Amusing Spanish expressions 2

Continuing a compilation of Spanish idioms that are more fun than the boring English equivalents.

Written 2023-01-26 - “The Ike Street Journal – the weekly diary of the American nightmare”

Disclaimers: I’m not fluent in Spanish, so these probably contain mistakes. Also, these are collected from Colombian telenovelas, so they may not be understood everywhere.

Spanish Expression: Los pajaros tirandole a las escopetas.
Literal translation: The birds are shooting the shotguns.
Boring English equivalents: The roles are reversed. The worm has turned.
Bonus Talmudic/Greek version: Kategor ya'ahseh sanegor?? (Can the prosecutor be a defender??)

Spanish Expression: Es mejor atajar locos que empujar bobos.
Literal translation: It’s better to tackle lunatics than to push idiots.
Boring English equivalent: Not sure; the meaning is that when it comes to (for example) students or workers, it’s better to have over-enthusiastic ones that you have to restrain than slackers that you have to motivate.

Spanish Expression: Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.
Literal translation: Though you dress a monkey in silk, it’s still a monkey.
Boring English equivalents: You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. A horse that can count to ten is a remarkable horse, not a remarkable mathematician (actually, that one isn’t boring – thanks, Samuel Johnson!)

Spanish Expression: Ganarse indulgencias con Avemarias ajenas.
Literal translation: Gain forgiveness through other people’s Hail Marys.
Boring English equivalent: Not sure; the meaning is to take credit for someone else’s work (riding on someone’s coat-tails?)

Spanish Expression: La miel no esta hecha para la boca del asno.
Literal translation: Honey wasn’t made for the mouth of an ass.
Boring English equivalent: Casting pearls before swine.

Spanish Expression: El que al cielo escupe, a la cara le cae.
Literal translation: If you spit at the sky, it will fall in your face.
Boring English equivalent: I’m not sure if this is a warning against cursing the heavens (i.e. God/fate), or a version of the English saying about not pissing into the wind (i.e. not doing something counterproductive).

Spanish Expression: Trato hecho nunca deshecho.
Literal translation: Deal done and never undone.
Boring English equivalents: It’s a deal. Done and done.

Spanish Expression: Mas peligrosa que un caldo de anzuelos.
Literal translation: More dangerous than a fish-hook soup.
Boring English equivalent: Walking on thin ice.