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Idioms for Personal Taste
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October 20, 2026
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Everyday idioms express personal taste, changing preferences, and choices that feel right. One speaker discusses cafés, music, and clothes with Maya and Sam. The expressions show enthusiasm, soften rejection, and describe tastes that change over time.
Voca cards
1.
not my thing
no es lo mío
I told Maya that crowded bars are not my thing.
Le dije a Maya que los bares llenos de gente no son lo mío.
Informal and less direct than saying 'I dislike it'.
2.
not my cup of tea
no es de mi gusto, no es lo mío
I went to Sam's jazz show, but jazz is not my cup of tea.
Fui al concierto de jazz de Sam, pero el jazz no es lo mío.
A polite way to reject a suggestion without criticizing its quality.
3.
right up my alley
justo lo que me gusta
Maya's idea of coffee and old books is right up my alley.
La idea de Maya de tomar café y ver libros antiguos es justo lo que me gusta.
Informal. Often used to recommend an activity based on someone's interests.
4.
more my speed
más de mi estilo
I skipped Sam's loud party because Maya's quiet dinner sounded more my speed.
No fui a la fiesta ruidosa de Sam porque la cena tranquila de Maya sonaba más de mi estilo.
Informal. Can suggest a better pace or level, not just a stronger preference.
5.
have a soft spot for something
tener debilidad por algo
I have a soft spot for small cafés like the one Maya found.
Tengo debilidad por las cafeterías pequeñas como la que encontró Maya.
Suggests warm affection, sometimes even when the choice has clear faults.
6.
a sucker for something
no poder resistirse a algo, tener debilidad por algo
Maya knows I'm a sucker for warm bread, so she picked this café.
Maya sabe que no puedo resistirme al pan calientito, así que eligió esta cafetería.
Informal and playful. Suggests you find something hard to resist, even against your better judgment.
7.
hit the spot
caer de maravilla
After our long walk, the soup Maya recommended really hit the spot.
Después de nuestra larga caminata, la sopa que recomendó Maya me cayó de maravilla.
Often used for food, drinks, or rest that feel especially satisfying at that moment.
8.
check all the boxes
tener todo lo que uno busca, cumplir con todos los requisitos
For me, Maya's café seems to check all the boxes: good coffee, low prices.
Para mí, la cafetería de Maya parece tener todo lo que busco: buen café y precios bajos.
Common in American English; 'tick all the boxes' is especially common in British English.
9.
the best of both worlds
lo mejor de los dos mundos
The café gives me the best of both worlds: quiet mornings and evening concerts.
La cafetería me ofrece lo mejor de los dos mundos: mañanas tranquilas y conciertos por la noche.
'Both' usually refers to two benefits that are hard to get together.
10.
take it or leave it
dar igual
Sam loves the café's music, but I can take it or leave it.
A Sam le encanta la música de la cafetería, pero a mí me da igual.
Use with 'can' to show indifference, not a refusal.
11.
whatever floats your boat
lo que te haga feliz
I told Sam, "Buy that pink jacket if you like; whatever floats your boat."
Le dije a Sam: «Compra esa chaqueta rosa si te gusta; lo que te haga feliz».
Informal. Can sound accepting or slightly dismissive, depending on your tone.
12.
to each their own
cada quien con sus gustos
Sam loves bright jackets and I don't, but to each their own.
A Sam le encantan las chaquetas de colores llamativos y a mí no, pero cada quien con sus gustos.
Often said on its own to accept a preference you do not share.
13.
grow on someone
ir gustándole a alguien, empezar a gustarle a alguien
Sam's favorite band didn't impress me, but their songs are starting to grow on me.
La banda favorita de Sam no me impresionó, pero sus canciones me están empezando a gustar.
'Grow on' suggests a gradual change, not an instant decision.
14.
an acquired taste
un gusto adquirido
I hated black coffee at first, but it's an acquired taste I now enjoy.
Al principio odiaba el café solo, pero con el tiempo le fui tomando el gusto y ahora lo disfruto.
Often describes strong food or drink flavors; it can also describe music or humor.
15.
have a change of heart
cambiar de opinión
I might have a change of heart and try jazz again after Sam's recommendation.
Quizá cambie de opinión y vuelva a darle una oportunidad al jazz después de la recomendación de Sam.
Usually involves a changed feeling or decision, not just choosing a different item.
16.
leave someone cold
dejar indiferente a alguien, no decirle nada a alguien
I know Sam loves dance music, but those songs leave me cold.
Sé que a Sam le encanta la música para bailar, pero esas canciones me dejan indiferente.
Suggests no emotional interest rather than strong dislike.
17.
wouldn't be caught dead
ni de broma, por nada del mundo
I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that bright pink jacket Sam recommended.
Ni de broma me pondría esa chaqueta rosa tan llamativa que recomendó Sam.
Informal and often exaggerated. Usually followed by a verb ending in '-ing' or a phrase with 'in'.
18.
speak to someone
llegarle a alguien, conectar con alguien
Sam thought the songs would speak to me because they're about leaving home.
Sam pensó que las canciones me llegarían porque hablan de irse de casa.
Suggests a personal emotional connection, not simply liking the sound or appearance.
19.
strike a chord
tocar una fibra sensible
I didn't expect Sam's song about leaving home to strike a chord with me.
No esperaba que la canción de Sam sobre irse de casa me tocara una fibra sensible.
Often followed by 'with someone'; usually refers to a shared feeling or experience.
20.
turn up one's nose at something
despreciar algo, mirar algo con desprecio
I used to turn up my nose at black coffee, but now I love it.
Antes despreciaba el café solo, pero ahora me encanta.
Shows disapproval: the person rejects something as not good enough, sometimes without trying it.
21.
scratch an itch
satisfacer una necesidad, saciar un antojo
I play Sam's old rock albums to scratch an itch that new music can't.
Escucho los viejos álbumes de rock de Sam para satisfacer una necesidad que la música nueva no logra
Informal. Suggests satisfying a specific desire that other choices do not satisfy.
22.
different strokes for different folks
para gustos hay colores, cada quien con sus gustos
Sam wears pink and I wear black; different strokes for different folks.
Sam se viste de rosa y yo de negro; para gustos hay colores.
Informal and lighthearted. Often said on its own when people like different things.
23.
there's no accounting for taste
sobre gustos no hay nada escrito
When Sam picks that awful song, I think there's no accounting for taste.
Cuando Sam elige esa canción tan horrible, pienso que sobre gustos no hay nada escrito.
Usually joking, but can sound rude because it suggests someone else's taste is poor.