Welcome to our blog post about Cuban idioms! Today, we’re exploring phrases used in Cuba that might sound strange at first but have unique meanings. Even kids can understand how these fun expressions work in everyday language.
Cuban Idioms
Here are 20 Cuban idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. Comerse un cable
Meaning: To be very broke
Example: He’s eating a cable this month.
2. Estar en la luna
Meaning: To be distracted
Example: She’s always on the moon in class.
3. Meter la pata
Meaning: To make a mistake
Example: He really put his foot in it today.
4. No tener pelos en la lengua
Meaning: To speak frankly
Example: He has no hair on his tongue.
5. Tirar la casa por la ventana
Meaning: To spare no expense
Example: They threw the house out the window for the wedding.
6. Armarse la gorda
Meaning: A big fuss is made
Example: A big one was assembled at the meeting.
7. Buscarle la quinta pata al gato
Meaning: To complicate things
Example: Stop looking for the cat’s fifth leg.
8. Caerse de la nube
Meaning: To be disillusioned
Example: He fell off the cloud with that news.
9. Dar en el clavo
Meaning: To hit the nail on the head
Example: You nailed it with your guess.
10. Echar agua al mar
Meaning: To do something pointless
Example: That’s like pouring water into the sea.
11. Hacerse el sueco
Meaning: To play dumb
Example: He’s playing the Swede again.
12. Ir al grano
Meaning: To get to the point
Example: Let’s go to the grain and stop rambling.
13. Más claro, échale agua
Meaning: To make something clear
Example: More clear, just add water!
14. No dar pie con bola
Meaning: To be confused
Example: He can’t get a foot with a ball today.
15. Poner los puntos sobre las íes
Meaning: To make things clear
Example: She puts the dots over the i’s.
16. Quedarse de piedra
Meaning: To be stunned
Example: I was left stone with the surprise.
17. Sacar los trapos al sol
Meaning: To reveal secrets
Example: They took the clothes out in the sun.
18. Tener la sartén por el mango
Meaning: To be in control
Example: He’s got the pan by the handle.
19. Tirar la toalla
Meaning: To give up
Example: He threw in the towel in the debate.
20. Tomar el pelo
Meaning: To tease or fool someone
Example: Stop taking my hair, I know you’re joking.
