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07 Idioms with Verb “Estar” Posted by on Dec 2, 2013 in Spanish Vocabulary

Hello, there!

It’s a rainy Monday here in Bebedouro (Brazil) and I’ve decided to share seven very cool and useful idioms in Spanish with verb “estar”.

Are you ready?

Let’s do this!

01. Estar a la altura – to live up to one’s expectations; to be worth it

Tenía muy buenas referencias, pero su trabajo no estaba a la altura.
He had very good references, but his work didn’t live up to it.

El curso era caro, pero estaba a la altura.
The course was expensive, but it was worth it.

02. Estar de racha – to be in a spell of good luck

Ha ganado todas las partidas que ha jugado; está de racha últimamente.
He’s won all the mathces he’s played; he’s been very lucky lately.

Estoy de racha: dos propuestas de empleo en un solo dia.
I’ve been lucky: two job proposals in only one day.

03. Estar en las nubes – to be daydreaming

No te va a contestar; ahora mismo está en las nubes.
He’s not going to answer; he’s daydreaming right now.

Cuando llegó el jefe estaba en las nubes y lo regañó.
When he boss arrived he wa daydreaming and told him off.

04. Estar en las últimas – to be dying; to be extremely tired

El pobre está en las últimas.
The poor man is dying.

Lucía está en las últimas, y no sé si podrá llegar a la meta.
Lucía is extremely tired and I don’t know if she’ll be able to reach her goal.

05. Estar en paz – to be even

Tú me pegaste primero, y después yo a ti, así que estamos en paz.
You hit me first, then I hit you, so we’re even.

Con esto termino de pagarte lo que te debía, así que ya estamos en paz.
I finish paying what I owe you now, so we’re even.

06. Estar encima de alguien – to breathe down someone’s neck

Mis padres están siempre encima de mí, controlando lo que hago.
My parents are always breathing down my neck, controlling what I do.

Los profesores tenemos que estar encima de los alumnos para que estudien.
We, as teachers, need to breathe down students’ necks so they will study.

07. Estar enganchado a algo – to be hooked/addicted on something

Estoy enganchada a la nueva telenovela desde el primer capítulo.
I’ve been hooked on the new soap opera since the first episode.

Se ve que estás enganchado a Facebook.
You’re obviously hooked on Facebook.

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About the Author: Adir

English / Spanish teacher and translator for over 20 years. I have been blogging since 2007 and I am also a professional singer in my spare time.