Expressions that only Spaniards understand-part II Learn a bunch of expressions and try to use them as much as you can, you will realize the difference they will make in your speech, your friends or Spanish people you meet will be surprised.

Expressions and Spaniards…sometimes it seems like the same, as every second week each month I have an entry about expressions, and today’s one is actually the second part of the one I wrote last month, why? Because these expressions, as any other, are sooo cool, and because as the blog title says they have a trick, only Spaniards understand them, and now you will to so try to master them and your fluency will improve drastically.

If you did not read the first part of this blog, or you do not remember or…you just want to read it again you can have a look here 

So no more talking, it is time to learn some expressions that only Spaniards understand-part II

Expressions that only Spaniards understand-part II

1-Ser un chaquetero

Used when someone change their minds about something important, in the past was quite offensive thing to say, but in the present is more like a joke between friends.

It is mostly used talking about sports and teams you support.

Imagine your friend always supported Real Madrid but last year Real Madrid started to be a bit worse and the Barcelona started  to do really well, and all of the sudden you friend s the biggest Barcelona supporter.

You could say

¡Tú eres un chaquetero! Siempre has apoyado al Real Madrid, ¿qué haces ahora apoyando al Barcelona?”

You are! You always have supported Real Madrid, what are you doing now supporting Barcelona?

In English to be a turncoat

2-Se le ve el plumero

When someone tries to cover his way of thinking but it is too obviously, it can be applied when talking about anything, even the smallest things like if you are planning your night out and a few of you want to go to the cinema but a friend proposes to go to a bar first, you know she wants to go there because the guy she likes work there so you can make fun of her saying

“Uy Marta, tú quieres ir al bar para ver a Juan…se te ve el plumero”

Uh…Marta, you want to go to the bar to see Juan…we can see what your game is

In English will be something like you can see what someone game is

3-Tener muchos humos

When someone try to pretend to be more important than they are.

If you have a new workmate and he seems a bit arrogant and up of himself, and someone ask you how is your new colleague you can say

“No sé como será no le conozco mucho todavía, pero tiene muchos humos”

I do not know how he really is, I do not know him that much yet, but he has an actitude.

In English something like to be arrogant or to brag about something

4- Quedarse en cuadro

This sentences has its meaning in the war times, when someone “quedarse en blanco” meant he was alone in battle, he had lost all his troops

If you were planning to go to an event with your colleagues but for some reason they can’t make it and you end up going by yourself, you could sum up the event saying

“El evento estuvo bien, pero me quede en cuadro”

The event was good, but I was stood up

And everyone would know you went by yourself.

In English, to be stood up

#NOTE-you can also say”quedarse plantado” and it has the same meaning

5-Mantenerse en sus trece

Used when someone is being stubborn about something

If you are trying to explain something to a friend but he is not willing to change his mind you could say

“Manuel, te lo estoy intentando explicar, pero te mantienes en tus trece”

Manuel, I am trying to explain you, but you stand your ground

In English, to stand your ground.


#NOTE-As I said in the part I of the blog expressions are sooo common in the daily Spanish life, that it will be impossible t o summarize them, so this is just a sneaky peak , a bunch you can learn and start practicing, but  if you are curious and you want to learn some more you can check other post about expressions I wrote in the past, some of them are

You can  have a look on the blog and find many more, so have fun with it!

Also If you are as fan as idioms as I am, I got a great book in amazon to check it out,  over 100 Spanish idioms, with examples and the English equivalent.

Now it is your turn, if you like the post share it with a fellow learner so you can practice them and have some accountability, do not forget that the more the merrier J Also I would love to hear from you

-Have you heard these expressions before?

-Is there any particular expressions you like?

And…last but not least…homework! Pick a expressions from above and let me a comment where you use it, I will go over all and let you know if you got it right. 🙂


Write you soon, in the meanwhile “be Spanish my friend”

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