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A su aire, estar o ir

saying

Literally to be or to go at one’s own air (To do it your way)

This phrase or idiom is very much utilized in the informal context. Most of these phrases are relationships established through similes, comparisons and metaphor of some elements in relation to another.

In this case, the noun “aire”, air, speaks to us of large spaces, a fresh current, and freedom of movement. This characteristic of the air is transferred to the human environment and to someone’s need for freedom, movement and exercise of the will, in though and action.

Thus results the expression “ir a su aire” o “estar a su aire”, defining the free, personal and determined way in which someone is, acts or feels.

Example: Ella no seguía la moda y se vestía en su propio estilo, porque estaba acostumbrada a ir a su aire. (She did not follow fashion and dressed in her own style, because she was used to doing things her way).

Al buen tuntún	saying
Without thinking, foresight or knowledge of the matter.

Altamira, Cueva de

noun

The first cave in which palaeolithic rupestrian decorations were found. The cave is located in the North of Spain, near Santillana del Mar and was accidentally found in 1868. The paintings are some 14,000 years old and represent bison, deer, boars, and horses. The cave is closed to the public, but a replica can be seen in the Altamira Museum. Example: Registration of scientific visit to explore the caves of Altamira are taken over more than 10 years in advance.

Apaga y vámonos	saying
Expression of order, desire or mandate in a humorous way tells the other the end of a situation, activity or conversation that is delaying or repeating too much. Example: "Switch off and go," said her sister Ana suddenly, watching the clock intently.

Apaño / apañar /apañarse	verb
This term indicates the use of a resource, tool or workaround to remedy a problem or deficiency. In a popular sense says the act of arranging a situation with what you have on hand. Example: The mechanic could not find his toolbox and had to make do with what he found to his hand.

Aquí te pillo, aquí te mato	saying
Term used to indicate the immediacy with which an act is done, business or management. Example: The wedding ceremony was one here I catch you here I'll kill you.

Arrimar el hombro/ poner el hombro	saying
This expression indicates an attitude of involvement and effort of a person for an activity or work, indicates involvement in action and energy in achieving a goal or enterprise, therefore, applies also to indicate the personal effort into something own either the support we provide, or receive from another. Example: Friends put the shoulder when John made his science project.

Atapuerca	noun
The caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca in the province of Burgos (Spain) contain a rich fossil record of the earliest human beings in Europe, from nearly one million years ago and extending up to the Common Era. They represent an exceptional reserve of data, the scientific study of which provides priceless information about the appearance and the way of life of these remote human ancestors.

Atar los perros con longanizas	saying
In a figurative sense, with a connotation of humor, this expression indicates abundance and prosperity, have an excess as is, without reference to considerations of costs and waste prevention. Example: All developed countries know that in Germany are tied with sausages and dogs in our many governments will have to make it happen.

Bajarse al moro / ir a Marruecos	saying
Colloquial expression referring to the activity of spices and hashish smuggling that takes place as drug trafficking in the Iberian Peninsula. Example: No one should get off the Moor or use the people to extend their evil life.

Barajas	noun
Madrid's airport.

bola, ir a su (ir a su bola)	saying
To be concerned with one’s own interests and disregard anyone else’s.

Buscarse la vida	saying
This expression indicates an attitude of personal independence in any area in which the person must respond according to their own initiative and resources. Tems in general, simply means "being able to fend for himself." Example: Mary never learned to cook, but had to find a living, buying prepared food.

Cada loco con su tema

saying

This expression, relatively new, indicates the uniqueness that each person has his family and community environments, choices and way of life and living, usually single and features. In a broad sense, saying "To each his own theme" shows "each with its own, with what is of real interest." Example.: The primary class was in disarray, the teacher shouting, children playing and every fool was with his subject.

Caer de pie	saying
Colloquial expression that means a person, thing, situation or appropriate body that arrives or comes at a timely moment of need. Means fit, fit, join, drop it. Example: The new host landed on his feet in that family. He was a loving young man in the midst of lonely people.

Caer de un guindo/ caerse de un guindo

saying

This expression, very prosaic in the informal mode of the Spanish language, refers to a state of ignorance or innocence suddenly, abruptly, is broken and the person realizes and says it was obvious to everyone. In some ways comes from the habit of children to climb trees and play on their branches, with consequent falls. Hence the innocence and the awakening of a child hidden in this expression figuratively. Example: The mill was two miles, when the driver managed to fall from the cherry forest and understand that he had enough fuel to reach its destination.

Caerse del guindo	saying
To finally realize something that had been obvious to everyone else. Literal translation: to fall from the cherry tree.

Caerse la cara de vergüenza	saying
This expression indicates the excessive abuse that a person acts, without regard to anyone. It alludes to the brazenness and shamelessness displayed by some individuals, ignoring the rights of others. Example.: The unknown part of the feast as one family, should fall out of shame.

Calarse hasta los huesos/ estar calado hasta los huesos	saying
This expression alludes to the numbness, not only from cold and moisture, the water has reached the bottom of the dress, soaking. Often applies in instances where the person is wet with rain or suffered another setback with the water. Example: John used to set either to the bone every time it rained, it was his hobby since I was little.

Carpetazo, dar el	saying
Carpetazo comes from the word carpeta, which means folder. Dar el carpetazo means, in a colloquial way, to close the file and end the issue, to shelve it, or to file it away (with a bang)!. Example: In the meeting of editors, the manager gave shelved the discussion.

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SpainTerms category: Idiom

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