The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms

by Peter Weibel

tierra (tener los pies [bien puestos] en/sobre la ~)

  tieso stiff

  ¡Tente tieso! (fig.) Keep your chin up! (fam.) Keep your pecker up! (fam., Br.E.)

  tieso como un ajo (fig., pop.) as stiff as a poker/ramrod (fam.), bolt upright

  quedarse tieso (fig., fam.) to kick the bucket (fam.) cascar[la]

  dejar tieso a alg. (fig., pop.) to bump s.o. off (sl.) cargarse a alg. (a)

  tenerlas tiesas [con/a alg.] (fig.) to stubbornly defend one’s opinion [against s.o.], to put up a firm resistance [to s.o.]

  el tiesto flowerpot

  mear fuera del tiesto (fig., pop.) to talk round the issue/subject

  el tigre tiger

  oler a tigre (fam., Esp.) to smell of sweat, to pong (sl., Br.E.)

  la[s] tijera[s] scissors

  ser una buena tijera (fig., fam.) (a) to be a big eater (b) to be a scandalmonger, to be a backbiter

  el tilín tinkle

  hacer tilín a alg. (fig., fam.) to appeal to s.o., to like, to be s.o.’s thing (fam.), to be right up s.o.’s alley (Am.E.) or street (Br.E.) (fam.) Nos hace tilín. We like it. It’s right up our alley/street. No me hizo tilín. It didn’t appeal to me. It wasn’t my thing.

  timón (dar un golpe de ~)

  el tinglado shed

  el tinglado (fig., fam.) (a) joint (sl.), business (b) intrigue, plot

  montar un tinglado to set up in business

  armar un tinglado to lay a plot

  conocer el tinglado to see through it, to see [through] s.o.’s little game

  la tinta ink

  sudar tinta (fig., fam.) to slave/sweat away (fam.) echar/sudar la hiel

  hacerle sudar tinta a alg. (fig., fam.) to keep s.o.’s nose to the grindstone (fig.), to give s.o. a [good] run for his money

  saber algo de buena tinta (fig.) to know s.th. on good authority, to be straight from the horse’s mouth (fam.) Es verdad. Lo sabemos de buena tinta. It’s true. It’s straight from or we heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.

  [re]cargar las tintas (fig.) to exaggerate

  el tintero inkpot

  dejar algo o quedársele algo a alg. en el tintero (fig.) to clean forget about s.th. Lo dejé o se me quedó en el tintero. I clean forgot about it.

  la tintura dye

  la tintura (fig., fam.) smattering Tiene tintura de español. He has a smattering of Spanish.

  el tiovivo merry-go-round (Br.E.), carousel (Am.E.)

  dar más vueltas que un tiovivo (fig., fam.) to run/chase from pillar to post (fig.) Había tantas formalidades burocráticas. Tuve que dar más vueltas que un tiovivo para obtener los papeles. It was red tape all the way. I had to chase from pillar to post to get the [identity] papers.

  la tipeja (fam., pej.) bitch (sl., Br.E.; vulg., Am.E.), nasty piece of work (fig., fam.)

  el tipejo (fam., pej.) (a) bastard (sl.), bad lot (fam.), nasty piece of work (fig., fam.) (b) odd sort, queer fish (fam.), strange customer (fam.)

  el tipo type, figure, physique

  no ser su/etc. tipo (fig., fam.) not to be his/etc. type (fam.) Ella no es mi tipo. She’s not my type.

  mantener el tipo (fam.) to put on a brave face

  jugarse el tipo (fig.) to risk one’s neck (fam.)

  el tira y afloja (fig.) tug-of-war (fig.) Un tira y afloja precedió a la firma del pacto. A tug-of-war preceded the signing of the treaty.

  tirabuzón (sacar algo a alg. con ~)

  tirar to throw, to pull, to shoot

  tirar algo por la ventana (fig.) to play ducks and drakes with s.th. (fig.), to squander s.th. Tira su dinero por la ventana. He’s playing ducks and drakes with his money.

  tirarse a una mujer (pop.) to lay a woman (sl.), to knock a woman off (sl., Br.E.) calzar[se] a alg.

  tirarse a muerto (fig., fam.) to play the fool/clown

  tirarse tiempo o un año/etc. haciendo algo (fig., fam.) to spend time or a year/etc. do-ing s.th., to take s.o. time or a year/etc. to do s.th. Me he tirado el día escribiendo. I’ve spent the day writing. Me tiré dos años escribiendo este libro. I spent two years writing this book. It took me two years to write this book. Se tiraron mucho tiempo haciéndolo. They spent a lot of time doing it. It took them a lot of time to do it.

  no tirar algo a alg. (fig., fam.) s.th. doesn’t wash with s.o. (fam.) Esta excusa no me tira. This excuse doesn’t wash with me.

  tirar (fig., fam.) to last [out] Estos zapatos tirarán otro verano. These shoes will last another summer.

  a todo tirar (fig.) at best, at the most Me queda gasolina para 10 kms a todo tirar. I have only enough petrol (Br.E.) or gas (Am.E.) for 10 kms at the most.

  ir tirando (fig., fam.) to manage (fam.), to get by/along, to keep going, to keep one’s head above water (fig.)

  tirar al monte (fig., fam.) to be homesick

  tirar por un camino (fig.) to tread a path (fig.), to adopt a course (fig.) Ha llegado la hora o el momento de tirar por el camino de la moderación. It’s time to tread the path of moderation.

  tirar una foto (fam.) (to take a photograph): to take a shot (fam.)

  tirar más allá del blanco (fig.) to overshoot the mark (fig.), to go over the top (fig., fam.)

  el tiro throw, shot

  estar a [un] tiro de piedra (fig.) to be only a stone’s throw away (fig.) Nuestra casa estaba a un tiro de piedra de la costa. Our house was only a stone’s throw away from the coast.

  un tiro al azar (fig.) a shot in the dark (fig.) ¿Sabías de verdad la contestación o es que fue un tiro al azar? Did you really know the answer or was it a shot in the dark?

  saber por dónde van los tiros (fig.) to know which way the wind is blowing (fig.) or which way the cat jumps (fig.) or which way the cookie crumbles (fam., Am.E.)

  [esperar a] ver por dónde van los tiros (fig.) to [wait and/to] see which way the wind is blowing (fig.) or which way the cat jumps (fig.) or which way the cookie crumbles (fam., Am.E.)

  salirle a alg. el tiro por la culata (fig., fam.) to backfire [s.th.] on s.o. (fig.), to boome-rang [s.th.] on s.o. (fig.), to be hoist by/with one’s own petard (fig.) Le salió a ella el tiro por la culata cuando comió la comida envenenada que fue para su esposo. She was hoist by her own petard when she ate the poisoned food that was meant for her husband.

  sentarle algo a alg. como un tiro (fig., fam.) (a) to really disagree with s.o. (food), to upset s.o.’s stomach (food), to really upset s.o. (fig.), to really bother s.o. (b) (dress/etc.): not to suit s.o. at all, to look awful on s.o. El embutido me sienta como un tiro. The sausage really disagrees with me. Les sentó como un tiro que no los invitásemos. It really upset/bothered them that we didn’t invite them. Este vestido te sienta como un tiro. This dress doesn’t suit you at all. This dress looks awful on you.

  estar/andar a tiros con alg. (fig., fam.) to be at daggers drawn with s.o. (fig., Br.E.)

  tiro (coser/freír a alg. a ~s)

  tiro (matar dos pájaros de un ~)

  el tirón pull, tug

  de un tirón (fig.) in one go, at a single or at one sitting (fig.), without a break, at a stretch, straight off/through Leí el libro de un tirón. I read the book at a single sitting or in one go or straight through. Trabajamos 15 horas de un tirón. We worked 15 hours at a stretch or without a break. Apuró su vaso de un tirón. He emptied his glass in one go.

  Ni a tirones me/nos sacan de aquí. (fig., fam.) Wild horses couldn’t drag me/us away from here.

  la tirria (fam.) dislike, grudge

  tener tirria a alg. to have a grudge against s.o.

  el títere marionette, puppet

  no dejar/quedar títere con cabeza (fig., fam.) to wreck the place (fam.), to break up everything in sight, to spare nobody No dejaron títere con cabeza. They wrecked the place. They broke up everything in sight. No quedó títere con cabeza. The place was wrecked. Nothing remained intact or in one piece. Nobody was spared. Nobody came through or escaped [it] unscathed. Tras el reajuste ministerial no quedó títere con cabeza. Nobody escaped the cabinet reshuffle unscathed.
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br />   la toalla towel

  arrojar/tirar la toalla (fig.) to throw in the towel/sponge (fig.), to pick up one’s marbles (fig., fam., Am.E.) Probemos al menos una vez más. Es demasiado prematuro arrojar la toalla. Let’s try at least one more time. It’s too early/soon to throw in the towel.

  tocado (estar ~ de la cabeza)

  tocar to touch, to play, to ring

  tocársela (pop., Esp.) (to masturbate) to-car la campana

  tocárselas (fig., fam.) to beat it (sl.), to clear off (fam.), to take to one’s heels

  ¡Tocan a pagar! o ¡A pagar tocan! (fig., fam.) It’s time to pay up!

  Tocan a matar. (fig., fam.) This is where we get down to serious business.

  tocino (no hay olla sin ~)

  todo everything, all

  O todo o nada. (prov.) All or nothing.

  todo (jugarse el ~ por el ~)

  toledano (la noche toledana)

  tomar to take

  tomarla con alg. (fam.) to pick a quarrel or an argument with s.o.

  tenerla tomado con alg. (fam.) to have it in for s.o. (fam.), to have a down on s.o. (fam., Br.E.) La tienen tomado conmigo. They have a down on me.

  ¡Toma! (fig., fam.) Fancy that! There/here you are!

  Más vale un toma que dos te daré. (prov.) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (prov.)

  el tomate tomato

  el tomate (fig., fam.) hole in the heel (sock/stocking)

  ponerse como un tomate to turn as red as a beet (fam., Am.E.) ponerse como una amapola

  poner a alg. el culo como un tomate to give s.o. a good thrashing/hiding (fam.)

  tener [mucho] tomate (fig., fam.) to be [really] tough (fig.), to be a [very] tough one (fig.), to be a [real] stinker (fam.) Este trabajo tiene mucho tomate. This job is a real stinker.

  ton (fam.)

  sin ton ni son for no reason at all, for no apparent or particular reason, without rhyme or reason Le dieron el bote sin ton ni son. They gave him the boot for no apparent reason. Tomó una decisión sin ton ni son. He made a decision without rhyme or reason. Se rieron sin ton ni son. They laughed for no reason at all. hablar sin ton ni son to talk through one’s hat (fam.)

  el tono tone

  darse tono (fig.) to talk big (fam.), to put on airs, to put on the dog (fam., Am.E.), to fancy o.s. (fam.) Ese tío sí que se da tono. That guy doesn’t half fancy himself. (fam., Br.E.)

  decírselo a alg. en todos los tonos (fig., fam.) to tell s.o. or try telling s.o. or try to get it across to s.o. every way imaginable or every way one can think of Se lo he dicho a ella en todos los tonos. I’ve told her every way imaginable.

  tontería (una solemne ~)

  tonto stupid, dumb (fam., Am.E.)

  ser tonto del bote/de capirote (fam.) to be a complete idiot, to be a prize idiot (fam.), to be as dumb (Am.E.) or as thick as they come (fam.), to be no end of a fool (fam.)

  estar como tonto en vísperas (fam.) to be at a complete loss as to what to do [next]

  a tontas y a locas without rhyme or reason, without thinking, haphazardly, blindly, wildly Habló a tontas y a locas. He talked without rhyme or reason. Lo hicieron a tontas y a locas. They did it without thinking. They did it any old how. (Br.E.) repartir golpes a tontas y a locas to lash/hit out blindly/wildly

  tonto (la caja tonta)

  tonto (no tener un pelo de ~)

  tonto (pan con pan, comida de ~s)

  tonto (pecar de ~)

  tonto (ser ~ a más no poder)

  tonto (ser la mar de ~)

  tonto (ser más ~ que Abundio/que Carra-cuca/que una mata de habas)

  el tope top, end, limit

  estar hasta los topes de algo (fig., fam.) to be utterly fed up with s.th. (fam.) estar hasta [más allá de] la coronilla de algo

  el topo mole

  ser más ciego que un topo (fig.) to be [as] blind as a bat (fam.)

  el toque touch

  dar el último/[los últimos] toque[s] a algo (fig.) to add/put the finishing touch[es] to s.th. Dio los últimos toques a su novela. He put the finishing touches to his novel.

  torcer (no dar su brazo a ~)

  torcido (cabeza torcida)

  la tormenta storm

  una tormenta en un vaso de agua (fig.) storm in a teacup (fig., Br.E.), tempest in a teapot (fig., Am.E.)

  la torna return

  volver las tornas a alg. (fig.) to turn the tables on s.o., to give s.o. tit for tat, to pay s.o. back in kind or in his own coin (fig.)

  Se han vuelto las tornas. (fig.) Now the tide has turned. (fig.) It’s all changed. It’s a different story now. Now the boot’s on the other foot. (fig., Br.E.) Now the shoe’s on the other foot. (fig., Am.E.) It’s a whole new ball game now. (fig., fam.)

  tornaboda (no hay boda sin ~)

  el tornillo screw

  faltarle a alg. un tornillo o tener flojos los tornillos (fig., fam.) to have a screw loose (fam.), to have rocks in one’s head (sl., Am.E.), not to be all there (fam.) Le falta un tornillo a él. He’s not all there.

  apretar los tornillos a alg. (fig.) to put the screws on s.o. (fig., fam.), to put the pressure on s.o. (fig.), to apply pressure on s.o. (fig.)

  el toro bull

  ¡Ahora van a soltar al toro! (fig., fam.) Here we go! This is it now!

  huir del toro y caer en el arroyo (fig.) to jump out of the frying pan into the fire Atracó un banco para pagar sus deudas. Huyó del toro y cayó en el arroyo. He held up a bank to pay [off] his debts. He jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.

  coger el toro por los cuernos (fig.) to take the bull by the horns (fig.), to grasp the nettle (fig.) Nos vimos enfrentados a un grave problema. Cogimos el toro por los cuernos y lo solucionamos. We were faced with a serious problem. We took the bull by the horns and solved it.

  echar/soltar el toro a alg. (fig.) to give s.o. a severe wigging (Br.E.) or dressing-down (fam.)

  pillar el toro a alg. (fig.) (argument): to get s.o. into a corner (fig.)

  Hay toros y cañas. (fig.) All hell is let loose. (fam.) Hubo toros y cañas. All hell was let loose. Habrá toros y cañas. All hell will be let loose.

  ¡Ciertos son los toros! It had to happen! It was bound to happen!

  toro (andar/verse en los cuernos del ~)

  toro (dejar a alg. en las astas del ~)

  toro (ser un ~ corrido)

  toro (ver los ~s desde la barrera)

  torpe (ser ~ a más no poder)

  el torrente torrent

  llover a torrentes to rain in torrents, to come down in buckets/sheets, to rain cats and dogs, to be pouring [down or with rain], to be bucketing down (Br.E.), the floodgates of heaven open (fig.) Ayer llovió a torrentes. It rained in torrents yesterday. It was pouring yesterday. The floodgates of heaven opened yesterday.

  la torta cake, pie

  ser tortas y pan pintado (fam.) to be child’s play (fig.), to be a cinch (sl.) Esto es tortas y pan pintado. This is child’s play.

  pegar una torta a alg. (fig., fam.) to paste s.o. one (sl.), to land s.o. one (fam.), to give s.o. a thick ear (fam.), to give s.o. a wallop (fam.)

  torta (a falta de pan, buenas son ~s)

  el tortazo (pop.) punch

  pegarse un tortazo (fig.) to have a bad accident (esp. car accident)

  la torti (pop., Esp.) lesbian, dyke/dike (sl.)

  la tortilla omelet (Am.E.), omelette (Br.E.)

  cambiar/volver la tortilla a alg. (fig.) to turn the tables on s.o.

  dar la vuelta a la tortilla (fig.) to change the situation completely

  Se ha vuelto la tortilla. (fig.) Now the tide has turned. (fig.) se han vuelto las tornas

  No se puede hacer tortillas sin romper huevos. (prov.) You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. (prov.)

  hacer algo/a alg. [una] tortilla (fig., fam.) to smash s.th. to pieces, to beat s.o. up

  hacer una tortilla (fam.) to have lesbian intercourse

  la tortillera (fig., pop.) lesbian, dyke/dike (sl.)

  la tórtola turtledove


  la tórtola (fig., fam.) woman who is head over heels in love, lovebird

  el tórtolo male turtledove

  el tórtolo (fig., fam.) man who is head over heels in love, lovebird

  la tortuga turtle, tortoise

  ser [más lento que] una tortuga (fig.) to be [as] slow as or slower than molasses [in January] (fig., Am.E.), to be [such] a slowcoach (Br.E.) or slowpoke (Am.E.) (fam.) Es más lento que una tortuga. He’s slower than molasses in January. He’s such a slowpoke.

  a paso de tortuga (fig.) at a snail’s pace (fig.), [as] slow as or slower than molasses [in January] (fig., Am.E.) Allí hay una cola de coches que se extiende hasta 10 millas. Se puede ir sólo a paso de tortuga. There’s a 10-mile traffic jam. You can only drive at a snail’s pace. The traffic is as slow as molasses in January. Estoy impaciente esperando las noticias. El tiempo parece pasar a paso de tortuga. I’m anxiously awaiting the news. Time seems to be moving at a snail’s pace.

  torturarse los sesos

  toser to cough

  toser fuerte (fig., fam.) to swank (fam., Br.E.), to show off

  A ése no hay quien le tosa. (fig.) Nobody can take him on. Nobody can compete with him. He’s in a class by himself or of his own.

  A mí no me tose nadie. (fig.) I’m not taking anything/that from anybody. I’ll not stand for that.

  la tostada toast

  olerse la tostada (fig., fam.) to smell a rat (fig., fam.) Se olía la tostada. You could smell a rat. I/we smelled a rat.

  hacer una tostada de años (fam.) ages ago (fam.) Hace una tostada de años que no lo veo. It’s [been] ages since I saw him. I haven’t seen him for ages.

  dar/pegar una tostada a alg. (fig., fam.) to put one/it over on s.o. (fam.), to cheat s.o.

  tostar to toast, to roast, to brown

  tostarse [al sol] (fig., fam.) to sunbathe, to tan, to brown, to get a tan, to get brown

  la traba fetter, shackle

  poner trabas a alg. (fig.) to shackle s.o. (fig.), to put a spoke in s.o.’s wheel (fig., fam., Br.E.)

  trabajar a más no poder/a todo vapor

  trabajar como un buey/negro

  trabajar para el obispo

  trabajar por un pedazo de pan

  el trabajo work

  El trabajo es el encanto de la vida. (prov.) Work sweetens life. (fig.)

  trabajo (no hay atajo sin ~)

  traer to bring

  traer y llevar [a alg.] (fig., fam.) to gossip [about s.o.]