Today we are going to learn some Spanish idioms with accessories. An idiom does not always mean the same thing when translated into another language, so let’s have a look at these three Spanish idioms with accessories to learn when they can be used in your conversations.

Accessories in Spanish

First of all, let’s review some vocabulary related to accessories. We have also included the vocabulary for shoes.

Calzado (footwear)

  • los zapatos (shoes)
  • las zapatillas (slippers)
    • In Mexico, las pantuflas is used instead.
  • las zapatillas de deporte (sneakers)
    • In Mexico, los tenis is used instead.
  • las sandalias (sandals)
  • las chanclas (flip flops)
  • las botas (boots)
  • los botines (ankle boots)
  • las alpargatas (espadrilles)

Complementos or accesorios (accessories)

In Spanish, you can use the words complemento or accesorio to refer to any accessory. Let’s see some of the most popular ones.

  • la corbata (tie)
  • la pajarita (bow tie)
    • In Mexico, la corbata de moño is used instead.
  • el cinturón (bell)
  • las joyas (jewelry)
  • el collar (necklace)
  • el anillo (ring)
  • los pendientes (earrings)
    • In Mexico, los aretes is used instead.
  • el sombrero (hat)
  • la boina (beret)
  • la gorra (cap)
    • In Mexico, la cachucha is used instead.
  • las gafas (glasses)
    • In Mexico, los lentes is used instead.
  • las gafas de sol (sunglasses)
    • In Mexico, los lentes de sol is used instead.

Spanish Idioms with Accessories

Now that we have reviewed some vocabulary related to the topic, let’s learn some Spanish idioms with accessories.

Apretarse el cinturón (to tighten one’s belt)

There are many Spanish idioms with accessories or clothes and the first one has an equivalent in English. Apretarse el cinturón means to tighten one’s belt.

Tenemos cuatro hijos y en marzo vamos a tener gemelos. Tendremos que apretarnos el cinturón, pero nos gusta la idea de tener una familia grande.

We have four kids and we’re going to have twins in March. We’ll have to tighten our belts, but we like the idea of having a big family.

Mi madre ha perdido su trabajo y yo aún estoy en la universidad. Trabajo algunas horas para tener dinero extra, pero no es igual que antes. Tenemos que apretarnos el cinturón.

My mom has lost her job and I’m still in university. I do work some hours to have some extra money, but it’s not like before. We have to tighten our belt.

Colgar las botas (to hang up one’s hat)

Colgar las botas means to hang up one’s hat. This idiom comes from soccer. When players retire from soccer, they hang up their shoes in the locker room. Now this idiom is used in any situation when a person is going to retire or going to leave their job. In Mexico, they say colgar los tenis.

Después de diez años de futbolista en los mejores equipos del mundo, decidió que era hora de colgar las botas y dedicarse a su familia. (ES)

Después de diez años de futbolista en los mejores equipos del mundo, decidió que era hora de colgar los tenis y dedicarse a su familia. (MX)

After ten years as a soccer player for the best teams in the world, he decided it was time to hang up his hat and devote himself to his family.

Ha sido una triste noticia, pero la mejor atleta de todos los tiempos ha decidido colgar las botas. Sus problemas familiares no han ayudado, y va a dejar de competir la próxima semana. (ES)

Ha sido una triste noticia, pero la mejor atleta de todos los tiempos ha decidido colgar los tenis. Sus problemas familiares no han ayudado, y va a dejar de competir la próxima semana. (MX)

The news was sad, but the best athlete of all time decided to hang up her hat. Her family problems haven’t helped, and she’s going to stop competing next week.

Quitarse el sombrero (to take off one’s hat)

Let’s finish today’s Spanish idioms with accessories with quitarse el sombrero (to take off one’s hat), which is mainly used with the preposition ante.

Me gustó mucho el concierto de ayer. Fue increíble. Me quito el sombrero ante vosotros.

I really liked yesterday’s concert. It was amazing. I take my hat off to you.

No hubo ninguna crítica al proyecto y nuestros compañeros se quitaron el sombrero ante un buen trabajo.

There was not any critic to the project and our colleagues took off their hat to a good job.

Exercises

You can do the following exercises to practice the Spanish idioms with accessories from this article.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Categorized in:

Idioms and Phrases