (fig.) slowly, step by step, inch by inch, little by little Lo exploramos palmo a palmo. We explored it inch by inch.

  hacer un palmo de narices a alg. (fam.) to thumb one’s nose at s.o. (fam.)

  quedarse con un palmo de narices (fam.) to come away empty-handed, to end up with nothing

  dejar a alg. con un palmo de narices (fam.) to disappoint s.o. greatly, to take the wind out of s.o.’s sails (fam.) Siempre se jactaba de ser un hacha para el ajedrez hasta que mi hermanito se lo comió crudo. Eso sí que lo dejó con un palmo de narices. He was always boasting about being a genius at chess until my kid brother beat him hollow. That really took the wind out of his sails.

  conocer algo a palmos (fig.) to know s.th. very well Conoce el terreno a palmos. He knows the terrain/ground very well. He knows every inch of the terrain/ground.

  el palo stick

  De tal palo, tal astilla. (prov.) The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. (prov.) Like father like son. (prov.) A chip off the old block.

  estar del mismo palo (fig.) to be in cahoots (fam.), to be hand in glove

  dar un palo a alg. (fig.) to criticize s.o. severely, to give s.o. a [real] roasting (fam.), to take s.o. to task (fig.)

  dar palos de ciego (a) to lash out blindly/wildly (b) to grope in the dark (fig.)

  andar a palos (fig., fam.) to be [always] squabbling, to fight like cat and dog (fig.)

  meter un palo en la rueda o palos en las ruedas [de alg.] (fig.) to put a spoke in s.o.’s wheel (fig., fam., Br.E.), to throw a spanner (Br.E.) or a monkey wrench (Am.E.) in[to] the works (fam.) Me metió un palo en la rueda. He put a spoke in my wheel. Casi echó nuestros planes por el suelo cuando de repente se rajó. Él sí que metió palos en las ruedas. He almost ruined our plans when he suddenly backed out. He really threw a monkey wrench into the works.

  aplicar una política del palo y la zanahoria (fig.) to apply a carrot-and-stick policy or a policy of the carrot and the stick (fig.) El gobierno aplicó una política del palo y la zanahoria para cambiar la opinión del pueblo. The government applied a policy of the carrot and the stick in order to change the people’s opinion.

  a palo seco (fig.) whisky a palo seco straight whisk[e]y beber a palo seco to drink without having anything to eat Me lo dijeron a palo seco. They told me straight out (Br.E.) or outright. Lo desmintió a palo seco. He flatly denied it. Pagaron los veinte dólares a palo seco. They paid the twenty dollars and not a cent more.

  palo (hay gustos que merecen ~s)

  palo (la ene/pata de ~)

  palo (sacar agua de un ~ seco)

  la paloma pigeon

  palomas (waves): white horses

  la paloma (fig., pop.) streetwalker, prostitute

  ser una paloma sin hiel (fig.) to be a lamb (fig.), to be very sweet-tempered, to have a sweet/peaceful nature

  el palomar pigeon loft

  alborotar el palomar (fig., fam.) to cause a commotion

  el palomino young pigeon

  el palomino (fig., fam.) brown spot (in the underwear), skidmark (fig., fam., hum.)

  un palomino atontado (fig., pop.) idiot un [pedazo de] alcornoque

  la palotada whack (with a stick)

  no dar palotada (fig., fam.) (a) not to do a stroke of work (b) to get nothing right, s.o. can’t do a thing right

  el pálpito (fam.) feeling, presentiment, hunch (fam.)

  darle a alg. el pálpito o tener el pálpito de que … to have a feeling or a hunch that …, s.th. tells s.o. that … Me da el pálpito o tengo el pálpito de que aquí hay gato encerrado. I have a feeling/hunch that there’s something wrong here.

  el pan bread

  llamar al pan, pan y al vino, vino (fig.) to call a spade a spade (fig.)

  ser más bueno que el pan (fam.) (well-be-haved): to be as good as gold

  hacer un pan como unas hostias (fig., fam.) to muck it [all] up (sl.), to make a hash/botch of s.th./things (fig., fam.)

  repartir algo como pan bendito (fig., fam.) to be extremely tight or tight-fisted with s.th. (fam.)

  ganarse el pan (fam.) to earn/make a living, to earn one’s daily bread (fam.), to earn one’s bread and butter (fam.), to earn one’s crust (fam.)

  venderse como el pan o como pan caliente (fig.) to sell like hotcakes (fig.) Estos libros se venden como pan caliente. These books sell/go like hotcakes.

  ser el pan [nuestro] de cada día (fig.) to be a daily event, to be an everyday occurrence, to happen every day Estas manifestaciones son el pan de cada día o se han convertido en el pan nuestro de cada día. These demonstrations are an everyday occurrence or have become a daily event.

  ser pan comido (fam.) to be as easy as pie (sl.), to be a piece of cake (fam.), to be a breeze (fam., Am.E.), to be dead easy (fam.), to be like shooting fish in a barrel (fig., Am.E.) ser coser y cantar

  no tener más que el pan y la noche (fam.) to be very poor, to be as poor as a church mouse (fig.)

  no caérsele a alg. el pan (fig., fam.) to be dying of impatience (fig.), s.o. can hardly wait El libro será publicado pronto. No se me cae el pan. The book will be published soon. I can hardly wait (for it to be published). I’m dying of impatience.

  A falta de pan, buenas son tortas. (prov.) Any port in a storm. (prov.) Beggars cannot or must not be choosers. (prov.)

  Pan con pan, comida de tontos. (prov.) A change is a good thing. Variety is the spice of life. (prov.)

  No sólo de pan vive el hombre. (prov.) Man cannot live by bread alone. (prov.)

  Con pan y vino se anda el camino. (prov.) Things don’t/never seem so bad after a good meal.

  pan ( comer: con su/etc. ~ se/etc. lo coma/etc.)

  pan (a buen hambre no hay ~ duro)

  pan (comprar/vender algo por un pedazo de ~)

  pan (Dios da ~ a quien no tiene dientes.)

  pan (ser más largo que un día sin ~)

  pan (ser tortas y ~ pintado)

  pan (ser un pedazo de ~)

  pan (tener cara de ~)

  pancho calm

  quedarse/estar tan pancho (fam.) to remain/be perfectly calm quedarse/estar tan campante

  el pandero tambourine

  en buenas manos está el pandero (fig., fam.) s.th./it is in good hands

  el panorama panorama

  ¡Vaya un panorama! (fam.) That’s a fine look-out! (iron.)

  el pantalón pants (Am.E.), trousers (Br.E.)

  llevar los pantalones (fig.) to wear the pants/trousers (fig.) La madre lleva los pantalones en nuestra casa. The mother wears the trousers in our house.

  la panza belly, paunch (fam.)

  la panza de burra (fig., fam.) grey (Br.E.) or gray (Am.E.) sky (especially during snowy weather)

  la panza de burro (fig., fam.) overhang (climbing)

  echar panza (fam.) to start to get a paunch (fam.), to put on weight

  el pañal nappy, diaper (Am.E.)

  estar aún/todavía en pañales (fig.) to be still in its infancy (fig.) Este proyecto está aún en pañales. This project is still in its infancy.

  el paño cloth

  ser del paño (fam.) to be an expert, to be well up in s.th., to know one’s oats (fam., Am.E.)

  conocer el paño (fig., fam.) to know what’s what (fam.), to be on the ball (fam.), to know what/who one is dealing with

  acudir al paño (fig.) to take the bait (fig.), to walk into the trap (fig.)

  Hay paño que cortar. (fig.) There’s enough of it.

  ser un paño de lágrimas (fig.) to be a helpful soul

  ser el paño de lágrimas de alg. (fig.) to be a shoulder for s.o. to cry on

  aplicar paños calientes (fig.) to take half measures (fig.), to do things in half measures (fig.) or by halves, to apply ineffective remedies

  no andarse con paños calientes (fig.) not to do things in half measures (fig.) or by halves, not to go in for half measures (fig.)

  en paños menores (fig
., fam., hum.) in one’s undies (fam., hum.), in one’s shirt, in one’s negligee

  el pañuelo handkerchief

  El mundo es un pañuelo. (fig., fam.) It’s a small world.

  la papa (América Latina) potato

  no entender ni papa (fam.) not to understand a word [of it]

  no saber ni papa de algo (fam.) not to know beans about s.th. (sl., Am.E.)

  la papalina (fam.) roaring drunkenness (fam.)

  coger una papalina to get roaring drunk (fam.), to drink o.s. silly (fam.)

  el papel paper

  no fumar más que papel (fig., fam.) to smoke cigarettes only

  no poder coger algo ni con papel de fumar (fig., fam., Esp.) s.o. wouldn’t touch s.th. with a bargepole or ten-foot pole (fig.)

  el papel todo lo aguanta (fig.) rubbish (Br.E.) or garbage (Am.E.) that ends up on paper (fig., fam.)

  no ser más que papel mojado (fig., fam.) to be a scrap of paper (fig.), to be a worthless bit of paper (fig.), not to be worth the paper [s.th. is written on] (fig.), to be useless Este contrato no es más que papel mojado. This contract is just a worthless bit of paper. This contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

  venir a alg. con papeles (fig., fam.) to play up to s.o., to soft-soap s.o. (fam.)

  hacer [un] buen papel (fig.) to make a good impression, to behave [well], to prove one’s worth (fig.), to show what one can do, to put up a good/etc. performance/etc. Anoche hiciste muy buen papel. You made a very good impression last night. Nuestro equipo hizo un buen papel en el torneo. Our team put up a good performance in the tournament. The players in/on our team showed what they can do.

  jugar/desempeñar un papel (fig.) to play a role (fig.), to play a part Ella desempeña un papel importante en la empresa. She plays an important role in the company. She’s a key player in the company.

  la papeleta bit/slip of paper

  tocarle a alg. una papeleta difícil (fig.) to face a difficult job, to face a tough one (fam.)

  la papilla pap, baby food

  estar hecho papilla (fig., fam.) to be completely shattered (fam., Br.E.), to be dog-tired (fam.) estar hecho cisco

  hacer papilla a alg. (fig., fam.) (a) to beat s.o. to a pulp (fig.), to make mincemeat of s.o.(fig.) (b) to come down on s.o. like a ton of bricks (fam.)

  el paquete package, parcel

  el paquete (fam.) (motorcycle): pillion passenger/rider

  ir de paquete (fam.) to ride on the back (of a motorcycle), to ride pillion

  cargar con el paquete (fam., Esp.) to [have to] carry the can (fam., Br.E.)

  meter un paquete a alg. (fig., fam.) to give s.o. a rocket (fig., fam., Br.E.), to tear a strip off s.o. (fam.)

  dejar a alg. con el paquete (fam.) to get/make s.o. pregnant, to get s.o. in the family way (fam.), to knock s.o. up (sl.)

  parado motionless

  quedarse parado (fig.) to be [utterly] bewildered, to be [completely] floored (fam.), s.o.’s jaw drops (fam.)

  no quedarse ahí parado (fig.) not to leave it at that

  mal parado in pretty bad shape, in a bad way Salieron mal parados del accidente. They were in pretty bad shape after the accident.

  paraíso (como Adán en el ~)

  parar to stop

  ¿Adónde quieres/etc. ir a parar? (fig.) What are you/etc. getting or driving (fig.) at?

  ¿Adónde vamos a parar? (fig.) Where’s it all going to end?

  No sabemos en qué va a parar todo esto. We don’t know where all this is going to end.

  parar (no ~se en barras)

  parar (sin ~se en barras)

  el parche sticking plaster

  pegar un parche a alg. (fig., fam.) to put one/it over on s.o. (fam.), to cheat s.o., to swindle s.o., to con s.o. (fam.)

  pardo (de noche todos los gatos son ~s)

  parecerse (no ~ ni en el blanco de los ojos)

  parecerse como dos gotas de agua/un huevo a otro/un huevo a una castaña

  la pared wall

  Las paredes oyen. Walls have ears.

  entre sus cuatro paredes (fig.) within one’s own four walls (at home) (fig.) He pasado el día entre mis cuatro paredes. I’ve spent the day within my own four walls or at home.

  vivir pared por medio to live next door

  ponerse más blanco que la pared to go as white as a sheet/ghost

  hablar a la pared (fig., fam.) to talk to a brick wall (fig., fam.) No está escuchando. Es como hablar a la pared. He isn’t listening. It is like talking to a brick wall [with him].

  subirse por las paredes (fig.) to go up the wall (fig., fam.), to go off at the deep end (fam.), to go spare (fam., Br.E.) salirse de sus casillas

  hacer a alg. subirse por las paredes (fig.) to drive s.o. up the wall (fig., fam.) sacar a alg. de sus casillas Esto me hace subirme por las paredes. This drives me up the wall.

  ser [como] para subirse por las paredes (fig.) to be enough to drive you up the wall (fig., fam.), to be enough to drive you spare (fam., Br.E.), to be enough to drive you mad/crazy (fam.) Era para subirse por las paredes. It was enough to drive you up the wall.

  hasta la pared de enfrente (fig., fam.) to an extremely high degree, completely, loads/heaps/piles of (fam.), crowds of, root and branch (fig.) Había gente hasta la pared de enfrente. There were crowds/loads of people [there]. Tiene dinero hasta la pared de enfrente. He has heaps/piles of money. Erradicaron la peste hasta la pared de enfrente. They eradicated the plague root and branch.

  pared (dar con la cabeza en las ~es)

  pared (estar entre la espada y la ~)

  pared (poner a alg. entre la espada y la ~)

  el paredón thick wall

  mandar a alg. al paredón (fam.) to put s.o. up against a wall (fam.), to put s.o. before a firing squad

  ¡Al paredón con él/etc.! (fam.) Put him/etc. up against the wall [and shoot him/etc.]! Shoot him/etc.!

  la pareja pair, couple

  correr parejas o andar de pareja (fig.) to go hand in hand (fig.), to go together, to keep pace, to be on a par Su ansia de poder corre parejas con su falta de escrúpulos. His lust for power is on a par with or is matched by his ruthlessness.

  hacer una buena/bonita pareja to make a lovely couple

  pareja (cada oveja con su ~)

  paripé

  hacer el paripé (fam.) to show off, to put on an act (fig., fam.), to put on a show (fig., fam.)

  parir to give birth

  poner a alg. a parir (fig., fam.) (a) to drive s.o. into a corner (fig.), to put the screws on s.o. (fig., fam.) (b) to badmouth s.o. (fam.), to backbite s.o., to criticize s.o. behind his back, to slag s.o. off (fam., Br.E.) (c) to piss s.o. off (vulg.)

  el parné (pop.) (money): dough (sl., Am.E.), bread (sl.), sugar (sl.), brass/dosh/lolly (sl., Br.E.), wampum (sl., Am.E.)

  la parra vine tendril

  subirse a la parra (fig., fam.) (a) to think one is important, to get bigheaded (b) to go up the wall (fig., fam.), to hit the roof (fig., fam.), to go spare (fam., Br.E.) salirse de sus casillas

  el párrafo paragraph

  echar un párrafo [con alg.] (fig., fam.) to have a chat [with s.o.], to chat [with s.o.], to chew the fat or the rag (Am.E.) (fam.)

  tener que echar un párrafo o un parrafito aparte con alg. (fig., fam.) to have a bone to pick with s.o., to have a crow to pluck with s.o. Tenemos que echar un párrafo aparte. We have a bone to pick with each other.

  párrafo aparte (fig.) to change the subject

  la parte part

  dar su parte al fuego (fig.) to shed some ballast (fig.)

  llevarse la mejor parte (fig.) to come off best, to come out on top

  parte (no tener arte ni ~ en algo)

  la partida game

  jugar una mala partida a alg. (fig.) to play a dirty/nasty trick on s.o. (fig.)

  el parto birth

  un parto difícil (fig.), el parto de los montes (fig.) tough job (fam.) Ha sido un parto difícil. It was a tough job. It was tough going. ¡El parto de los montes! Tough job!

  el p
asaporte passport

  dar [el] pasaporte a alg. (fig., fam.) to give s.o. the pink slip (Am.E.), to give s.o. his cards (Br.E.) dar el bote a alg.

  pasaportear a alg. (fam.) to put a bullet through s.o.’s head (fam.), to bump s.o. off (sl.), to knock s.o. off (sl.) cargarse a alg. (a)

  pasar to cross, to pass [through], to go past

  poder pasar sin algo (fig.) s.o. can manage/do/live without s.th.

  no poder pasar sin alg. (fig.) s.o. can’t live without s.o.

  no poder pasar a alg. (fig., fam.) s.o. can’t stand s.o.

  no pasar de ser … to be nothing else but …, to be just … Lo que dice no pasa de ser una excusa barata. What he says is nothing else but a poor excuse.

  pasar por (fig.) to be considered to be, to pass for, to take for Ella pasa por tonta. She is considered to be stupid. Podrían pasar por hermanos. They could be taken for brothers. They could pass for brothers.

  pasar ( morado/negro/puto: ~las moradas/negras/putas)

  pasar (~lo cañón/chachi/pipa)

  pasar (~lo de rechupete)

  pasar de castaño oscuro

  pasar un trago amargo

  el pasar livelihood

  tener su/un buen pasar to make a decent living, to be well off

  la Pascua (de Resurrección) Easter

  estar [contento] como o más contento que unas pascuas (fig., fam.) to be as pleased as Punch, to be tickled pink (fam.), to be as happy as a clam/lark (fam., Am.E.), to be as happy as a sandboy/as Larry (fam., Br.E.)

  tener cara de pascuas to be beaming all over one’s face, to be all smiles

  hacer la pascua a alg. (fig., fam.) to annoy s.o., to harass s.o., to bug s.o. (fam., Am.E.)

  de Pascuas a Ramos (fig.) very rarely, once in a blue moon (fam.) Nos hacen una visita de Pascuas a Ramos. They pay us a visit once in a blue moon.

  el paseante walker, stroller

  el paseante en corte (fig., fam.) loafer (fam.), idler

  el paseo walk, stroll

  no va a ser un paseo (fig., Esp.) it won’t be a walkover (fam.), it won’t be a doddle (Br.E.), it’s not going to be easy

  mandar a alg. a paseo (fig., fam.) to tell s.o. to get lost (fam.) or to go to hell (fam.) or to go to blazes (sl.), to tell s.o. where to go (fam.), to send s.o. about his business, to send s.o. packing (fig.), to give s.o. the brush-off (fam.) Yo que tú la mandaría a paseo. If I were you, I’d send her packing.