Common Spanish Idioms: Here Comes the Sun

Common Spanish idioms help Spanish students sound more natural. Idioms are fixed phrases that have a figurative meaning. This sense is totally different from the literal meaning that the words in the idiom would have separately.

Since this summer Europe has suffered several heat waves, we think that it might be a good idea to use the word ‘sol’ (sun) as the protagonist of our common Spanish idioms. So, as the Beatles’ song said: ‘Here comes the sun’.

This idiom ‘es un sol’

If your Spanish friends say that ‘eres un sol’ (you are a sun), they don’t mean that you emit a huge amount of heat and radiation, of course. However, their intention is related to radiation, somehow. They mean that you are a being of light, a person who seems to be a ray of sun, an angel. So, don’t worry, if you approach to those friends, they will not run away.

‘Ser un sol’ means to be a very good person.

Amigo español: Gracias a tus consejos, he encontrado trabajo en Londres. Eres un sol.

Common Spanish idioms ‘no me dejan ni a sol ni a sombra’

On the other hand, maybe you are one of those tiresome people who tells the same stories time and time again. If you insist to do something with somebody and that person said no many times, he or she can say this to you: ‘no me dejas ni a sol ni a sombra’ (you don’t let me neither under the sun nor the shadow). Of course, using this Spanish idiom, people mean that they need you to let them alone.

‘No dejar a alguien ni a sol ni a sombra’ means not let somebody out of your sights.

Amigo español: Estás todo el día dándome consejos; que vaya al médico, que haga ejercicio, que no coma esto… ¡No me dejas ni a sol ni a sombra!

‘Hay que arrimarse al sol que más calienta’

Summertime is fantastic, not only because we have holidays, but also because of politicians do. After months hearing about corruption, elections and incompetence to form a goverment in Spain, we can rest in peace now. Politicians are very good at this common Spanish idiom: ‘ellos siempre se arriman al sol que más calienta’ (they always hang around the sun that heats the most). So, if you are a very important person, you will always have politicians ‘arrimándose’.

‘Arrimarse al sol que más calienta’ means to get in with the right people.

Compañero de trabajo: Tienes que salir a tomar unas cervezas con el jefe. Ya sé que no te cae muy bien pero hay que arrimarse al sol que más calienta.

‘Trabajo de sol a sombra’ learning common Spanish idioms

Once more, we have this opposing but complementary pair: ‘sol’ (sun) and ‘sombra’ (shadow). If Spanish workers say that they ‘trabajan de sol a sombra’ (work from sun to shadow), it doesn’t mean that they work under the sun for a period of time and in the shadows later. Actually, what they mean is they work all day long.

‘Trabajar de sol a sombra’ means to work from dawn to dusk.

Trabajador: Lo siento, pero no puedo salir esta noche con vosotros. He trabajado de sol a sombra y estoy muerto.

‘No puedes tapar el sol con un dedo’

Do you always say that you can speak Spanish but when you come to Spain you don’t understand a word? Do you like boasting about your Spanish level but you freeze up when you are in front of Spaniards? This idiom is perfect for you: ‘No puedes tapar el sol con un dedo’ (you can’t cover the sun with a finger). Admit you need lessons on Spanishviaskype.com, you can’t hide the truth any longer.

‘No poder tapar el sol con un dedo’ means to try to ignore reality.

Amigo: Le cuentas a todo el mundo que eres arquitecto y nunca has pisado la universidad. Al final alguien descubrirá la verdad: no puedes tapar el sol con un dedo.

In consequence, common Spanish idioms are very useful to sound natural and funny speaking our language. If you want to learn more of these expressions, don’t miss our weekly posts on our blog. And if you want to master the Spanish language using Skype, reserve Spanish lessons with our teachers: son un sol.