15 Examples of Idioms

Idioms

The idioms are those expressions, which are used within the informal sphere, whose meaning cannot be deduced from the words that compose it. Rather, it is necessary to know what its meaning is, although sometimes it can be deduced from the context in which it is used.

In general, idioms are understood within a certain community or region, not necessarily all Spanish-speaking countries, for example, use or understand the same idioms.

Examples of idioms

1. "Beat around the bush". Used when a person deviates from the topic she was talking about and ends up commenting on something else. Example: "That history teacher is unbearable, she always goes around the bush when I ask her something."
2. "Drown in a glass of water". It is ideal when you want to express that someone cares more than necessary or about something insignificant. Example: “Juana always drowns in a glass of water. Better not tell him anything ”.
3. "It's a piece of cake." When something is very easy to do. Example: "I'm not going to study, the topics that enter the exam are a piece of cake."
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4. "Dance with the ugliest". Ideal expression when it means that someone had to do the worst part, something that the rest did not want. Example: "The president who was elected in the middle of the last crisis always remarks that he had to dance with the ugliest."
5. "The drop that spilled the glass of water." What is expressed is that a series of inconveniences or problems was added one more, which ended up filling a situation. Example: "The drop that spilled the glass of water was when she found out that her refrigerator had broken."
6. "Be the black sheep." It is used when a person is "rare" or "different" from the rest. Example: “I am very bad at sports. I am clearly the black sheep in my family. "
7. "Make castles in the air." When it is meant that a person does not have much notion of reality and that he fantasizes more than necessary. Example: “It seems to me that you did not understand very much the seriousness of the situation. As always, she was building castles in the air. "
8. "Be in the moon". It expresses that the person is distracted, thinking about something else and not paying attention to a specific issue. Example: "The truth is that I did not listen to the language teacher, she was on the moon."
9. "Catch (someone) red-handed." Used when it means that someone was found doing something that was wrong, illegal, or did not want others to know that they were doing it. Example: "The police arrived at the scene right away and caught the thief red-handed, so they arrested him."
10. "Take out the washcloths in the sun." Chen secrets or matters of someone's private life are told in public. Example: "Stop fighting and taking out the laundry in the sun, we are not interested."
11. "Give up". Used to say that someone gave up. Example: “Martín got tired of so much abuse. It was obvious that sooner or later he was going to throw in the towel ”.
12. "A little bird told me." Some information or rumor is wanted, but without revealing who provided that information to the issuer. Example: "A little bird told me that you are about to get married."
13. “Make a clean slate ”. When between two or more people there was a problem or situation that generated tension and this is to be left behind, so that the link remains. Example: “I don't want to talk about that topic anymore. Let's make a clean slate. It will be the best ”.
14. "Give a hand". When you want to express that someone helped another person. Example: “Would you give me a hand with this division? I can't solve it ”.
15. "The oven is not for buns". This expression indicates that a person is angry or tense enough to be bothered. And, if so, the situation could get even worse. Example: “The oven is not for buns after yesterday's game. Don't tease him about that. "
16. "Undressing a saint to dress another." The resources that were destined for one thing are used and thus a problem is solved, but a new one is generated. Example: “They used the money they had collected to repair the bathroom and they paid the sheet metal worker. In other words, they undressed one saint to dress another ”.

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