
IdiomThe Absurd
Spanish
viva estampa
Meaning: An exact likeness; someone or something that looks exactly like another.
Literally: Living picture
Example: “Esa niña es la viva estampa de su madre.” — That little girl is the spitting image of her mother.
English equivalent: The spitting image
Equivalents in other languages
English: spitting image
Origin: An estampa is a printed image, and a living one is a likeness so close it could be the original come to life. Ser la viva estampa de alguien is to be their spitting image, usually said of a child and a parent; Spanish also says ser la viva imagen.
More Spanish idioms
- de un plumazo suddenly or in a single swift action, as if accomplished with one stroke of a pen.
- mal trago a difficult or unpleasant experience; a bitter pill to swallow.
- en dos patadas very easily or effortlessly.
- ni a tiros absolutely not; under no circumstances.
- a la buena de Dios To proceed carelessly or without proper planning, leaving the outcome to chance or fate.
- con pies de plomo To proceed with extreme caution or wariness; to tread carefully in a delicate situation.
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