Animals expressions in Spanish

A list of useful idioms with animals

Spanish vocabulary

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estar como una cabra		to be as mad as a hatter
ser la oveja negra		to be the black sheep
ser mono		to be cute
ponerse gallito		to get cocky
ser más pesado/a que una vaca en brazos		to be a pain in the neck
tener pájaros en la cabeza		to have bats in the belfry/be away with the fairies
por si las moscas		just in case
llevarse como el perro y el gato		to fight like cat and dog
ser cuatro gatos		to not be numerous, hardly anyone present
¿Qué mosca te ha picado?		what's wrong with you?
estar todo el pescado vendido		it's over/finished/decided
comportarse como un cerdo		to behave like a pig
caerle la del pulpo		to get clobbered
no ver tres en un burro		to be as blind as a bat
pagar el pato		to take the rap/blame
tener memoria de elefante		to have the memory of an elephant
sentir mariposas en el estómago		To feel butterflies in the stomach
a otra cosa mariposa		it's time to move on
moverse como pez en el agua		like a fish in water - to be at ease/ comfortable
ir a paso de tortuga		to go at a snail's pace
a caballo regalado no le mires el diente		don't look a gift horse in the mouth
estar hecho un toro		to be as strong as an ox
lágrimas de cocodrilo		crocodile tears
los tortolitos		lovebirds
no ser moco de pavo		be no mean feat