Equivalence: Fixed expressions

1. Match the proverb in the column on the right with its equivalent on the left.

1. A lo hecho, pecho a. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

2. Dios los cría y ellos se juntan/ Dos que b. The early bird catches the worm
duermen en el mismo colchón, son de la misma
opinión
3. A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda c. Don’t put all your eggs in the same basket
4. Diversificar riesgos d. As you make your bed, so you must lay in it
5. Quien se pica, ajos come e. Birds of a feather flock together
6. El que espera, desespera f. The longest day must have an end/It’s a long
lane that has no turning
7. Quien ríe el último, ríe mejor g. It’s dogged that does it
8. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando h. Ill weed grows apace
9. Dios da pañuelos/mendrugos a los que no i. If the cap fits, wear it
tienen narices/dientes
10. Obras son amores y no buenas razones j. Hope deferred makes the heart sick
11. “Apártate que tiznas”- le dijo la sartén al k. He that would eat the kernel must crack the
cazo nut
12. De grandes cenas, están las tumbas llenas l. He who laughs best who laughs last
13. Unos cardan la lana y otros crían la fama m. Actions speak louder than words
14. Dos no discuten, si uno no quiere n. One beats the bush, and another catches the
birds
15. Las desgracias nunca vienen solas o. When in Rome, do as Romans do
16. Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres p. The pot called the kettle black
17. El que algo quiere, algo le cuesta/ Hay que q. It takes two to make a quarrel
mojarse el culo para coger peces
18. No hay mal que cien años dure r. It never rains but it pours
19. Bicho malo nunca muere s. Gluttony kills more than the sword
20. Quien la sigue, la consigue t. The gods send nuts to those who have no
teeth

2. Now match the idiom on your left with the equivalent on your right.

1. To pull one’s leg a) Dar la mano a alguien

2. A chip from the same block/ A chip from the b) Estar pasado de rosca/estar de la pelota
old block
3. To give sb. a hand c) Nadar entre dos aguas
4. To hold sb’s hand d) Ser un bocazas
5. To have a big mouth e) Ponérsele a uno la carne de gallina
6. To be a redneck f) Echar una mano
7. To be a pain in the neck g) Levantarse con el pie izquierdo / con el
pantalón de cuadros
8. To call a spade a spade h) Ser un paleto
9. To get goosebumps on sb’s flesh i) Ser un pesado
10. To get up in a bad mood/ to be on the wrong j) Tomar el pelo
side of the bed
11. To be round the bend/ to be nuts k) De tal palo tal astilla
 12. To sit on the fence l) Llamar al pan, pan y al vino, vino

3. Give the English or Spanish equivalent collocation, idiom or binomial.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Sanos y salvos
In flesh (and blood)
De los pies a la cabeza
Out of the blue
Llover a cántaros
Food for thought
Neat and tidy
Pins and needles
Uña y carne
Peace and quiet
Sooner or later
Odds and ends
By leaps and bounds
Sin ton ni son
(Echar) sapos y culebras
Salt and pepper
Head and shoulders
Sore muscles
papel y lápiz
día y noche
indios y vaqueros
(números) pares e impares

4. Complete the English or Spanish equivalent simile.

As mad as a hare/hatter
As pauper as church mouse
Más limpio que la patena
Más blanco que la leche
Más claro el agua
Más negro que el carbón
As proud as a peackock
So quick so good
Más fresco que una lechuga
Más rojo que un tomate
Más blanco (pálido) que la pared
Comer como un cerdo
As green as grass
To sleep like a log
As heavy as a log
Más sordo que una tapia
Más borracho que una cuba
As good as gold
 Como un pato mareado

5. Provide the missing element (binomials)

English Spanish
Hustle and _______ Pan y _______
Peace and_______ Café con _______
Sickness and _______ Chocolate con _______
Pots and _______ Arroz con _______
_______ and chips En la _______ y en la enfermedad
Push and _______ Perros y _______
Clean and _______ De oca a _______
Bread and _______ De la _______a la meca
Night and _______ Por tierra, mar y _______

(Adapted from De la Cruz Cabanillas, I. 2009. English and Spanish in Contrast. Alcalá de Henares:
Universidad de Alcalá)
 IDIOMS WITH EYE

The following idioms and expressions use the noun eye. Each idiom or expression has a
definition and two example sentences to help with these common idiomatic expressions.

 Apple of Someone's Eye

The expression apple of my eye is often used when referring to family members, or those
who are closest to us to mean that they are someone's favorite person or object.

Rachel is the apple of her father's eye. He's so proud of her.

My car is the apple of my eye.

 Bird's-eye View

Bird's-eye view refers to a viewpoint from which one can see a wide area. This idiom is often
used figuratively to mean that someone can see a situation from a wider perspective.

His bird's-eye view of the market will help us beat our competitors.
The hotel provides a lovely bird's-eye view over the bay.

 Catch Someone's Eye

Catch someone's eye indicates that someone or something has gained attention.

I caught the waiter's eye. He'll be with us shortly.

That house on Serrano street certainly caught my eye. Should we have a look inside?

 Cry One's Eyes Out

Crying one's eyes out is an idiom used for very sad events in one's life. It means to cry for a
very long time in a desperate manner such as at the loss of a loved one.

I think you just need to cry your eyes out to get it all out of your system.
Maria's crying her eyes out. I wonder what happened?

 Eagle Eye

Someone with an eagle eye has the ability to see important details and notice mistakes.

Show it to the editor. She has an eagle eye and will catch any mistake.
Luckily, Tom's eagle eye saw the discounted sweater I was looking for.

 Get a Black Eye

If you get a black eye, you receive a bruise from something around the eye. This idiom
can also be used figuratively to mean to suffer a defeat.
I got a black eye when I bumped into the door.
I guess we got a black eye trying to compete with that big corporation.

 Get Stars in One's Eyes

Some young people get stars in their eyes because they become obsessed about show
business.

Ever since Janet got the lead role in the high school play, she's got stars in her eyes.
Just because you are handsome doesn't mean you need to get stars in your eyes.

 Give Someone the Eye

People will run when you give them the eye because you look at someone in an accusatory
or disapproving manner.

The teacher was giving me the eye during the test. I guess he thought I might cheat.
Don't give me the eye! You're the one who caused this mess.

 Have Eyes Bigger than Your Stomach

Unfortunately, it's easy to put on weight if you have eyes bigger than your stomach because
you desire more food than you can eat.

Little children tend to have eyes bigger than their stomachs.

I remember one crazy night when my best friend had eyes bigger than his stomach. He
ordered more than six different meals!

 Have Eyes in the Back of One's Head

If you have eyes in the back of your head, you are able to see what is going on. This can be
frustrating because others might think they are being secretive and are not noticed.

My mom had eyes in the back of her head. I never got away with anything.
Do you have eyes in the back of your head? How did you notice that?

 Hit the Bull's-eye

When a person hits the bull's-eye, they hit the center of the target. This expression is also
used figuratively to express an impressive result.

I think we hit the bull's-eye with our new product line.

You've hit the bull's-eye by getting that job.

 In the Public Eye

If you are in the public eye, you are in a position where the public can observe your actions,
so be very careful!
You'll be in the public eye if you take that job.
Hollywood actors are all in the public eye.

 Keep One's Eye on the Ball

People who can keep their eye on the ball remain concentrated, especially in a work
situation.

You need to keep your eye on the ball, no matter how long it takes, to succeed.
His ability to keep his eye on the ball assured his eventual success.

 Turn a Blind Eye to Someone or Something

Unfortunately, some people turn a blind eye to someone and show that they are willingly to
ignore something wrong.

Just turn a blind eye to Ted. He'll never change.

I'm going to turn a blind eye to that problem for the moment.

 Without Batting an Eye

Most parents help their children without batting an eye because they do it without
hesitation.

He purchased the $2 million home without batting an eye.

John made the decision without batting an eye.

Fill in the gaps with a word to complete these sentences with expressions using eye:

1. Our boss has an ______ eye because he catches mistakes that others miss.
2. Let's take a ______ view of this situation to make sure we don't miss anything.
3. It's surprising how many young people get ______ in their eyes and move to Hollywood
to start a career.
4. I ordered this cake, but it's too much. I'm afraid I have eyes that are bigger than my
______.
5. My daughter is the ______ of my eye.
6. I think you hit the ______ when you made that investment. Today, you are a millionaire!
7. She gave her daughter $500 without ______ an eye because she trusts her to spend it
wisely.
8. Would you please stop giving me the ______! You're making me nervous!
9. I got a ______ eye when I fell last week.
10. Politicians are always in the ______ eye.

(Adapted from https://www.thoughtco.com/eye-idioms-and-expressions-1209937 by Keneth Bear)