🗣️ Native Fluency & Slang
Essential Verb Idioms
Real conversational fluency isn't just about conjugation tables—it's about knowing how native speakers use verbs colorfully.
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Verb: tomar
Tomar el pelo
Literal: "To take someone’s hair"
Meaning: To pull someone’s leg / to tease
Example: ¿Me estás tomando el pelo?
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Verb: costar
Costar un ojo de la cara
Literal: "To cost an eye of the face"
Meaning: To cost an arm and a leg
Example: Ese coche nuevo le costó un ojo de la cara.
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Verb: avoir
Avoir le cafard
Literal: "To have the cockroach"
Meaning: To feel down / have the blues
Example: Il pleut tout le temps, j’ai le cafard.
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Verb: poser
Poser un lapin
Literal: "To put down a rabbit"
Meaning: To stand someone up on a date
Example: Elle m’a posé un lapin au restaurant.
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Verb: drücken
Die Daumen drücken
Literal: "To press the thumbs"
Meaning: To cross fingers / wish good luck
Example: Ich drücke dir die Daumen für die Prüfung!
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Verb: verstehen
Nur Bahnhof verstehen
Literal: "To only understand train station"
Meaning: It’s all Greek to me / no clue
Example: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.
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Verb: avere
Avere le mani bucate
Literal: "To have pierced hands"
Meaning: To be a big spender / shopaholic
Example: Marco spende tutto, ha le mani bucate.
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Verb: bite
Bite the bullet
Literal: "To bite on a lead bullet"
Meaning: To face a tough situation bravely
Example: I have to bite the bullet and tell the truth.