Estar como una cabra
Meaning: To be completely crazy.
Language: Spanish
Literally: To be like a goat
Category: Animals
Origin: Grew out of direct rural observation: Spanish farmers and shepherds, working closely with goats alongside more placid farm animals like sheep and cattle, noted how much more unpredictable and erratic goats' behavior could be by comparison — genuinely more prone to sudden, chaotic movement. Young goat kids in particular are known for near-constant frantic activity, reinforcing the association, and goats' habit of ramoneo — browsing on shrubs, brambles, and other unlikely vegetation most grazing animals avoid — added to their reputation for behaving strangely. "Estar como una cabra," comparing an eccentric or unpredictable person to a goat, grew naturally out of this everyday rural familiarity with the animal's genuinely erratic habits.
Equivalents in other languages
- English: mad as a box of frogs — literally: mad as a box of frogs
- Danish: At gå agurk — literally: To go cucumber
- Afrikaans: Hy is van sy trollie af — literally: He's off his trolley
More idioms — Animals
- Meter la pata — To make a blunder or put your foot in it.
- In bocca al lupo — Good luck! (replied with 'Crepi!' — may it die).
- Chi dorme non piglia pesci — You snooze, you lose.
- 우물 안 개구리 (Umul an gaeguri) — Someone with a narrow, limited worldview.
- 꿩 먹고 알 먹고 (Kkwong meokgo al meokgo) — Getting two benefits from one action.
- Когда рак на горе свистнет (Kogda rak na gore svistnet) — When pigs fly; never.
More Spanish idioms
- Tirar la casa por la ventana — To spare no expense; to go all out.
- Tomar el pelo — To pull someone's leg; to tease.
- Ponerse las botas — To stuff yourself with food or to profit greatly.
- estar en la luna de Valencia — Completely distracted or absent-minded, oblivious to what's happening around you.
- irse por los cerros de Úbeda — To digress or wander off-topic during conversation without purpose or reason.
- comerse un rosco — To fail completely or strike out; to get nothing at all in a romantic or competitive cont…
From our compliments & insults
- Eres un aguafiestas — You're a killjoy — you pour cold water on everyone's fun the moment you arrive.
- ¡Qué cara más dura! — You've got incredible nerve and cheek — the audacity is almost impressive.
- Es un/una pesado/a — A dreadful bore — their company feels like carrying extra weight.