God giveth and god taketh away. Phrase used as an explanation for something bad or negative that has happened in a person’s life, for example the death of a loved one.
Dios castiga sin vara y sin fuete
God judges everyone equally
Dios aprieta pero no ahoga
The Lord works in mysterious ways. The idea that, although God may allow someone to suffer, he will not permit it to reach a level of desperation.
Dime de qué haces gala y te diré de lo que adoleces
This phrase applies to anyone that brags a lot. It’s meaning is that by looking at what grand comments someone makes about themselves, you can tell where their faults are.
Dime con quien andas y te diré quién eres
A man is known by the company he keeps. A person’s friends are often a good indicator of who that person is.
Dicen las malas lenguas, y la mia que no es muy buena también lo repita
According to the latest gossip. This phrase attempts to downplay a person’s own tendency to gossip. The phrase is often shortened as “Dicen las malas lenguas“.
Desvestir un santo para vestir a otro
It does not make sense to fill a person’s needs by taking what the first person lacks away from a second person, depriving the second person of what the first now has. The literal translation is to “undress a saint to dress another”.
Después de la tormenta, siempre llega la calma
The calm after the storm.
Desgraciado en el juego, afortunado en el amor
Phrase used when a really ugly guy is with a gorgeous woman.
Desde que se inventaron las excusas, nadie quiere ser culpable
Pass the buck. It seems that there is always an excuse, to avoid being blamed or taking responsibility for something.
Del dicho al hecho hay un gran trecho
Implies that a person may be promising something that he/she cannot complete. It is a long way from what he/she says to what he/she can deliver.
Del árbol caído todos hacen leña
When a person suffers a humiliating situation, he/she often becomes the target of other negative situations
Del agua mansa líbreme Dios que de la brava me libro yo
Turbulent people and situations are the easy ones to handle. When a person or situation is calm, reserved or quiet, you may not even know of the problem brewing, and for that reason you must accept that God will help you in those situations.
Dejarse caer para que lo carguen
To play dumb or pretend to be injured so everyone else does the work
Defenderse más que gato boca arriba
To viciously defend oneself. Apparently cats, really come out fighting when they’re on their back.
De tal palo, tal astilla
like father, like son
De tal padre, tal hijo
Like father, like son, The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Children often mimic the behavior of their father.
De poetas, tontos y locos, todos tenemos un poco
Human beings are a mixture of different things. At some point a person can be artistic and brilliant while at another time the same person be foolish or do something crazy.
De noche todos los gatos son prietos (negros)
All cats are grey in the dark. At night time, everyone looks the same. This may be used in a sexual sense, meaning that in the dark who cares what your partner looks like.
De la esperanza vive el cautivo (pobre)
Hope is what often keeps people thinking of the future, even if it is apparent that they have no future.
De ese infierno no salen chispas
Nothing will come of it, A lot of hot air. Used in situations (ex. arguments or heated discussions) that may, at a glance, appear heated or dangerous, but that really will amount to nothing.
De cualquier nube sale un chubasco
Something bad can show up anywhere, can appear from anywhere unexpected
De cualquier maya sale un ratón
Something bad can show up anywhere, can appear from anywhere unexpected
De algo murió mi abuela
Phrase used to avoid revealing all the details of a situation, or to maintain something a mystery.
Dando y dando pajaritos volando
If you give me what you owe me, then I can do the same. For example, bring me your laundry ticket, and I can give you your laundry.
Cuidate tu de las aguas bravas, y de las mansas que me libre Dios
Turbulent people and situations are the easy ones to handle. When a person or situation is calm, reserved or quiet, you may not even know of the problem brewing, and for that reason you must accept that God will help you in those situations.
Cuentas claras conservan amistades
Short reckonings make long friends. Any time something is borrowed between friends, it is best to give it back (or pay it back) as quickly as possible. This will keep you from losing the friendship.
Cúentamelo todo, o no me cuentes nada
Phrase used to push someone to share the gossip or the latest news
Cuenta el milagro pero no el santo
To share or tell about a situation but at the same time to not reveal the source of the information
Cuatro ojos ven más que dos
Two heads are better than one. It is better to have two people looking at a situation that needs to be analyzed or resolved.