Spanish Food Idioms

I was recently assigned some Spanish homework where I had to translate some Spanish idioms which were related to food. Some of them were quite tricky to find so I though I´d write a post to help others out as well as to serve as a reference for myself.

Darle Calabazas (a alguien) = To turn somebody down, to give someone the cold shoulder, to reject somebody

Dar las uvas (a alguien) = To keep somebody waiting

Nos van a dar las uvas = We’ll be here till the cows come home.

Darse (alguien= una piña/torta (a alguien) = To have a crash (if in a car context)

Dar una torta (a alguien) = To smack somebody

Estar (alguien) como un fideo = To be as slim as a rake

Importar un pimiento (a alguien) = To not give a damn

No me importa un pimiento = I don’t give a damn!

Irse (alguien)/mandar (a alguien) a freir morcilla/espárragos = To tell someone to get lost, to go to hell

Pedirle peras al olmo = To expect the impossible, to ask for the moon

Ser (algo) del año de la pera = To be out of the ark

Ponerse (alguien) como una sopa = To get drenched

Ponerse (alguien) como un tomate = To blush

Sacarle (a alguien) las castañas del fuego = To save someones bacon

Ser (algo) pan comido = To be a piece of cake, a doddle

Ser (alguien= un melón = To be stupid/dumb/thick

Tener (alguien) mala leche/uva = To be ill willed or nasty

5 comments

  1. Olivia Flecha

    Interesting……
    also there is
    ser (alguien) leche herbieda = to be (boiling milk)- hot headed
    not sure if spelling correct.

  2. Thank you so much for these.I have the same Spanish homework and was struggling to find the meanings using the traditional dictionaries!!!!

  3. Hi Gary

    Glad that this post was useful, good luck with learning spanish!

  4. Thanks so much you rule!
    I have the same homework too! :)
    Salford Uni FTW (y)
    xxx

  5. Haha, brilliant! I bet that saved you a bit of time :-)

    Good luck with your spanish course!

Leave a comment