How Do You Say That?

One of the hardest parts of learning a new language (besides the vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, and verb conjugations) are all the colloquial phrases.   I have about given up on actually using them, but would love to at least understand them when someone says them to me.  So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite with you (besides, if I have to type them here maybe some of them will stick in my brain.)

Spanish:  Ponerse las botas
Literal Meaning:  To put on the boots
Colloquial Meaning:  To eat a lot

Spanish:  Estar manga por hombro

Literal Meaning:  To be sleeve for shoulder

Colloquial Meaning:  To be totally disorganized/Don't know where to start

Spanish:  Cambiar de chaqueta   

Literal Meaning:  To change the jacket

Colloquial Meaning:  To change your mind

Spanish:  Ir de punta en blanco  

Literal Meaning:  To go to tip in white

Colloquial Meaning:  To be well dressed

Spanish:  Pasarse las noches en blanco   

Literal Meaning:  To pass the nights in white

Colloquial Meaning:  Not able to sleep

Spanish:  Estar sin blanca

Literal Meaning:  To be without white

Colloquial Meaning:  To not have any money

Spanish:  Dar gato por liebre 

Literal Meaning:  To give cat for rabbit

Colloquial Meaning:  To deceive, cheat

Spanish:  Pagar el Pato  

Literal Meaning:  To pay the duck

Colloquial Meaning:  Suffer the consequences

Spanish:  Estar como un cabra   

Literal Meaning:  To be like a goat

Colloquial Meaning:  To be crazy

Spanish:  Hincar los codos   

Literal Meaning:  To stick the elbows

Colloquial Meaning:  To study a lot

Spanish:  Tener mala pata  

Literal Meaning:  To have a bad leg

Colloquial Meaning:  To have bad luck

Spanish:  Estar patas arriba   

Literal Meaning:  To be legs up

Colloquial Meaning:  To turn things upside down

Spanish:  Tener entre ceja y ceja  

Literal Meaning:  To have between eyebrow and eyebrow

Colloquial Meaning:  To not be able to stand someone/something

Spanish:  Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja   

Literal Meaning:  To have the fly behind the ear

Colloquial Meaning:  To suspect something

Hope you are laughing along with me as I try to memorize these.  Can't wait to teach the spaniards some of the crazy English colloquialisms too!