El ultimo toque

The last touch, finishing touch.

“Coloque el último toque en este puesto, y podemos retirarnos de este objetivo.”

Put the finishing touch on this post and we can retire this goal.”3 years ago

Salir por la ventana

To take off through the window. To sneak out the back door, get out of a place or business in a disgraceful way.

“Como sigan comportandose asi, van a salir por la ventana.”

“Because you kept acting like that, you will end up leaving in disgrace.”

3 years ago

Echar fuego por los ojos

To be firey-eyed. To show fury or anger

“No le hables; parece que echa fugeo por los jhos porque tuvo un problema con la jefe.”

“Don’t talk to her; it seems she’s all steamed up because the had a problem with the boss.”3 years ago

gallinazo

Womanizer; sleeping around

“Pedro todivia sigue siendo un gallinazo a pesar de su avanzada edad.”

“Pedro still sleeps around in spite of his advanced age.”

“Asi se hace, Pedro! Chocala!” (Figure that one out yourselves ☺) 3 years ago

Rojo vivo

Red hot. Passions.

“Esta mujer me tiene al rojo vivo!”

“That woman has me red hot!”3 years ago

Palanca

A bar or lever. Someone who helps someone, uses his or her influence to their benefit.

“Tiene muy buenas palancas; por eso consiguio el tarabajo.“

“He has bey influential friends; that is how he got the job.”

3 years ago

Huir del fuego y caer en las brasas

To flee the fire and fall into the coals. To go from the frying pan into the fire.

“Antonio huyo del fuego y cayo en las brazas cuando se enamoror de la novia de su amigo.”

“Antonio went from the frying pan int the fire when he fell in love with his friend’s girlfriend.”

3 years ago

Huevon, la huevona

Big egg, meaning with large, heavy testicles. Lazy, useless person, lazy bum (I’m not sure how having large testicles leads to the idea that one is a lazy bum, but that’s the slang.)

“Rolando es un huevon; no le gusta trabajar>”

“Rolando is very lazy; he doesn’t like to work.”3 years ago

suerta de la olla

To the luck of the pot. Whatever is found in the fridge or wherever. Potluck.

“Te invitamos a comer a la suerte de la olla.”

“We invite you over to eat potluck.”

3 years ago

Pendejo

Pubic hair. Asshole, jerk, idiot, damned stupid.

“No quiero escucharte; eres un pendejo!”

“I don’t want to listen to you; you’re a damned jerk!”

3 years ago

Peor es chili y agua lejos

Worse is chili and water far away. Things could be worse.

“Pues anque la webcam no funciona por lo menos tenemos conexion a la Red. Peor es chili y agua lejos.”

“Well, althought the webcam isn’t working at least we have an internet connection. Things could be worse.”

3 years ago

Mas o menos

More or less, okay (I’ve also heard this described as “uno, dos, being used the same way)

“Como estan tus padres?” “Mas o menos.”

“How are your parents?” “Okay.”3 years ago

Comer en el mismo plato

To eat out of the same plate. Te be bosom buddies, on very friendly terms. (Definitely can have fun with this one)

“Julio y Berta comen en el mismo plato.”

“Julio and Berta are bosom buddies.”

3 years ago

No comerse una rosca”

“To not eat a doughnut”, to strike out with the opposite sex, not find anyone to pick up.

“Fui a la discoteca pero no me comi una rosca.”

“I went to the disco but I wasn’t able to hook up with any girls (guys).”

3 years ago

Bullin

A hotel or apartment where people go to have sex (this one has to come up in conversation!)

“Oscar y sus hermanos tienen un bullin y alli van con sus novias o amantes a acostarse.”

“Oscar and his brothers have an apartment and they go there with their girlfriends or lovers to have sex.”

3 years ago

Burdel

A mess.

“Por favor, muschachos, limpien el cucino; esto es un burdel.”

“Please, guys, clean up the kitchen; this is a mess.”_

3 years ago

Echar madres

“To throw mothers”, to bitch out, curse, swear at.

“Federico echaba madres porque estaba my enojado con su hermano.”

“Federico ws swearing because he was very angry at his brother.”3 years ago

“Primo/a”

Means “cousin” or refers to a naive person, a hick.

“Pobre Martin. Es un primo y siempre lo estafan.”

“Poor Martin. He’s a poor hick and they always cheat him.”

3 years ago

“No casarse con nadie”

To not marry anyone, to keep one’s own opinions or attitudes independently, not take sides.

“Escurche la opinion des todos, pero no me case con nadie. Primero tengo que pensar.”

“I listened to everyone’s opinions, but I didn’t take sides. First I need to think.”3 years ago

“Valer papas”

To be worth potatoes. To be worthless, or worth beans.

“Esta cuchillo vale papas!”

“This knife is worthless! (worth potatoes)”

3 years ago

“Valer la pena”

To be worthwhile.

“Valio la pena sacar mi titulo.”

“It was worthwile getting my degree.”

3 years ago

“Salvar por un pelo”
to be saved by a hair, escape by a hair, to be saved by the bell
Use when: Someone narrowly avoids trouble or danger
“Estaba casi muerto. Fue salvado por un pelo.”

“He was nearly killed. He was saved by a hair.”

_{May 18: A Taliban bullet shatters a wall an inch from face of U.S. Marine Sgt. William O. Bee from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit during firefight in Afghanistan.}3 years ago

“Piquet”
a shot of alcohol put in coffee
Use when: It looks like it is going to be a particularly bad Monday
“Preparame, por favor, un cafe con piquete.”

“Please make me a coffe with a shot of alcohol.”3 years ago

“Pillo(-a)”
Sharp, on the ball, clever
Use when: Describing someone smart or clever, someone who “gets it”.
“Esta chica es muy pilla y a todos cae muy simpatica.”

“This girl is very clever and everyone thinks she’s really nice.”3 years ago

“Tarado (-a)”
foolish, stupid
Use when: Describing someone foolish or dumb
”?Como puedes estar enamorada de ese tarado?”

“How can you be in love with that fool?”

_{Hmmm, “Tarado” is pretty close to “Tarrador”}3 years ago

“Menearse”
to get moving, to get a move on
Use when: There is a need to hurry things up
“Meneate, qe no quiero llegar tarde.”

“Get a move on because I don’t want to be late.”

_{Photo is Madai Perez, first Spanish speaking woman to break the 2:23-hour barrier in a marathon.}3 years ago

“Buscapleitos”
Troublemaker
Use when: Someone is stirring up bad feelings or negativity
“Ese Buscapleitos me tiene hasta lo coronilla!”

“I’ve had it up to here with that troublemaker!”3 years ago

“Estoy a sus ordenes”
I am with you, I feel for you
Use when: Sharing empathy or compassion
“Que todos tenemos que trabajar hasta tarde, estoy a sus ordenes.”

“We all have to work late, I know how you feel.”3 years ago

“Pelotas”
(in balls) bare-assed, naked
Use when: Well, when someone is bare-assed naked
“Toca la puerta antes de entrar, que a don Bartolo le gusta andar en pelotas por la casa”

“Knock on the door before you go in, Don Bartolo likes to go around the house naked.”3 years ago