Los modismos, proverbios, refranes y expresiones en inglés son una parte importante del inglés cotidiano. Los escucharas en películas y programas de televisión y podrá usarlos para que su inglés suene más natural como el de un hablante nativo.
Conocer algunos de estos refranes siempre es recomendable y positivo para todo estudiante de inglés, tanto si tu objetivo es aprender y practicar tu inglés oral, como si buscas obtener un certificado oficial como Cambridge o Aptis. Son especialmente recomendables si buscas certificar los niveles de B1, B2 o C1, puesto que aportarán un plus a tu calificación de speaking al mostrar variedad y naturalidad en tu examen oral.
Si buscas un aprender inglés de forma flexible y eficaz cuándo y dónde tú quieras, que te permita obtener tu certificado sin arriesgar, echa una vistazo a nuestros cursos de inglés online, o visita nuestra academia de inglés en Granada recuerda que puedes probarlos gratis.
Proverbios y refranes en inglés y español
A continuación tienes el listado con la recopilación de los 60 mejores refranes en inglés, traducidos al español y con ejemplos para que los incorpores a tu vocabulario y consigas que tu inglés suene nativo.
| IDIOMS – REFRANES | TRADUCCIÓN Y EJEMPLOS |
|---|---|
| Every cloud has a silver lining | No hay mal que por bien no venga Example: Though he had failed his exam, he realized that every cloud has a silver lining, as now he could focus his attention on things he loves doing |
| A Stitch in time saves nine | Más vale prevenir que curar Example: Deal with the problem now. Remember that Stitch in time saves nine |
| When life gives you lemon, make lemonade | Si la vida te da palos, construye Ex: However you are young, you must not quit. Life is not always a bed of roses; when it gives you lemons |
| A hard nut to crack | Hueso duro de roer Ex:I gave my best to be friendly with her, but she is simply a hard nut to crack |
| By the skin of your teeth | Por los pelos Ex: We managed to finish the project on time by the skin of our teeth |
| Hold your horses | Tranquilo Ex: Hold your horses a minute and take a look at this page |
| Bite off more than you can chew | Quien mucho abarca poco aprieta Ex: By accepting two part-time Jobs he is clearly bitting off more than he can chew |
| All ears | Prestar atención Ex: Children are all ears when the teacher tells them fairytales |
| Get someone’s goat | Fastidiar Ex: The way she is always correcting other people really gets my goat |
| Get your duck in a row | Poner tus cosas en orden Ex: I told you to get your duck in a row before starting |
| A picture is worn a thousand words | Una imagen vale más que mil palabras Ex: Such a beautiful portrait of a little girl represents how a picture is worth a thousand words |
| A piece of cake | Fácil Ex: The exam was a piece of cake. I’m sure I’ll get a good mark |
| Born with a silver spoon in your mouth | Nacer con un pan bajo el brazo Ex: He does not need this job as much as I do; he is born with a silver spoon in his mouth |
| Bread and butter | Sustento Ex: You have to earn your own bread and butter |
| Break the ice | Romper el hielo Ex: It’s always easier to break the ice after I’ve had a few drinks |
| Break a leg | Suerte Ex: You have a test tomorrow. Break a leg! |
| Better late than never | Más vale tarde que nunca Ex: We’ve been waiting for you for three hours, but better late than never. |
| Can judge a book by its covers | No puedes juzgar por las apariencias Ex: The candidate doesn’t look very promising, but you can’t judge a book by its cover |
| Cross that bridge when it comes to it | Tratar el problema en su momento Ex: The job interview is a week away, so I’m not worried about it yet. I will cross the brige when I come to it |
| Chasing Rainbows | Perseguir tus sueños intentando conseguir algo que no es alcanzable. Ex: I understand you want to be a famous actress, but don’t chase rainbows. You are not a good actress! |
| Cool as a cucumber | Tranquilo y relajado Ex: How could the murderer be as cool as a cucumber after commiting such serious crimes? |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Costar una fortuna Ex: I want to buy a house on the beach but it might cost an arm and a leg |
| Cry over spilled milk | Lamentarse de algo que no se puede cambiar Example: It’s no use crying over spilled milk. It was a bad decision. |
| Draw a longbow | Exagerar Ex: Agueda is drawing a longbow. Do you believe her at all? |
| Easier said than done | Es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo Ex: It’s a lot tougher than that. It’s one of those things that are easier said than done. |
| Eat like a bird | Comer muy poquito Ex: You are eating like a bird and need to put on weigth. |
| Feeling under the weather | Estar enfermo Ex: I have my driving licence test, but I’m feeling under the weather. |
| Much water has flowed under the bridge since then | Ha llovido mucho desde entonces Ex: Last year’s dispute is water under the bridge now |
| Once in a blue moon | Muy de vez en cuando Ex: Once in a blue moon he’d call, but for months at a time we heard nothing. |
| Find your feet | Familiarizarse con una situación Ex: I’m new to this city, so I’m still finding my feet. |
| Food for thought | Dar en que pensar Ex: The teacher’s advice certainly gave me food for thought. |
| Give a shoot | Intentar Ex: I’m not prepared for my exam today. I will give it a shot. |
| Hit the sack/ lay | Irse a dormir Ex: It’s one o’clock it’s time to he the sack. |
| Hit the nail on the head | Dar en el clavo Ex: James hit the nail on the head when he said all the students were prepared to take their B2 official exam. |
| Hold one’s peace | Estar callado Ex: I knew that anything I said would just make her angry, so I decided to hold my peace. . |
| It is not rocket science | No es difícil Ex: Driving a car isn’t rocket science. I don’t understand why people don’t drive better. |
| Keep your chin up | Ser valiente Ex: Keep your chin up! Everything will work out for you the best |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Matar dos pájaros de un tiro Ex: Cycling to work kills two birds with one stone. It saves money and gives you some exercise. |
| Birds of a feather flock together | Dios los cría y ellos se juntan Ex: I love to talk to people who know about the computers, do you know that birds of a feather flock together? |
| To know about the birds and the bees | Saber sobre la vida Ex: He is twenty years old and doesn’t know about the birds and the bees |
| Lose your marbles | Volverse loco Ex: I’ve been so bad lately that I thought I’m losing my marbles. |
| Never in a million years | Nunca Ex: Never in a million year did I think I would actually win the lottery |
| Make a long story short | Contar algo brevemente Ex: To make a long story short, I had a wonderful time during my vacation. |
| One cloud nine | Estar en el séptimo cielo Ex: Susan is on cloud nine since she got married. |
| Penny for your thoughts | Pagaría lo que fuese por tus pensamientos Ex: You seem so serious. A penny for your thoughts. |
| To pull someone’s leg | Tomar el pelo a alguien Ex: I think he was just pulling your leg when he said you’ve fallen in the exam. |
| Rain cats and dogs | Llover a cantaros Ex: It’s raining cats and dogs. I’m worried about my kids as they hadn’t taken their umbrella |
| Speak of the devil | Hablando del rey de Roma por la puerta asoma Ex: Did you hear what happened to Anne yesterday? Oh, speak of the devil, there she is |
| Spill the beans | Divulgar Ex: we’ll all be able to be there at 6 for the surprise party-now don’t spill the beans! |
| That’s the last straw | Es la gota que colma el vaso Ex: It had been a difficult wee, so when the car broke down, it was the last Straw |
| To have sticky fingers | Ser un ladrón Ex: The manager fired his employee because he had sticky fingers. He stole 1000€ |
| To zip your lips | Guardar un secreto Ex: I will tell your a secret about the teacher but zip your lips about it |
| Once bitten, twice shy | Gato escaldado del agua fría huye Ex: Once beaten twice shy. I’m really worried about of using elevator again since I was stuck into it for hours |
| Save for a rainy day | Guardarlo para tiempos peores Ex: I’ve never really had any financial problems because my parents taught me from a young age how to budget and save for a rainy day. |
| Don’t count chicken before they hatch | Vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo Ex: She wanted to buy a dress in case she was invited to the party, but I told her not to count her chickens before they hatched . |
| What goes round, comes round | Recibes lo que das Ex: I feel a little sorry for her but I guess she never helped anyone and what goes around comes round |
| One bitten, twice shy | El hombre es el único animal que tropieza dos veces con la misma piedra. Ex: Once bitten, twice shy. Since my little sister fell from the swing, she doesn’t like swinging it anymore |
| go bananas | Emocionarse o enfurecerse Ex: The spectators went bananas when the match began. |
| Monkey business | Trapichear Ex: Come on boys, let’s cut out the monkey business and get down to work |
| Get up on the wrong side of the bed | Levantarte con el pie izquierdo Ex: You better avoid the boss today. He got up on the wrong side of the bed |
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María Castro
Directora General de The Globe
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