A topic of much interest, a subject with a wide range of possibilities to discuss
Agua pasada no mueve molino
Water under the bridge. Forget about the past and focus on the present.
Admisión de delito, relevo de prueba
Guilt by association. Once you admit to something, there is no further need to prove it. Also, if for example, you are caught in the same room where a vase just broke, it is obvious that you are the person that broke it.
A ver si es verdad que el gas pela
Let’s find out if what you say is really true.
A su tiempo maduran las uvas
Good things come to those who wait. Good things take time to develop, be patient.
A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores
During times of uncertainty, there are still opportunities to be had.
A rey muerto rey puesto
Phrase meaning that someone, after passing away or leaving, is quickly replaced. For example a widow that quickly finds another partner to maintain him/her. Also implies that the person is taking advantage of the situation.
¿A quién le amarga un dulce?
Does the pope wear a hat? Does a bear shit in the woods?, Smart aleck answer to any type of dumb question when the answer is obvious.
A quien Dios no le da hijos el diablo le da sobrinos
For the people that do not have kids, they still often share the same problems and pleasures that parents do, through their nieces, nephews or other children that are close to them.
A palabras necias oídos sordos
It goes in one ear and out the other. If you are going to say stupid or foolish things, I am not interested in listening.
A otro perro con ese hueso
I’ve heard that story before. Used when someone is lying to you, for example, the homeless person that says he needs money for food when everyone knows he really wants it for booze.
A mi plin y a la madama dulce de coco
I couldn’t give a hoot, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass, I don’t give a shit, Who cares, I don’t care.
A mala hora no ladra el perro
In spite of all the preparations and precautions taken something unexpected always happens, the one thing you never planned for is the one thing that happens.
A mal tiempo, buena cara
When things do not come out as planned one must remain calm to face the situation.
A lo hecho pecho
Own up to one’s mistakes. If you made a mistake you must confront it and resolve the situation.
A las millas de Chaflán
Extremely fast
A la tierra que fueres haz lo que vieres
When in Rome, do as the Romans. When you are visiting an unknown place, just copy what the locals are doing, and you will fit in fine
A la larga todo se sabe
Everything eventually comes to light. Sooner or later everything is revealed.
A la corta o a la larga con el tiempo todo se alcanza
Sooner or later problems or difficulties can be overcome or resolved.
A grandes males, grandes remedios
When you are confronted with large problems, just make sure that you have everything organized and in place to fix it. If it’s a big problem, don’t come with some small idea to patch over the situation. Make sure you solution will eliminate the problem.
A falta de pan, galleta
Make do with what you’ve got. When one thing is not available, one must make do with something else.
A ése no lo salvan ni las once mil vírgenes
To be beyond saving, either in a medical health sense or in the sense that someone is so bad, there is no way to pull him out of it.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando
To keep at something. It is fine to ask for God’s help, but one must keep working so that the project moves forward.
A cualquiera se le muere un tío
It can happen to the best of us. Refers to commonplace occurrences that happen to everyone.
A cada santo le llega su día / hora
His time will come. Anyone’s good deeds will be recognized eventually, if at no other time, than when the person faces their Creator.
A cada puerco le llega su sábado
He’ll get his, He’ll get what’s coming to him, He’ll get what he deserves, His time will come. Sooner or later whoever does something wrong will be caught.
A cada lechón le llega su San Martín
A cada guaraguao le llega su pitirre
Brains over brawn. The pitirre is a small bird that attacks specifically the guaraguao, a large hawk. The implication of the phrase is that just because someone or something is physically large does not mean that it will automatically dominate over someone much smaller.
A caballo regalado no se le mira el colmillo
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
MÁS PERDIDO QUE UN JUEY BIZCO: Puerto Rican Spanish Slang Expression
Translate the Puerto Rican Spanish slang expression: MÁS PERDIDO QUE UN JUEY BIZCO The Puerto Rican saying estar más perdido que un juey bizco is one of my favorites. This particular phrase is one of the most commonly used by locals on the island. It also uses the Puerto Rican Spanish word juey for crab. […]