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Verbal idioms, or "un modismo" as they are known in Spanish, consist of a specific expression where its meaning has practically nothing to do with the words that make it up, since its use, creation and application are part of a linguistic custom that allows an idea to be understood in a few or in other words, that can only be generally understood by those who share the same language. It is important to emphasize that an idiom is not a saying since many people tend to confuse these concepts. Let's look at several examples of Spanish idioms to better understand how these popular linguistic customs are used.

Irse por las ramas Going by the branches
Ahogarse en un vaso de agua. Drowning in a glass of water
Hacer castillos en el aire Make castles in the air
Desvestir un santo para vestir a otro Undressing one saint to dress another
Tirar la toalla Throw in the towel
Con las manos en la masa. With the hands in the mass
Bailando con la más fea Dance with the ugliest one.
Estar en la luna Being on the moon.
Echar una mano Lend a hand.
Meter la pata Tuck in the paw
Es pan comido It's a piece of cake
Ser la oveja negra Being the black sheep.
Hablar por los codos. Talking up to your elbows
Estar como una cabra To be like a goat

The usefulness of Verbal Idioms

The usefulness of this expression is centered on making known how different or rare something or someone is within any context, especially it is common to hear it in the family nucleus to say that one of the children or relatives is not similar to the others.

Irse por las ramas Going by the branches
Ahogarse en un vaso de agua. Drowning in a glass of water
Hacer castillos en el aire Make castles in the air
Desvestir un santo para vestir a otro Undressing one saint to dress another
Tirar la toalla Throw in the towel
Con las manos en la masa. With the hands in the mass
Bailando con la más fea Dance with the ugliest one.
Estar en la luna Being on the moon.
Echar una mano Lend a hand.
Meter la pata Tuck in the paw
Es pan comido It's a piece of cake
Ser la oveja negra Being the black sheep.
Hablar por los codos. Talking up to your elbows
Estar como una cabra To be like a goat

Verbal Idioms

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Table of Contents

Creation and Application of Verbal Idioms

Irse por las ramas Going by the branches

Ahogarse en un vaso de agua. Drowning in a glass of water

Hacer castillos en el aire Make castles in the air

Desvestir un santo para vestir a otro Undressing one saint to dress another

Tirar la toalla Throw in the towel

Con las manos en la masa. With the hands in the mass

Bailando con la más fea Dance with the ugliest one.

Estar en la luna Being on the moon.

Echar una mano Lend a hand.

Meter la pata Tuck in the paw

Es pan comido It's a piece of cake

Ser la oveja negra Being the black sheep.

Hablar por los codos. Talking up to your elbows

Estar como una cabra To be like a goat