In this article, we will show some frequently used Spanish set phrases or idioms with cabeza (head). This word has many meanings. For example, it could refer to the top part of your body or to a leader. Let’s see what these five idioms with cabeza mean.

Venir a la cabeza (to spring to mind)

Let’s start today’s idioms with cabeza with venir a la cabeza, which means to spring to mind or to come to mind.

Me ha venido a la cabeza cómo solucionar esto. ¿Quieres oírme?

It has just sprung to mind how to solve this. Do you want to hear me?

En casa no he visto la solución. Pero luego, en el campus me ha venido a la cabeza cómo hacerlo.

At home I couldn’t see a solution. But afterward, in the campus, it has sprung to my mind how to do it.

De pies a cabeza (from head to foot)

De pies a cabeza means from head to food.

Tenemos que cambiarnos de ropa. Está lloviendo y estamos mojados de pies a cabeza.

We have to change our clothes. It’s raining and we’re soaked from head to foot.

Salí de mi habitación vestida de novia y mi familia me cubrió de pétalos de rosa de pies a cabeza.

I left my room in my wedding gown, and my family covered me in rose petals from head to foot.

No tener ni pies ni cabeza (to make no sense)

Another expression is no tener ni pies ni cabeza, which means to make no sense.

Después del accidente, intentas liar al policía, pero tu historia no tiene ni pies ni cabeza.

After the accident, you try to mingle the policeman, but your story makes no sense.

No tiene ni pies ni cabeza; es imposible estar en Madrid y, diez minutos después, en Barcelona.

That makes no sense. It is impossible to be in Madrid and, ten minutes later, to be in Barcelona.

Subirle a la cabeza (to go to one’s head)

The following two idioms with cabeza are very similar. The phrase subirle a la cabeza means to go to one’s head.

Cuando el éxito se te sube a la cabeza, es difícil tener una vida normal.

When success goes to your head, it is hard to lead a normal life.

Ya no somos amigos. Desde que se hizo famoso, es insoportable. La fama se le ha subido a la cabeza.

We aren’t friends anymore. Since he became famous, he’s unbearable. Fame has got to his head.

Subírsele los humos a la cabeza (to put on airs)

Let’s finish the idioms with cabeza with subírsele los humos a la cabeza, which means to put on airs or to feel superior.

Cuando conoce a un famoso, se le suben los humos a la cabeza y se comporta como una estrella de cine.

When she meets a celebrity, she puts on airs and she behaves like a movie star.

Ya no lo reconozco. Ahora que se ha casado con esta mujer tan rica, se le han subido los humos a la cabeza.

I don’t recognize him. Now that he has married a rich woman, he puts on airs.

Exercises

Let’s do the following exercises to practice these Spanish idioms with cabeza. In our blog, you can also find idioms with other body parts (cara, oídos, ojos, pelo…).

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Categorized in:

Idioms and Phrases