Fruit and vegetables idioms

Idioms with fruits and vegetables

What is an Idiom?

Idioms are pre-constructed phrases that have a figured meaning instead of a literal one. In Spanish you may call them 'modismos'. But there is not always an equivalent.

E.g. 'Rome was not built in a day'

'To mix Apples and oranges'

'mezclar peras con manzanas'

Meaning: It is useless to compare things that have nothing to do.

'to be a lemon'

'es una patata'

Meaning: Usually a vehicle, that is worthless or has flaws.

'TO BE THE APPLE OF ONE'S EYE'

'sER EL/la NIÑO/A DE SUS OJOS'

Meaning: It is referred to name a favourite or loved person.

'You are a peach!'

'eres un sol'

Meaning: Somebody (or something) that is very nice, attractive or sweet.

'TO BE like two peas in a pod'

'sER íntimos/as, ser idénticos/as'

Meaning: To be very close with or similar to someone.

'To go/be bananas!'

'Volverse Loco/a, ¡Qué locura!'

Meaning: It is used when somebody is really excited or crazy about something.

'TO be a carrot-top'

'sER una zanahoria'

Meaning: Used to name a redhead person. It is becoming a positive term because readhead community is adopting it.

'To know one's onions'

'Saber/controlar del tema'

Meaning: To be very skilled or know a lot about something.

'TO be a couch potato'

'sER una persona sedentaria'

Meaning: To refer to someone that spends too much time watch television or playing videogames.

'To be in a pickle'

'estar en problemas, en un apuro'

Meaning: To be in a difficult situation.

'TO be a pea-brained'

'sER una cabeza de chorlito'

Meaning: To refer to someone who is stupid.

'To be small potatoes'

'de poca importancia/peccata minuta'

Meaning: Something insignificant compared to more serious issues.

'to not give a fig'

'me importa un pepino/rábano'

Meaning: To not be at all worried or interested in something.

'Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy'

'Ser pan comido/estar chupado'

Meaning: Something really easy to do.

'potato, potato'

'lo mismo me da que me da lo mismo, tanto monta monta tanto'

Meaning: If there is a small difference between what two people are speaking that is not important.

how do we use idioms, then?

As we have seen, these expressions are colloquial and we are supossed to use them in informal contexts (e.g. with friends, family...). They are really good to keep the conversation going or to use language in a more creative way. Do you know any others?

Now it is your turn to look for some new idioms, you can look for the Spanish equivalent as well so you understand and learn it better. There's a lot of them!

See ya Later alligator!