IdiomThe AbsurdSpanish

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

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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