1. Levantarse con el pie izquierdo (literal translation – To wake up with the left foot)
Real meaning: Used when you don’t have a good day and everything seems to go wrong. Similar to “Getting up on the wrong side of the bed” in English.
Ejemplo:
Ben has been very grumpy all day long and when we take a break from work he prepares a tea for himself and doesn’t offer one to me. I say:
– ¿Qué pasa contigo? ¿Te has levantado con el pie izquierdo?
2. Empezar con buen/mal pie (literal translation – Start with a good/bad foot)
Real meaning: To get off to a good/bad start.
Ejemplo:
Ben comes back from playing tennis with a mate. I ask him how the match went and he tells me:
– He empezado con buen pie, gane los dos primeros juegos pero luego Alistair me dio una paliza y perdí 6-2.
Next Saturday I ask the same question and he says:
– He empezado con mal pie, perdí el primer juego pero gané todos los demás.