Questions tagged [modismos]

Expresión fija cuyo significado no se deduce de las palabras que la forman. Puede ser una sola palabra o una frase hecha. // Set phrase, whose meaning isn't the same as the literal sum of its parts. May be just one word or a phrase.

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Why is "De nada" used as a response to "Gracias"?

De means "of", and nada means "nothing", so why, when put together, are they used in response to Gracias?
Malfist's user avatar
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36 votes
7 answers
8k views

Is there a Spanish equivalent to "-ish"?

In English, we often add "-ish" to the end of a word to make it less exact. Here are some examples: I'll be there at 5:00ish. The shirt was a reddish color. The woman appeared to be 50ish. ...
Rachel's user avatar
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29 votes
4 answers
32k views

Why isn't "good morning" "buenas mañanas"?

"Good afternoon" is "buenas tardes", and "Good night/evening" is "buenas noches". Then why isn't "good morning" "buenas mañanas" instead of "buenos días"?
Orion's user avatar
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21 votes
6 answers
4k views

How to translate the idiom: "missing the point"?

What would be the correct way to translate into Spanish the idiom: "to miss the point"? I'm often tempted to write "perder el punto", but it doesn't sound quite right. For example: "To bring ...
Juan A. Navarro's user avatar
20 votes
7 answers
5k views

Translation of "bug" to Spanish

What is the best way to translate "bug", as in a misfeature of a computer program or device? Google translate offers a few options, none of which quite seem to fit, except the term itself: bug &...
Flimzy's user avatar
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20 votes
5 answers
41k views

¿Cuál es la etimología de "al fin y al cabo"?

La expresión fijada "al fin y al cabo" en inglés sería algo como "at the end of the day, in the end, after all". Pero quería saber, ¿se conoce la etimología? En la entrada "al fin y al cabo" en ...
Alenanno's user avatar
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17 votes
4 answers
165k views

¿Qué significa en Argentina "al pedo"?

He escuchado y leído a argentinos decir "al pedo", por ejemplo, "estoy al pedo". Es evidente que NO se refiere a "estar pedo", que significa "estar borracho" en algunos sitios. ¿Qué significa "estar ...
JoulSauron's user avatar
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16 votes
10 answers
18k views

How do you say "I got you!" in Spanish?

If I threw a snowball (or dodgeball) at someone and it hit them, how would I say : I got you! in Spanish?
Teresa's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is the phrase still "cuantos años tiene" where the age is obviously less than one year?

You see the parents of a baby obviously less than one year old. You want to ask how old the baby is. Would it be natural or ridiculous to ask "Cuantos años tiene?" In other words, would the ...
Chaim's user avatar
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16 votes
3 answers
229k views

Forma correcta de "nisiquiera"

Español Al escribir siempre he tenido la duda de cuál es la manera apropiada del término o frase. ¿Cuál de estas es correcta? ni si quiera ni siquiera nisiquiera  English When writing I've always ...
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16 votes
4 answers
11k views

"Desde luego" meaning and etymology

Español Esta pregunta me recuerda a una frase similar, "desde luego", que no es eso literalmente, sino que significa "por supuesto" (según el DRAE): luego. [...] desde ~. loc. adv. ...
kodkod's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
821 views

"Todo lo demás son tonterías"

Hoy me topé con un anuncio de una gran cadena de tiendas de aparatos electrodomésticos, cuyo lema (entre otros) es : Todo lo demás son tonterías ¿Es gramaticalmente correcto en este caso tener un ...
Alexis Pigeon's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
31k views

What's the meaning of the expression "nada que ver"?

What's the meaning of the expression "nada que ver"? In which countries is used? Here are some examples: Lo que dices no tiene nada que ver con lo que estamos discutiendo. Conversation between ...
Alfredo Osorio's user avatar
15 votes
11 answers
25k views

¿Cuál es una traducción apropiada para "Thinking out of the box"?

El otro día, resolviendo con los compañeros de trabajo una serie de problemas, me vino a la cabeza la expresión Thinking out of the box (o thinking outside the box). Esta expresión viene a significar ...
Diego's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
38k views

¿Qué significa "de pe a pa"?

¿Cúal es el significado de la siguiente expresión "de pe a pa"? Por ejemplo: Tienes que aprenderte esto de pe a pa.
Alfredo Osorio's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

Usage of "oso" to express embarrassment

I have heard the expression: ¡Que oso! It is used to express embarrassment by a former acquaintance from Colombia, but I have never met another Spanish speaker who uses this expression. My ...
razlebe's user avatar
  • 473
14 votes
5 answers
85k views

Are there any differences between "de nada" and "por nada"?

Most of the time in all the Spanish speaking countries I've been in I've heard de nada as the reply to gracias or the equivalent of English you're welcome etc. But after a while I became conscious ...
hippietrail's user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
45k views

¿Por qué decimos "por cierto" para indicar añadidura?

La palabra "cierto" tiene distintos significados: cierto, ta (Del lat. certus). 1. adj. Conocido como verdadero, seguro, indubitable. 2. adj. U. precediendo inmediatamente al sustantivo en ...
fedorqui's user avatar
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13 votes
6 answers
69k views

What does "a la orden" mean?

A friend of mine from Argentina keeps saying to me "a la orden" and I asked her what it meant and she couldn't explain it. What does it mean? I would guess it means okay?
DerPolyglott33's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
30k views

How to translate the idiomatic expressions "I wish!" and "You wish!"

What's the best way to say "I wish!" as in... A: I hear you're a good dancer. B: Ha! I wish! Or... A: Will you help me move this piano? B: Ha! You wish! What is the best way to translate ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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13 votes
5 answers
36k views

¿Cuál es el origen de la frase "al pan, pan, y al vino, vino"?

Creo que la expresión quiere decir que algo fue dicho con claridad, pero ¿de dónde viene la expresión? Es decir: ¿a qué se refiere originalmente? ¿Por qué pan y vino, precisamente?
Paul's user avatar
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13 votes
4 answers
44k views

Does "Prima" have a double-meaning (in Mexico)?

I recently saw this billboard in León, Guanajuato, México: [Sorry for the awkward placement of the light pole in the photo; I was driving when I snapped it.] The sign is an advertisement for Tecate ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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12 votes
6 answers
416k views

What does the word "pinche" mean?

What does the word pinche mean? ¡Pinche loco! ¡Pinche! ¿Cuál es el significado de la palabra pinche? ¡Pinche loco! ¡Pinche!
DerPolyglott33's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
3k views

Where does the expression "no hay tu tía" come from?

In Spanish, the expression "No hay tu tía" roughly means that there's no way to do something. However, "tía" on its own means "aunt", and "there's no aunt of yours" is kind of a... weird? way to ...
user avatar
12 votes
14 answers
63k views

How would you translate the word "badass" to Spanish?

I was thinking maybe of "cabrón" or "chingon" ; however I think those two sound too Mexican specific. Does anybody know a better and less region specific equivalent?
DarkAjax's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
3k views

¿Cuál es el origen de la frase "media naranja"?

Español He oído la frase "media naranja" unas veces, y puedo entender el contexto, que significa una pareja o novia, por ejemplo. Pero quiero saber el origen de esa frase. English I have ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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11 votes
5 answers
2k views

¿Cómo puedo traducir el modismo inglés "to do something on the hoof"?

En inglés se dice "to do something on the hoof". Por ejemplo: David Cameron income tax law promise 'made up on the hoof' Que significa: Si haces algo, lo haces mientras estás moviéndote o ...
Alice Chemla's user avatar
11 votes
7 answers
27k views

Modismo o expresión que traduzca "gaslighting"

El otro día aprendí un término la mar de interesante, con esa facilidad que hay en el inglés de transformar un nombre en un verbo (como googlear). El término en cuestión era gaslighting que viene a ...
Diego's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Origin and use of "echar de menos"

I've always found peculiar that the phrase echar de menos is synonymous of the verb extrañar. For example: Te echaré de menos. is equivalent to: Te extrañaré. Based on TV, its use is most ...
Jaime Soto's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Equivalent expression for "straw that broke the camel's back"?

Is there an equivalent phrase in Spanish for "the straw that broke the camel's back"? The phrase usually refers to to the final thing that is added to a bunch of things to cause a large reaction and ...
10 Replies's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
12k views

Translating "looking forward to"

In English, we often used the phrase looking forward to when we are excited about something in the future: I'm looking forward to seeing you next week! I'm really looking forward to finals ...
jrdioko's user avatar
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11 votes
9 answers
26k views

¿Qué significa la frase "Estoy más puesta que un calcetín"?

Una amiga mexicana me dijo la frase "Estoy más puesta que un calcetín." ¿Qué significa eso? El contexto es que ella me ofrece una lección de baile. Ella: Yo te doy unas clasesitas de baile....
Flimzy's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
16k views

Origen de expresiones como "cada dos por tres"

Iba a preguntar por el origen de la expresión "cada dos por tres", pero al ir a buscarla en el diccionario me he encontrado con la siguiente variedad de expresiones: a cada dos por tres 1. loc. ...
Charlie's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
11k views

¿De dónde viene la expresión "caballito blanco" y otras equivalentes?

Cuando a alguien que participa en un juego no se le podía eliminar o no se le aplicaban del todo las reglas -un niño pequeño, por ejemplo, que todavía no sabe jugar muy bien- le llamábamos «caballito ...
user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
2k views

How to translate "open source" and "free software" and keep the distinction?

In English, when describing software you say "open source" to refer to software that's source code has been made available under a license. "Free software" refers to 'truly free' software that can be ...
Nathan Greenstein's user avatar
10 votes
3 answers
33k views

Meaning of "Me cae gordo"

I know the meaning of the phrase "Me cae bien": I like him/her (in a strictly platonic sense), or He leaves a good impression But recently I have heard the phrase Me cae gordo (in Mexico). It's ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
2k views

"No se hable más" - Why the "se"?

As I read in this entry of Español Avanzado, no se hable más is a fix term to tell someone to not talk about this (topic) anymore. My question is: where does the "se" come from? What would ...
nogamawa's user avatar
  • 123
10 votes
2 answers
31k views

Origen de la expresión "tener más moral que el Alcoyano"

Cuando alguien no se da por vencido y sigue insistiendo a veces en España se dice tienes más moral que el Alcoyano. Alcoyano es el gentilicio de Alcoy (provincia de Alicante), pero ¿cúal es el origen ...
David's user avatar
  • 429
10 votes
1 answer
780 views

Plug vs Socket: Interchangeable?

Many dictionaries that I have looked at online seem to use enchufe as a word that is interchangeable for the English words plug and socket, which are two related, but distinct objects. Some ...
Wayne Hartman's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
8k views

What's the meaning of the Mexican expression "se te va el avión"?

What's the meaning of the Mexican expression "se te va el avión"? Example: Te lo dije tres veces y de todos modos no lo hiciste. A ti ya se te va el avión. ¿No te acordaste de tu cumpleaños? ...
Alfredo Osorio's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
3k views

Spanish equivalent to "he can dish it out but he can't take it"

There's an idiom in English for a person who criticises others but when someone else criticises them, they don't like it. Definition from Cambridge English dictionary: Someone can dish it out but he ...
The Dark Side's user avatar
9 votes
10 answers
15k views

¿Qué significa "salir del paso?"

Estoy leyendo esta página, y tiene la frase: Es una solución para salir del paso. Da mejores resultados entre idiomas de origen indoeuropeo, como es de esperar. Pero si se necesita una traducción ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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9 votes
5 answers
88k views

¿Cómo se llama en español a la parte trasera de una camioneta tipo pickup?

¿Cómo se le llama a la parte trasera de una camioneta tipo pickup? En Guatemala se le llama palangana, en alusión a este tipo de recipiente:
jachguate's user avatar
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9 votes
9 answers
137k views

What does "ese" mean?

I keep hearing this word "ese" (also spelled "esé" or "ése") on TV used when parodying Spanish speakers. It's often used in a very funny way to indicate friend or homie but I can't tell what it means. ...
Stan Shunpike's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
86k views

Definición de "pistear"

Hoy alguien usó la palabra pistear conmigo, en el contexto de una fiesta, o bebiendo. No puedo encontrar una definición relevante. DRAE tiene dos definiciones regionales: tr. El Salv. Pagar dinero ...
Flimzy's user avatar
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9 votes
6 answers
53k views

¿Qué significa la expresión "A lo que te truje chencha"?

¿Cuál es el significado de la expresión "A lo que te truje chencha"?
Alfredo Osorio's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
19k views

¿Qué sentido tiene la expresión "mejorando lo presente"?

Imaginemos que vamos tres personas por la calle: dos chicos y una chica. De repente nos cruzamos con una chica la mar de guapa y ambos chicos decimos "uau, qué guapa". Ante la certidumbre de que el ...
fedorqui's user avatar
  • 34.1k
9 votes
2 answers
661 views

What would be a good translation of "to go well with"?

How could one translate the expression "to go well with" in Spanish? For example: Tequila shots go well with strawberry ice cream.
John Fitzpatrick's user avatar
9 votes
5 answers
13k views

What is "ya va" in Venezuelan Spanish?

I heard the expression "llava" / "ya va" (?) being used in Venezuelan Spanish. It seems to have the meaning of "wait a moment", but my Mexican friend don't understand it. Does anyone who know what ...
user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
14k views

What is the preferred way of saying "I have to go"?

English As far as I can tell there are two ways to say, "I have to go." Tengo que ir. Tengo ir. Is the second way even right? And if so, which one is the preferred way to say, "I have to ...
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