Hey guys!

If you are learning Spanish one of my most frequent tips is that you need to go out of the box and avoid the academic way. Gatherings with locals, TV shows and music are always good recommendations to fully understand the culture behind every language. That's why today we are talking about some very popular phrases we frequently use in Spanish and that don't literally mean what they mean. Are you still with me here? This is a fun way of showing you that being literal when learning a language is a big MISTAKE. This is also a way of letting you inside our culture. 

Let's start: 

1. "Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo".
Literal translation: The devil knows more for being old than for being the devil. 

This "modismo" talks about old people being wiser because of their experience in life. So don't be afraid, because we are not talking about worshiping the devil. This is a phrase commonly used by moms, dads and grandparents. 

 
2. "Éramos muchos y parió la abuela"
Literal translation: We were already too many when grandma gave birth

Ok, this is a fun one. When we say this we are not actually trying to tell you that latin grannies are very fertile. This expression is used to say that things were complicated but all of the sudden they got much more complicated. It can also be used when someone you don't like arrives at the place where you are at. It represents that enough is enough. 



3. "Te vendieron gato por liebre" 
Literal translation: You bought rabbit but they sold you a cat

This expression is used just to let you know you got riped off. 

4. "Borrón y cuenta nueva"
Literal translatio: Blot and new account

This is the same as "start from scratch". It's frequently used to refer to a clean start. Erase the past and start over new. 

5. "Date con una piedra en los dientes" 
Literal translation: Scratch your teeth with a stone 

This phrase is not a bloody or savage expression at all. It's used to tell someone that they should be proud of something or should not complain about something. You use it when a friend or someone complains a lot and you need to show them that they are in fact pretty lucky and fortunate. This phrase is good to slap someone out of their misery. 

6. "Vas pal' cielo y vas llorando" 
Literal translation: You are going to heaven and you are going crying 

It's used to talk about someone who complains a LOT. In this case, this person is going to heaven (that's supposed to be the cherry on top of the ice-cream) and the person still complains and cries about it. So if you know a nagging crybaby just tell them: "vas pal cielo y vas llorando". End of discussion! 

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7. "El que no llora no mama"
Literal translation: if you don't cry you don't get breast fed

This is an expression that uses baby actions to refer to grown ups. When a small baby cries it's usually to show that he/she is hungry and by crying, he/she will be fed. This expression talks about expressing yourself, about never staying quiet about something that bothers you, about raising your voice in order to get something. 
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We will leave it a 7 because that's a lucky number! :) 

Hope you understand a bit more and the next time you are in the middle of a Spanish conversation you can keep up! I know you will :)