The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms

by Peter Weibel

  el remolque tow, towing

  hacer algo a remolque (fig., fam.) to do s.th. unwillingly or reluctantly Lo hicieron a remolque. They did it reluctantly. They had to be pushed to do it.

  llevar a remolque a alg. (fig., fam.) to drag s.o. along (fig.) Siempre tenemos que llevarlo a remolque. We always have to drag him along [with us].

  el remoquete punch (in the face)

  el remoquete (pop.) nickname

  dar remoquete a alg. (fig., fam.) to make snide/cutting remarks at s.o.

  remoto (no tener ni la más remota idea)

  el renacuajo tadpole

  el renacuajo (fig., fam., pej.) little squirt (pej.), shrimp (fig., fam.), runt (fig., pej.), shorty (fam.)

  la renta income, interest

  vivir de renta (fig., deportes) (sports): to play for time, to run out the clock, not to risk anything

  el renuncio (card game): revoke

  coger a alg. en un renuncio (fig., fam.) to give the lie to s.o., to catch s.o. lying, to catch s.o. out, to catch s.o. in a fib

  la repesca (fam.) (school): repeat exam

  repescar a alg. (fam.) to give s.o. (who failed the exam) a second chance to pass the exam

  repicar to ring, to peal

  No se puede repicar y estar en la procesión. (prov.) You can’t be in more than one place at the same time.

  repiquetear to ring, to peal

  repiquetearse (fig., fam.) to exchange insults, to slag each other or one another off (sl., Br.E.)

  requete… (fam.) Lo has hecho requetebién. You’ve done it brilliantly. (fig.) You’ve done it extremely well. Esta película es requetemala. This film is terrible/awful. una mujer requeteguapa an awfully/extraordinarily pretty woman La muchacha llevó una requetesuperminifalda. The girl wore an ultrashort miniskirt. Eso lo tenemos requeteoídos. We’ve heard that time and [time] again. Lo tendré requetepensado. I’ll think it over thoroughly. Esto lo tengo muy requetepensado. I’ve thought this over very thoroughly.

  requilorios (fam.) ado, fuss

  no andarse con requilorios not to waste any time la chiquita: no andarse con/en chiquitas

  el requisito requirement

  con todos sus requisitos (fig., fam.) with all the trimmings (fig.)

  la resaca (fam.) (after drinking): hangover (fam.) Tengo resaca. Pues échate un trago [de alcohol] que así se cura. I have a hangover. Have/try a hair of the dog [that bit you]. (fam.)

  el resbalón slip

  dar un resbalón (fig.) to slip up (fam.), to put one’s foot in it (fam.), to commit a faux pas

  el rescoldo hot ashes

  el rescoldo (fig., fam.) pangs/pricks of conscience (fig.), scruples

  avivar el rescoldo [de algo] to stir up the dying embers (fig.), to rekindle s.th. (fig.)

  resollar to breathe heavily

  resollar (fig., fam.) to give a sign of life Hace mucho tiempo que no resuellan. It’s a long time since we/I heard from them. They have given no sign of life for a long time.

  el resorte spring

  tocar todos los resortes (fig., fam.) to mobilize all one’s influential friends, to use all one’s influence, to pull all the strings [one can] (fig.), to do everything in one’s power Tocaron todos los resortes para llegar a ver al presidente. They pulled all the strings they could to get to see the president.

  respeto (campar por sus ~s)

  respingar (horse): to shy, to buck

  respingar (fig., fam.) (skirt/dress/etc.): to ride up, to fit poorly, to be baggy

  respingón (animal): stubborn

  la nariz respingona (fig.) snub nose, turnedup nose

  respirar to breathe

  no respirar (fig., fam.) to say absolutely nothing, not to breathe a word

  no dejar respirar a alg. (fig.) not to give s.o. a minute’s rest, to keep s.o. constantly on the go, to keep s.o. on his toes, to badger s.o. (fig.)

  no tener tiempo ni de respirar (fig.) to hardly have time to breathe (fig.)

  respuesta (cuál la pregunta, tal la ~)

  el resquicio crack

  el resquicio (fig., fam.) good opportunity/opening, chance

  el resto rest

  echar el resto (fig.) to shoot one’s bolt (fig.), to go all out (fam.), to do one’s utmost, to make an all-out or a supreme effort Eché el resto. I shot my bolt. I went all out. Echamos el resto por ayudarles. We did our utmost to help them.

  para los restos (fig., fam.) forever, for good, for keeps (fam.) Si vuelve a ganar la copa, se la queda para los restos. If he wins the cup again, it’s his for keeps.

  el resuello heavy breathing

  meter a alg. el resuello en el cuerpo (fig., fam.) (a) to put the wind up s.o. (fam., Br.E.), to give s.o. a [nasty] fright (b) to take s.o. down a peg or two (fig.)

  el retortero twist

  andar/ir al retortero (fig., fam.) to be constantly on the go or on the jump (fam.), to be running about (Br.E.) or around nonstop, to bustle about

  traer a alg. al retortero (fig., fam.) not to give s.o. a minute’s rest, to keep s.o. constantly on the go or on the jump (fam.)

  revenir to shrink

  revenirse (fig., fam.) to give in, to give way

  reventar to burst

  reventar de risa (fig., fam.) to split one’s sides laughing or with laughter, to burst out laughing

  reventar de envidia (fig., fam.) to be bursting with envy

  reventar de impaciencia o de curiosidad (fig., fam.) to be bursting with impatience or with curiosity

  reventar por + infinitivo (fig., fam.) to be dying/itching to + infinitive (fam.), to be champing at the bit to + infinitive (fig.) Revienta por verla. He’s dying to see her.

  reventar[se] (fig., pop.) to kick the bucket (fam.) cascar[la]

  reventarse (fig., fam.) to work o.s. to death (fig., fam.) echar/sudar la hiel

  estar reventado (fig., fam.) to be completely beat (fam., Am.E.) estar hecho cisco

  revestirse to put on one’s vestments

  revestirse de paciencia (fig.) to arm o.s. with patience

  revestirse de valor (fig.) to arm o.s. with courage, to pluck up or screw up or muster up [one’s] courage (fig.), to screw o.s. up to do s.th. Se revistieron de valor y fueron a hablarle al jefe. They plucked up courage and went to speak to the boss.

  el revientacajas (pop.) safecracker (fam.)

  el revientapisos (pop.) burglar, housebreaker

  revolcar to knock down/over

  revolcar a alg. (fig., fam.) (opponent): to tear to pieces/shreds (fig., fam.), to wipe the floor with (fam.) Los revolcó en el último debate. He wiped the floor with them in the last debate.

  revolcarse to roll about (Br.E.), to roll around

  revolcarse en algo (fig., fam.) to harp on [about] s.th. (fig., fam.)

  revolcarse de la risa (fam.) to roll around laughing or with laughter, to roll in the aisles [with laughter]

  el rey king

  en tiempos del rey que rabió o del rey Wamba (fig., fam.) donkey’s years ago tiempos de Maricastaña

  ser del tiempo del rey que rabió o del rey Wamba (cuento/chiste/etc.) (fig., fam.) (custom/story/joke/etc.): to be out of the Ark (fig.), to be old chestnuts (fam.), to be old hat (fam.)

  Hablando del rey de Roma [y él que se asoma o por la puerta asoma]. Speak/talk of the devil [and he’s sure to appear]. Talk of angels!

  no temer rey ni roque to know no fear

  no quitar ni poner rey (fig.) not to interfere, to remain neutral

  tirar con pólvora del rey (fig.) to work with s.o. else’s or with other people’s means

  rey (en tierra de ciegos el tuerto es ~)

  rey (sota, caballo y ~)

  rey (tratar/atender a alg. a cuerpo de ~)

  rezar (text): to read, to run

  [no] rezar con (fig., fam.) [not] to apply to, [not] to be s.o.’s thing (fam.), [not] to like, [not] to appeal to, to be in or out of keeping with, to be right up s.o.’s alley (Am.E.) or street (Br.E.) (fam.) Esto reza conmigo. This appeals to me. I like this. This is right up my
alley/street. Eso no reza con nosotros. That doesn’t apply to us. Su estilo de vida no reza con su creencia. His lifestyle is out of keeping with his belief.

  rezar (en menos que se reza un padrenuestro)

  la ricura (fam.) pretty girl

  la rienda rein

  dar rienda suelta a algo (fig.) to give free rein to s.th. (fig.), to let off steam (fig.) Dio rienda suelta a su imaginación. He gave free rein to his imagination. He let his imagination run free or run wild. Di rienda suelta a mi ira. I let off steam.

  llevar/tener las riendas (fig.) to have things under control, to be in charge, to be in control

  aflojar las riendas (fig.) to loosen/slacken the reins (fig.), to let up (fam.)

  sujetar/templar las riendas (fig.) to tighten the reins (fig.)

  tomar/coger/empuñar las riendas (fig.) to take charge

  el rigor severity, toughness

  ser el rigor de las desdichas (fig., fam.) to be buffeted by fate

  el riñón kidney

  tener el riñón bien cubierto (fig.) to be well heeled (fam.)

  costar un riñón (fig., fam.) to cost a bomb (fam., Br.E.) costar una burrada

  echar los riñones (fig., fam.) to slog/sweat one’s guts out (fam., Br.E.), to work o.s. to death (fig., fam.) echar/sudar la hiel

  tener riñones (fig., fam.) to have courage, to have gumption (fam.), to have guts (fam.), to have pluck (fig.), to have bottle (sl., Br.E.)

  la riñonada kidney stew

  costar una riñonada (fig., fam.) to cost a bomb (fam., Br.E.) costar una burrada

  el río river

  pescar en río revuelto (fig.) to fish in troubled waters (fig.)

  A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores. (prov.) There’s good fishing in troubled waters. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

  Cuando el río suena, agua lleva o piedras trae. (prov.) Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (prov.) There’s no smoke without fire. (prov.)

  río (de perdidos, al ~)

  río (no llegar la sangre al ~)

  el ripio filler, padding (fig.)

  no perder ripio (fam.) to miss nothing of what is going on or of what is being said, not to miss any opportunity, not to miss a trick

  meter ripio (fam.) to blather (fam.), to drivel (Br.E.), to talk nonsense

  la risa laughter, laugh

  tomarse algo a risa (fam.) to take/treat s.th. as a joke, to laugh s.th. off, not to take s.th. seriously Todo se lo toma a risa. He takes everything as a joke. He doesn’t take anything seriously.

  risa (descoyuntarse/desternillarse de ~)

  risa (mearse [de ~])

  risa (perecerse/rajarse/reventar de ~)

  risa (revolcarse de la ~)

  risa (ser para morirse de ~)

  robar algo a alg. a mano airada

  el robo robbery, theft

  ser un robo (fig., fam.) to be daylight robbery (fig., fam.), to be a rip-off (fam.)

  rodado

  venir rodado (fig., fam.) to be just what s.o. needs/needed, to come at just the right time El dinero me vino rodado. The money came at just the right time.

  rodar to roll

  echarlo todo a rodar (fig., fam.) (a) to mess it all up (fig.), to spoil everything, to gum up the works (fam.) (b) to chuck it all in/up (fam., Br.E.), to throw everything overboard (fig.)

  echar a rodar los proyectos de alg. (fig.) to queer s.o.’s pitch (fam., Br.E.), to spike s.o.’s guns (fig., Br.E.), to thwart s.o.’s plans

  Rodríguez Rodríguez (a last name)

  estar de rodríguez (fig., fam.) to be a grass widower (hum.)

  roer (darle a alg. un hueso duro de ~)

  roer (ser un hueso duro de ~)

  roer los zancajos a alg.

  roerse los codos de hambre

  rojo (ponerse ~ como un cangrejo)

  rojo (ponerse más ~ que una amapola)

  Roma (hablando del rey/ruin de ~ [y …])

  romper to break

  ¡Rompe de una vez! (fig., pop.) [Come on,] out with it! Spit it out! (fam.)

  romper el bautismo/las bolas/los cascos/la crisma a alg.

  romper una lanza por algo/alg.

  romperse los cascos/los codos/la crisma/el culo

  roncar como un tronco

  rondar to patrol

  rondar por los cuarenta/etc. (fig., fam.) to be about/around 40/etc.

  roñoso mangy, dirty

  roñoso (fig., fam.) stingy, miserly, tight (fam.)

  no dejarse llamar roñoso (pop.) to be generous, s.o. doesn’t want it to be said that he’s stingy

  la ropa clothes

  ¡Hay ropa tendida! (fig., fam.) Be careful what you say, we can be heard or walls have ears!

  tentarse la ropa (fig.) to think [it over] long and hard [before doing anything]

  La ropa sucia se lava en casa. (fig.) You shouldn’t wash your dirty linen in public. (fig.)

  ropa ([nadar y] guardar la ~)

  ropa (querer nadar y guardar la ~)

  el roque (chess): castle, rook

  estar roque (fig., fam.) to be fast asleep

  quedarse roque (fig., fam.) to fall soundly asleep

  roque (no temer rey ni ~)

  la rosa rose

  No hay rosa[s] sin espinas. (prov.) There’s no rose without a thorn. (prov.)

  verlo todo de color de rosa (fig.) to see everything/things or the world through rose-tinted spectacles (Br.E.) or through rose-colored glasses (Am.E.) (fig.), to be ridiculously optimistic

  la vida no es un lecho de rosas (fig.) life isn’t [all/always] a bed of roses (fig.)

  estar/dormir sobre un lecho de rosas (fig.) s.o.’s life is a bed of roses (fig.)

  no estar/dormir sobre un lecho de rosas (fig.) s.o.’s life is no bed of roses (fig.)

  el rosario rosary

  acabar como el rosario de la aurora (fig.) to come to a bad end, to end in disaster

  un rosario de (fig.) [whole] series of, [whole] string or catalogue of (fig.) Nos soltaron un rosario de insultos. They hurled a string of insults at us.

  la rosca thread, ring-shaped roll

  pasarse de rosca (fig., fam.) (a) to flip one’s lid (fam.), to go ape (fam., Am.E.) (b) to go too far (fig.), to overdo it (fig.), to go over the top (fig., fam.) Ahora sí que te has pasado de rosca. Now you’ve really gone too far.

  hacer la rosca a alg. (fig., fam.) to butter s.o. up (fam.), to soft-soap s.o. (fam.), to play up to s.o.

  hacer la rosca [de galgo] (fig., fam.) to get a bit of or some shut-eye (fam.), to hit the hay (fam., Am.E.), to hit the sack (fam.)

  hacer la rosca (dog/cat/etc.): to curl up; (snake): to coil up

  hacerse una rosca (person): to curl up into a ball

  comerse una rosca (fam.) to make it [with a woman] (sl.)

  no comerse una rosca [con] (fam.) to get absolutely nowhere [with], not to get anywhere [with] No se come una rosca con las mujeres. He gets absolutely nowhere with women. He never gets anywhere with women.

  tirarse una rosca (fam., Esp., universidad) to plough (sl., Br.E., university)

  la rosquilla ring-shaped pastry (type of doughnut)

  venderse como rosquillas (fig.) to sell like hotcakes (fig.)

  no saber a rosquilla (fig., fam.) to be no picnic (fam.), to be no bed of roses (fig.)

  rostro (vestir el ~ de alegría/gravedad)

  el roto hole (in a dress/etc.)

  No/nunca falta un roto para un descosido. (prov.) Birds of a feather flock together. (prov.) You can always find a companion in misfortune.

  rozar to touch

  rozar los cuarenta/etc. (fig.) to be about/around 40/etc.

  rozar [con] algo (fig.) to border/verge on s.th. (fig.), to be next door to s.th. (fig.) Eso roza la frescura. That borders on cheek. Eso ya roza con el delirio. That is verging on madness. That’s next door to madness.

  rozarse con alg. (fig., fam.) to rub shoulders with s.o. (fig.), to hobnob with s.o.

  la rubia blonde

  la rubia de frasco/bote (fam.) peroxide
blonde (fam.)

  la rubia (fig., fam.) peseta (coin)

  el Rubicón Rubicon

  pasar/atravesar el Rubicón (fig.) to cross the Rubicon (fig.)

  la rueda wheel

  ir/marchar sobre ruedas (fig.) to run on oiled wheels (fig.), to go/run smoothly, to go swimmingly (fig.), to go like clockwork (fig.), to come on a treat (fig.) Todo marcha sobre ruedas. Everything’s going smoothly. Everything’s coming on a treat. Everything’s hunky-dory. (fam.)

  rueda (comulgar con ~s de molino)

  rueda (meter un bastón/palo en la ~ o bastones/palos en las ~s [de alg.])

  rueda (no comulgar con ~s de molino)

  rueda (tragar[se]las como ~s de molino)

  el ruido noise

  Mucho ruido y pocas nueces. (prov.) Much ado about nothing.

  quitarse de ruidos (fig.) to keep out of trouble

  ruido ( taladrar: ser un ~ que taladra [los oídos])

  el ruin mean person

  Hablando del ruin de Roma [y él que se asoma o por la puerta asoma]. Speak/talk of the devil [and he’s sure to appear]. Talk of angels!

  la ruina ruin

  las ruinas (fig., fam.) leftovers

  ruso (la cafetera [rusa])

  S

  la sábana sheet (bed)

  la sábana (pop., Esp.) 1000-peseta bill (Am.E.) or note (Br.E.)

  pegársele a alg. las sábanas (fig., fam.) to be bad about getting up, to oversleep Otra vez se les han pegado las sábanas. They have overslept again.

  ponerse más blanco que una sábana to go as white as a sheet/ghost

  sábana (estirar la pierna más larga que la ~)

  el sabañón chilblain

  comer como un sabañón (fig., fam.) to eat like a horse (fam.)

  comer más que un sabañón (fig., fam.) to be a glutton

  saber to taste

  saber a más (fig.) to hope there’s more where that came from (fam.), to taste excellent

  saber (no ~ a rosquilla)

  saber a gloria/rayos

  saber to know

  saberlas todas o muy largas (fig., fam.) to know every trick in the book (fam.), to be as sly as they come (fam.)

  no saber de sí (fig., fam.) s.o. can’t take/have a breather (fam.), to be snowed under with work (fig.)

  ¡Si lo sabré yo! I know it only too well! Don’t I know it!

  ¡Qué sé yo! How should I know! Search me! (fam.)

  y qué sé yo (fam.) (after enumerations): and many other things, and what not, and who knows what else (fam.) Tiene cinco coches, dos yates, tres casas y qué sé yo. He has five cars, two yachts, three houses and who knows what else.