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Spanish Food Idioms
Learning Spanish food idioms is a fun and fascinating way to learn more about the Spanish language and culture. Whether you’re a language learner or simply curious about Spanish culture, this article is sure to satisfy your appetite for knowledge. So grab a snack, sit back, and join us as we feast on these delicious Spanish food idioms.
Mandar a freír espárragos (to tell someone to go fly a kite)
Tenía mucho trabajo y me sentía agobiada. Cuando les pedí ayuda a mis hermanos, se rieron de mí y me mandaron a freír espárragos.
I was very busy and I felt overwhelmed. When I asked my brothers for help, they laughed at me and told me to go fly a kite.
Es tan aburrido y tan sexista en sus comentarios que, al final, todo el mundo lo manda a freír espárragos.
He’s so boring and so sexist in his comments that, in the end, everybody tells him to go fly a kite.
Importar un pepino (not to give a damn)
En el trabajo, mi jefa está amenazando con un cambio de horario para todos los trabajadores, pero a mí me importa un pepino, ¡yo ya me voy!
At work, my boss is warning everyone that there will be a change in everyone’s schedule, but I do not give a damn; I’m leaving!
Estos muchachos viven en su mundo; les importa un pepino la inmigración, el racismo, la pobreza… solo piensan en qué harán el fin de semana.
These kids live in their own world; they don’t give a damn about immigration, racism, poverty… they just think about what they will do on the weekend.
Hacer picadillo (to make mincemeat of)
La semana pasada fuimos a ver jugar a mi hermano. Su equipo jugó bien pero aun así el otro equipo los hizo picadillo.
Last week we went to see my brother play. His team played well but the other team still made mincemeat of them.
El traficante de drogas nos amenazó y nos dijo que, si íbamos a la policía, nos haría picadillo.
The drug dealer threatened us and told us that, if we went to the police, he would make mincemeat of us.
Hecho una sopa (soaked to the skin)
Llovía a cántaros cuando iba a la escuela. Llegué hecha una sopa y ahora creo que me he resfriado.
It was raining heavily when I went to school. I was soaked to the skin when I got there, and now I think I have a cold.
Con esta lluvia, el mendigo que vemos todos los días en el parque estará hecho una sopa si no ha encontrado refugio.
With this rain, the beggar we see everyday in the park will be soaked to the skin if he hasn’t found a shelter.
Exercises
There are many idioms in Spanish. You are surely aware of the importance of knowing about and mastering them in order to communicate in Spanish. In this article, we have just seen four common Spanish food idioms. Now let’s practice them with the following exercises.