AS we probably all know a "bull" in Spanish is un toro, a "bullring" is una plaza de toros and a "bullfight" is una corrida de toros.  On a menu rabo de toro is "bull’s tail", a local dish. But what about expressions like "to take the bull by the horns", "like a bull in a china shop", a "bull market" and "bullshit"?

Well, “to take the bull by the horns” is straightforward, agarrar el toro por los cuernos. But, “a bull in a china shop” becomes an elephant in a glass shop in Spanish: como un elefante en una cristalería, whereas a “bull elephant” or “bull seal”, ie the male of the species, is el macho.  A “bullfrog” is una rana toro. A “bull dog” is un dogo or un buldog and a “bull terrier” is un bulterrier.  A “bulldog clip” is una pinza, which is also the word for a “clothes peg”.

In the world of finance a “bull market” is un mercado en alza, and “to be bullish” is ser optimista.
To “talk a lot of bullshit” is decir sandeces or decir chorradas and a “bullsh**ter” is un fanfarrón or una fanfarrona. 
The “bull’s-eye” on a target is el blanco, so “to hit the bull’s-eye” is dar en el blanco.  A “bull’s-eye” is also un caramel de menta, a uniquely British sweet, of course.

The Spanish word toro occurs in a number of idiomatic expressions.  Echar el toro a alguien means “to give someone a severe dressing down”.  Es un toro corrido means “he’s an old hand at it” or “an old fox”.

Ciertos son los toros means  “It turns out that it’s true”.

Ver los toros desde la barrera means “to stand on the sidelines” or “to remain uncommitted”. At school if un alumno hace toros means “a pupil is playing truant”. And Toro with a capital “t” is the sign of the zodiac “Taurus”.

© Don Pablo

Don Pablo is Paul Whitelock, a graduate in Spanish and German, a retired Ofsted school inspector and former UK languages teacher. He now lives with his German wife near Ronda and is a freelance journalist, translator and interpreter. Paul can be contacted by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone on (+34) 952 87 40 38 or (+34) 636 52 75 16. www.a1-solutions-spain.com 

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Don Pablo: Bullish Talk in Spain
Thursday, 02 December 2010
AS we probably all know a "bull" in Spanish is un toro, a "bullring" is una plaza de toros and a "bullfight" is...

© 2012 - Secret Andalucia - Guadiaro Valley, near Ronda

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