Ajedrez: jaque, caballo, rey, peón, dama

Spanish idioms with ajedrez (chess)

Idiom Explanation Example
poner en jaque to put someone in a difficult position (literally: to put someone in check) El presidente ruso ha puesto en jaque a toda la Unión Europea.The Russian president has put the EU in a difficult position.
a caballo regalado no le mires el diente
 don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

Sé que no te gusta el jersey que te han traído, pero ya sabes que a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.I know that you don’t like the jumper that they brought you, but you know you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
a rey muerto rey puesto out with the old, in with the new

- El presidente dimitió ayer y hoy hay un nuevo jefe en su despacho.The president stepped down yesterday and today there is a new boss in his office.
- Bueno, ya sabes que a rey muerto rey puesto.Well, you know, out with the old, in with the new.
vivir a cuerpo de rey to live like a king Trabajo como au pair en la casa de una familia muy rica y vivo a cuerpo de rey.I work as an au pair for a very rich family and I live like a king.

Spanish sayings about chess

Saying Explanation Example
Contra peón hecho dama, no para pieza en tabla. someone started from the bottom and rose to the top, but now has no regard for those who remain below Esa modelo empezó trabajando gratis y ahora le quita cualquier trabajo a las modelos de las agencias más prestigiosas. Ya se sabe que contra peón hecho dama, no para pieza en tabla.That model started working for free and now she takes away any job from models from the most prestigious agencies. Well you know, she started from the bottom and forgot about the little people on the way up.
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Exercises C1

Choose the phrase that best fits to each of the sentences.

  1. Lo último que debes hacer es quejarte si alguien te trae algo.The last thing you should do is complain when someone gives you something.
    Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
  2. Empezó trabajando de repartidor y ahora es el encargado de logística. Se ha convertido en un jefe insoportable.He started working as a delivery man and now he is head of logistics. He’s become an unbearable boss.
    He started from the bottom and forgot about the little people on his way up.
  3. El director del banco está en la cárcel y hoy ya ha habido un nuevo nombramiento.The head of the bank is in prison and today they named his successor.
    Out with the old, in with the new.
  4. La huelga de trabajadores ha sido muy secundada.The workers’ strike has been widely supported.
    They’ve put the company in a difficult position.
  5. En mi casa ninguno de mis hijos pueden quejarse. Siempre tienen todo lo que quieren y…In my house none of my children can complain. They always have everything they want and…
    …they live like kings.

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