ENGLISH IDIOMS. by Teresa Ruiz Tobarra

IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE- ES PAN COMIDO.

tereruiztobarra — 2024-09-30 06:54:40 UTC

PIECE OF CAKE- EASY TO DO.

EXAMPLE: THE TEST WAS A PIECE OF CAKE!

NO PAIN NO GAIN- EL QUE ALGO QUIERE ALGO LE CUESTA.

2024-10-10 18:25:35 UTC

Suffering is necessary in order to achieve something. Example: I really hate studying, but I want to get into a great university; no pain no gain.

WHEN PIGS FLY- CUANDO LAS RANAS CRÍEN PELO.

tereruiztobarra — 2024-10-21 16:08:06 UTC

NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. EXAMPLE: THEY WILL FIX THE ROADS WHEN PIGS FLY.

BREAK A LEG- DESEARLE SUERTE A ALGUIEN.

tereruiztobarra — 2024-10-29 14:52:57 UTC

GOOD LUCK!

EXAMPLE: BREAK A LEG, HONEY!

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON- DE UVAS A PERAS.

tereruiztobarra — 2024-11-05 17:58:42 UTC

TO DO SOMETHING RARELY- ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, I GO TO THE CINEMA.

FEELING BLUE- ESTAR TRISTE/ DEPRIMIDO/MELÁNCOLICO.

tereruiztobarra — 2024-11-15 17:21:33 UTC

FEELING SAD. EXAMPLE: Jenny always listens to cheerful music when she's feeling blue, as it helps uplift her mood.

A blessing in disguise (no hay mal que por bien no venga)

tereruiztobarra — 2024-12-01 21:15:11 UTC

It refers to something that at first appears to be bad or unlucky but is actually good.

Una situación que al principio no parece ser buena, pero eventualmente lo es. EXAMPLE:

Being laid off was a blessing in disguise – within a month I got a much better job. El despido fue una bendición: al cabo de un mes conseguí un trabajo mucho mejor.

A picture is worth a thousand words (una imagen vale más que mil palabras)

tereruiztobarra — 2025-01-16 09:00:55 UTC

Algo que se puede ver es más descriptivo que las palabras. «Show him how to use the hammer, after all, a picture paints a thousand words.» (Muéstrale cómo utilizar el martillo, después de todo, es más fácil que decirle cómo funciona).

COST AND ARM AND A LEG- CUESTA UN OJO DE LA CARA.

tereruiztobarra — 2025-01-25 18:34:17 UTC

Cost an arm and a leg: It means something is very expensive. Significa que algo es muy caro.

Under the weather (estar indispuesto/a)

tereruiztobarra — 2026-01-13 16:28:37 UTC

Marissa won’t go to the dance, she’s feeling under the weather today.(Marissa no irá al baile, está un poco enferma hoy.)

IN THE SAME BOAT- EN LA MISMA SITUACIÓN.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-01-13 16:39:57 UTC

When someone says you’re “in the same boat,” it means you and others are experiencing the same difficulties or challenges.

EXAMPLE^:Everyone forgot their homework today? Looks like we’re all in the same boat.

LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG- IRSE DE LA LENGUA.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-01-21 10:01:07 UTC

To reveal a secret, often accidentally, making it known to others when it was supposed to be kept hidden. EXAMPLE:

I was planning a surprise party for her, but my brother accidentally let the cat out of the bag when he asked her what gift she wanted.

TEN OUT OF TEN- 10 DE 10.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-01-29 20:39:43 UTC

“Ten out of ten”

When you get a perfect score on a test, you can proudly say, “I got ten out of ten!” It’s like saying you nailed it completely.

Example: I got all the answers correct on the quiz – ten out of ten!

HOLD YOUR HORSES- PARA EL CARRO.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-02-09 16:57:43 UTC

SLOW DOWN AND THINK. EXAMPLE:

Just hold your horses, Bill! Let's think about this for a moment

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER- MÁS VALE TARDE QUE NUNCA.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-04-13 14:22:18 UTC

- Sorry I'm late.

-Well, better late than never.

KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE- MATAR DOS PÁJAROS DE UN TIRO.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-04-20 14:15:21 UTC

To achieve two objectives with a single action or effort.

EXAMPLE:

By cycling to work, I kill two birds with one stone: I save money on gas and get my exercise in".

TO KICK THE BUCKET - ESTIRAR LA PATA/ FALLECER.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-04-27 16:08:17 UTC

Significado literal: Dar una patada un cubo.

Significado real: Estirar la pata- Fallecer.

Ejemplo:

Yesterday I heard that Joe’s dog KICKED THE BUCKET. Poor man, he loved his dog so much.
Ayer escuché que el perro de Joe ESTIRÓ LA PATA. Pobre hombre, quería tanto a su perro.

Nota: Como en castellano, en inglés este IDIOM es de carácter muy informal. No debe utilizarse ante familiares, o personas conocidas, a las cuales se les puede herir su sensibilidad.

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK- DE TAL PALO TAL ASTILLA.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-05-06 09:49:55 UTC

'A chip off the old block' es una expresión idiomática en inglés que significa que alguien se parece mucho a uno de sus progenitores (padre o madre) en personalidad, carácter o comportamiento. Su equivalente más exacto en español es el refrán "de tal palo, tal astilla.

EXAMPLE:

Pete’s definitely a chip off the old block – he has the same enthusiasm for all things mechanical.

TIME IS GOLD/ TIME IS MONEY- EL TIEMPO ES ORO.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-05-13 14:48:17 UTC

"Time is gold" (or "Time is money") is a proverb highlighting that time is a precious, finite resource that cannot be recovered once wasted, much like lost money or wealth. It emphasizes the importance of using time wisely to maximize life achievements and efficiency.

EXAMPLE:

Don't waste your youth; time is gold.

BE IN SOMEBODY'S SHOES- estar en el pellejo de alguien.

tereruiztobarra — 2026-05-18 14:13:46 UTC

To 'be in somebody's shoes' is an English idiom meaning to imagine yourself in another person's position or situation, usually to understand how they feel or what you would do if faced with their circumstances.

EXAMPLE: I wouldn't like to be in Mike's shoes when the boss hears what he's done!