Sacarle los colores
To take someone's colours out.
to make someone blush; **to make someone blush**; **to embarrass someone**; **to make someone feel awkward**; **to put someone on the spot**; **to make someone go red**
Sacarle los colores means to embarrass someone, make them blush or leave them feeling deeply awkward.
Me sacó los colores delante de todos.
She made me blush in front of everyone.
Siempre consigue sacarle los colores.
He always manages to embarrass her.
Sus elogios me sacaron los colores.
His compliments made me blush.
No le saques los colores al pobre.
Don't embarrass the poor guy.
The embarrassment may result from praise, criticism, teasing or exposing something personal.
- says something embarrassing in public
- exposes another person's mistake
- teases someone until they blush
- gives excessive praise that makes someone uncomfortable
- reveals a private or awkward fact
The expression comes from the natural physical reaction of blushing.
When people feel embarrassed, blood rushes to the face and the cheeks become red.
Spanish describes this visible reaction as someone "bringing out" another person's colours.
The metaphor remains completely transparent to native speakers.
The expression is not always negative.
Someone may sacarle los colores by praising them excessively, making them blush with modesty rather than shame.
The context determines whether the embarrassment is pleasant or unpleasant.
Spanish has several idioms related to facial expressions and emotional reactions:
- Sacarle los colores → to make someone blush.
- Quedarse blanco → to go pale.
- Ponerse rojo como un tomate → to go as red as a tomato.
These expressions describe emotions through the visible changes they produce on the face.
Do not translate the expression literally.
English speakers would never say:
He took my colours out.
Instead, use expressions such as:
- He made me blush.
- She embarrassed me.
- He made me go red.
- She put me on the spot.
Choose the translation that best fits the situation.
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