Talking about work in Spanish is not just trabajar /tɾaβaˈxaɾ/ — to work — and tener reuniones /teˈneɾ reuˈnjo.nes/ — to have meetings. Native speakers love modismos de trabajo /moˈðiz.mos ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ — work idioms — to complain about deadlines, gossip about the boss, or celebrate a promotion.
In this guide, you’ll learn natural expressions like estar hasta el cuello de trabajo /esˈtaɾ ˈas.ta el ˈkwe.ʝo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ — to be up to your neck in work — and ponerse las pilas /poˈneɾ.se las ˈpi.las/ — to get your act together. You’ll see what they mean, when to use them, and how to sound like a real coworker instead of a lost intern.
By the end, you’ll be able to describe how busy you are, how a project is going, who’s helping, and who is completely useless… all in Spanish.
Quick Primer
First, some basic words:
- modismo /moˈðiz.mo/ — idiom
- expresión coloquial /eks.pɾeˈsjon ko.lo.kjaˈal/ — colloquial expression
- ambiente de trabajo /amˈbjen.te ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ — work environment
Idioms are expressions whose meaning you can’t guess literally. If someone says:
María se puso las pilas /maˈɾi.a se ˈpu.so las ˈpi.las/
they are not putting batteries in María. It means “María got moving / started working hard.”
Many work idioms are informal. You can use most of them with coworkers and friends, but you might soften them with your boss or in very formal situations.
Essential Everyday Work Idioms
These are the “daily use” idioms you’ll hear in almost any office or workplace.
Spanish | IPA | English
estar hasta el cuello de trabajo | /esˈtaɾ ˈas.ta el ˈkwe.ʝo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ | to be up to your neck in work
tener mucho lío | /teˈneɾ ˈmu.tʃo ˈli.o/ | to be in a mess / very busy
tener mucho trabajo | /teˈneɾ ˈmu.tʃo tɾaˈβa.xo/ | to have a lot of work
estar a tope | /esˈtaɾ a ˈto.pe/ | to be at full capacity / very busy
tener una reunión tras otra | /teˈneɾ ˈu.na reu.njoˈtɾas ˈo.tɾa/ | to have one meeting after another
Examples:
Hoy estoy hasta el cuello de trabajo, no puedo salir a comer.
/oj esˈtoj ˈas.ta el ˈkwe.ʝo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo no ˈpwe.ðo saˈliɾ a koˈmeɾ/
Today I’m up to my neck in work; I can’t go out for lunch.
Esta semana estamos a tope con el nuevo proyecto.
/ˈes.ta seˈma.na esˈta.mos a ˈto.pe kon el ˈnwe.βo pɾoˈʝek.to/
This week we’re slammed with the new project.
Usage note:
Tener mucho lío literally means “to have a lot of mess,” but in context it’s “I’ve got a lot going on,” especially at work.
Idioms About Being Busy, Stressed, Or Burnt Out
The emotional core of office life: saying you have way too much to do.
Spanish | IPA | English
no dar abasto | /no ðaɾ aˈβas.to/ | not to be able to keep up
estar hasta arriba de trabajo | /esˈtaɾ as.ta aˈri.βa ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ | to be overloaded with work
estar agobiado / agobiada | /esˈtaɾ a.ɣoˈβja.ðo, a.ɣoˈβja.ða/ | to be overwhelmed
estar quemado / quemada | /esˈtaɾ keˈma.ðo, keˈma.ða/ | to be burned out
trabajar a destajo | /tɾaβaˈxaɾ a ðesˈta.xo/ | to work flat out / piecework
Example sentences:
Con tantos pedidos no damos abasto.
/kon ˈtan.tos peˈðiðos no ˈða.mos aˈβas.to/
With so many orders we can’t keep up.
Después de tres meses así, estoy quemada.
/desˈpwes ðe tɾes ˈme.ses aˈsi esˈtoj keˈma.ða/
After three months like this, I’m burned out.
Usage notes:
- No dar abasto literally “not to give enough,” means you can’t handle the workload.
- Estar quemado is informal but very common for feeling “fried” or “burnt out” at work.
Idioms About Effort, Initiative, And Teamwork
Now the positive (and slightly passive-aggressive) side: getting things done, or asking others to do so.
Spanish | IPA | English
ponerse las pilas | /poˈneɾ.se las ˈpi.las/ | to get your act together / start working hard
arrimar el hombro | /a.rriˈmaɾ el ˈom.bɾo/ | to lend a hand / pull your weight
echar una mano | /eˈtʃaɾ ˈu.na ˈma.no/ | to give a hand / help
sacar el trabajo adelante | /saˈkaɾ el tɾaˈβa.xo aðeˈlan.te/ | to get the work done / move things forward
dar el máximo | /ðaɾ el ˈmak.si.mo/ | to give your best
Examples:
Si queremos terminar hoy, todos tenemos que ponernos las pilas.
/si keˈɾe.mos teɾmiˈnaɾ oj ˈto.ðos teˈne.mos ke poˈneɾ.nos las ˈpi.las/
If we want to finish today, we all need to get moving.
Gracias por arrimar el hombro con el informe.
/ˈɡɾa.sjas poɾ a.rriˈmaɾ el ˈom.bɾo kon el inˈfoɾ.me/
Thanks for lending a hand with the report.
Usage notes:
- Ponerse las pilas can be friendly or a bit sharp, depending on tone. With coworkers you know, it’s often playful; with your boss, maybe not.
- Arrimar el hombro pictures everyone putting a shoulder in to push together — great for teamwork talk.
Idioms About Problems, Mistakes, And Office Drama
Because sometimes things go wrong. Very wrong.
Spanish | IPA | English
meter la pata | /meˈteɾ la ˈpa.ta/ | to mess up / put your foot in it
cargar con el muerto | /kaɾˈɣaɾ kon el ˈmweɾ.to/ | to take the blame / be stuck with the problem
quedarse sin palabras | /keˈðaɾ.se sim paˈla.βɾas/ | to be left speechless
estar en las nubes | /esˈtaɾ en las ˈnu.βes/ | to have your head in the clouds / be spaced out
apagar fuegos | /a.paˈɣaɾ ˈfwe.ɣos/ | to put out fires (figuratively)
Examples:
Ayer metí la pata en la reunión con el jefe.
/aˈʝeɾ meˈti la ˈpa.ta en la reu.njoˈn kon el ˈxe.fe/
Yesterday I messed up in the meeting with the boss.
Siempre estoy apagando fuegos porque otros no hacen su parte.
/ˈsjem.pɾe esˈtoj a.paˈɣan.do ˈfwe.ɣos poɾˈke ˈo.tɾos no ˈa.sen su ˈpaɾ.te/
I’m always putting out fires because others don’t do their part.
Usage notes:
- Meter la pata is the classic “I screwed up” idiom, used for work mistakes and social faux pas.
- Cargar con el muerto is informal and slightly dark (“carry the dead guy”), used when someone gets unfairly blamed or left with a mess.
Idioms For Success, Results, And Money
Time to sound impressive when things go well or when the company likes money a little too much.
Spanish | IPA | English
ir viento en popa | /iɾ ˈbjen.to en ˈpo.pa/ | to be going very well (lit. “with the wind in the sails”)
dar buenos resultados | /ðaɾ ˈbwe.nos ɾesulˈta.ðos/ | to give good results
cerrar un trato | /θeˈraɾ, seˈraɾ un ˈtɾa.to/ | to close a deal
subir como la espuma | /suˈβiɾ ˈko.mo la esˈpu.ma/ | to rise very fast (lit. “like foam”)
apretarse el cinturón | /a.pɾeˈtaɾ.se el θin.tuˈɾon/ | to tighten one’s belt (save money)
Examples:
Este trimestre la venta online va viento en popa.
/ˈes.te tɾiˈmes.tɾe la ˈben.ta onˈlajn βa ˈbjen.to en ˈpo.pa/
This quarter, online sales are going really well.
Con la crisis, la empresa tuvo que apretarse el cinturón.
/kon la ˈkɾi.sis la emˈpɾe.sa ˈtu.βo ke a.pɾeˈtaɾ.se el θin.tuˈɾon, sin.tuˈɾon/
With the crisis, the company had to tighten its belt.
Usage notes:
- Ir viento en popa is positive but neutral enough for work emails and presentations.
- Subir como la espuma is great for talking about numbers shooting up: sales, downloads, views.
Region Notes
Most of these modismos de trabajo are widely understood across the Spanish-speaking world, but there are some regional flavors:
- In Spain, estar a tope /esˈtaɾ a ˈto.pe/ is very common for “being super busy or full.” In Latin America, people may prefer estar lleno de trabajo /esˈtaɾ ˈʝe.no ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ — to be full of work.
- In many Latin American countries, chamba /ˈtʃam.ba/ is an informal word for “work” or “job”: No tengo chamba — I don’t have a job. It’s slang, not standard, but very common.
- For “to be unemployed,” you might hear estar en el paro /esˈtaɾ en el ˈpa.ɾo/ in Spain and estar sin trabajo /esˈtaɾ sim tɾaˈβa.xo/ or estar desempleado / desempleada /desempleˈa.ðo, desempleˈa.ða/ in Latin America.
When in doubt, the idioms in the tables above are safe, neutral choices you can use in most countries.
Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Too Much Work
Esta semana no doy abasto.
/ˈes.ta seˈma.na no ðoj aˈβas.to/
I can’t keep up this week.
¿Por qué?
/poɾ ˈke/
Why?
Tengo reuniones todo el día y estoy hasta el cuello de trabajo.
/ˈten.ɡo reu.njoˈnes ˈto.ðo el ˈdi.a i esˈtoj ˈas.ta el ˈkwe.ʝo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/
I have meetings all day and I’m up to my neck in work.
Si quieres, mañana te echo una mano.
/si ˈkje.ɾes maˈɲa.na te ˈe.tʃo ˈu.na ˈma.no/
If you want, tomorrow I’ll give you a hand.
Dialogue 2: Needing More Effort
El informe va muy retrasado.
/el inˈfoɾ.me βa ˈmu.i ɾetɾaˈsa.ðo/
The report is very delayed.
Ya lo sé, tenemos que ponernos las pilas.
/ʝa lo ˈse teˈne.mos ke poˈneɾ.nos las ˈpi.las/
I know, we need to get our act together.
Si todos arrimamos el hombro, lo sacamos adelante hoy.
/si ˈto.ðos a.rriˈma.mos el ˈom.bɾo lo saˈka.mos aðeˈlan.te oj/
If we all pull our weight, we’ll get it done today.
Dialogue 3: A Project Going Well
¿Cómo va el nuevo proyecto?
/ˈko.mo βa el ˈnwe.βo pɾoˈʝek.to/
How is the new project going?
La verdad, va viento en popa.
/la βeɾˈðað βa ˈbjen.to en ˈpo.pa/
Honestly, it’s going really well.
Desde enero los números suben como la espuma.
/ˈdes.ðe eˈne.ɾo los ˈnu.me.ɾos ˈsu.βen ˈko.mo la esˈpu.ma/
Since January the numbers have been rising really fast.
Genial, el jefe va a estar encantado.
/xenˈjal el ˈxe.fe βa a esˈtaɾ en.kanˈta.ðo/
Great, the boss is going to be delighted.
Quick Reference
Spanish | IPA | English
modismo de trabajo | /moˈðiz.mo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ | work idiom
estar hasta el cuello de trabajo | /esˈtaɾ ˈas.ta el ˈkwe.ʝo ðe tɾaˈβa.xo/ | to be up to your neck in work
no dar abasto | /no ðaɾ aˈβas.to/ | not to be able to keep up
estar a tope | /esˈtaɾ a ˈto.pe/ | to be at full capacity / slammed
estar quemado / quemada | /esˈtaɾ keˈma.ðo, keˈma.ða/ | to be burned out
ponerse las pilas | /poˈneɾ.se las ˈpi.las/ | to get your act together
arrimar el hombro | /a.rriˈmaɾ el ˈom.bɾo/ | to lend a hand / pull your weight
echar una mano | /eˈtʃaɾ ˈu.na ˈma.no/ | to give a hand / help
sacar el trabajo adelante | /saˈkaɾ el tɾaˈβa.xo aðeˈlan.te/ | to get the work done / move things forward
meter la pata | /meˈteɾ la ˈpa.ta/ | to mess up / put your foot in it
apagar fuegos | /a.paˈɣaɾ ˈfwe.ɣos/ | to put out fires (figuratively)
ir viento en popa | /iɾ ˈbjen.to en ˈpo.pa/ | to be going very well
subir como la espuma | /suˈβiɾ ˈko.mo la esˈpu.ma/ | to rise very fast
cerrar un trato | /seˈraɾ un ˈtɾa.to/ | to close a deal
apretarse el cinturón | /a.pɾeˈtaɾ.se el θin.tuˈɾon, sin.tuˈɾon/ | to tighten one’s belt
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Choose five idioms from the Quick Reference table and write one Spanish sentence for each, using work or study as your context.
- Record a short “how my week is going” update in Spanish, using at least two idioms about being busy or stressed (for example estar hasta el cuello de trabajo, no dar abasto).
- Take Mini Dialogue 2 and change the details: swap informe for proyecto, change the verb (for example va muy retrasado → va fatal), and read it aloud.
- Look at your real schedule and write three lines starting with Esta semana… using different idioms: one for being busy, one for teamwork, one for results.
- Turn two English sentences into Spanish using idioms:
- “I’m completely overwhelmed today.”
- “If we all help, we’ll get it done.”
- “I’m completely overwhelmed today.”
- Tomorrow, try dropping one idiom into a text or chat with a Spanish-speaking friend, tutor, or language partner and note how they react.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Work idioms are like the office gossip of the language: once you know them, you suddenly understand what everyone’s really saying about deadlines, bosses, and burnout. Learn a handful of these expressions, reuse them in your weekly “how’s work?” stories, and soon you’ll sound less like a walking textbook and more like the coworker everyone actually wants to complain with in Spanish.