Idiomatic Expressions

A chorros
In abundance; plenty; lots.
A duras penas
Hardly; barely; with difficulty.
A gatas
Crawling (lit.: on legs/feet; used with the verbs estar or andar).
A manos llenas
Generously; lavishly (lit.: with full hands).
Al pelo
Just what is wanted or needed.
Año nuevo, vida nueva
Happy New Year (lit.: new year, new life; used as a greeting or statement around Jan. 1)
Ave María Purísima
For heaven’s sake (lit.: hail most pure Mary; n.b.: used in religious services, and as an exclamation).
Bicho raro
Oddball (lit.: rare bug).
Brillar por su ausencia
Be conspicuous by one’s absence.
Buscar bronca
Be spoiling for a fight; be looking for a fight.
Cada hijo de vecino
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry; everyone.
Cada muerte de obispo
Once in a blue moon; very rarely (lit.: each time a bishop dies).
Caer en la cuenta
Realize
Caer mal
Dislike; not like. 1. Me cae mal este tipo.
Carne de gallina
Gooseflesh
Coger el toro por los cuernos
Grab the bull by the horns (n.b.: coger is used only in Spain).
Como agua para chocolate
Furious; enraged (lit.: like water for chocolate).
Como de costumbre
As usual (lit.: as of custom).
Como Dios manda
The way it’s supposed to be.
Como perro en barrio ajeno
Out of place; in the wrong neighborhood (lit.: like a dog in a distant neighborhood; i.e.: people who try to enter other parts of society may be attacked or ostracized).
Como quitarle un pelo al gato
A victimless crime (lit.: like removing a hair from a cat; i.e.: the quantity in question is so small that it has no significant effect and goes unnoticed).
Como si no fuera poco
As if it were not enough.
Darle a alguien mala espina
Make someone feel uneasy (lit.: to give bad thorns to someone).
De ahora en adelante
From now on; henceforth; from this moment forward (lit.: from now in advance).
De armas tomar
Formidable; tough; redoubtable (lit.: for taking up arms).
De buena gana
Willingly; with ease; with pleasure (lit.: of good desire).
De buenas a primeras
Suddenly; without warning.
De cal y canto
Strong; firm.
De costumbre
As usual; normally.
De cuando en cuando
From time to time; sometimes; once in a while (lit.: of when in when).
De diario
Everyday.
De golpe
Suddenly; abruptly; at once; all at once (lit.: of a blow or strike).
De hecho
In fact, in reality (lit.: of fact). 1. De hecho, qiuero ir contigo.
De inmediato
Right now, immediately (lit.: from immediately).
De medio pelo
Second-rate.
De moda
In fashion; in style.
De modo que
So; so that.
De mucho cuidado
Big; terrible; real (used adverbially).
De nada
Not at all; you’re welcome; don’t mention it (n.b.: often said in response to “gracías”).
Decir amén a todo
Say yes to everything; agree to everything (lit.: to say amen to everything).
Decir en broma
Kid; joke; tease (lit.: to say (as a) joke).
Dejar de lado
Set aside; put aside (lit.: to leave from (the) side).
Dejar en paz
Leave alone; leave be; let it be (lit.: to leave in peace).