Food
What does it mean to "spill the beans?"
To tell a secret or ruin a surprise.
Literally: (to spill) derramar (the beans) las alubias
What does it mean if it's "raining cats and dogs?"
It's raining heavily.
Literally: (it's raining) está lloviendo (cats and dogs) gatos y perros
What does it mean to "break a leg"?
To wish someone good luck.
Literally: (break) romper (a leg) una pierna
What does it mean if you feel "under the weather?"
You feel sick or feel poorly.
Literally: (under) bajo (the weather) el clima.
What does it mean if something is a "piece of cake?"
It's very easy.
Literally: (piece) trozo (of cake) de pastel
What does it mean to "let the cat out of the bag?"
To reveal a secret you weren't supposed to.
Literally: (to let) dejar (the cat out) el gato fuera (of the bag) de la bolsa
What does it mean to "pull someone's leg?"
To joke with them, to tell them a lie or half-truth.
Literally: (to pull) tirar (my leg) mi pierna
What does it mean if you are working "around the clock?"
To work all the time, to take no breaks.
Literally: (around) alrededor (the clock) del reloj
What does it mean to tell someone: "don't cry over spilled milk"?
Don't get upset about something you can't change or something that happened in the past.
Literally: (don't cry) no llores over spilled milk (sobre la leche derramada)
What does it mean if something will happen "when pigs fly?"
Something that will never happen, that is impossible.
Literally: (when) cuando (pigs fly) los cerdos vuelan
What does it mean if someone has "the upper hand?"
It means they have an advantage.
Literally: (the upper hand) el mano de arriba
What does it mean to "hit the hay?"
To go to bed, to fall asleep.
Literally: (to hit) chocar con (the hay) el heno.
What does it mean to take something "with a pinch of salt?"
To understand that something may be true or false, or to not trust it too much.
Literally: (take it) tomarlo (with a pinch of salt) con una pizca de sal
What does it mean if two people are "birds of a feather?"
They are very similar.
Literally: (birds) pájaros (of a feather) de un mismo plumaje.
What does it mean to "play it by ear?"
To improvise, to do something without a strict plan.
Literally: (to play) tocar (by ear) por oreja.
What does it mean to "throw in the towel?"
To quit something.
Literally: (to throw in) tirar (the towel) la toalla.
What does it mean to "bite off more than you can chew?"
To agree to do more than you are able.
Literally: (to bite off) morder (more than you can chew) más que puedes mascar
What does it mean if someone is "like a fish out of water?"
Someone who is in an unfamiliar situation.
Literally: (like a fish) como un pez (out of water) fuera del agua.
What does it mean for something to "cost an arm and a leg"?
Something that is excessively expensive.
Literally: (to cost) costar (an arm and a leg) un brazo y una pierna
What does it mean for something to happen "once in a blue moon?"
To happen very rarely.
Literally: (once) una vez (in a blue moon) en una luna azul