Fun Frases
There’s just something about a really good colloquial phrase that gets me all excited about learning Spanish and really mastering the langauge. I’ve stumbled across a couple of good ones lately, and decided that I would share a few them here.
As in English colloquial Spanish is pretty regional. Something that is said in Spain might not necessarily exist in Argentina, and something from Argentina probably won’t exist in Mexico. So, take these following expressions with a grain of salt and contribute your own!
Dilo sin pelo en la lengua. – Tell it like it is. Thanks to Sarah for explaining this to me on her blog Posa Tigres.
Tener una cagaita en penalti – To be on the verge of pooping your pants. This is a bit crude, but pretty funny. I wish I could elaborate a bit more on the origins of the phrase, I can’t. Note: A more colloquial English translation is “To have a turtle head poking out.”
Echarme flores. – To pat yourself on the back/To toot your own horn. Echarse can mean to “throw one’s self.” I like this phrase because every time I read it or say it out loud I imagine someone throwing handfuls of flowers into the air in celebration of something they did.
Tener la mirada vaginal. – To be far sighted. I had this phrase explained to me a couple of months ago by a Colombian friend. It makes sense if you think about where is relation to their body a person who is far sighted would hold a book or newspaper when reading.
Hacer locha. – To chill out. This might be just Colombia, I’m not really sure. I just like the sound of the phrase. ¿Qué hiciste ayer? – Nada, pase todo el día haciendo locha parcero.
So that’s all I have for now. Anyone want to add any really good ones to the list?
Those are some good ones!
The one I learned from the kids during my first homestay in Mexico many years ago still comes to mind: “colgar los tenis,” to die (literally, to hang up your tennis shoes).
Ha! I love it that’s a great one!
Ohhh, August, where to begin! Too many fabulous Mexican ones. Have you heard “pintarse de colores?” It means to get the hell out of somewhere. For example, “We asked him about that girl he was with the other day…y de repente se pintó de colores.” I also like “creerse mucho,” which literally translates as “believe in yourself alot.” It actually means believe in yourself a little too much, since it refers to a braggart who really has no reason to believe so much in him/herself (one very clear example definitely comes to mind here…) For example, “El se cree mucho” could be used if someone is boasting on and on about how fabulous he is, how much he knows, etc etc when you know every other word out of his mouth is, um, well, B.S. It can be a lighthearted insult, too – “Te crees mucho, verdad?”
pintarse de colores is a new one for me, thanks!
Creerse mucho reminds me of another of my favorites: Creerse la ultima coca cola en el desierto. Basically, you think you are God’s gift to mankind.