Spanish is a language rich in expressions and idioms that make communication more natural and expressive. Among the many verbs we use figuratively, “tirar” stands out for its versatility.
Not only does it mean to throw something, but in different contexts, it can also indicate waste, effort, distance, or even deception.
In this article, we will explore the most common expressions with “tirar” in Spanish, explaining their meaning and use with clear examples so that you can easily integrate them into your vocabulary.
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Why is it important to learn expressions with “tirar”?
Learning idioms with the verb “tirar” will improve your understanding of spoken and written Spanish. These phrases are frequently used in Spain, and mastering them will help you express yourself more naturally.
In addition, many of these expressions have a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from the literal meaning of the verb “tirar”, so knowing them will help you avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
Most common expressions with the verb “tirar” in Spanish
There are many Spanish expressions with “tirar”, but here we will focus on the most commonly used ones. Keep reading to see what they are, their meaning, and how to use them correctly.
Tirar la toalla
This expression is used when someone gives up or abandons a task because they can no longer continue or feel defeated. It is used in personal, work-related, and sports contexts.
Examples:
- Después de varios intentos fallidos, Juan decidió tirar la toalla y dejar el curso de alemán. (After several failed attempts, Juan decided to throw in the towel and quit the German course)
- No puedes tirar la toalla ahora, sigue intentándolo. (You can’t throw in the towel now — keep trying)
- Aunque el partido estaba complicado, el equipo no tiró la toalla y logró empatar. (Even though the match was difficult, the team didn’t throw in the towel and managed to equalize)
- Estuve a punto de tirar la toalla, pero mi familia me animó a seguir. (I was about to throw in the towel, but my family encouraged me to keep going)
Tirar de la lengua
This expression is used when someone tries to get information out of another person in an insistent or subtle way. It can be used in informal conversations and in situations where someone is trying to uncover a secret.
Examples:
- Mi hermana intentó tirarme de la lengua para saber qué le regalaría en su cumpleaños. (My sister tried to get me to talk so she could find out what I was going to give her for her birthday)
- No me tires de la lengua porque no quiero meterme en problemas. (Don’t try to get me to talk — I don’t want to get into trouble)
- Intentaron tirarle de la lengua, pero no dijo nada sobre el proyecto. (They tried to get him to talk, but he didn’t say anything about the project)
- Si quieres saber la verdad, tendrás que tirar de la lengua a Pedro. (If you want to know the truth, you’ll have to get Pedro to talk)
Tirar la borda
This expression refers to wasting an opportunity, effort, or resource. It is used in situations where someone loses something valuable because of a poor decision.
Examples:
- Después de tanto esfuerzo, no puedes tirar por la borda todo el trabajo (After so much effort, you can’t throw all that work away)
- Perdió la beca por no estudiar y ha tirado por la borda su futuro. (He lost his scholarship because he didn’t study and ended up throwing his future away)
- No quiero tirar por la borda nuestra amistad por una discusión sin sentido. (I don’t want to throw our friendship away over a meaningless argument)
- Si sigues llegando tarde al trabajo vas a tirar por la borda las oportunidades que te han dado. (If you keep showing up late to work, you’re going to throw away the opportunities you’ve been given)
Tirar piedras sobre su propio tejado
This expression is used when someone does or says something that actually harms themselves. It is used in work-related, personal, and social contexts.
Examples:
- Al criticar a su empresa en público, solo está tirando piedras sobre su propio tejado. (By criticizing his company in public, he’s just shooting himself in the foot)
- Si sigues rechazando clientes, acabarás tirando piedras sobre tu propio tejado. (If you keep turning away clients, you’ll end up shooting yourself in the foot)
- No hables mal de tu equipo, estás tirando piedras sobre tu propio tejado. (Don’t speak badly about your team — you’re shooting yourself in the foot)
- Publicar eso en redes sociales es tirarse piedras sobre su propio tejado. (Posting that on social media is shooting yourself in the foot)
Tirar del carro
This expression means that someone takes on the responsibility and effort in a task or group. It is used in work, family, and group project settings.
Examples:
- En este proyecto, siempre eres tú quien tira del carro. (In this project, you’re always the one pulling the weight)
- Si queremos que el negocio funcione, todos tenemos que tirar del carro. (If we want the business to succeed, we all have to pull our weight)
- No me gusta que solo uno tire del carro mientras los demás no hacen nada. (I don’t like it when only one person carries the load while everyone else does nothing)
- Desde que se fue el jefe, María ha tenido que tirar del carro sola. (Since the boss left, María has had to carry the load on her own)
Tirar la casa por la ventana
This expression is used when someone spends a lot of money on something, usually for a celebration or a major purchase, without worrying about the cost. It is commonly used in contexts such as parties, weddings, luxury purchases, or any event involving a large amount of spending.
Examples:
- Para su boda, decidieron tirar la casa por la ventana y no escatimaron en nada. (For their wedding, they decided to go all out and spared no expense)
- Cada vez que viaja, mi tía tira la casa por la ventana y se hospeda en los mejores hoteles. (Every time my aunt travels, she goes all out and stays in the best hotels)
- Este año en Navidad vamos a tirar la casa por la ventana y hacer una gran cena para toda la familia. (This Christmas we’re going to go all out and host a big dinner for the whole family)
- Cuando ganó la lotería, tiró la casa por la ventana y compró un coche de lujo. (When he won the lottery, he went all out and bought a luxury car)
Tirar a la basura
This expression is used when something is wasted or not properly valued. It can refer to physical objects, opportunities, or relationships.
Ejemplos:
- No puedes tirar a la basura años de amistad por una discusión. (You can’t throw away years of friendship over an argument)
- Has tirado a la basura una gran oportunidad de trabajo. (You’ve thrown away a great job opportunity)
- No quiero tirar a la basura mis ahorros en algo innecesario. (I don’t want to waste my savings on something unnecessary)
- Se esforzó tanto para aprobar y luego tiró todo a la basura con una mala decisión. (He worked so hard to pass and then threw everything away with one bad decision)
Tirar la caña
This informal expression is used when someone tries to flirt with or seduce another person. It is used in casual contexts and usually refers to the early stages of flirting.
Ejemplos:
- A Juan le gusta María, pero no sabe cómo tirarle la caña. (Juan likes María, but he doesn’t know how to hit on her)
- Anoche en la fiesta todos estaban tirando la caña a alguien. (Last night at the party, everyone was hitting on someone)
- Si te interesa, tírale la caña, a ver qué pasa. (If you’re interested, hit on him and see what happens)
- Me di cuenta de que me estaba tirando la caña cuando empezó a hacerme tantos cumplidos. (I realized he was hitting on me when he started giving me so many compliments)
Tirar los tejos
This expression is similar to “tirar la caña” and is also used to talk about flirting or seduction. However, it often implies a lighter, more playful tone, without necessarily aiming for a serious relationship.
Ejemplos:
- Creo que Carlos te está tirando los tejos, siempre te busca para hablar. (I think Carlos is flirting with you — he’s always looking for an excuse to talk to you)
- Ayer en la cafetería una chica me tiró los tejos, pero no me di cuenta hasta más tarde. (Yesterday at the café, a girl flirted with me, but I didn’t realize it until later)
- Siempre que nos vemos me tira los tejos, pero no sé si va en serio. (Every time we see each other, he flirts with me, but I don’t know if he’s serious)
- Deja de tirarle los tejos a todo el mundo, te van a pillar. (Stop flirting with everyone — you’re going to get caught)
Are these expressions with “tirar” used in all Spanish-speaking countries?
Not all expressions with the verb “tirar” are used in the same way across all Spanish-speaking countries. Some of them, such as “tirar la toalla”, are more universal and are likely to be understood almost everywhere.
Others, like “tirar la caña” or “tirar los tejos”, are more specific to Spain and may not be understood in Latin America. In addition, in some countries there may be variations with a similar meaning that use different verbs or local expressions.
For this reason, if you speak with Spanish speakers from different regions, it’s important to pay attention to the context to make sure you’re understood.
How can you learn to use these expressions naturally?
To use these expressions with the verb “tirar” naturally, the best approach is to hear them in context, whether in conversations, Spanish-language TV series, or movies. You can also read books, articles, and social media posts where native speakers use them frequently.
Practicing with Spaniards or other Spanish speakers will help you internalize how these expressions are used and understand which situations they fit best in. Another good strategy is to start incorporating them gradually into your vocabulary, beginning with the most common ones.
Finally, don’t be afraid to make mistakes — the more you use them, the more natural they will feel.
In conclusion, these expressions with the verb “tirar” are an important part of colloquial Spanish, and knowing them will help you communicate more fluently.
We hope this guide helps you incorporate these phrases into your vocabulary. Now it’s your turn: which of these expressions did you find the most interesting?
