9.5: Idiomatic expressions
- Page ID
- 415676
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Idiomatic expressions are sayings or phrases that cannot always be translated word for word from one language to another. Sometimes they have cultural or linguistic messages. Some examples of idiomatic expressions are below.
Es pan comido. It’s a piece of cake.
Te invito. My treat.
Perro ladrador, poco mordador. His bark is worse than his bite.
Allá donde fueras, haz lo que vieras. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Al mal tiempo, buena cara. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Es la gota que rebasó el vaso. It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Más vale prevenir que lamentar. Better to prevent than to cure.
No hay mal que por bien no venga. Every cloud has a silver lining.
tirar la toalla to throw in the towel
ni más ni menos no more, no les
de tal palo, tal astilla the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Read through the expressions again. Then, answer the following questions.
Which idiomatic expression(s) have you heard before?
Which idiomatice expression(s) do you use?
Which will be the easiest for you to remember? Why? The most difficult? Why?
Which idiomatic expression(s) will you use?
What other idiomatic expression(s) do you know?
What do you think of idiomatic expressions?
Find and write three more idiomatic expressions. Be ready to share them with the class.

