Paquita Salas S01E05: Spanish study pack

Show 9 more expressions

como los chorros del orospotlessly clean / sparkling clean

colloquial

Fixed simile used almost exclusively to describe cleanliness. Always follows a noun referring to a place or object. Very typical of everyday household speech.

Después de dos horas fregando, el suelo quedó como los chorros del oro.After two hours of scrubbing, the floor was spotlessly clean.

piriarseto leave / to get out of here / to take off

colloquial

Informal verb meaning to leave quickly or abruptly. Used especially in speech between people who know each other well.

Son las diez, me piro que tengo que madrugar mañana.It's ten o'clock, I'm taking off because I have to get up early tomorrow.

currarto work / to graft

colloquial

Everyday informal word for working. Very widely used in conversation among friends and colleagues. The noun form 'curro' means a job.

Llevo toda la mañana currando sin parar y todavía me quedan tres reuniones.I've been grafting all morning non-stop and I still have three meetings to go.

dar un largoto give someone a real piece of work / to give someone a full-length film (literal); used ironically as a threat or sarcastic comeback

colloquial

A play on the contrast between 'corto' (short film) and 'largo' (feature-length film). Used sarcastically as a mock threat. Context-specific humour rooted in the film industry setting.

¿Que solo me mandas un corto? Ya te daré yo un largo, no te preocupes.You're only sending me a short? Don't worry, I'll give you a feature-length one.

qué pico tienewhat a mouth on her/him / she/he has such a sharp tongue

colloquial

'Tener pico' or 'qué pico tiene' refers to someone who speaks boldly, cheekily, or with a lot of wit. Can be affectionate or mildly critical depending on tone.

¡Qué pico tiene esa chica! Dice siempre lo que piensa sin filtro.What a mouth on that girl! She always says what she thinks without any filter.

estar pasado de modato be out of fashion / to be behind the times

colloquial

Common expression applied to people, trends, or ideas. When applied to a person in a professional context, it implies they are no longer relevant or competitive.

Me dijeron que mis métodos estaban pasados de moda y que tenía que renovarme.They told me my methods were out of fashion and that I needed to reinvent myself.

sin paskipping out without paying / dining and dashing

colloquial

Shortened form of 'sin pagar' (without paying). Used informally to describe leaving a bar or restaurant without settling the bill.

Se fueron sin pa y el camarero se dio cuenta cuando ya habían salido por la puerta.They dashed without paying and the waiter realised only once they had already walked out the door.

agua que no hay que beber, déjala correrif it's not for you, let it go (don't dwell on what isn't meant for you)

colloquial

A traditional Spanish proverb-style saying used to advise someone to move on from something or someone that is not working out for them.

Ese trabajo no te llamaron ni para dar las gracias. Agua que no hay que beber, déjala correr.They didn't even call you to say thank you about that job. If it's not for you, let it go.

querer es poderwhere there's a will there's a way

Classic Spanish fixed phrase equivalent to the English proverb. Used in motivational speech or self-help contexts. Completely fixed: not modified in normal use.

Al principio parecía imposible, pero al final lo conseguí. Querer es poder.At first it seemed impossible, but in the end I managed it. Where there's a will there's a way.

The Magic in You

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