30 food idioms and sayings in Spanish

The Spanish language is full of expressions and sayings that reflect the cultural richness of its speakers.

Today, we are going to reveal to you 30 idioms and sayings related to food.

There is no denying that food plays a central role in the lives of Spaniards, and understanding its place in society is key to immersing yourself in the Spanish-speaking world.

The Spanish gastronomy It is famous worldwide, and it is not only because of how delicious it is, but also because of the importance it has when it comes to sharing moments around a table. 

The Spanish see good eating as a social event, an opportunity to connect with friends and family, and a way to celebrate life. 

This love for food It is reflected in a large number of proverbs and idiomatic expressions that are used daily in Spain.

For foreign students of Spanish, learning these expressions not only will expand your vocabulary, but will also allow them to fully immerse themselves in the way of thinking and feeling of the Spanish. 

Additionally, using these expressions in everyday conversations with native speakers will allow them to establish a deeper connection and authentic with the Spanish.

Do you want to learn these sayings, expressions and meanings about food in Spanish?

Well let's get to it!

20 Idiomatic Expressions in Spanish with Food

In today's article we are going to see 20 idiomatic expressions and the 10 best sayings about food.

Do you know what is the difference between proverb and idiomatic expression?

The sayings They are short sentences that transmit advice or teachings popular.

Instead, the idiomatic expressions, also called Spanish idioms, are combinations of words that usually express metaphors or figurative meanings.

Seeing the examples of phrases throughout the article you will understand it better 😉.

Without further ado, we start with the 20 expressions in Spanish.

Be even in the soup

Among popular Spanish sayings, we have this one that puts soup as the main food.

It means that something has presence everywhere and it is excessive or heavy. 

Example: 

• That song is so popular that It's even in the soup.

Go fry asparagus

This expression is used to express the wish that someone leave.

It must be clarified that it is a rude way to ask someone to leave, people usually say it when they are angry. 

Example: 

• You have hurt me a lot. I don't want to see you anymore. ¡Go fry asparagus!

Something is a piece of cake

indicates that something is very easy to do. It suggests that it does not require much effort or skill to complete. 

Example: 

• Don't worry about the exam, It's a piece of cake for me.

get like a tomato

We also have Spanish idioms with tomatoes 🍅.

It means blush or redden due to embarrassment, shyness or surprise.

Used to describe someone's reaction when feels uncomfortable. 

Example: 

• When asked about his love life, he turned like a tomato.

Be better than bread

This is one of the spanish expressions what else is said.

It is used to describe someone kind, generous and of good heart. 

Example: 

• my grandmother It is better than bread. She is always willing to help those who need it.

Go stepping on eggs

It is used when someone walks or does something very slowly or with great caution to avoid making mistakes.

Example: 

• This car is going 60 kilometers per hour on the highway. He is stepping on eggs.

Put all the meat on the grill

It means doing everything possible or try your best to obtain the best result in a given situation. 

Example: 

• The soccer team put all the meat on the grill in the final match to win the championship.

Give them to someone with cheese

This expression is used when someone deceives or manipulates another person to obtain some personal benefit. 

Example: 

• That seller deceived me, he gave them to me with cheese by selling me a defective product.

be a chorizo

People who steal money or other personal items from other people are idiots. That is, they are thieves.

Example:

• Before, I was walking calmly down the street and a guy tried to steal my wallet. What a chorizo!

Be my better half 

Don't let the food phrases stop!

This expression refers to the perfect couple or the ideal life partner. 

Many people spend their lives looking for their better half. Do you think it exists? 

Example: 

• my girlfriend is my better halfWe complement each other perfectly and have the same sense of humor.

Have bad temper

Describes someone with a lot of temper or a bad temper. It is used to refer to people who usually be in a bad mood or that they are very temperamental.

Example: 

• If I were you, I would wait a little to talk to Marcos. now is in a bad mood and it's scary when it gets like that.

be a melon

There are many funny Spanish idioms. This is another one of them.

Melons are large, round, very sweet green and yellow fruits that are eaten during the summer.

The expression refers to someone naive or stupid, that it is difficult for him to understand things.

Example: 

• Julian it's a melon, always falls into the same jokes.

Something matters a cucumber

This is one of the short Spanish sayings and food sayings.

When we name this vegetable as the protagonist we are indicating that something we don't care at all.

It is something that is totally indifferent to me. 

Example: 

• I don't care what other people think of me. ¡I don't give a damn!

This expression sounds a bit vulgar. The most correct way to say this is with the verb "I don't care."

Get out a churro

Churros are those delicious elongated, curly-shaped sweets that we Valencians eat in Las Fallas.

The expression serves to indicate that something has gone wrongor in a disorganized way, much worse than how I had it in mind before doing it.

Example: 

• The drawing I got a churro, it's nothing like what I wanted to do.

Turn the tables

We continue with more food phrases.

This expression is used to say that a situation that was a certain way, has been completely changed, for better or worse.

It is often said to indicate that something that was unfavorable is now positive.

Example: 

• I didn't like what I was studying so I decided turn the tables and start a new career.

be like a cheese

Cheese is good, right?

Well, we use this expression when a person is very attractive 😁.

Example:

• Since she began training, Alicia it's like cheese.

Go full steam

It means going to a very high speed or move quickly. 

Example: 

• The car passed on the road at full speed, exceeding all speed limits.

Be the one who cuts the cod

In every social group there is a person who exercises leader role or who has the initiative to make plans.

That person is the one who cuts the cod.

Example: 

• In our group, Lolo He is the one who cuts the cod. He always offers very interesting plans and knows how to organize them very well.

If you are wondering what the origin of the expression is to cut the cod, the most accepted theory explains that it was used in the past when the father of the family distributed the dishes and cut the cod himself, since the father was the person who acted as leader in the house.

Catch someone red-handed

It means discovering someone at the exact moment they is doing something bad or illegal. 

It's like catching someone in the act. 

Example: 

• the police caught the thief with your hands in the dough while trying to rob the jewelry store.

give someone pumpkins

Pumpkins are those orange fruits that are used on Halloween to decorate houses and stores.

This expression is used to reject someone romantically, that is, denying a love proposal or date. 

Example: 

• I declared my love to her, but she gave me pumpkins.

10 food sayings in Spanish

We have already seen the 20 expressions with food. Brilliant! 

Now it's time to see the 10 food sayings and their meaning.

These sayings in spanish They transmit great teachings about life.

So if you want expand your wisdom, pay attention 😉.

With you bread and onion

We start these old sayings with bread and onion.

What a curious combination! TRUE?

This short saying means that when you truly love someone, you are willing to face any adversity and difficulty next to that person. 

Example: 

• Although we are going through difficult times economically,with you bread and onion, my love.

The pains with bread are less

More examples of sayings with bread?

As you can see, in Spanish we have many expressions and sayings with this food.

You can get an idea of ​​how important bread has been and continues to be in our gastronomy.

In fact, it is very rare for a Spaniard to eat a plate of food without bread as an accompaniment 😋.

This saying states that any adversity is better handled with food. Especially if it's delicious.

Food can provide comfort and alleviate worries, at least temporarily. 

Example: 

• After a long day at work, a good plate of food comforts me. The pains with bread are less.

Not eating just because you have eaten is not wasted time.

We continue to expand our Spanish gastronomic proverb.

This food saying may be confusing at first glance, but it conveys a great message about health in its words.

It means that we should not worry if when the time comes to do something specific we cannot do it because we have already done it before. For example, if we talk about food, it's okay if you're not hungry at dinner time because you've had a lot of snacks. 

Avoid overeating It will always be good for our health.

Example: 

• I've eaten enough, I don't want more. Not eating just because you have eaten is not wasted time..

In the absence of bread, cakes are good

Is there a saying about accepting reality? 

Well yes, this same one is used to express agreement in a situation in which you don't get what you want, but you accept it what is available as an acceptable alternative. 

Example: 

• We don't have ice cream, but In the absence of bread, cakes are good. Let's enjoy a different dessert.

When you are a father, you will eat eggs

Eggs were very valuable foods in the past, easy to obtain and with a lot of nutritional value.

Men were the ones who worked hard to bring home money and support the family.

Therefore, some of the richest and most nutritious foods were reserved for parents. 

Hence this expression, if you want to deserve eggs, you must work hard, take responsibilities and mature.

What doesn't kill, makes you fat

This is another of the popular Spanish sayings.

It is used when you are eating something dubious quality, but it's going to be eaten anyway.

We know that this food, if it doesn't kill us, is going to make us fat, but it is so good that can't resist temptation.

Example:

• I'm going to order the three chocolate cake. What doesn't kill, makes you fat.

The commandment of the poor: rather burst, than over

This is one of the old sayings that grandparents used to repeat the most about food.

It reflects the idea that in situations of scarcity or poverty, people prefer consume everything available, even in excess, before allowing anything to go to waste. 

Example: 

• In my grandparents' house, the commandment was clear:before bursting, than on. They didn't waste a single piece of food.

Ser Juan Palomo: I stew it, I eat it

This is one of the funny food sayings. 

This saying expresses the independence and self-sufficiency of a person who can solve his problems or assume his responsibilities without depending on others. 

Example: 

• I'm Juan Palomo in the kitchen, I stew it, I eat it. I can prepare my own dishes.

Empty gut, heart without joy

This saying about food emphasizes that it is difficult to be happy or have joy when you are hungry or he hasn't eaten enough.

Example:

• Before you go to work, remember to have breakfast, because to empty gut, heart without joy.

To the bread, bread and to the wine, wine

This is the last of the popular Spanish sayings on our list.

It is a saying that promotes the honesty and clarity when communicating. 

It means saying things as they are, without detours or ambiguities, to avoid misunderstandings.

Example: 

• I prefer to be direct and say things as clearly as possible.  To the bread, bread, and to the wine, wine.

Activities to practice

And we have already finished our Spanish proverb. 

Now that you know the 30 idiomatic expressions and typical Spanish sayings about food, it's time to practice them with activities to reinforce learning.

In the first activity you will review the idiomatic expressions.

You must match each sentence with the most appropriate expression.

Now you have to do the same but with thepopular food sayings.

Drag each saying to its corresponding space.

Well this has been it!

Now you know many sayings and proverbs about food that you can apply in your daily life when you talk to your Spanish-speaking friends, they will surely love it.

Do you like these vocabulary topics and want to learn more?

Well come to our face-to-face Spanish courses and online in Hispania, Spanish school. 

Here you will come out speaking Spanish as if you were born in Spain 👌🏻.

Of all the proverbs and expressions seen, which one do you like the most?

Is there one that says the same thing in your language?

Leave a comment and we'll chat 🙌🏻

Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school. 

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