Spanish Idioms Quiz to Test Your Knowledge of Conversational Spanish

Spanish idioms can add color or expression to your speech and can convey ideas or thoughts that go beyond textbook learning and make your conversations more natural and authentic. Complete this quiz to see how many idioms you recognize and then grade your knowledge using the answer key below. Literal translations have even been included in the answer key for your information and amusement.

1. ir a donde la reina va sola

a. turn in for the night
b. hit the hay
c. out of the blue
d. powder one's nose

2. por los pelos

a. on pins and needles
b. too close for comfort
c. by the skin of our teeth
d. on a wing and a prayer

3. dar en el clavo

a. hit the nail on the head
b. to cut to the chase
c. spitting image
d. to kill time

4. el burro hablando de orejas

a. curiosity killed the cat
b. devil's advocate
c. the pot calling the kettle black
d. on the same page

5. lo bueno esta por venir

a. the best has yet to come
b. between a rock and a hard place
c. out on a limb
d. back to square one

6. de tal palo, tal astilla

a. let sleeping dogs lie
b. like a chicken with its head cut off
c. smell a rat
d. like father, like son

7. tener mas lana que un borrego

a. high on the hog
b. to have money to burn
c. to cost an arm and a leg
d. from rags to riches

8. de uvas a peras

a. a piece of cake
b. once in a blue moon
c. when pigs fly
d. apple of my eye

9. perder los estribos

a. the last straw
b. all bark and no bite
c. to fly off the handle
d. chip on your shoulder

10. cada cual tiene su manera de matar pulgas

a. all in the same boat
b. there's more than one way to skin a cat
c. a taste of your own medicine
d. it's a toss up

11. ser un pedazo de pan

a. to have a heart of gold
b. to bite off more than you can chew
c. to wear your heart on your sleeve
d. to go the extra mile

12. levantarse con el pie izquierdo

a. barking up the wrong tree
b. look before you leap
c. to get up on the wrong side of the bed
d. go out on a limb

13. estar en la boca del lobo

a. to cry wolf
b. dark horse
c. an axe to grind
d. to be in dire straits

14. andar pisando huevos

a. to put all your eggs in one basket
b. walking on eggshells
c. save a nest egg
d. add fuel to the fire

15. te estoy tomando el pelo

a. I'm just pulling your leg
b. cost an arm and a leg
c. give him the slip
d. head over heels

ANSWERS:

1. d "powder one's nose" Literal translation: to go where the queen goes alone
2. c "by the skin of our teeth" Literal translation: by the hairs
3. a "hit the nail on the head" Literal translation: strike on the nail
4. c "the pot calling the kettle black" Literal translation: the donkey talking about ears
5. a "the best has yet to come" Literal translation: the good is to come
6. d "like father, like son" Literal translation: from such a stick, such a splinter
7. b "to have money to burn" Literal translation: to have more wool than a lamb
8. b "once in a blue moon" Literal translation: from grapes to pears
9. c "to fly off the handle" Literal translation: to lose the stirrups
10. b "there's more than one way to skin a cat" Literal translation: everyone has their own way to kill fleas
11. a "to have a heart of gold" Literal translation: to be a piece of bread
12. c "to get up on the wrong side of the bed" Literal translation: to get up with the left foot
13. d "to be in dire straits" Literal translation: to be in the wolf's mouth
14. b "walking on eggshells" Literal translation: to walk stepping on eggs
15. a "I'm just pulling your leg" Literal translation: I am taking your hair

Get all 15 right? You're a master of the Spanish language!
Get 11-14 right? Not bad at all! A little more work and nothing will get past you.
Get 6-10 right? Valiant effort! Practice makes perfect when it comes to learning idioms, so keep up the good work.
Get 3-5 right? A good start! Continue learning more basic Spanish idioms and you will shine in no time.
Get 0-2 right? We all started at the beginning at some point. Good luck on your journey discovering the colorful language that is Spanish!

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