Don't sound like
una momia
--add a little sizzle to your Spanish!
If someone called you
tragaldabas
would you be insulted or flattered? If you shouted
¡Mota!
in the street, would you expected to get a cab or get arrested? Thanks to
The Red-Hot Book of Spanish Slang and Idioms
, you'll always know your
tejemaneje
(scheme) from your
merequetengue
(mess) no matter where you find yourself in the Spanish-speaking world. Five thousand words and phrases--plus helpful hints as to what's cordial and what's vulgar--keep you in sync with Spanish slang.
Spanish to English
niños popis (upper-class kids)
Spoiled brats
Contigo ni a China me voy. (I'm not even going to China with you)
You're impossible
La cruda (rawness)
Hangover
English to Spanish
Ugly as sin
ser un espantapájaro (to be a scarecrow)
To be lucky
tener leche (to have milk)
Why are you staring at me?
¿Tengo monos en la cara? (Do I have monkeys on my face?)