Besides being one of the five basic elements, water (el agua) is the source of several interesting idioms in Spanish. Let’s check them out!

Agua pasada no mueve molino. – It’s no use crying over spilled milk.

Del agua mansa líbreme Dios, que de la brava me libro yo. – Still waters run deep.

estar más claro que el agua – to be crystal-clear

echar agua en el mar – to carry coals to Newcastle, to take something to a place where there is plenty of it already, (lit.) to throw water in the sea.

coger agua en cesto – to waste one’s time, to labor in vain, (lit.) to pick water in a basket

estar con el agua al cuello – to be up to one’s neck in debt or in problems, (lit.) to have water up to one’s neck

tener a alguien con el agua al cuello – to have someone over a barrel, to put someone in a situation in which they are forced to accept or do what you want

hacérsele a alguien la boca agua – to make someone’s mouth water

venir como agua de mayo – to come at just the right time, to be a godsend

bailar el agua a alguien – to flirt with someone

llevar el agua a su molino – to carry grist to one’s own mill, to turn things to one’s advantage

sacar agua de las piedras/ de un palo seco – to get blood out of a stone, to perform a very difficult task

ser agua pasada – to be water under the bridge, to be a thing of the past

Ha corrido/pasado mucha agua bajo el puente. – a long time has passed

Nunca digas de este agua no beberé. – Never say never

sin decir agua va – out of the blue, without warning.

las aguas vuelven a su cauce – things are settling down, things return to normal

estar entre dos aguas – to sit on the fence, to be undecided

ahogarse en un vaso de agua – to start a tempest in a teapot, to get worked up about nothing

Nos vemos prontito!