Popular Sayings (Meaning and Explanation)

We tell you what a popular saying is and we explain the meaning of examples from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and more.

As the popular saying indicates, a man has an ace up his sleeve, that is, an unexpected resource. — Popular sayings should be understood figuratively.

What is a popular saying?

A popular saying It is a common and traditional phrase, which is transmitted orally from generation to generation, and which has a figurative meaning handled by the members of a certain linguistic community, such as the citizens of a country or the speakers of a language. Thus, for example, there are sayings specific to a Spanish-speaking nation, such as Spain, while others are shared by all speakers of the Spanish language in the world.

The sayings have a specific meaning, but figurative, that is, it does not coincide with the literal meaning of its expression. Even so, It is not necessary to know the origin of an expression or its original meaning to know its meaning and be able to use it.

For example, the saying “singing to someone's forty” is equivalent to telling someone some painful truths or putting them in their place, but it refers to a song typical of the Spanish card game known as “tute” or “guiñote”, in which that forty points are obtained by showing others that you have the king and another figure of the appropriate suit (or pint).

In some contexts, the word “proverb” is used as a synonym for “said”. However, these are two different forms of expression: the proverb tends towards musicality and is usually used in a conventional way, without modification, while the sayings are eminently oral and lack an established form, being limited to being verbal locutions. Nor should they be confused with the proverb, which is literary in nature and typical of a more literate tradition, such as the biblical one.

The following 50 examples of popular sayings from the Spanish language will illustrate this difference:

“Don't give in”. It refers to someone who does not give in to his opinions or perspectives, nor is he able to compromise with others, but rather remains firm in his positions. For example: “Martha does not give his arm to twist in no discussion.”
“Have an ace up your sleeve”. It refers to someone who has a hidden resource, plan or strategy that will give them an advantage in a given situation. It comes from the game of poker, in which cheaters kept an ace card (the most valuable) up their sleeve to add it to their hand without the rest noticing. For example: “The government always has an ace up his sleeve”.
“Being about to throw in the towel”. It refers to someone who is close to giving up or giving up something they have fought for. The metaphor comes from boxing, since a fighter's trainer could throw his towel on the canvas to express his side's surrender. For example: “My business is going badly, we are about to throw in the towel”.
“Having someone on the ropes”. It refers to someone having another person cornered or trapped, figuratively. In other words, it leaves him no escape. It is also a metaphor for boxing, since the ring is usually surrounded by rubber ropes. For example: “The police have the criminals against the ropes”.
“Putting the cards on the table”. It refers to telling the truth and being open and honest about something, making your intentions and thoughts clear. It is a metaphor for the card game. For example: “I want let's put the cards on the table in our relationship, Juana.”
“Don't give up on the ball”. It refers to someone who continually fails despite their efforts, or who does not find an appropriate strategy for what they propose. It is a metaphor from soccer, a sport in which the ball is hit with the foot. For example: “Peter was fired from work again, the poor guy can't stand the ball”.
“Beat the copper ”. It refers to working hard, that is, putting in a lot of effort, or to places where a large amount of money or commercial transactions are moved. It comes from the ancient crafts of metallurgy, in which copper was hit with a hammer to give it its desired shape. For example: “In the center of the city is where copper is beaten”.
“Gild the pill”. It refers to softening or making a truth or information more palatable to someone, often for selfish or exploitative purposes. It comes from the custom of ancient apothecaries of coating pills with different substances to make it easier for the patient to swallow them. For example: “Please tell me the truth, I didn't take the pill anymore”.
“Don't give a damn”. It refers to not making even the slightest effort when it comes to fulfilling one's obligations, that is, not working. It comes from ancient boats that were propelled by long poles that touched the bottom. For example: “Nothing is progressing in the ministry, the officials they don't give a damn”.
“Getting into an eleven-hour shirt”. It refers to getting into trouble or into a complicated situation for which you do not have the necessary resources. Its origin dates back to the ancient custom of passing a newly adopted child through the long sleeve of a shirt, as a ritual that symbolized rebirth. For example: “When you signed that contract you got into eleven rods shirt”.
“Pick up the gauntlet”. It refers to accepting a challenge or assuming a commitment in a dignified manner, especially in the face of a competitor or third-party evaluation. It comes from the ancient custom of challenging someone to a duel by throwing a glove on the ground or slapping him with it: the challenged person accepted the duel by picking up the glove. For example: “We challenged the opposing team to score just one goal, and they they picked up the gauntlet”.
“Amend the plan”. It refers to correcting a previously committed error, especially related to a third party. It comes from the work of the teacher, who corrected the sheet of paper (the sheet) where the students wrote. For example: “Yesterday I apologized to María, I want amend the plan with her.”
“Tear the garments”. It refers to someone making great public gestures of pain, discomfort or regret, usually in response to an event that could be considered minor or not so important. It comes from the custom of ancient people to tear their clothing as a sign of mourning. For example: “Peter is very dramatic, tears his clothes throughout”.
“Leaving in the lurch”. It refers to abandoning another in a precarious, difficult situation or in the face of an adversary. It comes from the times when cities were surrounded by palisades or defensive walls, where soldiers settled to repel the invading enemy. When the army retreated into the city, whoever was left in the lurch was left to their own devices. For example: “To Martín his companions they left him in the lurchthe poor guy had to walk home.”
“Casting the dead on someone”. It refers to blaming another person, who therefore, figuratively, “carries the dead.” For example: “Someone stole the jewelry and they threw him dead to the watchman.”
“Being the scapegoat”. It refers to a person who sacrifices himself for others, carrying the guilt that belongs to the entire group, or the guilt of others with which he has nothing to do. The expression comes from the religious sacrifices of antiquity, in which a lamb was sacrificed to purge the sins of the entire society. For example: “The Jews They were the scapegoat of the Nazis.”
“Make a Solomonic decision”. It refers to a decision, resolution or sentence made in a fair and wise manner, so that all parties involved are at least partially satisfied. It comes from biblical anecdotes about the Israeli king Solomon, who had to legislate on very complicated matters. For example: “The international court made a Solomonic decision: that both countries share the disputed territory.”
“Save by the skin of your teeth”. It refers to a situation from which someone narrowly escapes, miraculously. For example: “A huge dog was chasing him, but he narrowly saved”.
“Put your hand in the fire”. It refers to trusting someone so much that you are willing to pledge your own word on their behalf. It comes from the medieval Christian era, in which many trials required a demonstration of truth by the person being judged, for example, taking hot embers with his bare hand, because if what he swore was true, God would protect his hand from all damage. For example: “I'm sure my brother didn't break the stained glass window, I put my hands on the fire for him”.
“Give it away”. It refers to failing with a certain matter or ruining it in a catastrophic way. The expression comes from ancient maritime slang, in which it meant “to shipwreck a boat.” For example: “With the new measures, the economy will go to waste”.
“Go full steam ahead”. It refers to moving forward (literally or figuratively) at full speed: it may be that a project moves quickly, or that a moving vehicle does so. There is also “full gas”, “full sail”, “full steam” and “full steam”, with the same meaning. For example: “University reforms are advancing at full speed”.
“Pulled by the hair”. It refers to something being particularly implausible, far-fetched or impossible in its context. It is a variant of another saying: “brought by the hair”, which means that something is brought from outside its context, that is, it enters by someone's will and not naturally. In the case of “pulled by the hair”, it retains this meaning, to say that something is inappropriate, far-fetched, that does not fit with the rest. For example: “That last scene of the movie was a bit pulled by the hairnothing credible.”
“Go strong”. It means that something is going extremely well. It is usually used to refer to things in general, although it comes from nautical slang, from the times when the wind pushed the boats. For example: “The studies are going smooth sailing“I think I will graduate with honors.”
“Being cannon fodder”. It refers to someone being used to confront a danger or risk, knowing that their chances of success are low, but in order to buy time. In other words, someone is being sacrificed in a Machiavellian way. It comes from war slang: the cannon fodder were the soldiers who marched at the forefront and were the first to receive the cannon shots. For example: “Those soldiers were cannon fodder”.
“Send someone to hell”. It refers to breaking off relations with someone. In this case, the baton was an instrument used in the militia to tie down tents and also to punish lazy or disobedient soldiers. For example: “I got tired of my boyfriend's rudeness, I I sent to hell”.
“Enter or start on the right foot”. It refers to starting a project, activity, relationship or period with good luck or in a good way. For example: “Julián entered university with the right foothe got a 10 on his first exam.”
“Do something in a jiffy”. It refers to doing something very quickly, in a short time, almost immediately. It comes from religious Latin, specifically from the last part of the prayer recited when crossing oneself: in nomine patri et filii et spiriti sancti, amen. The words sancti amen They became “in no time.” For example: “Don't worry, I will have that task ready.” in a jiffy”.
“Turn a blind eye”. It refers to ignoring something that is known to be controversial or complicated, that is, pretending that nothing has been seen. For example: “The police were at the scene of the assault, but turned a blind eye while it was happening.”
“Give the Judas kiss”. It refers to feigning affection or closeness while betraying the person you are figuratively kissing. It refers to the kiss with which Judas Iscariot identifies Jesus of Nazareth for the Roman authorities, so that they can arrest him. For example: “While gave him the Judas kisshis wife corresponded with another person.”
“Putting your finger into the sore spot.” It refers to mentioning or alluding to a topic that causes another person pain or discomfort. It refers to the wounds of Jesus Christ, wounds he received during his crucifixion. For example: “You should stop asking me about her, you are putting your finger in the wound”.
“Cry crocodile tears”. It refers to feigning vulnerability or sadness, especially with the intention of making the other person lower their guard or providing comfort, all for selfish purposes. The saying comes from the fact that crocodiles, important predators, cannot cry, and whoever approaches them to comfort them will surely become their dinner. For example: “Don't believe your ex's regret, those They are crocodile tears”.
“Open Pandora's Box”. It refers to triggering, accidentally, through naivety or clumsiness, a series of problems, evils or catastrophes that are then impossible to remedy. It makes a direct allusion to the Greek myth of Pandora and the amphora in which the virtues of the human being (or the evils of the world, depending on the version) were contained. For example: “When we bought that house, without knowing it we open Pandora's box”.
“Exit”. It refers to remaining silent, going unnoticed or hiding, especially in an uncomfortable or challenging situation. The term comes from the theatrical world: it means that a character disappears from the scene. For example: “When outraged managers asked who was responsible, the department head he left”.
“To put off something”. It refers to delaying, postponing or delaying some obligation or event for whatever reasons. It comes from the bullfighting world, where the bullfighter with a “long throw” deceives the bull and sends it elsewhere. For example: “You shouldn't give it so much time to that shoulder operation.”
“Be neither chicha nor lemonade”. It refers to the fact that someone or something is difficult to determine, especially in a context in which one must choose a side, or in which clarity and transparency is required. For example: “Some politicians They are neither chicha nor lemonade“You don't know what your ideology is.”
“Not being a gold coin”. It refers to the fact that no one can please everyone all the time, like a gold coin would, because everyone would love it. For example: “Do your parents dislike me? No way, I'm not a gold coin either”.
“Do something rain, shine or shine”. It refers to doing something against any type of adversity, whatever the conditions. For example: “I want you to come home at twelve, rain, shine or lightning”.
“From a drawer”. It refers to that which was already prepared for any occasion, that is useful for anything or that is common sense, that is, it is non-specific, obvious or does not require much debate. Its origin dates back to the times of linotypists, who had ready-made phrases in their drawers for various occasions. For example: “If you don't play the lottery you won't win it, that's from a drawer”.
“Doing something without rhyme or reason”. It refers to doing something without order or concert, that is, in a disorderly, chaotic, erratic manner. It alludes to the musical qualities of tone (ton) and sound (are). For example: “Felipe is putting together the puzzle without rhyme or reason”.
“There is no your aunt.”. It refers to the fact that there are no excuses or possible allegations to avoid responsibility or the consequences of something that was done or not done. For example: “Without a passport you don't get on the plane, and in that case there is no your aunt”.
“Taken with a grain of salt”. It refers to an argument, allegation or statement that is made with resentment, with great care or fearing that it may be associated with other similar ideas, so it is taken “with a grain of salt” (so as not to get one's fingers dirty). For example: “I don't know where I heard the rumor, so you must take it with a grain of salt”.
“Put a cat in the bag”. It refers to swindling, swindling, that is, falsifying something or convincing someone that one thing is another, generally of more value. For example: “We ordered the Patagonian lamb at a luxury restaurant, but I suspect that they gave us a cat for a hare”.
“Pay for the broken dishes”. It refers to someone facing the responsibilities or blame for the actions of another or others. For example: “Every time my parents argued, my older brother would say something and end up paying the price”.
“Being a useful fool”. It refers to being useful to other people without even suspecting it and suffering some type of harm or consequences. That is, the person was manipulated by third parties. For example: “Those anti-ecologist militants are the useful fools of the oil companies.
“Conspicuous by its absence.” It refers to someone or something that does not appear when expected, at an important moment or event. For example: “We were waiting for the teacher all morning, but conspicuous by its absence”.
“Taking a stab in the back”. It refers to deceiving and betraying someone, acting deviously and abusing their trust to harm them. The saying refers to a Spanish family, the Trapera, mortal enemies of the Aranda in the city of Úbeda, Jaén, in the 14th century. The young Juan Aranda was killed by a Trapera stab during the bishop's local celebration. For example: “Julio and I were friends, until he stabbed me in the back in the office.”
“Treat with kid gloves”. It refers to handling a situation or topic with extreme delicacy and care, either because it is fragile or because it is dangerous. For example: “To the delegates of that country they were treated with silk gloves at the international summit.”
“Have a left hand”. It refers to a person having a talent for diplomacy or skillfully handling complicated situations. This saying is based on the traditional idea that the left hand (left-handed) is devious and deals with secretive matters, while the right is frontal and sincere. For example: “To succeed in the minefield of politics you need have a lot of left hand”.
“Do not stitch without thread”. It refers to someone not doing something or making a decision if there is no type of gain for them. It refers to the textile trade. For example: “In exchange for their help, they asked us for a favor for tomorrow; those people does not stitch without thread”.
“Be a viva la pepa”. It refers to someone who takes things very lightly or who does not reflect on their decisions with the severity they should. It comes from the years of the Constitution of Cádiz, nicknamed “la pepa”, since it was sanctioned on the day of San José (“Pepe”) in 1812. For example: “Your friends they are some viva la pepa“They spend all day doing nothing.”
“Being between a rock and a hard place”. It refers to not having alternatives or escapes, and whatever is decided, one cannot agree. For example: “I was invited to two friends' parties, I'm between a rock and a hard place”.
“Doing something on a whim”. It refers to doing something clumsily, hastily and without thinking about the consequences. Its origin is attributed to the woodcutters of yesteryear, who “trochaban” (chopped) and “chopped” the trees. For example: “The bricklayers are building that wall by and by“I wouldn't be surprised if it collapsed later.”
“Pull your heart out”. It refers to making an effort to overcome adversity or achieve a triumph that requires a lot of sacrifice. For example: “The boy he took heart and he walked all night with his broken shoes.”
“Having a bad temper”. It refers to someone who is very susceptible and irritable, that is, who gets angry easily. There is a variant that says “with few fleas.” For example: “Don't mess with Miguel, he's bad tempered”.

Popular Mexican sayings

Among the best-known popular Mexican sayings are:

“Do what the wind does to Juárez”. It refers to the fact that a situation does not affect someone's mood, or does not have observable consequences on something. It alludes to the highly slicked hairstyle of the politician and jurist Benito Juárez (1806-1872). For example: “I patted him several times to wake him up, but They did what the wind did to Juárez”.
“Being giving birth to chayotes”. It refers to going through a very difficult or complicated situation (chayotes are fruits with thorns). For example: “Yesterday they fired me from work and now I'm giving birth to chayotes”.
“Have a coyotito”. It refers to taking a nap or a break. It refers to the canids common in the desert region of northern Mexico, which sleep during moments of high sun. For example: “I'll come back soon, I'm going to give me a coyotito”.
“Put on Puebla”. It refers to selflessly sharing with another what you have (“mocharse” in popular slang), be it money, food or something else. The expression refers to the shirt of the soccer team of the city of Puebla, which has a blue stripe dividing it in the middle, that is, “mochada” (cut in half). For example: “I don't have the money to pay to enter the club, can I?”you wear the one from Puebla?”
“Make tamales a goat”. It refers to deceiving the other, equivalent to “taking the bait,” since tamales are usually made from beef or pork, meats that are more expensive and noble than goat. For example: “If we are careless, the government makes tamales goats”.

Popular Colombian sayings

Among the best-known popular Colombian sayings are:

“Hang the guayos”. It refers to dying. For example: “Grandpa is about to hang the guayos”.
“Talk up your sleeve”. It refers to someone who talks too much. For example: “I don't know how to say goodbye, my mother talks up to his elbows”.
“Make a cow”. It refers to raising money among the members of a group, to face an expense together. For example: “Let's make a cow to rent a bus and we go to the coast.”
“Be swallowed”. It refers to being deeply in love with someone. For example: “Julian is very swallowed from Katia.”
“Speaking through the mouth of a saint”. It refers to telling a great truth or expressing something that has no possible discussion or debate, which is why it is compared to a sentence from a saint. For example: “When she gets angry, my mother always speak through the mouth of a saint”.

Popular Argentine sayings

Among the best-known popular Argentine sayings are:

“Put on your cap”. It refers to calling for order or seriousness in the middle of a relaxed situation, acting as a police officer or security guard. For example: “We were watching the game in the office until the boss he put on his cap”.
“Cut someone's face off”. It refers to ignoring, failing to attend to or rejecting someone, especially in the emotional context. For example: “We were chatting about the best and he cut my face”.
“Be up to your guns”. It refers to being overwhelmed, being unable to handle the situation. It can be used both in a work context and in a love context. For example: “I can't go today, I'm up to the hands at work”.
“Put on your shirt”. It refers to joining the team, real or imaginary, that is, becoming infected with the spirit of the group, especially when it comes to making an effort. For example: “Philip he put on his shirt and he worked all weekend.”
“Save the potatoes.” It refers to helping or collaborating with another who is in trouble or in a delicate or difficult situation. The phrase refers to cases in which, while cooking the potatoes, the cook was distracted and another person rescued them from the fire so that they would not burn. For example: “Thank you for helping me finish the procedure, I you saved the potatoes”.