August 2, 2008

Más vale un minuto tarde que un minuto de silencio.

Meaning: Better a minute late than a minute of silence (as in, at your funeral).

Example: Caray, mi chula, ¡anda más despacio! Más vale un minuto tarde que un minuto de silencio. (Shoot, pretty baby, slow down! Better a minute late than a minute of silence.)

August 1, 2008

También de dolor se canta cuando llorar no se puede.

Meaning: Sorrow also sings, when it
runs too deep to cry.

July 31, 2008

solterona

Meaning: old maid

Example: ¿Por qué no te casas con Memo, mija? Te vas a quedar solterona. (Why don’t you marry Memo, daughter? You’re going to end up an old maid.)

July 30, 2008

solterón

Meaning: confirmed bachelor

Example: [Doña María] ¿Qué tal si le presento tu cuñado Juan a mi hija? (Maybe I should introduce your brother-in-law Juan to my daughter.) [Doña Juana] Hmmm, no creo que sea buena idea. El es solterón. (Hmmm, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. He’s a confirmed bachelor.)

July 29, 2008

a ojo de buen cubero

Meaning: In my expert opinion;
according to my best judgment
(A “cubero” sells beers at a
stadium or sporting event, so he is adept at sizing up potential customers. He has “a good eye.”)

Example: A ojo de buen cubero, la señora debe tener unos 70 años. (In my opinion, the woman is about 70 years old.)

July 28, 2008

Dios les da dinero a los ricos porque si no lo tuvieran, se morirían de hambre.

Meaning: God gives money to the rich because if they didn’t have it, they would die of hunger.

July 27, 2008

tocayo

Meaning: namesake, person with your same name (We don’t use this word much in English, and when we do, it usually refers to someone who has been named after a relative or family friend.)

Example: [Juanito] Hola, tocayo, ¿cómo estamos? (Hi, namesake, how’s it going?) [Juan] Voy bien, Juanito, ¿y tú? (I’m fine, Juanito, and you?)