Monday, October 5, 2009

10 Spanish phrases that don't translate well

  1. A otro perro con ese hueso.
    To another dog with that bone.
    (You're putting me on.)
  2. Antes que te cases mira lo que haces.
    Before you marry, look at what you do.
    (Look before you leap.)
  3. Cada quien tiene su manera de matar pulgas.
    Everyone has their own way to kill fleas.
    (There's more than one way to skin a cat.)
  4. Como el burro que tocó la flauta.
    As the burro plays the flute.
    (By pure luck.)
  5. Salir de Guatemala y meterse en guatapeor.
    To leave Guatemala and arrive in worse cornstalks.
    (Out of the frying pan and into the fire.)
  6. El hijo de la gata, ratones mata.
    The son of the cat kills mice.
    (Like father, like son.)
  7. Entrada de caballo, salida de burro.
    Enter on horseback, leave on a donkey.
    (Don't start something you can't finish.)
  8. Tener más lana que un borrego.
    To have more wool than a lamb.
    (To have money to burn.)
  9. Yo tengo una tía que toca la guitarra.
    I have an aunt that plays the guitar.
    (What's that got to do with the price of tea in China?)
  10. Ir a donde el rey va solo.
    To go where the king goes alone.
    (To powder one's nose.)

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