"Tela marinera" = Sailor cloth*

To be tricky or difficult "Ese problema tiene tela marinera" "La niña tiene tela marinera" Sometimes people only use "tela" with the right intonation and gestures..."Tela!" "Tela" on its own can also be used with other figurative meanings "dough, money" (1), "work" (2) or "a lot" (3) "Cuesta tela"(1) "Hay tela para rato" (2) "Está lloviendo tela" (3)

"Y un jamón" = And a ham*

Yeah right! "Dice que no sabe nada... ¡y un jamón!"

"Tener una empanada mental" = To have a mental pie*

To be confused "Esa tía me pone nerviosa. Tiene una empanada mental que no se sabe ni lo que quiere" No sé qué hacer. Tengo una empanada mental que no me aclaro"

"Costar un riñón" = To cost a kidney*

To cost an arm and a leg "Ese ordenador cuesta un riñón. No me lo puedo permitir"

"Naranjas de la china" = Chinese oranges*

come off it! No way! showing disbelief.

"Pringado" = Stained*

Loser, wretch "Vaya dos pringados, ¿dónde vais?" "Tu amigo ese no cae bien a nadie. Es un pringado" Some people alternate this term with "pagafantas" (fanta-payer literally, but that is more restrictive as it implies being a loser with women so that you are only good to pay for their refreshments) As a verb, apart from "making dirty" (meaning 1),"pringar" also means to work hard, or make someone to work hard (meaning 2) "Maldita pintura, me he pringado toda la mano" (meaning 1) "Llevo todo el día pringado en la oficina" (meaning 2) "Me voy porque quieren que me pringue en el proyecto y yo paso" (meaning 2)

"Estar forrado(a)"= to be lined*/covered*

to be well-heeled, be well-off "Mi amiga no tiene problemas de dinero. Está forrada" "Se pueden permitir unas buenas vaciones. Están forrados"

"Fantasma" = Ghost*

Obviously, we are not referring to a spirit, but to a show-off. It is used for men especially. "Qué fantasma, dice que tiene tres coches y dos casas" "No creas nada de lo que te dice, es un fantasma"

"Partir la bacalá" = Cut the dried salted codfish*

To be the one in charge or in control. ¿Quién es el que parte /corta la bacalá aquí? ¡Él es el que corta el bacalao en su casa!

"Tener cuento" = To have story*

It is said of a person who exaggerates or recreates things to attract people's attention. It is very common to say "Tiene más cuento que Callejas" (Callejas being a famous story teller) If the story is unbelievable or full of fantasay we say it is a "cuento chino" (cock and bull story) ¡Ni caso! Tiene más cuento (que Callejas"... Eso es un cuento chino. No hay quien se lo crea.

"Dormirse en los laureles" = To fall asleep in the laurels*

To relax or disregard an activity, usually leading to neglecting an obligation. "Es época de exámenes, no puedo dormirme en los laureles" "Esta chica es imposible, se duerme en los laureles y nunca acaba los trabajos a tiempo"

"Partir la pana" = To break the corduroy*

To stand out in a positive way. It is also said of the person who is in charge and makes decisions. In this second meaning, the expression reminds us to "cortar/partir la bacalá", as they both mean the same. "Esa canción parte la pana. Será un éxito, ya verás" "Vas partiendo la pana con ese disfraz" "Eres una fiera porque entras partiendo la pana" (From Estopa's song)

"Tener un día de perros" = To have a dogs' day

Have a terrible day vs "Tener un día redondo" (a great day). When people use this expression to refer to bad weather (bad hair's day, the expression changes slightly to "HACER un día de perros".

"Pasarlo pipa" = Have a sunflower seed time*

It is a definitely strange expression meaning Have a fantastic time. "Pasarlo bomba" (to have a whale of a time) is another alternative expression. This is a picture I took myself from one shopwindow. Quite plastic!

"Fuimos juntos de compras y luego al teatro. Lo pasamos pipa." "Los niños en la piscina se lo pasan pipa."