Don't sound like una momia--add a little sizzle to your Spanish!

If someone called you tragaldabas would you be insulted or flattered? If you shouted ¡Mota! in the street, would you expected to get a cab or get arrested? Thanks to The Red-Hot Book of Spanish Slang and Idioms, you'll always know your tejemaneje (scheme) from your merequetengue (mess) no matter where you find yourself in the Spanish-speaking world. Five thousand words and phrases--plus helpful hints as to what's cordial and what's vulgar--keep you in sync with Spanish slang.

Spanish to English

niños popis (upper-class kids) Spoiled brats

Contigo ni a China me voy. (I'm not even going to China with you) You're impossible

La cruda (rawness) Hangover

English to Spanish

Ugly as sin ser un espantapájaro (to be a scarecrow)

To be lucky tener leche (to have milk)

Why are you staring at me? ¿Tengo monos en la cara? (Do I have monkeys on my face?)