Idioms: Expressions with

“Saber” and “Conocer”

Learn how we use “saber” and “conocer”

The verbs saber and conocer are very common in Spanish. Sometimes their literal meaning changes and becomes part of expressions we use every day to sound more natural. In this lesson, you’ll learn some of the most common ones, along with their meanings and real-life examples.

Expressions with “saber”

🔹 Saberlo al dedillo

👉 Meaning: To know something perfectly, in great detail.
🗣️ Example: María knows the lesson by heart..

🔹 Saber de qué pie cojea alguien

👉 Meaning: To know someone’s flaws or weaknesses.
🗣️ Example: Don’t trust him, I already know his weak spot.

🔹 Saber latín

👉 Meaning: To be very clever or astute.
🗣️ Example: That guy’s really smart, you won’t fool him easily.

🔹 No saber dónde meterse

👉 Meaning: To feel embarrassed or awkward, not knowing what to do.
🗣️ Example: When he made the mistake, he didn’t know where to hide.

Expressions with “conocer”

🔹 Conocer algo como la palma de la mano

👉 Meaning: To know something perfectly or very well.
🗣️ Example: I know Madrid like the back of my hand.

🔹 Conocer a alguien de vista

👉 Meaning: To have seen someone before but not really know them.
🗣️ Example: I know that guy by sight.

🧾 Downloadable Practice Guide

Reinforce what you’ve learned with a practical PDF guide full of examples and exercises to help you put these expressions into practice.

👉 Download PDF: “Expressions with saber and conocer”