June 15, 2008

A caballo dado no se le ve el colmillo.

Literal Meaning: Don't examine the teeth of a horse that was given to you.

Analogous Saying: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

June 14, 2008

¡Santa Cachucha!

Meaning: Holy cow! (Santa Cachucha is also a pretty good Peruvian punk rock band.)

Example: ¡Santa Cachucha! Ya viene la tormenta. (Holy cow! Here comes the storm!)

June 13, 2008

El mejor torero es él de la barrera.

Analogous Saying: He’s a Monday morning quarterback.

Meaning: The best bullfighter is the one sitting in a box seat [i.e., watching the event].

June 12, 2008

bye!

Pronunciation: bai

Meaning: good bye; bye bye

Example: [Jorge] Nos vemos. [Marta] Bye!” ([Jorge]: “I’ll see you later.” [Marta] Bye!”)

June 11, 2008

ni papa

Meaning: Like “ni jota,” it means “nothing.”

Example: No entendí ni papa. (“I have no clue what they mean.”)

June 10, 2008

ni jota

Meaning: nothing, not a thing

Example: No entendí ni jota de lo que dijo el maestro. (“I didn’t understand a word the teacher was saying.”)

June 9, 2008

Te caigo al rato.

Meaning: I’ll catch you later. I’ll see you later.

Example: Voy a mi casa. Te caigo al rato. (“I’m going home; I’ll see you in a bit.”)