Contents
• That makes two of us
• And while we’re at it…
• He/she doesn’t lift a finger
• You don’t say!
• So far, so good

That makes two of us

This expression is used when one is in the same position or holds the same opinion as the previous speaker. In other words, “I agree with you” or “I understand what you feel”. In Spanish, we say “Ya somos dos”. For example, “I have no idea” – “That makes two of us” –> “No tengo idea” – “Ya somos dos”. Another example, “I wish I didn’t have to take the final exam today” – “That makes two of us!” –> “Desearía no tener que tomar el examen final hoy” – “¡Ya somos dos!”

And while we’re at it…

This is something you say when you’re talking about something and you want to add something else related to it. In Spanish we say, “Y ya que estamos en esto…”. For example, “…and this is a very common mistake. And while we’re at it, let me show you a way to avoid…” –> “Y este es un error muy común. Y ya que estamos en esto, permítanme mostrarles una manera de evitar…”

He/she doesn’t lift a finger

This means a person does not make the slightest effort to do something, esp. to help someone (usually because he/she is lazy). In Spanish, we say either “No mueve (ni) un dedo” or “No levanta (ni) un dedo”. In both cases, “ni” is optional. For example, “He can see that I’m busy, but he doesn’t lift a finger.” –> “Puede ver que estoy ocupada, pero no mueve un dedo”.

You don’t say!

This expression is used to express amazement or disbelief. In Spanish, we say “¡No me digas!”. For example, “My sister met David Beckham while she was in Spain” – “You don’t say!” –> “Mi hermana conoció a David Beckham cuando estuvo en España” – “¡No me digas!”.

So far, so good

This is said when the progress has been satisfactory up to now. In Spanish, you can say “Hasta ahora todo bien”. For example, “How’s your new job going?” – “So far, so good.” –> “¿Qué tal tu nuevo empleo?” – “Hasta ahora, todo bien”.

Contents
• A hair
• The Cream
• As if by magic
• You don’t say!
• Behind someone’s back

A hair

A very small quantity or extent. In Spanish, we say “un pelo”. If you want to be more emphatic, you can use diminutives like “un pelito” or “un pelín”. For example, “Move it just a hair… Perfect!” –> “Muévelo un pelito… ¡Perfecto!”.

The Cream

The very best of a group of people or thing. In Spanish, we say “la crema y nata”. For example, “They are the cream of American society.” –> “Ellos son la crema y nata de la sociedad estadounidense”.

As if by magic

As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; magically. In Spanish, we say “como por arte de magia”. For example, “…and when you add those numbers, you’ll get your age as if by magic!” –> “… y cuando sumas esos números, ¡obtendrás tu edad como por arte de magia!”

You don’t say!

This phrase is used to express amazement or disbelief. In Spanish, we say “¡No me digas!”. It may be used straightforwardly (meaning “Really? I can I find that interesting, keep talking.”) or ironically (meaning either “I don’t believe you” or “You have just stated the obvious.”). For example, A:”Have you heard the news? Jessica got married!” B: “You don’t say!” –> A: “¿Ya te enteraste? ¡Jessica se casó!” B:“¡No me digas!”. | Another example: A: “…and that’s why I couldn’t finish my homework” B: (ironically)”You don’t say!” –> A: “…y por eso no pude terminar mi tarea.” B: “¡No me digas!”.

Behind someone’s back

Without a person’s knowledge and in an unfair or dishonorable way. In Spanish, “a sus espaldas”. For example, “Carla made fun of him behind his back.” –> “Carla se burló de él a sus espaldas.”

Contents
• A little bird told me
• Looking for a needle in a haystack
• The ends justify the means
• It’s a small world
• If it’s not one thing, it’s another

If it’s not one thing, it’s another

When many different things are going wrong in a short period of time people sometimes say “If it’s not one thing, it’s another!| In Spanish, we say “Si no es una cosa, es otra”. Example: “First the car broke down, and now I can’t find my keys! If it’s not one thing, it’s another!” –> “Primero el coche se descompone, ¡y ahora no puedo encontrar mis llaves… ¡Si no es una cosa, es otra!”

It’s a small world

When you find out someone you know knows someone else you know, you can say “It’s a small world”. The Spanish version goes “¡Qué pequeño es el mundo!”.

The ends justify the means

This means the actions (means) we take are considered acceptable because of the specific end results we want to achieve (ends). In Spanish, we say “El fin justifica los medios”. This saying is often used in the negative: “I understand the situation, but the ends do not justify the means.” –> “Entiendo la situación, pero el fin no justifica los medios”.

Looking for a needle in a haystack

A needle in a haystack is something that it is very difficult, if not impossible to find among everything around it. In Spanish we say “buscar una aguja en un pajar”.

A little bird told me

This expression is used to say that the speaker knows something but prefers to keep the identity of the informant a secret. In Spanish we say “Me lo dijo un pajarito”.

Contents
• A taste/dose of your own medicine
• A wolf in sheep’s clothing
• Better late than never
• Bite one’s tongue
• Cross one’s fingers
• Diamond in the rough
• Have no idea
• Last but not least
• Hit the nail on the head
• Wash one’s hands of

A taste/dose of your own medicine:

A lesson where other people treat you the same way you treat them in order to teach you that you are acting badly. In Spanish we say “una cucharada de su propia medicina”.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing:

A person or thing that appears friendly or harmless but is really hostile. The Spanish version goes “un lobo con piel de oveja” or you could say “un lobo vestido de oveja”.

Better late than never:

Better late than never means that even if you are going to be late, you should still go ahead and do the thing, because it is better to do it late than to never do it at all. In Spanish, we say “más vale tarde que nunca”.

Bite one’s tongue:

When you really want to speak out, but you know you should not, it is best to just bite your tongue. i.e. make a desperate effort to avoid saying what you would like to say. In Spanish we say “morderse la lengua”.

Cross one’s fingers:

(Also keep one’s fingers crossed) Hope that someone or something will be successful. In Spanish, “cruzar los dedos”.

Diamond in the rough:

A diamond in the rough is someone who is generally of good character but lacks manners, education, or style. Often will be expressed just as ‘rough diamond’. In Spanish, we would say “Diamante en bruto”.

Have no idea:

To have no idea is a strong way of saying you do not know something. In Spanish you can say “no tengo idea” or “no tengo ni idea”. Both, in English and in Spanish, you can also make the statement a little stronger by adding slightest or least. For example, “I don’t have the slightest/least idea”. The translation would be “No tengo ni la más minima idea”.

Last but not least:

Its basically means that the last person announced isn’t any less important than the others called before him or her. In Spanish we say “Por último, pero no (por eso) menos importante…”

Hit the nail on the head:

Find exactly the right answer. In Spanish, “dar en el clavo”.

Wash one’s hands of:

Disclaim responsibility for (something). Originally with biblical allusion to Matt. 27:24. In Spanish we say “lavarse las manos”.