Estar como un flan

/es·ˈtaɾ ˈko·mo un flan/

To be like a flan.

Frequency

ConversationVery common

JournalismCommon

LiteraryOccasional

AcademicRare

In English

to be a nervous wreck; **to be a nervous wreck**; **to be shaking with nerves**; **to be trembling**; **to be a bundle of nerves**; **to be shaking like a leaf**

Meaning

Estar como un flan means to be extremely nervous, to be trembling with nerves, to be shaking with fear, or to be visibly agitated.

Examples

Antes del examen estaba como un flan.

She was a nervous wreck before the exam.

Cuando tuvo que hablar delante de todo el mundo, estaba como un flan.

He was shaking like a leaf when he had to speak in front of everyone.

Estaba como un flan esperando los resultados.

I was a bundle of nerves waiting for the results.

Cuando vio al perro, se quedó como un flan.

She was trembling when she saw the dog.

It is normally used when someone's nervousness is so intense that it affects their body.

Used when

is extremely nervous before an exam
is frightened
is anxious before an important event
is shaking visibly
is very agitated or emotionally overwhelmed

Origin

The expression is based on the physical properties of flan, the soft Spanish custard dessert.

A flan is soft and delicate and can wobble or tremble when moved.

That movement provides the metaphor for a person who is shaking because of intense nerves or fear.

Unlike many older idioms, the origin is therefore quite transparent and does not depend on a specific historical anecdote.

Cultural note

The expression is normally used with estar:

Estar como un flan.

It can also be used with quedarse:

Se quedó como un flan.

The second construction emphasises the moment when the person suddenly becomes extremely nervous or frightened.

Did you know?

Spanish frequently uses food to describe physical or emotional states:

Estar como un flan → to be a nervous wreck.
Estar como una sopa → to be soaking wet.
Ponerse como un tomate → to go red.
Estar como un queso → to be very attractive.
Estar como un tren → to be extremely attractive.

In estar como un flan, it is the dessert's characteristic wobble that provides the metaphor. ```

For English speakers

Do not translate:

Estoy como un flan.

as:

I'm like a flan.

Instead, depending on the context:

I'm a nervous wreck.

I'm shaking like a leaf.

I'm a bundle of nerves.