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Collins
Introducci6n HarperColiins Publishers Westerhill Road Bishopbriggs Glasgow G642QT © HarperColiins Publishers 2012
Collins ® is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers Limited Random House Mondadori. S.A. Travessera de Gracia, 47-49 08021 Barcelona www.diccionarioscollins.com Primera edicion, septiembre de 2012 ISBN 978-84-253-4914-0
Quedan prohibidos, dentro de los Ifmites establecidos en la levy baja los apercibimientos legalmente previstos, la reproduccion total a parcial de esta obra porcualquier medio a procedimienta, ya sea electronica 0 mecanico, el tratamiento informatica, el alquilero cualquier otra forma de cesion de la obra sin la autorizacion previa Vporescrito de os titulares del copyright. Dirijase a tEDRO (Centro Espanol de Derechas Reprog rMicas, http://www.cedro.org) si necesita fotocopiaro escanear algun fragmento de esta obra. compuesto par Davidson Publishing Solutions, Glasgow Impreso en Espana por Limpergraf Deposito legal: 8.20.791-2012
Edici6n ytraducci6n: TonvGalvez Cordelia Lilly yi~toria Ordonez Divf
l
torrecd6n de pruebas: Sinda Lopez Coordinaci6n editorial: TeresaAlvarez
Le presentamos el Collins Easy Learning English Idioms, pensado para todo aquel que desee ampliarsus conocimientos de las expresiones inglesas, tanto para quien este preparando un examen de ingles como para quien necesite una gUla rapida sobre las expresiones inglesas 0 simplemente quiera encontrar expresiones divertidas que Ie den mas autenticidad a su ingles. En todos los casos, esta obra ofrece la informaci6n necesaria en un formato claro yaccesible.
(Que es un idiom? Colaboradores de la edici6n original en ingles: Penny Hands Kate Woodford
casos, no cuesta adivinar su significado, porque dicha expresi6n crea una
SandraAndersan Katharine Coates Kate Mohideen
imagen que tiene un equivalente en espanol, como porejemplo play with fire Uugar con fuego) 0 in cold blood (a sangre frfa). En muchas ocasiones esto se debe
Direcci6n editorial: LucVCaoper Elaine Higgleton Susanne Reichert Lisa Sutherland
Un idiom 0 modismo es una expresi6n idiomatica que puede serdiffcil de entender incluso si se conocen todas las palabras que la forman. En algunos imagen que representa una idea en nuestro cerebro, especial mente si es una
a Que compartimos una vasta tradici6n cultural, que incluye, porejemplo, muchas de las referencias bfblicas, tales como an eye for an eye (ojo por ojo). En otras puede ser que en algun momento del pasado la expresi6n se tradujera literalmenteyde ahf pas6 a nuestro acervo cultural. Pero en otras muchas, esto no ha side as!, por 10 que puede resultar imposible entender el significado de send someone to Coventry (hacer el vado a alguien) 0 not beat about the bush (no andarse con rodeos).
Como encontrar la expresion buscada Cada modismo se encuentra bajo una palabra determinada, que es ellema de la entrada. Las entradas van por orden alfabetico. Para encontrar un modismo hay quever primero si la frase contiene un sustantivo. Si es as!, la expresi6n ira normalmente en la entrada correspondiente a! primer sustantivo de la misma, a no serque este admita una variante. As!, porejemplo, bring someone to book aparece bajo la entrada book. Si el modismo carece de sustantivo, la expresi6n ira bajo el primer adjetivo 0 adverbio. Este es el caso, porejemplo, de drop dead, que aparece bajo dead, 0 leave someone cold, que puede encontrarse bajo cold. Por ultimo, si no contiene un sustantivo, adjetivo 0 adverbio, la expresion aparecera bajo el primerverbo, como en come out fighting, que esta incluida bajo come. Una excepci6n a esta regia son modismos como hard as nails 0 fresh as a daisy (liamados "similes''), que normal mente aparecen bajo el primer adjetivo en lugar
Introduccion del sustantivo. Esto es debido a que a menudo pueden combinarse varios sustantivos con el mismo adjetivQ, par 10 que resulta de mas utilidad vedas todos juntos en una misma entrada. ~
Como son las entradas Elorden ... .
alfabetico de las entrada,S se rig,e pore! le':la bajo:
I-+ante En algunosjuegos de naipes, como el poquer, theante("la apuesta") es la cantidad de dinero que cadajugador debe depositar sobre la mesa antes de que empiece eljuego.
,el ql(eapar~c:en
los,modismos.
Por ultimo, tengase en (uenta que si el sustantivo aparece en plural en un modismo determinado, conviene buscarlo bajo el plural de un lema. As!, par ejemplo, pick holes in something se encont'rara bajo holes, no bajo hole. Todos los modismos van seguidos de ejemplos ilustrativos autenticos; extrafdos del corpus de Collins, que muestran las expresiones tal ycomo 50n usadas par los hablantes. Ademas de esto, se ha anadido en ocasiones la traducci6n literal que' podrfa darse a un modismo cuanda dicha traducci6n da lugar a una imagen que facilitarfa la comprension del mismo. Confiamos en que este libro Ie ayudara a aumentarsus conocimientos sobre este aspectotan fascinante de la lengua inglesa. Para mayor informaci6n sobre los diccionarios Collins, visite nuestra web www.diccionarioscollins.com.
Los'ejiimplds del corpus
*
mUestrall
como'seusael inadismo en,' $iiuation~s ' rea'e5~
una. estr,ella',
identifica'a'ios niodislTlosmas'
1-
*
Estas,notas:
lema:
' '
chop and change (Brit) cambiar constantemente de opini6n oAfter chopping and changing forthe ffrst year, Paul and Jamie have settled down to a stable system of management. §
Esta expresi6n se empleaba
~ originalmente en referencia a ~ aquellas personas que compraban ~ y vendfan mercancfas. Chop
drigendel'
modlsmo,
*
§ significaba "comerciar" 0 "hacer ~ trueques", mientrasquechangeera l:.as:m'arcas :" :,' ~ una version abreviada de exchange, ,geografic'asy"',: : g "cambiar". «-------1 deregistr.o:qan ' inforli1 ac,i6? for the chop (Brit, familiar) sobre,c6mQ~e, :" 1 a punto de ser despedido 0 There u~a ejFno~Hsn1O:. are rumours that he is for the chop 2 a punto de desaparecer 0 He won't say which programmes are for the chop.
laundry
*
bu~c?do:
,
significado del,' ,
chop
expUC:a)1 e,'
¢lmodJsnii.> :
expllcar el
up the ante 0 raise the ante subir la apuesta o Whenever they reached their goal, they upped the ante, setting increasingly diFficult chal/enges (or themselves. 0 Its network television division upped the ante by paying an estimated $2 million a year for a deal.
ffecue'n:tes:
'q'lJe'ap'arec.:e
..'
Estasnot~s
ayudana
a laundry list (sobretodo EE UU) una • '--~ lista interminable (literal: una lista-oOl(---de ropa para lavar) 0 This document is expected to set out a laundry list of reasons why shareholders should reject the bid. airyour dirty laundry in public -+ verdirty
'~a):r<.\dlicci.Qo:,
IIteral.entre
p~r~htesIs:$~;
':
inclllv:ecuan~o:
facillt;o(Ip: , co'nipren,~iQn" ,
;cjellj1odis,l:l'1o; ,:'
accounting
aces hold all the aces tener la sarten par el mango (literal: tenertodos los ases) 0 When I was an adolescent,
there's no accounting for taste sabre gustos no hay nada escrito o Daisy ordered her favourite pepperoni and pineapple pizza - there's no accounting (or taste. ac~e
~
En muchos juegos de naipes, ~ el as es la carta que puntua mas ~ alto.
________________~
En muchosjuegos de naipes,
el as es la carta que puntua mas alto.
the ace in your hand (Brit) e[ as en !a mana 0 You have to convince your
opponent that you have the ace in your hand. Especially in politics. come within an ace of something a be within an ace of something (Brit) estar a punta de hacer argo o The defendant was intent on murder
and he came within an ace of succeeding. 2 En esta expresi6n, ace no se refiere ~ a[ as de una baraja, sino a sacar ~ un uno a[ lanzar un dado.
have an ace in the hole guardarse un as en la manga 0 He doesn't usually ris/{ that much unless he thinks
he has an ace in the hole. ~
I thaught girls held all the aces.
En el tipo de poquer denominado
stud, tener un ace in the hole ~ significa tener un as como hole g card; ver hole card en hole. play your ace jugarel triunfo o)ust as the race was nearly over, Hackett ~
played his ace and pulled ahead.
acid
*
the acid test la prueba de fuego (literal: la prueba del acida) oMy nrst really stressful day when things ga wrong: that will be the real acid test. ~
EI acido nftrico puede usarse
~ paracomprobarsi un metal es oro
§ pura, porque corroe la mayorfa de § metales pero no afecta al oro.
acquaintance a passing acquaintance 0 a nodding acquaintance 1 un conocido oAftera while a man
came in who was evidently a passing acquaintance of the family and stopped at their table to chat. z un conocimiento superficial
0
We
chatted fora little about poetry, with which he showed considerably more than a nodding acquaintance.
act r'--cc-----~
Las metaforas en estas expresiones estan relacionadas con interpretes (musicos, actores, etc.) que actuan ante un publico.
all
action
2
"* a balancing act
*
equiHbrismos aMrA/ia is performing a delicate balancing act. He talks ofre(orm, but clings to old certainties. be caught in the act sorprender a alguien en flagrante 0 The men were
caught in the act of digging up buried explosives. ~
*
tbecoming keener to grab a slice ofthe action.
actions actions speak louder th~n words un hecho vale mas que mil palabras (literal: las acciones hablan mas alto que las palabras) a The government needs to understand that actions speak
En esta expresi6n, act se refiere al
~
acto de hacer alga. a class act un as 0 /(oeman is a
* class act. He's got great control and "*
can hit passes from one side of the pitch to the other with amazing accuracy.
louder than words.
clean up your act enmendarse (literal: limpiarsu acto) 0 The
Segun la Biblia,Adan (Adam) fue el primer ser humano.
laws would be implemented if newspapers didn't clean up their act. get in on the act 0 be in on the act subirse al carro
(litera': meterse en el acto) o The company's reputation has
not know someone from Adam no conocer a alguien para nada
a The man greeted me like an old friend, but I didn't Imow him from Adam.
ado (Periodismo) mucho ruido V pocas nueces 0 French newspapers described the international row as much ado about nothing.
* get your act together o We're going to points down
organizarse by
Monday, and we've got to get our act together.
* (litera':
a hard act to follow diffcil de igualar un acto diffcil de seguir) o He was a hard actto Follow- a
brilliant intellectual with long experience as an observer ofthe economic scene.
action
*
a hidden agenda intenciones ocultas a The unions Fear these tactics are part of a hidden agenda to reduce
pay and conditions throughout the company.
air
*
be left hanging in the air quedaren el aire 0 The presenter made intelligent
disappear into thin air 0 vanish into thin air desaparecer como por arte de magia 0 Her
0
* *
agenda
*
and frustrated with Hannah's temper, but I'm a great believer in expressing my feelings to clear the air.
"* caliente) hot air palabras vanas (literal: aire In a sense, all the rhetoric
Much Ado About Nothing (Mucho ~ ruido y pocas nueces) es el titulo de ~ una obra teatral de Shakespeare. \
La palabra agenda significa "orden del dia".
be walking on air 0 be floating on air estar flotando de alegrfa (litera': estar andando 0 flotando en el aire) 0 Ican't believe that I've won. I'm noating on airl clear the air aclarar las casas (litera': aclarar e! aire) 0 I get angry
aisles roll in the aisles partirse de risa 0 It's all good Imoc/wbout stuFFthat has them rolling in the aisles. ~ La palabra aisle significa "pasillo"
(literal: radar por los pasillos)
~
*
about heightened co~operation can be seen as just so much hot air. There are still endless disputes. in the air en el aire 0 Spring is in the air. Va se siente la primavera. a Great excitement was in the air that week in London. out of thin air 0 from thin air de la nada oA crisis had materialized out oFthin air. pull something out of the air a pluck something from the air decir algo al azar (literal: sacar alga del aire) aShe pulled a figure out ofthe air,
an amount she thought would cover several months' rent on an Office. up in the air en el aire oAt the moment, the fate of the Hungarian people is still up in the air.
airs airs and graces (Brit) aires a Ian is
such a nice bloke. He has no airs and graces. put on airs and graces (Brit) 0 put on airs darseaires a We're poor, honest Folk, and we never put on airs.
(de un tearro 0 de un cine).
alec a smart alec (Brit) 0 a smart aleck (EE UU) un sabelotodo a They've got a smart alec lawyer From London to oppose bail. § Hay quienes escriben alecy aleck § con la primera letra en ~- mayOscula, como si fueran ~ nombres prapios. Alecy Aleck son ~ abreviaturas de Alexander.
husband disappeared into thin airfor years.
~
fight a rearguard action resistir en 10 posible (literal: luchar para cubrir la retirada) a National telephone companies are nghting a rearguard
action against competition From beyond their Frontiers. ~ Rearguard significa "retaguardia".
*
much ado about nothing
reached the United States, and American investors have been trying to get in on the act. be 22
"*
Adam
Ministerwarned the press that privacy
*
points but never challenged anybody, so we were left with a lot of questions hanging in the air.
a slice of the action (sobretodoBrit)o ajpiece of the action una parte del I paste! oAs the British rap scene grows t;in strength, the Americans are
3
alive
* o Romance
alive and kicking vivito y coleando is still alive and kicking For a
couple who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this week. eat someone alive comer vivo a alguien a The pain ate him alive; the
world was nothing but nre and pain. o 'Can we go out?' 'Outside?The
mosquitoes will eat us alive!' skin someone alive despellejarvivo a alguien a They are fiercely competitive. If they can skin us alive in business, they will. a Who let the cat out?You catch that animal, Ernie, or"11 skin you alive! someone will eat someone alive alguien se va a comer vivo a alguien oSid will be eaten alive by the hardened
criminals at thejaiJ.
all that's all she wrote (EE UU) seacab6 10 que se daba (litera': eso fue todD 10 que escribi6) a He got hurt, and he
didn't play much anymore. That's all she wrote.
arm
alley
4
alley
* o Sooner or laterunthey caliejon sin salida will have to a blind alley
be, on the side of the angels estar ddparte de 105 angeles 0 The
realize that this is a blind alley and that they need to rethink their own
president is on the side ofthe angels when-it comes to racial tolerance, the environment and Indian rights.
strategies. ~
Blind alley significa "callejon sin ~ salida". be right up someone's alley ser 10 mfo/tuyo/suyo etc 0 I thought this
little problem would be right up your
alley.
all-singing all-singing. all-dancing (sabre todo Brit) super moderno oAs long as you
don't expect the latest aJ/-singing, 01/dancing)apanese marvel, this camera is an excellent buy. § Esta Frase aparecio par primera ~ vez en el cartel donde se ~ anunciaba el primer musical de ~ Hollywood, "La melodfa de
g Broadway" (1929), descrito como ~ all talking, all singing, all dancing ~ (fntegramente hablado, cantado §
y bailado).
altar be sacrificed on the altar of something ser sacrificado en aras de algo (litera': ser sacrificado en el altar de alga) 0 They agreed that the
interests oftwelve million farmers could not be sacrificed on the altar offreetrade. ~
Los alta res eran grandes piedras ~ sobre las que se sacrificaban ~ ani males para ofrecerlos a los ~ dioses.
angel
Las personas que se comportan de forma violenta 0 incontrolada suelen compararse a los simios.
angels
*
apetito a alguien 0 Winning the World Championship whetted his appetite for more success. § Whet a knife significa "afilar un ~ cuchillo".
* raise the
up the ante 0 ante subir la apuesta o Whenever they reached their goal,
they upped the ante, setting increasingly dimwit challenges for themselves. 0 Its network television division upped the ante by paying an estimated $2 million a year for a deal.
ants have ants in your pants tener avispas en el culo (literal: tener hormigas en los pantalones)
o Before, there would be no way-' would sit down and take it easy. It was like I had ants in my pants.
ape
a fallen angel un angel cardo o Without an away League win all
go ape (familiar) ponerse como un energumeno (literal: volverse simio) o I was in the kitchen preparing the
season, Leeds United quickly became the fallen angels ofthe Premier League.
evening meal when Rex ran down the stairs and went ape.
apples and oranges (sobretodo EE UU) peras can manzanas (literal: manzanas Vnaranjas) 0 To compare one with the other is to compare apples
and oranges.
apron aprol1 strings las faldas de la madre
oAt 21, Ijust had to get away, to cut those apron strings. 0 The Prime Minister has the rough outline of a blueprint for Australia as an independent nation, free of British apron strings.
apple the apple of your eye laninadetus ojos 0 I was the apple afmyfather's eye.
ante En algunos juegos de naipes, como el p6quer, the ante ("Ia apuesta") es la cantidad de dinero que cadajugador debe depositar sobre la mesa antes de que empiece eljuego.
apples
* whet someone's appetite abrirle el
not take no for an answer no aceptar un no por respuesta 0 Gerry, whose persistence has been known to
wear down the resistance of many executives, refused to take no Foran answer.
they found everything in apple-pie order.
appetite
answer
S Antiguamente, la pupila del ojo, ~ 0
*
5
nina, se denominaba a veces
§ the apple Cia manzana").
g En un principio, esta expresi6n se
a bad apple 0 a rotten apple una manzana podrida 0 They made it clear that they
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
referfa aquellos ninos, especial mente de sexo masculino, demasiado influenciados porsus mad res a una edad en la que deberran mostrarse mas § independientes.
were not going to tolerate a bad apple in the United States Senate. @. 5i una manzana podrida se § guardajunto a otras que esten en ~ buen estado, estas se pudriran g tam bien.
area *: a grey area areagris o The court
action has highlighted the many grey areas in the law affecting stolen animals.
applecart upset the applecart echarlo todo a perder (literal: volcar el carro) 0 His departure at this critical stage could
ark be out of the ark (Brit) ser del ana de la nana (literal: haber salido del arca de Noe) 0 The car's steering was simply dreadful, and the driving position was straight out of the ark. something went out with the ark (Brit) algo es del ano de la nana (Ijteral: alga viaj6 con el area)
upset the whole applecart.
apple pie American as apple pie tfpicamente americana 0 Jeans are as American as
apple pie and old jeans show a touch of class. ~
E! pastel de manzana es un postre
o Tyres are not made from rubber any more; that went out with the ark.
g tradicional considerado ~ tfpicamente estadounidense.
in apple-pie order (anticuado) en perfecto orden oApart from the
plastiC sheeting that still remained,
arm
*
at arm's length a una distancia prudencial (literal: a un braze de
G
arms 0 Relations between the bank and the committee will be at arm's length until the report is delivered in
distancia)
axe
*
~the meeting. 0
Watchdog organizations welcomed today's guidelines with open arms.
Instead ofgoing on the dole I chanced my arm on a business. 0
cost an arm and a leg costarun rinon (literal: costar un brazo y una pierna) 0 It cost us an arm and a leg to get here. But it has been
arrow a straight arrow (EE UUJ un estrecho de miras (literal: una flecha estrecha) 0 I was very much a product
worth it.
of my environment. I was very traditional, a real straight arrow in lots
keep someone at arm's length mantener las distancias can alguien 0 Brian had tried to get close, but his father had kept him at arm's
length. put the arm on someone (EE UU)
a(ways.
art have something down to a fine art hacer algo a la perfecci6n 0 They've got fruit selling down to a fine art: You can be sure that your pears will ripen in
presionar a alguien 0 Women like you are not only writing checks, but you're putting the arm on other people to give to charity as well.
someone would give their right arm to do something 0 someone would give their right arm for something alguien darfa su brazo derecho por hacer alga
o I would give my right arm to be able
aday.
ask 0 It's a pretty big ask to run faster in the second half of the race.
a big ask mucho pedir
atmosphere you could cut the atmosphere with a knife se respiraba la tension en el
to start again. ~ La mayorfa de las personas son
ambiente (literal: se podia cortar el ambiente con un cuchillo) oAssoon
~ diestras, y porello consideran el ~ brazo derecho mas importante ~ que el izquierdo.
twist someone's arm apretarle las tuercas a alguien (literal: retorcerle el brazo a alguien) 0 I didn't twist your arm to make you come. You wanted
to because you sensed a story.
arms
* be up in arms
oponerse enfurecidamente (literal: levantarse en armas) oMorethan one million
shopkeepers are up in arms against the new minimum tax. They are threatening a day's closure in protest.
We got out of the trucks to ~greet them with open arms. We had abiertos 0
lJIitts ready, we were high on the ideo a(
July. chance your arm (Brit) probar suerte
with open arms con los brazos
as we entered the house, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.
awakening
*
a rude awakening una desagradable sorpresa (literal: un despertar brutal) 0 Instead Of quick
profits, Johnson got a rude awakening.
axe
,.------::----:----,------, Axeseescribeaxen ingles americano.
an axe is hanging over someone una espada pende sobre la cabeza
de alguien 0 I wouldn't say there's an Qxe hanging over him but he's only got
another season to put everything right. an axe is hanging over something una espada pende sabre algo 0 The axe was hanging over 600 jobs at oil giant BP last night. get the axe 0 be given the axe ser despedido (literal: recibir e!
1
This time, it's the business managers, executives and technical staff who are getting the axe. 2 ser cancelado 0 There will be cuts of $770 billion in defense, and almost $120 hacha)
0
billion in domestic spending. Do you
7
have any idea what specifiC programs will get the ax?
* have an axe to grind tenerun
interes creado (literal: tener un
0 Lord Gi((ard believed cases should be referred by an independent agency which does not have an axe to grind.
hacha que afilar)
Existen diversas explicaciones sobre el origen de esta expresion. Segun relata Benjamin Franklin, un hombre consiguio que Ie "afilaran el hacha tras pedirle a un nino que Ie mostrara como funcionaba la muela de su padre.
back
Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a la forma en que los gatos arquean ellolno cuando se enfadan.
was safer to have the Press on his side than to have correspondents sneaking around behind his back. go behind someone's back
espaldas de alguien
babe
con el agua del bane)
Babe es una palabra anticuada para referirse a un be be 0 a un nino pequeno.
a babe in arms (sobretodo Brit) un nino de pecho (literal: un bebe en brazos) 0 The Family have always cycled, and 'chris has been going to races since he was a babe in arms. a babe in the woods un santo inocente (literal: un be be en el bosque) 0 By this time I wasn't such a babe in the woods, and one thing I
insisted on was that they sign a contract.
2 5egun un antiguo relata, dos ~ huerfanos fueron dejados al ~ cuidado de su tiO. 5i los ninos g morlan, el tlO heredarfa la fortuna ~ familiar. EI tlO orden6 a un crlado ~ que los lIevara a un bosque, ~ donde los ninos murieron y los ~ pajaros cubrieron sus cuerpos can § hojas. Existe una obra musical g basada en esta historia.
baby leave someone holding the baby (Brit) dejar que alguien cargue can el muerto 0 I( anything goes wrong on
this, Agnes, it's you and I who'll be left holding the baby. throw the baby out with the bath water tirar la fruta sana con la podrida (literal: tirar al bebejunto
0
Even {(we
don't necessarily like that, we're not going to throw the baby out with the bath water.
back
*
the back of beyond el quinto pino (literal: el fonda del mas alia) o He was born in a little village in the back of beyond. be glad to see the back of someone (sabre todo Brit) alegrarse de perder de vista a alguien 0 Nick said last night that Court was a 'vile man'. He added: We are glad to see the back of him.' be on someone's back estar encima de alguien 0 The crowd aren't (orgiving, and as soon as you ma/(e a mistake they are on your bacle break the back of something 1 hacer la pear parte de algo 0 The new government hopes to have broken the back o(the economic crisis by the middle oFthis year. 2 romper la columna vertebral de algo 0 The government made a big
effort late last yearto breakthe back of the black market. break your back matarse a trabajar 0 When you're breaking your back to make an enterprise work, it's going to cut into your time with Family. do something behind someone's back hacer alga a espaldas de alguien 0 He had discovered that it
*
0
9
actuar a
Leonard, you
put your back into something
haven't been completely open with me.
poner Inucho esfuerzo en alga
You think I wouldn't know when you go behind my bacia get off someone's back ((amiliar) dejar a alguien en paz (literal: bajarse de la espalda de alguien) o He kept on at me to such an extent that occasionally I wished he would get offmyback. get your own back ... ver own have your back to the wall estar entre la Espada y la pared o The European Union has its back to thewall: it must choose between a reform o(its worldng methods or its dilution into a large (ree trade area. off the back of a lorry (Brit) de trap/cheo (literal: de la parte de atras de un cami6n) a The only evidenceo( any criminal tendencies is that Pete once bought the boys a bicycle cheap off the bac/< of a lorry. on the back of an envelope de forma improvisada (literal: en la parte de atras de un sabre) 0 But the screenplay sounds as i(it has been written on the bacl< o( an envelope and the whole thing has an improvised air about it. on the back of a postage stamp en poquisimo espacio (litera': en la parte de atras de un sella de correos) a What she knew about children would have fitted on the back o(a postage stamp. put someone's back up (Brit) a get someone's back up poner negro a alguien 0 I thought before I spoke again. The wrong question was going to get her back up.
o Eighty miles across the mountains
* *
*
could be done in six days walking, i(she put her back into it. say something behind someone's back decir algo a espaldas de alguien 0 Ilmew behind his back his (ri~nds were saying, 'How can he possibly put up with that awFul woman?' stab someone in the back dar una jJ'unalada trapera a alguien aShe seemed to be incredibly disloyal. She would be your(riend to your face, and then stab you in the back. 0 People begin to avoid one another, ta/
10
ball
backs
backs
Aquf la palabra bag hace referenda tambh~n al morral
live off the backs of someone vivir acostadealguien o For too long the
fat and decadent rich have lived off the backs o(the working-class.
backwards
*
bend over backwards hacertodo 10 posible (litera': doblarse hacia atras)
o We are bending over backwards to
ensure that the sa(eguards are kept in place. know something backwards (sabre
tada Brit) a know something backwards and forwards (EE UU) saberse alga al
~
sus actuaciones. something is not someone's bag
know my subject backwards.
Mr. Anders says. 'I'd rather be a player.'
bag
break, it seemed victory was in the bag for Panty. ~ Aqufla palabra bag hace
§ referenda at morral en el que los ~ cazadores lievan a casa las piezas ~ que han cazado. leave someone holding the bag
(sabretada EE UU) dejar que alguien 0
If a project
goes bust, investors are left holding the bag. a mixed bag un poco de todo 0 The papers carry a mixed bag ofstories on
their front pages.
the ball is in someone's court Ie toea a alguien darel siguiente paso o The ball is now in his court. I, and indeed others, have told him quite clearly what we think. He has to decide. Esta expresi6n se refiere a un
§ Puede que esta expresion ~ provenga de lajerga empleada ~ porlos musicos de jazz ~ estadounidenses.Avecesse ~ referfan al tipo de jazz que § toea ban, 0 su estilo caracterfstico ~ al tocar, como a su bag.
§ partido de tenis. behind the eight ball (sobre todo EE UU) en apuros D If a child doesn't get the basics in primary school they are
way behind the eight boll. § En el billaramericano, the eight § ball es la bola con el numero 8 que ~-'Ios jugadores tienen que meter al § final. Si la bola con el8 esta entre ~ la bola blanca V la bola que el ~ jugador intenta golpear, es ~ probable que dicha jugadar Ie de § primero a la bola con e18, 10 que § supone una tirada nula.
be on the ball estar al tanto o You can't bumble along in this business. You have to be on the bal,. En el futbol, se dice que e! jugador ~ quetiene la pelota a sus pies V la § puede controlar is on the ball. §
a bag of nerves ... ver nerves a bag ofworms-.verworms in the bag cosa segura (literal: en el balsa) DAfter being 23-16 up at the
cargue con el muerto
a baker's dozen (anticuado) docena de fraile (literal: una docena de panadero) oAlan Else, series coordinator, has picl
~ prestidigitadores lIevan los ~ artfculos que precisan para
(familiar) algo no es 10 de alguien
*
§
@ la bolsa en la que los
o 'Being an umpire is not my bag,'
pesada bola de metal para
§
§ impedirsu huida.
baker
~ Esta expresi6n se refiere a
dedilla ('itera': saber alga al reves)
save someone's bacon (sabre toda Brit) salvar eJ pellejo de alguien o Your mother once saved my bacon, did you know that? She lent me money when I needed it.
*
D The album is a delightful offering with Griffin going through his bog of tricks to great effect.
o I thoroughly enjoy lecturing and I
bacon
*
del cazador.
someone's bag of tricks el repertorio de alguien (literal: la bolsa de trucos de alguien)
take the bait 0 rise to the bait morder el anzuelo o It's important not to rise to the bait and get cross. g En la pesca con mosca, los peces § suben hasta la superficie del agua ~ para picar en el anzuelo.
11
bags
* o If
balance
bait
*
pack your bags hacer las maletas things go wrong and our conditions are not met, we will simply pack our bags and leave.
fish or cut bait (EE UU) dejar de divagarv actuar(literal: pescar 0 preparar anzuelos) oMorale and stamina were said to be low after seven weeks ofstalemate- the time had come to rsh or cut bait. EI sentido literal de esta expresion podrfa serque va ha Ilegado la hora de tomar la decision 0 bien de empezara pescaro de preparar el cebo para que otras puedan pescar.
*
in the balance pendiente de un hila DOne afthejudges had died unexpectedly and the choice o(his successor was in the balance.
*o
=: Balance significa "balanza".
throw someone off balance hacer que alguien pierda e! equilibrio o She was trying to behave as i(his visit hadn't thrown her off balance.
ball a ball and chain una atadura 0 Our national debt is an economic ball and chain dragging us down, keeping longer term interest rates high. ~
Antiguamente, a veces se
g encadenaba a los presos a una
*
a crystal ball una bola de cristal What you need to help you select your new car is a crystal ball to tell you how much it will be worth a few years down the road. drop the ball (sabre toda EE UU) cometer un error 0 There are people who'd like to see me fail, I know that. But I'm not afraid. I won't drop the ball. have a ball pasarselobomba o Why not go out and see i(there's some place we can dance? Let's go and have a ball. En esta expresi6n, la palabra ball ~ significa "baile de etiqueta".
§
a new ball game 0 a different ball game otro cantar
bark
ballistic
12
o Ifmilitary force were to be used, then that cauld be a campletely different ball game. , La frase ball game ("juego de ~ pelota") se usa a menudo en ~ ingles americana para referirse a ~ un partido de beisbol.
* of British Insurers has threatened The Association to play ball cooperar 0
withdraw its support i(the banks and building societies refuse to play ball.
* start the ball rolling poner la (osa set the ball rolling
0
en marcha (literal: echar la bola a radar) 0 The big supermarket rivals are
all cutting prices. Sainsbury set the ball rolling last week with 30 per cent discounts
on a wide range of brands.
take the ball and run with it tamar
el testigo e intentarlo
It's up to him./Fhestudies, (ine.lrnat, there's 0
nothing we can do. He's the one who has to ta/
EI deporte al que se hace ~ referenda aquf es el futbol ~ america no.
the whole ball of wax (sabre todo EE UU) toda la historia (literal: toda la bola de cera) 0 Perry wanted it a/I,
the whole ball Of wax. He wanted the
Saciety For himself
ballistic go ballistic subirse por las paredes o The singer went ballistic after one member of his band failed to show for a sound check on the recent American tour. ~ Esta expresion hace referenda
~ a los misiles balfsticos y a la
~ poderosa explosion que provocan.
balloon the balloon went up (sabre todo Brit) se armola gorda (literal: subia el
globo) 0 On the Saturday the balloan went up. Sara told him to take his things and not to come bacf<.
banana
* slip on a banana skin 0 slip on a banana peel
(Brit) dar un patinazo 0 Most ofthe nation would
~ En la Primera Guerra Mundial
~ se usa ban globos tanto para ~ proteger a los objetivos de los ~ ataques aereos como para § observar al enemigo. Portanto, ~ el hecho de que un glObo ~ ascendiera indicaba que se ~ avednaban problemas.
ballpark Ballparl< significa "estadio de beisbol".
a ballpark figure 0 a ballpark estimate cifra aproximada 0 But what are we
talldng about here- a few thousand, millions, two bucks? GiVe me a ballpark
figure. be in the same ballpark as someone or something estar en la misma categorfa que alguien 0 algo oAs a
general investigative agency, they're not in the same bal/park as the FBI.
in the ballpark 0 in the right ballpark no muy desencaminado oA piece ofsubtle surgical equipment cost about £5 - an underestimate, maybe, but in the right bollparl<.
balls keep balls in the air hacer
enjoy seeing mighty liverpool slip on a banana skin in front of millions. §
En las co medias y en las
g historietas suele aparecer un
~ personaje que hace el ridfculo al
§. resbalarcon una piel de platano.
band
*
a one-man band un hombre orquesta 0 Thechefwasa one-man
band, taking orders, and cooking and serving at table.
bandwagon
*jump on the bandwagon
subirse al
carro 0 There will always be inexperienced people ready to jump on
the bandwagon and start teaching classes in whatever is fashionable. § Antiguamente, en Estados ~ Unidos los mftines electorales se ~ anunciaban can una banda que ~ recorrfa las calles tocando sobre ~ un carrotirado por caballos. Los ~ pOliticos iban sentadosjunto a los ~ musicos, y aquellos que querfan ~ mostrarles su apoyo se subfan al § carro.
bang bang goes something (sabre todo
varias cosas al mismo tiempo
Brit) a paseo alga (litera': iPuml hace alga) 0 Bang goes his influence,
o They had trouble keeping all their balls in the air. They were trying to do too much and things were starting to breakdown.
a real understanding.
Esta expresion hace referenda a losjuegos malabares, en los que alguien tiene que lanzary recoger determinado numero de pelotas al mismotiempo.
maybe his job, ifthe two countries reach
more.bang for your buck (sabre todo EE UU) mas por el mismo precio
o With this program you get more bang for your bucl<.
not with a bang but a whimper no con un estaHido sino con un sollozo
o The festival pnished yesterday not
13
with a bang but a whimper, as thousands of disappointed festiva/goers left ear/y. ~ Este es el ultimo verso del poema " de T. 5. Eliot The Hal/ow Men (Los ~ hombres huecos).
bank
* break the0 Porto bank
hacer sa!tar la
Cervo is expensive, but there are restaurants and bars that won't break the banI<. banca
laugh all the way to the bank forrarse (litera': irse riendo todo el camino hasta el banco) 0 Investors
who followed our New Year share tips ate laughing all the way to the bank. @ EI pianista estadounidense ~ Liberace usaba esta expresion ~ para describir como se sentfa al § leer malas criticas de sus ~ espectaculos.
baptism
* a baptism offire
un bautismo de fuego 0 They have given themselves a
baptism oFfire by playing what many would consider the four best teams in the world. § Esta expresion se referfa
§ originalmente a las muertes de ~ los martires en la hoguera. ~ Despues la emplearon los ~ emperadores franceses Napoleon ~ Bonaparte y Napoleon 111 para ~ referirse a la primera experiencia § bajo fuego enemigo de un ~ soldado.
bark someone's bark is worse than their bite perro ladrador, poco mordedor 0 My bark is depnitely worse than my bite. When people get to know me, they'll tel/ you I'm just a big softy really.
bath
barn
14
barn close the barn door after the horse has gone ... ver door
barrel have someone over a barrel
barrels give someone both barrels 0 let someone have it with both \, barrels dar un repaso demoledora \ alguien 0 let him have it with both
barrels and then get out of the situation while you can.
tener a alguien en un puno (literal: tener a alguien sabre un barril)
2 Esta expresi6n se refiere al hecho § de dispararun arma de dos § canones.
o The unions wish they had more
options. Jobs are tight, they know that, and they feel management has them over a barrel. § Puede que esta expresi6n se ~ § ~ ~
base En el beisbol, losjugadores tienen que golpear la pelota para despues recorrer las cuatro esquinas 0 bases a fin de anotarse una carrera.
refiera a un metoda utilizado antiguamente para salvar a alguien que hubiera estadoa punto de ahogarse. Colocaban a
~ dicha persona boca abajo sabre un
get to first base alcanzar la primera meta 0 We couldn't getto first base
~ barril y la empujaban suavemente ~ hacia adelante V hacia atras hasta ~ quese Ie hubieran vaciado los
§ pulmanes de agua.
scrape the bottom of the barrel 0 scrape the barrel rebanar las dltimas migas 0 The game designers
were scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas when they came up with this one.
barrelhead on the barrelhead 0 on the barrel (EE UU) a tocateja
o Customers usually pay cash on the barrel head, so bad debts aren't much Of a problem. La explicaci6n mas probable de esta expresi6n se remonta a la epoca en que los colonos se instalaron en el Oeste americano. A menudo las tabernas no eran mas que una sala con un barril de bebida, V 105 clientes que querian bebertenfan que poner el dinero encima del barril antes de que les sirvieran, va que los taberneros nofiaban.
*
with any u.s. banks. They didn't want to take the risk. off base (sabre tada EE UU) totalmente equivocado 0 I don't thinl
o Being there gave me a chanceto touch' base with and make plans to see three friends whom I had not seen for a year. 2 En el beisbol, los bateadores ~ tienen que alcanzar la primera, ~ segunda vtercera base para ~ anotarse una carrera.
bases touch all the bases 0 cover all the bases abarcarlo todo
o He has managed to touch all the bases necessary, and trade goes on.
En el beisbol, los bateadores tienen que alcanzar la primera, segunda V tercera bases para anotarse una carrera.
basl
"*
a basket case un caso perdido
0 The popular image about latin America a few years ago was that it was a basket case. 2 (familiar) un chalado 0 You're going to think I'm a basket case when I tell you this, but we used to play with toys when we were about twenty.
1
~ Originalmente, esta expresi6n se
~ ~ § ~ ~ ~ §
empleaba para describir a alguien, especialmente un soldado, que hubiera perdido los cuatro miembros. Puede que la frase surgiera porque dichos mutHados eran transportados en cestos (baskets).
do something off your own bat (Brit) hacer alga por cuenta propia
o I'm certain whatever she did, she did off her own bat; it was nothing to do with me . ~ ~ § ~ ~ ~
like a bat out of hell como alma que lIeva el diablo (litera': como un murcielago saliendo del infierno)
o He said 'Thank you, sir,' and departed like a bat aut a(hell. 2 A menudo se asocia a los § murcielagos al demonio, ~ probablemente porque suelen
g volar de noche. playa straight bat (Brit) evitar las preguntas diffciles
1
o But last Saturday her interviewee played a straight bat, referring all inquiries to his solicitors before driving off 2, (anticuado) ser honrado oAmit, then 14, was very surprised to find that playing a straight bat was not considered all that important in his new school. ~ En e! crique!, playa straight bat ~ significajugardeforma muy ~ correcta y cauta para no correr el
g riesgo de ser eliminado,
bat
~
15
En el criquet, losjugadores pueden anotarse carreras 0 bien bateando la pelota ellos mismos 0 cuando su pareja la batea, 0 cuando nadie golpea la pelota pero esta va mas alia de los palos
(wicket).
right off the bat (sabre todD EE UU)
de repente
0 He learned right a((the bat that you can't count on anything in this business.
~
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
~ de una pelota que rebota
~ rapidamente contra un bate de ~ beisbol.
bath take a bath (Periodismo) sufrir grandes perdidas (literal: darse un bano) 0 Investors in the company tool<
go to bat for someone 0 go in to bat for someone dar la cara por alguien 0 She wasjust fabulous in going to bat for me, in not being
a 35 million dollar bath on the company, which entered bankruptcy proceedings 18 months ago. take an early bath (Brit) retirarse
judgmental and helping me work it out.
antes de tiempo (litera': darse un bano temprano) 0 Nineteen of the
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a unjugadorde beisbol que se incorpora al partido para sustituir a otro bateador.
country's most experienced referees have been invited to take an early bath.
beat
baton
16
baton pass the baton entregar el testigo
o Does this mean that the baton of leadership is going to be passed to other
nations?
o With chess you're involved in a battle of wits from start to finish. ~t fight a losing battle lucharpor una ~
pick up the baton recoger el testigo
~ ~
En una carrera de relevos, cad a
*
corredor pasa el testigo a atro § miembro de su equipo tras
batalla pero ha perdido la guerra
bats
o The stril
have bats in the belfry ((amiliar)
butthey lost the war.
estar mal de la azatea (litera': tener
that to anyone else orthey'l/ think you've got bots in the belfry. ~
~ ~
~ ~ ~
Los murcielagos que descansan en un campanario revolotearian de un !ado a otro si alguien tocara las campanas. En esta expresi6n, el campanario representa la cabeza de una persona.
batteries
*
recharge your batteries recargar
oAfter playing in the Divisional Championship, I tool< a long breal< from the game to recharge my batteries. las pilas
battle
*
the battle lines are drawn todo esta listo para la batalla 0 The battle lines were drawn yesterday forthe fiercest contest in the history of local radio.
batalla 0 For the past year, customers have inspired a running battle between
someone has won the battle, but lost the war a!guien ha ganado la
§ determinada.
o What maudlin nonsensel Don't say
a running battle una pro!ongada
the two mobile phone providers.
g recorrer una distancia
murcielagos en el campanario)
oMiss Bennett fought a losing battle against her depression. join battle trabar batalla 0 This new company intends to join battle with Cellnet andVodafone in the mobile telecoms marl
{causa perdida
o In the 19805, councils really picked up
the baton o(public concern and became the standard bearers in the quality Of life versus nature debate.
:s
a battle of wits un duelo de ingenio
bay
*
keep something at bay 0 hold something at bay mantener 0 By salting the meat, bacteria were kept at bay, preserving the meat for future use. ~ La frase at bay significa
algo a raya
~ "acorralado". Cuando unajaurfa ~ acorrala a un animal, este seve ~
obligado a volverse hacia los
§ perros para defenderse. Sin ~ embargo, si el animal consigue ~ defenderse cuando se encuentra ' , ~ en esta posicion, podemos decir ~ que "contiene a lajaurfa" (it is ~ holding the hounds ot bay). Este ~ segundo uso parece ser el origen 2. mas probable de la expresion.
bead draw a bead on something (sobretodo EE UU) apuntar a algo
a battle of nerves ... ver nerves
o There was only one spot where the
a battle of wills unduelode voluntades 0 It was a battle of wi /Is,
light through the trees would have enabled him to draw a bead on his
and Grace's was the stronger.
target.
La palabra
Original mente, esta expresion se referfa a un caballo bien alimentadoy, portanto, lIeno de energra.
bead significa" punto
~ de mira" (de un arma).
be-all
*
not the be-all and end-all no ser 10
Results are not the be-all and end-all of education. unico que importa
0
beam
*
spill the beans descubrirel pastel (literal: verter las alubias) 0 He
always seemed scared to death I was going to spill the beans to the cops. ~ Esta expresion tiene diversas
be way off beam (Brit) andar
§: explicaciones posibles. Una
The writer was hilariously way offbeam in his criticism of soccer. total mente desencaminado
0
~ proviene de la antigua costumbre ~ de votar introduciendo alubias ~ ~oloreadas en un tarro para luego g verterlas y contarlas. Tambien ~ podrfa ser una descripci6n ~ coloquial de la acci6n devomitar.
~ Esta expresion se refiere al uso de
~ una seflal de radio (beam) para §: dirigir a los aviones que estaban a ~ punto de aterrizar. Un transmisor
§ de radio situado en un lado de la ~ pista de aterrizaje transmitia ~ puntos, 0 tonos cortos, mientras ~ que un segundo transmisor, ~ situado al otro lado, transmitia ~ rayas, 0 tonos largos. Si los pilotos § seguran el rumbo correcto, los ~ puntos y las rayas se unian y los ~ pHotos oran un tono continuo.
bear be like a bear with a sore head
(sobre todo Brit) estar de un humor de perros (literal: estar como un 050 con dolor de cabeza) 0 Ever since we arrived here, you've been like a bear with
a sore head. loaded for bear (EE UU) dispuesto para el ataque 0 We could notify the mainland police, and they could go charging in there with guns and bullhorns, loaded for bear ~ Se dice que alguien is loaded for
bean Bean tiene varios significados argoticos. En las expresiones siguientes significa dinero.
~ bearcuando tiene municion 10
~ suficientemente potente como
a bean counter un obsesionado con los numeros 0 The reason for America's failure is that we have bean counters running our companies. not have a bean (Brit, anticuado) no tenerun duro (litera': no tener una alubia) 0 When we married we didn't have a bean so we bought all our furniture second-hand.
17
§ para matar a un 050 aunque cace ~
animales mas pequefios.
beat
*
beat your breast 0 beat your chest darse golpes de pecho 0 He is very thoughtful with the players. He doesn't go around beating
beans after a far longer sleep than
his chest all the time. He knows when a quiet chat is What's needed. 0 His pious breast-beating on behalf of the working classes was transparently bogus, but it was a clever public relationsjob.
onybody else had got.
not miss a beat estar muy atento
beans full of beans lIeno de vida 0 jem was among them, pink-cheeked and full Of
bells
beaver
18
o This time we played like machines.
~
The longer the game went the stronger we got, and we never missed a beat.
~
~
En esta expresi6n beat significa § probablemente "Iatido", pero § tam bien podrfa referirse a un ~ compas musical.
without missing a beat sin alterarse 0 She was asked point-blank whether she should bow out. But,
without missing Q beat, she replied: '/ do not believe it is appropriate for me to withdraw my nomination.'
beaver an eager beaver un entusiasta o George was like Q sneaky kid. He lied,
boasted, was an eager beaver without the ability to live up to his promises. ~
Se suele asociar a los casto res
§ ~ § §
(beavers) al trabajo duro, dado que dedican muchotiempo a construir refugios y diques con barro y madera.
beck at someone's beck and call a disposici6n de alguien 0 Your child must understand that you can't a/ways be at his beck and call for every littlething. ~ Beckes una palabra antigua que ~ significa "gesto", por ejemplo un ~ movimiento de!a mana 0 de! § dedo fndice que representa una § orden como "Ven aquf".
bed get into bed with someone aliarse can alguien (literal: meterse en la cama con alguien) 0 The BBC might have been criticized for getting into bed with Sl
Aquf la paJabra bed significa "parterre".
put something to bed terminar algo 0 Before putting the agreement to bed, we still had to satisfy Fran Murray.
2 En una prensa antigua, la platina ~ (bed) es la superficie plana sabre la § que se colocan los tipos. Si los ~ periodistas hablan de putting a ~ newspaper or magazine to bed, se § refieren a haeer los Liltimos ~ cambios antes de la impresion.
someone got out of bed the wrong side 0 someone got out of bed on the wrong side alguien se levant6 ton el pie Izquierdo (literal: alguien se levant6 de la cama por ellado equivocado) o50rry I was so unpleasant when / arrived this morning. I must have got out of bed the wrong side. § Esta expresi6n esta asociada a !a
~ antigua superstici6n de que ~ poner primero el pie Izquierdo en § el suelo al salir de la cama trafa ~ mala suerte. La expresi6n get off ~ on the wrong foot esta basada en 2 una creencia similar.
someone has made their bed and will have to lie on it el que siembra vientos recoge tempestades (literal: alguien.ha hecho su cama ytendra, quetumbarse en ella) 0 For5ara, marriage was for life - in her eyes she had made her bed and would have to lie in it.
bee the bee's knees (Brit) la repera (literal: las rodillas de la abeja) o Bacl< in the '80S it was the bee's knees but now it loo/(s horribly out of date. Hay quien cree que esta expresi6n se refiere a la forma en que las abejas transfieren el polen desde
su cuerpo a los sacos de polen de sus patas traseras. Sin embargo, parece mas probable que se remonte a la decada del92D, cuando se empezaron a emplear otras expresiones similares como the cat's pyjamas.
have a bee in your bonnet tener algo metido entre ceja y ceja (literal: tener una abeja en el sombrero) o I've got a bee in my bonnet about the confusion between education and training. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere dos ~ imagenes. La primera es de ~ pensamientos que revolotean en § el interiorde la cabeza de alguien ~ como 51 fueran abejas. La segunda ~ es de alguien quetiene una abeja ~ atrapada en el sombrero yquiere ~ sacarla cuanto antes para evitar ~ que Ie pique.
beeline make a beeline for something i r derecho a alga 0 The boys headed far computer games while the girls made a beeline for the dolls. 2 Antes se crera que las abejas, tras ~ recoger e! polen, volvfan volando § ala colmena en Ifnea recta, pero ~ se ha demostrado que dicha ~ creencia era incorrecta. La § expresi6n as the crowries esta !§ basad a en una idea similar.
beer not all beer and skittles (Brit) no un lecho de rosas 0 It's not all beer and skittles when you get to be famous. ~ Eljuegodebolosseasociaala § cerveza porque sejuega § tradicionalmente en los bares.
* small beer (Brit) una trivialidad
o The present series of royal scandals
19
makes the1936 abdication look liI(e pretty small beer. ~ ~
Small beersignificaba en un principio "cerveza floja".
beggars beggars can't be choosers a falta de pan, buenas son tortas (literal: los mendigos no pueden escoger) 0'50 would you be happy to work wherever you got ajob?''Yes. You've got to take anything that comes around be~ause beggars can't be choosers.'
begging be going begging sobrar (litera': irse a mendigar) 0 Nearly haifa million holidays forthe busiest sixweei
bell ring someone's bell (sobre todo EE UU, familiar) entusiasmar a alguien (litera': tocarla campana de alguien) DAfter a couple of comedies that didn't exactly ring my bell, I thought I'd like to do something that different. saved by the bell salvado par la campana 0 There was another period of silence. It was broken by the sound of Eleanor'S car pulling up outside the frant door. 'Saved by the bell: I said. ~ Esta expresi6n se refiere a la ~ campana que senala el final de un g asalto en un combate de boxeo. something rings a bell alga me suena (literal: alga toea la campana) o 'Who?' he queried, 'Passing Clouds? I simply don't remember them. Their name doesn't ring a bell.'
bells bells and whistles florituras o People are still buying luxury cars with all the bells and whistles, but
bill
bellyful
20
§ No es probable que se te caigan ~ los pantalones si los lIevas sujetos ~ con un cintur6n y un par de ~ tirantes.
cheaper systems afe becoming more popular. ~
Tiempo atras se tocaba el6rgano
§ en los dnes para proporcionar ~ acompanamiento musical a las ~ peHculas mudas. Algunos de estes
*,
¥organos tenfan mecanismos que
*
§ producfan efectos scnoras como § campanas Vsilbatos. pull the other one, it's got bells on it ... ver pull set alarm bells ringing 0 set warning bells ringing hacer saltar la alarma
0
The is/anders' ffght
*
drive someone round the bend (sabre todo Brit, familiar) volver loco a alguien aean you make that tea
bellyful
*
ofexcuses. It's a/ways someone else's fault.
belly-up
* go
belly~up irse al garete 0 Factories and farms went belly up because of the
debt crisis. ¥: Puede que esta expresi6n se ~
refiera a los peces muertos que § flotan boca arriba (belly-up) cerca ~ de la superficie del agua.
belt below the belt bajo (litera': per debajo del cintur6n) a These kinds of
blows below the belt are the surest way to destroy a friendship or love affair. § En el boxeo, golpeara un ~ contrincante por debajo del ~ cintur6n va contra las normas.
a belt and braces approach (Brit) un planteamiento sumamente cauto a He described airport security as a belt and braces approach, at huge
cost to industry.
before yourrdgeting drives me completely round the bend? round the bend (sabre todo Brit, (amiliar) chiflado 0 I( anyanetold me a few months ago that I'd meet a marvellous person like you I'd have said they were round the bend.
benefit
*
give someone the benefit of the doubt dar a alguien el beneficio de la duda a I am basically a trusting person. I make it a practice to give
everyane the benefit o( the daubt.
berth give someone or something a wide berth evitar a alguien 0 algo
a Having lived al/ my adult life in Africa I have a very healthy respect for snakes and have a/ways tried to givethem a wide berth. § La palabra berth se refiere al ~ espacio que necesita un velero
~ para maniobrarsin peligro.
best the best of both worlds -) ver worlds
familiar) largo 0 It was a heated game, and when I got Alec Ijust said something Jj/(e'You're out mate, on your bike.'
on your bike (Brit,
a good bet 0 a safe bet 1 la mejor opci6n (literal: una apuesta segura) a When you're unfamiliar with your guests' likes and
dislikes, poultry is a safe bet forthe main course. a If you really want to keep your home safe from robbery, your best bet is still to buy a burglar a/arm. 2 casi seguro 0 Buttheywill not enjoy reading this book; it is a safe bet that few will read more than 100 pages.
bend
ringing round the world. have had a bellyful of something (familiar) estar hasta la coronilla de algo (literal: haberse dado una panzada de alga) 0 I have had a bellyful
h'ave something under your belt tener algo en tu haber a After a few years, I had enough recipes under my belt to put them into a book. tighten your belt apretarse el cintur6n a Clearly, if you are spending more than your income, you'll need to
tighten your belt.
for compensation has set alarm bells
bike
bet
*
(literal: m6ntate en la bid)
bill
*
and was given a clean bill of health. 2 recibir el vista bueno a Fourteen seaside resorts failed to meet the environmental and safety standards, while 43 were given a clean bill of health.
all bets are off tOdD esta en el aire
§ EI certificado entregado al ~ capitan de un barco para que 10 § presentara en e! puerto siguiente ~ se denominaba bill a(health. En § dicho certificado constaba si ~ habra algun enfermo contagioso ~ 0 bien a bordo 0 en e! puerto del § que habra partido el barco.
(literal: todas las apuestas quedan canceladas) 0 This election year all
bets seem to be off In fact, even the folks who mal
* shaky ground.a Political forecasters are hedge your bets cubrirse las espaldas
hedging their bets abautthe likely outcome of this Saturday's Louisiana governor's race. ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
~
Cuando los corredores de apuestas aceptan una apuesta cuantiosa, a menudo intentan protegerse de posibles perdidas apostando a su vez en otras casas de apuestas. Esta practica se denomina hedging.
* a wanted someone who really
fit the bill cumplir los requisitos I knew their way around rim-making and I
knew that Richard wauld fit the bill. § En esta expresi6n, la palabra bill ~ se refiere a un programa para ~ anunciarun espectaculo 0 una
*
big get too big for your boots (Brit) 0 get too big for your britches (EE UU) tener muchos humos a Nobody in
England will ever allow us to get too big for our boots. La palabra britches significa "bombachos". Tambien puede escribirse breeches.
be given a clean bill of health ser declarado con buena salud a He had a full medical late last year
1
bets
*
21
§ obra teatra1.
foot the bill correr con los gastos de algo a Police will have to foot the bill for the Slight damage to both cars.
§ Puede que esta expresi6n ~ provenga de!a costumbre de ~ pagar una factura firmandola al
*
opie «(oat).
sell someone a bill of goods (EE UU) dar a alguien gato por liebre a I began to realize that I'd been sold Q bill of goods, that I wasn't in any way incompetent or slothful.
black
bind
22
bind be in a double bind
estarfrente a un
johnson's book is that rare bird, an American novel of manners. rare bird ("ave extraFia") es la
arma de doble fila (literal: tener una
traducd6n de la expresi6n latina
atadura doble) 0 Women are in Q double bind: they are expected to act
"rara avis", usada por el escritor romano Juvenal en el siglo II d. c. para describir a un cisne negro. En aquella epoca no se canada la existencia de los cisnes. negros, aunque mas tarde sedan
like men, but they are criticized when thevdo.
bird the bird has flown el pajaro ha 0 He was supposed to follow the woman to work. Instead he'd wandered off, come back an hour later,
valado
and found the bird hod nown. a bird in the hand 0
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush mas vale pajaro en mana que ciento volando aAnother temporary discount may not be what you want, but at least it is a bird in the hand.
a bird of passage un ave de paso
aMost of these emigrants were birds of passage who returned to Spain after a relatively short stay. an early bird un madrugador a We've always been early birds, up at 5.30 or 6am. aAn early-bird discount is sometimes aval/able at the beginning of
the season. the early bird catches the worm a quien madruga, Dios Ie ayuda (literal: el pajaro madrugador atrapa el gusano) a If you're going to make it to the Senate, you need to start
right now. The early bird catches the worm. eat like a bird comer como un pajarito a She always orders two
larger chops and one smaller chop because her daughter eats like a bird and her husband eats a lot.
descubiertos en Australia.
birds the birds and the bees las casas de la vida (literal: los pajaros y las
oAt the age of16, I remember having yet another discussion about the birds and the bees with my father.
abejas)
s Hayquien explica a los ninos
~ las relaciones sexuales y la ~ reproduccion contandoles como
~ se reproducen los ani males.
birds of a feather lobos de una
oSheand my mother were birds of a feather. You felt something special between them that left you out.
camada
birds of a feather flock together Dios los crfa y elias sejuntan (literal: pajaros de una pluma sejuntan)
o Birds of a feothernock together. Basically, people seek out neighborhoods that are most congenial to them. ' for the birds detontos a Thisjournal business is for the birds. It's a waste of time. ~
~ ~ ~
§
Esta expresion se refiere al estiercol de caballo, que solo les resulta uti! a los p.3jaros pequenos que buscan materiales para hacer el nido, a com ida como las semillas.
a little bird told me me 10 dijo un
~
a Incidentally, a little bird told me that your birthday's coming up. a rare bird una rara avis a Diane
kill two birds with one stone matar dos pajaros de un tiro a We can tall< about Union Hill while I get this
pajarito
una segunda oportunidad (literal: un segundo mordisco a la guinda)
business overwith.l
o We might, if we push hard enough, get a second bite at the cherry in two yeats'time.
biscuit take the biscuit (Brit) serel colma (literal: lIevar la galleta) 0 This bon
take a bite out of something (EE UU) lIevarse un pellizco de alga
takes the biscuit. The whole idea is ridiculous and bureaucratic and not fair on the children. § Esta expresi6n tiene un origen ~ similar a take the cake, frase que ~ hace referenda a la antigua ~ costumbre de entregar pasteles ~ como premios en los concursos.
a The government is going to betaking a bigger bite out ofpeop/e's income than ever before.
biter the biter gets bit (Brit) el cazador
oSympathy seldom abounds when the biter gets bit.
es cazado
bit
~
r--:c-------, Aqui la patabra bit significa
"boca do" (de un caballo).
Biteres una palabra antigua que
~ -significa "estafador".
bitten
champ at the bit 0 chomp at the bit ser devorado par la impaciencia (literal: mascar et
once bitten. twice shy el gato
bocado) 0 Foremen had been champing at the bit to strike before next week's meeting.
dos)
get the bit between your teeth 0 You're persistent when you get the bit between your teeth, I'll saV that forvou. s EI bocado (bit) deberfa cotocarse
entusiasmarse
~ en la parte trasera de la boca de ~ un caballo, detras de los dientes. ~
Cuando un caballo se desboca a
§ veces muerdeel bocado, 10 que
escaldado del agua fria huye
(literal: mordido una vez, tfmido 0 I'm certainly not looking for new boyfriends or thinking of having any more kids. Once bitten, twice shy.
black
*
* a That is not, any more, an accurate black and white blancaynegro
controlarlo.
bite bite off more than you can chew querer abarcar demasiado (literal: marder mas de 10 que puedes masticar) a Don't bite offmore than
you can chew simply because everything is going so well. a second bite at the cherry (Brit)
black and blue amoratado (literal: 0 I spent that night in
negro y azul)
hospital and was released the next day with minor head and neck injuries. My race was black and blue.
~ dificulta aljinete 0 al cachero el ~ uso de las riendas para ~
23
* *
portrait of much of British society. People do not see these things purely in black and white. a It'sjust not a bloc/( and white issue. in black and white par escrito o We have a strict, clear rule in black
and white, that sexual harassment will lead to expUlsion. in the black con saldo positivo o Last year, the company was back in
the black, showing a modest pre-tax surplus Of£4.6 million.
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~
antigua costumbre de usartinta negra para anotar asientos en el
~ causan heridas 0 danos cuando
haberde un libra de contabilidad.
blank
*
blood
blank
24
1~ se dispara el arma.
draw a blank 1 no lIegar a ninguna parte
o I searched among the bottles and
But he was careful not to bleed me dry.
under and behind and inside everything
~ Antiguamente, los m'edicos solran ~ practicar sangrias a sus ~ pacientes.
a blan/( when it comes to the name? 3 (sabre todD Brit, Periodismo) no
proved a blessing in disguise, for it gave him strength and courage which he had
~
not had before.
Originalmente, draw a blank
g significaba recibir un boleto no ~ premiado en una laterla.
blanket a wet blanket 1 un aguafiestas (litera': una manta mojada) 0 'Hey', said Thac/<, looking at Michael. 'Stop being such a wet
blonket.'
blind blind as a bat mas ciego que un topo (literal: mas ciego que un murcielago) 0 Without myglasses I
was blind as a bat. ~ La mayorla de murcielagos se
~ muestran activos solo par la ~ noche. En lugar de orientarse
enough to know that a wet blanl
~ mediante la vista, se orientan ~ enviando sonidos para producir g ecos que les permiten percibir los ~ objetos.
throw a wet blanket over something aguar!a fiesta a alga
the blind leading the blind un cieg'q !Ievando a otro ciego 0 I'm afraid it's
2 algo que frustra un acontecimiento o He was wise
o The weather threw a wet blanket over the championship rnal yesterday.
blanks
the blind leading the blind as I've never actually used this software before
myself
fire blanks (Brit) fallar 0 Dalian and
~ Esta expresi6n proviene de una de
his fellow attackers continued to fire blanks against Norwich and it was left to ful/-bacJ< Steve Staunton to provide
§ las historias que cuenta Jesus en ~ la Biblia (Mateo 15:l4l.JesLis dice
Villa's first goa/. Blanks significa "cartuchos de fogueo". Dichos cartuchos contienen carga exp!osiva pero
~ que si un ciego gUla a otro ciego,
~ no es probable que tengan exito ~ en su empeno.
~ unicamente en su instrumental.
blocks.
swear blind (Brit) jurary perjurar
~ Estas expresiones vienen del
~ atletismo. los velocistas apoyan ~ los pies contra tacos de salida @ (starting bloc/
a philanderer but he swore blind that he had met the right girl in me and said he wanted to settle down.
blood
blink on the blink averiado (literal: en el parpadeo) 0 We had to have the
*
washing done at the laundry because our machine was on the blink.
a blessing in disguise una bendici6n (oculta) 0 Franklin's illness
marcar, no ganar 0 Goa/-shy Raith drew a blank at home yet again.
I was totally mad and, iftheythinl
o He had a reputation for being a bit of
blessing
*
~ pHota un avi6n sin usar la
g navegaci6n visual, confiando
I'jleed
*
get off the starting blocks comenzar can exito 0 People thought
~ Un pHoto vue/a a ciegas cuando
I
bleed someone dry chuparla sangre a alguien 0 He extorted money from me on a regular basis for five years.
I could think of and drew a blank. 2 (sabre todo EE UU) quedarse la mente en blanco 0 Why do we recognize a face, but sometimes draw
know anything about.
no una bala, de modo que no
~ algunos sentimientos, como la ira
on the block (EE UU) a subasta o Last weel<, after months of rumors,
~ y el resentimiento, se lIevaban en ~ la sangre.
the company officially put itself on the
bay for blood (Brit) clamarvenganza
block. put your head on the block 0 put your neck on the block jugarse el pellejo 0 He really put his neck on
o The travel company had just buried itself with debts Of more than f12m and thousands of disappOinted holidayma/(ers were baying for blood.
the block there and it's great to see his bravery being rewarded. ~ Aquf la palabra
bad blood hostilidad (literal: mala sangre) 0 The situation has reached crisis point because o(the bad blood between the two.
§ Tiempo atras la gente crera que
block
*
25
~ Esta expresi6n com para las
~ peticiones de la gente a los ~ ladridos de lajaurfa durante una ~ cacerra.
block significa
~ "tajo del verdugo".
* inability to choose between materialYour a stumbling block un escollo 0
be after someone's blood tenersela jugada a alguien (literal: ir buscando la sangre dealguien) oAdam has upset Broderick, who is after his blood. blood and thunder (Brit) melodramatico (literal: sangre y trueno) 0 In a blood and thunder speech, he cal/ed for sacrirce from
security and emotional needs is a major stumbling block to your happiness. ~ Esta expresi6n proviene de la ~ Biblia (Epfstola a los romanos, ~ 14:13), donde se aconseja a la ~ gente no hacer nada que pudiera . ~ impedirel exito de los demas.
blocks be first off the blocks 0 be first off the starting blocks ser el mas madrugador 0 The Liberal
fly blind volar a ciegas 0 We will
Democrats were rrst offthe bloc/(s with their manifesto on Monday.
be nying blind into a world we don't
get off the blocks 0
*
everyone. blood is shed a blood is spilled (Periodismo, litera rio) se derrama sangre oAII the signs are that i(blood is spilled the countries will
be at war. 0 Given the political blood that was spilled over the dercit reduction package, few observers
blood
26
board
believe the president will start spending more. blood is thicker than water la sangre tira (literal: la sangre es mas espesa que el agua) 0 Families have their problems andjea/ousies, but blood
is thicker than water.
*
blood on the carpet enfrentamiento violento (literal: sangre en la a!fombra) 0 The issue is highly emotional and will cause a lot of blood on the carpet. blood, sweat. and tears sangre, sudory lagrimas 0 It's almost as if the
end product - the songs themselvesare less important than the blood,
sweat, and tears that went into them. Esta expresi6n proviene de un ~ discurso pronunciado durante la
§
~ guerra porel primer ministro . ~ britanicoWinston Churchill, en el ~ que este dijo "Solo pued6 ofrecer ~ sangre, esfuerzo, lagrimasy g suder". Churchill us6 esta ~ expresi6n varias veces en otros ~ discursos pronunciados en § tiempo de guerra.
*
have blood on your hands tener las manes manchadas de sangre 0/ want him to know he has my son's blood on his hands. in cold blood a sangrefrra 0 They murdered my brother. They shot him
down in cold blood. 0 This isjust another attempt to excuse the coldblooded murderofan innocent woman. En la epoca medieval, algunas ~ personas creran que ciertas ~ emociones cambiaban la § temperatura de la sangre. §
* has music in his blood. '/ was born into in your blood en la sangre
0
a family of musicians.' it is first blood to someone 0 someone draws first blood
Trilok
(Periodismo) anotarse el primer tanto (literal: sacar al primera
opposition to the Government continues to be its own backbenchers who have now tasted blood for the first time. young blood savia nueva a The selectors have at last shown some bravery and forward thinking and gone for some young blood, fielding a side whose average age is just 26.
The picture had looked ! bright as the Scots drew rrst blood with t a drop goal from GregorTownsend. ~angre) 0
, like getting blood out of a stone 0 like getting blood out of a turnip (EE UU) como sacarle agua a las piedras (literal: como sacar sangre de una piedra 0 de un nabo) a The goods have to be returned to their
*
rightful owner and getting money back from the seller is like getting blood out ofa stone. . it makes my blood boil me hierve la sangre a This statement is untrue and makes my blood boil. §: En la epoca medieval, algunas ~ personas creran que ciertas ~ emociones cambiaban la § temperatura de la sangre.
blot be a blot on the landscape afear el paisaje (literal: ser una mancha en el paisaje) a The power station is both a blot on the landscape and a
smear on the environment.
blow
*
make your blood run cold (litera rio) helar la sangre 0 It makes my blood run cold to think what this poor,
he/pless child must have gone through. En la epoca medieval, algunas ~ personas creran que ciertas ~ emociones cambiaban la ~ temperatura de la sangre.
*
§:
* Ministerial reshuffle is a chanceTheJuly new blood savia nueva
0
to freshen up the government and make
way for new blood. out for blood can sed de sangre o They seem to be out for blood, and
they're attacking everywhere where their enemy is. scent blood olersangre aRight wing parties, scenting blood, have been holding talks aimed at building an alternative coalition. sweat blood sudarsangre a I sweat blood to write songs with tunes that you can remember.
soften the blow 0 cushion the blow disminuirel impacto o Although attempts were
made to soften the blow, by reducing what some people had to pay, the tax still met with widespread opposition. strike a blow for something dar un gran paso hacia alga
a Her appointment would stri/
blows
*
come to blows lIegar a las manos a Some residents nearly came to blows
overthis proposa/.
blue
*a Turner's resignation came out ofthe out of the blue inesperadamente
blue in the aftermath of his team's3-o defeat at Portsmouth. Esta expresi6n campara un suceso inesperado a un rayo procedente de un cielo azul. Las expresiones out Of a clear blue skyy a bolt from the blue estan basad as en la misma idea.
27
bluff
*
En el poquer, la palabra bluff si.gnifica "farol".
call someone's bluff poner a alguien en evidencia aMrLukanov
warned that he would deal severely with any protest actions in the universities. Now, the students have called his bluff
blushes
*
spare someone's blushes 0 save someone's blushes (Brit) evitarquealguien pase un bochorno
aAndy Gray spared Totten ham's blushes last night, scoring a superb goal against Enreld.
board
* wants
aboveboard legrtimo aAnyonewho to inspect our books can see for
themselves that we are totally above board. 2 Esta expresi6n proviene de los ~ juegos de naipes en los que los ~ jugadores depositan sus apuestas ~ sobre una mesa. Lo mas probable ~ es que todo 10 que sucede bajo la g mesa vaya contra las reg las, ~ mientras que lasjugadas quese ~ hagan sobre la mesa, donde los ~ otrosjugadores puedan verlas, ~ seran probablemente limpias.
* across the board de forma generalizada a The compromise
proposal reduces funding across the board. Original mente, esta era una expresi6n americana que se empleaba en la hrpica. Si alguien apostaba a que un caballo 0 bien ganara 0 quedara segundo, tercero 0 cuarto, se decfa que dicha persona apostaba across
the board.
*
bone
boat
28
go back to the drawing board valver al punta de partida 0 His
government should go back to the drawing board to rethink their programme in time to return it to Parliament by September. ~ Drawing board significa "mesa de
§ dibuja". go by the board (Brit) 0 go by the boards (EE UU) irse al traste 0 You may rnd that all your
efforts go by the board when he is away at university. ~ Originalmente, la expresi6n go by
§ the board significaba caerse 0 ser ~ empujado par la borda de un ~ barco. sweep the board (Brit) arrasar
o The government swept the board in
yesterday's first contested National Assembly elections. ~ Esta expresi6n proviene de
*
~ aquellosjuegos de naipes en los ~ que los jugadores depositan ~ sabre la mesa el dinero que ~ apuestan. La expresi6n sugiere ~ la imagen del ganador barriendo ~ la mesa can el brazo para recoger g todo el dinero.
take something on board (Brit) 1 aceptar algo 0 I listened to them, took their comments on board and then made the decision. 2 hacersecargodealgo oAi/you have to do is call us. Our coordinator will take your problem on board and solve it. §'
EI sentido literal de esta expresi6n
§ es subir algo a bordo de un barco ~ 0 de una barca.
boat
keep body and soul together i r tirando (literal: mantener cuerpo V almajuntos) o2D-year-old Rafael says
flotar la barca de alguien) 0 I can see its appeal. But it doesn't float my boat. irl.the same boat en el mismo barco 1.0 Ifbaldness is creepin~ up on you, take
*
he's selling prewood to keep body and soul together. over my dead body par endma de mi cadaver 0 They will get Pen brook Farm only over my dead body.
lheart - 40 per cent of men under35 are in the same boar. push the boat out (Brit) tirar la tasa por la ventana (literal: empujar la barca) 0 I earn enough to push the
boat out now and a~ain.
Sweden, a similar debate is on the boil. come to the boil (Brit) 0 come to a boil (EE UU) entrar en ebullid6n 0 Their anger came to the boil last week when they protested at a media campaign against them. go off the boil (Brit) 1 perder la chispa 0 Sandy Lyle says it pays to go back to the fundamentals when your game goes off the boil. 2 flaquear 0 Ifa relationship seems to be going off the boil, it is a good idea to appraise the situation. 3 arrasar oAII three p/ayers are obviously on the boil at the moment in the Italian league.
* (literal:
rock the boat creardificultades sacudir la barca) 0 Diplomats
are expecting so much instability in a power struggle otter his death that they argue it's unwise to rocl< the boat now.
Bob Bob's your uncle (Brit) se acab6
() If the boiler ever gets too hot, the safety valve releases a/I the excess steam, and Bob's your uncle. No prob/em. ~ Esta expresi6n se remonta a un
g escandalo politico que tuvo lugar § en Gran Bretana en 1886. EI
~ cancedi6 a su sabrino el puesto de
g Jefe de Secretarfa de Irlanda Vfue
~ muvcriticado porello. EI nombre,
* *
body and soul encuerpovalma
() They wor/
float someone's boat (familiar)
punetazo entre el estern6n V el
entusiasmar a alguien (literal: hacer
ambliga.
0
caercamo una bomba oMrsThomas says the arrest had come 'like a bolt out of the blue'. ~ Esta expresi6n campara un
~ suceso inesperadoa un ravo § procedente de un delo azul. las ~ expresiones out ofa clear blue sky V ~ out of the blUe estan basadas en la ~ misma idea.
someone has shot their bolt (Brit) alguien ha quemado su ultimo cartucho 0 The opposition have really
shot their bolt; they'll never ever get any more votes than this. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
§ un arquero que solo tiene una ~ flecha (bolt) Vse encuentra .@
•
go like a bomb (Brit, familiar) ircomo un b6lido oOnce I had a Russian motorbi/(e. It was built like a tank, weighed a ton, went like a bomb and was pure joy to ride. put a bomb under something (Brit) transformar radical mente algo
bold as brass mas fresco que una lechuga 0 Their leader, bold as brass, came improperly dressed, while aJl the others were wearing black ties. § Esta expresi6n probablemente ~ proviene de un incidente acaecido g en Gran Bretana en 1770. EI ~ peri6dico London Evening Post ~ public6 ilegalmente las actas ~ parlamentarias, 10 que provoc6 ~ la encarcelad6n del impresor. ~ EI alcalde, Brass Crosby, 10 puso ~ en libertad V fUe encarcelado a § su vez. Hubo protestas publicas ~ y Crosby no tard6 en ser § liberado.
indefenso tras haberla disparado.
bomb
bold
~ primer ministro Robert Cecil
body
* come come like a bolt from the blue like a bolt out of the blue
be on the boil (Brit) estar caciendose o Across the border in
Esta expresi6n quiza tenga que ~ ver con las celebraciones de § despedida de un barco cuando se ~ hacfa a la mar.
§
g Bob es la abreviatura de Robert.
bolt
boil
.
29
(literal: poner una bomba bajo algo) o One half of us admired and valued the BBCs high standards, the other half longed to put a bomb under it and propel it into innovation.
bombshell
*
drop a bombshell dejar caer una bomba oMy ex-wife is on the phone and she drops a bombshell. Sue, our beloved daughter, is leaving the country to live in Australia.
bone
* a bone of contention (literal: de la discordia
la manzana un hueso en
30
bootstraps
bones
disputa)
been brought to book for a crime which outraged Italy.
you can't judge a book by its cover las apariencias engaAan (literal: no
close to the bone 0 near to the bone fuera de tono (literal: cerca del hueso) 0 This isn't
~ Original mente, si ordenaban a
se puedejuzgar un libro porsu tapa) o You can't judge a book by its cover. just because someone looks strange
strictly satire, it's far too close to the
§ a una norma 0 a un acuerdo ~ escritos, se decfa que dicha § persona was brought to book.
0 Pay, of course, is nat the only bone of contention.
~ alguien que demostrara que algo
~ que habra dicho 0 hecho obedecfa
bone be runny. * cut something to the bone reducir to
alga al mfnima (literal: cartaralgo hastael hueso) oWemanagedto break even by cutting costs to the bone.
the bare bones el meollo (literal: los huesos pelados) 0 We worked out
the bare bones of Q dea/. feel something in your bones intuir alga (literal: sentir alga en los huesos) 0 joe, I have a hunch you're going to losetonight.ljustfeel it in my
bones.
* make no bones aboutTheresomething will no esconder algo 0
be until we get
changes in this Welsh team it right. I make no bones about that.
§ Puede que esta expresi6n haga ~ referencia a los juegos de azar. ~ Bones es una palabra antigua que ~ significa "dados". 5i unjugador ~ tira 105 dados despues de § agitarlos una sola vez en lugarde ~ seguir un ritual minucioso, se dice ~ que dicho jugador makes no bones.
book
* bring someone to book (Brit) No one has yet
pedir
cuentas a alguien 0
Treasury's bad books for incorrect thinking on economic prospects. be in someone's good books (Brit) estar a buenas con alguien 0 I never really was that bothered about being in the teacher's good books.
close the book on something poner puntofinalaalgo o lawyers say they
discuss before.
*
estar en la lista negra de alguien oSir john was dernitely in the
illogical territory where two and two didn't always make four.
alguien 0 '/ havea bone to pick with you.' She (eltjustired in bringing up a matter that she had been afraid to
bones
be in someone's bad books (Brit)
It constituted a strange,
tener una cuenta que ajustar con
~ se pelean a menudo porun hueSD.
books
a closed book (Brit) un misterio (literal: un libro cerrado) o Economics were a closed book to him.
have a bone to pick with someone
~ Puede que esta expresi6n se ~ refiera al hecho de que los perros
doesn't mean they're not a nice person.'
cook the books amaAar las cuentas
are happy to close the book on one of the most frustrating chapters of the company's history.
* do something by the book the
oShe knew that when the auditors /ool
0
go by book haceralgosegun las reglas o Modern man is often dull,
studious, careful, safe. He does
*
~ a fibros de contabilidad.
everything by the book. in someone's book al modo de ver de alguien 0 People can say what they like, but in my book he's not at all a bad
chap. an open book un libro abierto
0
Her
long /ife is not a completely open book, but it is full of anecdotes and insights into her part in Hollywood history. \ read someone like a book conocer '
There are a numberofbooks on the market which suggest that it is possible to learn to read a person like a book. muv bien a alguien 0
throw the book at someone castigar severamente a alguien o 'If this is found to be true, then we will throw the book at thec/ubs involved,' Barry Smart, the chairman of the
league, said yesterday. g Esta expresi6n se refiere a un libro ~ en el que se han escrito leves.
*
the boot is on the other foot -+verfoot get the boot 0 be given the boot (familiar) ser puesto de patitas en la calle (literal: recibir la bota) 0 The chief reason he got the boot was because the Chancellor didn't trust him any more. put the boot in (Brit, familiar)
emplear la violencia (literal: meter la bota) 0 Policemen who are tempted to put the boot in occasionally will have to
* tread more carefUlly in future.
put the boot into someone or something 0 put the boot in (Brit, familiar)
There's no one quite like an unpublished novelist for putting the boot into established reputations. ensaAarse can alguien
boots die with your boots on morir con las botas puestas 0 Unlike some businesspeople who die with their boots on, he has very sensibly lett the entire running Of Sea marl< to his son. ~ Originalmente esta expresi6n se ~ usaba para referirse a los soldados ~ muertos en combate.
fill your boots (Brit) ponerse las botas oAs soon as the company was sold off, the bosses were always going to fill their boots with cut-price share options.
get too big for your boots ... ver big lick someone's boots adular a algulen (litera': lamer las botas de alguien) 0 Even if you didn't have an
official position, you'd still be a big shot locally: everybody would be licking your boots. quake in your boots estar muerto de miedo (literal: temblar en las
botas)
boot
0
31
0
I(you stand up straight, you'll
gIVe an impreSSion of selfconfidence even if you're quaking in your boots. step into someone's boots (sobre todo Brit) ocupar ellugar de a!guien o Michael /(inane, the leading Irish jockey, has turned down the chance to step into Steve Cauthen's boots and ride for Sheikh Mohammed next season.
bootstraps La palabra bootstraps significa "?rejas" (de una bota). Es decir, trras que sobresalen a ambos lados de una bota V avudan a calzarse.
pull yourself up by your bootstraps reponerte graCias a tus propios esfuerzos (literal: incorporarte tlrando de las orejas de las botas)
o It was his ability to pull himse/(up by
32
bored his bootstraps which appealed to Mrs Thatcher. to your bootstraps (Australia) hasta la medula 0 Lord McAlpine and all his Friends are Jaw and order men to
their bootstraps.
bored bored to death 0
bored to tears bored stiff aburrido como una astra
o There are no jobs, there's nothing to do; these young peop/eare bored to death.
boss show someone who's boss ensefiarle a alguien quien manda o It was a classic strategy: show new
students who is boss atthe very beginning and everything will then go smoothly.
bottle hit the bottle darse ala bebida o One newspaper even said I'd started
hitting the bottle. Complete rubbish.
bottom at the bottom/top of the heap ~verheap
at the bottom/top of the pile ... verpile be at the bottom of something 0 lie at the bottom of something estar par detras de algo 0 Remember that pride is at the bottom of all great
mistakes. the bottom falls out of something 0 the bottom drops out of something la demanda de algo se viene abajo
o But just as quickly, the bottom fell out oftheAmerican home video game market. bump along the bottom (Brit) arrastrarse par los suelos 0 New car sales are continuing to bump along the
bottom as the motor industry shows
brass little sign that it is going to revive substantially this year. from the bottom of your heart r, -+ ver heart get to the bottom of something
'*
The attack was quite severe. We intend to get to the bottom of things and, ifneeds be, ensure that action ;s brought against those responsible for it. Ilegar al fondo de algo 0
scrape the bottom of the barrel ..... ver barrel
bounds
* out of bounds
prohibido(litera': fuera dellfmite) 0 The area has been out of bounds to foreigners for more
than a month.
The private lives of public figures should be aut of bounds to the press and public. 0
bow Bow se pronuncia con el mismo sonido vocalieo que la palabra how ("como").
bow and scrape mostrarse
Having a hereditary title can be a drawback because some people feel they have to bow and scrape. §. EI verbo bow significa "hacer una ~ reverencia". Tiempo atras, scrape ~ significaba haeerun tipe de \
demasiado solkito 0
~ reverencia eonsistente en echar
~
una pierna hacia atras y doblar
~ !a otra.
take a bow (sabre todo Brit,
Periodismo)
que grande eres (literal: sa!ir a agradeeer 105 ap!ausos)
o When you've got the best camerawork and the best commentators -Martin Tyler, take a bow - it's hard to go far wrong.
box a black box un proceso
o Only a decade ago cancer was a black box about which we knew nothing at the molecular level. §
boys boys will be boys los ninos son as! o 'Your troubles arejust beginning,' they
would say, shaking their heads. 'Boys
En un sistema electr6nico 0
~ informatico, black box significa ~ "eaja negra".
out of the box listo para usar o The computer industry has yet to sell a PC which can be used by a novice,
straight out ofthe box. be first out of the box/come out of the box (sobre todo EE UU) ser el
will be boys.' one of the boys uno mas oHis
* overly enthUSiastic efforts
to seem just one of the boys were sometimes embarrassing.
brain get your brain into gear (familiar) poner la mente a carburar oA1I1 want is to get my brain into gear and
primero (en haeer algo)/salir
o Arco is dernitely rrst out of the box
get back to the top.
with an alternative gas for cars without catalytic converters. 0 Are you anticipating that the Governor is going to come right out of the box with a whole series of substantial decisions? §
Esta expresion hace refereneia al
~ beisbol. Despues de golpear la ~ pelota, unjugador sale corriendo " del area (box) y se dirige a la ~ primera base.
think outside the box pensar de forma alternativa 0 She goes on to urge companies to think outside the box
and challenge the old ways of working.
boy someone's blue-eyed boy (sobretodo Brit) 0 someone's fair-haired boy (sobretodo EE UU) el nino bonito de
33
have a brain like a sieve teneruna memoria de mosqUito (litera': tener el cerebro como un celador)
o Grandad's lost the car keys againhis brain's like a sieve.
brains pick someone's brains expri mi rei
I'd like to pick your brains about something. Nothing urgent. rack your brains devanarse los sesos 0 Reformers are racking their brains for a way to slow down these processes. coco a alguien 0
*
brass the brass ring (EE UU) exito
o There are good and bad features to living among people who are all young, on the make and gOing for the brass ring
alguien 0 He'd lost interest in Willy by that time -I was the blue-eyed boy.
professionally.
a whipping boy una eabeza de
§ anlllo de laton (brass ring) fUera ~ del alcanee de quienes montaban § en los cabalJitos. 5i alguien
tureo 0 Businessmen fearthat they and the hard-won free-market reforms will be the whipping boys forthe economic ills that confront the new administration. ~ EI sentido literal de whipping boy ~ es "nino de los azotes".
~ En algunos
tiovivos colocaban un
~ consegufa cogerlo, Ie permitfan ~ dar una vuelta sin pagar.
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey (Brit, familiar) un friO que peJa 0
It was a cold snap in the
brick 35
bread
34
middle of spring with winds cold
enough to (reeze the balls 0(( a brass monkey. ~ La frase brass monkey hace ~ referencia a la bandeja colocada ~ en la cubierta de un barco de ~ guerra sabre la que se apilaban § las balas de canon. Cuando hacfa ~ mucho frio, el metalse contrafa y ~ provocaba el desmoronamienta
§ de las balas. get down to brass tacks ir al grana
o The congress was dueto get down to brass tacks today with a debate on the party's performance during the last five years. ~
La explicacion habitual de esta § expresi6n es que en el argot ~ rimado que emplean los cockneys
~ (habitantes del este de Londres)
§ brass tacks significa facts ~ ("hechos").
bread the best thing since sliced bread 0 the greatest thing since sliced bread el no va mas (literal: 10 mejor desde el pan de molde) a When your programme prst started I thought it
was the best thing since sliced bread. But over the last three months I think you have adopted an arrogant attitude. bread-and-butter basi co a On
major bread-and-butter issues, there's little difference between the two candidates. bread and circuses pan Y circo aMetternich proceeded to neutralize
political dissent through a policy of bread and circuses. Esta expresi6n es la traducci6n de una frase que aparece en una satira del poeta romanoJuvenal. Se refiereal hecho de que, en la antigua Roma, las autoridades
~ ~ ~ ~
proporcionaban al pueblo qivertimentos publicos y comida afin de prevenir posibles rebeliones.
'*
give me a break (familiar) 1 que tonterfa a Give me a breald Why quote feminists on a decision that concerns the rights ofall women? Why can't they quote mothers, teachers, nurses, or dancers? 2 dejameen paz a Anxious families yesterday begged youngsters, 'Give us a break', after dozens of cars were wrecked by the gongs.
j
cast your bread upon the waters
(/iterario) hacer el bien sin mirar a quien 0 You should mal
never be given an even break a never get an even break no tener
@ La traducci6n literal de esta
g expresi6n, "Manda tu grana por
nunca una oportunidad a He /(ept talldng about how she nevergot an even breal< (rom the(amily. ~ Never Give a Suci
~ el mar", proviene de la Biblia ~ (Eclesiastes 11:1). Significa que los
§ que sean generosos y serviciales ~ seran recompensados, pero
~ es el tftulo de una pelfcula
g posiblemente solo al cabo de
g mucho tiempo.
know which side your bread is buttered on saber donde aprieta el zapata (literal: saber en que lado se ha untado el pan de mantequilla)
~ protagonizada par el actor
~ comico estadounidenseW. C.
~ Fields en 1941.
breast beat your breast -+ ver beat make a clean breast of something confesar alga can franqueza a If you
a Donaldwasa man who I
utter clarity which side his bread was buttered on.
* ayour bread and butter 'Who's youraudience?"we play maybe
make a clean breast of your problems, creditors, whether secured or unsecured are much more lil
tu sustento
a hundred colleges a year. That is our bread and butter.'
breadline live on the breadline a be on the breadline vivir en la
They should be stripped of everything they own but the bare essentials. Let them feel what it is like to be on the breadline.
breath
*
miseria a
En epocas de escasez, particularmente en Estados Unidos durante el siglo pasado, los pobres solfan hacer cola a la entrada de panaderfas 0 de comedores de beneficencia para que les dieran pan gratiS, 0 muy barato.
alguien esta gastando saliva a He
break
*
* *
wanted to protest again, but the tone of her voice told him he was wasting his breath. take your breath away dejarte sin
a Tell me again about the picture.' 'It's beautifUl. It's so beautiful it takes your breath away.' habla
with bated breath con el alma en vila a They got the people in the
villages interested in what was going to happen, so they were then watching wit.h bated breath as the experiment began. ~ Bate es una forma antigua del ~. verba abate, que en este contexto ~ significa "controlar" a "contener".
breeze shoot the breeze darle a la lengua
o Goldie does what she likes doing best: shooting the breeze about life, love, and her bad reputation. ~ EI sentido de shoot usado en esta ~ expresion es, probablemente, el
~ mismo que se emplea en
shoot the
§ rapids. Am bas expresiones ~ sugieren la idea de dejarse lIevar 2" par la conversacion.
brick come up against a brick wall
a breath of fresh air un sapia de aire fresco a Basically, I was bored. SoMil
fresh air. hold your breath contener la respiracion aShe had been holding her breath and hoping that the agreement would be Signed.
* oinForthepoliticians same breath to demand firm
acto seguido
immigration controls and argue against racism in the same breath is a deep contradiction. someone is wasting their breath
encontrarse en un callejon sin salida
(literal: encontrarse can una pared de ladrillo) 0 I was tired, I had been working real hard for a long time and I felt that I'd come up against a brick wall. drop a brick (Brit) meter la pata
(literal: dejar caer un ladrillo)
a After his comments on the liveN programme, Mr Freeman was immediately aware that he had dropped a political brick of the worst kind. drop something or someone like a hot brick ~ ver drop
36
buck
bricks
bricks make bricks without straw hacer ladrillos sin paja 0 Hisjob was
§
~ Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~ Biblia (Exado, 5:7) V se refiere a la § orden del fara6n de no dar paja ~ para hacer ladrillos a los israelitas
§ cautivos.
~ ""dilla.
britches .get too big forvour britches ... ver big
*
someone will cross that bridge when they come to it alguien
bridges
* o We 1001< for
build bridges
tender puentes
ways to build bridges
between our two organizations.
brief
hold no brief for something (Brit, wlto) no ser partida rio de algo
o This newspaper holds no brief for a committee that has done nothing to distinguish itselfin the past. ~ En un contexto legal, la palabra
§ briefsignifica "escrito".
bright bright as a button (sobretodo Brit, anticuado) mas listo que el hambre
(litera': maS brHlante que un bot6n) oShe was as bright as a button and sharp as anything. l(it had been her
running the company, it might still be Or<.
bright-eyed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed alegre y activo (litera': de ojos brillantes y rabo peludo) 0 But far
* oMrStein brownie points would almost certainly win tantos a favor
go for broke jugarse el todo por el todo 0 In london's West End there is a reluctance to take risks with new plays while going for broke on musicals.
~
~ de cartas, se dice que goes for broke.
~ EI primer usa documentado de ~ este proverbio moderno se debe ~ 31 estadounidense Bert Lance, § director de la oficina de ~ Administraci6n Y Presupuesto del ~ presidente Carter (1977). Lance se g referla a la reorganizacion ~ gubernamental.
brown brown as a berry muy moreno
(litera': marron como una baya) o Steve Hobbs had just come bacl< from his holiday. Brown as a berry he was, when he came round here the following Monday.
Puede que esta expresion haga referencia a una burbuja que esta punto de estallaro a la burbuja en un nivel de burbuja, que se alejara de! centro si e! nivel no se mantiene exactamente horizontal.
brunt
*
bear the brunt of something aguantar 10 mas duro de algo
o In 37 years with British Rail, / saw
buck
how station staffalways bore the brunt
of public anger over fare rises.
brush tar someone with the same brush meter a alguien en el mismo saco
o I am a (ootball supporter and I often have to explain that I'm nat one o(the hOOligan sort, because we all get tarred with the same brush. ~ Esta expresion proviene del uso
*
~ de alquitran para senalar a todas ~ las ovejas de un rebano y ~ distlnguirlas aSI de otras rebanos.
broom a new broom una escoba nueva o We had a new, exceptionally young headmaster and he was a very active new broom.
yesterday.
The Brownies es una organizacion
~ escultista para ninas. Se espera ~ que sus miembros se porten bien § y sean serviciales.
~ Cuando unjugador apuesta todo
if it ain't broke, don't fix it si funciona, no 10 toques oWith regard to proposals for some grand reorganization of the intelligence community: If it ain't bro/
on the bubble (EE UU) en la cuerda fioja (literal: en la burbuja) 0 Hewlett was on the bubble after a dimcult round
extra brownie pOints for taking an ultracautious view and removing uncertainty from the share price.
g su dinero a unjuego 0 a una mano
*
nombre de la Companla de los Mares del SULA principios del siglo XIII, esta campania aceptosaldarla deuda nacional britanica a cambie del monopoJio del camercio con los mares del sur. Mucha gente invirti6 en la empresa, pero esta quebro en 1720 y numerosos inversores se arruinaron.
brownie
broke
bridge tratara ese problema en su momenta o 'You can't make me talk to you.' 'No, but the police can,"1'11 cross that bridge when I [orne to it.'
F:sia expresion com para a una
i ~er~ona a\egre y activa con una
apparently to make education bricks
without straw - that is to say, to be inspiring without having much money.
Puede que esta expresion haga referencia a las enebrinas (juniper berries) 0 a las cedrides (cedar berries), que son marrones, mientras que la mayorfa de bayas son rojas, moradas 0 blancas.
now, go and sleep awhile. I need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow.
bubble
*
En el poquer, la ficha 0 el objeto que se pasaba a la persona a la que Ie tocaba repartir la mano siguiente se denominaba buck. 5i no querfa repartirni responsabilizarse de declarar la primera apuesta, dicha persona podIa 0 bien quedarse la ficha 0 pasarsela a su vez a otro jugador.
the buck stops here 0 the buck stops with me yo soy el respensable 0 If you are going to blame anyone, it must be the man in charge and that's me. The buck stops here.
g Esta expresion suele asociarse
the bubble has burst ha estallado la burbuja 0 The bubble has burst. Crowds at the team's World league games are down (rom last year's 40,000 average to 22,000. Esta expresion hace referencia a la Burbuja de los Mares del Sur, un desastre financiera que tomo su
37
*
~ al presidente estadounidense ~ Truman, quien la tenia escrita ~ en un letrera colocado sobre el ~ escritorio del Despacho Oval para ~ recordarle sus responsabilidades.
pass the buck pasar la pelota 0 He is our responsibility. Canada is the only
bush
bucket
38
place he has ever known and to deport him is simply passing the buck because of 0 legal loophole.
bucket kick the bucket estirar la pata
(literal: darle una patada al cuba) oA11 the money goes to her when the old man kicks the bucket.
una cacharrerfa 0 In confrontational situations I am like a bull in a china shop. a red rag to a bull (sobre todo Brit) a a ted flag before a bull (sabre todo EB UU) una provocaci6n (literal: un traporojoauntoro) o This sort of Information is like a red rag to a bull for the tobacco companies but it really . needs to be exposed.
~ Los Of!genes de esta expresi6n ~ son inciertos. Puede que se refiera
take the bull by the horns cager el toro par los cuernos 0 This is the time
bud
* alga de ralz
nip something in the bud cortar 0 It is important to . recognize jealousy as soon as possIble
~ extremadamente fria que dana
~ una planta e impide queflorezca. ~ Por otra parte, podrfa referirse a ~ unjardinero que pad a una planta ~ en brote para impedir que § florezca.
buffers hit the buffers (Brit, Periodismo) frenar de golpe 0 Their plans may not
get very for before they hit the bufFers. g Los topes colocados al final de ~ una via ferrea se denominan
§ bufFers.
bug
*
be bitten by the bug haberle picado el gusanillo 0 Bitten by the travel bug,
he then set off for a working holiday in Australia.
bull a bull in a china shop un Elefante en
bullet
*
bite the bullet enfrentarse al toro (literal: morder la bala) 0 The same
bums put bums on seats (Brit, familiar) lIenar un teatro/un cine, etc. 0 He's
a/ways been like that and will never change. That's why he gets bums on seats - he's a showman. ~
g
a bundle of nerves ... ver nerves drop your bundle (sobre todo Australia) arrojar la toalla (literal: dejar caer el farda) oAt 25-6
University were losing badly, but to their credit they did not drop their bundle.
bunny not a happy bunny (Brit) muV mosqueada oArthur stared into the
get the bullet a be given the bullet (Brit, familiar) ser puesto de patitas en la calle
cup, worriedly. He was not a happy bunny. ~
o The banks are still making money but they only have to have one bad year and everybody gets the bullet. a bum steer (sobretodo EE UU, familiar) engana 0 Did you give me a bum steer about your name and address?
En ingles britfmico, bum significa "trasero".
bundle
§
bum
L~ palabra burner significa "quemador" (de una cocina).
~ la fuerza de algCin sitia.
stressful event might make one person utterly miserable, while another will bite the bullet and make the best of it. Tiempo atras, a veces se les daba § a los heridos en combate una bala ~ para que la mardieran mientras el ~ medico los operaba sin calm antes -, § nl anestesla.
burner
~ vagabunda al que expulsan por
En una carrida de taros, el torero ~ a veces cage al toro par los ~ cuernas antes de matarlo.
Puede que esta expresi6n se
~ refiera a una temperatura'
Bum significa "vagabundo". Esta ~ expresi6n hace referencia a un
~
ofhand. §:
~
to take the bull by the horns and tackle the complex issues offinance.
and to nip it in the bud before it gets out
Durante las invasianes, a veces ~ ras generales romanos quemaban g sus barcos 0 los puentes que ~ hubieran cruzado, de modo que ~ sus soldados no pudieran ~ replegarse V se vieran abligados ~ aseguircambatienda.
and sat down to lunch with European royalty, so we got the bum's rush.
§ corrida de taros, el torero aglta ~ una muleta para que el taro la ~ embista.
~ luego Ie da una patada al cuba.
~
get the bum's rush (familiar) ser ignarado 0 He turned up there at 2.45
~ rojo enfurece a los toros. En ~na
~ a un suicida que se sube a un ~ cuba, se ata una 50ga al cuello V
how long I would be here. / didn't want to bum all my bridges.
Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a un bueV sin valor, aunque tam bien pod ria referirse a una persona a la que Ie indican mal el camino.
~ Mucha gente cree que el color
Bunnyes una palabra infantil ~ para referirse a un canejo. Esta ~ expresi6n recuerda e! lenguaje de ~ un cuento.
burn
*
burn your boats (Brit) 0 burn your bridges quemar las naves
o I didn't sell it because I didn't know
39
*
put something on the back burner aparcar alga oShe put hercareeron
the back burner after marrying co-star Paul Hogan two years ago, spending her time making a homeforthem in Australia.
bush the bush telegraph (Brit, anticuado) radio mac uta 0 No, you didn't tell me,
but I heard it on the bush telegraph. ~
Esta expresi6n hace referencia ~ a un metodo primitivo de ~ comunicaci6n entre personas ~ repartidas por una zona extensa, ~ las cuales tocan tam bores para ~ enviarse mensajes. not beat about the bush (Brit) 0 not beat around the bush na andarse con rodeos 0 I decided not to
beat around the bush. 'I'm at Sam's,' I told her. 'Eddie didn't come back from his paper route yet. Nobody Iwows where he is.' En las cacerfas, las batidares galpean los matorrales con palos para hacer salir a los pajaros 0 a otras ani males pequenos. Puede que tengan que hacerlo con cautela, va que no sa ben exactamente d6nde se encuentran los pajaros 0 los animales.
button
bushel
40
hide your light under a bushel
Don't be tempted to hide your light under a bushel for fear of upsetting other people. ocultar tus logros
Esta frase es una cita de EpIsto/a 01 doctor Arbuthnot (1735). de Alexander Pope. Tiempo atras,
diario (literal: las vacaciones de un
bushel 0
Esta frase proviene de la Biblia ~ (Mateo S:ls).Jesus dice que nadie § enciende una lam para para ~ esconderla despues bajo algo, ~ sino que se coloca sobre un ~ candelero para que alumbre a g todo el mundo. §
bushes beat the bushes (sobre todo EE UU) buscar alga par todas partes 0 He was tired ofbeating the bushes for work, and he did not want to as/( for
help or accept charity.
conductor de auto bus) oA fire crew's
Christrhas outing turned into a busrhan's holiday when their coach
caught fire. ~ Puede que esta expresi6n se § ~ ~ ~
refiera a los conductores de autobOs de principios del sigl0 xx, cuanda los autobuses iban·
tirados porcaballos.Algunos
~ conductores a veces pasaban su
~ dfa libre viajando en sus
~ auto buses para asegurarse de ~ que los conductores de releva ~ trataban bien a los caballos.
busy a busybeeo busy as a bee atareadrsimo (litera': tan ocupado como una 0 He is busy as a bee designing every production in London.
abeja)
business be in business (hab/ado) estar listo o It plugs in here, right?O/wy, we're in business. Let's see how it works,
guys. business as usual aquf no ha pasado nada oMrFitzwatertold reporters: It is business as usual; this isn't the kind Of crisis that requires us to
drop everything else. do the business (familiar) estar ala altura 0 Now I could bejudged solely on my achievements as a player, and I was absolutely determined to prove I could still do the business. do something like nobody's business hacer alga como loco o I mean Geoffrey can chat like nobody's
business. * them mean business oOneof poked a shotgun at me. / could see iren serio
he meant business.
busman
a busman's holiday (sabre todo Brit) vacaciones parecidas al trabajo
butter butter WOUldn't melt in someone's mouth alguien es una mosquita muerta (literal: la mantequilla no se derretirra en la boca de alguien)
o He may look as though butter
WOUldn't melt in his mouth, but J WOUldn't trust him.
butterflies have butterflies in your stomach estar nerviosfsimo (literal: tener mariposas en el estomago) 0 He seemed so full of enthusiasm that I felt foolish still having butterflies in my stomach.
butterfly break a butterfly on a wheel 0 They have had their ideology combed over, examined, misinterpreted and rewritten. Talk about breaking a butterfly on Q wheel.
(Brit) pasarse de bruto
* a hot buttonIfcrimeUU) the city's issue (fE
candente
0
un asunto
is
most known to outsiders, rent control
la rueda era un instrumento de tortura. Ataban a una persona a
is the city's hot button for its residents. on the button en punto 0 He said
la rueda y Ie rompfan los brazos y las piernas, 0 10 golpeaban hasta matarla.
he'd meet us at 10.00 on the button.
button
*
41
do something at the touch of a button hacer alga al toque de un boton o Specially trained staffwill be able to trace obscene and threatening calls at the touch of a button, and pass the information to police.
press the right button 0 press all the right buttons acertar de Ileno (literal: apretar el baton correcto) 0 In what it describes as a
well-judged performance, the newspaper says he pressed all the right buttons to please the representatives. you're right on the button has dado en el clavo 0 I\m I right?' 'Right 01]
thOe button.'
candy
caboodle Puede que caboodle venga de la palabra holandesa boedal, que significa "propiedad",
the whole caboodle 0 the whole kit and caboodle (Brit) todo, toda la pesca a I would probably rnd that I could barrow the whole caboodle.
cage rattle someone's cage hacer la Pascua a alguien (literal: agitar la jaula de alguien) a I don't rattle their cages and they don't rattle mine.
Cain raise Cain armar la gorda a I figure she'd raise Cain if we tried to stop her. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
~ la historia de!a Biblia en la que ~ eafn asesin6 a su hermanoAbel ~ preso de la ira. (Genesis 4:1-9).
cake
* have
your cake and eat it nadary guardar la ropa a The Chancellor can't have his cake and eat it: interest rates will go up, but tax revenues will go down. Aunque have yourcal
take the cake serel colma
0
Esta expresi6n proviene de la parabola del hijo pr6digo (Lucas 5:3-32), relatada par Jesus en la Biblia. Segun dicha parabola, un joven vuelve a casa despues de malgastartodo el dinero que su padre Ie habfa entregado. Sin embargo, su padre esta tan contento de verlo que celebra su regreso matando una ternera y celebrando un banquete.
Officers
say they get to see some pretty odd things but that just about takes the cake. s En las antiguas Grecia y Roma ya ~ se entregaban pasteles como ~ premia, pero se cree que esta
call
*
§ expresi6n se origino entre los ~ afroamericanos del sur de ~ Estados Unidos en tiempos de la ~ esclavitud. Los participantes en ~ una competicion caminaban 0 ~ bailaban alrededorde un pastel ~ en parejas, y el pastel se ~ entregaba como premia a la § pareja que se moviera con mas § elegancia.
cakes cakes and ale (Brit) diversion (literal: pasteles y cerveza) a You can't deny other people cakes and ale just because you've never enjoyed them yourselF. ~
~ ~ ~
~ ~
:;:
Esta expresi6n aparece en la obra Twelfth Night (Noche de Reyes) de Shakespeare (acto II, escena Ill). Cakes and Ale (Rosie en castellano) tam bien es el tftulo de una novela de Somerset Maugham publicada en 1930.
calf kill the fatted calf celebrar una fiesta de bienvenida a He went off to make movies, and when he returned, his record company didn't exactly I
that was a close call escapamos 0 nos salvamos por un pelo a 'That was a close cal/,' Bess gasped, as the boat steadied and got underway.
calm
*
the calm before the storm la calma antes de la tormenta a Things are relatively calm at the moment, but I thinl( this is probably the calm beFore the storm.
camp a camp follower un simpatizante o Even in my day as a player, we had our camp followers. ~
Original mente, la frase camp ~ followers se referfa a aquellos ~ civiles que viajaban con un g ejercito y se ganaban la vida ~ vendiendo mercandas 0 servicios ~ a los soldados.
pitch camp acampar aAs reporters pitched camp outside their home, the family's pOlitical differences became a public concern.
can a can of worms --+ verworms carry the can (Brit) pagar el pato It annoys methat I was the only one who carried the can forthat deFeot.
*a
43
Originalmente, esta era una expresi6n militarque hacfa referencia al hombre escogido para ir a buscar un recipiente de cerveza para un grupo de soldados.
in the can en el bote a We've got the interview in the can. § las antiguas pelfculas
§ cinematograficas se guardan en § recipientes metalicos circulares ~ denominados cans ("Iatas").
candle burn the candle at both ends hacer de la noche dfa (literal: quemar la vela por ambos extremos) aMost people need six or seven hours each night and you're burning the candle at both ends /Fyou regularly sleep For less than rye. not be worth the candle (Brit) no valer la pena a Ifit means falling into my present state afterwards, writing isn't worth the candle. § Original mente esta expresi6n ~ hacfa referencia a unjuego de
§ naipes en e! que la cantidad de ~ dinero que se apostaba era ~ inferior al coste de la vela que se ~ consumfa durante dichojuego.
someone can't hold a candle to someone alguien no Ie lIega a la suela de loszapatos a alguien
a There are football players now valued in the f2m bracket who can't hold a candle to Ian in terms of ability. § Esta expresi6n da a entender que
~ una persona ni siquiera es digna ~ de sostener una luz para ayudar a i§ vera otra.
candy like taking candy from a baby coser y cantar (literal: como quitarle
•
cannon
44
case ;rthe cap rts, they should wear it. put your thinking cap on 0 get your thinking cap on usar la
caramelos a un be be) oStealing the
stuff was lil
cannon
*o
aShe decided to put her t binl
cannon fodder carne de can6n
The rFty-rve to sixty-rveyear-olds
would be sent to the front as cannonfodder. They were to attack ahead ofthe
~
regular troops and absorb the enemy's ~
"*
a loose cannon una bomba de
relojerfa
0
There is Q widespread worry
that the military command has turned into a loose cannon beyond the control of the government. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere a los
~
canones que se transportaban
§ en la cubierta de los barcos de ~ guerra. Si alguno de los canones ~ no estaba bien 5ujeto, podfa girar § y hacer un agujero en el barco.
canoe paddle your own canoe
arreglartelas solo (literal: rema tu propia canoa) oAs faras the rest of Europe is concerned, we've just got to
paddle our own canoe.
cap cap in hand (sobretodo Brit) en
On holiday, if you rely on cash and lose the lot, you could end up going cap in hand to the nearest British consulate.
actitud humilde a
~
Esta expresion sugiere la imagen
§ de un criado u otra persona de § bajorangoquesesacaelsombrero § en presencia de alguien importante. if the cap fits, wear it (Brit) el que se pica, ajos come (literal: si te queda bien la gorra, pontela) a I have not mentioned any names yet, but I told the team what I think and I told them that
*
~ los jueces cuando dicta~an ~ sentencia.
rre. La palabra foddersignifica ~ "forraje".
Puede que esta expresion se
~ refiera al birrete que solfan lIevar
alogrande
play your cards close to the vest (EE UU) no soltar prenda 0 He plays
T.
his cards very close to the vest, causing some attorneys with whom he's worked to describe him as secretive and manipulative. play your cards right (sobre todo Brit) jugar bien tus cartas aSoon, if
carbon
*
las cartas sobre la mesa a Put your cards on the table and be very clear about your complaints. Thjs should cleartheair. on the cards (Brit) previsto a There's no need to look so surprised. This has been on the cards for a long time. ; Esta expresion se refiere a las ~ cartas usadas para predecirel § futuro, como las del tarot.
capital
* a...That with a capitalT/I/F man's Trouble with a capital a carbon copy el vivo retrato (literal: copia en papel carbon)
aShe's a/ways been quiet. She's a carbon copy of her mother - her mother always hated making a fUSS.
she played hereards right, she would be head oFthe London ornee.
card a calling card tarjeta de presentacion a He says the actor used the New York magazine cover story about him as 'his calling card'. ~ En ingles americano, calling card
carpet be on the carpet (Brit) lIevarse una 0 The bad boy of English cricket was on the carpet again this bronca
~ significa "tarjeta de visita".
week for refusing to wear one of the club's sponsored shirts.
a wild card una incognita a I was always a bit uneasy about him; I liked
§ refiera a una alfombra colocada
~
him, but he was a bit of a wild card. ~ Enjuegos como el poquer, wild ~ card significa "comodfn".
Puede que esta expresion se
~ ~ ~ ~
frentea un escritorio, sobre la que alguien permanece de pie mientras es reprendido. Por otra parte, tam bien podrfa referirse a g un patron que llama a su crlado a ~ una de las mejores salas de la g casa, la cual tendrfa una ~ alfombra, a fin de reprenderlo.
cards keep your cards close to your chest no soltar prenda a The Prime Minister was said yesterday to be keeping his cards close to his chest after an informal discussion at cabinet on Thursday. Esta expresion se refiere a jugadores de algun juego de naipes que sujetan las cartas cerca del pecho para que nadie pueda veri as.
(sabre todo Brit) echartierra sobre algo (literal: barrer algo debajo de la alfombra) a People Often assume if
lay your cards on the table 0 put your cards on the table poner
materia gris
roll out the red carpet recibircon todos los honores (literal: extender
*
la alfombra roja) a The museum staff rolled out the red carpet; although it was a Sunday, the deputy director came in especially to show us round.
sweep something under the carpet
45
you sweep something under the carpet the problem will go away, but that is not the case.
carrot
*
carrot and stick la zanahoria y el palo
a But Congress also wants to use
a carrot and stick approach to force
* both sides
to negotiate. offer someone a carrot ofrecer un
incentivoaalguien aHe is to offer the public a new carrot by reversing this week's doubling of petrol prices.
§ Esta expresion sugiere la imagen ~ de alguien que anima a un burro a ~ moverse sosteniendo una § zanahoria frente al animal.
carry carryall before you (Brit) arrasar a Newcastle United were carrying all
before them, winning a/l their matches.
cart put the cart before the horse empezar la casa por el tejado (literal: colocar el carro delante del caballo) a Creating large numbers of
schools before improving school management is putting the cart before the horse.
cartload as cunning or clever as a cartload of monkeys (Brit, anticuado) mas listo que el hambre (literal: listo como un carro lIeno de monos) 0 They are engaging creatures, cunning as a cart/oad of monkeys.
case En estas expresiones, case significa "caso", y no caja 0 maleta.
46
cash
Catch
be on someone's case 0
§ populares en Gran Bretafia en la
g decada de 1920. Cat's whisker
get on someone's case (familiar)
~ tarnbien significa "detector de
meterse con alguien 0 I don't need my friends getting on my case and
telling me what to do as wel/. on the case cuidando del asunto o I am on theeose, and as soon as I have a solution to the problem, J'II/et you know.
cash a cash cow la gallina de 105 huevos de oro 0 The park has been a cash cow
forthe city. Sales taxes there account for approximately 75 per cent of the city's general fund. § Esta expresi6n hace referenda a ~ algo que produce dinero de forma
§ tan abundante como una vaca ~ produce la Jeche.
castles castles in the air castilios en el aire o 'Along the way I have to become very, very rich.' He shook his head in wonder at her. 'You're building castles in the air, Anne.'
* acatgame and mouse of cat and mouse 0
el gate y
He would play cat-andmouse with other riders, sometimes waiting until the fourth lap to come from behind and win. 0
~
Esta expresion hace referencia a ~ un gato quejuega con un raton § antes de matarlo.
the eat's whiskers a the eat's pyjamas el no va mas (Brit, anticuado) oShe had this great dress on and shethought she was the eat's whiskers as she came out along the gallery. ~
*
~ contacto con un cristal.
a fat cat un ricachon (literal: un gato gordo) 0 They want highertaxes for the bulk ofthe population, not just the fat cats. fight like cat and dog Ilevarse como el perro y el gato 0 They had fought like cat and dog ever since he could remember, and he wondered howthev'd got together in the nrst place. grin like a Cheshire cat sonrefrde oreja a oreja 0 Charles was Sitting in his place, grinning like a Cheshire cat, when Ijoined him. § EI gato de Cheshire es un
§ personaje de Alicia en el pafs de las ~ maravillas(186s), del escritor
~ ingles Lewis Carrol. Este gato ~ desaparece gradualmente hasta
§ que solo seve su enorme sonrisa.
cat
el raton
~ bigbtes de gato", un dispositivo de ~ las ladios galena que consiste en ~ un alambre fino que hace
Estas expresiones provienen de ~ Estados Unidos yse hicieron
~ Por otra parte, puede que la ~ expresion provenga de los letreros
§ en las posadas de Cheshire, @ muchas de las cuales tenfan
§ dibujado un leon sonriente. let the cat out of the bag irse de la lengua (literal: dejar salir de la bolsa al gato) 0 The Mosses didn't tell the cops my name, did they?, 'Of course not,' she said. 'They wouldn't want to let the cat out ofthe bag.' like a cat on hot bricks a like a cat on a hot tin roof sobre ascuas 0 He's liI
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof(La gata sobre el tejado de zinc) es el titulo de una obra deTennesseeWilliams.
like the cat that got the cream (sabre todo Brit) sin caber en sf de satisfaccion (litera': como el gato que se comiola nata) 0 Did you
notice Hugh acting like the cat that got the cream? like a scalded cat como gato escaldado (Brit) oScrambling around to recover his glasses, the scientist darted to his car like a scalded cat and clambered quicldy in. look like something the cat dragged in teneruna pinta terrible (literal: parecer algo que arrastro el gato) 0 It is quite possible to be an intelligent and successful woman and look like something the cat has dragged in. look what the eat's dragged in mira quien viene por aquf 0 In strolls Bobs. 'Now look what the eat's dragged in,' says Jeanie, with a nod. put the cat among the pigeons 0 set the cat among the pigeons (Brit) meter los perros en danza (litera': poner al gato entre las palomas) 0 Once again she set the cat
among the pigeons, claiming that Michael was lying. see which way the cat jumps (sabre todo Brit) esperara verde que lado caen las peras (litera': esperar aver hacia que lade salta el gato) 0 I'm going to sit tight and see which way the
cat jumps. §
Esta expresion podrfa guardar
~ relacion con el antiguojuego ~ conocido como tip-eat, en el cual ~ los jugadores esperaban a ver en ~ que direccion se movfa un trocito ~ de madera denominado "gato" ~ antes de darle un go!pe 0 de ~ hacerlo saltar par los aires ~ (tipping it).
there isn't room to swing a cat (sobretodo Brit) no cabe un alfiler
47
o Inside, there isn't room to swing a cat, and everything you see and touch is the most basicjunl<. Cat de esta expresion es ~ probab!emente un cat-o'-nine-tails
;§
§ ("azote de nueve ramales"), un ~ tipo de larigo usado en otros
§ tiempos para castigar a !os ~ infractores en e! ejercito y en la
§ armada. Sin embargo, la ~ expresion tambien podrfa § referirse a la antigua costumbre
~ de hacer oscilar gatos por la cola ~ como blancos para arqueros.
there~s more than one way to skin a cat cada maestrillo tiene su librillo
(literal: hay mas formas de desollar a un gato) 0 There is more than one way to skin a cat; keep positive and try another method of reaching your goal. when the eat's away, the mice will play cuando e! gato no esta, bailan los ratones 0 While the bosses are out of the room, the workers watch the game- a case of while the eat's away the mice will play.
catbird in the catbird seat (EE UU, anticuado) en una posicion segura o If I can run around the world and buy that particular group, then I'll be in the catbird seat. g Esta expresion se popularizo en ~ las decadas de 1940 y1950, ~ cuando la empleo el comentarista § de beisbol Red Barber. Catbirds ~ son pajaros canto res ~ norteamericanos. La: expresion § podrfa deberse a que estes ~ pajaros suelen posarse en las ~ ramas mas altas de los arboles.
Catch a Catch 22 un callejon sin salida o There's a Catch 22 in social work
chapter
cats
48
You need experience to get work and you
no time to think, he decided. He threw caution to the winds and rang the bell of \he,ground-roor rat,
need work to get experience. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
§ novela Catch 22 (Trampa 22) de ~ 1961, esc rita porel autar ~ estadounidenseJoseph Heller. ~ La novela trata sabre pilotos de § bombarderos en la Segunda
cdling
*
~ Guerra Mundial.la situaci6n
§ denominada Catch 22 consiste en ~ que cualquier persona cuerda ~ pedirfa dejarde volar, perc las
g autoridades solo se 10 permitfan a § los dementes.
cats it's raining cats and dogs (Brit; anticuado) Ilueve a (antaros (literal: Hueven gatos y perras) 0 'Could you see how he lool
Existen varias explicaciones
§ posibles de esta expresi6n, pero ~ ninguna puede probarse. Quiz§.
~ se refiera a los dfas en los que el ~ alcantari!!ado de las ciudades ~ funcionaba tan mal que los perras ~ y los gatos a veces se ahogaban ~ cuando Ilovfa mucho. Por otra ~ parte, cats and dogs podrfa ser una ~ deformacion 0 una mala ~ comprension de la palabra griega ~ catadupe, que significa "cascada", ~ por 10 que la expresion original ~ habrfa sido "!!ueve como una ~ cascada" (0 it's raining like a g waterfall). 0 puede que su origen ~ se remonte a la mitologfa nordica, ~ en la que a veces se asociaba a los ~ gatos y a los perras con el espfritu ~ de las tormentas.
*caution
throw caution to the wind 0 throw caution to the winds abandonar la prudencia 0 This was
go through the ceiling dispararse o Sales went through the ceiling and pharmacists began reporting shortages ofthe drug. 2 perder los estribos (literal: atravesar el techo) 0 'Ifhe did what she said, she was happy, but i(he didn't, she went through the ceiling.' 1
cent
*
not have a cent to your name -+vername not a red cent 0 not one red cent (sabre todo EE UU) ni un dura 0 But investors have to remember that with many shows they won't get a red cent back ~
La moneda estadounidense de un ~ centavo solfa estar hecha de § cobre, perc actualmente se hace ~ con una mezcla de cobre, estano 2 y zinc.
your two cents' worth (sobre todo EE UU) tu opinion (literal: tus dos centavos) 0 Your father I
chain
chalice ( Chalice significa "caliz".
)
a poisoned chalice (sobretodo Brit) un arma de doble filo 0 The contract may yet prove to be a poisoned chalice.
chall< by a long chalk (Brit) de lejos o Where do you think you're going, Kershaw? You haven't finished by a long challe ~
Puede que esta expresi6n se
§ refiera a la costumbre de marcar § con tiza el suelo para mostrar los ~ tantos de unjugadoro de un ~ equipo.A long chalk podrfa
centre Centre se escribe center en ingles americano.
~ significar"muchos puntos", 0 ~ "una gran cantidad". chalk and cheese (Brit) como el dfa y la noche (literal: tiza y queso) o Our relationship works because we are very aware o( our differences, we accept that we are chall< and cheese.
* centre stage
primer plano o The summit is the first time he has occupied centre stage at an important international gathering since coming to power last year. ~
stagesignifica "escenario". EI ~ centro del escenario es ellugar en ~ que un actor resulta mas visible. ~ En el teatro se dan indicaciones a ~ los actores como centro del ~ escenario, izquierda del escenario, ~ derecha del escenario, fondo del ~ escenario y partedelantera del § escenario.
not a chance in hell (Brit) ni la menor posibilidad 01(1 was caught with all the film on me I had not a snowball's chance in hell o(ta/king my way out o(lt. S La expresi6n original era as much ~ chance as a cat in hell without claws, ~ cuya traduccion litera! serra "las ~ mismas posibilidades que un gato ~ sin garras en el infierno".
cents
yank someone's chain (sobretod? EE UU, (amiliar) mosquear a algulen (literal: tirar de la cadena de alguien) o When would I learn to smarten up and ignore her when she yanl
chance
*
chance would be a fine thing (Brit) ya quisiera yo 0 Everyone needs a day in bed sometimes. I(you've got kids you're probably thinking 'chance would be a rne thing', not a snowball's chance in hell 0
49
change
*
a change of heart un cambio de idea oAt the last minute, she had a change o(heart about selling it. It had been in her family (or generations. get no change out of someone no conseguir sacar nada a alguien (Brit) 0 You won't get any change out o(him, so don't expect it. And no promotion, either.
changes
* ring the changes
(Brit) variar 0 The different varieties enable you to ring the changes so that your cat never gets bored with his (ood, §.
Ring the changes significa tocar
g cierto numero de campanas de
~ una iglesia, cad a una de las cuales ~ produce una nota distinta, una
g tras otra en todas las
~ combinaciones posibles.
chapter chapter and verse con pelos y senales 0 I explained everything to Lapiere. I gave him chapter and verse. § Esta expresi6n se refiere a la ~ costumbre de enumerar los § capftulos y los verslculos a! citar ~ pasajes de la Biblia. a chapter of accidents (Brit) una serie de desgracias 0 In fiction, however, such a chapter o( accidents can end up seeming comic.
charity
50
chip
~ Muchas escritores han usado con
avoid a situation where you have either to defend yoursel( or turn the other
g frecuencia esta expresi6n. Uno de
~ los U505 mas antiguos es the ~ chapterof accidents is the longest ~ chapter in the boo/{ ("el capitulo de
ch~el<.
chleese
abig cheese (familiar) un pez gordo
§ accidentes es el capitulo mas ~ largo del libra"). Ellibra en § cuesti6n es la historia de la vida
~
During the conference big cheeses from the State Department were dropping in and out all the time. (literal: un queso grande)
de una persona, 0 la cr6nica de un
§ acontecimiento determinado.
~ En esta expresi6n, la palabra
charity
~ cheese puede ser una defprmaci6n
charity begins at home la caridad
§
una mala comprensi6n de la ~ palabra urdu "chiz" 0 "cheez", que ~ significa "cosa". Empez6 a usarse ~ en ingles hacia 1840 debido a la ~ presencia britanica en India. Mas g tarde esta palabra se emplearfa @ para referirse a alguien § importante.
bien entendida empieza par uno mismo 0 Charity begins at home. There are manvtas/(s right here on
campus that need volunteers as wel/.
chase cut to the chase ir al grana
0
He
talked about the need to see all points of view, then he cut to the chase: 'Well, it looks like there is nothing here for me.
s En las pelfculas, (uanda termina § una escena yempieza otra se dice que la acci6n "corta" (cuts) de una ~ escena ala siguiente. Cuando una ~ pelfcula pasa a una escena con
~
0
cheque
I'm planning ta ny back:
Cheque se escribe check en Ingles america no.
* oDe
a blank cheque carta blanca KJerk had, in a sense, been given a blank cheque to negotiate the new
SouthA{rica.
~ una persecuci6n automovilfstica
~ se dice que dicha pelfcula cuts to ~ the chase. Esta expresi6n compara ~ los asuntos importantes que hay ~ que debatir 0 tratar con acciones ~ excitantes de una pelfeula, como
chest
§ las persecuciones § automovilfsticas.
*
~ Esta expresi6n se usa a menudo
§ con su sentido literal, "un cheque
g en blanco".
cheek
* about seven years, al/ this living cheek oAfter by jowl began to irritate people. ~ jowl es una palabra anticuada que ~ significa "mejil/a" (cheek).
turn the other cheek poner la otra mejilla 0 It's better to learn howto
beat your chest .... ver beat get something off your chest desahogarse contando algo
oMy doctor gave me the opportunity to
cheek by jowl codo con codo
*
0
tall< and get things offmy chest.
chestnut
*
an old chestnut (sobre todo Brit) la vieja historia de siempre (literal: una castana vieja) 0 The feminist struggle is too important to become an old
chestnut over which people groan.
chicken chicken and egg la gallina y el huevo 0 It's a chicken-and-egg
argument about which comes first: Do people create this lifestyle? Or does ~he? environment influence how people live. o Until we get promotion, we won't get the top players. But until we g.et top, players, we won't ~in p:omotlOn. It s a chicken-and-egg Situation. chicken feed calderilla (literal: pienso para gallinas) 0 The f7o,ooo-a-y~art~at we receive from our sponsors IS chicken
1
*
feed compared to the f20m budgets available to some of our rivals.. . 2 nimiedades o Ordinarily, thl~ late m the campaign, presidential candldat~s don't play around with chicken feed /I/
lead with your chin actuar con agresividad 0 This game is no place for
a player who cannot lead with his chin. ~ boxeo. Se refiere a un boxeador
~ que boxea sacando barbilla,
~ exponiendose as! a los go!pes
§ de su contrincante.
"* o When the police arrived, he took
take it on the chin encajar e! g~lpe It on,
the chin, apologizing for the trouble hed caused them. §:
§ haber recibido un punetazo en la ~- mandfbula
chink Chink significa "grieta" 0 "hendidura". a chink in someone's armour el tal6n deAquiles de alguien
government's armour. ~ Armour se escribe armor en Ingles ~ americano.
chip
a chip off the old block de t~1 pal? tal astilla 0 Lewis's lawyer said ~e IS a chip off the old block - a hothead and a bully just like his dod:
imperative that you do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
_
child's play unjuego de ninos 0 He thought the work would be child's play.
chin
keep your chin up manten~r 10: animos 0 Richards was keepmg ~IS
chin up yesterday despite the continued setbacks.
.
o Opposition leaders hope to usethelr annual conference to attack what they see as the most vulnerable chink in the
chickens
*
Esta expresi6n se refiere a alguien
~ que se mantiene en p~e pese a
round like a headless chicken you're. using your efforts in a more productive way, more efficiently.
child
Esta expresi6n proviene del
§:
like a headless chicken (Brit) dando palos de ciego (literal: como un . polio sin cabeza) 0 Instead ofrunnrng
don't count your chickens 0 don't count your chickens before they're hatched no hagas las cuentas de la lechera (literal: no cuentes los pollos [antes de que nazcan]) 0 When dealing with .. important financial arrangements, It IS
51
~ En esta expresi6n,
"*
chip significa
§ "asti!!a". a chip on your shoulder u n . resentimiento oMy father had a chip on his shoulder; he thought people
didn't like him because of the way he looked. §:
Se dice que antiguamente, en
§ Estados Unidos, algunos hombres
52
chips
claws
lIevaban a veces un trocito de madera sabre el hombro con la
esperanza de que alguien 10 hiciera caery les diera una excusa para entablar una pelea.
chips En las expresiones siguientes, la palabra chips se refiere a las fi(has
que se emplean en los casinos.
_conclusive evidence that oat bran is the fibre of choice for those who want to I; /(eep their cholestero/levels out ofthe ris/(zone.
I,.
chop
.*
chop and change (Brit) cambiar constantemente de opinion aAfter
chopping and changing forthe first year, Paul and Jamie have settled down
movilizar a los contactos
to a stable system ofmanagement.
0 That
point needs mai
§ En los juegos de azar, call in your § chips significa pedir a los atras ~ jugadores que te paguen todo el ~ dinero que te deben.
cash in your chips vender
0
/C/ was
small in over-the-counter drugs' in the States. It decided to cash in its chips at a surprisingly good price.
g En un casino, al acabar de jugar se § cambian las fichas por dinero, 0 ~ you cash in your chips. have had your chips (Brit) haber perdido su ultima oportunidad
o Atter thq-l defeat, mast of the crowd were convinced they'd already had their chips. 70,000
§ Puede que esta expresion hag a ~ referencia a losjugadores que han
~ perdido todas las fichas, y por ello § tienen que dejardejugar. when the chips are down cuando lIega el momento de la verdad
o There will be no panic. We are at our best when the chips are down. En un casino, losjugadores coJoean sus fichas sobre la mesa al apostar.
Antiguamente, a veces se entregaban puros como premia en las ferias. Puede que esta expresion se hubiera empleado cuando alguien que estaba a punto de obtener un premio no 10 lograba al final.
of choice preferido 0 Now we have
call in your chips (sabre todD Brit)
President's (riends in the labour unions and the steel and textile industries try to call in their chips.
*
choice
§ Esta expresion se empleaba
g originalmente en referencia a
circle
"* come full circle
volveral puntode partida a Her life had now come full
*
~ aquellas personas que ~ compraban yvendfan
circle and she was bacl< where she started, in misery, alone. the wheel has come full circle se ha vuelto al punto de partida (literal: la rueda ha completado un cfrculo)
o The wheel has come full circle in
~ mercancfas. Chop significaba
psychotherapy.
~ "comerdar" 0 "hacertrueques",
~ Puede que estas expresiones hagan
§ mientras que change era una
~ referenda a la idea medieval de ~ la rueda de la fortuna que gira ~ constantemente, de modo que la ~ persona que tiene buena suerte ~ en una epoea de su vida tendril § mala suerteen otra epoca.
~ version abreviada de exchange, ~ "cambiar".
* forth. chop (Brit, familiar)
There are rumours that he is for the chop. 2 a punto de desaparecer 0 He won't say which programmes are for the chop. 1 a punto de ser despedido 0
*
chord
* (literal:
strike a chord despertar emociones tocar un acorde) 0 It is a case
which has shoc/(edAmerica - and one which has struc/( a chord with every family with teenagers.
church a broad church (Brit) un concepto muy variado (literal: una iglesia amplia) o Rock music in Franceisa
very broad church indeed.
cigar
*
run round in circles (Brit) hacer las cosas sin orden ni conderto aShe
wastes a lot of energy running round in circles, whereas more careful planning could save a lot of effort and achieve a great deal.
circus a three-ring circus (sobre todo EE UU) un autentico foll6n (literal: un circo de tres pistas) 0 They might
fight among themselves, but griefwas a private thing, not something to be turned into a three-ring circus by newspaper reporters.
clam shut up like a clam no decir ni PIO (literal: eerrarse como una almeja) a When they are worried, they may well
shut up like a clam, dennitely not wanting to tell you what is wrong.
clanger drop a clanger (Brit) meter la pata
o 'You WOUldn't have thought that
Jimmy of all people would drop such a
square the circle lograr la cuadratura del cfrculo oAII have the
clanger.'
same hope: that foreign markets and, especially, foreign investment will somehow provide enough jobs to square the circle. a vicious circle un cfrculovicioso a The economy has been caught in a vicious circle: the economy COUldn't create Jarge numbers ofjobs because consumers weren't spending; consumers weren't spending because the economy wasn't creating jobs.
~ provenga de la comparacion
circles
close but no cigar cas; cas; 0 It was
go round in circles (Brit) darvueltas sobre 10 mismo a They have been
a case Ofclose but no cigar for a group Of illegal immigrants intercepted by customs Officials on their way to the train station.
going round and round in circles about treatment methods. And their solution, in the end, was perfectly straightforward.
53
~ Puede que esta expresion
~ entre un error obvio V § embarazoso con el ruido fuerte ~ (clang) que provoea un pesado ~ objeto metalico al caer.
clappers like the clappers (Brit) como un loco 0 What is it that ma/
like the clappers (or a train? ~ Clappersignifica "badajo".
claws get your claws into someone
These people had got their claws into him and he didn't know howto get clear of them. 2 echar las garras a alguien oSadly
1 dominar a alguien 0
cloud
clean
54
for Jackie,Amanda got her claws into Gavin first.
clear as crystal mas claro que el agua (literal: claro como el cristal)
91 read the instructions - they were as clear as crystal.
clean clean as a whistle 1 impoluto o There are no scandals. His private life is as clean as a whistle.
clear as day mas claro que el sol (literal: claro como el dfa) oSuddenly
she stepped out from behind a tree less than ten yards from me. I saw her face as clear as day.
2 limpio como los charras del oro
* *
(literal: limpio como un silbato) 0 It leaves your face feeling clean as a whistle but not bone-dry. come clean confesarlo todo 0 I had expected herto come clean and confess that she only wrote these books for the money. But, no, she insists that she takes them 01/ very seriously.
clear as mud nada claro (literal: claro como el barro) 0 'It's all written
down there! Self-explanatQryl Clearly: 'Clear as mUd. Even I can't understand it, and I'm pretty smart.'
countryside are as squeaky clean as they like to think. ~
Las superficies limpias a veces
§ rechinan (squeak) cuando las § limpias 0 las frotas.
cleaners take someone to the cleaners dejar a alguien sin blanca oJust for a change, the insurers discovered that they had been taken to the cleaners. ~ Esta Frase es una variante de la
*
clear clear as a bell can toda claridad
(literal: claro como una campana) o Her words, when she rna"y spoke, were as clear as a bell.
huge blazes under control.
cloak
*
cloak-andMdagger clandestino
o They met in classic cloak-and-dagger style beside the la/(e in Stjames's Park, both tossing snacks to the ducks. Esta expresi6n proviene del nombre de cierto tipo de obra teatral espanola del siglo XVII, en la que 105 personajes lIevaban capa y combatfan can dagas o con espadas.
audience had been sitting there for two hours with cloth ears. made of whole cloth (EE UU) puro invento 0 There are those who say that story was made of whole cloth.
clockwork
*
like clockwork
Thejourney there went like clockwork - (lying out on Friday from Gatwick it too/( seven hours door-to-door. 2 como un reloj 0 They would arrive li/
1 ala perfecci6n 0
clogs
the person they're paying to see isn't going to pop their clogs during the performance. §
clothes steal someone's clothes (Brit, Periodismo) robarle la ideas a alguien (literal: robarle la ropa a alguien) o The Chancellor has tried to steal our clothes but he has done it in a cheap and
..'
pop your clogs (Brit, familiar) estlrar la pata 0 The kids want to know that
shoddy way.
cloud
*
Puede que esta expresi6n haga
~ referencia a un antiguo sentido ~ de pop, que significaba empenar ~ algo. los zuecos (clogs) solfan ser ~ el calzado habitual de personas
~ como los trabajadores de las
plane, we would never have met you.
* (literal:
on cloud nine en e! septimo cielo en la nube nueve) 0 I never expected to win, so I'm on cloud nine. §
~ numeradas de nubes empleadas
~ ~ ~ ~
something is too close to call algo esta muy igualado 0 The presidential race is too close to call.
cloth cut from the same cloth (sabre todo Brit) cortado con el mismo patron o London critics are a/l cut from the
same cloth: they are white, male, middle-aged, middle-class and un iversity-ed ucated. cut your coat according to your
Probab!emente esta expresi6n
~ provenga de las categorfas
close
*
every cloud has a silver lining no hay mal que par bien no venga (litera': todas las nubes tienen farro de plata) oAs they say, every cloud has
a silver lining. Ifwe hadn't missed the
~ fabricas, especial mente en el ~ nortede Inglaterra.
o By boxing clever with your personal tax allowances, you could save over £900 a year.
have cloth ears (Brit) no escuchar (litera': tener orejas de tela) 0 The
the clock, he would act differently.
box clever (Brit) montarselo bien
~ se ha empleado desde el siglo XIX.
~ cuando han perdido todo su ~ dinero y sus objetos de valor, por § ejemplo a causa de un robo a de § una estafa.
possessions had not been searched so they were not officially in the clear. 2 fuerade peligro oSheandher husband underwent an agonising 48-hour wait for the results of tests before discovering he was in the clear. 3 con ventaja 0 There was more gloomy news for the Prime Minister in an opinion poll yesterday which showed the Conservative Partytive points in the clear. steer clear evitar o Steer clear of foods made from artircial preservatives.
organizations which were supported by the taxpayer to cut their coats according to the cloth available.
turn back the clock retroceder en el tiempo 0 He said if he could turn back
clever
~ expresi6n to clean someone out § ("dejar limpio a a/guien"), la cual
~ La gente dice que la "han limpiado" § (they have been cleaned out)
*
round the clock 0 around the clock las veinticuatro horas del dfa 0 Fire crews were worl
in the clear 1 fuera de toda sospecha 0 Their
squeaky clean impoluto oAs a country-dweller mysel"I can truthFully say that not 01/ people living in the
cloth (sobretodo Brit) adaptarse a las drcunstancias (litera': cortar el abrigo segun la tela) 0 It is up to
clock
*
55
*
porel servicio metereol6gico estadounidense.la nube numero nueve, el cumulonimbo, es la mas alta y aparece a unos 30 mil pies. ~ A esta altura V mas arriba, las ~ nubes no estan formadas por ~ vapor de agua, sino par cristales " de hielo.
under a cloud bajo sospecha 0 He was under a cloud after his men failed to find wha had placed the bamb in the a(fice.
56
clover
cold
clover in clover vivir a cuerpo de rey
0
For
the next ten days Iwas in clover atVicl
the town's attractions and its restaurants. ~ EI trebol (clover) es una planta que ~ suele (reeer en campos de hierba. ~ Se dice que a las vacas les gusta
Puede que esta expresion haga referenda a una costumbre ::: medieval para deddir si alguien (,~ era un hereje. La persona en !: § cuestion era arrastrada sobre \ ~ carbones encendidos. Si marfa ~ quemada se la consideraba § culpable, pero si sobrevivfa se la § consideraba inocente.
~ pastaren campos en los que haya
rake over the coals (sabre todo Brit)
Let us not waste time raking over the coals when there is hard work to be done. remover las cenizas 0
§ muchos tn§boJes.
club join the club ya somas dos (literal: hazte socia) 0
Confused? Thenjoin the
club.
clue
*
(familiar) no tener I don't have a clue what will
not have"a clue
ni idea 0 happen now.
alga a la torera (litera': conducir una carroza y suscaballosa traves de alga) 0 The judgment appeared to drive
coast the coast is clear no hay moros en
oMidge stepped aside, nodding that the coast was clear, and Lettie ran through the lobby and up the main staircase. la costa
agreement.
coalface
~ Puede que esta expresion hag a
La palabra coa/face significa
g referenda a los mensajes
"frente donde empieza la veta de carbon" en una mina.
~ enviados por contrabandistas
~ para decirqueno habfa ~ guardacostas en la zona Vque
at the coalface (sabre todo Bnt) en el
The key is to listen and learn from those at the coa/face about how improvements could be made.
~ era seguro atracar 0 zarpar.
frente 0
coat-tails Coat-tails se suele escribir coattails
coals haul someone over the coals
(Brit) echarle una bronca a alguien o I heard later that UncJeJim had been hauled over the coals for not letting anyone know where we were.
*
en ingles americana.'
on the coat-tails of someone a la
oShewaslool
* the
other side of the coin laotra cara de la maned a 0 Of course, Iget
lonely at times. But the other side of the coin is the amazing freedom I have.
Cotswolds, and getting back there atter a few days in London really blows the cobwebs away.
pay someone back in their own coin pagar a afguien con la misma moneda 0
they could face the praspect afbeing paid back in their own coin.
cold catch someone cold (sabre todo Brit,
teli.
Periodismo) sorprender a alguien o They maintained their two-point lead at the top ofthe Third Division with a 29-14 win after Barrow had caught them cold to lead 8-4 at the interval.
s puede que esta expresion
~ provenga de antiguas fabulas en ~ las que animales como los gallos y ~ los toros podfan hablar. Tambit~n ~ es posibfe que venga de los ~ nombres de posadas como The ~ Cock CEI Gallo") y The Buli CEI ~ Toro"), donde fa gente se reunfa e ~ intercambiaba historias y chistes.
cold as ice frfo como e! hiefo o He sat cold as ice through breakfast,
*
cockles warm the cockles of your heart
(anticuado)
We need to tell them that
if they don't actually cease their attacks
cock y toros) 0 They'll be believed, no matter what Idnd of a cocl< and bull story they
~ 150 alios.
a coach and horses through the Hague
bloW away the cobwebs despejar la mente (literal: quitar las telarafias [soplandoD 0 We have a cottage in the
Newcastle) o Sending food to that region is like sending coals to Newcastle. There is plentv offood, the problem is the breakdown ofthe distribution system. ~ Inglaterra durante mas de
drive a coach and horses through
something (sabre toda Brit) saltarse
well to wake up and smell the coffee and quit acting like a teenager!
coin
cobwebs
a cock and bull story un cuento chino (literal: una historia de gallos
§ principal centro minero de
cafe) 0 It would really serve you
un frac.
send coals to Newcastle Hevar lena al monte (literal: enviar carbon a
~ La dudad de Newcastle fue el
coach
Tailcoat significa "frac", mientras que coat-tails son los faldones de
57
afegrar ef corazon
(literal: calentar los berberechos de
In the bold black and white setting, the sunny yellow color of the house warmed the cockles of my heart. tu coraz6n) 0
g Los berberechos estan asociados ~ al coraz6n porque tienen una ~ forma similar. EI nombre § zool6gico de los berberechos es ~ Cardium, queviene de fa pafabra ~ griega que significa "coraz6n".
coffee wake up and smell the coffee abrir los ojos (literal: despertar V oler el
ignoring Claire's hand on his shoulder as she passed his chair. come in from the cold resurgirdel olvido 0 Over the past two years, Swedish investors have come in from the cold. ~ The Spy who Came in from the Cold ~ (EI espfa que surgi6 del frfo) es ef
§ tltufo de una novela del escritor ~ ingles John Le Carre pubficada en ~ 1963.
* leave someone cold Given the world situation, dejarfrfo a
alguien 0
*
chat about shopping and hairdos leaves you cold. leave someone out in the cold dejar a afguien al margen 0
The developing countries must not be left out in the cold in current world trade talks. when one person sneezes, another catches cold (sabre todo Brit)
58
collar
cool colours. The author had reached his basic conclusions long before he even b.egan gathering any (resh evidence.
cuanda algulen estornuda, atro se resfrfa oAndwhen theAmerican
economy sneezes, the City of London catches cold.
~
collar hot under the collar enfurecido (literal: con calor bajo el cuello)
o Judges are hot under the collar about proposals to alter their pension
arrangements.
colour C%urse escribe c%ren ingles americana. the colour of someone's money la pasta de alguien 0 He madea mental
note never"to enter into conversation with a customer until he'd at least seen the colour of his money.
colours Colours se escribe colors en ingles americana. Los colores de un barco son su bandera nacional.
nail your colours to the mast 1 (Brit, Periodisma) dejarclara tu postura 0 Let me nail my colours to
the mast straightaway. I both like and admire him immensely. 2 (Brit, Period/sma) declarar abiertamente tu apoyo 0 In the Thatcher years, the young MP nailed his colours to MrsT's mast more firmly than many. ~
~
~ ~
Los buques de guerra solfan arriar la bandera (their colours) para mostrar que se rend!an. A veces la bandera estaba clavada al mastil como sefial de que los marinos combatirfan hasta el final.
~ ~ ~ sail under false colours engafiar a la gente 0 This report sails under(alse
Cuando los barcos piratas
g divisaban un barco cargado con
*
~ un tesoro, a menudo arriaban su ~ bandera e izaban la bandera de § una naci6n amiga a fin de poder ~ acercarse al barco 10 s,uficiente § como para atacarlo. see someone in theirtrue colours ver la verdadera cara de a!guien
o When my boyfriend was involved in.a road rage incident it was as i(l was seeing him in his true colours (or the first time. ~
~ ~
~
~
§ ~
Cuando un barco pirata se acercaba a otro barco cargado con un tesoro tras navegar con una bandera falsa (sailing under (a/sec%urs), el barco pirata revelaba su identidad izando su bandera autentica.
* owithIf flying colours
con exito
that was the best Morgan could throw at her, she was going to come out o(this with nying colours. ~
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a ~ un buque de guerra victorioso que § vuelve al puerto can su bandera ~ nacional izada.
* pass something with flying colours' , aprobar algo con muy buena nota
o She thought she was on a (ast tracl< to a goodjob as a medical assistant when she passed the entrance exam with nying colors.
comb with a fine-tooth comb 0 with a fine-toothed comb a fondo (literal: con un peine de puas finas) o I have taken the responsibility of going through Ed's personal papers and letters with a fine-tooth comb.
Los peines de puas finas se usan para sacarle a alguien las liendres
y los piojos del pelo.
come
*
come out fighting lanzarse a la batalla 0 The crude oil producers have come out fighting, claiming the West is using environmental issues as a way of cutting back on oil. SI un boxeador se lanza al g combate (comes out fighting), sale ~ de su esquina nada mas sonar la ~ campana y ataca de inmediato a ~
~ su contrincante.
where someone is coming from las razones de alguien 0 I do see where he's coming (rom - as a company, we're not great at innovation.
comfort
* ocold comfort
poco consuelo
beco/dcom(ort noservirdemucho consuela 0 Finding out more about this disease can be cold comfort, as no cure and virtually no treatment are available.
commas
* in inverted commas (Brit, hob/ado)
entrecomi!!as 050, in what sense do
you see the students as disadvantaged, in inverted commas?
common common as muck (Brit,o(ensivo) de 10 mas ordinaria (literal: ordinario como la mugre) 0 Learyguessed correctly that his guests were as common as muck and planned the menu accordingly.
concrete set in concrete escrito en piedra (literal: endurecido en hormigon) o With expenditure plans now set in concrete (or three years, slower growth
59
would mean highertaxes.
converted preach to the converted querer convertir a los queya 10 estan
o While I was encouraged by the positive receptions we had received in August I was essentially preaching to the converted then. ~
Los conversos (the converted) son ~ aquellas personas que se han ~ convertido al cristianismo.
cookie be caught with your hand in the cookie jar (sabre todo EE UU) ser plllado con !as manos en la masa
(literal: ser pi/lado con la mano dentro del tarro de !as gal/etas)
o The banker had been caught with his hand in thecooldejar. Had my client not been aggressive he would have lost 35,000 dollars. a smart cookie un chico listo oAs soon as movie film had been invented, around 1890, smart cookies started thinking about how to accompany pictures with sound. that's the way the cookie crumbles as! es la vida (literal: asf se desmenuza la gal/eta) 0 Even after he (ailed, he didn't give up. That's the way the coo/de crumbles,' he said. a tough cookie un tfo duro 0 Behind that sweet smile, there lies one tough coo/de.
cooks too many cooks 0 too many cooks spoil the broth demasiadas cocineras estropean el caldo 050 (ar nothing had worked. It
was simply a case of too many cooks.
cool cool asa cucumber mas fresco que una lechuga (literal: fresco como un
60 COOp pepina) 0 Neveronce did she gasp for air or mop her brow. She was as cool as
a cucumber.
'* keep your cool no perderla calma
o The manager has kept the pressure off the players by keeping his cool and it
country cord
t cortarel cord6n umbilical)
I'll never forget all you've done for me, but it's time to cut the umbilical cord. Iwant you to go away. I need time alone to think.
\ 0
has paid off
* lose this your cool perderlacalma last my cool and shouted '(or oAt
I
goodness sake, stopi'
coop La palabra coop quiere decir
"gal!inero". En Estados Unidos tambien es un terminG arg6tico que significa "c,3rcel", fly the coop tamar las de Villadiego (litera': salk volando del gallinero) 0 It should be a proud
core
* *
En el argot de principios del siglo xx, cop significaba "valor" 0 "usa",
to the core hasta los tuetanos o Frank, a professional to the core, had nodded his approval. shocked to the core
Father Carney said the community was shoc/(ed to the core. profundamente afectado
0
earn your corn (Brit) hacer por merecer (litera': ganarse los cereales) 0 The back four got us
through the match. They earned their corn against Middlesbrough and that's why we came offwith a win.
corner
* fight your corner (Brit) The future of Britain lies in
defendertu posici6n 0 the EU and we must fight our corner
not be much cop (Brit, familiar) no ser gran (osa 0 She looked round the
from within using honest and intelligent arguments.
big room: 'there's no one here but us, this place can't be much cop.'
g En un combate de boxeo, a cada § boxeador se Ie adjudica una
copybook blot your copybook (Brit) manchar tu reputaci6n {litera': manchar el (uaderno) 0 I'm proud of my family
heritage and Idon't want to blot my copybook Anos atras, los escolares tenran "cuadernos de escritura" (copybooks). En estos cuadernos habra ejemplos de palabras escritas, con espacios en blanco para que los ninos las copiaran.
*
~ esquina del cuadrilatero. Los g boxeadores vuelven a sus ~ respectivas esquinas aJ final de ~ cada asalto.
in a tight corner 0 in a corner en un aprieto
0 I was horrified at what I had done and knew I was in a tight corner and-that everything depended upon my keeping
my head. in your corner de tu lado
*
just around the corner ala vuelta
With summerjust around the corner, there couldn't be a better time to treat your home to a
de la esquina
Harry and I were encouraged. We felt we already had Bob in our corner. 0
the resignation of one government minister.
couch
"* a(literal: couch potato
un teleadicto una patata en el sofa) fact, we sit, like a pair Of couch
In potatoes in front of television, and watch her eat.
o
0
bright new look. paint yourself into a corner 0 box yourself into a corner meterse
count Las expresiones siguientes se refieren a la pa!abra count ("cuenta") en el boxeo. Cuando un boxeador noquea a otro, este ultimo pierde el combate si no se levanta antes de que el arbitro acabe de contar hasta diez.
en una situaci6n comprometida
o I've been watching her these last few years. She's painted herselfinto a corner. She is trapped. oS
corn
moment when a senior stylist nies the coop to set up in Q salon of his or her own.
co~p~~~~~~~-,
En un combate de boxeo, los entrenadores y sus ayudantes van a las esquinas de los boxeadores entre asaltos para animarlos y ofrecerJes ayuda.
cut the umbilical cord 0 ; t'ut the cord soltar amarras (literal:
61
Cuando alguien esta pintando
~ el suelo, si acaba en una esquina § de la habitaci6n rodeado de ~ partes rech~n pintadas se dice
down forthe count (sabre todo EE UU) fuera de combate 0 Without this business, our little town was down
~ que dicha persona has painted ~ himselF 0 herselfinto a corner.
forthe count.
g La expresi6n box vourselfinto a
out for the count fUera de combate
~ cornerse refiere a un boxeador ~ que acaba en una esquina del
oAt 10.30am he was still out for the count after another night disturbed by
~ cuadrilatero sin posibilidad de
the crying baby.
3 escapar. turn the corner empezar a mejorar
counter under the counter (sobretodo Brit)
oAt last, Joe turned the corner.
bajo mano oMostofthetrading was done under the counter, through some form of black-market barter.
corners
* ocutDon't corners try to cut any corners as you'll ahorrar esfuerzos
~
En Gran Bretana, durante la
only be mal(ing wor/< for yourself later
§ Segunda Guerra Mundial, los
on. four corners of the world 0 four corners of the Earth todos los
g artfculos mas solicitados bajo el
foreign correspondent makes friends in all four corners ofthe world.
3 menudo los cobra ban muy carDs.
~ tenderos a veces guardaban los
~ mostradorde la tienda. Solo los ~ vendian a clientes especiaies, ya
rincones de la tierra oA
cost
* count the cost (sobretodo Brit)
The government is today counting the political cost of the dispute which has already prompted evaluar los danos
0
country
*
go to the country (Brit) convocar elecciones generales 0 The Prime Minister is about to call a snap election even though he doesn't have to go to the country for another year.
62
creek
courage
Dutch courage (sabre toda Brit) la osadfa del alcohol (litera': el valor de los holandeses) 0 The survey also
noted how some performers used a little Dutch courage to overcome inhibitions. ~ Antiguamente los holandeses
~ ten fan fama de beber mucho § alcohol.
course
*
on course for something bien encaminado para algo 0 We're well
on course for a victory in a general election.
* take run its course its course seguir su cursa 0
o The real recovery for the auto industry
won't come until the recession runs its course.
* stay the course aguantar hasta el Canada, where the infantry is final
0
In
open to women, very few have stayed the course.
court
* atenci6n hold court ser el centro de la oShe used to hold court in
.
<1:oventry l
.
towards his decision. He has been sent to Coventry. § Esta expresi6n tiene varios ~ orfgenes posibles. Du'rante la ~ Guerra Civil inglesa, los ~ prisioneros monarquieos de § Birmingham eran enviados a fa ~ carcel en Coventry. Segun otra ~ version, los ciudadanos de ~ Coventry detestaban tanto a los ~ soldados que se negaban a § dirigirle la palabra a eualquier ~ mujerquefuera vista hablando ~ con uno de ellos. Por ~ eonsiguiente, a los soldados no ~ les gustaba que los enviaran a § Coventry.
~ En esta expresi6n !a palabra court
"perhaps" always covers your back. have a cow (EE UU,(amiliar) eabrearse 0 Don't tell Dad; he'll havea
architect suggested a similar idea to a British developer he was laughed out of court.
cow ifhe ever finds out.
~ Si un demandante ha perdido e!
~ derecho a ser escuchado en un ~ tribuna!sedicequeestaoutof § court. rule something out of court (sabre todo Brit) descartar algo por completo 0 I was going to start studying medicine in September but
§ vaeas vuelvan a casa par su propia § voluntad").
crack atthecrackofdawn al romperel alba o He was scheduled toget up at the cracl< ofdawn for an interview on
*
a sacred cow una vaea sagrada
o The trade unions were, perhaps, the greatest sacred cow in British politics during thelg60s and early 1970S. § En la religion hind(i'las vacas se § consideran animales sagrados.
cows until the cows come home euando las ranas erfen pelo (literal: cuando
'Good Morning America'. have a crack at something intentar alga 0 I've decided now to have a cracl<
at the world cross country race.
cracked
*
not all it's cracked up to be no tan bueno como 10 pintan 0 Package holidays are not always all they're cracked up to be.
cracking get cracking (familiar) poner manes ala obra 0 I realised that if we got
cracldng, we could make the last 700 miles to St Lucia within our deadline.
cracks fall through the cracks a slip through the cracks (sabre todo EE UU) colarse per las rendijas 0 This
cow
he was laughed out of court se rieron de e! 0 When one London
La forma comp!eta de esta
§ expresion es until the cows come ~ home unbidden Chasta que las
cover
admirers who hung on her every word. ~ significa "corte" (de un soberano).
§
send someone to Coventry (Bnt) haeer el vado a alguien (literal: mandar a alguien a Coventry) o There is a strong feeling of hostility
coveryourback eubrirse las espaldas 0 "Perhaps the greatest singer of his generation." A well-placed
the college canteen with a host of
las vacas vengan a casa) 0 Your child will enjoy this lively tape until the cows come home!
then in August I caught polio which Ilearly ruled it out ofcourt.
courage
family slipped through the cracks in the
*
system so they are not eligible for aid. paper over the cracks (sabre todo Brit) disimular [as grietas oAccepting the minister's resignation will only serve to paper over the cracks of a much more serious rift.
cradle it's cradle snatching (Brit) eso es ser un/una asa[tacunas 0 His uncle
said: 'His dad and I just can't believe it. The woman is even older than his
63
mother. It's cradle snatching.' from the cradle to the grave desde e! nacimiento hasta [a muerte (litera': desde!a cuna hasta la tumba) 0 The health service is said to
provide for every emergency from the cradle to the grave. rob the cradle (EE UU) asa[tar cunas 0 'I'll always be younger,' he said, 'and there'll always be those who might accuse you of robbing the cradle.'
crash crash and burn fracasar estrepitosamente o Stress can cause over-achievers to crash and burn, and they can end up suffering from
emotional disorders. ~ Puede que esta expresion haga
~ referencia a un avi6n que se § ineendia tras estre[[arse.
crazy crazy as a bedbug (EE UU, familiar) loco de atar (literal: mas loco que un ehinche) 0 By now she'd concluded that Skolnick was crazy as a bedbug.
cream the cream of the crop [0 mejorde [0 mejor 0 ThefirstMidlands media degree show features the cream ofthe crop of this year's graduates in
photography, film, and video.
creature creature comforts comodidades o Each room has its own patio or
balcony and provides guests with all modern creature comforts.
E. Un antiguo significado de [a
~ palabra creatures es "comodidades".
creek up the creek 0 up the creek without a paddle (familiar) en un 110 (literal: riachue[o
0 We're up the cree/< because we don't know where to go (rom here.
arriba sin remo)
crest on the crest of a wave en la cresta de la ala 0 They are on the crest Of a
wave, winning games even when they don't ploy wel/.
cricket it's not cricket (Brit, anticuado) es juego sucio (literal: no es criquet)
o The banI< puts thousands oFpounds a year into cricket - yet their treatment Of staff is deffnitely not cric/
EI (riquet se suele asociar a ~ valores como eljuego limpioy el respeto por los demas jugadores.
s
crisp burned to a crisp chamuscado
o Customers who insist on having their food burnt to a crisp should get itthat
way.
critical go critical a1canzar el punta (rftieo o The programme confirmed its initial
impact in wee/< two, and really 'went critical' with the third edition on 8 December.
crocodile shed crocodile tears derramar lagrimas de cocodrilo 0 He shed a lot Of crocodile tears. He described the wrecking ofthe coal industry as 'a dreadful thing to have to do'. ~
Segun una antigua creencia, los ~ cocodrilos suspiraban y gem ran ~ para atraer a su presa, y lIoraban ~ mientras se la comfan.
cropper
* come a cropper (sobre todo 1
cupboard
crest
64
Brit) lIevarse una buena plancha 0 Scott
Watergate, he wrote, had been 'really wrong'.
must concentrate on learning his new trade. He will come a cropper ifhe thinks he Iwows it al/ before he starts. 2 darse un batacazo 0 Marco nearly came a cropperjust before the rnish when hejust pulled his bike clear of a policeman by a crash barrier.
~
g Puede que la palabra cropper § venga de la expresi6n. to fall neck ~ and crop, que significa caer ~ pesadamente. Crop significa
§ "buche" (de un pajaro).
cross a cross to bear una cruz que hay que cargar 0 'My children are much cleverer than me, it is a cross I have to bear,' he quips at one point in the interview.
crossfire caught in the crossfire en medio del fuego cruzado 0 Teachers say they are caught in the crossrre between the education establishment and the Government. ~
s
Esta expresi6n se usa mas a menudo en su sentido literal.
crow as the crow flies en linea recta (literal: como vuela la corneja) oAlthough not distant as the crow nies from Tehran, this mountainous area has always been and still is remote. § Antiguamente se crera que los ~ ~ ~ ~ §
cuervos siempre volaban hacia su destino por la ruta mas directa posible. La expresi6n makea beeline esta basada en una idea similar.
eat crow (sabre todo EE UU) tragarse ' uno sus palabras 0 But by the end of the year, Sarre showed he was willing to eat crow. His rrstjudgments of
Esta expresi6n hace referencia al sonido que produce unajaurfa cuando los perros ven al animal al que persiguen.
Se dice que esta expresi6n esta
~ relacionada con un incidente
~ sucedido durante la guerra ~ angloamericana de 1812-1814. Un ~ soldado americana que entr6 g accidental mente en una zona ~ ocupada por los britanicos fue ~ enganado para que entregara su ~ arma. A continuaci6n un oficial § britanico 10 ob/ig6 a comer un ~ trozo de un cuervo que habra ~ cazado. Cuando Ie devolvieron el ~ arma, el soldado ob/ig6 al oficia! ~ britanico a comerse el resto del ~ pajaro.
cudgels take up the cudgels salir en defensa o The trade unions took up the cudgels forthe367 staf(who were made redundant. ~
*
§ ~ ~ ~ § ~ ~
cuando/si lIega el momenta de [a verdad 0 Ifft comes to the crunch, I'll
resign over this. ~
La palabra crunch ("crujido") se ~ usa para imitarel sonido quese ~ produce al aplastar, rompero ~ comer algo duro.
~ ~
crust
~
~ §
crust (of bread) significa "mendrugo".
anything to earn a crust from the sport.
cry
* a far cry from something isn't perfect poco
que ver con algo
off~the-cuff improvisado 0 The singer offered an apology last night, sqying: 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean any offence. It was a nippant, off-the-cuff remark.' ~
when/if it comes to the crunch
earn a crust (Brit) ganarse el pan o In his early days, he would do almost
0
It
a
democracy, but it's a far cry from the authoritarian rule of only a few years ago. in full cry (sobretodo Brit) a todo vapor 0 We hod lett four orrve people back in the bar where a Sunday /unchtimejazz band was in full cry.
La palabra cudgel significa "porra".
cuff
crunch
*
65
Una posible explicaci6n de esta expresi6n es que los que pronunciaban discursos tras una cena solfan escribirse notas en los pufios de la camisa para recordar 10 que iban a decir. Otra explicaci6n es que en los primeros tiempos del cine los directores a veces se escribfan notas en los punos de la camisa durante la flImaci6n de una escena, para acordarse despues de 10 que querfan decirles a los actores.
cup
*
something is not your cup of tea alga no te va (literal: alga no es tu taza de te) 0 It's no secret that I've never been the greatest traveller. Sitting for hours on motorways is not my cup of tea.
cupboard cupboard love (Brit) amor interesado 0 'Cupboard love: she accused, freeing her an/des of the cat. 'You'd agree with anyone who could open the fridge or coo/
cylinders
curate
66
§ Cupboard significa "armaria", y!os ~ armarios a menudo conti en en ~
§ En esta expresion, la palabra ~ curtains hace referencia al telon !.~ de un teatro.
comida 0 alguna otra (osa que
~ pudieran quererun nino 0 un ~ animal.
durve throw someone a curve ball (sabre todo EE UU) cogera alguien desprevenido 0 Our plan is to go into the winter with our reservoirs full,just in case Mother Nature throws us a curve ball next spring. ~ En el beisbol, el compuesto curve
curate a curate's egg (Brit) alga con su lado buena y su lado malo 0 Wasserman's .
collection
or duets with famous friends
is something of a curate's egg.
~ La palabra curate significa ~ "coadjutor", 0 eclesiastico ~ anglicano que ayuda al parroCD 0 ~ al rector de una parroquia. Una ~ famasa vineta c6rnica publicada ~ en la revista britanica Punch ~ muestra a un coadjutor ~ desayunando con un clerigo ~ importante.AI coadjutor Ie han ~ servido un huevo en mal estado, ~ pero con tal de no ofender a nadie ~ dice que es "buena en parte".
cylinders be cut out for something no tener 10 necesario para alga oAs you'll have gathered, I lett
medicine anyway. I wasn't really cut out for it. someone cannot cut it alguien no esta a la altura oMany managers
can't cut it at the highest level.
* fire on(litera': all cylinders fonda cilindros)
emplearse a usar todos los
0 I saw her a few weel(s ago and she was pring on all cylinders. I don't thin/( she would know what to do with herselnfshe didn't work.
§ Esta expresion se refiere a los ~ cilindros de un motor, que suelen ~ ser cuatro.
~ ballse refiere a una pelota que ~ traza una curva en el aire en lugar ~ de viajar en linea recta.
cut
* a cut above the rest Smith's detective stories are
par encima del
resto
*
curiosity
0
generally agreed to be a cut above the rest. cut and dried nftido 0 Now, this situation is not as cut and dried as it mayseem. § Una posible explicacion de esta ~ expresion es que se refiere a ,~ madera cortada y secada que esta ~ lista para usarse. Tambien podrfa ~ referirse a hierbas cosec had as y § secadas para usos culinarios 0 3 medicinales.
curiosity killed the cat fa curiosidad mata al hombre (literal: la curiosidad mato al gato) 0 'Where
are we going?' Calder asked. 'Curiosity killed the cat, dear. You'l! find out soon enough.'
0 He had an unfortunate tendency to cut and run when things didn't go his way. § Antiguamente, las anclas de los § barcos lban sUjetas con cuerdas.
cut and run largarse
curtain Eisignificado literal de curtain es "telon".
* something bring the curtain down on
§ 51 atacaban a un buque de guerra,
poner punto final a algo
o Richardson brings the curtain down
on one ofthe most amazing managerial careers of all-timethis weekend.
curtains it's curtains es el fin 0 Ifthe vote is yes, it's curtains for us. A way Of life will disappear.
*
§ en lugarde perdertiempo izando ~ el ancla, sus marineros a veces ~ cortaban la cuerda._ the cut and thrust (Brit) el toma y daca 0 Why does he want to go back
into the cut and thrust of business at an age when most men are happily retired?
67
PubHh:oa
day a leap in the dark (Brit) un saito al vado (literal: un saito a la oscuridad)
*
argument carried the day.
a shot in the dark un palo de clego (literal: un disparo en la oscurid~d) o It was just a shot in the darl< but It
~ ejercito habfa ganado una batalla.
~ Esta expresi6n se usaba
~ original mente para decir que the day of reckoning el dfa de ajustar cuentas (literal: dfa de! Juicio
*
A finales del siglo XVII, dab significaba "inteligente" 0 "habi!".
a dab hand at something (Brit) un hacha para alga aShe's an avid reader and a dab hand at salving dimwit
crossword puzzles.
daft
*
puta damper on something aguar alga (literal: poner una sordina a algo) aThecoldweatherputadamper
daft as a brush (Brit) mas tonto que
and never said anything sensible. ~ Puede que esta expresi6n venga
~ de la Frase as soft as a brush, ya que ~ tanto soft como daft pueden ~ significar"estupido". Tambien es § posible que provenga de otra ~ expresion mas larga, as daft as a
§ brush without bristles. (Bristles ~ significa "cerdas".)
daggers a matar
(literal: con las dagas desenfundadas) 0 The couple have been at daggers drawn since they separated six months ago. look daggers at someone (litera rio) fulminar a alguien con la mirada
a He looked daggers at Mary as ifit had al/ been her fault.
daisies pushing up the daisies criando malvas (literal: brotando
~ "reguladorde tiro" (de una
§ chimenea).
dance lead someone a merry dance
(Brit) traer loco a alguien a When I tried to rnd out who was in charge, they Jed me a merry dance, sending me from one department to another before I found the right person to talk to.
dark
* be in the dark about something (literal: no saber nada sabre alga estar en la oscuridad sabre alga)
a The sooner we can rnd out what has happened, the better for ai/ of us. But at
the moment I'm in the dark. keep something dark ocultar alga (literal: mantener alga oscuro)
aShe took pleasure in keeping dark the identity of her new boyfriend.
mejor que te dediques a otra cosa
dash
cut a dash (sobre todo Brit) destacar
o The handsome bridegroom cut a dash in an elegant suit with a patterned waistcoat.
~ Esta expresi6n puede referirse
~ a cualquiera de estos dos § significados de damper: 0 bien ~ "sardina" (de un piano) a
don't give up the day job sera
keep up everyone's spirits, but we al/ knew she wasjust whistling in the dark.
on our picnic.
Abundio (literal: mas tonto que un cepillo) oShe was as daft as Q brush,
at daggers drawn (Brit)
damper
Final) 0 The president has broken many laws, and his day ofrec/wning is approaching.
whistle in the dark disimularel miedo (literal: silbar en la oscuridad) oMaggie started telling jokes, trying to
a That was the last time I saw the old rogue. Ican only assume he's either in prison or pushing up the daisies. margaritas)
,-------~
date
*
carry the day (Periodismo) conseguir la victoria 0 DrMead's
o The couple have taken a leap in the dark, selling their home in London and buying 10 acres of land in the coun.try.
was the right answer.
dab
69
past your sell-by date (Brit) 0 This type of TV
anticuado
programme is well past its sell-by date. s Sell-by date significa "fecha de ~ caducidad" (de un alimento).
dawn
* aPeriodismo) false dawn (sabre todo Brit, (literal:
un espejismo un falso amanecer) 0 National elections
are scheduled for next year, but this country has seen many false dawns before. Is it really heading for democracy and peace this time?
day at the end of the day (hab/ado) al final oAt the end of the day, it's the
Germans who will decide.
* call itaday
01 searched for the cat for hours but I had to call it a day when darkness fell. 2 colgar las botas 0 It's no secret I want his job when he calls it a day.
1
abandonar
*
(literal: no dejes tu trabajo de todos los dfas) 0 I started my business in the middle of a recession. People thought I was mad and said: 'Don't give up the day job.' late in the day tarde o She feels that it is too late in the day for him to start behaving like a loving husband. make my day alegrame el dfa
o "Do you wanta rght?" - "Go ahead. Make my day." ~
En la pelfculaSudden
Impact
~ (lmpactosubito, 1983) Harry, un ~ polida interpretado porc/int ~ Eastwood, usa esta expresi6n @ para desafiar a un delincuente
2 que amenaza con dispararle.
* make someone'sMakedayyour Mum a
alegrarle el
dfa a alguien 0
special card and tell her that you love her. It will make her day. put off the evil day (Brit) retrasar 10 inevitable 0 You're putting off the evil day when the patient's going to die. save for a rainy day ahorrar para e! tiempo de vacas flacas (literal: ahorrar para un dfa lIuvioso)
o Saving for a rainy day and paying Off
debts is now a top priority for families. seize the day aprovecha el momenta 0 Don't waste your life. Seize the day.
daylight
70 ~
Esta es una posible traducci6n de
~ la frase latina "carpe diem",
* someone has
had their day alguien
ha pasado de mod a 0 He's done well but, at 60, he has had his day.
something is all in a day's work
alga son gajes del oficio 0 For war reporters, dodging snipers' bullets is all in a day's wor/<.
daylight
*
do something in broad daylight hacer alga a plena luz del dfa 0 The
paintings - valued at $20 million - were stolen in broad daylight by armed men, DS
some (orty visitors looked on.
daylights beat the living daylights out of someone dar una paliza tremenda a 0 The two men were beating the living daylights out of each other. o He enjoys the money and the (arne but
alguien
his true pleasure comes from walking on to a golf course and beating the living daylights out Of everyone else. ~
En esta expresi6n, puede que la palabra daylights guarde relaci6n ~ con la antigua amenaza de "hacer ~ que la luz del dfa brille a traves de ~ alguien" (make daylight shine ~ through someone) al apunalarlo 0 ~ dispararle. Tambien podrfa estar ~ relacionada con un antiguo ~ significado de daylights que hace § referencia a los ojos 0 a los ~ 6rganos internes de una persona. ~ 51 dicha persona recibe una ~ paliza, sus daylights dejarfan de ~ funcionar. ~
scare the living daylights out of someone dar un susto de muerte a alguien 0 You scared the living daylights aut o(me last night. All that screaming.
death days
fuera la placa de una puerta que se golpeaba con la aldaba. 5e crera que algo que era golpeado tan a menudo deberra estar muerto. Porotra parte, puede que doornail haga referencia a los clavos gruesos davados en las puertas exteriores. No queda daro por que se describirfa a dichos clavos como "muertos", a dead.
*
it's early days (Brit) todavfa es ; pronto oMaybe in time they will be friends again, but it's very early days. *] someone's days are numbered alguien tiene 105 dfas contados oAs rebels advanced on the capitdl it became clear that the President's days in power were numbered. something has seen better days algo ya no vale 10 que antes 0 There was an old brass double bed with a mattress that had seen better days.
t
dead come back from the dead resucitar o I could not believe I had done it. I had come back from the dead and my career had survived the ultimate test. cut someone dead (Brit) hacer el vado a alguien 01 said 'Good morning' to my neighbour but she just cut me dead, and wall
El dodo era un gran pajaro no ~ volador que vivfa en las islas ~ Mauricio y Reuni6n. 5e extingui6 ~ a finales del siglo XVII como ~ consecuencia de la caza y de la ~ destrucci6n de sus nidos por ~ parte de 105 colonizadores de las ~ islas.
dead as a doornail mas muerto que mi abuela (literal: mas muerto que el clava de una puerta) a In 1964, people said the Republican Party was dead as a doornail. No se sa be a que se refiere aquf exactamente la palabra doornail. En la epoca medieval, puede que
*
drop dead irse al cuerno (literal: caerse muerto) 0 Richard told me to drop dead. drop-dead gorgeous (familiar) guapfsimo a She's funny, Idnd, clever - and drop-dead gorgeous. knock 'em dead (familiar) dejalos de piedra 0 Just 1001< 'em in the eye and Imocl< 'em dead! ~
La palabra 'em es una forma § abreviada dethem usada en ingles § informal 0 no estandar.
* hebaseball WOUldn't be seen dead in a cap no se pondrfa una
Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a recibir una mana mala en unjuego de naipes.
death a death blow un golpe mortal
o They warned that the incidents would
*
~
gorra de beisbol ni borracho pair of trainers and a baseball cap.
deaf deaf as a post (anticuado) mas sordo que una tapia (litera': mas sardo que un poste) oMyfatherisdeafas a post.
deal
*
be a death blow to the Middle East peace process. at death's door a las puertas de la muerte 0 He has won five golf competitions in three months, a year after being at death's door. bored/scared/worried to death muerto de aburrimientojde miedo/ de preocupacion aShe was scared to death that he would leave her. dice with death (Brit) jugarse la vida 0 In their daily lives, fishermen are constantly dicing with death. To dice significa "jugar a los dad 05".
* fight to the death to do something luchar a muerte por hacer alga
o Vincent wouldn't be seen dead in a
a done deal cosa hecha a The takeover proposal, however; is not a done deal as the company's shareholders must first approve the plan. get a raw deal ser tratado injustamente a We must ask why bank customers get such a raw deal. And then find ways to make sure they get treated fairly in future.
7'
*
0'1 will fight to the death to winwhatever it takes. hold onto something like grim death (sobre todo Brit) agarrarse firmemente a algo 0 I clung to the chain like grim death. a living death una muerte en vida o For nearly four years he has been in a coma, kept alive by medical equipment, but trapped in what one doctor described as a 'living death'. look like death warmed up (Brit) 0 look like death warmed over (EE UU) estar muy demacrado (litera': parecer la muerte recalentada) o You were looking like death warmed up, but you seem a lot better now. sign someone's or something's death warrant firmar la sentencia de muerte de alguien 0 algo a The company's ~awed business strategy has signed the death warrants for thausands a(jobs.
deck
72
diamond
deck Deck significa normal mente "cubierta" (de un barco), 0, en ingles americana, "terraza entarimada". all hands on deck (sobre toda Brit)
todos manos a la obra
0
We had less
than three weeks to organize the wedding, so it was all hands on deck ~
A los miembros de la tripulaci6n
g de los barcos a veces se les llama
her. She wants to know where I've been and who I've spoken to.
qe'molition ~ do a demolition job on someone \ (Brit, Periodismo) hacer trizas a alguien 0 In his speech, Cool< did a demolition job on the prime minister's
strategy.
dent
*
~ hands, mientras que deck significa § "cubierta".
hit the deck caer al sue[o 0 When we heard the sound ofgunfire, we hit the deck and covered our heads with our hands. not play with a full deck esconder
Deserts es una palabra anticuada
household budget.
que significa "recompensa" 0 "castigo" merecidos, La palabra deserts esta relacionada con el verbo deserve C"merecer") y se pronuncia acentuando la segunda sflaba,
algo no es tu campo (literal: algo no es tu departamento) 0 The po/itical
issues are something else, but that's not really my department.
0
depth
deck.
*
decks
decks
despejar el terreno
(literal; despejar las cubiertas) o Clear the decks before you think of
taking on any more responsibilities. ~ Antiguamente, todos los objetos
§ innecesarios se sacaban de las
~ cubiertas de los barcos de guerra
~ antes de una batalia para que la ~ tripulacion tuviera mas espacio '" para moverse.
out of your depth perdido 0 When I nrst started my newjob, I relt out army
depth, but now I love it. § Esta expresion se refiere a alguien ~ que esta en aguas profundas ~ pero que 0 bien no sa be nadar
~ demasiado bien, 0 no sa be nadar ~ en absoluto,
depths plumb the depths 1
deep
*
run deep estar profundamente
oMy allegiance to Kendall and his company ran deep. arraigado
degree give someone the third degree
(familiar) interrogar agresivamente a alguien oMy girlfriend gives me the third degree every time Igo out without
sumergirse en las profundidades
o 'This crime plumbs the very depths of
the abyss into which it is possible for the human spirit to sink,' thejudge said.
Uno de los antiguos significados de la palabra device era "deseo" 0 "voluntad".
devil be between the devil and the deep blue sea (sobre todo Brit) estar entre la espada y la' pared (literal: estar entre el diablo yel mar azul profundo) 0 We are between the devil and the deep blue sea: if we pay our
rent, we won't have any money for food.
deserts
which makes a big dent in the
something is not your department
This guy is either very clever or he's not playing with a full
* dear the
make a dent in something tener impacto en algo 0 Theaveragefamily in Britain spends flOD a week on food,
department
alga (litera': nojugarcon una baraja
completa)
Estas expresiones estan relacionadas con la navegacion en otros tiempos. Cuando un barco se halJaba en aguas poco profundas, uno de los marineros comprobaba la profundidad del agua lanzando por la borda un trozo de plo'mo (denominado plumb) sujeto a una cuerda.La expresion swing the lead tam bien se refiere a esta costumbre.
*
Esta expresion tiene su origen en Iii navegacion y no en la religion. No esta claro a que se referfa exactamente la palabra devil, pero cree que era algunajuntura 0 alguna tabla de diffdl acceso, de modo que un marinero que tuviera que impermeabilizarla debfa adoptaruna postura muy poco segura V corrfa el riesgo de caer al agua.
get your just deserts Ilevarte tu merecido
oSome people felt sympathy
(orthe humbled superstar. Others relt
she was getting her just deserts for years of outrageous behaviour.
designs have designs on someone/ something tener las miras puestas en a/guien/a/go 0 He had a reeling
that Francine had designs on him. o He has designs on the top job at the company.
devices
* devices leave someone to their own dejarque alguien haga 10 que Ie de la gana 0 Ifleftto my own devices, I
1
73
better the devil you know (sobre todo Brit) mas vale malo conoddo que bueno por conocer (literal: mejorel diablo conoddo) 0 It is becoming clearer to them that he is no angel; but better the devil you know.
have a devil of a job 0 have the devil's own job costar horrores 0 We got there just in time,
or
but we hod a devil ojob nnding her in that place. speak of the devil 0 talk of the devil (hoblado) hablando del rey de Roma (literal: hablando del diablo) 0 'Speak orthedevil: she
greeted Tom, smiling.
would eat a chocolate dessert every
~
2 penetrar en las profundidades
night.
o In his writings Shakespeare plumbed
2 dejarque alguien se las arregle
, talk orthe devil and he will appear g ("hab/a del diablo y aparecera").
the depths o(human psychology. 3 hundirse oTheyrrequentlyplumb
solo 0 He was more mature than the others, having been left to his own devices after his motherwall
the depths of loneliness, humiliation and despair.
Esta expresion proviene del dicho
diamond a rough diamond (sobre todo Brit) 0 a diamond in the rough (EE UU)
dividends
dice
74
un buen hombre sin pulir
1
o Marden was the rough diamond of the three men, (eared for his ruthlessness but respected for his First World War Military Cross. 2 un diamante en bruto
o First novels are usually rough diamonds, with flashes of
inspiration. ~
Un diamante en brute es aque!
~ que aun no ha sidotallado ni ~ abrillantado.
the dice are loaded against someone alguien tiene todD en contra (litera': los dados estan cargados contra alguien)
o I survived that night on the mountain when all the dice were loaded against me. Los jugadores que querfan
~
hacertrampasenunjuegode ~ dad os a veces "cargaban los ~ dados" (loaded or weighted the § dice) para que tendieran a caer ~ de una forma determinada.
no dice I spent part arrhat time calling everyone I knew to see if I
1
sin suerte
~ to die for (familiar)
*
They hired a detective firm to dig up dirt on their rival.
espectacular
0
could find another job for him. No dice. 2 ni hablar a Nope, sorry, we're not interested, no dice. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene deljuego § de dad os denominado craps, y ~ significa que la ultima tirada de ~ unjugador es descalificada y no § se cuenta.
quite happy to dish the dirt on a (ellow
die the die is cast la suerte esta echada (literal: los dados estan echados)
a I have made this decision to get a puppy. In fact, the die is cast: I have already paid (or it.
have done something more than someone has had hot dinners (Brit) haber hecho algo un montonazo de veces (literal: haber hecho algo mas veces que las que alguien ha cenado caliente) aShe's had more boYfriends than I've had hot dinners. Ha tenido un montonazo de novios. a Robin
and Uzzie Hamer of First Ascent activity holidays have climbed more mountains than you and I have had hot dinners.
distraction Distraction es una pa!abra a!1tigua que significaba "Iocura".
politician. hacer unajugarreta a alguien a
drive someone to distraction
They
volver loco a alguien a Nothing I said or did would get them to tidy up their bedrooms. It drove me to distraction.
tel/ me you have done me dirt. Tell me it ain't true.
dirty
do the dirty on someone (Brit) hacer unajugarreta a alguien
a lots ofpeop/e make use of a situation
like this to do the dirty on somebody
*
they don't like. wash your dirty linen in public (Brit)
a air your dirty laundry in public (EE UU) sacar los trapos sucios a relucir a We shouldn't wash our dirty laundry in public and if/ was in his position, I'd say nothing at all.
distance
*
go the distance aguantar hasta el final a Dave Hilton failed to go the distance when he was forced off the pitch in the second halfwith a leg injury. § Se dice que un boxeador goes the ~ distance cuando consigue pe!ear
a un tiro de piedra a
well signposted from the motorway and within easy striking distance of both Birmingham and Manchester. 2 a un paso a He is within striking distance ofvictory in the election.
do someone dirt 0 do the dirt on someone (EE UU)
dinner
dinners
1
trapos sucios de alguien a relucir
aMany politicians, who protest that their private lives are their own, are
La moneda estadounidense de diez centavos se denomina dime.
be done like a dinner (sobre todo Australia) servapuleado a The fact is, you were done like a dinner by a superior team.
raised $9542-55.)ust $457.45 to go.
* within striking distanceJronbridge is
dish the dirt on someone sacar los
dime
~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la posibilidad ~ de maniobrar rapidamente y con ~ facilidad en un espacio reducido, ~ como sucede al detenerse V § cambiar de direcci6n sin dejar de ~ pisar una moneda. La expresi6n ~ tambien se refiere a vehfculos.
dig up dirt on someone 0 dig the dirt (Brit) sacar los trapos sucios de a!guien a
(literal: para morirse) a The food here is to die for,· it's heaven on a plate.
montones aAction movies are a dime a dozen these days. turn on a dime (sabre todo EE UU) darun giro radical a Nowadays businesses need to be flexible and to change, and sometimes to turn on a dime in order to stay competitive.
spitting distance Of our goa/. We've
dirt
be a dime a dozen (EE UU) haber a
dice
~
,
Drees una antigua forma singular de la palabra dice. Una vez echados los dad os, es imposible cambiar la forma en que caeran.
75
ditch
*
a last ditch attempt un ultimo
The President has been making a last ditch attempt to prevent the rebels taking over the city. § En esta expresi6n, ditch significa
intento desesperado a
~ "zanja defensiva" 0 "trinchera". ~ La Frase hace referencia a los ~ soldados que estan dispuestos a ~ defender sus posiciones hasta la ~ muerte en lugarde rendirse.
divide
* divide and conquer divide and rule
0
(Brit) divide y
venceras a Trade unions are concerned that management may be tempted into
a policy o( divide and rule.
§ Esta expresi6n proviene de la
§ hasta e! final del combate.
~ Frase latina "divide et impera" ~ y describe una de las tacticas
within spitting distance
~ emp!eadas par los romanos para
aMostofthe world's biggest financial firms are already established within spitting
1
auntirodepiedra
distance o(the Bani< o(England. 2 a un paso a We are now within
~ gobernarsu imperio.
dividends
* pay dividends
proporcionar grandes resultados (litera': pagar
dollar
Dixie
76
dividendos)
0
Taking time out to get
Los antiguos romanos denominaban a estes dfas dies caniculares, 0 "dias de los canes", porque la estrella Sirio, de la constelaci6n del Can Mayor, podfa verse en el delo matinal en esa epoca del ano. Se crefa que la conjunci6n de Sirio con el sol produda temperaturas muy elevadas.
fit is time well spent and will pay dividends in the long run. ~
Dividend significa "dividendo",
Dixie someone is not just whistling Dixie (EE UU) alguien no esta de broma
(literal: alguien no esta simplemente silbando Dixie)
o 'Is that Q threat?' 'I'm not just whistling Dixie,' ~
Dixie era el nombre con que se
~ bautiz61a zona del sury del este ~ de Estados Unidos que constitufa ~ el banda confederado en la guerra ~ de Secesi6n. Esta zona dio ~ nombrea varias melodfas que se ~ hicieron populares como ~ canciones belicas de los ~ confederados.
doctor just what the doctor ordered mana de santo (literal: justo 10 que el doctor recet6) 0 'Meatballs in tomato sauce!' Max exclaimed happily, 'just
what the doctor ordered.'
dog a dog and pony show (EE UU) un numera drcense (literal: un espectaculo de perro y pony) 0 We
bombarded the management team with charts, graphs, (acts, and figures. Our boss responded by dozing Off during most o(our dog and pony show. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere a ~ numeros circenses en los que ~ partidpan perros y caballos. the dog days 1 la canfcula 0 We spentthedog days o( summer in the mountains o(Arizona. 2 los tiempos duros o Those were the
dog days o(the Conservative government.
it's dog eat dog se despedazan los unos a los otras (literal: es un perro secomea un perro) olnthe1992
campaign, he said that ifit was going to be 'dog eat dog' he would do anything it tool< to get himsel(re-elected. dog-in-the-manger el perra del hortelano 0 On the one hand the council has a high regard (or the carnival's tourist benefits, but on the other it does not want it to have too
high a profile. It's a dog-in-the-manger attitude which has taken the (un out o( a great event. ~
~ ~
~ ~
Una de las fabulas de Esopo trata sobre un perro que impidi6 a un buey comer el heno de su establo, pese a que el perra no podfa comerselo.
a dog's dinner (Brit) una chapuza (literal: la cena de un perra) 0 The
government's latest proposals are a dog's dinner. every dog has its day a cada cerda Ie lIega su San Martin (literal: a cada perro Ie Hega su dfa) 0 I've been
waiting a long time (or success - (our years - but every dog has its day. § Este praverbio se usa en ingJes aJ
g menos desde el siglo XVI.
~ Shakespeare 10 cita- en § (acto V, escena I).
Hamlet
it's a dog's life es una vida de perros o It's a dag's life being a football
manager.
you can't teach an old dog new trickS lora viejo no aprende a hablar
(literal: no Ie puedes ensenar trucos nuevosa un perro viejo) 0 I'm 65 and
you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
77
2 estar abatido oAt that time Freddie had just lost his job and was in the doldrums.
come out of the doldrums salir del estancamiento 0 Let's
1
hope that the economy may rnally be
doghouse
coming out of the doldrums.
En ingles americana, doghouse significa "caseta" (de perro).
be in the doghouse meterse en un buen no (literal: estar en la caseta del perra) 0 Four ministers have
landed themselves in the doghouse after failing to turn up to a meeting at the White House.
dogs
call off the dogs parar los ataques
oAfteryears o(persecution, it's time to call offthe dogs. He's been punished enough.
2
salirde! abatimiento
0
With
the help of my family and friends,
/ eventually came out of the doldrums. ~
Estas expresiones se refieren a la ~ zona de las ca!mas ecuatoriales ~ (the Doldrums), una parte del mar ~ cercana al ecuador donde apenas § sopla el viento. Par cansiguiente, ~ los veleros pod fan permanecer allf ~ parados durante largos perfodos.
dollar
~
the 64.000 dollar question !a pregunta del mi!l6n de d61ares o They asked the 64,000 dollar
go to the dogs ir ala ruina (literal: ir a los perras) 0 I(you ask me, the whole
question: 'So what ma/
Los perras a que hace referenda ~ esta expresi6n son perras de caza.
country is going to the dogs. let sleeping dogs lie dejar las casas como estan (litera': dejar que los perras sigan durmiendo) 0 Why does
she come over here stirring everything up?Why can't she let sleeping dogs lie? throw someone to the dogs echar a alguien al foso de los leones (literal: echar a alguien a los perras) 0 He will trick you, use you, and throw you to the dogs. He'll do anything to save his
own skin. ~
Los perros a que hace referencia
~ esta expresi6n tambien son ~
perras de caza.
doldrums
* beestar in the doldrums estancado Property prices 1
0
remain in the doldrums.
~
En ladecadade1940seemitfa ~ en Estados Unidos un concurso ~ radiof6nico Hamada Take It or §: Leave It ("La toma a 10 deja"). ~ Los concursantes ten fan que ~ responder a distintas preguntas ~ para obtener premios que ~ oscilaban entre dos d61ares por ~ una pregunta facil y 64 par la mas ~ diffci!. Un concurso te!evisivo ~ similar de los aiios cincuenta ~ aument6 el premia a 64.000 ~ d6lares.
you can bet your bottom dollar puedes apostarte 10 que quieras (literal: puedes apostarte el d61ar de abajo) oA police insider was quoted as
saying of the crime: 'You can bet your bottom dollar 5inc/airwas involved.'
78
dollars Esta expresion se refiere a las pitas de monedas depositadas en una
down done
mesa de p6quer. Unjugador
seguro de sf mismo colocarfa todas sus monedas sabre una moneda de d61aryempujarfa el mant6n hacia el centro de la
ddnkey do the donkey work (Brit) hacer el trabajo pesado (literal: hacer el trabajo de los burros) 0 The boss sent (ar Andy and gat him ta da the dan key work. for donkey's years (Brit) 9urante un porron de arlOs 0 I've been a vegetarian (or donkey's years.
mesa.
dollars feel a million dollars sentirse radiante (literal: sentirse como un
mill6n de d6lares) o After all my recent problems, I now feel a million dallars.
§ En un principio esta expresion era ~ as long as donl
it's dollars to doughnuts (sabre toda EE UU) puedes apostarte 10 que quieras 0 It's dollars to doughnuts
that, in the future, banks will charge more for their services. look a million dollars i r despampanante (literal: parecer un mill6n de d6lares) aShe lool
miJlion dol/ars when she got off the plane.
door be knocking at someone's door estar lIamando a la puerta de alguien o MiI
domino
*
a domino effect el efecto domin6 o The accident created a domino effect, causing about 70 other cars to crash and injuring 14 other people. Un comentarista politico estadounidense usa esta expresi6n por primera vez en la decada de 1950 para describir 10 que algunos pen saban que sucederfa si un pars de determinada zona se voMa comunista: se crera que los restantes parses de su entorno tambien "caerran" en manos de los comunistas. La expresion sugiere la imagen de una hileriil de dominos en posicion vertical; si uno se cae derriba a! siguiente, hasta que todos hayan cafdo.
kn"ck: on the door of something lIamar ala puerta de algo 0 These
done and dusted (sobre todo Brit) cerrado 0 The investigation should be yone and dusted by the end ofnext month.
knocking at his door. close the stable door after the horse has bolted (Brit) 0 close the barn door after the horse has gone (EE UU) tomar medidas demasiado tarde (literal: cerrar la
*
two players will, I'm sure, soon be knocking on the door ofthe national team. lay something at someone's door achacar alga a alguien 0 We have no doubt about who is responsible forthe riot. The blame must be laid at the door o( the government. one door closes and another one opens cuando una puerta se cierra otra se abre 0 Robert was philasaphical after lasing hisjab. 'Obviously, I am disappointed,' he explained. 'But one door closes and another one opens.' push at an open door (Brit)
*
* 10
the dos and don'ts of something que debey 10 que no debe hacerse can algo 0 The publisher produces Q detailed boaklet(ull a( das and dan'ts (or aspiring authors o(romantic fiction, stressing that the story must always have Q happy ending.
dot do something on the dot hacer algo a la hora en punto 0 They have breakfast at nine o'e/ocl< on the dot. ~ En la esfera de un reloj, los
~ minutos suelen estar senalados ~ con puntos.
since the year dot (Brit) desde los tiempos de Maricastana 0 Most o( these people have lived here since the year dot.
double at the double a on the double (Brit) corriendo oMichael reached (or his phone. 'Jill? Myaffke, please, at the double: :§ Atthe double es una expresion ~ militarque significa "marchar a ~ paso ligero".
2 los constantes vaivenes 0 Bill
Clinton ran a campaign that included a strong pledge to stop the revolving door between public service and the private sector. 3 el cfrculo vicioso 0 These young people are caught in the revolving door o(thejustice system, ending up bacl< on the streets after serving time in prison.
puerta del establo despues de que se haya escapado el caballo) 0 It is
good to see the government ta/
dos
empujar una puerta abierta
o Persuading companies to invest in green technology today is like pushing at an open door. the revolving door 1 el baile de nombres 0 The revolving door on the boardroom has continued to turn, with Victoria Jones becoming the sixth chief executive to leave in the past ten years.
doors
*
do something behind closed doors (Periodismo) hacer algo a puerta cerrada 0 The summer I was fourteen and Rita was twelve, our parents started having long tal/
79
down
*
be going down the drain 0 be going down the tubes 0 be going down the pan echarse a perder 0 Small businesses are going down the drain because o(the (ailed economic policies o(this government. down and dirty (sobretodo EE UU) de forma cruda 0 The film portrays the roe/< band at their most down and
* dirty.
down and out en la miseria o Having been down and out himself, Barry understands the problems, and he's helped many people to find homes andjobs. 0 There are
1
downer
80
hundreds of down and outs living just a few yards (rom his palace. 2 derrotado 0 From this newspaper article, you will see that Ted appears to be down and out as candidate for
dry drain be going down the drain -+ ver ,down t go down the drain ... ver down '~Iaugh like a drain (Brit) desternillarse (litera': refse como una alcantarilla) 0 I've watched this
governor. S 51 un boxeador es noqueado y no ~ consigue levantarse antes de que ~ el arbitro haya (ontado hasta
*
comedy series over and over again but / still laugh like a drain evervtime.
§ diez, dicho boxeador pierde el ~ combateyse dice que esta down ~ and out.
down-at-heel (sabre todD Brit) 0 down-at-the-heels (sabre todD EE UU) desharrapada 0 The night to I(athmandu is always (ull o(scruffy, down-at-heel people like Hyde. S Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de una persona que Heva zapatos
~ risas fuertes e incontroladas que ~ suenan como el agua que se ~ escurre par una alcantarHla, y § quiza tambh~n en una boca ~ abierta que recuerda una boca de ~ alcantarilla.
drawer
*
ni para comprarse atras.
may be out o(the top drawer, but it's not pretentious. 0 The play has a topdrawer cast including Maria Aitken and Tim Piggot-Smith. 2 ,de la alta sociedad 0 Betty
get down and dirty (sabre toda EE UU) actuar con rnalas artes
*
o I(the President gets down and dirty, the Governor will give as good as he gets. go down the drain 0 go down the tubes go down the pan echarse a perder
o You have ruined everything - my plans
(or the (uture, my business. All those years o(wori< have gone down the drain.
downer on every guy she meets.
drag
*
drag your feet 0 drag your heels dar largas
0 There's been substantial criticism of the United States (or dragging its (eet on measures to protect the environment.
*
charity appeal was beyond our wIldest dreams. The money just kept pouring in. never in your wildest dreams n i en tus sue nos mas dorados 0 We were
*"
told that we had won a lot o(money but never in my wildest dreams could I have thought it would be morethan £1 million. the person or thing of someone's dreams la persona 0 cosa de los sue nos de alguien 0 It was in Tunisia
that they saw the house oftheir dreams, the most beautiful dwelling imaginable.
dressed all dressed up with nowhere to go compuesta y sin novio (literal: toda arreglada y sin ningOn lugar adonde ir) 0 The team were left all dressed up
with nowhere to go after their match was called offbecause of a frozen pitch. dressed to kill despampanante (literal: vestida para matar) oShewas
dream
*
*
do something like a dream hacer alga de maravilla (literal: hacer alga como un sueno) oShe had noticed,
from across the dancef/oor, that he danced like a dream. a dream ticket (sabre todo Brit, Periodismo) una pareja ideal 0 It should have been Hollywood's dream tic/(et: husband and wife starring together in a romantic blockbuster movie. En Estados Unidos, la palabra
ticket significa lista de candidatos que un partido politico ha designado para las elecciones.
dressed to kill in a red strapless gown.
driver in the driver's seat ... verseat
drop
*
at the drop ofa hat con cualquier pretexto (literal: tirando un sombrero) 0 People should sort out
their own minor problems and not just call the police at the drop of a hat. A principios del siglo XIX, los com bates de boxeo solfan comenzar cuando alguien tiraba al suelo un sombrero.
a drop in the ocean (Brit) 0 a drop in the bucket (sabre todo EE UU) una gota de agua en el mar
o Unfortunately, this tax won't raise a
lot of money. It's a drop in the ocean, really. §
beyond your wildest dreams mejor que 10 que se podrfa habersonado jamaS 0 The response o(viewers.to our
Boothroyd is hardly out o(the tap drawer. She used to wor/( in showbusiness as a dancer.
downer have a downer on someone (Brit) mirarmal a alguien o Her dad hasa
out of the top drawer (sobretodo Brit) 1 de entre los mejores (literal: del cajon de arriba) 0 The Grange Hotel
*
dreams
~ Esta expresi6n hace pensar en
~ con los tacones gastados porque ~ no tiene dinero ni para repararlos ~
EI compuesto dream ticket se refiere a una pareja de candidatos que parecen complementarse muy bien, yque atraeran mucho apoyo.
81
Puede que'esta expresi6n venga
~ de una frase de la Biblia en la que
*
~ se afirma que las naciones son § insignificantes, a "una gota en un ~ caza" (a drop 0(0 bucket). (Isaias ~ 40:15) drop something or someone like a hot potato 0 drop something or someone like a hot brick abandonar alga 0 alguien como a un perro sarnoso (literal: abanadonar algo a alguien como a una patatajun ladrillo caliente) o It is a rule of the tourism business
thot clients must (eel happy on holiday.
Ifa place gains a reputation for being unwelcoming, the trade drops it like a hot potato.
drum bang the drum for something or someone dar bombo a algo a a alguien 0 The trade secretary is
banging the drum for British industry.
drummer march to a different drummer (Periodismo) seguir otros criterios (literal: marchar al ritmo de otro tamborilero) 0 The state-supported
school marches to a different drummer, and I wi/I permit it to continue to do so.
drunk drunk as a skunk borracho como una cuba (literal: borracho como una mofeta) 0 When John arrived here
last night, he was drunk as a skunk.
dry dry as a bone mas seco que una
duck
82
Dutch
mas seco que un hueso) 0 By the end of)une the pond was as dryas a bone. pasa (literal:
§ menor tamario sin orifidos para
dryas dust
§ meter los dedos. EI senti do literal ,~!,de get your ducks in a row es tener [~ los duckpins colocados para el
1
mas seeD que la mojama 0 The
fields were dryas dust. 2 un autentico aburrimiento 0 His book is badly written, poorly edited and
dryasdust.
duck a dead duck un fracaso (literal: un
pato muerto)
*
0
Thegovernment is a
dead duc/c a lame duck 1 un polftico saliente 0 The government is headed by Q president
ij§ juego siguiente. play ducks and drakes with someone (Brit) tratar de pena a alguien (literal:jugar a hacer cabrillas can alguien) 0 Pp/iticians are playing ducks and drakes with the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the country. ~. Ducks and drakes es el juego de § hacer cabrillas. Con esta
~ expresi6n, la actitud de alguien ~ hada los demas se campara qulza
who looks like a lame duc/e
~ can alguien que lanza piedras al
Elizabeth often invites lame ducks to spend Christmas with us.
g agua para pasar el rata y sin
2 caso perdido 0
* (litera': un pato sentado)
a sitting duck un blanco facilfsimo 0 They heard the sound ofgunfire. 'It's a' trap,' Joe whispered.l'\nd we're sitting ducks! We've gat to find somewhere to hide.' ~
Los patos son presas faciles para
~ los cazadores cuando se posan § sabre el agua 0 sobre la tierra.
take to something like a duck to water sentirse como pez en el agua en algo 0 Gilbey became a salesman for BMW He too/( to it like a duc/( to water, quickly becoming Car Salesman of the Year.
ducks get your ducks in a row (sabre todo EE UU) poner las cosas en orden
(,jtera/: poner los patos en fila)
o The government needs to get its duc/(s in a row. En esta expresi6n, la palabra ducks significa duckpins, una variaci6n deljuego de bolos con diez bolos mas pequerios y una bola de
§ pensar en 10 que hace.
dudgeon in high dudgeon (literario) enfurecido 0 She left the meeting in
high dudgeon after learning that the only perl< was free coffee.
dull dull as ditchwater 0 dull as dishwater que aburre a los muertos (literal: apagado como el agua de lavarplatos) 0 He's a dull writer and that's a fact. Du/J as ditchwater. 2 La expresi6n dull as ditchwater ~ tiene mas de 200 arias de ~ antiguedad, mientras que du/J as ~ dishwateres una variante mas ~ reciente. Hace referenda al color ~ pardusco del agua en acequias 0 g en palanganas para lavar los
§ platos.
dummy spit out the dummy (sabre todo Australia) coger una rabieta 0 He spat out the dummy when his wife said
*o
that she wanted to go on holiday without him.
dumps
gather dust acumularpo!vo
..
down in the dumps depnmldo o Tom's a bit down in the dumps. Let's try to cheer him up.
dust
.
,
be eating someone's dust I r detras dealguien (literal: ircomiendo e! polvo dealguien) 0 We were all eating his dust I didn't know he could run so fast "§
5i cabalgas detras de otro caballo
§ en una carrera, dicho caballo te ~ levantara polvo en la cara.
"* bite the dust
1 irse al garete 0
83
There are thousands
of restaurants in and around London.
Some mal
::=:
"* the dust has settled ha pasado la
This project has been gathering dust on the shelves of the Ministry of the Environment forthe last five years. shake the dust from your feet (Brit) largarse (literal: sacudir e! polva de los pies) 0 Ourjob here is done. It's time to shake the dust from our feet and move on. § Esta expresi6n aparece en la ~ Biblia (Mateo 10:14). 5e aconseja a ~ la gente que si nadie los recibe ni § escucha sus palabras al irse de ~ algun lugar, deberfan sacudirse el ~.polvo de los pies (10 que equivale a § novolver a dicho lugar).
you couldn't see someone for dust (Brit) alguien puso los pies en polvorosa oAs soon asMaria told her boyfriend she was pregnant, hewos orr. You couldn't see him for dust. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
~ ~ ~ ~
alguien que se marcha al galope, de modo que solo puede verse la nube de polvo que levantan 105 cascos de su caballo.
Dutch go Dutch (anticuado) pagar a escote
tempestad 0 Now that the dust has settled, it is c/earthat nothing much
o Many women are happy to go Dutch
has changed.
with a new boyfriend on the first date.
earth
eagle an eagle eye ojos de Iince (literal: ojos de aguila)
0
No antiques shop,
market or junk shop escapes her eagle eye. ~
las aguilas tienen muy buena ~ vista y puede divisaranimales u ~ objetos pequenos desde las ~
alturas.
keep an eagle eye on someone or something no perder de vista a aJguien 0 algo oMrGrogan kept an
eagle eye on everything that was going on in the factory.
~
En las pelfculas, los indios
~ americanos a menudo aparecen
g can la oreja peg ada al suelo a fin
ear bend someone's ear machacar la
cabeza a alguien (literal: doblar la oreja de alguien) 0 You can't go on
bending everyone's ear with this problem. go in one ear and out the other entrar par un ardo y salir par el atro 0 I'd said it so many times
before that it just went in one ear and out the other as far as he was concerned.
* a oreja
confianza de alguien 0 He has been one of/taly's most inf/uenti.al figures, a man who is said to have had the ear Of every Ita/ian prime minister. keep your ear to the ground (sobre todo Brit) mantenerse al tanto (literal: mantener eJ ordo pegado al suelo) 0 Watch and learn. While you do this, keep your ear to the ground. Know who is coming, who is going: a new vacancy cauld bean opportunity for you.
grin from
ear to ear sonrefrde oreja
McCarthy was grinning (rom ear to ear. He absolutely radiated warmth and pride. have an ear for something tenerordo para algo 0 He had an ear (or languages, which he enjoyed, and by this time he spoke five nuently. have someone's ear gozar de la 0
~ de escuchar los pasos de las ~ personas 0 los animales a 105 ~ que siguen la pista.
lend an ear to someone prestar atencion a alguien oS/owlyyour status at work will improve, and your boss and colleagues will/end a sympathetic earto your gripes and grievances. listen with half an ear escuchar a medias (literal: escuchar can medio ordo) 0 She was listening to the news on the radio with halfan ear when she suddenly heard his name mentioned. out on your ear (familiar) en la calle 0 I'd (ailed the (irst year exam in the History o(Art. I had to pass the re-sit or I'd be out on my ear. play it by ear improvisarsobre la marcha (literal: tocar de aIda)
o 'Where will we stay in Gloucestershire?' 'Oh, I guess a bed-and-breakfast place. We'll have to play it by ear.' turn a deaf ear to something hacer caso omiso de algo 0 The, Mayor o(Paris has long turned a deaf earto parisians who want tougher laws to protect the cleanliness o(their pavements.
(urious about what I'd done and pinned my ears bacle prick up your ears aguzar el oldo oShe stopped talking to prick up her ears - and Kenworthy had heard the same sound.
s Cuando algunos ani males oven
g un ruida repentino 0 desconocido ~ aguzan las orejas; es decir, las
~ !evantan poniendolas tiesas para ~ orr mejor. someone's ears are burning se habla mucho de alguien (literal: los ordas de alguien estan ardiendo) o Howard's ears must have been burnirig as he was referred to as the 'little man in the big house'. up to your ears hasta arriba o 'Why don't you came to the cinema with us?"/ can't. I'm up to my ears in reports: wet behind the ears verde (literal: mojado detras de las orejas) o Terry wasjust out o(university, with a shapely haircut o(medium length that (ailed to hide the (oct that he was wet behind the ears. Esta expresion tiene das § posibles orfgenes: puede que ~ se refiera a un cachorro al que § lava su madre, a quiza a los ~ ninos que se olvidan de secarse ~ detras de las orejas despues de § !avarse.
ears
*
be all ears sertodo ordas 0 That's a very good question. May I answer it (ran/
85
s
earth
*
*
come down to earth 0 come down to earth with a bump volver ala realidad (litera': va!ver a la tierra (con un golpetazo» 0 When something good does happen, it's important that it is celebrated. Next day something will happen and you'll came back down to earth. down to earth realista 0 They think she's too glamorous and won't want to
86
eggs
easier
speak to them. But thot'sjust not true at all. She's very friendly and very down to earth.
0
Las letrasABC se pronuncian por separado, como si deletrearamos una palabra.
Everyone liked her down-to-
earth approach to life. go to earth (Brit) esconderse o The girl who had supplied the gun and plastic explosive device stayed put
0 My attitude to money is easy come, easy go. That isto say, Iearn a lot, but I also give quite a lot away in different ways.
se va
go easy on someone no ser muy
~ La palabra earth significa aquf
~ "madriguera" (de un zarro) .. g En la (aza, esta expresi6n se ~ usa para referirse a un zarro
0 They had togo easy on him because he was only thirteen and it was also his first offence.
~ su madriguera.
go easy on something no pasarse
duro con alguien
~ acorralado que se esconde en
o One voter summed up the mood: 'Politicians have lost credibility,' he complained. They promise the earth
(Brit) tomarselo can calrna o The seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia are taking it
easy today, (allowing six (ull days o(
* easier saidThethanalternative done option is pronto
0
eso se dice to
scrap the unwanted machines, and use the metal for some other purpose. Butthis, too, is easier said than done.
easy easy as pie 0 easy as ABC 0 easy as falling off a log facilfsimo (literal: facil como una tarta/ABC/ caerse de un tranco) oMichael
understood at once. 'Why, that's easy as pie,' he said as the rest of us scratched our heads.
medical research. 2 (sabre todo EE UU) hasta la vista o 'Thanks. See you later.''Take it easy.
prided itself on being on the cutting edge o( computer technology. o These were the men and women doing the cutting-edge resea:ch. a cutting edge una ven~aJa
edge and hope(ullythis product can
provide it. give someone the rough edge of your tongue -+ vertongue lose your edge dejarde.ser . competitivo 0 Its staff dl~ag~ees WIth
criticisms that their magazine IS out Of date or has lost its edge.
ebb
*
§ un cuchillo).
* oonBrenda edge had every right to be on edge. con los nervios de punta
at a low ebb decafdo (literal: en marea baja)
EI sentido literal de esta expresi6n
~ es "valverse romo" (una espada 0
Don't do anything I wouldn't do.'
0
When I have been
Ever since I had left on the Saturday . morning, she had been bombarded With telephone cal/s.
at a Jaw ebb I have found the
friendship and Christian love of my fellow churchgoers to be a great strength. ~ Ebb tide significa "marea baja".
echo cheer someone to the echo (Brit, anticuado) darle a-alguien una sonora ovaci6n 0 Supporters turned out in their thousands to watch
some of the best squash played in their country. They cheeredjansherto the echo.
on the edge of your seat en suspense (literal: al borde del asiento) oSaturday night's final
*
to (ray at the edges. rough edges
off'
2 pequeiios problemas 0 The show, despite some rough edges, was an instant success.
egg
competitiva (literal: un fll~ cortante) 0 We need a cutting
§
o The government's army has begun
1
vanguardia (litera': en el fila cortante) 0 Telluride has alwa~s
*
fray at the edges hacer aguas (literal: deshilacharse)
pequenos defectos ? He ha~ the reputation ofsometImes taking himself a little seriously. Those rough edges have long since worn
at the cutting edge 0 on the cutting edge en la,
0
1
perseguiry encontrar a alguien
easier
*
0
o Imust admit I thought I had run my man to earth, for although a great many people live there now, there could not be many that would match my description. ~ Vease nota mas arriba.
edge
* take it easy take things easy
and don't deliver.' run someone to earth (Brit)
.
o Even when her careerwa~ tempo~anly in eclipse she had no financral warnes.
Small meals at regular times are important. Go easy on the salt. Don't add extra sugar. can algo
edges
.
In eclipse (culto) ecllpsado
easy come. easy go tal como viene,
for a couple o(weei
promise the earth prometer e/ oro y el mora (literal: prometer la tierra)
eclipse
87
had
the spectators on the edge of their seats. take the edge off something mitigar algo oMy head never seemed to clear completely, and the painkillers
only took the edge off the pain. Take the edge off a blade significa "vo!ver roma una hoja" (de una espada, un cuchillo, etc.)
* get egg (literal: on yourface
quedar en recibir un huevo 0 Steve didn't expect to Hejust didn't want to get egg
ridiculo en la cara)
win.
on his face. §
En una multitud a veces
~ hay personas quetiran § huevos a alguien (como un
~ polftico 0 un interprete) para § mostrarle su enfado 0 su ~ desagrado.
lav an egg (EE UU) fracasar (litera': ponerun huevo)
o Independent studies showed the ad laid an egg. ~
Esta expresi6n se debe
~ probablemente a la similitud
§ entre la forma redondeada de ~ un huevo y un cero. La palabra ~ duck (duck's egg, "huevo de ~ pato"), es una puntu~c}6~ de ~ cero en el deporte bntanlco. ~ EI equivalente en el deporte ~ estadounidense es goose egg ~ ("huevo de ganso").
eggs
* put all your eggs in one basket jugarselo todo a una carta (litera': ponertodos los huevos
88
eggshells
end
en una cesta) 0 Don't put your eggs in one basket; study hard at school and a/ways keep an alternative job in mind.
at some expense but never used, be regarded as a monumental folly, ;¥'hite elephant? ~ regalarelefantes blancos, que ~ son muy poco-comunes, a los ~ cortesanos que no les gustaban. ~ Estos animales castaban tanto ~ de mantenerque sus.duenos se § gastaban toda su dinero en ellos ~ y se volvfan pobres.
eggshells walk on eggshells andar con pies de pJomo (literal: caminar
sabre cascaras de huevo)
0
Healthy
or sick, good days or bad, I felt I was always walking on eggshells around him.
elbow
an embarrassment of riches
(literal: grasa del codo)
(litera rio) mucho donde elegir o Football (ons have an em,bor,ras>;ment of riches to choose from next week three matches will be screened live simultaneously.
0
Plenty Of
elbow grease soon moves all the dirt. elbowroom 1
margen de maniobra
0
His overall
message to governors, though, was that he intends to give them more elbow room to encourage innovation at the state level. 2 espacio para moverse 0
empty run on empty
a The band's 2008 appearance is widely agreed to be their(inest two hours. Certainly, events after this suggest a band running on
There
1
was not much elbow room in the cockpit.
elbows
quedarse sin recursos
* aMy stepmother was in hereiement, in your element en tu elemento
~ que Ie queda muy poco ~ combustible, porloqueel § indicador sefiala que el deposito ~ esta vado.
organizing everything.
elephant the elephant in the room el gran problema de! que nadie se atreve a hab!ar (literal: el elefante en la habitaci6n) a We both I
can't carryon like this ~ it's the elephant in the room.
* a white elephant the complex, constructed un elefante
blanco a Will
end
*
*
§ e! barco en un puerto se ~ denominaban bitts.
~ paraimpedirquese
end it all suicidarse a Idesperately wanted to end it all, but I had an
§ deshilacharan, Va los marineros ~ se les solfa encomendar esta
adorable little boy who was totally dependent upon me.
*
now that they've come to the end ofthe road of their policy. 2 el final del camino a If she doesn't stop stealing, there's only jail at the end
~ caballo de tiro al que desatan al ~ final del dfa vdejan suelto en un § campo.
be thrown in at the deep end ser arrojado a los leones (litera': ser arrojado en el fonda profundo)
rood. * o(the (sabre todo
go off the deep end
1
so does almost everyone else in the boo/(.
* Do you feel you have reached a dead * enddull,atwor/
end job. ~ De~d ~~d significa "callej6n sin
*
:;: salida.
do something to the bitter end hacer algo hasta el ultimo suspiro
o Despite another crushing defeat, he is
EE UU) enloquecer
oAt rrst they thought that I'd gone off the deep end ond had lost my mind. 2
(Brit) enfurecerse
0
Dad didn't go
o((the deep end at all. Hejust said it
wasn't fair to make my mother worry like that.
~ profunda de una piscina.
come to a sticky end acabar mal o Hassan comes to a sticky end, but
the end of the road el final a The administration realizes
1
ojourna/ist Susan Hocking is being thrown straight in at the deep end when she anchors the evening news next wee/<. s The deep end es ellado mas
at the sharp end (sobre todo Brit) en la linea del frente a These men are at the sharp end of law enforcement and when a man is waving a gun, they have to act decisively.
~ se ataban cuerdas para fondear
puede que esta expresion haga
~ tarea cuando no habfa nada mas ~ urgente que hacer. La expresion ~ tam bien podrfa referirse a un
~ Esta expresion hace referencia a
§ un coche 0 a algun otro vehfculo ~ que aun no se ha parada pero al
~ como the bitter end. Las bitas ~ (pastes) de·la cubierta a los que
~ cuerdas tenfan que atarse bien
a If you don't feed your body daily nutrients, you are running on empty ~ something you can only do for a short time.
element
§ cadena que estuviera bien sujeta
~ referencia a las cuerdas de un ~ velero. Los extremos de estas
2 quedarse sin energfa
parties, writers, artists, and celebrities rubbed elbows with the ultra-rich and the socially elite.
~ extrema de una cuerda a de una
Brenda had agreed to see her at 4-30, soMrs Dambarwas at a loose end for two and a half hours. :§
empty.
rub elbows with someone (EE UU) codearse con alguien oAt his famous
~ Los marineros solfan referirse al
be at a loose end notenernadaque hacer 0
embarrassment
elbow grease esfuerzo ffsico
determined to see the job through to the bitter end.
argot de los marineros, la proa se con ace como the sharp end eel extremo puntiagudo").
§ Dicen que los reves de Siam sol(",'&41
89
~
*
The deep end es e! !ado mas
~ profunda de una piscina.
it's not the end of the world no es el fin del mundo a Ifl makea mistake, it's not the end ofthe world. I can
a/ways go back and correct it keep your end up cumplirtu parte a The fact of the matter is that we signed a contract and we've worked hard to I
90
ends
eye
ends
* overall impactcabos sueltos of the story is weakened loose ends
0
The
by too many loose ends being left inadequately resolved. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n hag a
~ referenda a las cuerdas de un ~ veJero. Los extremos de estas § cuerdas tenfan que atarse bien ~ para impedirque se § deshiJacharan, ya los marineros
§ se les salla encomendar esta ~ tarea cuando no habra nada
*
g mas urgente que hacer. make ends meet lIegar a fin de mes
oMany peopJe are struggling to ma/
ends meet because wages are failing to keep pace with rising prices. ~
Original mente esta expresi6n era
~ make both ends of the year meet, V ~ significaba no gastar mas de 10 ~
que se ganaba.
play both ends against the middle jugar ados bandas (literal: jugar los extremos contra el medio) 0 The Irish queen was
adept at playing both ends against the middle, sometimes confronting the English, and sometimes co-operating with them.
Englishman an Englishman's home is his castle (Brit) cad a cual es rev en su casa
(literal: la casa de un ingles es su castillo) oAn Englishman's home is his castle. Everyone has a right to defend their home.
envelope push the envelope 0 stretch the envelope romper
Each time they new faster or higher, they regarded that as pushing the envelope. moldes
0
Aquf envelope no se refiere a un sabre para cartas, sino probablemente a la envo!vente, hablando de una onda pl,>ctlrnr,;c, a una curva, en matematicas. La expresi6n pushing 0 stretching the envelope indica un cambia en las propiedades de la onda 0 de la curva.
envy
bald has ruined my life. I'll never forget the people who laughed at my expense.
eye
'*
'*
an eye for an eye a an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth ojo par ojo y diente par diente
o Why do we put people injail?Asan eye for an eye, orto mal
green with envy -+ ver green
error
* see the errortu of yourIways wanted an reconocer
error 0 opportunity to talk some sense into him and try to make him see the error of his
*
ways.
even
treatment that he's determined to get even.
evils
* the lesser ofoShouJd two evils she choose the
elmenorde
dos males
misery of life on the streets orthe unhappiness at home? In the end it seemed the street was the lesser of two " evils.
exception something is the exception that proves the rule algo es la excepci6n que confirma la regia
o To succeed, you must be big and
powerful. Osman is neither of these. He is the exception that proves the rule.
expense
* laugh at someone's expense Being fat and
refrse
a costa de alguien o
be in the public eye estar a !a luz
Increasing/y, people in the public eye are voicing concern about the effects o(their Ii(estyle on their(omily Ii(e. publica 0
cast an eye on something analizar alga 0 'Before the elections I was
don't get mad, get even ... ver mad get even vengarse 0 He is so
* incensed by what he considers shabby
0 With his unerring eye for light, line and colour, Greenaway has mounted one of the most beautiful drawing exhibitions ever seen.
para algo
* *
pessimistiC,' saysJassem Saddoun, a leading economist who casts a critical eye on domestic affairs. cast your eye over something echaruna ojeada a algo 0 He cast his eye over the bookcases. She was obviously an avid reader.
catch someone's eye [lamar la
He turned the page. The picture caught his eye instantly. 0 My mother and my sister love stylish, eye-catching designer hats but cannot afford to buy them. get your eye in (Brit) afinar la punterfa 0 We're going to shoot some clay pigeons later. We want to get our eye in for the hunting season. atencion de alguien
0
Esta expresion hace referencia a juegos como el crfquet, el golf a el snooker, en los que puede que un jugador tarde un poco en acostumbrarse a las circunstancias deljuego antes de ser capaz de calcular con precision la distancia y la velocidad de la pelota.
91
give someone a black eye castigar
Whenever the Liberal Democratic Party gets too cocky or corrupt, voters tend to give it a blacl< eye. ~ A black eye significa "un ojo
a alguien 0
~ morado".
a gleam in someone's eye una idea en la cabeza de alguien oAt present, the plans seem to be no more than a gleam in a developer's eye. ~ Palabras como gleam, glinty ~ twinkle (que significan, segun e! ~ contexto, "destello", "bri!!o" a
~ "centelleo"), pueden usarse para §-d'escribir la forma en que los ojos ~ de a!guien bri!!an a reflejan la luz. ~ Estas palabras a menudo sugieren § energfa, emoci6n 0 picardfa ~ ocultas y hacen referencia al @ entusiasmo inidal de tener una ~ idea determinada antes de ~ ponerla en practica.
have an eye for the main chance (Brit) estaralaquesa!ta o New York
has always been a place where individuals with an eye forthe main chance [Quid mal
~ de una tormenta. Sin embargo,
g en tormentas de viento como
~ ciclones y tornados, el ojo es en ~ realidad una zona relativamente § tranquila de bajas presiones § situada en e! centro.
keep your eye on the ball no descuidarse ni un instante
(literal: mantener el ojo en la bola) o She won widespread praise for her innovation, her tough negotiating sl
92
*
eyeball
eyes
and her ability to keep things moving, keep her eye on the ball. look someone in the eye mirar a 0 He looked me straight in the eye and said 'Paul, I will never lie to you.' not bat an eye (EE UU) no inmutarse 0 I wQstotally independent. My mother never batted an eye about the length of time I stayed out at night. o Would you believe he ordered them to flll hal( a tin mug with that stuff and guzzled it without batting an eye, as alguien a los ojos
ifit was water? ~ EI verba bat viene de una palabra ~ francesa que significa "batir" y § se usa para referirse a las alas ~ de un pajaro. Esta expresi6n da
§ a entender que las personas
g que apenas parpadean en
~ determinadas situaciones no § parecen nerviosas ni
§ sorprendidas.
* not see eye to eye
with someone
'I won't support the weak at the expense of the strong.' take your eye off the ball oi,trri,pr"" ,21
t(literal: dejar de tener el ojo puesto \ en la bola) oAny reorganization is
* *
disruptive. It makes key management take their eye o((the anly ball. there's more to something than meets the eye algo tiene mas miga de 10 que parece 0 'Sheis·convinced there is more to your friendship than meets the eye."Well there isn't: turn a blind eye to something hacer la vista gorda con alga 0 The authorities were turning a blind eye to hUman rights abuses. ~ Esta expresi6n se us6 por
~ primera vez para describir el ~ comportamiento del almirante § Nelson en la batalla del Nilo en
no estar de acuerdo con alguien
~ ver la senal. EI almirante acabarfa
o The Prime Minister did not see eye to
§ ganando la batalla.
eye with him on this issue. someone would give their eye teeth for something alguien darla 10 que fuera par algo (literal: alguien darla sus calmillos par alga)
o He's the most exciting man I've ever worked with, and I'd give my eye teeth to do something with him again.
something is one in the eye for someone (Brit) alga Ie va a sentar de pena a alguien oHis Nobel prize will be seen in Mexico as one in the eye for the novelist, Carlos Fuentes, who is regarded as his great left-wing rival. spit in someone's eye enfadar a alguien (literal: escupiren el ojo de alguien) 0 The minister for Trade and
Industry spat in the eye of small businesses yesterday when he said:
* (litera':
*
o Enough light gets through space for us to see thousands ofstars with the naked eye, and millions with an optical telescope.
eyeball be eyeball to eyeball estar cara a cara (literal: estar globo ocular a globoocular) o The two of us sat eyeball to eyeball. 'Why da you hate me!' she asked, without any apparent emotion.
eyeballs up to your eyeballs in something hasta arriba de algo 0 The one-time media tycoon is down on his luck, out of ajob, and up to his eyeballs in debt.
not bat an eyelid (Brit) no inmutarse 0 I thought Sarah and David would be acutely embarrassed. But they didn't bat an eyelid. 0 It is a popular myth that modern couples have affairs without batting an eyelid and believe marriage is for bores. In reality, the opposite is true.
eyes
*
all eyes are on someone or something todas las miradas estan enalgooalguien oAlleyeswillbeon the Chancellor tomorrow when he gives his Budget speech. before your eyes 0 in front of your eyes delante de tus propios ojos 0 With a wrenching cracl( the stone statue collapsed before my eyes and crumbled to pieces at the bottom o(the (ountain. can't take your eyes off someone or something no poder dejar de mirar a alguien a algo oAnne looked so beautiful no one could take their eyes o((her. cry your eyes out lIorar a moca tendido 0 It was a lovely school; I cried my eyes out when I lett. do something with your eyes closed hacer algo con los ojos cerrados 0 He reassembled the gun quickly and expertly. It was something he could do with his eyes closed. feast your eyes on something regalarse la vista can algo 0 Billy licked his lips and feasted his eyes on the chocolate cake.
*
with the naked eye a simple vista can e! ojo desnudo)
raise eyebrows sorprender (literal: alzar (ejas) 0 The aBC opera TheVampyr' raised eyebrows when it was shown but the public loved it.
eyelid
~ 1798. Cuando Ie dijeron que Ie
~ ordenaban retirarse, Nelson ~ acerc6 un telescopio a su ojo ~ ciego y respondi6 que no podia
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a apreciar alga visual mente del mismo modo que se aprecia la com ida servida en un festln a! comerla.
eyebrows
*
*
93
*
have eyes in the back of your head tener ojos en la nuca 0 She has eyes in the back of her head and is always alert to the slightest sign of trouble. keep your eyes open mantener los ojos abiertos 0 Take up any opportunity to increase your knowledge and broaden your horizons. Keep your eyes open for any interesting study courses. keep your eyes peeled buscar atentamente 0 They drove there in Charlie's-car, so Michael kept his eyes peeled (or parking places. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere at hecho
~ de no parpadear para no perderse
~ nada de 10 que suceda, par rapido
§ que sea. los parpados son la "piel" ~ (sldn 0 peel) de los ojos. make eyes at someone (anticuado) lanzar miraditas insinuantes a alguien 0 He was making eyes at one
* of
the nurses. meetsomeone'seves (litera rio) mirar a los ojos a alguien oAn uneasy moment of frozen silence passed as Steve looked down and then finally up at me, meeting my eyes with an intense glare. only have eyes for someone solo tener ojos para alguien 0 The 26 year-old model is adored by thousands but only has eyes for one man - her husband. only have eyes for something 5010 estar interesado en algo
o The president came seeking investment in Mexico, but found Western Europe only had eyes forthe new democracies to its east.
94
*
eyes
open someone's eyes abrir los ojos de alguien 0 The need for female !abourcreated during two world wars
opened many women's eyes to betterpaid lives in factories and o(ffces. up to your eyes in something hasta
aqui de alga
0
I'm afraid I shall
getting back I'm up to my eyes in work (with your eyes glued to something con 105 ojos peg ados en algo 0 He sat, eyes glued to theTV set with a loo/(
striker had a face /ike thunder after ending his international career in a humiliating fashion.
face
*
bloW up in your face estallar en las
manos (litera': estallar en la cara)
have a long face tener la cara larga o He came to me with a very long face
o He must have known that having no
*
evidence, this would blow up in his face. come face to face with someone 0 meet someone face to face
encontrarse cara a cara con alguien o When I prst heard o(his death I didn't want to call her or meet her face to face. I didn't know what to say or how to act.
o The three majorvice-presidentia/ candidates took the stage tonight in At/anta in their only face-to-face confrontation of the campaign.
*
come face to face with something enfrentarse a algo 0 Before the deal was fully closed, however, Beaverbroo!< came face to face with a serious problem. fall flat on your face fracasar estrepitosamente 0 I may fall nat on my face or it may be a glorious end to
*mycareer.
fly in the face of something oponerse abiertamente a alga 0 The plan to sell rhino horn nies in the face of
the international ban. get in someone's face (sabre todo EE UU, familiar) atacar a alguien o He pretty much got in myfaceand told me not to leave or I'd get fired. get out of someone's face (familiar) dejaren paza alguien oGet out of my face or else I'm going to call the police. have a face like thunder (Brit) parecer muy enfadado (literal: tener la cara como truenos) 0 The Arsenal
admitted there had been an error. * and inMvour-face (familiar) Christina James plays agresivoy
descarado
*
0
Perry's widow, a vivacious, in-your-face woman who is sometimes too honest for her own good. keep a straight face mantener la cara seria 0 His laugh was hard for Nancy to resist, but she managed to keep a straight face. 0 It's the way he
tells ajol
you that it wasn't me.' lose face quedar mal 0 Perhaps the FDA did not want to lose face by
reversing its position. ~
Esta es una expresi6n china que
~ hace alusi6n a cubrirse la cara con
§ un abanico par vergOenza ~ despues de revelar alguien sus ~ emociones. Aquf face significa una ~ cara que exhibe un semblante g tranquilo. not have the face (Brit) no tener el coraje 0 You wouldn't lend me a couple o(quid, would you? I mean, I'm dying (or a smoke, and I haven't the {ace to
borrow ofFMichael.
96
*
*
fat
face
pull a face (Brit) 0 make a face poner mala cara
o She made a face at the musty smell, and hurried to open the windows. put a brave face on something 0 put on a brave face poner al mal tiempo buena cara 0 Dwight was upset by the news, but he put a brave (ace on it and wrote a note of
my face at her father's funeral. someone can do something until they are blue in the face alguien puede hacer algo hasta hartarse ~ l (literal: alguien puede hacer algo hasta tener la cara aZUl) 0 You can
speculate till you're blue in the face, but you can't prove a thing.
congratulations.
* children save face oMost have an almost obsessive need quedar bien
to save face in front of their peers. o The change of heart on aid seems to
*
show that officials are looking fora face-saving way to bac/( down.
laughing on the other side of their faces if they lose tomorrow.
~
Esta frase viene de una expresi6n ~ china que hace alusi6n a ~ mantenerun semblante tranquilo ~ para evitar la verglienza de @ revelar alguien sus emociones.
*
~ Un equivalente ingles de esta ~ expresi6n podrfa ser I
stare someone in the face saltarle la vista a alguien 0 Even when the
*
0
face value. At that time, I had no reason to suspect him. ~ EI significado literal de face value "
Both the
Esta expresi6n se usa varias veces
~ en la Biblia. Cuando Dios "volvfa ~ su rostro hacia" (0 set His face ~ against) quienes habfan hecho ~ alga mal, les mostraba su enfado. show your face dejarse ver 0 Louis
skulked in his Harlem apartment for
three days atter his defeat, too ashamed to show his face. 0 I felt I ought to show
stare something in the face p,j'erel ill borde de algo oSomeofmy patients
take someone at face value aceptar a alguien por 10 que aparenta ser 0 Fora time I took him at
government and the major rebel groups appear to have set theirfQces against a negotiated settlement to the connier. ~
evidence is staring them in the face, they deliberately misread it. are actually staring death in the face. They've suffered a heart attack, maybe two.
say something to someone's face deck alga a la cara de alguien oAt school it was hard when people talked about me. No-one would ever say anything to my face because they were scared o(me. set your face against something (sabre todo Brit) oponerse resueltamente a alga
someone cannot look someone in the face alguien no puede mirar a alguien a la cara 0 Why did Ido that? I can't ever 1001< her in the face again. someone will be laughing on the other side oftheir face (Brit) a alguien se Ie quitaran las ganas de refrse 0 The league leaders will be
*
~ es "valor nominal" de una moneda ~ 0 de un billete, aunque puede que § valgan mas 0 menos que dicha ~ cantidad, porejemplo si son muy ~ antiguos.
take something at face value aceptar algo sin cuestionarlo
o Clients should I
compraruna granja 0 un rancho y lIevaruna vida tranquila. La frase buy the farm comenz6 a usarse cuando algOn pilato morfa al estrellarse.
the hand o((riendship and Vau have
thrown it back in our faces. it was written all over his face se Ie notaba a la legua 0 Utter jubilation
and relief were written all over the faces ofthe freed hastages.
fair
97
fashion after a fashion mas 0 menos
fair and square con todas las de la ley (literal: limpio y cuadrado) 0 This
might start further accusations, but we don't care any more. We won fair and square.
fairies be away with the fairies estar tocado del ala o She's a sweet enough
girl but she's away with the fairies.
fall be heading fora fall ircamino de un batacazo 0 The Tory Party is heading (ara (all. ~ Puede que esta expresion se usara § por primera vez en el contexte de ~ la caza del zorro para referirse a § unjinete que montaba a caballo ~ de forma temeraria.
familiarity familiarity breeds contempt donde hay confianza da asco 0 Of course,
it's often true that familiarity breeds contempt, that we're attracted to those who seem so different from those we know at home.
farm buy the farm (EE UU,familiar)
palma ria (literal: comprar la granja)
o The plane nosedived into the ground and expladed. He baughtthe (arm. Un posible origen de esta expresion es que, durante la guerra, los pilotos de la fuerza aerea estadounidense a veces decfan que querfan dejar de volar,
oShe was educated, after a fashion, by a governess at home.
fast play fast and loose with something jugar con algo 0 The banks claim high
interest rates are necessary because the government is playing fast and loose with public spending. pull a fast one jugar una mala pasada o$omeone had pulled a fast
one on her over a procedural matter and she was not going to let them get away with it.
fat chew the fat dar ala lengua (litera': masticar la grasa) 0 We lounged
around, chewing the fat for a couple of hours. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n haga
~ referenda a 105 marineros que
~ charlaban mientras masticaban ~ la grasa de la cecina que les daban ~ para comer.
the fat is in the fire se va a armar la gorda (litera': la grasa esta en el fuego) 0 Immediately the fat was in
the rre, forthe minister had broken all the rules. § Cuando se cocina algOn alimento ~ sobre una fogata, si cae al fuego ~ algo de grasa 0 de aceite las
§ llamas se avivan de repente. someone is living off the fat of the land alguien vive a cuerpo de rey o He was pretty fed up with these
bloated royalists who were living off the
feet
fate
98
fat of the land while the rest of the country was starving, literally. ~
Esta expresion tiene su origen en § fa historia biblica delose. Durante ~ la hambruna en Israel, el faraon ~ invito al padrey a los hermanos ~ deJose a venir a Egipto, donde § habia mucha comida. Les dijo que ~ podrian comer"lo mas pingOe del·
~ pais" (the fat afthe land, Genesis ~ 45:18).
fate
* seal someone's fate The plan removes power
condenar a
alguien
*
0
from the government, sealing the fate ofthe unpopular Prime Minister, and transfers it to the President. tempt fate tentar ala suerte o Indeed, many experienced yachtsmen
charge the organizers with tempting fate in sending so many iI/-prepared crews into such dangerous waters.
fault
* generous to a fault oShewas to a fault and tried to see that excesivamente
we had everything we needed.
feast enough is as good as a feast (Brit,
anticuado) rogar a Dios par santos mas no por tantos 0 'Enough is as good as a feast,' my great aunt Daisy used to say to me, as I reached an everchubbier hand towards the chocolate biscuits. g Esta frase fue empleada por ~ primeravez por el escritar griego g Euripides en el siglo v a. c. para g explicar que sergloton esta mal.
it's feast or famine cuando mucha, cuando nada (literal: es fiesta 0 hambre) 0 While her life is rich in
memories, funds area problem. 'It's feast or famine with me,' she says.
feather a feather in someone's cap un tanto que se apunta alguien (filterr": :21 una pluma en la gorra de alguien) o Hauptmann's arrest and conviction
had been hailed as a triumph for justice and a feather in the cap of the New Jersey police.
put out feelers hacer un sondeo o 'I'm looking to play in Britain at the
end of the nextAustra/ian season,' he said last night. 'I've put out feelers for one ortwo clubs already.'
feet
be under someone's feet estar
molestando a alguien (literal: estar
~
Tradicionalmente, los guerreros ~ indios americanos an,adlanpILJmas,l~ § a sus penachos como valentia en el combate. Los ~ caballeros medievales en Incllat,err,a:~ § tam bien lIevaban plumas en sus ~ cascos como senal de valentia.
g
you could have knocked me down with a feather (anticuado) me quede de piedra (literal: me podfas haberderribado can una pluma)
debajo de los pies de alguien)
o When you're in the house your parents moan about you being under their feet. When you're out, they moan because you're not there. dead on your feet hecho polvo
o I'm usually dead on my feet at the end ofthe game. drag your feet -+ ver drag fall on your feet (Brit)o
*
o I won S4 votes to 48. I was C(,ml,letelysl
his feet with a new career set to earn him a fortune.
overwhelmed; you could have Imocl
~ puede que esta expresion haga
feathers
~ referencia a!a creencia de que ~ cuando un gato se cae, no se hace § dana porque siempre cae de pie.
* rufflesomeone'sfeathers
herir las susceptibilidades de alguien
o I'm not surprised Rangers and chief
find your feet familiarizarse (literal: encontrar tus pies) 0 It takes a while
executive of six months, Bob Brannan, have parted company. His mQ1na.gernerltl. style ruffled a few feathers. smooth ruffled feathers apaciguar o Members Ofthe exchange objected to
s Un pajaro eriza las plumas
~ its feathers) en senal de miedo 0
~ ycuando se calma, las plumas se ~ alisan.
feelers Feelers significa "antenas" (de insectos 0 de caracoles).
*
get yourfeet on the ground (sabre todo EE UU) establecerse 0 They have modest two-room apartments, and until they get their (eet on the ground, theytal
will wait forthe newTransportation Secretary to get his feet under the table. get your feet wet 0 have your feet wet (sobretodoEEUU) estrenarse (literal: mojarse los pies) o Charlton thinks it's time for me to get my feet wet. He says I'll be able to help
the department a lot more iFllearn how police actually solve crimes.
* keep yourfeet on the ground mantener los pies en tierra
0
He says
he keeps his feet on the ground by keeping childhood friends around him. put your feet up descansar
* these dishes can be oven-ba/
frozen, while you put your feet up and relax. rushed off your feet (Brit) hasta arriba de casas 0 Now we have a cutback in staffin this department, and I'm rushed offmy feet.
for people to rnd their feet at this level and gain the necessary confidence.
someone has feet of clay alguien
Esta expresion hace referencia a ~ encontrarel equilibrio necesario ~ para poder moverse sin caerse y ~ sin necesidad de apoyarse.
tiene los pies de arcilla 0 When those idols are found to have feet Of clay, the pain of disenchantment can be profound.
§
los animos, calmar los animos (literal: alisar las plumas erizadas) "
Mr Rawlins's confrontational style. Mindful of this, Mr Lawrence has been smoothing rufned feathers.
land on yourfeet tener suerte (literal: caer de pie) 0 He has fallen on
99
get cold feet a have cold feet entrarle miedo a alguien (literal: tenerfrfo en los pies)
o I feel your boyfriend got cold feet
about being in a committed relationship. He may even have fallen out of/ave. get itchy feet ponersemuyinquieto (litera': tener picor en los pies)
o I hated living in London, and I started getting itchy feet. Last year, I decided I really wanted to come out to the States.
Segun la Biblia (Daniel 2:33), el rey Nabucodonosor Ie pidi6 a Daniel que 10 ayudara a comprenderun sueno que habia tenido sobre una estatua gigantesca. Esta estatua estaba hecha de oro, plata, laton y hierro, pero tenia los pies hechos en parte de arcilla. Daniel Ie dijo al rev que tener pies de arcilla era senal de debilidad.
100
*
fence
finger
stand on your own two feet a stand on your own feet volar con
tus propias alas
0
It now seems clear
that foreign aid levels of the 19805 will never be seen again and that these countries wiJ/ have to stand on their own two feet.
* sweep someone off their feet 1
enamorar perdidamente a alguien
o He is a good fifteen years older than Felicity. He swept her off her (eet, though. And I suppose it seemed very
romantic. 2
encantar a aJguien
0
Ten British
chefs plan to cool< a feast they hope will sweep the French orrtheirreet. think on your feet tamar decisiones sabre la marcha 0 Being a parent
*
means thinking on your feet and adapting as you go along. vote with your feet mostrar 10 que piensas con acciones (literal: votar con los pies) 0 It seems thous.ands of people are already voting with their feet, and leaving the country in the hope Of a better life.
fence
*
sit on the fence mirar los toros desde la barrera (literal: sentarse en la valla) 0 The commission has chosen,
extraordinarily, to sit on the fence, murmuring that schools must decide for themselves. ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
En esta expresi6n se hace referencia a una valla que separa dos propiedades 0 dos territorios. Quien se sienta en ella a bien no puede 0 no quiere decidiren que lado quedarse.
fences
*
mend fences mejorar las relaciones (literal: repararvallas) o Yesterday he was publicly criticized for not doing enough to mend fences
with his big pOlitical rival.
-1tt. r~ach fever pitch intensificarse ~ 0 In the past year, the civil conflict has " reached fever pitch.
problemas a la pelota. Ademas, los espectadores suelen gritar al fHdeadoren eljardfn izquierdo, par 10 que los jugadores consideran difkil jugar en esta posicion.
fiddle be on the fiddle (Brit) dedicarse a hacerehanchullos oA pQstman earning only f136 a week drove around in a Porsche for six months before his bosses realized he was on the ffddle. play second fiddle estar ala sombra
* (litera':
toear el segundo violin)
o The 44-year-old senator will play second ffddle to a man who has been his junior in the Democrat hierarchy.
s La palabra ffddle significa "violrn".
~ Esta expresi6n se refiere al primer ~ y alsegundoviolfn de una ~ orquesta.
field come out of left field pillar desprevenido oAII the ffrms we've talked to have indicated that they don't know. This has really come out of Ieft field to most people. ~ En el beisbol, eljardfn Izquierdo
~ (lett field) forma parte del ~ extraeampo (outffe/d). Se dice que g una pe!ota viene deljardfn ~ Izquierdo cuando ellanzador la g lanza de forma que parezca haber g salido de la nada.
*o *o
have a field day ponerse las botas Debt col/ectors are having a field day in the recession. lead the field Ilevariadelantera TheAmericans continue to lead the field when it comes to child actors. left-field (sobretodo Brit, Periodismo) alternativo a Over the last few years, the most left-field films in world cinema have come from Japan.
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a un tipo de combate de boxeo en el que un boxeador al que hubieran noqueado era sacado a rastras de! cuadrilatero y se Ie sustitufa por otro contendiente.
En e! beisbol, eljardfn Izquierdo
(lett field) es la parte del extracampo (outfield) donde el so! y el viento pueden causar
fever
out in left field a out of left field poco convencional aMost of the business tips are common sense, but others are right out of left field. play the field darse alligue 0 He gave up playing the field and married a year ago.
s Cuando unjugador apuesta a § todos los caballos de una carrera ~ excepto al que se considera mas ~ probable que gane, se dice que § dicho jugador ploys the field.
fig a fig leaf una tapadera (litera': una hoja de parra) 0 It seems that the pledge to rejoin the ERM was a fig leaf, designed to indicate that the government's economic strategy was not dead but merely sleeping. § Segun la Biblia (Genesisn), § cuando Adan y Eva comieron la ~ manzana en el Jardin del Eden, ~ se dieron cuenta de que iban ~ desnudos y se avergonzaron, par § 10 que se cubrieron los genitales § can hojas de parra.
fight a knock-down drag-out fight (EE UU) una pe!ea encarnizada a Nobody had much of a stomach this year for another Imoe/(-down drag-out fight overthe state budget.
101
fi II
*
have had yourfill of something haberse hartado de algo 0 They have had their fill of war, poverty, and repression.
finders finders keepers quien se 10 encuentra se 10 queda oObvious/y, someone picked up my umbrella and has made no efrort to find the owner. Finders, keepers.
fine cut it fine a cut it close calcular muy justo o They didn't plan to get here until six o'e/ock, and that's cutting it a little e/ose.
finger have a finger in every pie estar metido en todo (literal: tener un dedo en cada pastel) 0 He has a finger in every pie and is never short of
ideas for making the next buck. ~ La explicacion mas probable de
~ esta expresi6n es que se refiere a
§ alguien que esta ocupado § haciendo un pastel.
* keep your your finger on the pulse a finger on the pulse have
mantenerse al tanto de algo
o Although I'm Scottish, otter all these years in America I think my editors and I have our finger on the pulse ofAmerica. La palabra pulse significa "pulso". Los medicos suelen tomarel pulso a sus pacientes presionando
~
fish
fingernails
102
levemente con un dedo la arteria
§ de la muneca.
fingers be all fingers and thumbs ... ver ,thumbs
not lay a finger on someone no
*
tocar a alguien oOneofthe men accused of attacking trucker Reginald Denny at the start of the Los Angeles riots says he never laid a ~ngeron him.
(get itchy fingers (sobretodo Brit) :entrar muchas ganas (literal: tener pieor en los dedos) 0 I started getting itchyfjngers. Me empezaron a entrar muehas ganas. o After a few days of
not lift a finger no mover un dedo o I'm the one who has to clean it 01/ up.
She wouldn't litt a finger if I didn't beg her.
* point the finger at someone One socialist senalar a alguien
0
blamed the press for his suicide, but some commentators pointed a ~nger at the political establishment. pull your finger out 0 get your finger out (Brit) espabilarse 0 If anything violent
happens, it happens here (irst. IfBex,'ey Council had any sense they would pull their~nger out and shut the place down. put the finger on someone
(literario) denunciar a alguien 0 It's not like we put the ~nger on anyone rea/,Janie. Nobody is suffering because of what we told that detective.
* put
your finger on something entender algo 0 He had thought that
Houston would have arrived at that solution first; but, no, it was Dr. Stockton who had put his finger on the truth.
twist someone around your little finger a
wrap someone around your little finger hacer can alguien 10 que quieres (literal: enrollar a alguien alrededorde tu meflique) oA child
who is spoilt is able to wrap her parents around her little ~nger.
fingernails someone is hanging on by their fingernails -+ ver hang
*
watching other people play,.1 started getting itchy fingers, and I made a chess set for myself out Ofcardboard. have green fingers (Brit), darsele bien lajardinerfa (literal: tener . dedos verdes) 0 I've never had green ~ngers; it was as much as I could do to
greater than your expenses, count yourself lucky- and don't let it slip through your~ngers! someone can count something on the fingers of one hand alguien puede eontar algo can los dedos de una mana 0 I could countthejobs
advertised each year on the fingers Of one hand.
*o
someone gets their fingers burned someone burns their fingers
alguien se pilla los dedos (litera': alguien se quema los dedos) 0 The
government, after getting its fingers burned so badly, will surely not want to make the same mistake again. work your fingers to the bone
oAII basic controls are at your fingertips for straightforward, no fuSS operation. 2 al dedillo 0 He wanted to know 01/ about his latest projects, so that the correct answers were at his ~ngertips when hewas questioned by the right people.
fire
breathe fire eehar humo (literal:
One Democratic legislator who was breathing fire over the Weinberger indictment yesterday was Brooks. respirarfuega)
keep your fingers crossed 0 cross your fingers cruzar los dedos o I will be keeping my fingers crossed
let something slip through your fingers dejar que alga se te escape de las manos o If your income is
at your fingertips 1 a mana
someone is hanging on by their fingertips ... ver hang
* keep the grass mown.
* that everything goes well.
time and energy on the issue.
fingertips
*
*
103
0
catch fire ponerse interesante o The play only really catches ~re once Aschenbach falls in love. come under fire a be under fire ser ataeado 0 The
president's plan first came under~re from critics who said he didn't include enough spending cuts. do something with fire in your belly haeer alga con pasion (literal: haeer algo con fuego en la barriga) oSome
people claim he has changed his style, but Ion has played with fire in his belly throughout his career. draw someone's fire provo car las
Their first substantial work was thef/ats at Ham Common in 1957 This immediately drew the fire of the architectural establishment. § Aquf ~re significa gunfire § Cdisparos"). crftieas de alguien 0
dejarse la piel trabajando 0 I have
fight fire with fire pagar con la misma moneda (literal: combatirel
washed, cooked, fetched and carried all my life. I worked my fingers to the bone in this house.
The chancellor onswered by fighting fire with fire. He attacked Mr Brown for wasting so much fuego con fuego) 0
hang fire esperar antes de actuar
o Banks and building societies are hanging fire on interest rates to see how
the French vote in their referendum. ~ Esta expresi6n se remonta a la § epoca en que las armas de fuego
§ funcionaban con polvora en lugar
~ de balas. 5i un arma no disparaba
~ bien porque la p61vora no habfa ~ prendido, se decfa que dicha arma ~ hung fire. La expresi6n nash in the § p~n tiene un origen similar. hold fire 0 hold your fire
esperar 0 The
administration will hold its fife until it sees the detail of the bill, but is likely then to oppose it. light a fire under someone (sabre toda EE UU) poner a funcionar a
alguien 0 They need to crank up their technical research and light a fire under
their marketing force. g Se dice que algunos granjeros ~ estadounidenses de principios ~ del siglo xx sol fan encender ~ fuegos bajo aquellas mulas ~ particularmente tercas que se ~ negaban a avanzar a fin de ~ obligarlas a hacerlo.
* oSchulte play with fire warned government and jugar con fuego
industrial leaders that those who even venture to think about mass layoffs are ploying with fire.
fish be like a fish out of water estar como pezfuera del agua
0
He
thought of himselfas a country gentleman; he was like a ~sh out of water in Birmingham. be neither fish nor fowl no serni chicha ni limona (literal: no serni pez ni ave) 0 By the mid-1980s,
Canada had a constitution that was
104
flash
fishing
neither fish narrowl in terms ofpoliticai philosophy. ~
Fowl es una palabra anticuada
~ que significa "ave de corral".
* who were arrested here last September The four a big fish un pez gordo
0
were described as really big (ish by the u.s. Drug EnforcementAgency. a big fish in a small pond el tuerto en el pars de los degas (literal: un pezgrande en un estanque pequeno) 0 In Rhodesia / was a big
fish in a small pond. But here there'd be many lean years before J built up a
reputation. a cold fish untipofrfo o He didn't
really show much emotion - he's a bit of o cold fish. drink like a fish beber como un
(05a(0 (litera': bebercomo un pez) o Herfatherdrank like a fish. ~
Antes la gente crefa que !os peces
~
bebfan constantemente, porque
2 respiran con la boca abierta.
have other fish to fry 0 have bigger fish to fry tener casas mas impartantes que hacer (literal: tener atras pescados que frefr) o I didn't pursue it in detail because I'm o(roid I hod other fish to (rv ot the
time. something is like shooting fish in a barrel algo es un combate desigual
(literal: algo es como disparar a peces en un tanel) 0 I heard one case
where some of the enemy soldiers had come out and they were saying it was like shooting fish in a barrel. there are plenty more fish in the sea con el no se acaba el mundo
(literal: hay muchos mas peces en el mar) 0 I(your daughter is upset
because her boyfriend left her, telling her that 'there are plenty more fish in the sea'won't help.
fishing be on a fishing expedition (sobre ,tOdo EE UU) estar de pesca 0 You ( know why you're here. You're on a lfishing expedition. You're hunting (or materia/.
fit En 105 dos primeras mod ism os, fit significa "sano y lIena de energfa".
fighting fit (Brit) en plena forma o Nathan is now fighting fit and ready to tackle school again after his three- . month bottle (or Ii(e. fit as a fiddle rebosante de salud o I'm as fit as a fiddle, I'm never ill, I have an iron constitution. ~ Puede que, ariginalmente, esta
~ expresion se refiriera a un ~ violinista (fiddler)y no a un violrn ~ (fiddle). EI violinista tenia que § estar en forma para tocar toda la ~ tarde en un festival 0 en una ~ fiesta. Por otra parte, fit podrfa § haber significado suitable ~("adecuado") en lugar de healthv ~ ("sana"), par 10 que elsignificado ~ original podrfa haber sido as ~ suitable (or its purpose as a fiddle is ~ (or ma/
fit to be tied (sobre todo EE UU) hecha una furia 0 Douglas was fit to be tied. He almost killed Harry. He made Harry pay back every last penny. ~ Aquffitsignifica "Iisto"o"apropiado"
§ para un proposito determinado.
fits
* oin fits and starts
a trompicones
Denise's career plans can only proceed in fits and starts. ~
Fit significa "arrebata".
flags
fix
'* '*
105
get a fix on someone or something tener a alguien 0 algo 0 It's dimcult to get a fix on what brokers earn. Their commissions depend on the number and cost o(the properties they sell. there is no quick fix no existe un arreglo rapido 0 There can be no quick fix (or public spending. I(the recovery (ailS to cut the deficit sharply, a rise in taxes will be needed. 0 He warned congress against any quick fix solutions to get the economy moving.
put the flags out (Brit) engalanarse o Birthdays and christenings, or just a spell o(good weather, are al/ the excuse you need to put the nags out and celebrate summer in the garden.
flame
* ano old flame
flames be shot down in flames ser severamente criticado 0 Just six
flag
*o
fly the flag defender el pabell6n It doesn't matter whether you are
nVing the nog (orvourcountrv. orthe HorseTrials Group, oryour sponsor, the image you present is all-important. keep the flag flying mantener alto el pabellon 0 I would as/< members to keep the nog nVing bV entering some o( their plants in both shows. a red flag (sobre todo EE UU) una seflal de alarma (litera': una bandera raja) oAnyonewho raises a red nag could be met by officiols
when the ship or plane arrives in this country. a red flag before a bull .... ver bull wrap yourself in the flag (sobre todo EE UU) escudarse en el patriotismo o Politicians always try to wrap themselves in the nag on Independence Day, but I thinl< most people can see through thot.
flagpole run something up the flagpole consultar una idea 0 The President should consider running the capita/goins cut bock up the nogpole. ~
Run 0 nog up 0 nogpole significa ~ "izar una bandera".
un antiguo amor
Last weel
*
months ago his idea would have been shot down in names for its sheer lunacy. fan the flames empeararla. situacion (literal: avivar las llamas)
o Extremist organizations in the west were actively (anning the names in the east, he said. ~ El sentido literal de (an
flames es
~ "avivar las llamas".
go up in flames esfumarse 0 The Hollywood she'd I
flash
* a(litera': flash in the pan
flor de un dfa un fogonazo en la cazaleta)
o In the days (allowing BecJ(Qn's victory, the British establishment has gone out ofits way to try and dismiss the result as a nash in the pan. Esta expresion proviene de la forma en que fundonaban los antiguos fusiles de chispa. AI apretarel gatillo se produda una chispa que encendfa la pequeiia cantidad de polvora que habra en la cazoleta (0 pan). Esta pequefla cantidad a su vez encendfa el
106
flat
fly
§ resto de la p6!vora. Sin embargo, § si no Ja encendfa se producfa
~ las heladerfas estadounidenses
~ solfan seleccionar un sabor del
~ unicamente"un fogonazo en [a ~ cazoleta" (a nash in the pan) y el ~ fusil no disparaba bien. La ~ expresi6n hang firetiene un ~ origen similar.
~, rqes a fin de ani mar ala gente a ~l probar helados de distintos ~~sabores.
flea send someone away with a flea in . tileirear (Brit) despacharaalguien con cajas destempladas (literal:
in a flash en un abrir y cerrar de ojos o5am was out of his hiding place in a (lash and crossed the space between him and the cliff-foot in a couple of leaps.
echar a alguien con una pulga en la oreja) 0 Jwas prepared to be met with
hostility as another nosy outsider, even to be sent away with a nea in my ear. But Moira was happy to chat.
flat
*
fall flat 1
fracasar por completo
0
The
champagne opening of a new art gal/ery fell nat when the boss's Wife fired a cork straight through the most expensive painting on show. 2 no funcionar 0 He then started trying to tel/jokes to the assembled gathering. These too fell nat. flat as a pancake 'Iiso como la palma de la mana (literal: lisa como una torta) 0 There was barely a breeze and the water was as nat as a pancake.
flesh flesh and blood decarney hueso
6 He was the first writer since
*
flat-footed be caught flat-footed 0 be left flat-footed ser pHlado desprevenido 0 'The people around were caught nat-footed,' said Mr. Enko. 'Nobody expected noods ofsuch magnitude.'
flavour
*
F/avourse escribe navoren ingles america no.
flavour of the month (sabre todo Brit) estrella del momenta (literal: sabor del mes) oMost stars are likely to declare an unprecedented interest in whatever cause is the Jatestnavour Of the month in celebrity circles.
Shal
*
*
0 Giving in to the strikers' demands, government ministers said, would open the floodgates to demands by workers in other Jorge state-owned industries.
abrirle las puertas a alga
someone is your own flesh and blood alguien es de tu propia sangre o He's myown flesh and blood; I'll stic/( by him whatever he does.
flick
give someone or something the flick (sobretodoAustralia, familiar)
floor fall through the floor hundirse o On the fateful day, Oct. 19, the value of those stoc/(s fell through the noor. wipe the floor with someone dar un buen repasa a alguien (literal:
mandar a alguien 0 algo a paseo
o Nikki has given Brandon the flicl<. § En el fUtbol australiano, el pase ~ que se hace go!peando la pelota § can la mano abierta se denomina ~ flick pass. Estos pases van contra § las normas, las cuales estipulan ~ que la pelota debe ria pasarse ~ golpeando!a con el puno.
flies be dropping like flies caercomo moscas 0 Meanwhile Burketown was left without a police officer while people were dropping like flies. 0 While other retailers are dropping like flies, supermarkets are making fat profits. there are no flies on someone alguien no tiene un pelo de tonto (literal: alguien na tiene mascas encima) 0 You have to establish that
you are an officer with good and tried soldiers: there are no flies on the enemy.
flight
* a flight offancy
imaginaciones
o This is no night offancy. The prototype;s already flying, and production is to begin next year.
flip flip your lid (familiar) perder los estribos 0 'Boy, you are brave,' she said, bathing the bleeding cut. 11 lot of grownups nip their lids when you clean a cut like this.'
floodgates
* open the floodgates to something
107
fregar el suelo con alguien)
o When you play against people whose technique is superior and who can match your courage and commitment, they're going to wipe the floor with you.
flow
*
*
be in full flow (Brit) 1 marchara plena vapor 0 By 194445 he was in full flOW, scoring in twelve successive matches and totalling twenty-seven goals in this sequence. 2 haberse lanzado a hab!ar oMar/< Muellerwas already in full now, telling me how he had been the first to lmow the movie men were back in town. go with the flow dejarse Ilevar o This year I'm going to take a deep breath, leave my troubles and tension in the departure lounge and go with the now.
fly do something on the fly hacer alga par la via rapida 0 This gives architects and designers the power to build an environment, explore it and maybe do some designing on the fly. the fly in the ointment la unica peg a (literal: la mosca en la pomada) 0 The only ny in the ointment is the enormous debt portfolios ofMarine Midland in Latin America.
108
*
food
footsteps
~ Esta expresi6n proviene de la ~ Biblia (Edesiastes 10:1), donde se ~ afirma que del mismo modo que § una mosca muerta pudre una ~ (cpa de unguento de ~ perfumista, un poco de necedad ~ cuenta mas que la sabidurfa y ~ el honor.
someone would love to be a fly on the wall a alguien Ie gustarfa estar allfparaverquepasa oJ'dlovetobea
fly on the wall at their team meetings. o I'd love to work as the personal photographerof Q rock star for a year, documenting their life on the road from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. someone wouldn't hurt a fly 0 someone wouldn't harm a fly serra
incapaz de mataruna mosca 0 He is, he insists, a pacifist, who would not hurt a
nv
food
*
give someone food for thought
ser
motivQ de reflexi6n para alguien 0 I am not a religious person, but knowing what a good and faithful servant my friend has been, it has certainly given
me faod for thaught.
fool
*
a fool and his money are soon parted a los tontos no les dura el dinero 0 The sad truth is that a fool and his money are soon parted, and even more so, a fool who is in love. fool's gold quimera 0 The Chancel/or dismissed as 'pure fool's gold' the idea that devaluing the pound could assist the British economy. Fool's gold es otro nombre porel que se canace la pi rita de hierro, un mineral de coJordorado que se encuentra en las rocas y que la gente a veces confunde can el oro.
live in a fool's paradise vivirde ilusiones (literal: vivir en el parafso d~ un tonto) 0 English economists Jhave been living in a fool's paradise. Vhe recession has started.
fools fools rush in where angels fearto tread 0 fools rush in la ignorancia es osada oSometimes I stop and think, how did Iget into this? Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. ~ Este proverbio aparece'en la obra § deAlexander Pope titulada Ensayo ~ sabre 10 cr(tica (1711).
foot be caught on the wrong foot sercogido a contra pie 0 The supermarket chain seems to have been caught on the wrong foot, still trying to escape its 'cheap' past just as it should be capitalizing on that record. oAgain and again European and UN diplomacy has been wrong-footed by events in the Balkans. the boot is on the other foot (Brit) 0 the shoe is on the other foot (EE UU) se ha dado la vuelta a la tortilla (literal: la bota/el zapato esta en el otro pie) 0 I'm in the job. You may have assisted along the way, but as far as I know you're not in a position to remove me. The boot is now on the other foot. ~
Hasta finales del sigloxvlII, los zapatos se podfan lIevar en cualquiera de los dos pies, ya que los zapateros no hacfan zapatos "derechos" 0 "izquierdos". 51 a g alguien Ie molestaba uno de los ~ zapatos, podia intentar ponerselo ~ en el otro pie para ver 51 asf Ie ~ resultaba masc6modo. ~ ~ § ~
foot-in-the-door agresivo
0
Double
glazing salesmen have become a bit of a nationa/joke, what with their foot -inthe-door methods. § 5i alguien conslgue metere[ pie § en [a abertura de una puerta, ~ podra Impedirque la cierren V que § Ie dejen fuera de [a vivienda.
*
get a foot in the door meter [a cabeza (literal: co[ar un pie en [a puerta) 0 The only reason I took the job was because I thought it might help me get a foot in the door. get off on the wrong foot empezar con mal pie 0 Every time I come home on leave, we seem to get off on the wrong foot. We argue a lot. g The wrong foot se refiere al pie ~ izquierdo. Segun una antigua ~ superstici6n, ellado Izquierdo del ~ cuerpo esta asociado a la mala ~ suerte Vala maldad. A veces los § romanos ponian a centine[as a la ~ entrada de los edificios publicos ~ para que se aseguraran de que la § gente entraba en ellos con el pie ~ derecho. La expresi6n get out of ~ bed on the wrong side se basa en § una creencia similar. have a foot in both camps tener intereses en los dos bandos o With an Indian father and an English mother, she had a foot in both camps - or perhaps in neither. ~ En esta expresi6n camp significa § "campamento militar". not put a foot wrong (Brit) no cometer ningun error ojohnWall
* put your foot down
p[antarse 0 He had planned to go on holiday with his friends, but his father had put his foot down. 2 (Brit) pisar a fonda 0 Once out of the parl< and finding a clear stretch of the Bayswater Road, he put his faot down. put your foot in it meter la pata o I put my foot in it straight away, referring to folk music. Tom sat forward and glared. 'It's not fall< music, man. It's heritage music.' shoot yourself in the foot tirar piedras contra tu propio tejado (literal: dispararse en el pie) 0 Unless he shoots himself in the foot, in all probability he will become President. someone has one foot in the grave alguien esta con un pie en la sepultura 0 The guard and warder are tal
1
*
*
footloose footloose and fancy-free (anticuado) libre como el aire oA divorced man is footloose and fancyfree. He can go to parties and pubs on his own, and come and go as he pleases. g Este termino se refiere a una vela ~ de barco que se mueve libremente ~ y de forma imprevisible porque [as ~ cuerdas que la sujetan por la orilla § inferior (foot) estan sueltas.
*
*
109
footsteps
*
follow in someone's footsteps seguir los pasos de alguien o Rudolph Garvin was a college student, the son of a physician, who
, 110
forelock
fur
wanted to foJ/ow in his father's
footsteps.
forelock
Darren Bicknell the frame for an E~g/and call-up at Lord's yesterday. 2 sospechoso de algo a The fact is, there's only ever been one guy in the frame for this killing, and that's the . husband. p~t himselffirmly in
tug your forelock 0 touch your forelock (Brit) doblegarse oA Jot of people seem to think we're supposed to go round
touching ourforelocl< and scraping our heads against the floor. We're not. § La palabra forelock significa
~ acostumbraban a sacarse el
§ Aquf frame se refiere seguramente @a un fotograma de un rolla de ~ peifcula.
fresh
forbidden fruit fruta prohibida o Knowing that from now on you can't
(ruit. fresh as a daisy fresco como una rosa (literal: fresco como una
(Brit) meter a alguien miedo en el cuerpo a He and his chums tried to put the (righteners on Kelley beFore she had
written a single word. ~ Frighteners era el nombre que se
a Why should / wear myself to a frazzle, trying to save your sldn for you?
have been is/and-hopping in the Pacific forthe past two and a half years, free as a bird.
forewarned forewarned is forearmed hombre prevenido vale par dos 0 The authors'
idea is that (orewarned is forearmed: if we [mow how persuasion works, perhaps we can resist some of it.
fort hold down the fort (EE UU) a hold the fort quedarse al cargo
o Since she entered Parliament five years ago, her husband has held the fort at their Norfolk home during the week
fortune
* almost two years, Hawkins madeFora 0
small fortune running a drugstore.
foundations shake the foundations of something hacertemblar los cimientos de algo 0 The crisis shoal< the foundations ofthe world economy.
freefall
out of the frying pan into the fire de Guatemala a Guatepeor (literal: de la sarten al fuego) a I was hoping to get my career bac/( on track at Everton, after a bad time atVilla. But as it turned out, I'd gone out o(the (rying pan into the rre.
~ alga.
fritz on the fritz (EE UU) estropeado
aMy mother's toaster went on the fritz.
frog have a frog in your throat tener carraspera (literal: tener una rana
freefall significa "cafda libre".
en la garganta) a
Even when I was
gointofreefall (Periodismo) caeren
little, other kids would ask i(l had a (rog
Fears are now widespread that shares could go into freefall before Christmas.
~ En la epoca medieval se crera que
in my throat. Ijust have a raspy voice.
picado a
~ si alguien bebra agua en la que ~ hubiera huevas de rana, las ranas ~ crecerfan en el interior de su ~ cuerpo. La gente pen saba que el ~ dolor de garganta Via tos podrfan ~ deberse al hecho de que las ranas § intentaran escapar del est6mago ~ de alguien a traves de su § garganta.
frenzy
* statement was unnecessary, andHis merely a feeding frenzy frenesl a
served to start a media feeding frenzy. Esta expresi6n se usaba inicialmente para describir el comportamiento de los tiburones cuando hay sangre en el agua pero no la com ida suficiente para alimentarlos a todos. En esta situaci6n los tiburones atacar21n
frying pan
~ daba a 105 miembros de bandas ~ criminalesa los que se ordenaba ~ asustar a alguien para que hiciera
En el paracaidismo, la palabra
*
~ aAdan para que este coma el ~ fruto de! arbol del conocimiento, ~ que Dios les habra prohibido ~ tocar.
put the frighteners on someone
destrozarse
free as a bird libre como el viento (literal: libre como un pajaro) a I
§ relato brblico en el que Eva tienta
frighteners
wear yourself to a frazzle
someone cannot see the wood for the trees -+ ver trees
~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda al
the end ofit.
free
forest
eat chocolate or have sugar in your tea can ma/(e you want those forbidden fruits even more.
margarita) 0 She can sleep through anything and emerge fresh as a daisy at
frazzle
~ sombrero delante de personas ~ de clase alta. 5i no lIevaban ~ sombrero, se lIevaban la mana ~ al meeh6n.
a small fortune un dineral
They don't see the economic reforms championed by the President as bearing
cualquiercosa quevean, e incluso ~ se atacaran entre ellos.
in the frame for something (Brit) l;candidato a alga a
~ "mech6n de pelc" (que cae sabre ~ la frente).Antiguamente, las ~ personas de clase baja
§
frame
*
111
fruit
*
People see material conditions getting worse.
bear fruit darfruto a
fuel
*
add fuel to the fire echar lena al fuego 0
You must not take the route
of trying to borrow your way out of trouble. This really would be adding (uel to the fire.
full be full of yourself ser un engrerdo
a I tired of him quite quickly - he's so (ull o(himself.
funeral it's yourfuneral con tu pan te 10 comas (literal: es tu funeral) a Have
it your own way. You'll be sorry. It's your (uneroi.
fur the fur is flying se estan peleando (literal: la piel esta volanda) a The
world's oldest major championship does not start until tomorrow, yet already
112
furniture
the (ur is nying thick and (ast.
§ Esta expresion aJude a una pelea ~ entreanimales en la que se ~ arrancan el pelaje los unos a los ~
atras.
be on a short fuse 0 h~ve a short fuse tener un genic
mwv vivo 0 Perhaps he's irritable and
ha~ a short (use, letting you know when he's not pleased.
furniture part of the furniture parte de la casa (litera': parte del mobiliario) o In ten years he has become part Dfthe
(urniture o(English li(e, his place on the stage firmly fixed and universally
respected.
~ Ver la explicacion en
light the fuse.
'blow a fuse saHrse de sus cqsillas (literal: fundir un plomo) 0 For all my
experience, I blew a fuse in the quarterfinal and could have been sent Off.
gaff blow the gaff (Brit) irse de la lengua o I said 'I've blown the ga((. .. revealed the truth and told stories about what really went on.' § Aquf blow significa "revelar". En ~ elsigloxlx,gafferauntermino
~ En esta expresion, fuse significa
furrow
g "fusible".
La palabra furrow significa "surco" (en un campo de labor).
plough a IOnE!ly furrow a plough a lone furrow (Brit, litera rio)
trabajar en solitario
fuse
0
It seems that
Shattock was something Ofan original thinker, ploughing a !onelyfurrow.
light the fuse encender la mecha o Ghana's independence in 1957 lit the (use which led to the rapid (reeing o( c%niaIAfrica. En esta expresi6n, fuse significa "espoleta" (de un cohete 0 de un artefacto explosivo).
~ arg6tico empleado para describir
§ comportamientos deshonestos.
aab~
* cat
a game plan una estrategia oSo few people stick to their game plan. I stuck to mine. I had always wanted to be a millionaire from a very early age. ~
gagging for something (Brit,
familiar) morirse de ganas de algo o 'Girls everywhere aregagging for a car like this,' announced a spokesperson at the launch.
gallery play to the gallery actuar para la galerfa 0 It tool< more than 20 years for the HouseofCommons to allow TV cameras there, because some members were frightened that others would play to the gallery.
game
*
lights o(the police cor riled the cob. Sensing the game was up, he pulled over. a game of cat and mouse -+ ver
ahead of the game con ventaja o We're a/ways /ooldng at new
*
technologies to keep ahead of the game. beat someone at their own game
*
their own game: they were more aggressive and equally skilJed. the game is up se acab6 el juego o He narrowed his eyes as the blue
ganar a alguien con sus propias armas 0 The Cats beat Brisbane at
En el futbol americano, game plan
g significa "plan dejuego".
* give
the game away descubrirel pastel 0 Johnson had intended to make
his announcement in a forthcoming feature in The Times but the paper gave the game away. go on the game (Brit, familiar) ponerse a hacer Ja calle 0 Howcan anyone with kids think Of going on the game? new to the game nuevo en el asunto 0 Don't forget that she's new to this game and will take Q while to complete the task, so you need to be very patient. not play the game (sabre todo Brit, anticuado) nojugar limpio 0 Labour chancel/ors really aren't supposed to do this sort ofthing. It is not playing the game. the only game in town la unica alternativa 0 He's the only game in town, and I am hoping that he can show some rea/leadership strength.
114 ~
games
genie
Puede que esta expresi6n se
~ refiera a alguien dispuesto a § participar en una partida de ~ poquer, aunquefuera ~ deshonesta, porque era fa ~ unica que sejugaba en aquel ~ momento.
especial mente un policia, al que se Ie encomienda la misi6n de ,disolver bandas criminales.
I
gar~age garbage in. garbage out basura entra, basura sale oA computer expert, he said he'd learned from
* juego play the game seguir las reg las del olnordertosurviveinthe game.
~ Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~ informatica. 5i se introducen ~ datos err6neos en el ordenador,
~ Esta expresi6n es una eita del
~ "Credo olfmpico" escrito par Pierre ~ de Coubertin, fundadorde los ~ Juegos Olfmpicos modernos en ~ 1896. Despues la usarfa sir Henry § Newbolten SU poema tituJado ~ Vitoi lompodo (18g8).
play someone at their own game usar contra alguien sus pro pi as armas 0 I never used to get introduced to their clients. So I've started playing
*
them atthejrown game. When I have clients to come and see me, I don't introduce them either. playa waiting game dejar pasar el
I propose to playa waiting game, and hope that a few ofthe pieces ofthis puzzle will soon begin to fit together. tiempo 0
games
* says play games needs about
jugar 0 The company a week to make a
it
decision on staffing. One employee says he thinks the company is playing games with them.
gangbusters like gangbusters (sobre todo EE UU)
The Lakers, who struggled early, came on /ike gangbusters at precisely the right time, which is to say, when the playoffs started. ~ La palabra gang buster hace a 10 bestia
*
·computer programming that if you put garbage in, you get garbage out.
politicol system, they have to ploy the
0
~ referencia a una persona,
garden common~o ....garden (Brit) 0
(EE UU) comun y
corriente 0 Whether you're looking for specialist equipment or a common-orgarden mixing bowl, it's worth making a trip to the Harrods Cooks hop. ~ Estas expresiones se usa ban en
Estas frases aparecen en ellibro
~ segundo de los Macabeos (7:9), ~ en los textos ap6crifos. Siete § hermanos y su madre fueron ~ torturados porel reyAntfoco, y ~ uno de los hermanos habl6 con ~ actitud desafiante "aillegar a su ~ ultimo suspiro" (when hewas at his
§ servira de nada.
garden~variety
EI
the ice age, the area was covered with rich, semi-deciduous forest, not dry grassland. lastpgasp (Periodismo) en el ultimo minuto 0 Last-gasp negotiations by the National Museum of Photography could ensure major new shows by legendary photographers Richard Avedon and Sebastiao Salgado. §:
§ la informaci6n producida no
*
§ lost gasp).
gauntlet
~ un principio para describir la
g variedad mas comun de una ~ especie de plantas.
Los guantes largos y gruesos que protegen las manos, las munecas y los ante brazos se denominan
lead someone up the garden path
gauntlets.
(sobre tado Brit) 0 lead someone down the garden path (EE UU) embaucar a alguien
(literal: Ilevar a alguien por el caminodeljardfn) o He may have Jed me up the garden path. He said everything was over with Penny but now he seems to be seeing her again.
gas run out of gas (sobretodo EE UU)
Mil/er, who missed second place by four seconds, said she 'ran out Of gas' close to the finish. quedarse sin energfas o
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a un vehfculo que se detiene porque se ha quedado sin gasolina.
hileras de soldados arm ados con latigos 0 con palos. En Inglaterra, la palabra sueca gatlopp se sustituy6 porun termino ingles mas conocido, gauntlet.
*thousand years ago, at the last gasp even of
gasp "I· . last gasp u tlmo SUSplro 0
*
run the gauntlet
President-elect Chamorro also had to run the gauntlet as bags Of water rained down from the Sandinista section of the stadium. 2 padecer 0 He has run the gauntlet ofarrest, police investigation, spells in prison and house detention in connection with his ties to radical groups. Gatlopp es una palabra sueca que
1 sufrir el acoso 0
significa "carrera por un camino". Se refiere a un castigo mi!itar sueco que se introdujo en Inglaterra durante la Guerra de los Treinta Aiios (1618-1648). La vfctima tenfa que correr entre dos
115
take up the gauntlet recoger el
*
guante 0 We received many letters on the subject, and several said we should as/< our readers for nominations. We are taking up the gauntlet. Write to us with your suggestions.
throw down the gauntlet arrojar el guante 0 Thetruc/(ers threw down their gauntlet to the government after an all-night meeting of their strike committee
§ En!a epoca medieval, los § caballeros lanzaban uno de sus ~ guanteletes (gauntlets) al suelo ~ para desafiar a otro caballero a un g combate. Si el segundo caballero ~ 10 recogfa, esto significaba que g aceptaba el desaffo.
gear
* get into gear o The town itself has got into gear with ponerse en marcha
a campaign to improvetheenvironment. ~ La imagen de este modismo se
~ refiere a la conducci6n de un
§ vehfculo.
genie the genie is out of the bottle es imposible darmarcha atras
o The genie is out of the bottle and all attempts to stop the tide ofGM crops are in vain. En la mitologfa arabe, un genio
(genie) es un esplritu travieso que tiene poderes magicos. Puede que esta expresi6n haga referencia a la historia deAladino, el cual frota una lampara y libera al genio atrapado en su interior.
, gentle
116
gnat
gentle gentle as a lamb mas manso que un cordero 0 Brian was as gentle as a lamb and wouldn't hurt anyone.
get from the get-go (ramiliar) desde el principio 0 Borrowing to make
distributions was part ofthe plan from the get-go because ofthe seasonal nature ofthe business.
a caballo regalado no Ie mires el diente 0 When you're an entrepreneur,
give it up for someone (familiar)
ypuidon't look a gift horse in the mouth.
o f\s a marl< of our gratitude forall her
~ Esta expresi6n se refiere al hecho Wde que es posible determinar la
unstinting effort overthe last year'no one's surprise, he produced a mid-size bunch of sprayed carnations from behind his back - 'let's give it up (arKath.' give or take something 1 mas a menos alga 0 There is a buried crater35 kilometres across, in North America. It dates bacf< 66 million years, give or take a million. 2 sincontaralgo oWearenotin Sydney; this is Manchester. The two do have a similar fee/ to them, give orta/
~ edad de un caballo al mirarle los ~ dientes.
gills
give up the ghost
look green around the gills tener mala cara 0 Kenny stumbled out from the washroom. 'I'm all right now.' He stilllool
arrojar la toalla
S Gills significa "branquias". En esta
ghost 1
0 In Manhattan
there was no Memorial Day parade this year. The organizers said they've given up the ghast after sa (ew peaple turned
out last year. 2 pasar a mejor vida
abandonarel espfritu) oAshortway
off the return ferry, Danny's car gave up the ghost again.
take the gilt off the gingerbread (Brit) quitarle la gracia (literal:
lay the ghost of something
~ se adornaba a veces can una
~ este significado.
Jockey Adrian Maguire laid the ghost ofa ghastly week with a comprehensive win in the Irish Champion Hurdle yesterday. enterrar el recuerdo de alga
0
gift the gift of the gab a the gift of gab (EE UU) labia (liter.l: e! don de Ja charla) 0 He was entertaining company and certainly had the gift a(the gab. § Puede que esta expresi6n este ~ relacionada can la palabra ~ irlandesa y gaelicagab, que S significa "boca".
gift horse look a gift horse in the mouth
glance Ie at first glance a primera vista o The difficulty comes when two people, who appeared at ffrst glance to have so much in common, discoverthat they
quitarle el bano doradoal pan de
§ aun la usa de vez en cuando con
~ significaba "morir", y hay quien
*
~ a la boca.
jengibre) 0 I(nawing that jim didn't want to be there rather tool< the gilt Off the gingerbread.
~ Original mente esta expresi6n
to
~ expresi6n el termino se usa de ~ forma humorfstica para referirse
gilt
(literal:
un gran aplauso para alguien
s Antiguamente, el pan dejengibre ~ finfsima lamina dorada.
girl a big girl's blouse (Brit) un mariquita, un (media) nena 0 We'll get that sappy big girl's blause with the dodgy knee who cries all the time.
§ Blouse significa "blusa". Esta ~ expresi6n quiza se refiera a 10 que ~ se supone que lJevarfa puesto un ~ hombretfmido 0 debil en lugarde ~ una prenda masculina, par ejemplo aljugara f(jtbol oa rugby.
o
give
* give and take
concesiones mutuas o I'm in a happy relationship where
there's a lot ofgive and take.
have simply grown apart.
glass
*
the glass ceiling eJ techo de cristal oA woman judge has at last succeeded in breaking through the glass ceiling into the Court OfAppeal, the second highest court in the land. people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones quien este libre de pecado que tire la primera piedra (literal: !a gente que vive en casas de cristal no deberfa tirar
piedras) 0 When will they iearn? People in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones.
gloss
117
Gloss significa "glosa",
0 nota que se anade a un texto para explicar una palabra poco conocida. Esta expresi6n sugiere que!a explicaci6n ofrecida induce a error.
glove fit like a glove sentar como un guante 0 Surprisingly, she has not sung Leonora for a long time, yet, as I reminded her, she used to say the part fitted ~ervoice like a glove.
gloves the gloves are off (Periodismo) se acabaron las contemp!aciones
o In the software price war, the gloves are off. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
~ los boxeadores que boxean con § los punos desnudos, 10 cual es mas ~ peligrosoqueboxearconguantes.
glutton ( Glutton significa "glot6n".
)
a glutton for punishment un masoquista 0 What I want to know is why on earth you want anything to do with this confused and angry man. Obviously you're a glutton for punishment.
gnat strain at a gnat (/iterario) discutir sabre el sexo de los angeles
o When it comes down to distinguishing
from a mild recession, you'd be straining at gnats to tell the difference.
1 percent growth
put a gloss on something poner un barnizenalgo o Garland could
Gnat significa "mosquito". Esta cita ("colar el mosquito y tragarse
see no harm in putting an optimistic gloss on what the specialist had actually said.
el camello") proviene de la Biblia (Mateo 23:24). Jesucristo la emple6 cuando criticaba a los
118
goose
go
~
escribas y a los fariseos par ~ preocuparse demasiado de ~ aspectos poco importantes de , la ley.
go don't even go there (familiar) ni se te ocurra mencionar!o 0 Bloom is romantically linked to Kate Bosworth,
but don't even go there. Keeping his private life private is oneofthe ways he copes with his celebrity status. go figure (sabre todo EE UU, familiar) no hayquienloentienda a'/twas certainly unexpected,' said Mickelson,
who hadn't touched a club for two weeks before the tournament. " didn't hit it great today and somehow I shot 59. So go figure.' go off on one (Brit, familiar) ponerse heche una furia 0 I've never seen him go off on one before but I saw Q very different side to him then.
* haveagoatsomeone Brit) atacar a alguien Finally I felt (sobretodo
0
angry, because I figured she wasjust having a go at me forthe sake ofit. oA mob had a go at him with stones.
act the goat (Brit) hacer el ganso o Betty had a little yellow umbrella up. I~ctedthegoat a bit, turning and waving dmpteen times till she was laughing.
g Goat significa "cabra". Se suele
g asociar a las cabras can un
~ comportamiento imprevisible.
get someone's goat fastidiar a alguien (literal: coger la cabra de alguien) 0 It was a bad result and a bod performance, but what really got
the media's goat was the manager's refusal to take all the blame. Puede que esta expresi6n ~ provenga de una costumbre de § principios del siglo xx en Estados ~ Unidos consistente en meter a ~ cabras en los establos de los ~ caballos de carreras, dado que la ~ presencia de las cabras parecfa ~ tranquilizara los caballos. Si ~ alguien robaba la cabra, el caballo ~ se inquietarfa y su rendimiento se ~ verfa afectado.
God God's gift un regalo de Dios
o He thinks he's God's gift to women.
goes around comes around. If you ignore the otherguy when he asks for help, you might just be setting yourself up fora
Se cree que Dios 10 cre6 para felicidad de las mujeres. 0 Up till then I thought I was God's girt to
little of the same lateran.
surgery.
an own goal (Brit) un gal en propia puerta 0 He said that the Government
must get its act together and stop scoring economic own goals.
goalposts move the goalposts cambiar las reg las deljuego (literal: mover los pastes) 0 They seem to move the
goalposts every time Imeet the conditions which are required.
agreements, otherwise you may jeopardize a valuable relationship. be like gold dust (Brit) ser muy diffcil de conseguir (literal: ser como oro en paiva) o Leg make-up was
*
* insisted that the government0should He play God jugar a ser Dios
not play God: the market alone should decide what industries should be set up. take God's name in vain ... ver name
gold all that glitters is not gold (Brit) no es oro todo 10 que reluce oAII that
glitters is not gold and it's a good idea to de/aYfina/izing any important
essential during theWarwhen stockings were like gold dust. a pot of gold una fortuna (literal: una vasija can oro) 0 When he went
to Hamburg, he should have said hewas going to make his pot ofgold. Instead, he said he was going to improve his football. strike gold descubrir una mina (literal: encontrar oro) 0 The
company has strucl(gold with its new holiday development.
~
what goes around comes around 10 que se siembra, se cosecha 0 What
goal
*
goat
good
* asoManufacturers recommend that good as new como nuevo
*
119
goods
*
deliver the goods cumplircon 10 prometido (literal: entregar la mercancfa) 0 Is the leadership in a position to deliver the goods in two
years? have the goods on someone (EE UU) conocer los tejemanejes de alguien 0 He was offering services
and materials for about 20 years internationally before anyone had the goods on him and could prove that he was do.ing it. § Aquf the goods se refiere a ~ artfculos robados, que pueden ~ usar'se como prueba contra la § persona que los tenga.
goose cookyourgoose pringarla oBy
carpets should be washed regularly to prolong their life and keep them looking as good as new.
trying to steal my girlfriend he cooked his goose. After that Ijust had to sack him.
give as good as you get devolver golpe porgolpe oAlwaysgiveas good as you get in discussions and
§ Sedicequeel reyEricxlvde
meetings. good as gold como un santo (literal: buena como el oro) 0 They
were both in the playroom as good as gold.
lnutil oRuth's father was a rich, charming, but goodfor-nothing man.
good~for-nothing
you can't keep a good man down los buenos siempre vuelven 0 Rios
hit a winning smash from a sitting position before toppling over. You can't keep a good man down, although there are those who would lil
goodbye
* kiss goodbye to something oAfterthe despedirse de alga
accident, I felt sure I'd have to kiss my dancing career goodbye.
~ Suecia lIeg6 en cierta ocasi6n a § una ciudad y descubri6 que sus ~ habitantes habfan colgado un ~ ganso de un arbo!. Esto estaba ~ pensado como insulto, quiza § porque los gansos se asociaban a ~ la estupidez. EI rey anunci6 que ~ "cocinarfa su ganso" (would cool< ~ their goose). Sus soldados ~ invadieron la ciudad e incendiaron ~ los edificios principales. Segun ~ otra teorfa, la expresi6n se refiere ~ ala fabula de Esopo sabre e! ~ ganso que ponfa huevos de oro: ~ ver la explicaci6n en kill the goose , that lays the golden egg.
kill the goose that lays the golden egg matar la gallina de los huevos de oro 0 It's Q classic case of
too many tourists loving a place to death. 'They're killing the goose that
120
gooseberry
laid the golden egg,' said the par/< manager.
grave gospel take something as gospel aceptar alga como si fuera Ja BibHa
~
Esta expresion proviene de la g fabula de Esopo sabre un @ campesino quetenfa un ganso ~ que ponia huevos de oro. EI ~ campesino ansiaba tanto hacerse ~ rico que abri6 e! (uerpa del ave, ~ esperando obtenertodos los ~ huevos de una vez.
someone wouldn't say boo to a goose alguien es incapaz de matar una mosca 0 'If you remember, at college I wouldn't say boo to a goose.'
That's right, you were very quiet: a wild goose chase una busqueda imposible 0 Every time I've gone to Rome to try to find out iFthe story could be true, it has turned out to be a wi/dgoose chase.
odndYoumagazines will read much advice in books but you should not
take'
it all as gospel.
gooseberry play gooseberry (Brit) hacer de carabina 0 '/ didn't want to play
gooseberry with you and Bev,' he smiled. Se desconoce eJ origen de esta expresi6n, aunque puede que haga referencia a! hecho de que la persona que va de carabina se dedique a coger grosellas espinosas (gooseberries) para matar el tiempo mientras la pareja de enamorados esta a salas.
teach your grandmother to suck eggs (Brit) ensenar a orar a un monje (literal: ensenar a tu abuela a sorber huevos) 0 'It's a sarcophagus. Dig it good and wide,' he said. 'Go teach
grass the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence nadie esta contento cqn su suerte (literal: la hierba es mas verde al otrc lade de la verja) 0 The old saying goes that, to many people, the grass is
yourgrandmotherro suck eggs,' said Lesh/w, and waved him away with a showoOrritation.
* something is up for grabs algo a disposici6n de cualquiera 0
five Senate seats are up (orgrabs in tomorrow's election.
grapes
* accusations have been going onThese sour grapes pura envidia
* fall from grace o The band /ater(ell (rom grace when it
sometime now, but it is just sour grapes.
caer en desgracia
En una de las fabulas de Esopo, ~ una zorra intenta varias veces ~ alcanzar un racimo de uvas de ~ aspecto delicioso, perc no 10 g consigue.AI final desistey se dice ~ que probablemente no estan §: maduras.
* oits/his saving grace She definitely outshone the so-called 10 que Ie salva
'stars' and is oneo(the film's (ew saving graces.
grade make the grade alcanzarel nivel 0 Top public schools (ailed to make the grade in a new lea,UI' t"bl,- of academic results. ~ En ingles americano, grade
exigido
gsignifica "cuesta". Esta expresi6n g se usaba original mente para
~ referirse a un tren aue conse(lUia g ascender par una parte em"", __ " ,",. ~ de las vIas.
grain
* go against the grain iren contra de
He would have to take this work, although it went against the grain o( everything he believed in and tus principios
0
hoped Fo< En carpinteria, against the grain significa "a contra hebra". Es mas facil cortar 0 cepillar!a madera en direcci6n de la hebra que hacerlo a contra hebra.
*
§:
was discovered that they never sang on their own records.
*
0
(or
grace
~
En la epoca medieval se corrfa una ~ carrera de caballos poco eamOn ~ Hamada wild goose chase. ~ Comenzaba como una carrera § normal, ya continuaci6n el ~ ganador cabalgaba en la direcci6n @ que eligiera y 105 otrosjinetes ~ tenfan que seguirlo. Puede que la ~ carrera se lIamara asf porque los ~ gansos salvajes suelen moverse § deforma imprevisible, razan par ~ Ja que es diffcil cazar a estas aves.
(on the grapevine probablemente ~ seria poco fidedigno. ~
grandmother
grabs
hear something through the grapevine 0 hear something on the grapevine (Brit) enterarse de algo por radio macuto 0 I hearthrough the grapevine that you are getting ready to sue us. I( that's true, I want to hear it (rom you. Uno de los primeros sistemas telegraficos en Estados Unidos fue bautizado como "el teh~grafo de la parra" (the grapevine telegraph) porque 105 cables a menudo se enredaban y recorda ban una parra. Durante la Guerra de Secesi6n, el sistema telegrafico se usaba para comunicar propaganda e informaci6n falsa ademas de noticias autenticas sobre el progreso de los com bates, por 10 que cualquier data que se escuchara "a traves de la parra"
always greener on the other side Ofthe fence, and the majority o(Britain's young people are no exception. the grass roots las bases 0 The revolution is actually coming (rom the grass roots and I think eventually the authorities will follow. kick something into the long grass (Brit, Periodisma) evitar tratar algo 0 There were suggestions
this week that the Government intends to Idcl< the proposals into the long grass. like watching grass grow como ver crecer la hierba 0 Some people
grapevine
*
121
say that watching a cricket match is like watching grass grow. put someone out to grass jubilar a alguien 0 The Prime Minister reFused to be put out to grass. Asked i(he would
quit, he replied 'The answer is no.' ~
Cuando los caballos son
~ demasiado viejos para trabajar a ~ veces se les suelta en un campo ~
para que pasten.
grave dig your own grave cavartu propia tumba 0 I(you go ahead with a private
*
investigation, you'll be digging your own grave professionally. turn in your grave (Brit) 0 tum over in your grave (EE UU) revolverse en la tumba 0 Churchill and Bevan would turn in their graves i(
they could hearthe pathetic attempts
122
gravy
at public speaking made by members of all parties in the past three wee/,s.
ground grin grin and bear it poner al mal tiempo buena cara (literal: sOlnre·in, ?guantar) o Severe abdominal pain ~hould always be checked. Don't just grin and bear it.
gravy
*
a gravy train dinerofacil oll(eep
his salary down because I don't want
anyone to think he's riding into work on a gravy train. §: En Estados Unidos, gravy era un ~ termino arg6tico que significaba
*
~ "dinero" 0 "ganancias". Los
§ expresi6n a principios de la
~ decada de1920 para describir un ~ viaje regular que proporcionaba
*
Greek be Greek to someone 0 be all Greek to someone (Brit) sonarle a alguien a chino 0 Her
explanations were Greek to us, and we were left with the feeling that we still
grips
*
had a lot to learn. ~ Esta expresi6n resalta la
~ dificultad aprender y entender ~ el griego, principalmente ~ porque tiene un alfabeto distinto ~ aJ de Ja mayorfa de lenguas ~ europeas.
~ Antiguamente se crera que una
~ tez verdosa indicaba envidia.
get to grips with something asimilar algo 0 In the front o(the van, Julie's still getting to grips with the gears and the brakes and the steering.
grist
*
green green as grass (Brit) ser mas inocente que un nino 0 Thejob we had to do was wholly new, and we were all as green as grass. green with envy muerto de envidia (literal: verde de envidia) 0 This is the most unexpected discovery I have made in 20 years o(digging. Archaeologists in other parts of the world will be green with envy.
get a grip on something controJar. alga 0 Sa far the country has failed ta get a grip on its innation rate. get a grip on yourself 0 get a grip calmarse oA bito"n .."M. very frightened and I consciously get a grip on myself lose your grip perder el control o The oppositian feel thelt tile rICeslde,nt has lost his grip on the country. 0 He wondered i(perhaps he was getting old and losing his grip.
grist for the mill 0 grist to the mill (Brit) de todo hay que sacar provecho 0 You are, Of course, much better at writing songs when you are completely miserable- it gives you so much more grist forthe
mill. § EI grana que se lIevaba a un ~ molino deviento 0 deagua para ~ ser molido se denominaba grist. ~ Los molineros necesitaban ~ provisiones regula res de grana ~ para mantener en
§ funcionamiento sus negocios.
groove
*
in the groove en forma (literal: en e! surco) 0 Nick is in the groove, as he showed with seven goals last weekend.
*
ground
be thick on the ground (Brit) haber a patadas 0 Jobs are not exactly thiC/(
grip
g ferroviarios inventaron esta
g un buen sueldo a cambia de poco g trabajo.
puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a la forma en que la aguja encaja perfectamente en el surco de un disco.
* *
on the ground. be thin on the ground (Brit) escasear 0 Ideas are thin on the ground in the British rim industry. break ground (EE UU) comenzar a construir o Simpson and Hurt hope to break ground on a planned outdoor theater at Ten Chimneys nextAugust. break new ground hacer algo nuevo 0 The programme broke new ground in giving to women roles traditionally assigned to men. cut the ground from under someone echar portierra los planes de alguien 0 The scenario is this - you overspend on credit cards; and then a downturn in business cuts the ground from under you. fall on stony ground (Brit) caer en saco rota 0 Warnings about the effects on public services fell on stony ground. §
123
the issue Of agriculture. gain ground ganarterreno 0 The idea that Britain ought to change its constitution has been gaining ground for years. get in on the ground floor estar metido desde el principia 0 These smaller companies are getting in on the ground noorofwhat will be a gigantic industry. get something off the ground poner alga en marcha 0 Councillor Riley spake afthededicatian and enthusiasm of staff and volunteers in getting the schemes off the ground. go t9 ground (Brit) esconderse o He lett the hatel and went ta graund in the station waiting-room. It was a safe place. ~ En la caza, esta expresi6n se usa
~ para referirsea un zorroquese ~ escapa metiendose en su ~ madriguera.
hit the ground running dar el do de pecho desde el principio (literal: golpear el suelo corriendo) 0 She is
in excellent shape and in good spirits. She will hit the ground running when she gets back.
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~ parabola deJesus en la Biblia ~ (Marcos 4:5-6) sabre un
~ Puede que esta expresion se refiera
~ semillas en distintos tipos de ~ tierra. La semilla que cae en
~ una zona de combate y se ~ marchan rapidamente nada mas ~ tocar tierra.
~ a aquellos sold ados que aterrizan
~ en paracafdas 0 en helicoptero en
g sembrador que siembra sus
~ terreno pedregoso muere porque ~ las rakes no pueden crecer como
~ es debido. En la parabola, la ~ semilla representa las ensenanzas § de Cristo, mientras que e! terreno ~ pedregoso representa a la gente ~ que no tarda en olvidar 0 en
g desorrlo que Cristo ha dicho.
* find common ground The participants
hallar un terreno comun 0 seem unable to rnd common ground on
*
*
lose ground perderterreno 0 The United States lost more ground in its trade balance with other countries during the third quarter; running up the biggest trade deficit so far this year. the moral high ground la superioridad moral 0 The party now held the moral high ground and he, as President, could defend it in every country in the World.
124 ~
guard En una batalla, lIevara ventaja el
~
ejercito que se encuentre en el ~ terreno mas elevado (higher ~ ground).
* terreno
guts guard En deportes como ef boxeo 0 fa !esgrima, la palabraguard rguardia") hace referencia a fa postura que uno adopta para protegerse de los ataques del contrario.
prepare the ground preparar el 0
The talks prepared the
ground (orthe meeting offinance ministers and central bankers in Washington. run someone into the ground Ilevar
ala extenuaci6n a alguien 0 WeI/trained horses had been starved to death or run into the ground. run someone to ground (Brit) acabar encontrando a alguien
*
*a
lower your guard bajar Ja guardia
asleep and rather the worse for wear in a hotel. ~
off your guard desprevenido
En la (aza, esta expresi6n se usa
~ para referirse a un zarro
*
run something into the grou~d usary abusar de alga 0 They're quite good bikes; you can run them into the ground for quite a long time, then just get a new one.
~ Puede que esta expresi6n hag a ~ referencia a la forma en que
§ piafan (stamp) los sementales al ~ aparearse. Tambien podrfa
§ referirse a las danzas de ~ apareamiento de los gallos de las § praderas cuando se reunen en ~ primavera.
suit someone down to the ground (Brit) sentar a alguien de maravilla
o Helen has finally found a method of exercise that suits her outgoing character down to the ground.
s los mejores del ejercito frances.
came, he would have to be on his guard each second, for the man was dangerous.
guest be my guest p~r supuesto (literal: se mi invitado) a 'Dad: she said.
'Tomorrow, I want to go swimming.' I indicated the cool, clearwater before us. 'Bemyguest,'lsaid.
guinea pig
*a
a guinea pig un conejillo de Indias
I got the impression they weren't sure
~
a Not a man to have a gun put to his head, Mr Riordan was soon tearing up the offer and cancelling future meetings with the union.
until Septemberlo, but some booksellers havejumped the gun and decided to sell it ear/yo
*
*
Antiguamente, cuando ~ capturaban un canon enemigo ~ de gran tamano que no podfan ~ mover, los soldados clavabari un ~ clava en el agujero en el que se § metfa la p6lvora. De este modo la ~ p61vora no podrfa encenderse y el ~ can6n no funcionarfa. stick to your guns mantenerse firme 0 He should have stue/( to his
guns and refused to meet her. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
En una carrera, to jump the gun § significa empezar a correr antes gde que disparen el tiro de salida.
~ aquellos sold ados que ~ permanecen en sus posiciones ~ aunque los ataque el enemigo,
a smoking gun (sobre todo EE UU) una prueba tangible (litera': una pistola humeante) a First of all,
with all guns blazing can toda !a artillerfa oManchesterUnited
~
~ Imperial de Napoleon Bonaparte. § Se consideraba a estos soldados
on your guard alerta a When Hilton
was agreeable and competent and spiked the guns of the critics who were out to demolish her.
hold a gun to someone's head 0 put a gun to someone's head amenazar a a/guien (litera': poner una pistola en la cabeza de alguien)
g mas experiencia de la Guardia
*
spike someone's guns (Brit) poner trabas a los planes de alguien aShe
gun
§ La "vieja guardia" original estaba
a Former pals found her much changed at Christmas when she returned to her
§ mosquetes eran conocidos como ~ small guns,
puede que esta expresion se base ~ en el hecho de que las zarigUeyas ~ suelen esconderse en eucaliptos § cuando las persiguen.
jump the gun salir antes de tiempo to be released
Antiguamente los canones eran
~ denominados' big guns a great ~ guns, mientras que los rifles y los
§
* a The book wasn't due
managing director is going great guns with his expansion plans. the big guns los peces gordos aShe is in great demand by the film industry's big guns. ~
when we did orwe really would be upa gum tree now.
§ formada por los regimientos con
stamping ground territorio
old stamping ground, the BlueAnchor pub in Croydon, South London.
a Taken off his guard, hernrml,'" backwards into the arms offlis 'Qtt,ack:er.~! the old guard la vieja guardia a The company's old guard is stepping aside, making way for a new, more youthful team.
*
up a gum tree (Brit, anticuado) en un aprieto (litera': subido a un eucalipto) a It's a goodjob we started
catch someone off guard coger a alguien desprevenido a Therewasa
The U-boat's crew had made the mistake of relaxing, of lowering their guardjust when their sense of danger should have been at its keenest.
~ en su madriguera.
gum tree
bright nash, followed a few moments later by a thunderous roar that caught us all offguard.
o Truman eventually ran him to ground,
~ acorralado que vuelve a meterse
ofthe possible outcome and that I was being used as a guinea pig.
125
there's no smoking gun. In the course of our investigation we did not find a single piece of evidence. under the gun (sobre todo EE UU) bajo presi6n a Society, in many ways, is under the gun. We have a multitude of problems - medical, health problems, crime problems, educational, literacy.
guns be going great guns hacer grandes progresos 0 The firm's chairman and
stormed into the European Cup with all guns blazing. ~ Aquf blazing significa "disparando ~ sin parar".
gut bust a gut (familiar) echar los bofes a I was busting a gut doing horrible jobs - toilet cleaning among other things - to support us.
guts spill your guts (familiar) contar la
126
guts
0 Vincent has spilled his guts. Everything. We got a
vida propia y milagros
work your guts out (familiar)
signed confession from him.
echarel hfgado 0 These women were amdzing. They worked their guts out ,
Guts significa "tripas". Esta expresion hace referenda al hecho de revelarcompJetamente algo que se ocultaba.
fr~m 7.30 to 4.30 every doV,
often all
evening and weekend too if they had families.
habits
*
old habits die hard las viejas costumbres tardan en desaparecer
o Despite ideas Ofequality, old habits
die hard and women still carry the main burden of/ooking atter home and family. 0 The band broke up in 1970 and die-hard fans have been waiting for a reunion ever since.
hackles
*
raise someone's hackles sacar a
The taxes will presumably be deSigned not to raise voters' hackles too much.
alguien de sus casillas
§
~ ~ ~ ~
0
Las plumas del cuello de los gallos j6venes y dealgunas aves mas se denominan hackles. Dichas plumas se erizan cuando eJ gallo se vuelve agresivo.
a hair of the dog (hob/ado) una capita para que se pase la resaca o I need a drink, chum. A large hair of the dog. keep someone out of your hair mantener a alguien a distancia
o Just do me a favor, will you? Keep her out army hair (rom now on. keep your hair on (Brit) calmarse o His annoyance evaporated in a grin. 'You're right. She's got a tough job. /'11
on in future.' * try to keep myIt ishair only with friends that let your hair down soltarse Ja
melena
0
most people feel they can let their hair down and be themselves. make someone's hair stand on end poner los pelos de punta a alguien
o The rrst ten minutes of the rim made
my hair stand on end. make your hair curl poner los pelos
hair The parliament came within a halr's breadth afforcing immediate political union between the two countries. de hacer algo
I could tell you stories that would makeyourhaircurl.
de punta a
come within a hair's breadth of doing something estar ados dedos 0
not a hair out of place impecable a Not a hair out ofpi ace, dressed in
navy and white for our photograph, she is clearly a perfectionist. not turn a hair no inmutarse aShe
el pelo de alguien)
started offby accusing him of blackmail but he didn't turn a hair: in fact he more or less ignored her.
o They were very busy and had little timeto get in one another's hair.
pull your hair out 0 tear your hair out estar frenetico
get out of someone's hair dejar de
o The nation is tearing its hair out over
Would you like me to get out of your hair and leave you alone?
what to do with these child criminals. wear a hair shirt castigarse 0 No
get in someone's hair sacar de qUicio a alguien (literal: meterse en
molestar a alguien
0
one is asking you to wear a hair shirt
128
hand
hairs
and give up all your luxuries. ~
nidos en el mar durante los siete dfas ante rio res al dfa mas corto ,del ano, y despues incubaban sus Lhuevos durante los siete dfas ?posteriores. Los dioses siempre apaciguaban las tormentas durante este periodo.
Hair shirt significa "(iUdo",
within a hair's breadth of something ados dedos de hacer
alga oSumpa allowed the van to slip to
within a hair's breadth Dfthe precipice, then gave the engine full throttle.
hairs
half go off half-cocked hacer las casas sin pensar 0 Remember, don't go off half-cocl
have someone by the short hairs tener a alguien en un puna 0 The hard fact is that they have got us by the
short hairs. We can't do anything without material support (rom them. ~ En esta expresi6n short hairs
~ Si se dispara en la posicion de ~ medio amartillado (at half-cock), ~ el disparo se desperdicia. Esto se ~ debea que el mecanisma de ~ disparo no se ha elevado 10 ~ suficiente como para canectar ~ con el gatilla.
~ podrfa referirse al vella pubico, al ~ vella del cogote 0 a una barba.
something will put hairs on your
chest alga te hara la mar de bien (literal: algo te pondr. pelo en el pecha) oSome of the concoctions would put hairs on your chest and indeed those brave enough to sample some left very early on in theevening. split hairs buscarle tres pies al gato (literal: abrir pelos) 0 But once you start splitting hairs like that, where are you going to stop?
halcyon
*
halcyon days (literario) dfas felices o When we as/( him whether the wool industry will ever see those halcyon days again, he turns away and shal
how the other half lives como viven los de mas a He clearly has little idea how the other half lives, though, carrying a l,ooo-dollar note in his poc/(etto nourish in small shops which cannot give him change. your other half a your better half tu media naranja a They invited us out to dinner atterthe, election because they said it was high time they met my other half
halfway
*
go at it hammer and tongs 'He loved gardening,' sniffed Mrs Gascoigne. 'He went at it hammer and tongs as soon as he got back from work.' 2 (sobretodo Brit) discutir acaloradamente 0 They were going at it hammer and tongs."What about?' 'I'm not very sure, but they were arguing.' 1 (Brit) darle duro 0
*
beach and being waited on hand and foot, then La Samanna, on the Caribbean island ofSt Martin, is not for you. bite the hand t~at feeds you morder la mano quete da de comer
aShe may be cynical about the film industry, but ultimately she has no intention of biting the hand that feeds her. the dead hand of someone or something (sobre todo Brit) la influencia negativa dealguien 0 algo 0 For too long we have lived under
§ tenazas (tongs) y 10 golpea
the dead hand of the dieticians and the nutritionists. We have become a society where feasting is frowned on and food
~ repetidamente can un martillo ~ (hammer).
faddism is the fashion. do something to keep your hand in
go under the hammer (Brit) ser subastado 0 Theprst half of the collection goes under the hammer on Friday and there are some real treasures.
hacer algo para canservar la practica 0 I had to wait two years
~ En una subasta, el subastador
~ golpea la mesa con un martillo ~ cuando se ha vendido algo.
hand be bound hand and foot by something estar atado de pies y manos a These people are still bound hand and foot by tradition. be hand in glove with someone ser
encontrar a alguien a media camino) a Senator Gray said Democrats are willing to meet the president halfway on measures to
o Employment on the building sites is controlled by more than 40 gangs, who are believed to be hand in glove with the police. La expresion original era hand and glove ("mano y guante"). Se
not do things by halves no hacer las casas a medias a In Italy they rarely do things by halves. When
*
Esta expresion sugiere la imagen ~ de un herrero que sujeta un trozo ~ de hierro candente con unas
una ycarne can alguien, estar conchabado con alguien
halves
ponerseio todo en bandeja a alguien
a If you are incapable of lying on a
§
meet someone halfway lIegar a un compromisa con alguien (literal:
stimulate the economy.
be waited on hand and foot
designers latch on to a theme, they work itthrough thoroughly, producing the world's most wearable clothes in the most beautiful fabrics.
hammer
129
empleaba para decir que existfa una relaci6n a una similitud muy fuertes entre dos casas.
*
before I was offered another part, and just to keep my hand in, I went on tour with a play that wasn't very good. force someone's hand apretar las tuercas a alguien a Today's move may be a tactical manoeuvre designed to force the hand of the Prime Minister. ~ En losjuegos de naipes,
to force
~ someone's hand significa obligar a ~ un jugador ajugar una carta ~ antes de 10 que tenia previsto.
give someone a big hand dar a alguien un fuerte aplauso a I'm Hal Morgan and these are the Praise Him Singers from Muncie, Indiana, so let's give them a big hand. give with one hand and take away with the other quitarcon una mano 10 que se da can la otra 0 My parents were very supportive, but they gave with one hand and tool< away with the other, because I never really learned to be independent.
ii I' 11
:!
il
II
II I
!
1
I,I,I
1'1
I' I 1
130
*
hands
hand
go hand in hand estar estrechamente relacionado
suggest that ror the nrst time economic rerormers now have the upper hand in the party hierarchy. . j have your hand in the till (sobre todo Brit) ser cogido can las manos
The principle orthe playgroup movement is that play and learning go hand in hand: your child masters new skills and absorbslwowledge while having (un. 0
*
as she can and she usually has them eating out orher hand by the time they leave. have someone in the palm of your hand 1 tener a alguien en el bolsillo oA cursory 1001< at the audience shows that she's got them in the palm of her
~ Biblia (Mateo 6:3). Jesus dice que ~ si alguien da limosna, deberfa § hacerlo sin alardear de ella y sin ~ dedrselo a nadie. (Oeberfa g hacerlo de modo que la mana ~ izquierda no sepa 10 que hace la , derecha.)
and there comes a time when John has to take responsibility himself
* *
know something like the back of your hand conocer algo como la palma de la mana 0 He knows the city lil
live from hand to mouth 0 live hand to mouth vivir al dfa
have to do something with one hand tied behind your back tener que hacer alga con una mano atada ala espalda 0 The club is having to
improve the team with one hand tied behind its back because it has no money to spend on new players.
overplay your hand pasarse o He said the police had overplayed their hand in not accepting the
have the upper hand empezar a dominar 0 The changes are byno means revolutionary, but they do
'generous' offer.
hand. 2 tenera alguien en un puna
or
*
~ En esta expresi6n la palabra hand ~ se refiere a una mana de cartas.
o After a brief bounce, Wall Street crashed again, and the ffnancier had to throw in his hand. ~
*
~ significa poner las cartas sobre la
g mesa para aceptar que se ha ~ perdido.
* his latest book, he tries his hand at fiction. * Judy is one those
try your hand at something probar alga 0 In turn your hand to something dedicarse a alga
0
of
women who can turn her hand to most
* things.
work hand in hand trabajar en estrecha colaboraci6n oStee/makers
show your hand poner las cartas boca arriba 0 On domestic politics he seemed unwilling to show his hand too
are working hand in hand with auto makers to slash the cost of producing
clearly.
you have to hand it to someone (hoblado) hay que reconocerselo a alguien 0 Whatever you thought his act, you had to hand it to him - he l
automotive parts.
Explorer camcorder is so neat and ni(ty you can operate it with one hand tied behind your back
or
handle fly off the handle perder los estribos 0 Unless some decision was
someone or something gets out of hand alguien 0 algo se escapa de las manos 0 We heard a man being abusive. It was getting out orhand so
reached, they might ny affthe handle and do something roolish. ~
we rang the police.
urgent need fora steady hand on the tiller, it is now: said one European diplomat. ~ Tiller significa "cana del tim6n". take someone or something in hand hacerse cargo de alguien a algo 0 The feeling is growing that the
Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
§ la cabeza de un hacha que se ha
a steady hand on the tiller una manofirme o '/(everthere was an
*
Enjuegos de naipes como el
g p6quer, to throw in your hand
someone can do something with one hand tied behind their back alguien puede hacer algo can una mano atada a la espalada 0 The
been glad ta lend a hand - yau shauld have rung me up.
o I have a wire and two children and we live rrom hand to mouth on what I earn. 0 The villageorCuestecita is typical orthe desperate hand-to-mouth economy that exists on the fringes Cerrejon. an old hand un perro viejo oAn old hand at photagraphy, 34-year-old Tim has been shooting British landscapes and wildli(e as a habby (arthe last 13 years.
o Boris shrugged off a warning that he is 'playing with nre'. Barbara's exboyrriend said: 'She has Boris in the palm a(her hand.'
s Esta expresi6n proviene de la
hold someone's hand apoyar a alguien 0 I will support him up to a point but I can't hold his hand forever
experienced yachtsman, and had a hand in the design himself have someone eating out of your hand tener a alguien comiendo de tu mana 0 No one can handle the press
know what the lert is doing. One company digs up roads and nils them in, and then another service does the same a (ew days latee
a heavy hand una mano'dura
o The heavy hand orthe military has not prevented their economies rrom doing very well.
have a free hand tener carta blanca 0 I shall have a free hand and be able to train the squadron as I like. have a hand in something interveniren alga 0 Peter is a very
in hand. throw in your hand tirar la toalla
the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing la mana derecha no sa be 10 que hace la izquierda 0 The right hand doesn't
at the supermarket.
o Unless a government sets its course rrom the start, it is doomed to spend the rest ants term in hand-to-mouth improvising.
'present government only reacts to events rather than taking the situation
reject something out of hand descartar alga sin mas 0 He has rejected out orhand any suggestion that there can be any compromise over
the proposals.
en fa masa (litera': tener la mano en" la caja del dinero) 0 He had his hand in the till, and was sacked rrom hisjob
hand-to-mouth sobre la marcha
*
*
131
~ soltado, de modo que cuando
§ alguien va a usarel hacha, la
§ cabeza sale disparada.
hands
*
at the hands of someone a manos dealguien oShespokeorthe
humiliation she endured at the hands the police.
or
132
*
happy
hands
be out of your hands ya no estar en tus manos 0 Things were out of our hands now. We could only wait. be rubbing your hands with glee
(sabre todo Brit) frotarse las manos oSome of the cereal producers are rubbing their hands with glee. Lower prices (or grain will help them win bac/<
*
a bigger slice Gfthe market in France. be wringing your hands retorcerse las manos oMr Ashdown had accused
the Government of wringing its hands and doing nothing as the country's jobless ffgures spiralled.
*o several times recently. *
change hands cambiarde mana
to enforce environmental laws while
keeping residents happy.
* o They could get on with their own . were in safe hands. * knowing theirSomegirlsdelegates have in safe hands en buenas manos
in someone's hands en manos de
alguien
* o Ican always take the children off your
Preventing nuclear materials falling into the wrong hands is a huge problem. rna las manes
*
*
get your hands dirty mancharse las manes 0 Getting their hands dirty keeps top managers in touch with the problems Of customers, and it shows everybody that serving customers is important.
That's the most likely explanation, they say, but we can't be sure until we lay our hands on the culprits.
*
get your hands on something 0 lay your hands on something
First of all, how was he able to get his hands on that money so easily? conseguir algo 0
*
have your hands full estar muy
The federal government will obviously have its hands full trying
ocupado 0
o alguien 0 The Macclesffeld MP said: 'We cannot wash our hands of responsibility forthe state of the economy.' §
*
The New Winter Palace Hotel wins hands down for both comfort and evocative location, situated a few steps away from the 2 ser de lejos el mejor 0
banks o(the Nile, ~ Esta expresion se empleaba
~ inicialmente en la hfpica para
hands on the deal that they offered to accept palm oil in part payment.
~ podfan cruzar la meta con las
someone does not dirty their hands aJguien no se mancha las
These are people who live in the commuter belt around the capital with more secure jobs and who have never had to dirty their hands to earn a living. manos
0
el tranquillo a algo 0 Once one gets the hang of it, reading a good play can
be,o delight(ul and challenging
experience.
* Periodismo)
hang tough (sabre todo EE UU, mantenersefirme
medals to reflect on when Ieventually hang up my boots.
have been beaten in some games which
~ ganaban carreras can facilidad y
*
get the hang of something coger
win hands down 1 ganardeforma aplastante 0 We
g describir a losjeckeys que
One is so fast that if you sit on your hands you quickly regret it.
*
oTheWhite House is hanging tough
shake hands on something sellar 050 keen were the Russians to shake
sit on your hands no hacer nada o The pace of development in Formula
be hung out to dry ser abandonado
o Once again, the CIA - apparently unable to resist political manipulation by the administration - is in danger of being hung out to dry.
~ para mostrar que no querfa § responsabilizarse de la sentencia ~ de muerte de Jesus.
we should have won hands down.
The main opposition parties played into his hands by boycotting the election. a safe pair of hands (sobre todD Brit) una persona competente 0 The 0
incumbent, so he must be a safe pair Of hands.
*
Segun la Biblia (Mateo 21'24),
g Poncio Pilatos se lavolas manos
play into someone's hands hacer el juego a alguien
hang
sullying his hands by playing polities,
"* wash your hands of something or someone lavarse las manos de alga
mayoral o(fice will be derned by the rrst
get your hands on someone 0 lay your hands on someone poner 0
his hands are tied by regulations approved by the council of ministers. sully your hands (culto) mancharse las manos 0 He had no intention of
1 entre manos 0
*
0
like to help but he is powerless because
* on your hands
0
la mana encima a alguien
tiene las manos atadas
hands for a while, if you've nothing much else for me to do.
What is already clear though is that the local pOlice now have yet another problem on their hands. 2 bajo su responsabilidad 0 Those parents who took a lax attitude to family discipline now have hooligan children on their hands.
does, my mother and grandmother always said, in order to counter selfadmiration.
alguien
off your hands de tus cuidados
The property has changed hands
fall into someone's hands caer en manos de alguien 0 There is a real (earthat (aad supplies could (all into the hands Of the Maffa, thus increasing the misery Of ordinary citizens. fall into the wrong hands caer en
0
criticized the move, saying it will leave too much power in the hands of the party leadership.
"* someone's hands are tiedHe would
133
~ manos bajadas y las riendas g sueltas.
with your bare hands con las 0 Rescue workers and residents were digging through tonnes of mud with shovels and their bare hands yesterday in search of survivors.
manos
handsome
for a good agreement. hang up your boots (Brit) colgar las botas 0 I want a few triumphs and
let it all hang out soltarse la melena 0 The defence most frequently claimed forthe baring of the more dreadful revelations is that Of 'unburdening'; let it al/ hang out and
you will (eel better, someone is hanging on by their fingertips 0 someone is hanging on by their fingernails alguien pende de un hilo (literal: alguien esta colgado de las 0 Real Madrid's poor start to the season has left coach Benito Floro hanging on to his job by his ffngernails.
yemas de los dedos)
happy
happy as a clam (sabre todo EE UU) mas contento que unas castafiuelas
(literal: mas contento que una almeja)
0
Join the other l
handsome is as handsome does
and beFore you know it you'll be happy
(anticuado) el habito no hace al monje 0 Handsome is as handsome
asa clam. happy as a lark mas contento que
134
hard
hat
unas castanuelas (literal: mas contento que una alondra) 0 Look at
Hardball es otra palabra para referirse al beisbol, y en esta expresi6n se compara con el softball,juego similar al beisbol que sejuega con una pelota blanda y mas grande.
me- eighty-two years old and happy as a iarid happy as Larry (Brit, familiar) mas
contento que un nino con zapatos I gave her a police badge to wear on her sleeve and she's as happy as Larry. nuevas
~ Aquf Larry probablemente se ~ refiere a Larry Foley (1847-1917),
§ boxeador australiano de mucho ~ exita. TambiE~n podrfa ser una ~ variante de iarril(in, palabra del ~ siglo XIX usada principalmente en
§ Australia que significa "vandaJo" ~ 0 "rufian",
happy as a pig in muck (Brit,
familiar) mas contento que un nino con zapatos nuevas (literal: mas contento que un cerda en el estiercol) 0 From day one I adored it.
I was as happy as a pig in muck.
hard hard as nails duro como una roea (literal: duro como las unas)
o He's a shrewd businessman and
*
that sanctions be lifted against his country.
s Antiguamente las personas de g clase baja acostumbraban a
g Start a hare significa molestar a ~ una liebre y obllgarla a abandonar ~ su escondrijo para que lajaurfa §
harness
hard as nails. hard done by (Brit) tratado injustamente 0 Those who felt hard
done by made their dissatisfaction clear. play hard to get hacerse de rogar o Only a few days ago, the Social Democrats were playing hard to get as the CDU tried to woo them into coalition talks.
hardball plav hardball (sabre todo EE UU) mostrarse implacable 0 TheWhite House decided to retaliate by taking
jobs away from his state, showing they were tough guys who could play hardball.
pueda cazarla.
g expresi6n tambien podrfa ~ referirse al hecho de que los
§ mendigos a veces sostienen el
~ hecho de usar un sombrero para ~ recoger dinero.
keep something under your hat no decir palabra sobre algo 0 Look, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it under your hat? Promise now, not a word to anyone.
someone will eat their hat if something happens (anticuado) alguien es el Papa de Roma si algo ocurre (literal: alguien se comera el sombrero si algo ocurre) 0 I will eat my hat if the Liberal Democrats improve
s Esta Frase era un eslogan usado ~ para fomentar la seguridad en
~ Gran Bretana durante la Segunda
s Guerra Mundial.
knock something into a cocked hat (sobretodo Brit) ser muy superior a alga (literal: convertir algo en un sombrero de tres picos) 0 I am writing a novel which is going to Iwoc/< Proust into a cocked hat.
s Una posible explicaci6n de esta
~ expresi6n es que se refiere a ciertos
back in harness (sabre todo Brit) de vuelta a la rutina 0 They hope to have the Australian Test forward Troy Coker back in harness before the end of the season. work in harness (Brit) trabajar en equipo 0 Experts in production statistics and computing may work in harness on a single project.
~ sombreros usados en el siglo XVIII,
harvest reap the harvest -+ ver reap go hat in hand to someone (sobre todo EE UU) ir a mendigarle a alguien (literal: ir a alguien con el
~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda al
g sombrero para pedirdinero.
La palabra harness significa "ames".
hat
pass the hat 0 pass the hat around pasar el platillo oAirbus will soon be passing the hat around again for an enormous 7oo-seat aeroplane.
~ sacarse el sombrero delante de ~ personas de clase alta. La
hare . run with the hare and hunt with the hounds (Brit) nadar entre dos aguas (literal: corrercon la liebrey cazar con lajaurfa) 0 They learn very quicl
Puede que esta expresi6n se deba a que en la epoca en que las mujeres solfan lIevar sombrero, las modas cambiaban muy deprisa.
sombrero en la mana) 0 He won't go hat in hand to the White House to ask
0
*
~ que se hacfan doblando el ala de ~ un sombrero redondo para ~ convertirlo en otro de tres picos. § Segun dicha explicaci6n, en un ~ principio la expresi6n significaba ~ cambiar algo completamente. ~ Tambien podrfa referirse aljuego ~ estadounidense de bolos en el ~ que solo se colocaban tres bolos, § en la forma triangularde un § sombrero de tres picos.
old hat nada nuevo (litera': sombrero viejo) 0 I think that's a bit old hat now, isn't it? I wanted to do something quite different.
135
*
their parliamentary representation at the next general ejection. take your hat off to someone quitarse el sombrero ante a!guien
o You have to take your hat off to whoeverthought this one up. 0 Hats off to them for supporting the homeless. talk through your hat decir disparates 0 He is tall
136
hatch
head
hatch
las bandas sorran contratar a un matara a hachazos a algun miembro importante de una banda rival. Este tipo de asesinato recibfa el nombre de hatchet job.
~ En el sigloxVIII, esta expresi6n se
§ usaba como brindis en la armada. g Hatch significa "escotilla".
haul
batten significa
g "palanca de cierre" (de una ~ escatilla).
hatchet ( Hatchet significa "hacha peq.uena".)
bury the hatchet enterrar el hacha 0 One employee said the two men had finally buried the hatchet arter their railing-out. do a hatchet job on someone or something poner por 105 suelos a alguien 0 algo 0 ReporterMa/colm, he says, set out to do a hatchet job on him and succeeded. de guerra
~ Puede que esta expresi6n este
§ relacionada con las luchas ~ violentas entre bandas en Estados ~ Unidos a principios del siglo xx. ~ Verexplicaci6n en a hatchet man. a hatchet man una persona encargada del trabajo sucio 0 He had to play the hatchet man and it was not pleasant forthe many he laid off. Puede que esta expresi6n este relacionada con las luchas vio!entas entre bandas en Estados Unidos a principios del siglo xx.
largo plaza 0
Impatience is not our
problem. We're in it (or the long haUl.
* o Revitalizing the economy * a
*
will be a
long haul.
over the long haul (sabre toda EE UU) largo plaza 0 The smart
~ de Damocles; vease la explicaci6n ~ en sword.
be head and shoulders above someone estarmuyporencimade alguien 0 Richards, according to imran J(han, was head and shoulders above any other player at his pea/<. bite someone's head off echar un rapapolvo a alguien (literal: arrancar
that prudent leadership, coupled with patience, will accomplish more over the long haUl.
hawk
*
oAnd don't bite my head offjust because you're in a bad mood! build up a head of steam acumular cad a vez mas tension 0 Bob was the most angry, as if in waiting for the other items to be cleared he had built up a greater head ofsteam.
o Some guysjust sit there and watch her like a hawk, dead sure she's trying to
buryyour head in the sand seguir la tactica del avestruz (literal: enterrar la cabeza en la arena)
cheat.
o Don't be an ostrich and bury your
hay make hay While the sun shines aprovechar la ocasi6n (literal: hacer heno mientras brilla el sol) oMaking
hay While the sun shines, the Egyptian government has ta/(en radical measures to liberalize the economy.
head be banging your head against a brick wall (sobretodo Brit) 0 be banging your head against a wall darse con la cabeza contra la
*
la cabeza de un mordisco a alguien)
economic message for the nation is
vigllar a alguien como un halcon)
~ un repol/o si, tal ycomo esperan ~ los agricultores, crecen ~ apretadas. 0 bien a la cabeza que ~ forma un forunculo antes de ~ reventarse.
~ Esta expresion probablemente se
a long haul un camino largo
watch someone like a hawk vigilar estrechamente a alguien (literal:
~ cabeza que forman las hojas de
g remonta a la historia de la espada
Five years is the minimum.
do someone's head in (sabre todo Brit, hablado) enloquecer a alguien o During her year off she worked at a boutique in Bromley, doing things liI
*
~ avestruces escondfan la cabeza
~ en la arena cuando estaban en
g peligro. lIevar algo hasta un punto crltico
September when five of the station's journalists were sacl(ed. 0 The issue that brought things to a head over the
from head to toe 0 from head to foot de pies a cabeza o She was covered from head to toe with bruises. get in over your head 0 be in over your head nadar en
o He rea/izecj that he was in over his
~ Antiguamente se crefa que los
o These problems came to a head in
Hasta finales delsiglo XVIII esta
~ expresion era heels over head, en ~ referencia a alguien que da una ~ voltereta.
aguas demasiado profundas
head in the sand, hoping your problems will disappear.
come to a head/bring something to a head alcanzar un punto crfticol
En esta expresi6n head (cabeza)
~ podrfa hacer referencia a la
appoint him if an inquiry was hanging over his head.
be in something for the long haul
(sabre todo EE UU) estar en alga a
§
. pendersobre la cabeza de alguien o Irthe post rell vacant, it is unlikely that the Home Office would want to
haul significa "trayecto".
batten down the hatches apretarse los machos (literal: cerrar las escotillas) 0 While most companies are battening down the hatches, fearing recession, Blenheim is leading an assault on the US market. ~ La palabra
wishing things were different.
*" be hanging over someone's head
En las expresiones siguientes,
hatches
weekend was the sudden dip in late demand for summer holidays across the industry.
pared 0 It is a waste 0rvaluab~e energy banging your head agamst a brick wall,
asesino (hatchet man) para que
go down the hatch ser devorado oA record £4.4 billion worth of confectionery went down the hatch last year.
137
*
head, and that only his ramily could help him. get your head around something conseguir entender algo 0 He can't get his head around the fact that the children born in this country are not 'immigrants'. give someone their head dar rienda suelta a alguien 0 Hewas a nice, decent man who treated people properly and he recognized ability and gave people their heads.
138 ~
~
~ ~
*
~
head
head Esta expresi6n proviene de la hfpica y se refiere al momenta en que eJ jinete afloja las riendas, permitiendo al caballo moverse con mas libertad.
Una maquina devaporsolo funcionar cuando el vapor ha alcanzada determinada nivel de presion.
go head-to-head enfrentarse mana a mana 0 General Motors and
Ford are expected to go head-ta-head in the markets to buy up rival 15% stakes inJaguar. oAs top athletes, we should
be running against each other whenever possible. Head-ta-head
competition makes our sport what it is.
* go over someone's head 1
pasar par encima de alguien
o He was reprimanded for trying to go
over the heads ofsenior officers.
* * *
2 serimposlble que alguien 10 entienda 0 The few books that exist
today either come from abroad, having
been written for pre-school native speakers, or introduce grammar that goes over young heads. goto your head subirse ala cabeza o Ford is deffnitety not a man to let a little success go to his head. He Imows he still has a lot to learn. 0 He was not accustomed to strong liquor and it went to his head. have your head in the clouds estar en las nubes 0 Whether some o( them still have their heads in the clouds a(terour FA Cup win over Spurs, 1don't know. have your head screwed on tener la cabeza sobre los hombros (literal: tener!a cabeza atornillada) 0 Good girl! I always knew you had your head screwed on properly. a head of steam un apoyo 0 While most senior Conservative MPs still believe an election next year is more likely, there's an increasing head Of steam behind going to the polls this November.
*
*
*
head-to-head cara a cara 0 They havejust begun a third session o(head. to-head tall,s which are expected to last until late afternoon. 0 Next time you have a head-to-head with someone in authority, watch your language. keep a cool head mantener la cabeza frfa 0 I have to keep a cool and try not to let my anger show. keep your head mantener la calma o The most Important thing is to keep your head and look to the future. keep your head above water ir tirando (literal: mantener la cabeza fuera del agua) 0 Thousands Of other small businesses like mine are, at best struggling to keep their heads above ' water or, at worst, have gone bust. keep your head down 1 intentar pasar desapercibido o After unity, he had little time (ar Christian Democrats who had kept their heads down under the old regime. 2 trabajarde 10 lindo o When he gets a chance o(winning, he keeps his head down and really goes for it. knock something on the head (Brit) 1 echar algo par tierra (literal: go/pear a algo en la cabeza) 0 It's time to knock on the head the idea that we are not fully human, not (ully alive, unless we have that special somebody in our lives. 2 abandonar 01 remember us·in the early days saying: 'When we stop enjoying ourselves, we'll knock it on the
head:
"* laugh/shout your head off
desternillarse de risa/desgaFiitarse
o They were probably laughing their heads off.
0
He'll have to shout his head
affta be heard.
*
lose your head perder la cabeza a He warned the party not to lose its head, saying that it was not a 'time for panic'. not right in the head (hob/ado) mal de la azotea 0 'According to GreatAunt Louise,' I said, 'the grandmother wasn't quite right in the head. Maybe Mrs Iss!erwas ashamed ofthat too.' off the top of your head (hab/ado) sin pensarlo 0 Last year the amount o( money we put into development and
o Put your head into the lion's mouth andjust say'l don't know what the hell is going on.' ~
Esta expresion se refiere al
~ conaddo numero de circa en el ~ que un domador mete la cabeza
*
suppart was, o((the top o(my head, about twenty-eight thousand pounds. o OJ(, affthetop o(your heod, do you know thecapital ofSouth Korea? off your head (Brit, familiar) mal de la cabeza 0 It's like working in a war zone. You must be o((your head to live in that area. on your head be it 0 on your own head be it (sabre todo Brit) tu sabras 10 que haces o If you choose to ignore my generous offer, then on your own heads be it. out of your head «(amiliar) habiendo perdido el juido olfhe didn't I
139
* *
~ en la baca de, un !eon. put your head on the block -+ ver block scratch your head tenermuchas dudas (literal: rascarse la cabeza) oA lot ofpeop/e are scratching their heads and saying, 'What are we doing? Are we getting our money's worth?' someone can do something standing on their head alguien puede hacer alga con los ojos cerrados (literal: alguien puede hacer algo haciendo el pin~) 0 Tom, the cameraman, had won ffve Oscars during his long working lire, and could have directed the whole picture standing on his head while playing a game of cards. someone cannot make head or tail of something 0 someone cannot make head nor tail of something alguien no Ie encuentra ni pies ni cabeza a alga o I COUldn't make head or tail o(!t myself, but it sounded lil
140
heads
heads
*
heads roll ruedan cabezas 0 The wide/y-held view is that heads should roll over the losses.
heart
*
on poverty, as the bleeding hearts a/ways insist: we are much richer than we were then. 0 This was
~ Antiguamente, las personas que ~
~
ocupaban cargos importantes a veces eran decapitadas 5i se les
~ consideraba responsables de un ~ error 0 de un problema.
knock people's heads together (sabre toda Brit) dar unos coscorrones 0 lfhe's unable to Imock
everybody's heads together, then questions are going to be raised about his own ability to continue in office. put your heads together intercambiar ideas (litera'; juntar /as
cabezas) 0 If there's a problem, there's no sense of noun de ring around. We all
just sit down, put our heads together
*
and rgure it out. turn heads flamar la atenci6n oAt the age of20, the dark-haired actress was aireadyturning heads in the right places.
headway
* make headway hacer progresos
oA spokesman said the two sides have
agreed on a timetable for the rest of the talks and have also made headway on some security issues.
heap at the bottom of the heap en 10 mas bajo de la escala oAt the bottom
of the heap live at least 1 million people - the rural poor. at the top of the heap en 10 mas alto de la escala 0 While the executive sa/aries should put Suncorp at the top of the heap in Queens/and, they would barely rate in Sydney and Melbourne.
heart E! corazon suele considerarse e/ centro de las emociones.
a bleeding heart un liberal coraz6n (litera': un corazon sangriento) 0 This huge leap and the misery it causes can't be
s empleaba el dicho "no te comas el ~ ~
coraz6n" (do not eat your heart out), que significa "no desperdicies tu § vida preocupandote". from the bottom of your heart de todo coraz6n 0 I want to thank
someone's heart bleeds for someone a alguien Ie da mucha pena alguien (literal: el coraz6n de alguien sangra poralguien) 0 You looked so sad when you walked up the aisle at the funeral. My heart bled for you when I watched it.
everyone from the bottom of my heart.
someone's heart hardens against someone or something el coraz6n de alguien se endurece ante alguien
50 many people have helped me.
*
that Charles Lindbergh deplored.
harden your heart against someone or something hacer de tripas coraz6n y evitar algo
break someone's heart partir el corazon a alguien 0 When he left his wife for me, I was appalled. What I'd wanted was a good time, but in the I broke his heart. 0 It broke mv hP<1Cr,"" see this woman break down the way did.
a broken heart un coraz6n roto
o We have all read in fiction ofpeople dying ofa brol
*
in your heart of hearts en 10 mas intima de tu corazon 0 But in your heart of hearts, you must know that you're not going to save some of these children?
'">d'Od
0 I thr·ewmv:>elfan ;fa t,n~ bed and cried my heart out. It took me good while to get over the emotional damage of that encounter.
was at first. This disease seems to recur so often you begin to lose heart.
someone's heart is in their mouth alguien tiene el coraz6n en un puno (literal: alguien tiene el corazon en la boca) oMy heart was in my mouth
lose your heart to someone (litera rio) enamorarse de alguien (literal: perder e! coraz6n por alguien) 0 Don't lose your heart to him
someone's heart isn't in something alguien no tiene puesto el corazon en algo 0 Playing was no longer fun.
*
el corazon)
* eat yourc6mete heart out chupateesa el coraz6n)
(literal: 0 managed to overtake the bus, and smashed through the gatejust as it was: being closed. james Bond, eat your heart out, / say.
Esta expresi6n tiene su origen en una antigua creencia. Se dice que el fil6sofo griego Pitagoras
Johnson's professional judgement was good or not, I decided that his heart was in the right place.
lose heart descorazonarse
santiguarse. (literal:
someone's heart is in the right place alguien tiene buen corazon (literal: alguien tiene el corazon en ellugar correcto) 0 Whether
o I suppose I'm less optimistic than I
Esta expresi6n se refiere a la
* viva cry your heart out lIorara lagrima I/orar hasta que
hardened against my beautiful mother and her desire for fun and a rich, handsome husband.
Nicholas now are mobility and Braille lessons. You will have to harden your heart against doing everything for him.
~ costumbre cristiana de ~
oalgo oAll oFo sudden my heart
o The most important things for
*
141
when I walked into her Office.
I lost my competitiveness and my heart wasn't in it.
too soon because he couldjust be filling in time with you.
someone's heart sinks a alguien se lecaee!almaalospies o There was a
open your heart 0 pour out your heart abrir el coraz6n oAt first my boYfriend was
police car outside the house. My heart sank 01'/1 never forget that heartsinking moment when they told me the news.
incredibly supportive. I'd phone him up and pour out my heart in a way I COUldn't to anyone else.
is close to your heart * set your heart on something poner * something algo te toca de cerca For
*
muy
todo el empeno en algo oShe decided not to try for university. Instead she set her heart on a career in catering.
someone has a heart of gold alguien tiene un coraz6n de oro o He helped all the local sporting
organizations - bowls, hockey, rugby and tennis. He had a heart ofgold.
*
0
presenter Manjeet K. Sandhu the pOSition ofAsian women in society is an issue very close to her heart.
take something to heart tomarse algo a pecho 0 He could have taken this criticism to heart since he built his reputation on being a good manager.
142
heartstrings
wear your heart on your sleeve
lIevar el coraz6n en la mana (literal: lievar el coraz6n en la manga) aShe simply doesn't wear her
heart on her sleeve so it's sometimes difficult to know what she's feeling.
heartstrings
hell heather set the heather on fire (sobre todo Escocia) entusiasmar (litera': incendiar el breza) a Their results have not set the heather on fire.
heaven
* tug at the heartstrings toear la
in seventh heaven en el septimo delo aAfter I was given my first camera I was in seventh heaven.
fibra sensible oMissCookson knows
exactly how to tug at readers' heartstrings.
S Segun el islam, hay siete delos. EI § gobernado parAbraham. En la ~ religianjudfa, el septima ciela es
§ que "las cuerdas del coraz6n"
~ (heartstrings) eran unos tendones § que sujetaban dicho organa.
§ ellugar en que habitan Dias y sus ~ angeles.
move heaven and earth remover cielo y tierra a He had been moving heaven and earth for six weeks in order to prevent the film being made; and he had (ailed.
heat
heavens the heavens opened (sabre todo Brit. litera rio) se abrieron los cielos aAs we sat down to eat, the heavens opened for a few minutes and we all crouched under our blue awning holding our plates.
no aguantas el calor, sal de la cocina) 0 If you are a manager of a top (ootboll club and you don't like the heat you should get aut o(the kitchen.
*
*
~ Esta expresian se hizo muy ~ popularcuandoel presidente ~ estadounidense HarryTruman la § usa en 1952 para anunciar que no ~ volverfa a presentarse a las § elecciones presidenciales.
in the heat of the moment en el calor del momento a He said that his comments were made in the heat of the moment and were not supposed to be a personal attack. turn up the heat on someone empezar a ejercer presi6n sobre alguien a The firm will be turning up the heat on its rivals in a highly competitive industry now scrapping for a share of the domestic market.
*
~ septimo es el mas glorioso, yesta
~ En la epoca medieval, se crefa
the heat is on hay presi6n o To perform well when the heat is on, all you have to do is let it happen. jf you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen si no 10 aguantas, va sabes d6nde esta la puerta (litera': si
*
heel
*
bring someone to heel 0 call someone to heel meter a alguien en cintura a In practice it's still not clear how the president will use his power to bring the republics to heel.
heels
*a
*
at your heels pisandote los talones They led the girls away, their mother attheir heels. a Intel and Motorola may dominate the market for microprocessors but scores offirms are snapping at their heels. dig in your heels 0 dig your heels in empecinarse o He could dig in his heels and fight
stubbornly (or what he believed to be right. drag your heels ... verdrag hard on the heels of something 0 hot on the heels of something a rengl6n seguido de algo a The news comes hard on the heels of the appointment of new chief executive CedricWalker. hard on someone's heels 0 hot on someone's heels pisandole los talones a alguien a The next generation of British athletes is pressing hard on the heels oftoday's champions. a But the law was hard on their heels. Within two weeks gang leader Michael McAVOY and Brian Robinson were behind bars. kick up your heels pasarse!o en grande a Combine music, culture and good food injerseythis month. Kick up your heels at the annual jersey jazz Festival.
2 ser muy superior a alguien aOnly one point stands:japan has shown all the other rich countries a clean pair of heels. take to your heels (litera rio) poner pies en po!vorosa a He tool< to his heels and rushed out of the room.
heights
*
*
all hell breaks loose se arma la grande a In 'jungle Fever', a happi/ymarried black architect begins an affair with his Italian-American secretary, but all hell breal
Esta expresi6n se refiere a un ~ caballo al que han soltado en un ~ campo, dado que !os caballos § suelen levantar los cascos al g galopaL kick your heels (sobre todo Brit) 0 cool your heels (sobre todo EE UU) quedarse de p!ant6n a The Tunisian authorities wouldn't grant us permission to ny all the way down to Sfax, so I had to I
dizzying heights (EE UU) 0 the dizzy heights alturas vertiginosas a Turner had first known such dizzy heights in thelg60s when she became one of the top exponents of blacl
hell.
§
*
143
Esta expresi6n apareci6 por
~ primera vez en el poema EI parafso
g perdido de)ohn Milton (1667).
*
come hell or high water contra viento y marea a The chairman of the Senate judiciary Committee says the all-male panel will have two female members this year, come hell or high water. from hell infernal aA cute family puppy turns into the pet from hell in this comedy starring Charles Grodin. give someone hell 1 hacer la vida imposible a a!guien aShe gets teased at school. The children give her hell, particularly the older bays. 2 ponercomo un trapo a alguien a When she didn't get off the train at Euston, I phoned the police and they found her in a sleeping compartment. She gave me hell for embarrassing her! 3 dolerlemuchoaalguien aMy back's giving me hell, let me tell you!
144
hell
highway
But I'm going to dig the garden up.
play merry hell with something
go hell for leather actuar como un
(Brit) 0
endemoniado
0
The Dutch boys are
confident from all their skating and go
remarriage play hell with "rem"·t,, .,"" inheritance law.
hell (or leath" ~ Esta expresi6n podrfa tener SU
§ origen en la hfpica. La palabra
put someone through hell hacer I vida imposiblea aJguien a
g a una silla de montar.
say the girl has put them through
~ leather ("cuero") se habrfa referido
* go(literal: through
hell pasar las de Carn atravesarel infierno) GAfter
the case he made no comment, but his solicitor said that he had gone through 10 months o( hell.
go to hell irse al garete 0 This government has to wake up. The
country is going to hell and they'rejust sitting on their backsides. hell hath no fury like a woman scorned no hay mayor peligro
que el de una mujerdespechada
o Faithless husbands who doubt that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned should read TolleckWinner's novel 'Love With Vengeance' and beware. ~ Esta Frase praviene de la tragedia ~ de William Congrevetitulada The § Mourning Bride (1697). hell on earth un infierno a Organizing it al/ has been
hell on earth, but it's worked absolutely
*
play hell with something hacer estragos en algo a Divorce and
brilliantly. just for the hell of it porpuro
since the incident.
intentions, and there are many, many pots of vitamin tablets which have started but neverf/nished. ~ Aqufelverbopavesignifica ~ "enlosar". Esta expresi6n fue § empleada porel escritorSamuel ~ Johnson, y en una anotaci6n del ~ 16 de abril de 1775 de su biograffa ~ se menciona la variante helJ is ~ paved with good intentions eel § infierno esta enlosado con buenas § intenciones").
there'll be hell to pay se armara la gorda 01(1 try to getthrough the
o(it.
she has been to hell and back las ha pasado moradas a We have been to
a living hell un infierno a
a
play hell 0 play merry hell montar un numero
aShe played merry hell and stormed out in a rage.
kitchen with these muddy boots, there'll be hell to pay. You know what she's like. hell and bac/( but the love o(this little
boy has kept us going. when hell freezes over cuando las ranas crfen pelo (literal: cuando se congele el infierno) a TelJ them you'll
manufacturer capable o(making only cars a year is on a hiding to nothing. § La palabra hiding significa "paliza", § pera se desconoce el origen de
50,000
~ esta expresi6n.
~ significaba patrullar a caballo
~ junto a un r~bafio ~ un~ ma~ada
to
the road to hell is paved with good ' intentions eJ camino del infierno enlosado con buenas intenciones a The road to hell is paved with good
be on a hiding to nothing (Brit) lIevar todas las de perder aA car
herd on the oil companies. g Originalmente, riding herd
armaria
and raise hell, or are th"y h!erE' toplc,V football? a He has had a reputation as a hell-raiser but claims to have now settled down. 0 She came in and hell. Her son's sports bag was missing. It had everything in it - trainers, track suit, hundreds o(pounds' worth.
hiding
·ride herd on someone (EE UU) cuidar de alguien a His departure would undermine state efforts to ride
* that raise hell aAretheythe first thing they want do
capricho a On the same street, David, aged 10, has been arrested (or burglary. Another boy has been caught putting sugar in petrol tanks,just (orthe hell
* living hell (or some children. School is
get married when hell freezes over,' she says.
§ para impedlrque nmgun anlm~1
high high as a kite que no se cabe en sf (literal: alto como una cometa) a When I had finished the course I felt as high as a kite. But when my Wife asked
g se alejara.
*
here
neither here nor there (hab/ado)
irrelevante a 'You know John
doesn't beiieve in marriage, mum."WhatJohn believes is neither here northere.'
mewhat / had learnt / could not be
"*
herring
*
~ arenque puesta en remajo en ~ agua salada durante varias dfas y ~ que despues se ahuma.A veces se ~ usa ban arenques rajas para ~ ensefiar a un perra a seguir un ~ rastra. Tambien se usa ban para ~ apartar a los perras del rastra que ~ segufan en una cacerfa.
hide someone hasn't seen hide nor hair ofsomeone alguien no Ie ha vista el pelo a alguien 0 They never found her.
It was a bad business. The wrong she did, it's never left me, but Ihaven't seen hide nor hair of her since. En este contexto hide significa "piel" de un animal. especial mente si se trata de un animal grande.
specific. leave someone high and dry dejar a alguien en la estacada aSchoo/swith better reputations will be nooded with
applications while poorer schools will
a red herring una pista fa!sa (literal: un arenque raja) a This isa total political red herring and an attempt to
divert from the main issues in the campaign. § Un arenque raja (red herring) es un
145
be le(t high and dry. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
*
~ de un barco varado en una playa ~ despues de que haya bajado la ~ marea. ride high irle muy bien las cosas
(literal: cabalgar erguido) a The
elections came at a time when Labour was riding high, while support forthe Conservatives had slumped. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
~ de unjinete que se sienta erguido
§ en la silla V parece orgulloso y ~ seguro de sf mismo. search high and low for something
a hunt high and low for something remover el cielo V la tierra en busca
de alga
0
J'vehunted high and low for
the photos, but I've moved since then and I can't find them.
highway highway robbery ... ver robbery
146
hill
hole
hill
*
over the hill para el arrastre (litera':
sabre la colina) 0 It's true some people regard you as probably over the hill at r(ty.
*
~
Esta expresi6n campara la cima ~ de una colina con la mitad de la ~ vida, poria que tras Ilegar ala ~ cima se inicia el camino de ~ descenso hacia la vejez y la § muerte.
hilt
*
to the hilt 0 up to the hilt de lIena 0 He'll be a good candidate. We'll back him up to the hilt.
hit
*a
* *
. ~ Hilt significa "empunadura" (de ~ una Espada 0 de un cuchillo). Esta § expresion sugiere la imagen de un ~ cuchiflo 0 de una Espada clavados ~ hasta la empunadura.
hip joined at the hip una y carne (literal: unidos par la cadera) o Though we often work together, we're
not joined at the hip, so we see things differently. shoot from the hip 0 fire from the hip hablar sin pensar (literal: disparar desde la altura de la cadera) aShe specifically declared that she did not shoot from the hip. She liked to think hard and long before taking decisions. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de un vaquero que saca el rev61ver § de la pistolera y dispara de ~ inmediato, sin levantarel arma ~ para apuntar.
history
*a
be history (hablado) serhistoria He sometimes wonders ifhe made the right choice when he decided to give up
football. '/ might have made it in football, but that's all history now: the rest is history eJ resto ya es historia aAjob with the company was advertised in The Daily Telegraph. / applied and the rest is history.
*
,hit and miss a la buena de Dios The acting, however, is hit and miss: it ranges from the highly stylish to the appallingly gauche. hit it off hacer buenas migas their extended two hourtal/< yesterday, the two leaders actually seem to have hit it aft a hit list 1 lista negra a They published a ofcountries guilty Of unfairtrade practices, and called for bilateral negotiations with the offending countries. 2 lista de objetivos a The letter, which said the family is on a hit list, has' been passed to police for further investigation. make a hit caer bien a Eleanor and Sara made a hit with the whole delegation.
Hobson it's Hobson's choice (sobre todo Brit) no hay elecci6n (litera': es la elecci6n de Hobson) a They want rid of him, he is irreplaceable. It really is Hobson's choice forthem. Hell with him, or Hell without him. EI Hobson de esta expresi6n podrfa ser un hombre Ham ado Thomas Hobson, que ganaba dinero alquilando caballos a finales del sigloxvl. Hobson segufa un sistema de turnos que el mismo habfa ideado, por 10 que el cliente no podfa elegiraunque hubiera muchos caballos disponibles.
Esta expresi6n se refiere a un combate de lucha libre en el que no se acatan muchas de las normas habituales, por 10 que los luchadores pueden sujetar a sus contrincantes como mejor les parezca.
ho9_-----~
(H09 significa "cerdo".
)
go hog wild (Brit) perder el control o That doesn't mean you should go hog wild and double the recipe's sugar content. Just keep the word 'moderation' in mind. s A veces los cerdos pueden ~ volverse agresivos y diffciles de ~ controlar.
*
go whole hog (EE UU) 0 go the whole hog tirar la casa par la ventana 0 Dixons sells a range of hi-fi speakers costing from £10.99 to £72.99. Oryou can go the whole hog and buya dedicated sound output system for £299· live high on the hog (sobretodo EE UU) vivir a cuerpo de rey a He and Austen were living high on the hog in a nat with three servants.
hold
*
hold up your hands levantar la mano a I(we had lost by big margins to better teams then wewould hold up our hands and admit we're not good enough. But that's not the case. put something on hold suspender temparalmentealgo aSome observers suggest that, as a result of this, he'll just put the project on hold until the political climate changes. ~
EI sentido literal de esta expresi6n ~ es "poner algo en espera", y ~ proviene probablemente de la ~ frase que se emplea cuando § alguien espera a que Ie pasen una ~ Hamada telef6nica.
holds
* no-holds-barred sin restricciones left-back, Jones became something oAt
of a cult r9ure with his no-holds-barred approach to the game.
147
hole be in the hole (EE UU) deber 0 The Federal HousingAdministration has just been discovered to be $4 billion in the hole.
s EI "agujero" (hole) a que se hace :§ referencia aquf podrfa haber sido
~ una'ranura abierta en la mesa de ~ p6querde una casa dejuego. EI ~ dinero cobrado pordicha casa se § introducfa en la ranura y cala a un ~ caj6n cerrado con lIave. Se decfa ~ que losjugadores que debfan ~ dinero a la casa estaban "en el § agujero" (in the hole).
blow a hole in something torpedear algo a 'fschools opted out of local authority control, would it blowa hole in the new system? 2 desangrar algo aA major natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane could blow a hole in the fund. burn a hole in your pocket quemarte en las manes (litera': quemar un agujero en el bolsillo) aMoneyalwaystends to burn a hole in my pocket. a hole card (sabre todo EE UU) un as en la manga a The fact that I knew where shewas and had in my possession a boxful Of evidence were my only two remaining hole cards.
1
En el tipo de p6querdenominado stud, la carta denominada hole card esla unica carta que se reparte boca abajo para que los otros jugadores no puedan verla.
148
hook
holes
in a hole (sobretodoBrit) en un apuro 0 The Tories are now in a dread(ul hale after last Thursday's
ruido cuando se Ie da un golpe, 10 que indica que es mas barato o endeble de 10 que se crera.
election results. someone needs something like a hole in the head a alguien no Ie hace ninguna falta algo 0 We need
the holy of holies el sanctasanctorum 0 Last year, his
an interest rate rise like we need a hole
work was performed for the first
in the head. 2 AI parecer, esta expresi6n es la
theAldeburgh Festival, thehaly of'halip,
~ traducci6n de una Frase en ~ yiddish. Se popularizo tras el ~ estrenodelaobraAHoleinthe ~ Head (1957) de Arnold Shulman, y ~ de la pelfcula titulada en espanal ~ Millonario de ilusiones, basada en ~ dicha obra y protagonizada par , Frank Sinatra (1959),
holes pick holes in something encontrar defectos en algo 0 They say that the
great science of the 21St century will be biology. Thus we do not need so many
physicists as in the past. It is easy to picl< holes in this argument. something has more holes than Swiss cheese (sabre todo EE UU) algo tiene mas agujeros que un queso Gruyere 0 The current laws,'
he says, 'have more holes than Swiss cheese.'
hollow beat someone hollow (Brit) dar una paliza a alguien 0 Waterman was the
*
holy
first independent operator to tal
in the contemporary British music scene.
.*
'Who brings up the baby and who brings home the bacon?' has become one of the most important of all political questions. . z (periodismo) veneer 0 But Reid and Duffield showed that, given the right horsepower, they are capable Of bringing home the bacon in style.
honest
bring something home to someone hacerle ver algo aalguien 0 This new 1V advert really brings home to people
* do(Brit) something on the hoof They
home
*
*
at home comodo o Melanie is equally at
1
home singing oratorio, spirituals,jazz or performing in musical theatre. 2 natural 0 The16-year-o/d's huge shoulder and arm muscles would 1001< more at home on a male hammer thrower. be home and dry (sabre todo Brit) a be home and hosed (sabre todo Australia) respirartranquilo (literal: estar en casa y seco) 0 There are still three weel
*
hoW badly some children are treated. close to home personal (literal: cerca de casa) 0 The message the film conveyed struck so hard and so close to home that it moved meta tears. hit home 0 strike home conocerse de verdad
o In"many cases the reality of war doesn't hit home with reservists until they're actually called upan ta fight. hit a home run (EE UU) cosechar un gran exito 0 Bartlett Giamatti hits a
home run here with his memoir of encounters with WHo Auden over many years. En el beisbol, cuando un bateador ~ hace unjonron envra la pelota ~ muy lejos, de modo que puede ~ recorrertodas las bases y ganar ~ una carrera antes de que el otro ~ equipo recupere la pelota.
§
dry.
3" Puede que estas expresiones se ~ refieran a un corrector de larga ~ distancia que gana la carrera ~ holgadamentey queya se ha ~ lavado cuando 105 otros jugadores ~ Ilegan a la meta. be nothing to write home about no tener nada de particular 0 Yes, there is cheese, bread and meat in the local
the home stretch 0 the home straight la recta final o This month, Wales take on the Czech
Republic in the home straight of the qualifying competition. § The home stretch 0 the home straight
market and shops, but it's nothing to write home about.
* be on homeThisground is a play where Godber
~ es la recta final de una carrera de
estar en tu
terreno
0
is on home ground, writing about the mining communities of his childhood. bring home the bacon 1 ganarse las habichuelas (litera'; traer el beicon a casa) 0 The question
*
~ caballos.
make yourself at home ponerse comodo o Arnold and Gwen had found
the hidden key, let themselves in and made themselves at home. 0 'Sit down,' Anne said. 'Make yourself at home.'
149
honest as the day is long
(anticuado) la honradez en persona o This boy's hard-working, ambitious, smart, and honest as the day is long. They don't come any better than Russell here.
hoof
sobre la marcha
1
0
expressed their disquiet at the disarray over the government's handling of its economic policy and their fears that policy was being made on the hoof. 2 deprisa y corriendo 0 We know the character: his shirt is always undone, he is rude, consumesjunk food on the hoof and is a/ways complaining. § Hacer algo on the hoof significa ~ literalmente hacerlo a caballo, § sin detenerse para desmontar.
hook do something by hook or by crook hacer algo por las buenas 0 por las malas 0 If a man took Antonia's fancy,
she would go out of her way to get him by hook or by crook. ~ En esta expresion, hool< significa § "podadera", mientras que crool< ~ ~ § ~ § ~
significa "cayado". Puede que la expresion haga referenda a una ley medieval que permitia a la gente corriente recoger lena de los bosques pertenecientes al rey 0 a un noble, siempre que ~ cogieran solo ramas secas a las ~ que pudieran lIegarcon sus ~ podaderas y sus cayados.
* get off the hook cannot let the government get off the librarse
0
We
hook for what it has done. hook,line. and sinker completamente 0 I fell for her hook, line and sinker.
150
horse
hooks
~
AI morderel anzuelo, los peces
~
a veces se tragan parte del sedal
make someone go through the hoops poner aalguien a prueba (litera': hacer que alguien atrav"". saltando unos aros) 0 The academic staff still wanted the rigour so they
y el plomo (sinker). ademas 2" del anzuelo. @ (line)
on your own hook (EE UU) por sf
basically put a four-year course into three years and made us jump through hoops.
mismo oSt. Mary's Hospital does not
meet incoming rights with its own vehicle. Patients come on their own hoof<. ~
~ Ciertos animales de circa estan ~ adiestrados para saltar a traves ~ de aros que a veces estan en ~ llamas.
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
~ alguien que pesca un pez usando
~ su propio equipo de pesca y sin 2" ayuda de nadie.
ring off the hook (sabre todo EE UU) no parar de sonar 0 His phone started
hoot not give a hoot 0 not give two hoots no imnm-t"'-"n camino 0 I'm really disgusted with
ringing offthe hook as banks and rnancial institutions begged for his he/p_ sling your hook (Brit) largarse o The team is entering a new era and if
pOliticians. They don't give two hoots about their constituents.
Richardson doesn't want to be part Grit then he should sling his haole 2 En esta expresi6n hook podrfa g significar"ancla". EI ancla tenra ~ que izarse y atarse con cuerdas a ~ can cadenas lIamadas eslingas ~ (slings) antes de que el barco ~ pudiera moverse.
hop
*
West was caught on the hop when a brutal dictator decided that it was safe to use force to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute.
swallow something hook, line. and sinker tragarse algo (literal: tragarse algo con anzuelo, sedal y plomo) 0 Our president is one heck
hopping mad echando chis pas o Apparently. the family is hopping mad that she left them nothing in her will. a hop. skip. and ajump un pasito o Of course, the Romanian language is justa hop. skip, and ajump from
ofa salesman, and people arejust swallowing this thing hook, line, and sinker, without knowing what it's al/ about.
hooks get your hooks into someone echar !a garra a alguien 0 The big industries like to get their hooks into the bright young people, to subsidize them
through their education and then reap thebenert_
hoops make someone jump through hoops 0
be caught on the hop (Brit) ser pHlado desprevenido (literal: ser pillado saltando) 0 In both cases the
Italian.
horizon
*
on the horizon a la vista (literal: en el horizonte) 0 With breast cancer, as
with many common diseases, there is no obvious breakthrough on the horizon.
horn blow your own horn (EE UU) darse bombo (literal: tocartu propia trompa) 0 Maybe I am a superstar right now, but I don't go around blowing
my own horn; this is a game which kicks you right back in the face. Antiguamente, la lIegada de ~ personas importantes a un lugar § se anunciaba tocando trompetas. §
hornet (Hornetsignifica "avispon".
)
stir up a hornet's nest remover un avispero o According to my brother
paul, this Lonnie Norton was asking a lot ofquestions and stirring up a hornet's nest around town.
horns lock horns enfrentarse (literal: entrechocar los cuernos) 0 During
his six years in office, Seidman has often locked horns with lawmakers as well as the administration. ~
Esta expresion hace referencia ados ~ animales macho, como los ciervos, ~ que entrechocan los cuernos al ~ pelearse par una hembra.
on the horns of a dilemma entre la espada y la pared (literal: en los cuernos de un dilema) 0 I was often caught on the hornsofa dilemma. Do I work late in the air-conditioned cool
darkness of the office, or retreat to the cafe for a cold lemonade?
151
horse back the wrong horse elegir mal
(litera': apostar por el caballo equivocado) 0 We think they're backing the wrong horse if they support the Mengistu government. come down off .your high horse a get down off your high horse bajar los humos (litera': bajarse del caballoa!to) oltistimeforthe intellectuals to get down off their high horses and to really take the struggle
into the ghettoes. ~
Antiguamente, 105 caballos muy
§. grandes eran una muestra de alto ~ ra,ngo, porque solo los montaban ~ los caballeros.
eat like a horse comer como una lima (litera': comer como un caballo) 0 When Kelly is on
medication, he eats like a horse and when he is off, he has almost no appetite at all. flog a dead horse (Brit) 0 beat a dead horse (EE UU) machacar en hierro frfo (literal: azotar a un caballo muerto)
o They're exhausted. You're nogging a dead horse. You have some talented boys but they're playing like run-down machines.
g En la Edad Media, un dilema se
from the horse's mouth de buena tinta (literal: de la boca del caballo)
~ representaba tradicionalmente
o Most of the book is completely true;
~ como un animal con dos cuernos, ~ como un toro.
it comes from the horse's mouth.
pull in your horns 0 draw in your horns echarse atras, apretarse el cintur6n 0 The world's
big spenders have pulled in their horns during the recession and the top designers have felt the pinch. Cuando detectari algun peligro, los caracoles retraen los cuernos (horns)_
§. Esta expresi6n podrfa referirse a ~ que es posible adivinar la edad de
§. un caballo mirandole los dientes. ~ Tambien podrfa referirse a un ~ pronostico en las carreras que, g de tan fiable, parece como si el ~ propio caballo haya revelado 10 ~ bien que va a carrero
get on your high horse ponerse a pontificar (literal: subirse al caballo
152
horses
alto) 0 When Kuwait was occupied, President Bush and Prime Minister John
Major lost no time in getting on their high horses. a one-horse race (sabre toda Brit) una contienda en la que no hay color (litera': una carrera con un solo caballo) oMarseiIJeare
threatening to turn the French championship into a one-horse race. a one-horse town un pueblucho
(litera': un pueblo con un caballo) o Lumut is something of a one-horse town, but you can always take a boat across to Pang/wr island and 1001< at
*
Dutch ruins. someone is a dark horse alguien es una inc6gnita (litera': alguien es un caballo oscuro) 0 To many people,
Atkinson is Q dark horse who worked
away for many years behind the scenes at British Airways. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n se ~ refiera a un caballo del que 60 se ~ sabe demasiado, por 10 que es ~ diffcil predecir c6mo correra en ~ una carrera. a stalking horse The development will act as a stalking horse for (urther exploitation o(the surrounding countryside.
1 pretexto 0
2 candidato queen unas elecciones desaffa a un Ifder de su propio partido, con el proposito de medir la fuerza de la oposicion 0 There was even talk a( one o(them putting up (or
the leadership as a 'stalking horse' (or the real contender.
*
~ Se conocfan como stalking horses ~ aquellos caballos adiestrados ~ para permitir a los cazadores que ~ los montaban ocultarse detras de ~ ellos, y as! acercarse a los pajaros ~ que cazaban.
a Trojan horse un caballo de Troya
house o The Chancellor did not tax child benert, but he has created Horse enabling him to tax this the (uture. you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink puedes darle una oportunidad a alguien, pero no puedes obligarle a que la . ace pte (literal: puedes lIevar a un caballo hasta el agua, pero'no puedes obJigarle a que beba) 0 You
can't educate kids who aren't int,erested; You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink
horses change horses in midstream cambiar de polftica a mitad de camino olthinl
crossing streams.)
hold your horses (hab/ado) para el carro 0 Hold your horses a minute, will you, andjust ta/
~ adaptarse mejor a ciertos tipos de § carreras.
ride two horses at the same time a ride two horses at once (Brit, Periodismo) jugarcon dos barajas
(litera': montar dos caballos al
153
--------------(litera': venderse como pasteles mismo tiempo) oHeis not doing his calientes) 0 Their jam was selling like
popular appealmuch goad by continuing to fide two horses at the same time. wild horses wouldn't make someone do something alguien no
hot cakes. § Hotcal
harfa algo por nada del mundo
o Wild horses WOUldn't make Nicola sell the yard i(shefound out it would make me rich.
hostage a hostage to fortune (sobre todo Brit) un rehen del destino oChar/es, then nearly 33, had already made himsel( a hostage to (ortune by declaring that30 was a suitable age to settle down. Esta expresion proviene del ~ ensayo de Francis Bacon titulado ~ O(Marriage and Single life (Del g matrimonio y la solterra, 1625).
§
hot hot and bothered sofocado
o Sir Terence was astonished that everybody had got so hat and bothered about the affair. he went hot and cold (Brit) Ie dieron escalofrfos 0 It still makes me go hot and cold whenever I thinl< about it. someone blows hot and cold alguien es una veleta (literal: alguien sopla caliente y frfo)
1
o The media, meanwhile, has blown hot and cold an the affair. They seem to have blown hot and cold in their early matches. too hot to handle demasiado complicado 0 Even for someone of Mr Hurd's sldll and experience, the situation proved too hot to handle. 2 alguien es muy irregular 0
hot cakes sell like hotcakes (sobre todo EE UU) o sell like hot cakes 0 go like hot cakes venderse como rosquillas
hour
*
at the eleventh hour a ultima hora o The concert, scheduled (or last Saturday, was cancelled at the eleventh hour, atter the star Peter Gabriel pulled out on Thursday. 0 The eleventh hour decision came as the President made it clear he was prepared to gamble his political career i(it came to conflict. § En la Biblia, Jesus usa esta ~ expresi6n en la parabola de los ~ obreros de la vifia (Mateo 20:1-16). ~ En la epoca de Jesus, las horas se § contaban desde el amanecer ~ hasta el atardecer, yen la hora ~ duodecima oscureda. Asf, la hora § undecima era la ultima antes de § que anocheciera,
hours at all hours a cualquierhora 0 In Hollywood, you can shop at al/ hours, and get almost anything you want.
house bring the house down hacer que se venga abajo la sala 0 We had just one rehearsal and I was petrired but, as Lenny predicted, the sketch brought the house down. ':§ En esta expresi6n, house significa
§ "teatro". eat someone out of house and home provocarle un gasto en comida enormea alguien 0 They eat everybody out o(house and home but
154
houses
nobody minds because they provide
such prst-rate entertainment. ~
Esta expresi6n aparece en la obra
g de Shakespeare Enrique IV(segunda ~
parte, acto II, escena I) de 1597.
get on like a house on fire lIevarse de maravHla (literal: lIevarse como una casa incendiandose) 0 I went over and struck up a conversation, and we got on like a house on pre.
§: Esta expresi6n alude a un acto ~ intense y repentino, como el g incendio y la rapida destrucci6n
~ de una vieja casa de madera con § el tejado de paja. a halfway house (Brit) un terminG
go round the houses (Brit) i o Although in many cases we go round the houses, we get to the important
issues as well.
hue about my suggestion o{more power to' the police. ~ Hasta el siglo XIX, hueanq cry era § nombre legal de los gritos de
~
* first policy discussion.
put your house in order a get your house in order po"ner tus asuntos en orden 0 The government
gives the newspaper industry a twelvemonth deadline to put its house in order or face tough statutory controls.
aida los gritos de la vfctima.la ~ palabra hue viene del frances ~ antiguo huer, que significa "gritar"
get the hump (Brit) ponerse de mal humor 0 Dad used to coach me in the
back garden when I was about 10, but he tried to drum too much into meand I used to get the hump with him.
§ Esta expresi6n se refiere a la ~ necesidad de romperel hielo
hump in this instance. We've got an economy now that's lil
hymn sheet
someone would not give someone or something house room (Brit) alguien no quiere sabernada de alguien a de alga 0 I feel that some
sing from the same hymn sheet (Brit) remaren la misma direcci6n (literal: cantar usando el mismo libra de himnos) oAssheand her husband
o(the paintings that peaple pay thousands o{pounds {or are
face a court case, they can be relied upon to sing from the same hymn sheet.
* othewasicingproudon the cake to bea member of the laguinda
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix team, but to drive their fantastic sports cars as well really was the icing on the cake.
inch
put something on ice aparcar algo poner alga en hielo) 0 Plans have been put on ice for a meeting in
inch of smashing into a tree will nonetheless claim that there is nothing wrong with his eyesight.
london of the five permanent members ofthe United Nations Security Council.
give someone an inch and they'll take a mile dale a alguien la mana y se tamara el brazo (litera': dale a alguien una pulgada y se tamara una milia) o Be tough and
* (literal:
*
icing
come within an inch of doing something quedarse a un paso de alga oA driver who comes within an
~
*
§ estar afiladas para poder cortar
§ el hielo.
alrededor de un barco para que pueda navegar.
~
we're over the hump pasamos 10 pear 0 I think we're basically overthe
§ moverse can facilidad, las
I
get to know your client a little better.
He
hump
~ cuchillas de los patines deben
*'breaktheice romperel hielo o Brea/< the ice with tea or coffee and
* huffbecause he didn't win.stormed offin a 0
a contract is not likely to be valid.
ice
huff
in a huff picado
~ can el patinaje sabre hielo. A fin ~ de que un patinadorconsiga
En ciertos tipos de letra antiguos, ~ tras escribir una palabra se ~ anaden los puntas de las res y se g cruzan las tes.
~ que pedra ayuda. Se consideraba
Esta expresi6n esta relacionada
dot the i's and cross the t's poner los puntas sabre las res 0 Unless all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, §
~ alguien a quien habran ~obadoy
§: Antiguamente, las posadas
a house of cards un castillo de naipes 0 This government could fall aport like a house ofcords during the
~
a hue and cry protestas ruidosas o Thereprobablywill bea hue and cry
~ delito negarse a participar en la ~ persecuci6n delladr6n tras haber
§ dos poblaciones vecinas se ~ denominaban halfway houses. ~ En dichas posadas se hospedaban ~ los pasajeros de las diligencias. § Este nombre adn se ve en los ~ letreros actuales de ciertas pubs g y pequenas hateles.
I
houses
media oA halfway house between the theatre and cinema is possible. ~ situadas a media camino entre
*
absolute rubbish. I wouldn'tgivethem house room.
§ Esta expresi6n se refiere al uso de § hielo para conservar la com ida y § evitar que se pudra.
skate on thin ice pisarterreno peligroso (litera': patinar sobre una capa fina de hielo) oAI/through my
career I had skated on thin ice and somehow had, so far, got away with it. something cuts no ice alga te deja frfo 0 Flying is dreadful. Statistics cut
no ice with anyone scared of going up in the air in a plane.
uncompromising - if you give colleagues an inch, they will toke a mile. to within an inch of your life hasta casi matarte 0 His fists were clenched as ifhewere going to beat Smythe to
within an inch o{his life.
information too much information (familiar) no hace falta que me 10 cuentes (literal:
156
ink
demasiada informaci6n) 0 'I've been to the toilet twice already.'Too much
informationl'
*
ink bleed red ink (Periodismo) estar lIena de numeros rajas (literal:
sangrar tinta raja)
Even large companies are bleeding red ink But they are quickly closing plants and axing thousands ofjobs to boost 0
iron cast iron a . cast~iron (Brit) irrebatible
0 Even if one could visualize her as a murderer, she has a cast-iron alibi. strike while the iron is hot· a hierro candente batir de repente 0 This is the week to get plans a((the ground. time to stril
performance. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
§ antigua costumbre de usartinta ~ raja para anotar asientos en el ~ debe de un libra de contabilidad.
innings La palabra innings significa "turna para batear".
have a good innings (Brit, anticuado) 1 haberdisfrutado un exita prolongado 0 His career ended when his horse (ell and he was left with
*
insult
*
add insult to injury empeorar todavfa mas las cosas (literal: anadir insulto a la ofens a) 0 The Council of State opposed the president's suggestion and added insult to injury by
~ hierro cuanda este material esta ~ al roja vivo.
with an iron fist con mana de hierro o The Generals have ruled the nation
jail (Brit, Periodismo) libtarse por los peros (literal: salir de
la carcel) 0 Chelsea got aut a(jail because Everton made the fundamental
~
He soon caughtthe
theatre bug, and became ajack-of-alltrades at the local amateur theatre. 2 alguien que mucho abarca y poco aprieta 0 His critics sometimes described him as ajacl<-o(-all-trades. ~
Jacl< era un nombre usado para ~ referirse a cualquier hombre, 0 a ~ cualquiertrabajador.
jackpot
*
* get out of
~ nombre como el apellido fueron ~ muy comunes en otras tiempos. ~ La frase aparece en la novela
ajack-of-all-trades
alguien vive en una torre de marfil o They're all out of touch - they live up in a little ivory tower, and they don't see What's going on down here.
jail
mistake a(trying to defend a one-gaol lead.
1 un factotum 0
someone lives in an ivory tower
Esta expresi6n es una traducci6n de la frase francesa tour d'ivoire, usada por el crftico Saint-Beuve para describir la forma en que el escritor Alfred de Vigny se aisl6 del resto de la sociedad.
Se desconoce la identidad deJack
Esta expresi6n proviene del
~ p6quer.Jacl
~ Robinson. Puede que el nombre ~ se hiciera popular porque tanto el
jack
ivory
*
en menos que canta un gallo (literal: antes de que puedas decir Jack Robinson) 0 The pair of them were out of the door and down the steps before you could say Jacl< Robinson.
g Evelina (1778) de Fanny Burnley.
have a lot of irons in the fire tener demasiados asuntos entre manos (litera': tener muchos hierros en el fuego) 0" will be earning a lot more money,' he says, declining to say how much more. "also have a numberof other irons in the fire.'
~
before you could say Jack Robinson
§
irons
himself had had a good innings, he said, but he was sorry for younger victims in desolate circumstances.
the ins and outs los pormenores There are many helpful books now available written by cookery and dietary experts who can advise on the ins and outs of dieting in great detail.
*
with an iron fist for more than half of its independent existence.
2 habervivido una larga vida 0 He
*o
Jack
E Un herrero solo puede dablare!
permanent loss o(vision in his lett eye. '/ had a good innings: he says.
ins
leal
hit the jackpot The National Theatre hit thejacl
Esta expresi6n viene del juego
~ "Monopoly", en el que los ~ jugadores pueden usaruna
~ tarjeta especial para salir antes de ~ la career.
jam jam tomorrow (sobre todo Brit) el dfa de manana 0 The City simply does not believe it. It has been promisedjam tomorrow too many times before by the company. § Esta expresi6n aparece en el ~ cuento infantil Through the Looking
~ Glass (Alicia a traves del espejo) , de ~ Lewis Carroll, donde la Reina Roja
~ dice: ''La norma es mermelada ~ manana y mermelada aver, pero ~ nunca mermelada hoy". Como ~ senalaAlicia, esto significa que ~ nadie podra comer nunca § mermelada.
Jell-O® like trying to nail Jell-O® to the
158
jewel
wall (EE UU) como pedir peras al alma (litera': como clavar gelatina
en la pared) 0 Right now, it's just about lil
primera vez esta expresi6n en una
~ carta dirigida a RoscoeThayer en ~ 1915. Describfa la dificultad de ~ negociar con Colombia ace rca del
~ canal de Panama.
jewel
*
the jewel in someone's crown fa java de la corona de alguien 0 His
achievement is astonishing and this boo/< is the jewel in his crown. ~
Esta expresi6n ya se empleaba
~ en la epoca victoriana, pero
§ probablemente se conozca @ mejorcomo tftulo de una nov-ela
~ de Paul Scott publicada en 1966
§ que formaba parte de una serie ~ ambientada en la India ~ victoriana. En esta obra India es ~ vista como "lajoya", mientras que ~ la "corona" es ellmperio britanico.
job do ajob on someone (familiar) dar una paliza a alguien 0 Coetzer is a difficult opponent. But I'm equally sure I can do ajobon him. a full-time job un trabajo a tiempo completo oMaintaining a happy home in which a family can thrive is a full-timejob, and for many women it becomes their career for life.
jobs jobs for the boys (Brit) enchufismo (literal: trabajos para los chicos) o The council has faced a string Of allegations over Jobs for the boys'.
Jury Johnny Johnny-corne-lately recien llegado o The basic trouble was that, in the of the left, Benn was always something of a johnny-come-lately,
jump
*
getajump on someone (sobretodo EE UU) adelantarse a alguien 0 This year, many stores did try to get ajump on the shopping season by holding promotional sales even before Thanksgiving.
~
As] se denominaba a los ~ marineros sin experiencia en la . ~ marina de guerra ~ estadounidense.
joker
§
"
the joker in the pack (sobre todo Brit) la gran inc6gnita (literal: el comodfn en la baraja) 0 Ray enjoys long walks and the occasional gameof golf He is probably best known os the quiet one who is the joker in the pac/<.
Joneses keep up with the Joneses no ser menosqueelvecino o Her mother was very keen on keeping up with the )oneses, and through much of her teens Linda accepted what she now calls 'these false values'.
Esta expresi6n se refiere al
~ participante en una carrera
*
~ que deja atras los tacos de ~ salida antes que los otras ~ corredores.
jump up and down pegar saltos a He is not someone who jumps up and down. Heisa man of quiet determination and rrm principles. someone is for the high jump (Brit) alguien se la va a cargar aGod help anyone who was sneaking a cup oftea when they shouldn't have been, They'll be forthe high jump,
Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a los delincuentes que eran sentenciados a la horca antiguamente.
take a running jump (sobre todo Brit) irse a frefr esparragos (literal: saltar tomando carreriHa) 0 'My dad reckons your stories are all made up.' 'Well you can tell your dad to take a runningjump because we don't make up the letters - ever.'
jury
* thejury is still out
esta par ver
(literal: tOdavfa no ha vue Ito e! jurado) 0 Thejury's still out on what are'the long-term effects of air pollution. Esta expresi6n hace referenda al periodo durante el cual el jurado de unjuicio se retira de la sala para decidir un veredicto.
~
Esta expresion viene del tftulo de ~ una historieta deArthur Momand ~ publicada por primera vez en el § periodico NewYorkGlobeen 1913.
judgment Judgment se suele escribir judgement en ingles britanico.
sit injudgment juzgar 0 I thinl< people should work hard to keep a marriage alive. I don't want to sit in judgment on other people, but if there's anything that's good, try to hold on to it.
jugular
* yugular
go forthejugular lanzarse a Ja 0 If England go forthejugulor in tonight's game, we won't have to worry about scraping a draw.
159
Pubfikoa
king
161
zapatos nuevos (literal: como un nino en la tienda de chuches) oA
Aquf ken significa conocimientos o capacidad de comprensi6n de una persona. EI verba escoces ken significa "saber", "conocer".
money manager in Chicago, he went on a buying binge and 'felt like a kid in a
candy store,' he recalls.
I
*
kangaroos have kangaroos in your top paddock (sabre todoAustralia, familiar) estar rna! de la azotea (literal: tener canguros en el potrero)
0
Some attribute my attitude
to having a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock. ~
EI sentido literal de esta expresi6n ~ es que los animales salvajes han ~ desplazado a los anirnales de :s granja.
tam bien hace referencia a un ~ sabor acido 0 agrio, por 10 ,que ~ aquf el entusiasmo se equlpara al ~ saborfuerte que proporciona la § mostaza a la comida.
keep something earns its keep algo justifica el gasto 0 In Bob's garden
everything must earn its keep, with fruits and vegetables given priority over flowers.
keeper
keel
* (literal:
~
on an even keel estabilizado
sabre una quilla equilibrada)
o She sees it as her role to keep the family on an even keel through its time o(hardship. ~
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de un barco que navega sin § problemas porque esta § equilibradoynoseescora.
keen keen as mustard (sabre todD Brit,
anticuado) extraordinariamente
entusiasta (literal: entusiasta como la mostaza) 0 I have an adult pupil who scored very low in assessments but is keen as mustard. Keen significa "entusiasta", pero tam bien puede significar "afilado" (sharp) cuando se refiere a la hoja o al filo de un arma 0 de una herramienta. La palabra sharp
I am not someone's keeper no soy
el guarda de alguien 0'1 don't know where he is,' Hughes replied, 'I'm not his
l
no soy el guarda de mi hermano o Part of me wants to help him, but part of me realizes I can't be my
brother's keeper. ~
Estas expresiones provienen de
~ un relato bfblico (Genesis 4:9).
§ Cafn ha matado a su hermano
~ Abel, pero intenta neg arlo. ~ Cuando Ie preguntan d6nde esta ~ su hermano, carn responde: "No § 10 se. ~Soyyo acaso el guardian de ~ mi hermano?"
ken something is beyond your ken alga te es incomprensible 0 The subject matter is beyond the ken of the average
layman.
treat someone with kid gloves tratar a alguien con guantes de sed a (literal: tratar a alguien con guantes decabritilla) oMrSarbuttswas treated as a VIP. Everybody was treating him with kid gloves.
a different kettle offish harina de otro costal (litera': una cacerola de pescado diferente) oArtistic integrity?Who needs it? Money? Now
that's a completely different /
kibosh
kill in at·the kill (Brit) presente en el momenta culminante 0 Burns was
put the kibosh on something dar al traste can algo 0 The company gave
its subscribers access to software that puts the kibosh on pop-up ads ifa user doesn't want them. ~
EI origen de esta expresi6n es ~ incierto, pero hay quien cree que ~ la palabra kibosh podrfa venirdel § yiddish.
kick kick someone upstairs ... ver upstairs kick a man when he's down dar a moro muerto gran lanzada (litera': dar una patada a un hombre que esta caido) 0 It (expulsion) would be
regarded by many people, including many in the party, as going too far in kicl
kick-off Kic/<-offsignifica "saque inicial" en un partido de futbol.
Is it not in fact the opinion ofthe public that most dentists earn far too much for a
for a kick-off para empezar 0
kick-ofF
kid like a kid in a candy store (sobre todo EE UU) como un nino con
*
one of the happiest men at the finish. He was in at the kill 106 miles and fourand-a-quarter hours after the start of the race. move in for the kill lanzarse aJ ataque 0 Nic/
unstoppable and we moved in for the I
killing *: make a killing hacer su agosto o The boss of Britain's top pizza concern
made a l
kindness kill someone with kindness pasarse de amable con alguien (litera': matar a alguien de amabilidad)
o 'He is killing me with kindness,' Sallie says. 'He's just too attentive.'
king a king's ransom (sobre todo Brit) un dineral (literal: el rescate de un rey) o Roberts is asking a king's ransom for
her next film role. live like a king vivir a cuerpo de rev o Company executives lived like Idngs.
The top thirty-one executives were paid a total Of14.2 million dollars, or an average of458,000 dollars.
162
knots
kingdom politically possible. It is consciously nying a kite.
kingdom blow someone to kingdom come
mandar a alguien al atro barrio
o One false move could blow us all to kingdom come. @ Esta expresi6n viene de la frase ~ del padrenuestro "Venga a
~ nosotros tu rei no" (Thy kingdom ~ come)(Mateo 6:10).
kittens have kittens (sobretodo Brit) darle un ataque de nervios (literal: tener
0 The boss wi/I have kittens if I don't get that dress back inside the . hour.
gatitos)
§ En la Edad Media se decfa que si ~ una embarazada sentia do"lor de ~ estomago, ello se debra a que ~ tenia gatitos arafiandole el § interior de la matriz.
kiss hacer las paces o They argue constantly and publicly but always manage to kiss and make up. kiss and make up
*
kiss-and-tell romance con una
celebridad
0
~ LoveforLovedeWilliamCongreve § (1695).
* the kiss
altura de la rodilla de un saltamontes)
o I've lived here since I was knee-high to
a grasshopper.
for a decent writer.
be on your knees hecho polvo o Several times this afternoon he had
§ Esta expresi6n se refiere al relata
§ biblieo de como Judas traicion6 a § Jesus a! besarlo.
kit the whole kit and caboodle -+ ver caboodle
kitchen everything but the kitchen sink !a casa a cuestas (literal: todo menDs elfregadero) o When she goes on a picnic, she always wants to take everything but the kitchen sink.
kite fly a kite (sobretodo Brit) lanzar un globo sonda (literal: hacervolar una cometa) 0 The committee has paid a
good deal of attention to what might be
*
sounded as ifhe were on his knees. bring something to its knees lIevar a alga al borde del desastre (literal: hacer arrodillarse a alga) 0 Britain was brought to its Imees after a wave Of
paralysing strikes. go down on your knees suplicarde
rodiHas 0 They won't take the manager back, even i(he gets down on his knees and apologises.
knell
* sound the death knell
anundarel principia del fin (literal: hacer sonar el toque de difuntos) 0 The
announcement that the mine would close in March with the loss of more than g80 jobs sounded the death Imell Far the village.
knickers get your knickers in a twist (Brit,
familiar) ponerse nervioso
0 Think about the women who have gone through liFe like a knife through butter. slicing through every kind ofsetback and discouragement. on a knife-edge (sabre todo Brit) en el filo de la navaja 0 Ourrnances are on a knife-edge at the moment.
'cuchilio en la mantequilla)
*
Her colleagues, often eager to stick the knife in, deFended her yesterday.
twist the knife hurgaren las heridas (literal: retorcer el cuchillo) o Jones then twisted the knife with
another goa/.
knees
of death el golpe de gracia
(literal: el beso de la muerte) o Relying on cliches is the l
like a knife through butter con gran facilidad (literal: como un
meter el cuchillo) 0
kneeMhigh to a grasshopper (anticuado) un renacuajo (literal: a la
On many occasions we
knife
stick the knife in ensafiarse (litera':
knee
discussed selling details ofldss-and-tell stories. 3 Esta expresi6n aparece en la obra
get our knickers in a twist until we see the outcome of those games.
0
Let's not
knight a knight in shining armour un principe azul (literal: un caballero
o/just Felt dizzy and then Ico/lapsed. I am very, very grateful to Tom and I always will be - he really was my knight in shining armour.
con una armadura brillante)
~
Armour se escribe armoren
g ingles americana. En los relatos ~ escritos 0 ambientados en la ~ Edad Media, los caballeros de
~ brillante armadura solfan acudir ~ al rescate de las doncellas en s apuros.
knitting stick to your knitting dedicarse a 10 suyo (literal: dedicarse a su labor de 0 It failed because we did not understand the plumbing business, and it taught us a lesson about sticking to our knitting!
punta)
163
knives
*
the knives are out (sobre todo Brit) se la tienenjurada (literal: han sacado las navajas) 0 His book has
hit the shops and the knives are out.
knock knock someone sideways (Brit) dejar de piedra a alguien (literal: tirar a alguien de lado)
o Something
like this, a huge shock, completely
knocks you sideways. knock something sideways (Brit) 0 Conrdence in the British legal system has been knocked sideways, hasn't it?
destrozar algo
knot cut the Gordian knot (litera rio )
Scott decided to close the inquiry last year when he concluded that it would be possible to go on forever. You have to cut the Gordian Imot.' cortar el nuda gordiano 0
~ Segun una antigua leyenda,
§ Gordias, reyde Frigia, at6 un ~ nuda que nadie podia desatar.
§ Se dija que quien 10 desatara ~ conquistariaAsia. Cuando ~ Alejandro Magno se enter6, ~ resolvi6 el problema cortando ~ el nudo con una espada.
* tie the knot (familiar) The couple casarse
(literal: atar el nuda)
0
tied the knot last year aFter a 13-year romance.
s Atar nudo5 en las prendas de ropa ~
0 en las cintas que lIevan la novia ~ y el novio en su bod a es una ~ costumbretradicional que ~ simboliza la uni6n del nuevo §" matrimonio.
knots tie someone in knots enredar a alguien
0
He could tie her in
knots in
164
know
an argument and never once missed an opportunity to prove his intellectual superiority. tie yourself in knots liarse
0
He was
tying himselfin knots, trying to sound at once supportive of the Government, yet somehow disapproving of the 'damage' to Britain's 'reputation'.
know
*
know something or someone inside out conacer alga 0 a alguien como la palma de la mana 0 Liam has
played for and against some of the greatest clubs in Europe and knows the game inside out. not know whether you are coming
or going (hob/ado) no saber 10 que se hace (literal: no saber 5i estas volviendo 0 estas venda) 0 The truth
is I'm so excited that I hardly know whether I'm coming or going.
knuckle near the knuckle (Brit) rayando en la indecencia (litera': cerca del nudillo) 0 There are important people who (ear the public will be outraged. . This kind o(material is very nearthe knuckle.
knuckles
* rap someone on the knuckles Ifwe find
echar
un rapapolvoaalguien o
the banl< made a mistake or was negligent, we will rap them on the lmuc/
labour Labour se escribe laboren ingles
aria antes de mork. Este papello interpretan a menudo sopranos corpulentas.
americano.
_* a labour of love un trabajo realizado par amor al arte 0 They
concentrated on restoring outbuildings such as the Victorian greenhouse, an expensive labouro(love. ~ Esta expresi6n aparece en la
§ Biblia (Epfstola primera a los
~ tesalonicenses, 1:3). Se refiere al ~ "trabajo de la caridad" (labour o( ~ love) de la gente (el trabajo que
§ hacen movidos por la caridad), y a ~ la intensidad de la confianza de la ~ genteenJesus.
lads one of the lads (Brit) uno de los amiguetes 0 He likes being one of the lads, you know, having pints down the pub.
lady it isn't over until the fat lady sings mientras hay vida, hay esperanza (literal: no se acaba hasta que no cante la senora gorda) 0 'Who
knows, Michael might (all 0(( and break
a leg,' hejoked. f\s they say, it isn't over until the (at lady sings.' EI origen de esta expresi6n es incierto, pero podrfa ser una referencia humorfstica al hecho de que en la parte final de las 6peras la herofna suele cantar un
lam' Lam es un termino argotico -americano que significa "huir",
on the lam (sobre todo EE UU) huyendo de lajusticia 0 He was arrested on Friday, after living on the lam since1999.
lamb like a lamb como un cordero
o She'd (allowed him likeo lomb. She hadn't asked him why he was taking her to a medical research laboratory rather than to a normal hospital or clinic.
lambs like lambs to the slaughter como borrego al matadero 0 The record companies have an easy life. We grovel and foJ/ow their every word like lambs to the slaughter.
land get the lay of the land 0 get the lie of the land enterarse del estado de las cosas 0 I'm not sure what's going to happen. That's why I'm coming in early, I want to get the lay of the land.
land-office do a land-office business (EE UU, anticuado) arrasar 0 The Paradiso, one of the capital's newest and most
lead
lane
166
luxurious clubs, was doing a land-office ~
En Estados Unidos, antes de la § guerra de Secesion, el gobierno ~ abri6 olicinas (land offices) que ~ vendfan los derechos de parcelas ~
situadas en el Oeste. Eran tantas
g las personas que querfan comprar § tierras para asentarse allf que ~ solfan formarse !argas colas frente ~ ala puerta de las oficinas antes de ~ que estas abrieran por la manana.
*
land in your lap caerte encima o These problems have landed in the
of Donald Jackson, an unassuming 'managerwith little international experience.
*
large
the fast lane la vida vivida a tope
were, large as life. larger than life singular 0
becoming a painter. 2 Fastlaneyslow/anesignifican, ~ respectivamente, "carril rapido" ~ y"carrillento".
~-----~
~---:------~
)
fall into someone'slap (aer a alguien como Ilovidodel (ielo (literal: caer en el regazo de alguien) 0 It would not be safe to assume that victory will fall into our lap at the next election. in the lap of the gods en e! aire (literal: en el regazo de los dioses)
o Once they had repaired my lung they
had to stop the operation. The liver is self-healing anyway, so at that stage, my lire was in the lop arthegads. ~ Esta expresi6n indica que e! § resultado final depende del azar, ~ pues sugiere que nadie sa be que § bendiciones cae ran del regazo de ~ los dioses hasta que dichas § bendiciones aparezcan en la tierra.
in the lap of lUXUry nadando en la
We don't live in the lap o(luxury, but we're comfortable. 0
( Larksignifica "alondra".
)
be Up with the lark (sobre todo Brit,
anticuado) levantarse can las gallinas (literal: levantarse con las alondras) oMost bakers are up with
*
Christmas hit parade.
*
*
a laundry list (sobretodo EE UU) una !ista interminable (litera': una lista de ropa para lavar) 0 This document is expected to set out a laundry list Of
reasons why shareholders should reject -+verdirty
En la antigua Grecia se asociaba el laurel al diosApolo. Losvencedores en los juegos plticos, celebrados en honordeApolo, reciblan coronas de laurel.
look to your laurels no dormirse en
stick to your last (anticuado) zapatero a tus zapatos 0 Looking back, I should have stuck to my last and gone on to get a research job in one of
the studios.
The City of London maintains a dominant role, but it must now look to its laurels.
los laureles
no dormirse en los laureles 0 The
2 Esta expresi6n proviene del
trouble with all successful restaurants, however, is the tendency to rest on their laurels and stagnate.
last ("que el zapatero se atenga a
~ su harma").
lather in a lather frenetico, acalorado o The truth Of the matter is that you
0
* not rest on your laurels
~ proverbio let the cobbler stick to his
law
*
autoritariamente 0 They were traditional parents, who believed in laying down the law fortheirchildren.
take the law into your own hands tomarse iajusticia porsu mana
o Could we have taken the law into our own hands and thrown the unwanted visitors out?
lay lead (~l-e-a-d-Si~g-n~il~ic-a~"-p~lo-m-o~'~'.------~)
laurels
last
~ 10 selva), de Rudyard Kipling.
lay down the law obrar
get the lay of the land -+verland
air your dirty laundry in public
the lark, but NeviJIeWilldns is in action hours before the rest.
~
~ la publicaci6n en 1894 de la obra
have the last laugh serel que rle el ultimo o Singer Des O'Connor is expecting to have the last laugh on his critics by soaring to the top of the
the bid . .
lark
( La palabra lap significa "regazo".
abundancia
John Huston
a larger-than-liFe character, whose
temperament was as dramatic as any Of the fictional figures in his own films.
lap
~ Esta frase se hizo popular a ralz de
§ titulada TheJungle Bool( (Ellibro de
laundry
larger
* was
to give it all up to rUlfil a dream or
The streets are subjectto the law ofthejungle and pOlicing has been entrusted to private law enforcement agencies.
laugh
o Tired orlire in the rast lone, Jock, a
fiFty-ish American businessman, decides
the law of the jungle la leyde la jungla 0
;: (uando los caballos tienen ~ mucho calor, el sudor que recubre ~ su pelaje a veces forma una ~ sustancia espumosa lIamada § lather.
large as life (Brit) en carne y hueso o I called on him one Friday night on some pretext or other and there they 0/1
lane
unto themselves - unaccountable in terms of where this money goes.
have spent the past six months working yourselfup into 0 lather over situations which are really none of your business.
Puede que esta expresi6n al la imagen de una mujerque se ocupa de todas las necesidades del nino que tiene sentado en su regazo.
business.
167
be a law unto yourself dictar tus pro pi as leyes 0 Most athletic departments are pretty much a law
§ En estas expresiones, lead se ~ pronuncia como red. go down like a lead balloon caer muy mal (literal: caercomo un globo de plomo) oAseniorsource
said the memo had gone down like a lead balloon. swing the lead (Brit) fingirse enfermo (literal: balancear!a plomada) 0 There is no question of
taking money away from those who are genuinely sick. We simply want to stop anyone swinging the lead. Antiguamente, cuando un barco estaba en aguas poco profundas uno de los marineros comprobaba la profundidad del agua lanzando por la borda una plomada (lead) Ilamada plumbline. A veces los
168
§ marineros se limitaban a hacer ~ oscilar la plomada, porque eran ~ demasiado perezosos como para
§ realizar correctamente dicha ~ tarea. La expresi6n plumb the ~ depths tambien se refiere a esta ~ costumbre.
leaf En las expresiones siguientes, la palabra leafse refiere a la hoja de un libra.
*
*
shake like a leaf ... vershake take a leaf out of someone's book seguir el ejemplo de alguien (literal: coger una pagina dellibro de alguien)
o I(he wants a better rapport with the British public, it's high time he took a leaf out o(Bruno's book and started doing game shows, even pantomimes. turn avera new leaf pasar pagina o The military leader said he and the king have agreed to turn over a new leaf in their relations with one another.
leaps
*
in leaps and bounds 0 by leaps and bounds a pasos agigantados 0 The US population grew by leaps and bounds.
lease
*
letter 169
leaf
Lease significa "contrato de arrendamiento".
be given a new lease of life (Brit) 0 be given a new lease on life (EE UU) ser revivido 0 The old oa/( table was picked up for just £4 and subsequently given a new lease of life by Kim's mother.
leash
beginning ofthe 1992 campaign, Dan Quayle was given Q longer leash than
ever before. keep someone on a short leash 0 keep someone on a tight leash corto a alguien 0 The government strove to impress the country with its
calm reasonableness and kept its . on a tight leash. strain at the leash saltar de impaciencia 0 The players had better
realise that we have enough youngsters straining at the leash to take their places i(they don't do their jobs.
least least said, soonest mended (Brit, anticuado) cuanta menos se diga, antes se arregla 0 Say nothing. Least said, soonest mended is what I always say. Especially in court.
leave be left in the dust (EE UU) quedarse
atras 0 The Canadian economy was left in the dust by the torrid pace o( expansion in the U. S. economy in the third quarter. § Cuando un vehfculo se aleja, ~ 0 cuando una persona sale
~ corriendo, las ruedas a los pies al
§ moverse levantan polva en la ~ calle.
left left, right, and centre (Brit) 0 left and right (EE UU) a diestro y siniestro 0 They're all expecting the state to payout money lett right and centre.
leg
( Leash significa "correa" (de perro).)
break a leg buena suerte (literal: rampete la pie rna) 0 Jason sent
give someone a longer leash dar maslibertad a alguien oAt the
Monday's show, with the greeting: 'Break a leg and enjoy yourself.'
Phillip a (ox (rom the airport beFore
*
'" Existen numerosas supersticiones ~ asociadas al teatro. Por ejemplo, ~ much as actores consideran de ~ mal aguero desearle "buena gsuerte" directamente a alguien. ~ asi que fingen desearle mala ~ suerte.
give someone a leg up dar un empujoncito a alguien 0 The mother seemed to think that her name had given her boy a leg up on the competition. ::0 Give a rider a leg up significa ayudar ~ a unjinete a subirse al caballo. not have a leg to stand on no tener donde agarrarse (literal: no tener
conpdent that his concept had legs, so he persisted and pressed MrCooperfor a meeting. on its last legs en las ultimas 0 By the mid-lg80s, the copper industry in the US was on its last legs.
leopard a leopard does not change its spots (sabre todo Brit) genio y figura hasta la sepultura (literal: un leo pardo no cambia sus lunares) 0 Women who believe they have tamed a 'wild' man are usually wrong. The c/ichethat a leopard doesn't change its spots still happens to be true. § EI profeta Jeremias usa una ~ variante de este proverbio en la
una pierna sobre la que aguantarse) o I haven't got a leg to stand on. I had
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Biblia (Jeremfas 13:23) para decir que los malvados no cambian. JeremIas pregunta "lMuda el cusita su pie!, 0 el !eopardo sus pintas?". EI profeta conc!uye que a las personas a las que han ~ enseAado hacerel mal, 0 que ~ siempre han obrado mal, les sera § diffcil hacerel bien.
no witnesses. pull someone's leg tomar el pelo a alguien (literal: estirar de la pierna a alguien) 0 Is he serious or just pulling our legs? Hay dos posibles explicaciones de ~ esta expresian, aunque no existen ~ pruebas de ninguna de elias. Se ~ dice que, antiguamente, cuando g ahorcaban a alguien los amigos 0 ~ los familiares del condenado a § veces Ie tiraban fuerte de las ~ piernas para que muriera ~ rapidamente y con menos ~ sufrimiento. La expresian ~ tam bien puede referirse a un ~ lad ran que Ie pone la zancadilla a ~ alguien antes de robarle.
§
talk the hind leg off a donkey (Brit) hablar por 105 cod 05 0 He could talk
letter a dead letter una ley en desuso (literal: una carta muerta) 0 In this cannict, international humanitarian law is a dead letter. Unacceptable practices are going on. ~ Las cartas que no se pueden ni ~ repartir ni devolver porque no
*
the hind leg ofF a donkey. It took real perseverance to get through to him on the telephone.
legs have legs tener potencial (literal: tener piernas) oMrBlucherwas
~ lIevan bien escritas las direcdones ~ se denominan dead letters.
follow something to the letter cumplir algo al pie de la letra
o Even if that international agreement
*
is followed to the letter, the ozone layer won't recover fully until the year 2060. the letter of the law la ley esc rita o The Home Office stuc/( to the letter of the lawoverthede(inition of dependants.
170
level
lightning
level on the level defiar 0 Walta minute, is this guy on the level or not?
licence La palabra licence se escribe license en ingles americana.
a licence to print money (sabre todD
little white lie is really mo.re OPP,'ODl'iati than the truth.
life
* fightVfor your life(literal:
debatirte vida la muerte luchar par tu vida) oA boy aged 15 was fighting
for his life last night but two younger . children were said to be out Of danger. frighten the life out of someone 0 scare the life out of someone dar
Brit) una mina de oro (literal: una licencia para imprimir dinero)
un susto de muerte a alguien
o Under this Government the privatised
a Further tests revealed that three
utilities have become a licence to print money at the expense of the consumer.
veins had furred up and I needed triple bypass surgery. It scored the life out Of me, get a life espabilarse Vhacer algo
lid
*
blow the lid off something 0 take the lid off something (Periodismo) exponer algo a fa luz publica (literal: quitar fa tapa a algo) o The Knowledge' is a new documentary series blowing the lid off music business scandals. keep the lid on something mantener Deulto algo (literal:
(literal: conseguir una vida) a It was six o'clock in the evening. I was still in my pajamas. Nicole looked at me, said she thought Iwas deteriorating, and
lie get the lie of the land ... ver land live a lie viviren la mentira aMy
* mother never told my father the truth
about me. We've been living a lie all this time, and now she has taken me from him. nail a lie (Brit, Periodismo) poner al descubierto una mentira (literal: clavar una mentira) a Top designer Calvin Klein is one of those he/ping to finally nail the lie that young is best. He hasjust appointed 40-year-old Lisa Taylor as his new top model.
a white lie una mentira piadosa
(literal: una rnentira blanca) o I believe that this is a case where a
put your life in someone's hands
tener el destino de alguien en tus manos a You feel a responsibility to
people because sometimes you're holding their life in your hands.
*
larger than life ... ver larger the life and soul of the party (Brit)o the life of the party (EE UU) el alma
*
poner tu vida en manos de alguien
oAfteral1 these years, do you take me fora fool?What mal
pluma a It wasa monstrous machine as large as the Albert Hall and as light as a feather.
the light at the end of the tunnel la luz al final del tunel aAfterhorrirc times we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
light dawns caer en la cuenta
o 'Oh!' she said, as if the light hod
risk life and limb arriesgar la vida
rnally dawned on her. 'I'm on the wrong noor, huh?' out like a light durmiendo como un
o He is not prepared to risk life and limb on this dangerous track to clinch the title, someone can't do something to save their life (hablado) alguien es un neg ado para algo (litera': alguien no puede hacer algo para salvar su vida) 0 He can't sing to save his life but he is a good guitarist.
*
take your life in your hands jugarse la vida aA rider who does
not know the road takes his life in his hands by cycling in the dark.
suggested I get a life. hold someone's life in your hands
mantener Ja tapa en algo)
o But I understand thatMurray was desperately trying to keep the lid on a potential scandal.
en la decada de 1880. Esta cancien describfa como serra la vida de Reilly si estefuera rico.
light
*
be given the green light recibir luz
Despite local planning opposition he has rnally been given the green light to develop a terrace ofn derelict houses he owns in South Kensington.
verde 0
oShe was having a very enjoyable time and was clearly the life
171
*
tranco a Dad gently closed the door again: 'She's out like a light,' I heard him whisper to my anxious mother. seethe light ver la luz a Christianity taught him values which theWest preached but largely ignored in practice. But he had seen the light and urged everyone to share it with him.
see the light of day ver!a luz del dfa a This book might never have seen the light of day without the enthusiasm, support,' and friendship of my editor, Daniel Bial. 2 nacer a Tens of millions of new souls are seeing the light of day in Africa alone each year.
1
lightning
de la fiesta
in the cold light of day pensarlo
lightning does not strike twice
and soul ofthe party. life is a bowl of cherries la vida es
can calma (litera': a la frfa luzdel dfa) a He has to sit down in the cold light of day and analyse what needs to
(litera':
be done to prevent the club from being relegated. a leading light (sabre todo Brit) una figura prominente 0 He is a leading light in thejust launched campaign to
performance. Lightning does not stril(e twice, particularly in big business.
un camino de rosas (literal: la vida es un tazen de cerezas) 0 Life's not
exactly a bowl ofcherries when you're an international champ. live the life of Riley darse buena vida (literal: vivir la vida de Riley) o He was living the life of Riley, enjoying holidays in Italy and trips to the theatre, while we had barely enough to eat. Puede que esta expresi6n venga de la cancien /sThat Mr Reilly, que se hizo popular en Estados Unidos
*
desgracias asf no suelen repetirse un ravo no cae dos veces en el rnismo sitio) 0 Observers reckon he will be very lucky to repeat the
a lightning rod for something (sobretodo EE UU) un blanco de
rid football of racism,
alga (litera': un pararrayos de algo)
g La luz que se colocaba a la ~ entrada de un puerto a de un ~ canal poco profundo para guiar a ~ 105 barcos se denominaba leading
a He told the Palermo court he was an
g light. light as a feather ligero como una
innocent lightning rod for Italy's many crime problems. like lightning como un ravo a I ran across that room like lightning and pushed backthecurtain.
172
line
lights
lights the lights are on but nobody is at home mas alia de la superficie esta faltando un mInima de inteligencia (litera': las luces estan encendidas
perc no hay nadie en casa)
o According to Harrington, many projects are not properly thought through: 'You get the feeling that the lights are on but no one's at home.'
lily
limits
*
line all the way down the line todo el ti.empo 0 It is the British government
. that has fought farreform all the way down the line. '
*
gild the lily embellecer 10 perfecto (litera': dorar el Hrio) 0 Here in Europe
I'm gilding the lily. There they really need
advice. ~ Puede que esta expresi6n este ~ basada en un parrafo de EJ rey ~ Juan, de Shakespeare (1595).
me that you would pre(erto stay in your present situation rather than go out on
Q
*
limb and try something completely
him before I did because they would have been arresting me. I would have torn him limb (rom limb.
;:: Existen diversas teorfas sobre el ~ origen de esta expresi6n. Puede ~ que guarde relaci6n con las § versiones tempranas del ten is, ~ en las que la pista no tenfa un § tamano determinado: los ~'jugadores acordaban sus Ifmites ~ y despues dibujaban las IIneas § correspondientes. Tambien puede gestar relacionada can la ~ costumbre del siglo XVI de marcar una Ifnea en un campo con un ~ arado para indicar los IImites entredos parcelas. Segun una § tercera posibilidad, se refiere a 105 ~ com bates de boxeo de otros ~ tiempos, en los que setrazaba § una linea en el suelo que ninguno ~ de los boxeadores podfa cruzar. ~ Puede que la expresi6n cross the g line se base en una idea similar.
line at running naked across the set!
~ hace referencia a una fila de ~ soldados que se espera que ~ actuen como una unidad.
the bottom line 10 fundamental (literal: la lInea final) 0 The bottom line is that the great maiaritv "f n,'w I<;no
g g
~ ultima linea de unas cuentas en la
*o
cross the line pasarse de la raya
The show's pretty outrageous, but I don't think it crosses the line.
No company wants to be the first to put its rates up. The companies who have tried have (ound themselves out on a limb. 0 It will be a great support (or parents or relatives who (eel they have been le(t out on a limb.
tear someone limb from limb despedazar a alguien (literal: arrancarle todos los miembros a alguien) 0 Police were lucky they (ound
oAndthen somewherea/ong I looked at what was really happening. be out of line (hab/ado) estarfuera de lugar o Addressing a (ellaw officer like that is out o(line, and I (or it, hear me? '
~ que consta la cantidad de dinero ~ que se ha ganado.
~ imagen de alguien que trepa p~r
find yourself out on a limb be left out on a limb quedarte solo
anything - although I think I'd draw the
~ Esta expresi6n se refiere a la
~ Aquf limb significa "rama" (de un § arbol). Esta expresi6n sugiere la
** o
along the line 0 down the line en algun momento
are physically unfit.
new.
~ una rama, alejimdose del tronco.
':*
~ En esta expresi6n, la palabra line
limb go out on a limb arriesgarse (litera': avanzar par una rama) 0 It seems to
0 The area kept o((limits to (oreignjournalists until early this year.
off limits prohibido
z despues 050 25 years down the line, you 100/< back and there's a sense that it was all better back then. draw the line 1 fijar eillmite (literal: dibujar la linea) 0 It is difficult (or charities to know where to draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable sources o( finance. 2 no aceptar 0 J'/I do virtually
draw a line in the sand establecer un limite (literal: trazar una linea en la arena) 0 It was time to draw a line
§ En esta expresi6n, Ja palabra line § se refiere a 105 com bates de boxeo ~ de otras tiempos, en los que se ~ trazaba una lInea en el suelo que ~ ninguno de los boxeadores podfa
in the sand, (orgetthe past, and worl< together. draw a line under something poner punta final a alga (litera': trazar una lfnea pordebajodealgo) oHesaid
§ cruzar. Puede que la expresi6n
*
~ draw the line se base en una idea ~ similar. down the line 1 masadelante o Whether that
happens (urther down the line we cannot say.
*
the document draws a line under the pain(ul chapters of our past and clears the way (or a new beginning. a fine line una lfnea muysutil
o There is a pne line between being
*
*
173
nicely looked after and being fussed over too much - so don't overdo it. get a line on someone (sobre todo EE UU) informarse sabre alguien o We've been trying to get a line on you, and the more we try, the less we find. in the firing line en la Ifnea de fuego o There comes a time in their lives when your children begin to test the influence they have over others and, as parents, you are first in the (iring line. in the front line 0 on the front line en la primera lfnea o Those in the (ront line of the British economy are united in believing that Britain must remain a (ull playing member of the EU. S Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de un grupo de sold ados que § estan en primera linea de fuego g durante una batalla.
in the line of fire en la lfnea de fuego oA11 very well to say that, when
you're not in the line o(fire like me. EE UU) en funcionamiento 0 We expect to be on line as export numbers build up with a capacity to produce tens of thousands
* on line (sobre tada
* aftannes offeed.
put something on the line 0 lay something on the line 1 poner algo en peligro 0 He had put his career on the line and rwasn't
prepared to allow what he had done to be diminished in signipcance. 2 hablar con franqueza 0 You have to put your emotions on the line with love, but he cannot do this. Origina!mente, puedeque la expresi6n lay it on the line estuviera relacionada con los juegos de azar. Significaba hacer una apuesta en eljuego de dados denominado craps, 0 en el mostrador de apuestas de un hip6dromo.
174
shoot a line (Brit) marcarse un farol o He'd been looking for new blood {or his office in Vienna. That was the line he shot, though Imowing him, I'm sure he
*
loaf
linen would be the weal< link in thE' partn"".
lion fight like a lion lueharcomo un jabato (literal: lueharcomo un
had an ulterior motive. sign on the dotted line estampar Ja firma 0 Once you sign on the dotted line you are committed to that property. step out of line pasarse de la raya
o She would have fought like a lion
*
* o Values and traditions were accepted
2 Esta expresion praviene de la ~ fabula de Esopo titulada Elle6n ~ 10 vaca, la cobra y /a oveja, en la ' ~ un leon sale de caza can otras ~ animales y se queda con la ~ en lugardecompartirla con sus ~ compaFieras.
and agreed by everyone. If you stepped
aut arline, you knew what to expect. ~ En esta expresi6n Ja palabra line ~ hace referenda a una fila de ~ soldados, de los que se espera que
*
~
actuen como una unidad. toe the line acatar las normas o Journalists who refuse to toe the line will have to be sacked.
* la boca del lobo (literal: mE'tp,,",," walk into the lion's den meterse
la guarida del leon) 0 The Minister walked into the lion's den of his press accusers, looked them in the eye, and
~
AI inicio de una carrera, los ~ (arredores esperan en una hilera ~ con los dedos del pie colocados ~ justo detras de la linea de salida.
fought back. ~
Esta expresion praviene del ~ bfbHeo sobre Daniel (Daniel 6), el ~ cual fue arrajado al foso de los ~ leones porque se nego a dejar de ~ rezarlea Dios. Sin embargo, Dios § 10 protegio Vlos leones no 10 2 ataearon.
linen wash your dirty linen in public -+ verdirty
lines
*
on the right lines 0 along the right lines (Brit) por buen camino (literal: por las Ifneas correctas) 0 Sometimes al/ you really require is just a friendly voice to tell you that you are on the right lines. read between the lines leer entre IIneas oHewasreluctanttogointo details, but reading between the lines it appears that the Bank of Eng/and has vetoed any idea Of a merger between British banks.
link
*a
weak link un punto debil 0 It was automatically assumed that EdWard
protect her son. the lion's share la parte del leon b Defence has taken the lion's share this year's budget.
sse supone que no darmuestra
galguna de emoci6n es una ~ caracterfstica tfpica de los ~ ing!eses.
*
pay lip service to something 0 give lip service to something
defender algo de boquilla (literal: These agreements give lip service to money going back to the people. But there is not even a formula for how it would be determined. g Esta expresion (en la que service hanrar algo con los labios)
0
throw someone to the lions 0 Tanya exactly why she's been thrown to the lions. She traces it back to quotes she made about the business that were reproduced out ofcontext. ~ En tiempos de los romanos V en ~ otras epocas pasadas, algunas
§ personas eran arrojadas al foso de ~ los leones.
Scottish-born winner sinceTommy Armour in 1931. on someone's lips 1 en bocadealguien o The question on most people's /ips was not whether there would be war but when it would it break out. 2 en la punta de la lengua de alguien 0 He stopped in the dressing
button your lip no decirni mu
(literal: abotonar ellabio)
digo (literal: leeme los labios)
0
He hod
prueba de fuego (litera': una prueba de tornasol) 0 The success of wind
power represents a litmus test for renewable energy.
live live and breathe something vivir pory para algo (literal: viviry respirar alga) 0 Williams lived and breathed motor racing.
lives
the end, although he has shown he is a political cat with for more than nine lives.
room beside their bedroom, hung his coat over the corner chair, his apology already on his lips. read my lips escucha bien 10 que
lip
a litmus test (Periodismo) una
j (Marcos 7:6). lick your lips relamerse
*
*
have nine lives tener siete vidas (literal: tener nueve vidas)
lips
lions
litmus
significa "respeto"), tiene su ~ origen en la BibHa: "Este pueblo ~ con los labios me honra .. :'
~
o His home supporters licked their lips in anticipation ofthe first
alguien a los leones
oNlrBush won the White House in 1988 thanks, in large part, to his now infamous pledge 'read my /ips: no new taxes'. someone's lips are sealed alguien es una tumba (literal: los labios de alguien estan sell ados) oAs for anything told to me in confidence, well, my /ips are sealed.
the grace and good sense to button his lip, even th~ugh this clearly caused him personal pam. keep a stiff upper lip mantener el tipo (literal: mantener ellabio.de arriba rfgido) 0 I shared myfeelmgs with no one because I had always
believed in keeping a stiff upper lip, and putting an my best face farfomily and friends.
175
o I think this is probably going to be
~ Esta expresion viene del dicho a
~ cat has nine lives ("un gata tiene ~ nuevevidas"), empleado para ~ decir que los gatos parecen
~ sobrevivir a muchas situaciones ~ peligrosas.
loaf half a loaf is better than none menos da una piedra (literal: media barra de pan es mejorque ninguna)
o I'm very disappointed that all we have in the form aftest matches ;sjust one
solitary test, but half a laafis better than no loaf, and we are happy that at least we are getting this test.
176
lock
luck
lock
*
poco de otra a The prime minister's speech was long on words bUit silO"· n. solid action.
lock. stock. and barrel con todo incluido (literal: seguro, culata y can6n) 0 It would have been much
long as your arm largufsimo (literal: largo como tu brazo)
easier for us to have shut the business
a The phone's been buzzing non-stop, I've a list ormessages as long as my
down lock, stock and barrel, and to have saved our cash and not paid a dividend.
lockstep
look give someone a dirty look 0 give someone a filthy look echar
Lockstep significa "marcha
cerrada".
una mirada de odio a alguien
was being a real pain. Michael
in lockstep (sabre todo EE UU) en paralelo oMany criminologists argue
that suppart (or the death penalty moves in lockstep with the crime rate.
a dirty laalwnd walk,,! au!t al'th" kit:che
looked
*
loggerheads
* aSocial workers and doctors are at
He became a professional photographer in 1978, and has never looked back.
loggerheads over how well the new S En la epoca medieval,!a palabra ~ loggerhead se referfa a un . ~ instrumento compuesto de un § mango largo con una cazaleta
loop
*
out of the loop fuera del grupo de gente informada (literal: fuera del lazo) a He is out of the inner loop, and it irks him.
§ bataBas, la cazaJeta se lIenaba de
~ brea hirviendo y se echaba sobre § e! enemigo.
loins
throw someone for a loop 0 knock someone for a loop (sabre
gird your loins 0 gird up your loins (Periodismo,
tada EE UU) dejar a alguien
The banker was surprised to rnd Johnson in his usual high spirits. IrKravis's offer had thrown him fora loop,johnson wasn't letting it show. pasmado a
litera rio) apretarse los machos a He is girding up his loins ror another round
~ largas tunicas que se ataban con
~ un cintur6n (girdle) cuando ~ trabajaban 0 viajaban.
loose
* have
be on the loose andar suelto a You
long
*
be long on one thing and short on another tener mucho de una cosa y
in the loop en el grupo de gente informada (literal: dentro del
a There are ways that are being out to make sure that the Congress is (ully in the loap.
~ redonda en un extrema. En las
a(high-Ievel meetings. § Esta expresi6n se usa varias veces ~ en la Biblia. los hebreos lIevaban
have never looked back haberte ido sobre ruedas (literal: no haber echada nunca la vista atras) a
be at loggerheads estar a matar
system will work.
a
*
to wake up every day knowing that whoever carried out those awfUl murders is still on the loose. a The problem is high-spirited youngsters on the loose in the country's leary lanes. cut loose deshacerse a Italy has not
cut loose from the ERM as determinedly as Britain. hang loose tranquilizarse aGet something to eat and come back to the office. And hang loose.
Lord
....
take the Lord's name rn varn -+vername
*o completely (familiar) lost
lose
lose it I
perder los papeles it. I went mad,
berserk. I was shouting and swearing. o He wal/
losS
'* women also race language barriersa These and at a loss sin saber que hacer
are at a loss to Imow where to go for help.
'77
throw in its lot with other Community states on derence matters. § Antiguamente, la palabra lots § hacfa-referencia a objetos como
g trozos de paja 0 de papel usadas ~ al tamar una decision. (ada lot ~ representaba, porejemplo, un
~ terreno 0 una accion. Todos estos ~ objetos sejuntaban, y luego se § escogfan al azar para decidir ~ quien recibirfa los terrenos 0 § que accion se lIevarfa a cabo.
loud
* message must come across loudaandTheclear loud and dear alto y daro
from the manager: No matter how hard Iask you to work, I work as hard or harder.
love all's fair in love and war todo vale en el amory la guerra
a He appears
to live by the boorish credo that all is
at a loss for words -+ verwords a dead loss una completa inutilidad
fair in love and war. And being cruel to mistresses and wives isn't wrong.
o politics is in crisis, and politicians are a dead loss.
for love nor money por nada del
losses
*(literal:
cut your losses cortar por 10 sano cartar las perdidas)
0
Only
you can decide if you should push on to the end of your degree or cut your losses and get out.
10;.-t-:--c:--:--~-=~ En ingles americana, lot significa "parcela".
all over the lot (EEUU) portodas partes a IBM's investments have been
all overthe lot - in pber-optic technology, data-retrieval systems, computer networks and so on.
* throw in your lot with someoneThat unirse a la suerte de alguien
0
does not mean that France is ready to
mundo (litera': ni por amorni por dinero) a You won't get a room here,
* not for love nor money.
there is no love lost between them
a there is little love lost between them na se pueden ni ver 0 There
was no love lost between the country's two most powerful politicians. ~ Original mente esta expresi6n
~ tenfa un significado opuesto al
~ actual. sona significar que dos
§ personas se gustaban mucho.
luck down on your luck una mala racha
a Even when people are down on their
luck, they deserve the same human courtesy that any of us would expect. the luck of the draw cuesti6n de
178
lucky
suerte (literal: Ja suerte del sorteo)
better acquaintance, you may decide that there's no basis (or a real friendship with a col/eague. That'sjust
o On
* seen as a man who is out
the luck orthe draw.
§ Esta expresi6n se refiere al acto de § sacar una carta al azar de una ~ baraja.
the nation that there is no such ' a free lunch and lecturing us on the virtues ofsound economics. § Esta expresi6n se remonta
lucky
*
§
Los orfgenes de esta expresi6n se
~ remontan a la minerfa en el sigle
§ XIX. Se refiere a alguien que
~ economista estadounidense ~ Milton Friedman la us6 en la ~ decada de1970.
lurch
*
§ encuentra 105 minerales 0 el ~ petro/eo que estaba buscando. ~
La expresi6n strike oil se baSil
~ en la misma idea.
~ lurch cuando un contrincante ha ~ obte.nido ,51 puntos antes de que § el pnmerJugadorhaya § conseguido 0 bien obtener31 ~ puntos 0 mover la clavija ~ alrededorde la primera esquina § del tablera usado para anotar la § puntuaci6n.
gusta, te aguantas 0 I(vou're a shareholder in the club then you have
some sort of say in the way things are run. But as a paying customer you like it or lump it. a lump in your throat un nuda en la
out to lunch como una regadera o He has railed to rulnl his role os the
mayor who could take charge. He is
oMy secretary left me in the lurch on Friday and I haven't found a replacement yet.
a alguien en la estacada
~ cribbage, unjugader esta in the
like it or lump it (familiar) si no te
lunch
leave someone in the lurch dejar
~ En eljuego de
lump
garganta oMeg felt a lump in her throat. She was going to miss Dot, even though the two ofthem had never been particularly close.
mfnimo a 1840 en Estados
~ Unidos. Recientemente volvi6 a § popularizarse cuando el
strike lucky 0 strike it lucky (Brit) tener suerte o I arrived at 12.30 to give myse/ftime to find a parl
*
to lunch.
there's no such thing as a free lunch no te regalan nada (literal' no existe el almuerzo gratis) 0 Tt,'e government has spent 74 years telling
lying
*
not take something lying down no aceptar algo sin rechistar
(litera': no aceptar algo acostado) o It is clear that he means to push everyone out who does not agree with him, and I for one am not going to take it lying down.
mad
don't get mad, get even no te
Use these bad feelings that you have. Don't get mad. Get even.
enfades, vengate 0
§ Se cree que esta expresi6n
~ praviene del tenaz politico ~ estadounidense de origen ~ irlandesJoseph P.l
man the man on the Clapham omnibus (Brit) el hombre de la calle (literal: el hombre del autobus de Clapham)
o The wealthy and powerful never liked the man on the Clapham omnibus knowing what they were about. ~ Clapham es una zona de Londres,
~ mientras que omnibus("omnibus")
§ es una palabra anticuada que § significa "autobus". no use to man or beast 0 no good to man or beast un inutil complete (litera': no es bueno ni para los hombres ni para las bestias)
mad as a hatter (sabre todo Brit) mas loco que una cabra (litera': mas loco que un sombrerera)
o Circumstances had compelled him, much against his will, to take no less than six beginners, some of them firstvoyagers, of no use to man or beast.
o Her sister's as mad as a hatter and if you ask me she's not much better herself
~ Esta expresion esta sacada del ~ antiguo proverbio When the wind is
~ En el siglo XIX, los sombrereros
~
(hatters) usa ban nitrato de
~ ~
§ mercurio para tratar algunas ~ telas, como el fieltro. Esta ~ sustancia es venenosa, y si los ~ sombrereros la respiraban podfa ~ producirles lesiones cerebrales. ~ Poresta razon solla creerse que @ estaban locos.
mad as a hornet (sobretodo EE UU) mas cabreado que una mona (litera': mas cabreado que un avisp6n) 0 Bob grinned. '1'/1 bet he's as mad as a hornet."He did not sound at
all pleased:Jerrv admitted. =:
Hornet significa "avis pan".
*
in the east, 'tis neither good for man
nor beast ("Cuando sopla viento ~ del este, no es bueno ni para los § hombres ni para las bestias").
someone's right-hand man el brazo
He was always by her side, and supported her in everything she did. He was her righthand man, her business manager, and he travelled with her everywhere. derecho de alguien 0
Existen varias explicaciones posibles de esta expresion. Una de elias es que ellado derecho del cuerpo se asocia tradicionalmente
180
masters
map
~ ala habilidad
y a la fuerza. Otra es
other countries will be anrJOvI'd thn, th ei rj aP" ne"wom flet it'"'s ha o'e orl~e again stolen a march on them.
g que podrfa referirse al soldado
~ responsable del flanco derecho ~ de un escuadron de caballerfa. ~ Asimismo, tiempo atras la
§ Cuando un ejercito se desplaza
§ secreto y coge al enemigo por
g derecha del lfder en reuniones
~ sorpresa se dice que dicho
~ polfticas 0 sociales estaba ~ consideradaellugardehonor.
map
* put someone or something on the map dar a conocer a alguien 0 alga (literal: poner a alguien 0 alga en el mapa) 0 The rim which really put
~
mark
* (litera':
a black mark un punto n~gativo una marca negra) oAny complaints, you got a blac/( mark straight away, it didn't mattel'wl,ptl,,,. they were valid or not.
Ellen Barkin on the map was The Big Easy.
~ Puede que esta expresi6n se
~ refiera a una antigua costumbre ~ escolar. Si un alumno se OOlrt"", ~ mal, el maestro ponla una
marbles have all your marbles mantener las facultades mentales (literal: tener
§ negra junto a su nombre en una
todas las canicas) 0 The producer
s: lista.
MirianAdhtar has found four
be on the mark dar en el clavo
particularly fearless old ladies; and they have all their marbles. lose your marbles (familiar) perder
oMichael is right on the mark about movies being out ofstep with American culture.
la chaveta (literal: perder las canicas) oAt 831 have not lost my
first off the mark el primero en actuar 0 The fine art season began
marbles and my memory is, thank God,
yesterday, and Christie's were first Off the mar/< with a coJ/ection of seven paintings by Paul Cezanne. get off the mark (sobre todo Brit) 1 comenzar 0 Don't waste time with small talk; get offthe mar/( right away.
as clear as it ever was. pick up your marbles and go home
(EE UU) abandonartodo y largarse
(litera': recoger las canicas V marcharte a casa) oMany people regard a U.S. presence as a desirable counterweight. No one wants the U.s. to pick up its marbles and go home. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
~ a!guien quejuega a las canicas V
~ se enfada al perder, por 10 que ~ deja dejugary se Ileva las canicas ~ para que nadie mas pueda seguir ~ jugando.
march
*
steals a march on the enemy.
steal a march adelantarse (literal: robar una marcha) 0 Investors from
marl< significa
~ colocan 105 corredores al inicio de
.-If-.leave your mark. 0 • le.ave a mark deJar huella (literal: dejar una marca) 0 He now has five
up to the mark a la altura de las circunstancias 0 They get rid of those
:;: En esta expresi6n ~ "blanco" (de tiro).
more years in office and would stiJI dearly like to leave his mar/( on the world. 0 I lived abroad, in Asia, forfour years, and this is an experience that tends to leave its mark. rnake your mark dejar huella 0 The article looks at the new generation Of Japanese directors mal
*
oMussels are sometimes called 'Poor Man's Oysters', but I think that name is way off the marl<.
whose work is not up to the mark. ~ En esta expresi6n la palabra
§ oficial que se graba en las piezas ~ de oro y plata.
* o For once,
wide of the mark lejos de la realidad it seems that theirfigures
are not too wide of the marlc ;:.:; En esta expresi6n mark significa ~ "blanco" (de tiro).
marker
*
o Iquite unwittingly overshot the mark,
~ "blanco" (de tiro).
the mar/( but overall they do more good than harm. § En esta expresi6n, la palabra marl<
*
~ se refiere a la linea tras la cual se ~ colocan los corredores al inicio de ~ una carrera. Tambien podrfa ~ referirse a los com bates de boxeo ~ de otros tiempos, en los que se § trazaba una linea en el suelo que ~ ninguno de 105 boxeadores podia ~ cruzar.
§ se refiere a la linea tras la cual se
quick off the mark (sobretodo Brit) muy vivo 0 These price cuts are great news for the holidaymakerwho is quicl<
~ colocan los corredores al inicio de
offthemarl<.
~ una carrera.
slow off the mark muy lento
o International relief efforts on behalf of
the refugees were slow off the mark. ~ En esta expresi6n, la palabra marl< ~ se refiere a la linea tras la cualse
put down a marker dejar constancia (literal: colocar un poste indicador) 0 Having considered
carefully his every word, I can now put down my marker. I simply do not believe he says what he means.
and I still feel embarrassed about it. s En esta expresi6n marl< significa overstep the mark pasarse de la raya () Sometimes newspapers overstep
marl<
~ significa "contraste", 0 sfmbolo
overshoot the mark excederse
ser el primero en anotar, ser el primero en ganar 0 The goal was
hit the mark dar en el clavo oAs with the rest of the book, the idea is there, but the result doesn't hit the marl<.
~ una carrera.
off the mark lejos de ser cierto
2
Atkinson's second of the season, I got off the mark against Ipswich Town on Saturday. § En esta expresi6n, la palabra mark
181
market
*
in the market for something dispuesto a comprar algo o If you're
in the market for expensive skin care list includes some of the most well known.
products, the following
marrow En estas expresiones marrow significa "medula". chilled to the marrow (sabre todo Brit) helado hasta los huesos oAn
icy wind murmured through the trees. Lenny was chilled to the marrow of his bones. to the marrow completamente
o Iwas thrilled to the marrow when the invitation arrived.
masters serve two masters servir aDios y at diablo (literal: servir a dos senores)
mat
182
middle
o But there is something more fundamentally wrong: Sir Nicholas is expected to serve two masters: politics and the law. ~
Esta expresi6n aparece en la
~ Biblia (Mateo 6:24, Lucas 16:13). En eJ Serm6n de la Montana, Jesus ~ dice que ningun hombre puede ~ servir a dos senores, porque ~
g aborrecera a unoy amara al atro.
mat go to the mat (sobretoda EE UU) luchar como un jabato (literal: caer en la colchoneta) 0 Librarians have
gone to the mat for us and I'm determined to do my bit to help them meet the demand for the books. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere a un
g luchador que combate con fiereza
~ y esta dispuesto a arriesgar una ~ carda.
match
* meet your match encontrar la horma de tu zapata When I got into 0
the room with Wesley, it was almost like looking into a mirror for me. I had finally met my match in power and intellect.
~~ escribiera Es posible qq.~u~ei~e~l,~~~~I~~~.~~~I~;:'~ 0 i ~ ~ ~ ~
En el siglo XIX, un fabricante de whisky apellidado Mackay anunciaba su praducto COllloth. real Mackay para distinguirlo de § otras marcas con nombres ~ similares. Esta expresi6n ~ podria provenirde una ~ entre las dos ramas del clan de ~ Mackay sobre cual de las dos ~ mas antigua. Finalmente los ~ MacKay de Reay, a "los aut:ent:ico< ~ Mal
meal make a meal of something (sobre tOdD Brit) exagerar alga o~llexan'ler.
has made such a meal out o( a mildly mistaken newspaper report. a meal ticket algo que te da de comerporvida (literal: un vale por una com ida) 0/\ degree he,s neverb,,,n
a meal ticket, butthe recession ''',eo"',,"a life (or graduates tougher than a square meal una comida ue,:enI. a The troops are very tired. They
a shouting match una pelea de gallos (literal: una disputa a gritos) a We didn't want to get into a horrible
had a square meal for four or five days.
shouting match with the university.
~ madera.
the whole shooting match todo a I
filled in my donor card, tiC/(ing the whole shooting-match, from kidneys to liver. ~ Puede que esta expresi6n haga
~ referencia a alguien que gana ~ todos los premios en un concurso ~ de tiro.
McCoy the real McCoy el autentico (literal: el autentico McCoy) a You can buy prosciutto anywhere, but ifyou want
~ Antiguamente, las tripulaciones
~ de los veleras camian en pll',to,s de
meaning someone does not know the meaning of the word alguien no sa be 10 que significa oShe is an
optimist; Ruthie doesn't even know the meaning of the word depression.
means by fair means or foul par las buenas o por las malas aShe never gave up trying to recover her property, by fair
means orfoul.
misma moneda (literal: darle a prabar a alguien su prapia medicina) a The
''''t:C'~U re
for good measure par anadidura
cowardly thugs who mug old people
o This is a (airly conventional love story, with a murder mystery thrown in for good measure.
*" have the measure of someone a (literal:
tener alguien calado tener las medidas de alguien) 0 LUi was the only person I knew who had the
should be given a taste of their own medicine with the return o( corporal punishment.
melting pot (Melting potsignifica "crisol".
measure o( her brother.
very disappointed. The whole business has been put into the melting pot again.
be the meat in the sandwich (Brit)
men dead men tell no tales los muertos
companies are the meat in the sandwich in a fight involving contractors and the provincial government. dead meat (familiar) hombre muerto (literal: carne muerta) a He's dead meat i(he
1
comes back here. 2 condenado aAnyonewho remembered her said she was dead meat. meat and drink to someone (sabre todo Brit) un placer para alguien o What normal people considered pressure was meat and drink to Robert Maxwell.
*
no hablan a Hanley told police the gun went off accidentally while Mr Khan was playing with it. 'These statements were a cover-up,' Mr Spencer told the jury. 'Hanley l
~ EI autor romano Lucrecio dijo en
~ De Rerum Natura: "Lo que para
§ unos es alimento puede serun § amargo veneno para otras".
medicine give someone a taste of their own medicine pagar a alguien con la
ejecutivos (literal: los hombres de traje) oA lot of young people feel detached (rom older politicians - the
men in suits. separate the men from the boys ver quien es hombrey quien no (literal: separar a los hombres de los ninos)
one man's meat is another man's poison 10 que a uno cura a otro mata (literal: la carne de un hombre es el veneno de otro) aArt is everywhere. Because it is a question of personal taste, the cliche of one man's meat being another's poison is in this case especiallyfitting.
)
in the melting pot (sobretodo Brit, Periodismo) sabre el tapete a I am
meat
e"star atrapado entre la espada y la pared (literal: ser la carne en el bocadillo) 0 These oil and gas
183
o This is the game that will sort out the men (rom the boys. It is absolutely vital to win thereplay and get to the final.
messenger shoot the messenger matar al mensajera a I don't ma/
- don't shoot the messenger!
mickey
*
take the mickey (sobre todo Brit) tamar el pelo a He started taking the
mickey out ofthis poor manjust because he was bald.
middle
*
in the middle of nowhere en el
midnight
184
*
miracles
quinto pine 0 When I was 14, my family moved away (rom Glasgow to a village in the middle ofnowhere.
sirve lIorar por la leche u'n~c~:~~~ o But a rueful Mr Phelps r€
for him, 'it didn't work, did it? use crying over spilt milk.' milk and honey (literario) vacas gordas (literal: leche y miel) 0 days ofmilk and honey are backleast for us equity salesmen in
middle-of-the-road
de centro 0 He is a moderate, middle-of-the-road person who
1
understands both sides afthe
discussion. (or the most part, ordinary middle-of-the-road people who want the usual things out 2
comun o These are,
star. One in a million.
illstone
~ Biblia para describir la Tierra
g Prometida de los israelitas.
*
§ (Exodo 3:8)
midnight
milk and water (sabre todo Brit) (literal: leche y agua) 0 Fryer dismissed the report as milium" """0"
burn the midnight oil quemarse las
pestanas (litera': que mar el aceite 0
Chris is burning
the midnight oil trying to rnish his article on the Bosnian situation. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
i
make mincemeat of someone hacer picadillo a alguien 0 I remember
adicional (litera': recorrer una milia mas) 0 I discovered that going the
extra mile has always been the hallmarl< of successful people. a mile off a la legua 0 You can spot undercover cops a mile off. run a mile (sobretodo Brit) salir pitando (literal; correr una milia)
o He liI
miles miles away pensando en otra cosa (literal: a millas de distancia) 0 Her
mother was pacing up and down and seemed miles away. She hadn't noticed them at all.
milk it's no use crying over spilled milk a 10 hecho pecho (litera'; de nada
*
Esta expresion hace rpferc'nr;, ~ grana que se convierte en ~ en un molino. run-of-the-mill corriente V m"IiP'nt<
mind
*
01 wasjust a very average run-of-themil/kind of student. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n aluda ~ la imagen de un molino deagua § que hace los mismos ~ movimientos continuamente V ~ forma regular mientras el flujo ~ agua no cambie. Tambien es ~ posible que provenga del uso ~ Frase run-of-the-mill en Estados ~ Unidos como termino para ~ referirse a la madera que se ha § cortado en un aserradero pero § que aun no se ha clasificado.
million a chance in a million una posibilidad entre un millon olt is
amazing really. He had a chance in ci
*
blow Vour mind «(amiliar) dejar alucinado (literal: fundir la mente)
mind's eye, sitting in your rat alone.
*
*
keep in mind that some places are more problematic than others for women travelling a/one. the mind boggles te quedas alucinado 0 The mind boggles to think
Of mind over matter.
*
mind that she might be lying about her age. 0 It evidently never crossed his mind to enter politics.
have a one~track mind no tener mas que una idea en la cabeza
keep something in mind tener presente algo 0 Go where you like, but
mind over matter el poder de la mente 0 Good health is simply a case
people.
about it, the more upset she became. She would like to go out and give him a piece of her mind.
Those places are so dangerous that no one in their right mind would go there unless they had to.
what they could eventually achieve.
cross your mind ocurrfrsele a alguien 0 The thought crossed my
give someone a piece of your mind decir cuatro verdades a alguien (litera': darle a alguien un pedazo de tu mente) 0 The more she thought
in your mind's eye en tu imaginacion (litera': en eJ ojo de tu mente) 0 I can Often see you in my in your right mind en su sana juicio
o Oxford really blew his mind. He loved the (eeling o(the place, he loved the
*
Esta expresi6n se refiere ~ probablemente a un ferrocarril de g via unica que solo permite que los ~ trenes (irculen en una direccion.
*o
old Fiona made mincemeat of him at a dinner party without him even realizing.
~
go the extra mile hacer un esfuerzo
a millstone around your neck una cruz a cuestas (litera': una piedra de molino al cuello) 0 Long-term illness
En ingles britanico, mincemeat significa "carne picada".
Shirley. 'Single parent, no money, and a boyfriend who beat me up.'
mile
Mil/stonesignifica "piedra de molino".
can make you feel like a millstone around your family's necks.
o 'Oh I've been through the mill,' said
~ alguien quetrabaja hasta bien ~ entrada la noche a la luz de un ~ quinque.
~
mincemeat
mill go through the mill pasarlas canutas (litera': pasar par el
track mind for scoring goals.
one in a million unico (litera': uno en un mill6n) oAt25, Bernstein wasa
~ Esta expresi6n se emp.lea en la
o(li(e.
de medianoche)
million of surviving. We are so relieved he is all right.
185
mind your p's and q's ... ver p out of your mind loco 0 When her
boss told her she would have to reduce her salary, she snapped, f!.re you out of your mind?' 0 I was out army mind with fear, I didn't know what to do. slip your mind olvidarse 0 The reason for my visit had obviously slipped his mind. that's a weight off my mind eso me quita un peso de encima
o Armstrong heaved a sigh ofrelief, That's a weight of{my mind.'
minds
*
in two minds (Brit) indeciso 0 Roche was in two minds whether to make the trip to Oslo.
miracles work miracles hacer milagros
o Saunders is the complete modern
o This beauty cream really works
striker, busy, quick, and with a one-
miracles and freshens up my face.
186
misery
motions
put someone out of their misery acabar con los sufrimientos de alguien oAlmostl,oOO British school
leovers Qwaiting exam results were today put out oftheir misery. 0 There
dinero como si fuera agua) oShe spends money lii
una sabre otra al tirar de una
throw good money after bad echar
cuerda a izar una vela.
la soga tras el caldero 0 We are not offering any more cash; we don't want to throw good money after bad.
were at least a dozen pills in the bottle,
money for old rope (Brit) dinero regalado (literal: dinero
surely enough to put her out of her
viejas) 01 had al",av,; b,·/iel'edthatth
misery.
fashion mode/'sjob was money for old rope.
miss
*
imagen de un marinero que mueve las manos continual11pn,"
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
misery
~ Antiguamente, los marineros
miss the boat perder el tren (litera': perder el barco) 0 Critics would say
~ deshacfan trozos de cuerdas ~ viejas y vendfan las hebras a los ~ astilleros. Estos trozos de cuerda ~ se clavaban en los huecos que se ~ abrfan entre las tablas de las ~ cubiertas de los barcos, y luego ~ cubrfan de brea para sellar las ~ cubiertas y volverlas estancas.
that both Congress and the White House have seriously missed the boat on this set Of issues over the last few years.
mockers put the mockers on something (sabre toda Brit) dar al traste con alga 0 Paul put the mocl
money is the root of all evil el dinero es la raiz de todos los males
o I believe the amount involved in this
everything was under-salted. ~
project is a substantial sum, and is the root of all evil, as they say.
EI origen de esta expresi6n es
~ incierto, pero se cree que!a § palabra mockers podrfa venir del
~ Este proverbio tiene su origen en
~ yiddish.
money be right on the money (sabre toda EE UU) dar en el clava 0 His analysis
was right on the money. ~
Esta expresi6n se usaba
~ original mente para describir una § apuesta que acertaba del todo.
have money to burn sobrarte el dinero (literal: tener dinero para quemar) 0 It's certainly a ridiculous
*
*
~ una epfstola de san Pablo a su § discfpuloTimoteo (Primera a ~ Timoteo, 6:10).
money talks poderoso caballero es don Dinero (literal: el dinero habla) oAs far as he is concerned, moneytal/{5 and he can do what he likes.
put your money where your mouth is predlcar can el ejemplo (litera': ponerel dinero donde esta la boca) o If the minister is 50 keen on the school
he should put his money where his mouth is and give us more resources.
figure. I'd expected something like £30 or £40. They must have money to burn,
the smart money is on something or someone la gente que entiende
these people. make money hand overfist ganar dinero a espuertas 0 North Carolina National Bank is making money hand
apuesta par alga 0 alguien
The smart money is on him losing his seat to the Labour challenger.
over fist in Texas.
agujero en el bolsillo (literal: gastar
0
spend money like water tener un
*
187
monty the full monty (Brit) todo completo
o Ran sang 'MyWay' right thraugh,
from the simple piano intro to the big orchestral finish, the (ull monty.
moon
throw money at something
askforthemoon pedirlaluna
inyectardinero en algo 0 The government's answer to the problem
o We're not asking for the moon, but we
are asking for some help so that we can continue to progress.
has been to throw money at it.
howl at the moon pedirperas al
monkey
olmQ (literal: aullarle a la luna) o You need to adjust your expectations and stop howling at the moon.
have a monkey on your back (sabre
todo EE UU) tener un problemazo (literal: tener un mono en la espalda) 0 The whole medical system that has become a monkey on the back of people without an adequate income.
once in a blue moon de Pascuas a Ramos 0 I only get over to Cambridge once in a blue moon and I'm never in London.
make a monkey out of someone poner a alguien en ridlculo (literal: convertir a alguien en un mono) o Ifit makes any difference, I'm not here to make monkeys out of the police, I'm a
cop myselF monkey business tejemanejes (literal: negocios de monos) 0 You try any monkey business and you're in trouble, right? not give a monkey's (Brit, familiar) no importar un rabano 0 They said they would not injure the child, but they didn't give a monkey's about what they did to me.
~
*
oSo many banks try to lure customers by promising the moon.
moth like a moth to a flame como moscas a la miel (literal: como una mariposa a una llama) 0 The bright
lights o(west London drew Kharin lil
a month of Sundays 1
thinl< I know what you're about,' he growled, 'but it'll never work - not in a month o(Sundays.' 2 nunca 0 "
de contento (literal: sabre la luna) o I'm overthe moon about the way this
promise the moon prometer el oro y el moro (literal: prometer la luna)
month
a manth a(Sundays.
over the moon (sobre todo Brit) loco
album turned out.
throw a monkey wrench into the works -+ ver wrench
una eternidad (literal: un mes de domingos) 0 Torrential rain and jetblack skies can mai(e each day seem like
En algunos lugares, si haydos ~ lunas Henas en un mes, la ~ segunda, muy poco habitual, ~ se denomina blue moon ("luna ~ azul").
motions
*
go through the motions hacer las
Many of the students who did attend classes with any regularity werejust going through the motions. casas par inercia 0
188
mould
musIc Esta expresi6n viene de! prcJVerbi,
mould
*
En estas expresiones mould significa "molde". Mould suele escribirse mold en ingles americana. break the mould romper el molde o His stated ambition is to create a
third party and break the mould of us two-party politics. they broke the mould when they made someone rompieron el molde despues de hacer a alguien 0 He is a
most remarkable man. They broke the mould when they made him.
mountain
"La fe mueve montanas",
en las palabras de JesCis a sus discfpulos. (Mateo 1]:20).
mouth he's all mouth and no trousers
pantalones) oMsCul1nil1ahiam I to
with the matter, and accused him of being "all mouth and no trousers", be foaming at the mouth 1
Smith will be punished; you are making a mountain outofa molehill.
down in the mouth (Brit) deprimido oAsforGeorge, I hear he's
the mountain must go to Mohammed la montana ira a Mahoma 0 The mountain must go to
rather down in the mouth.
§ Estas expresiones estan basad as
§ demostrara su poder hacienda
getting the casserole from the oven. The fragrant steam made his mouth water. o The zoo's site in Regent's Park would make any developer's mouth water.
~ que la colina de Safa se acercara ~ ael.
a mountain to climb (sabre todo Brit) un desaffo que hay que superar (literal: una montana que hay que escalar) 0 We nearly beat Warrington
in the Cup last season and although it's a mountain to climb, we can do it.
mountains
*(Periodismo)
the movers and shakers los que mueven los hilos oShe and her husband have
become movers and shakers behind the scenes ofthe Labour Party. §
shoot your mouth off
He'd been shooting his mouth Off saying he could sing, when of course, he couldn't. 2 hablar mas de la cuenta 0 What if he decides to try for a little more money. or to shoot his mouth Off around town?
1 fanfarronear 0
move mountains mover montanas
talk out of both sides of your
o We should 01/ repeat nve times a day, 'It is possible to change!With this belief, you can move mountains.
mouth (EE lJU) decircosas contradictorias (literal: hablar por los dos lados de la boca) 0 One of
Esta expresi6n proviene del
~ poema Ode (Oda) eserito par ~ Arthur O'Shaugnessy en 1874.
muscles
*
be dragged through the mud tener el nombre ensuciado (Uteral: ser arrastrado porel barro) oOne
music
*
doesn't like to see an admired institution dragged through the mud like this. mud sticks (sabre todo Brit) 10 malo se peg a 0 Whether he's innocent or not, some of the mud has stuck.
~ Puede que, en esta expresi6n,!a
of the guests didn't bother to dress up. What stick-in-the-muds! throw mud difamar(literal: lanzar barro) 0 The newspaper and magazine articles that followed were especially vicious, with supporters of both stars quick to throw mUd.
murder
*
she gets away with murder se Ie consiente cualquier cosa 0 His charm
and the fact that he is so liI
face the music afrontar las consecuencias 0 The authorities had found us out and we were about to face
the music.
astick-in-the-mud una persona poco aventurera (literal: un palo en el barro) 0 It was such a shame many
*
flex your muscles haceruna demostraci6n de fuerza (literal: tensar los musculos) 0 It's time to
flex your muscles and show the world what you are capable Of
mud
de rerr 0 You'll laugh out of the other side of your goddam mouth afterthis game. make your mouth water hacersete la boca agua oShewas bent down
~ Mahoma, a! que pidieron que
movers
laugh out of the other side of your mouth (EE UU) quitarsete las
§ en una historia sabre el profeta
~ se derive de ta blasfemia en ~ frances morbleu, la cual es a su vez § una variante de mort Dieu. Bleu es ~ un eufemismo usado en lugarde ~ Dieu, poria que morbleu significa ~ literal mente blue death, 0 "muerte § azul".
mal(e it back in time for the match.
estarespumajeando o ,;telvartw,
make a mountain out of a molehill hacer una montana de un grana de arena (literal: hacer una montana de una topera) 0 It's unlikely that
Mohammed; we'll send a man tomorrow.
get a move on darse prisa 0 You'd better get a move on if you're going to
foaming at the mouth aa['u[ ,'n at the hospital t~:~;~~~i~~:;:[~~;:;~::, 2 estar entusiasmado the newspaper had foamed at the mouth in favour Of agreement with Fascist countries.
screaming blue murder about the amount oftromc going through their town. ~ Puede que la expresi6n blue murder
move
boca (literal: es todD boca
that the FirstMinister had
scream blue murder (Brit) poner el grito en el cielo (literal: gritar asesinato azul) 0 People are
Larry's problems is that he spea/(s out of both sides afhis mouth. At Harvard he panders to the students with his radical ideas. But then, in the outer world, he . has to pull back from these positions.
(Brit) se Ie va toda la fuerza par la
189
*
~ "musica" se refiera ala orquesta ~ de una opera a de un musical. ~ La orquesta se sienta frente al ~ escenario, de modo que cuando ~ un interprete esta de cara al ~ publico, tambien esta de cara a la ~ orquesta, 0 "de cara a la musica" ~ (facing the music). Asimismo, ta ~ expresi6n podrfa provenirde una § costumbre militar segun la cual ~ un soldado separado del servicio ~ porconducta deshonrosa era ~ expulsado mientras redoblaban § los tambores. music to your ears musica celestial
o The judge's words were music to the
ears of the accused.
190
mustard
mustard not cut the mustard no dar la talla (literal: no cortar la mostaza) 0 You have to be on (orm every week and
people soon start noticing i(you're not cutting the mustard. ~
En Estados Unidos, la palabra ~ mustard se empleaba tiempo atras ~ como terminG arg6tico con el ~ significado de "10 mejor", 0 "10 ~ autentico".
muster
* one country hosseryetaceptable theOnly pass muster
0
to fUlfill oil
membership requirements, but it is expected to pass muster soon.
En el ejercito y en la marina de guerra, la palabra muster significa "revista", 0 inspecci6n de los uniformes y del equipo de soldados y marineros.
mutton mutton dressed as lamb (Brit) vejestorio emperifollado (literal: cordero vestido de ovejita) o This woman is older than me, heavier than me and ;s mutton dressed as lamb.
Mutton es la carne de una oveja adulta, mientras que lamb designa tantoa la carne de un cordero como al propio animal.
nail
"* another nail in the coffin otro paso hacia Ja destrucci6n (litera': otro clava en el ataud) 0 The vote is another nail in the cOffin o(the oneparty system which the country has noW largely renounced. hit the nail on the head a hit it on the nail dar en el clava o I agree with Dr Carey, everything he says. / think he's hit the nail right on the head. 0 'It sounds as {(he almost depended on you as much as you depended on him.''Youjust hit it on the nail.' onthenail 1 (Brit) a tocateja 0 You have to pay cash on the nail sometimes, and this was one ofthem. 2 en punta 0 'When did Captain Schmidt come to seeyou?"Six o'clock, just about on the nail.'
~ Puede que esta expresi6n se @refiera a 105 mostradores ~ cilfndricos denominados nails que § a veces usa ban 105 comerciantes ~ de Ja Edad Media. Cuando se ~ habra acordado un precio, el ~ dinero se depositaba sabre eJ ~ contador para que todos ~ pudieran ver que se pagaba la § cantidad correcta.
name
* famoso makea name for yourself hacerse OianeAbbott has made a 0
name for herself as a hardworking MP.
*
the name of the game 10 mas importante (literal: el nombre del juego) 0 In the current economic climate, survival is the name of the game. a name to conjure with (sabre todo Brit) un personaje importante 0 His partners are serious about his potential as a name to conjure with in the scent
market. ~
En esta expresi6n, la importancia ~ y Ja influencia asociadas a una ~ persona 0 a un objeto se ~ consideran una especie de poder ~ magico que es posible invocar aJ ~ usare! nombre de dicha persona a § de dicho objeto.
not have a penny to your name a not have a cent to your name no tener d6nde caerse muerto (literal: no tener un penique a su nombre) o He didn't have a penny to his name. someone's name is mud alguien tiene muy mala prensa (literal: el nombre de alguien es barro) 0 His name has been mud at the TeJegraph since he lett to work for a rival newspaper. Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera al doctor Samuel Mudd. JohnWilkes Booth, el asesino de Abraham Lincoln, se rompi6 la pierna mientras intentaba escapar yfue atendido por el doctor Mudd. Pese a desconocer 10 que habra hecho su pacientey
192
names
nerves
~ obrarde buena fe, Mudd fue
~ encarcelado y tanto el como su ~ familia fueron odiados durante
§ muchos ailos. take God's name in vain a take the Lord's name in vain
thin/
near be so near and yet so far fracasar
tamar
el nombre de Dios en vano 0 He persevered, and a/ways gently corrected us when we tool< the Lord's name in
vain. take someone's or something's
pesar de haber estado tan exito 0 It was a crushing exp'eri"nCl'tn have victory snatched away I such , desperate manner. It's heartbreaking be so near and yet so far.
neck
name in vain faltar al respeto a alguien 0 alga 0 Let's remember that
breathe down someone's neck
expresi6n proviene del
§ segundo de 105 Diez
~ Mandamientos, segun el eual no ~ sedebetomarel nombrede Dios § en vano (Exado 207).
names
*
call someone names insultar a
oAt my last school they caJ/ed me names because Iwas so slow.
alguien
napping be caught napping ser cogido desprevenido (literal: ser cogido durmiendo la siesta) 0 European firms have been caught napping. As a result, they now control barely onetenth o(the world market while Japanese firms control nearly half o(it.
nature that's the nature of the beast asf
son las cosas 0 Baker likes to say that negotiations always get tougher towards the end. That's the nature o( the beast.
navel navelwgazing mirarse al ombligo o I'm very good at motivating people to do things, so I'm a doer rather than a
*
~
Se dice que dos caballos van
g igualados (neck and neck) cuando
~ estan exactamente al mismo ~ nivel y es imposible decircual esta ~ ganando la carrera. put your neck on the block .... ver
nelly
(~A~v-e-c-e-s-n-el-IY-S-e-e-s-c-ri-b-e-n-el-lie-,----)
that motorcycle. someone could wring sorneone's . Mecko someone would like to wring someone's neck a alguien Je
not'on your nelly (Brit, ant{cuado)
ni hablar 0 They finally become adults, thanks to 01/ your hard work, and do they turn up rot mum's birthday? Not on your nellie.
encantarfa retorcerle eJ pescuezo a aJguien 0 That crazy Dot! He could wring her neck (or this! She had no right to tell tales to his mother! stick your neck out «(amiliar) arriesgarse (literal: sacar el cuello) oAt the risk ofsticl
"*
1
what we do (rom this point is being done in the name ofjustice. Let's not take her name in vain. @ Esta
pisarle los taJones a alguien 0 No doubtJones and Armstrong maintain a consistently high standard because both have talented rivals breathing down their necks. 2 no dejar a alguien ni a sol ni a sombra oMostfarmers have bank managers breathing down their necks, so everything has to have an economic reason. dead from the neck up (Brit, familiar) zoquete ol(you want my opinion, your lawyer is dead from the neck up. get it in the neck (Brit, (amiliar) cargarsela 0 This film is an attack on the media, especially the television news media. It's quite nice to see them get it in the neck (or once. neck and neck a la par (literal: cuello a cuello) 0 The latest opinion polls show both parties running neck and neck.
risk your neck jugarse el peUejo
o I won't have him risking his neck on
S Esta expresi6n podrfa tenersu
~ origen en el boxeo, ya que los ~ boxeadores tienen que protegerse ~ el cuello y la barbilla para evitar g los golpes de sus contrincantes.
*
this neck of the woods «(amiliar) estos pagos 0 What's there to do in this neck o(the woods?
§ Esta expresi6n proviene quiza ~ del argot rimado empleado por
~ los cockneys (habitantes del este ~ de Londres). Not on your Nellie Duff § qiJieredecirnotonyourpuff,quea ~ su vez significa "desde luego que § no".
nerve
*
nerve here at the Capitol.
nerves a bag of nerves (Brit) 0 a bundle of nerves un manojo de
*
~
Esta expresi6n se origino en ~ Estados Unidos. La palabra nec/( ~ viene de na/ack, que significa ~ "punta" 0 "esquina" en ellenguaje § de los indios algonquinos.
needle
block
like looking for a needle in a haystack como buscar una aguja
put your neck on the line jugarse el pelJejo 0 Gere put his necl< on the line to make Sommersby. It was a gamble, both in terms o(his public image and his wallet.
en un pajar 0 Police have told Mrs Barrow that searching for the cat will be like looldng for a needle in a haystack. The chances o(recovering the animal are slim.
touch a nerve 0 touch a raw nerve meter el dedo
en la lIaga (literal: tocar un nervio) o Buchanan's speech touched a raw
up to your neck in something
(familiar) hasta el cuello en alga o The Prime Minister was up to his neck in scandal. your neck of the woods (familiar) tu zona 0 I discovered, however, that stone troughs were pretty scarce in my nec/< o(the woods and expensive as well.
193
*
nervios 0 What's the matter?You're a bundle o(nerves. get on someone's nerves poner a alguien los nervios de punta 0 The phone used to get on my nerves - people ringing him at home as if!t was an extension Ofthe Office. live on your nerves (Brit) vivir en estado de tensi6n constante 0 Once this is all over and done with I've told her she's to go into the clinic for a complete rest to get her strength back, because she's living on her nerves. a war of nerves 0 a battle of nerves una guerra de
nervios 0 In the war o(nerves between the two sides, it is becoming more and more difficult to separate their real intentions (rom their propaganda tactics.
194
nod
nest
nest
agarrar el taro par los cuernos
(literal: agarrar la ortiga)
feather your nest hacer su agosto
to grasp the nettle, speak to your superior and make it clear you regret
(literal: emplumarel nido) 0 The politicians seem anxious to (eathertheir nests at the expense of the people.
your mistake and are determined I never happen again.
~ Algunas aves recubren sus nidos ~ con plumas suaves que se ~ arrancan de! pecha 0 que recogen
~
~ 5i se coge una ortiga con fuerza
§ menos probable que pique quesi ~ se roza ligeramente.
del sueJo.
fly the nest 0 leave the nest dejarel nido o When their children had nown the nest, he and
new .. .is the new... (Brit, familiar) nuevo ... 0 Forty is the new thirty. Everyone knows that. This is boom
his wife moved to a thatched cottage in Dorset. foul your own nest (litera rio) tirar piedras contra tu propio tejado (literal: mancharel nido) oMan has
invented a hundred brilliant ways of fouling his own nest - the pollution, the heat, the pOisons in the air, the metals
*
net
*
"*
news
*
nice nice as pie un en canto (literal: bonito como una tarta) 0 He is nice
de acci6n (literal: arrojar una red mas amplia) 0 The u.s. has casta
wide diplomatic net, asking a variety o( other nations to deliver the same message to Iran and to Syria. slip through the net 1 (Brit) colarse 0 It's hard to knock the selection process because the chances o( any young talent slipping through the net are so minimal. 2 (sabre todo Brit) escaparse o Government officials (ear some o( the criminals identired by British police may have slipped through the net.
grasp the nettle (sabre todo Brit)
be news to someone pillar a de nuevas (literal: ser noticia alguien) 0 When he was told about story, the governor said it was news to him. no news is good news la falta de noticias es una buena senal 0 I had heard nothing all week. 'Oh well,' I thought. 'No news is good news:
casta wide net ampliarel campo
nettle
*
for MiddleYouth.
in the water. a nest egg unosahorros(litera': un huevo en el nido) oAII he wanted was a few months decent money to help him retire. He thought this was his last chance to build a nest egg.
0
as pie when you meet him, then you hear he is going around bad-mouthing you.
niche
*
carve a niche a carve out a niche hacerse un hueco (literal: escuJpir un nicho) 0 He has carved a niche for himsel(as an ABC television commentator and is certain to be I(ept on as long as the network continues to broadcast Saturday matches.
nick
*
in the nick of time justa a tiempo o She woke up in the nick o(time and raised the alarm.
nickel
nickel and dime (EE UU) 1 de poca manta oA lot ofAmerican {(ids run similar nickel and dime ventures, selling sweet, cool drinks outside their parents' home in the long, hot summers. 2 exprimir 0 Oakland, like other cities, has been reeling from rnancial crisis and consequently has been nickel and diming essential services for years.
nineteen talk nineteen to the dozen (Brit) hablar par los codas oMs Wallace visited her on February 28th and (ound her'vivacious and chatty and talldng nineteen to the dozen'. § Esta expresi6n sugiere la idea de ~ usar diecinueve palabras para ~ decir algo que la mayorfa de la ~ gente dirfa con dace. No esta ~ claro porque se escogio el ~ numero diecinueve en lugarde § cualquier otro.
g Nickelydimesignifican,
~ respectivamente, "moneda de
§ cinco centavos" y "moneda de diez ~ centavos". a wooden nickel (EE UU) algo falso
nip nip and tuck muy renido 0 It was nip and tuck throughout as the players
o sin valor (literal: una moneda de cinco centavos de madera) 0 not to be worth a wooden nickel novaler un pimiento oHelookedatthecardas
struc/( the ball with equal venom. ~ ~
§ un golpe masfuerte. Otra posible ~ explicacion es que proviene de la ~ hfpica, donde significa 10 misma § que neck and neck.
nits pick nits ser quisquilloso (literal: coger liendres) 0 He then spent the second hal(o(his interview picking nits,
fall like ninepins (Brit) caer como moscas (literal: caer como bolos)
o Conservative council seats (ell /ike
particularly about the environmental impact on 'the beautifUl' Bluebell Hill.
ninepins.
nines dressed to the nines a dressed up to the nines de punta en blanco 0 Everyone is dressed up to the nines. Huge hats, (rills, tight dresses, sequins and high heels. Existen muchas explicaciones posibles sabre el origen de esta expresi6n. La mayorfa guarda relaci6n can el numero nueve, pero ninguna ha sido aceptada de forma generalizada.
com bates can espada, en los que
§ nip significa un toque leve y tuc/(
night
ninepins
Una posible explicacion de esta
~ expresi6n es que viene de los
though it were a wooden nickel. That doesn't prove a thing,' he said.
a night owl un trasnochador (literal: un buha nocturno) 0 The street noise and late-night parties make this hotel a haven for night owls.
195
nod get the nod recibir !uz verde
0
We'll
hold offinterviewing Hythe any further
*
until we get the nod (rom you. give someone the nod dar luz verde a alguien (litera': asentir can la cabeza)
0
0ftheJ5 members of the
committee, 01/ seven Republicans are prepared to give him the nod. a nod and a wink (Brit) una sutil seiial (literal: una senal can la cabeza y un guina) oA nod and a
196
nose
noises
wink from the chairman is all it takes to move share prices up or down. a nod's as good as a wink a buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan
o Professor Mason WQS a very shrewd
to cut offhis nose to spite his face by leaving Nevil/eout of the match, but he does want the player to realise the error
you to keep your nose clean. keep your nose out of something no meterla nariz en alga 0 Nancy realized that this was his way of telling herto keep her nose out of his business. keep your nose to the grindstone batir el yunque (literal: mantener la nariz en la piedra de afilar) 0 There is more to life than keeping your nose to the grindstone and saving for a rainy
de tu nariz) 0 Time to act your age. You're too busy thinking about you and about everything to do with you that you don't see beyond the end of your nose. on the nose exactamente (literal: en la nariz) 0 This is Radio One FM. Precisely on the nose seven sixteen.
orhis ways.
day.
~ En esta expresi6n, spite significa ~ molestar 0 disgustar adrede.
~ Esta expresion hace referencia a
cut off your nose to spite your face tirar piedras contra su propio tejado
(literal: cortarse la nariz para daf'iar
wink.
Esta expresion viene del dicho a ~ nod's as good as Q wink to a blind § horse, que indica que resulta inutil ~ tanto asentircon la cabeza como ~ guliiarel ojo, ya que un caballo
nose no vermas alia de tu ombligo (literal: no ver mas alia de la punta
nose
get his own way, a nod was as good as a ~
en Has (litera': mantener lim pia la nariz) 0 The best advice I can give is tell
Christmas, we would scour the house searching al/ the nooks and crannies' trying to find our presents.
and skilled operator, and i(he wanted to
. la' cara) 0 The manager does not Want
§ ciego no podrfa ver ninguno de los
g dos gestos.
, dejarse guiar por el instinto (literal: seguirtu nariz) 0 I'd started a
treaty through on the nod. ~ Esta expresi6n podrfa tener su
~ origen en las subastas, en las que ~ los postores asienten con la
~ cabeza para indicarque quieren ~ comprar alga.
noises
* (literal: make noises
andarcomentando hacer ruidos) 0 Your credit
card is over the limit and the bank manager is making noises about your overdraft. make the right noises decir 10 correcto 0 The President was making al/ the right noises about multi-party democracy and human rights.
nook every nook and cranny hasta el ultimo rinc6n (literal: cada rincon y cada grieta) 0 I do love how he knows every nook and cranny of Venice and can speak such good Italian.
nooks
*
the nooks and crannies los recovecos (literal: los rincones y grietas) 0 In the weeks before
~ ~ ~ ~
follow your nose
on the nod (Brit) sin discusi6n o The party cannot be seen to let the
*
197
lead someone by the nose manejar a alguien a tu antojo (litera': conducir a a!guien tirando de su nariz) 0 The Government has let itself
(literal: subirse a la nariz de alguien) o This producer looks as ifhe's going to
~ lIevan un anillo en el hocico para
get up everybody's nose. He has only been here for a few hours and already he has been babbling about 'discipline' to Annie. give someone a bloody nose (Brit) 1
dar un escarmiento a alguien
be led by the nose by the timber trade into suppressing the report for the narrow commercial advantage of those involved.
*
nariz) oMost are so fed up with this
2 infligiruna derrota a a!guien
o Giving the national army a bloody nose is one thing. Taking on its full might is another. keep your nose clean no meterse
*
Los taros yotros ani males a veces
~ poder atar una cuerda al anilto y ~ conducirlos. Esta expresi6n ~ aparece en la obra de § Shakespeare Otelo (acto I,
(literal: hacer sangrar a alguien de la new tax that they are threatening to give the Government more than a bloody nose in the forthcoming byelection.
~ Cuando un programa empezaba a ~ su h~ra, el productorse lIevaba un ~ dedo a la nariz para indicarselo a ~ los lac uta res.
una persona que se inclina sabre la piedra de afHar mientras trabaja, can la nariz cerca de dicha piedra.
bit ofjournalism, so I had a source Of income. And I've just followed my nose doing that ever since. 2 irtodoseguido oMoreorless follow your nose till you come to Marks and Spencer's. Bear right there. And it's there. get up someone's nose (sobre todo Brit, Familiar) poner negro a alguien
§
~ Esta expresi6n tiene su origen en
:g los programas radiofonicos.
*
§ escena III) look down your nose at someone or something mirar a alguien 0 algo porencima de! hombro 0 The minister and his intellectual friends still look down their noses at Disneyland and theAmerican soap operas such as Santa Barbara. a nose for something olfato para alga 0 Harry runs his own news agency in the north. He has a well-trained nose
ror a story. not see beyond your nose a not see beyond the end of your
*
pay through the nose for something (familiar) pagar un ojo de la cara par alga (litera': pagar par la nariz par alga) 0 It looks as though those taldng out new insurance policies on their houses, cars, boats and planes will be paying through the nose. poke your nose into something a stick your nose into something meter las narices en alga 0 If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me for poking my nose into other people's business. put someone's nose out of joint molestar a alguien 0 Gillian's sons were resentful oftheir new step-sisters. Barry had his nose put out ofjoint by Lucy's aloofsophistication, although she was hisjunior. rub someone's nose in it restregarselo a alguien 0 You
obviously delight in the dereot
*
or a
fellow perFormer!And proceed to rub his nose in it, don't you? thumb your nose at someone or something burlarse de alguien 0 alga 0 There is a hard-core oFyoung persistent offenders, and too many of them are simply laughing at authority and thumbing their noses at the court.
198 ~
nutty
nowhere To thumb your nose at someone
~ significa literal mente hacer un ~ gesto grasero que consiste en
~ coleear la punta del pulgar en el ~ extrema de la nariz, abrir los otros § dedos y moverlos.
* turn up your nose at(litera': something hacerle ascos a alga
torcer fa
Even in the United States top-night university graduates nariz ante alga)
0
turned up their noses at businessjobs and tried instead to get into government service.
* under your nose delante de las
0 Then suddenly I knew what had been going on here al/ along, right
narices
under our noses.
nowhere
*
from nowhere 0 out of nowhere de la nada 0 I
remember looking both ways before crossing and seeing nothing. The car came from nowhere and hit me.
nuclear go nuclear (sabre todo Brit, familiar) ponerse hecho una Furia (literal: usar armamento nuclear) o Since I
dropped the pictures oft I've been
wearing Q crash helmet in case you go nuclear. On a scale Often, how angry are you at me (orthem?
nudge a nudge and a wink a nudge-nudge, wink-wink tu ya me entiendes (literal: un codazo y un guino) 0 The article then listed a series o{nudge-nudge, wink-wink rumors that
insinuated that the Prime Ministerwas having an affair. Esta expresi6n se hizo popular debido ala serie camica britanica de la decada de los setenta
tituladaManty Python's Flying
Circus. Uno de los personajes de
un episodio hada comentarios insinuantes y despues decfa
nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more. A veces la gente se da codazos (nudge each other) 0 se guina e! ojo (wink at each other) para insinuar algo.
number
play the numbers game dar cifras (fiteral:jugar aljuego de los numeros) oSince everyone plays the
numbers game differently, there is hot debate about the real volume ofsales. § En Estados Unidos, las frases
§ number's gamey number's racket se
be a back number ya no s-ervir
~ refieren a una loterfa ilegal. Dicha
o Lester is 55 in November, but I don't
§ loterfa consiste en apostar
think that will make much difference. He's a great jockey and won't be a bac/( number even at that age. ~ Back numbersignifica "numero ~ atrasado" de una revista 0 de un ~ peri6dico.
do a number on someone (familiar) montarsela a alguien (literal: hacerle un numero a alguien) 0 The Irish team are looking to do a numh'mm;
~ pequenas cantidades a una serle ~ de numeros que aparecen en ~ determinadas secciones del ~ peri6dico del dfa en que se ~ apuesta, como porejemplo las § cifras de la Boisa.
nut
do your nut (Brit,familiar) salirte de tus casillas (literal: hacertu nuez) wanted to ask Lorraine out and I
England in Dublin tomorrow.
0'
have someone's number tener calado a alguien (literal: tener el numero de alguien) 0 If they have your number (rom the start, and it is a small hotel, you are bound to get extra
a tough nut to crack un hueso duro de roer(literal: una nuez dura de cascar) 0 Despite not having won Q
attention. look after number one 0 look out for number one anteponer el propio interes (literal: cuidar del numero uno) oMypriority is to loa/( atter number one- to create a lifestyle I
am happy with. someone's number is up Ie ha lIegado la hora a alguien (literal: ha salido e! numero de alguien) 0 'Oh,
Nancy, we're safe!' breathed Bess. " thought {or a while our number was upI' Esta expresi6n proviene de la vida en la marina de guerra 0 en el ejercito. Se decfa que un sold ado o un marinero que hubiera muerto perdfa ellugarque se Ie habfa asignado en el comedor ("su numero en el comedor").
international singles, making him a
numbers
*
knew that Wendy would do her nut if she round out.
title o(note, Harrington has taken 17-5 points {rom a possible 20 in
199
tough nut to crael<.
nuts
*
the nuts and bolts of something los aspectos practicos de algo (literal: las tuercas y tornillos de algo) oSure/y you have to work out the
nuts and bolts Of something before you can commityoursei(to it? 0 I'm a nuts and bolts politician. I always have been.
nutshell
* (literal:
in a nutshell en pocas palabras en una cascara de nuez)
oShe wants meto leave the company. I wantto stay. That's it in a nutshell.
nutty nutty as a fruitcake (Brit, (amiliar) como una regadera (literal: con mas nueces que una tarta de frutas)
o Despite his maddening fidgeting, the
man is a charmer - intense, funny, and nutty as a fruitcake. Nutty a nuts son palabras coloquiales que significan "loco". Nutty tambien significa "que !leva muchas nueces", como suele suceder con las tartas de frutas.
open ~ Plutarco 10 mencion6 hacia el ana
~ 9s d . de c.:"lPorqueecharaceite
~ en el mar 10 apacigua y 10 calma?"
strike oil encontrar petr61eo oA
neW generation of high-tech billionaires struc/( oil in the information industries ..: computers, microchips and software. Esta expresi6n se emplea a § menudo en su senti do literal. §
oaks
desacuerdo con alguien
has reportedly been at odds central government both militari/v' an" politically. pay over the odds (Brit) pagaren
great oaks from little acorns grow
a mighty oaks from little acorns grow las grandes cosas siempre suelen comenzar de forma modesta (literal: los majestuosos robles crecen a partir de pequefias bellotas) 0 Henry Ford did not start his operations by opening hundreds of
*
demasfa (literal: pagar mas que I apuestas) 0 Over the years, LO/lan'n',
home owners have got used to having pay over the odds for their property. ~ Esta expresi6n se refiere al
factories in his ffrst year. Remember,
~ de pagar mas del precio aC("d"do ~ al apostar a un caballo en una
mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow.
s carrera.
oar put your oar in (sabre todo Brit) entrometerse (literal: meter el
He let them say their piece without putting his oar in; he is remo)
0
obviously a good listener. ~ Esta frase viene de la antigua
~ expresion have an oar in every man's § boat, que significa "entrometerse ~ en los asuntos de los de mas".
odds
* at odds with something sin
corresponderse con alga 0 His
out/ool< on life was pessimistic, quite at odds with his wife's out-going personality. at odds with the world descontento
0
We are more inclined
to blame a feeling of being at odds with
the world on a headache or upset stomach, ratherthan the other way round.
* be at odds with someone
estar en
* ono OnetheAmerican off-chance visitor had turned up por si acaso
on the off-chance of catching a
of the princess.
oil like oil and water como agua y 0 He and the General did along. The two were like oil and together. he's no oil painting (Brit) no es ninguna belleza 0 I started seeing a guy who was no oil painting but wonderfully bright and interesting.
aceite
pour oil on troubled waters los animas (literal: echar aceite en aguas turbulentas) 0 He is an
extremely experienced politician, who some diplomats believe may be able to pour oil on the troubled waters. ~ Echar aceite en aguas agitadas
~ puede calmarlas. EI autor 9 I
omnibus the man on the Clapham omnibus .... ver man
oncecover give someone the once~over echar un vistazo a alguien o Penny gives me
the once-over. I'm wearing a bright jacket that'll go down well with
European viewers, she says.
one
old
old as the hills de los tiempos de
be one up on someone !!evar
Maricastana (litera': tan viejo como las colinas) 0 Theirequipment may be
ventaja a alguien
modern, but the techniques remain as old as the hills,
olive
* 'We are holding out an olive branch,
an'olive branch una rama de olivo
o inviting the landowners to talk. We are trying to break the deadlock.' En la historia del Diluvio Universal ~ (Genesis 8:11) se relata c6mo Noe § solt6 una paloma para ver si ~ encontraba alguna porci6n de ~ tierra. 5i la paloma encontraba g la tierra, ello significarfa que Dios ~ habfa perdonado a 105 hombres. ~ Cuando la paloma volvi611evaba g un ramo verde de olivo en el pica, ~ de modo que Noe supo que las g aguas habfan disminuido. §
off-chance
201
0 Just because you met somebody doesn't mean you know anything about them."No, but you're oneup on the person who hasn't met them.'
get it in one (Brit) acertar ala primera 0 'Is that a Birmingham accent?' Iasked, explaining that all my family were originally from that part Of the world. 'You got it in one. Igrew up in Birmingham.'
put one over on someone meterle un gol a alguien 0 Clarf< insisted: 'It's nice to put one over on your old boss but Idon't hold any grudges.'
onions know your onions (Brit, anticuado) conocer a fonda tu oficio (literal: conocer tus cebollas) 0 It shows she
really knows heronions in the historical field toa, ~ Puede que esta expresi6n se
Omelette suele escribirse omelet en ingles america no.
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs no se puede hacer una tortilla sin romper huevos
o You can't make an omelette without
breaking eggs - you just have to break as few as possible. Even so, it seems wrong to put a major road through such beautiful countryside.
§ derive del argot rimado empleado ~ por 105 cockneys (habitantes del
§ este de Londres). En dicho argot, § onion rings significa things.
open be wide open estar completamente 0 The Tories breathed a sigh of relieflast night as two polls showed the election race was still wide open.
abierto
blow something wide open
l
I
202
order
revolucionaralgo oPameia has blown the old newsreader image wide
Esta expresi6n guarda relaci6n con el ejercito. Cuando a un soldado se Ie ordena ponerse en marcha, se dice que Ie han dado marching orders.
1
open. 2
destapar algo
0
Has it occurred to
you that he can blow the operation wide open? leave yourself wide open 0 lay yourself wide open dejarte
completamente expuesto
0
organ the organ grinder's monkey (Brit) un mandado (litera': el mono del organiliero) 0 'Do you feel that
The
statement leaves us wide open to attack. open-and-shut claro (literal: abriry cerrar) 0 The prosecution behaved as if they had an open-and-shut case. ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
En esta expresi6n, la palabra and significa and then, 10 que indica que el caso en cuesti6n se abri6 y luego se cerro nuevamente casi de inmediato porquefuefaci! de resolver.
been squeezed out?' 'Well, I feel the organ grinder's monkey, actually.' ~
Antiguamente, algunos § organilleros solfan lIevar un ~ que se movfa al son de la musica.
out
* out-and-out a This was almost certainly an out-and-out lie. absoluto
overdrive
order
* o Wage cuts were the order ofthe day
Overdrive significa "marcha
the order of the day la orden del dfa
*
owing to the government's deflationary policy. a tall order un logro casi inalcanzable 0 I've got to beat him by
four shots tomorrow, and that's a very tall order. ~
Un antiguo significado de la ~ palabra tall es "grande" 0 ~ "excesivo".
orders
* marching ordersoAs(EEoneUU)mid-level instrucciones
White House official put it, 'We're still waiting for our marching orders.'
* give someone their marching orders (Brit)
mandar a alguien a What does it take for a woman
paseo 0 to say 'that's enough' and give her man
his marching orders?
*
superdirecta" (de un vehfculo).
go into overdrive empezar a funcionar a toda marcha 0 When
bodies were discovered, th" m"di<, w,'nt into overdrive.
overtime work overtime esforzarse al maximo (litera': hacer horas o This might explain why people sleep
longer when the immune mechanisms are working overtime to fight off infections.
own
* get your own back (Brit) you're interested is in getting your own back Terence. * areas o$ome of heavy industry, such as
vengarse
oA11
in
on hold your own defenderse
shipbuilding, were able to hold their own in international markets.
eleven boxers on the British team are in the hands of the British coach, Ian Irwin, who is putting them through their paces. ~ To put a horse through its paces § significa poner a prueba a un
Pmind your piS and q's tener mucho cuidado de no meter la pata (,itera': tener cuidado con las letras p y q)
aShe a/ways put on her best act and minded her p's and q's in front o(the
queen, but their relationship wasn't that close. § Puede que, original mente, esta ~ expresi6n fuera una advertencia ~ dirigida a los ninos para que no g confundieran la pyla q al ~ aprender el alfabeto. Asimismo, § p's and q's podrfa significar pleases § and thank yous, 0 expresiones de ~ cortesfa.
~ caballo para comprobar si esta
§ bien adiestrado.
pack ahead of the pack a !a cabeza del pelot6n 0 This new management
system has kept the company far ahead of the pack in terms ofproduct development. 3 Aquf pack significa "manada de ~ lobos" 0 ']aurfa".
pace
* The consensus
set the pace marcar la pauta o is that Versace has got
page on the same page (EE UU) en la misma sintonfa (litera': en la misma pagina) 0 We're all on the same page in
it right this season and has set the pace
for mainstream fashion. Esta expresi6n se refiere al hecho ~ de que un corredor rapido ~ determina la velocidad a la que ~ tienen que correr los demas g participantes en la carrera.
our careers, we all have the same professional needs.
§
someone can't stand the pace 0 someone can't take the pace alguien no cons/gue seguir el ritmo o They were constantly testing me, as if to prove I couldn't take the pace.
paces
* put someone through their paces poner a alguien a prueba a The
turn the page pasar pagina
o Shareholders at Fiat's annual meeting will be looking (or signs that the troubled company really does mean to turn the page.
paid
*
put paid to something (sobre todo Brit) acabar con algo 0 Great Britain
gave a limp performance here last night that put paid to their chances of reaching the Olympic finals.
parker 205 pain
* a pain in the neck
palm (familiar) un
grease someone's palm untar la mane a alguien 0 Files do not
pefiazQ (literal: un dolor en e! cuello)
o He was a pain in the neck. I WQS glad when he left my department.
government offices unless you grease
the palms of officials. ~
pains
~
growing pains dificultades en el
~
The country is now (acing some troublesome growing desarrollo
0
~
~
pains. The economy is still expanding,
but at a slower rate than in the recent past. ~
~
pan
Growing pains significa "dolores
be going down the pan ... ver down go down the pan .... ver down
~ del crecimiento". Mucha gente
§ cree err6neamente que estan ~ causados par un crecimiento ~ demasiado rapido en los nifios.
paint something is like watching paint dry alga es para morirse de aburrimiento (literal: alga es como ver secarse la pintura) 0 'We've done
one shot since nine this morning,' complains Donna, a student who has taken the day offto be an extra. 'It's like watching paint drv.'
pale
* (literal:
beyond the pale inaceptable mas alia de las estacas)
o There will be no more compromises with people whose views are beyond
the pale. ~ Paleviene de la palabra latina
~ ~ ~ ~
palum, que significa "estaca". En Ingles acabarfa refiriendose a un limite territorial seliaJado can una hilera de estacas. La zona que § estaba dentro de los Ifmites se ~ consideraba civilizada, pero la ~ zona que estaba mas alia de las ~ estacas se consideraba territorio § barbaro.
Esta expresi6n sugiere que, al igual que la grasa y el aceite mejoran el funcionamiento de las maquinas, sobornar a nos permitira obtener 10 que queremos.
Pandora
*
open a Pandora's box abrir la caja de Pandora 0 This latest controversy has opened a Pandora's box of intrigue
amongst the coalition government's
different factions. ~ Segun la mitologfa romana, ~ Prometeo ofendi6 a los diosesy, ~
como venganza, Jupiterorden61a
~ creaci6n de Pandora, la primera ~ mujer.)Upiter Ie dio a Pandora
~ una caja que debfa ofrecer al ~ hombre con eJ que se casara. ~ Pandora se cas6 con Epimeteo, ~ hermano de Prometeo. Cuando ~ Epimeteo abri61a caja, salieron de ~ ella todos los problemas y los ~ males que ahora afllgen a la § humanidad yfue imposible ~ volverlos a guardar.
pants beat the pants off someone (familiar) dar una paliza a alguien o Devlin indicated the chess table beside the SOfa. f\ny excuse to get away from that. He was beating the pants
affme.' bore/scare/charm the pants off
someone (familiar) aburrir un mant6n a alguien/dar un susto de 6rdago a alguien/llevarse a alguien de calle o When I was a kid, circuses
bared the pants off me, but I'd always wanted to be a performer. someone is caught with their pants down a alguien'le pillan desprevenido ('itera': a alguien Ie pillan con los pantalones bajados) o In 1997, the Department ofTransport was caught with its pants down and tool< seven months to produce the document needed to change legislation. wear the pants ... verwear
papers get your walking papers 0 be given your walking papers (EE UU) ser mandado a paseo o It wasVoge/'s turn to get his walking
papers from the board Of directors. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene de las ~ instrucciones que se dan a los ~ soldados de infanterfa sobre la ~ duraci6n y el destino de una § marcha.
pa~r______________~ En el golf, parsignifica "par" (0 numero de golpes que se espera que de un buenjugador para recorrer un campo 0 cada uno de
paper it isn't worth the paper it's written 0 If consumers do not know they can get compensation when a service breaks down, these service standards will not be worth the paper they are written on. a paper tiger un tigre de papel o Unless the assembly has the power to pre the mayor, it will prove to be nothing but a paper tiger. a paper trail (EE UU) pruebas documentales (litera': un rastro de papeles) 0 The criminal proceedings were raised after investigations found a paper trail of checks that were written on dummy banl( accounts. someone can't fight their way out of a paper bag alguien es un debilucho (literal: alguien no conseguirfa escaparse luchando de una bolsa de pape!) 0 We've already shown you that they are no use to you
on no vale para nada
*
as allies. They couldn't rght their way outafa paper bag. something looks good on paper algo tiene buena apariencia sobre el papel 0 This system looks good on paper but It is expensive and, in my view, still of very limited value.
sus hoyos).
*
*
belowparo under par 1 inferior a la media 0 The recession
has left sales a little below par in the past two orthree years. 2 indispuesto 0 Women who feel be/ow par are unlikely to perform at their best. par for the course 10 mas normal o He said long hours are parforthe course. 'I'm up every morning at six, or even earlier.'
parade rain on someone's parade (Periodismo) aguar la fiesta a alguien (litera': 1I0ver en el desfile de alguien) o It's irritating that he could rain on my parade by stealing the record before me.
parker a nosey parker (Brit) un metomentodo 0 Thevl//age's resident nosey parker, Olive, likes to spy on her
neighbours with binoculars. ~
A veces nosey se escribe nosy.
l 206
parrot
2 EI apellido Pari
parrot learn something parrot fashion (Brit) aprender alga repitiendo como un loro 0 There are no books, pens orchairs here,just a blackboard and a dirt roor where 150 dusty children
sit in rows, learning their words parrot fashian.
part
*
look the part
party bring something to the party aportar algo (literal; traer I fiesta) 0 Johnson asked, 'What
the party: Cahen replied, 'principally
$3 billion in capital.'
stand pat (sabre toda EE UU)
be past it 0 be getting past it (Brit) estar D'ar,
I wouldn't put it past her no me
ather day.
(sabre toda Brit) ser espectacular o I don't /(nowwhat it's like to drive but it certainly looks the part. ~
Esta expresi6n probablemente
~ hace referencia a un actor que va
~ caracterizado con un traje ~ apropiado para el pape! que ~ interpreta.
part and parcel parte integrante (literal; parte y paquete) 0 There
comes a time during every player's season when his form dips and the goals don't go in. It's part and parcel of being a professional. take someone's part (Brit, anticuado) tamar partido par alguien 0 It seemed to me that she should have tal
oOneor two comments were made about his clothes but he took it 01/ in good part. (Brit) tomarse alga bien
En el p6quer, si unjugadoresta gsatisfecho con las cartas que Ie ~ han repartidoy no quiere cambiar ~ ninguna, se dice que dicho ~ jugador stands pat.
§.
oMy husband Eric with another second-hand car. The we've got atthe moment is getting past it. el arrastre
ready to believe you as soon as you 2
0 There are certain issues on which Britain would stand pat and insist on unanimity.
mantenerse firme
past
0 I wouldn't PUt I past him to double-cross Schrader, especially after the rumour I heard the
meet.
a pat on the back una felicitacion (literal: una palmada en la espalda)
oAny mail order shop that gives such rapid response to a customer's complaint deserves a pat on the back.
bring to the party?''They bring a
vestir el cargo 0 You look the part of an English gentleman, so he is half
1
*
pearls
extranarfa en ella
put someone out to pasture a alguien al pasta (como a viejo) 0 I'm retiring next month.
putting me out to pasture. Cuando los caballos son
~ demasiado viejos para trabajar a ~ veces se los suelta en un campo ~ para que pasten.
pastures greener pastures una vida mejor (literal: pastas mas verdes) 0 There
are drawbacks for nurses seeking greener pastures overseas, and many are put affby the lengthy process
* involved in going to
work in the US.
pastures new (Brit) nuevas horizontes (literal: pastas nuevas)
o Ifthejob doesn't meet my ambitions I'll be off to pastures new. J want to go to the tap.
not a patch on someone or something (Brit) ni punta de
o Of course, the facilities aren't a patch on those of richer schools, but the boys think they're terrific. puede que esta expresion sea una ~ version abreviada de not fit to be a ~ patch on, frase que sugiere que ~ cierto trozo de tela no es 10 ~ suficientemente bueno como ~ para remendar can el un agujero § en una tela de caUdad.
§
path beat a path to someone's door
Fashion editors now beat a path to Mugler's door and
asediar a alguien
0
thausands affallowers nacl< to get into
one of his events. ~ Esta expresion se Ie atribuye al
~ escritorestadounidense Ralph ~ Waldo Emerson (1803-82).
* cross someone's path to parse can alguien
Periodismo) revolucionario 0 Russia's Parliament today approved a pathbreaking measure that gives individual farmers a right to buy and sell the;rown land.
pay dirt A menudo
pay dirt se escribe
paydirt.
hit pay dirt 0 strike pay dirt (sobre todo EE UU) hallar un filon (literal: dar can paiva 0 'Let's not give up on the courts: Millard says. 'We still might hit pay dirt with one of the issues.' § En esta expresion pay dirt se
que paga)
~ refiere probablemente a un
*
comparacion can alguien 0 alga
pasture
~
patch
207
0
The bao/ds full af cutting
Esta expresion es una cita
criticisms of the celebrities who crossed
extra ida del poema lycidas (1638), del poeta inglesJohn Milton.
her path. path-breaking (sobretodo EE UU,
§ terreno que contiene el suficiente ~ oro en paIva como para que ~ merezca la pena buscar en el.
peanuts if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys (Brit) si pagas una mise ria, no encontraras buenos trabajadores (literal: si pagas cacahuetes, conseguiras monos)
o The new pay policy will dernitely
have an effect on quality. The truth of the matter is that ifthey pay peanuts, they will get manl
pearls cast pearls before swine (litera rio) echar margaritas a los cerdos (literal: echar perlas a los cerdos) 0 I have wonderful costumes, with feathers and top hats, but it's lil
I
208
pear-shaped
petard 209
pearls of wisdom perl as de
pecking order. Esto significa gallina mas fuerte puede otra mas debil sin que esta Ie devuelva los picotazos,
sabiduria o J'm sure we're all very grate(ul (orthe pearls o(wisdom that (all (rom Mr. Greenberg's /ips.
pear-shaped
* (literal:
go pear-shaped irse a la parra adoptar forma de pera)
o We started well, top o(the table, but
it all went pear-shaped and we lost ffve
pedestal knock someone off their pedestal b.;tjar los humos a aJguien (literal: . derribar a alguien de su pedestal)'
o The tabloids had been trying for
matches in a row.
peas like two peas in a pod como dos gotas de agua (literal: como dos guisantesen unavaina) oSheis convinced the men are brothers. She said: 'It was uncanny. They were like two peas in Q pod.'
pebble he isn't the only pebble on the beach (sobretodo Brit) no es el Clnico (literal: no es el unico guijarro en la playa) 0 You should encourage to
him
understand that he is very definitely not the onlV pebble on the beach.
peeker keep your pecker up (Brit) no desanimarse 0 ,/,1/ give you a ring later because I mustgo now,"Fine. Well, keep vour pecker up.' 'I'll trv.' ~
Peeker era un termino argotico
~ para referirsea la nariz, a la que se ~ campara can el pica de un pajaro. ~ Si alguien es infeliz suele bajar la g mirada, de modo que su nariz ~ senale al suelo.
pecking
*
the pecking order lajerarqufa, o Offices came in 29 sizes, which varied in accordance with the occupant's place in the corporate pecking order. ~ En los grupos de gallinas suele
~ establecerse ciertajerarqufa, a
*
several years to knockjackson offhis pedesta/. put someone on a pedestal alguien en un pedestal 0 I putmy own parents on a pedestal, I felt they could do no wrong.
peg a peg on which to hang som.tthina un punto de apoyo para algo una pinza en la que colgar algo)
o He rarely discusses the book, using it, as a peg on which to hang his opinions', - and not necessarily those related to the boo/<. a square peg in a round hole un pulpo en un garaje (literal: una clavija cuadrada en un agujero redondo) 0 Taylor is cJearlythe wrong
man forthejob - a square peg in a round hole, take someone down a peg or two bring someone down a peg bajar los humos a aJguien (literal: a alguien una clavija ados) 0 I
he needed taking down a peg or two. Puede que esta expresi6n hag a referencia a la afinaci6n de instrumentos musicales como las guitarras a los violines, que cuentan can c!avijas para mantenertensas las cuerdas. Tambien podrfa referirse aljuego de naipes denominado cribbage, en el que se usan clavijas para anotarla puntuaci6n.
pegged
, have someone pegged encasillar a aJguien 0 Those who have her pegged as fragile singer-songwriter should hear her touring bond at (ull tilt blasting out the No No Song.
pennies not have two pennies to rub together no tener d6nde caerse muerto (literal: no tener dos peniques que poder frotar entre sf)
oAnd from all those interviews her family gave to the Press they sounded as if they hadn't two pennies to rub together. pinch pennies ahorrar hasta el ultimo centimo (literal: pellizcar los peniques) o States and the federal government are pinching pennies everywhere they can and often cutting arts programs rrst.
penn'orth your two penn'orth (Brit) mi opini6n (literal: mis dos peniques) o I'mjust putting my two penn'orth in, that's all. The same as you are. ~
Two penn'orth significa two pennies' ~ worth.
penny in for a penny. in for a pound (sabre todo Brit) de perdidos, al rio 0 In for a penny, in for a pound. I tool< the jacket to the counter. not have a penny to your name -+ vername the penny drops (sobre todo Brit) cae en la cuenta (literal: se cae el penique) o It seems the penny has ffnally dropped - house prices won't budge until rrst-time buyers are tempted into the market.
*
Esta expresi6n se refiere probablemente a las maquinas tragaperras, que solo funcionan
~
cuando se les introduce una ~ moneda, penny~wise and pound-foolish (sobre todo Brit, anticuado) se mira
tanto el dinero que se acaba gastando un dineral 0 lfwe had
auditors to go out and check on this, we would have saved billions of dollars. In other words, we have been penny-wise and pound-foolish here. turn up like a bad penny (Brit, anticuado) estar hasta en la sopa o Her h.usband was able to trace her, to turn up again on her doorstep like the proverbial bad penny.
two a penny a ten a' penny (Brit) a montones o Gloomy economic forecasts are ten-apenny in Europe.
perch La palabra perch se reflere a los lugares donde suelen posarse los pajaros para descansar (una rama, una percha, un paste, etc.),
fall off the perch (Brit, anticuado) estirar la pata (literal: caerse de la percha) 0 He (ell affthe perch vears ago. fall off your perch fracasar 0 There'll be no end of people ready to knock you down or grin with glee when vou (all off your perch. knock someone off their perch (Brit) bajar los humos a alguien (literal: derribar a alguien de su percha)
o For the leading regional ffrms this is an excellent time to knocl< London rrms off their perch and seize the advantages of Iower fees and local contacts.
petard he was hoist by his own petard (culto) Ie sali6 e! tiro par la culata o His plans backffred terribly and in the end he was hoist by his own petard.
210 §
pike
Peter Las bolas metalicas lIenas de
mantener a alguien al tanto
g lentamente, perc siempre existfa
~ eJ peligro de que el artilugio ~ estalfara demasiado pronto y § elevara (hoisted) a la persona que ~ 10 encendfa. Es decir, que Ie § hiciera volar parlos aires.
Peter rob Peter to pay Paul desnudar a
un santo para vestir a atro (literal: robar a Peter para pagarJe a Paul) o
His mortgages ran into arrears and he
borrowed (rom loan companies. He
started robbing Peterta pay Paul.
phrase to coin a phrase 5i se me permite la Frase o Stunned Jackson WQS, to coin a phras.e, 'sick as Q parrot', §
Coin a phrase significa "acunar una
~ frase", En este casa la expresi6n se § usa de forma ir6nica.
picnic be no picnic se las trae (literal: no ser ningCtn picnic) 0 'Poor little mites,' she said o(the evacuees. 'It's no picnic (or them being taken away (rom their homes.'
picture
* get the picture
entender 0 They
smoke, they play snooker, they do the pools. You get the picture, I'm sure. in the picture 1 de par media 0 He thought there was a boyfriend in the picture. 2 candidato 0 He told me that Annabella was back in the picture. She was the best one they could find. 3 al tanto 0 I was completely in the picture (rom the beginning.
real possibility. This is not pie-in-theslW stu(r
keep someone in the picture
~ polvora que se usa ban para volar ~ muros 0 puertas se denominaban § petards. La p61vora se encendfa ~ con una mecha que se quemaba
*
changed so many things - too many mention. But he's always kept me in picture. out of the picture 1 fUera de escena 0 Once Derek out o(the picture, however, Meller,lm'" visits to the Swires became more (requent. 2 descartado 0 But I've been n(th-choice striker, so I'm totally out the picture. put someone in the picture (Brit) ponera alguien al tanto 0 I believe that I could now produce evidence to prove my case, if you are prepared to listen. I brought you here (orthot reason, to put you in the picture.
pie eat humble pie tragarse el orgullo pedir perdon (literal: comer pastel de humildad) 0 The Queen's Press secretary resigned over his personal attack on the duchess. He was (orced eat humble pie and publicly apologise the duchess.
2 Umbles es una palabra antigua
~ para referirse a las entranas y los
~ despojos de los ciervos. Cuando ~ los nobles camfan venado, con ~ despojos se hacfa un pastel para ~ los criados. Dado que el pastel de § umbles era comido par personas ~ humildes (humble), las dos ~ palabras se fueron canfundienda ~ con el tiempo. La expresion ~ humble pie acabarfa usandose ~ para referirse a algo humillant€" 0 § desagradable.
* pie in
the sky castillos en el aire
(literal: pastel en el cielo) a Ideally what I would lil
'" Esta expresion viene de la canci6n
~ The Preacher ond the Slave CEI ~ predicadory el esc!av?", 1.911~ de ~ Joe Hill, cantautor y slnd~callsta
~ estadounidense: "Te daran pastel
~ en el cielo cuando te mueras. (Es ~ mentira.)"
piece
*"
.,.
all of a piece un conJunto ar~on!Ca o Thus the biosphere is all o(a pIece, an immense, integrated, living system: a piece of the action .... ~er a~tlo~ a piece of cake pan camldo (literal. una porci6n de tarta) 0 'It's not . exactly a stress(u/job is it?' 'I(it's qUIet, it's a piece o( cake. It'sjust a bit boring.' say your piece dar tu opini6n. o Each preacher stood for two minutes on a box, said his piece, and stepped down.
pieces,
*
go to pieces
., Every tIme he s (aced with a problem he goes to pieces. 2 irse al garete oMywork is all going to pieces. . pick up the pieces rehacer su Vida (literal: recoger los trozo:~ 0 People in the high desert communitIes near Palm Springs, Cali(ornia, are picking up the pieces after last night's earthquake. shot to pieces hecho trizas 0 When I came here my confidence was shot to pieces.
1 desmaronarse 0
*
pig eat like a pig comer como un cerda aShe could heorthe part o(herselrthat was self-critical say, 'You eat like a pig. I can't stand looking at you. You're (at.' make a pig of yourself «(amiliar) darse un atracon (literal: convertirse en un cerda) 0 I'm afraid I madea pig
211
o(mysel( at dinner. make a pig's ear of something (Brit, (amiliar) hacer algo fatal (literal: hacer!a oreja de un cerda de alga)
o I made a pig's earofit last time and I'm going to make sure that won't happen again. move like a greased pig (sabre todo EE UU) moverse a teda pasti!!a (literal: moverse como un cerdo . grasiente) oHe is agodofrock musIc - even though rock can be hard and heavy, it can move like a grease~ pig through a cocktail party, Imocklng over everything it doesn't slide past. squeal like a stuck pig chillar como un condenado (literal: chillarcomo un cerdo atascado) oAlan tried to calm him while Miller continued to scream like a stuck pig. sweat like a pig (familiar) sudar cemo un cerdo 0 The two ofncers standing just out of camera shot were sweating like pigs in the studio lights.
piggy
"
the piggy in the mIddle (Bnt) atrapado entre dos fueges 0 When
the men arrived on Doug's cruiser it was not to service his engine. He (ound himse/(piggy in the middle o( an ivory smuggling outfit and Customs. ':§
Piggy in the middle es unjuego
§ infantil en el que dos ninos se
~ pasan una pelota sabre la cabeza ~ de un tercer nino, que intenta ~ cogerla.
pigs pigs might fly (Brit) eso no te 10 crees ni tu (literal: los cerdos vue Ian) o There's a chance he isn't involved in
this, o( course.'l\nd pigs might ny.'
pike come down the pike (EE UU) acercarse (litera': venir par la
place
pile
212
carretera) 0 There may be some new treatments coming down the pi/
pillar to post (Brit, Periodismo) principia a fin o Sally Prosser the best ofthe Far East to top circuit, thanks largely to a piilarto victory in theJAL Malaysian Open.
THA that was recently made available.
§ Esta expresi6n hace referenda a ~ alguien que circula par una ~
~ Puede que esta expresi6n se
autopista de peaje.
@ refiera
pile at the bottom/top of the pile en 10 mas baja/alto de la escala 0 I'm more
concerned about the people at the
pilot
*
bottom of the pife who don't havejobs and who don't have houses.
on automatic pilot 0 on autopilot con el piloto automatico puesto n 'tP>'""'o~"A.
be on automatic n;J.n"m" driving without a word t'F comp/olintot' apparent (atigue.
pill
*
a bitter pill to swallow un trago amargo (literal: una pastilla amarga que hay que tragar) 0 Gordon Hodgson, Cowie's chief executive, said the failure to win was '0 little bit Of a bitter pill to swallow'. ,ugarth.pill (Brit)o sweeten the pill (Brit) 0 sugar-coat the pill (EE UU) dorar la
pinch
oMinisters may reprieve Harefield hospital to sugar the pill ofa further round ofhospitai cuts and closures in London and the South-east.
*
pfldora
* swallow a bitter pill pasar un trago
amargo (literal: tragarse una pfldora amarga) 0 Our people have swallowed
a bitter pill in accepting this peace agreement.
pillar from pillar to post (sobretodo Brit) de la Ceca a la Meca 0 I didn't want the children pushed from pillar to post. Esta expresi6n proviene de una versi6n temprana del tenis que se jugaba bajo techo. Los jugadores solfan intercambiartiros de un lado a atro de la pista, desde los
pastes que sujetaban la red hasta las columnas situadas al fondo de la pista.
a los postes de salida y
~ lIegada en un hip6dromo.
§' A menudo autopilot se escribe ~ auto-pilot en ingles britanico.
* at a pinch (Brit) 0
in a pinch (EE UU) en caso de apuro o Six people, and moreata pinch, could be seated com(ortably at
the table. feel the pinch pasar apuros (/il:.",/:·. sentir el pellizco) 0 Poor households were still (eeling the pinch and the imposition o(VAT on (uel mode ,mm"",. worse.
pins
. be on pins and needles 0 sit on pins and needles (sobre todo EE UU) estar sobre ascuas (litera': estar sobre alfileres y agujas) 01 thinl< we all have been sitting on pins and needles and anxious for something to happen.
~
~ pitch. 5i alguien, especial mente la ~ polida: estropeaba a interrumpia ~ suo espect<3.culo, se deda que ~ habfan queered his pitch. El antiguo ~ verba queer significa "enganar" 0 ~ "estropear".
chupate esa (literal: ponlo en la pipa
yfumatelo) oAsForrules, the only person who mal
place
pipeline in the pipeline en proyecto (literal: en la tuberfa) oOver350 major hospital schemes have been completed. There are nearly 300 more in the pipeline.
piper he who pays the piper calls the tune quien paga, manda (literal: el que paga al gaitero elige la canci6n)
o The ancient law that he who pays the
in the pink (anticuado) rebosando salud (literal: en el rosa) 0 'HeJJo.
piper calls the tune has not been repealed even in this permissive democracy.
Good evening. How are you?' 'Very well. And you?' 'Oh, in the pink.'
~ Puede que esta expresi6n
~ provenga de la costumbre del
~ ~ ~ ~
Aquf pin/( significa "10 mejor". Esta palabra se deriva de la flor del mismo nombre ("clavel" en castellano), que tambien dio su ~ nombre al color rosa.
~ siglo XVII de contratar a musicos ~ ambulantes para tocar en fiestas ~ yen bodas. Los que pagaban a los ~ musicos podfan elegirlas g melodfas que querfan escuchar.
pitch
*
make a pitch 1
intentarvender
Antiguamente, ellugaren el que
~ un artista ambulante colocaba su ~ carpa 0 su puesto se denominaba
.e PI~ut that in your pipe and smoke it
pink
tickled pink encantado 0 Her dressmaker, NicoleMarnier, wouldjust be tidded pink i(we put one other outfits in the magazine.
used his remarks to make a pitch (or (urther space exploration. 2 intentarconseguir 050 (arFederal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan hasn't made a pitch (or the job. queer someone's pitch (sabre todo Brit) fastidiar el plan de alguien o We did everything (or you here, and you repay the school by doing your best to queer the pitch (or us at a college to which we normally send our best boys.
puede que esta expresi6n se refiera al hecho de quealguien se sonroje si Ie hacen cosquillas.
*
213
0
The president also
*
fall into place Bitso( the puzzle (ell into place. He knew now who had written the letter summoning Father Benjamin. 2 encajar 0 During February everything will start to (all into place, leaving you with a satisfied (eeling that
1 empezar a tenersenrido 0
* oyou're living liFe to the Full.
out of place fuera de lugar Everything was neatly arranged. There was no sign o( anything out o( place. 0 The man seemed somehow out ofp/ace at a gal/ery opening. He looked more earnest than elegant. a place in the sun una posici6n envidiable (literal: un lugar bajo el sol) 0 I've done what everybody's done. I've (ought my way in. I think I've earned my place in the sun. El canciller aleman Bernard von Bulow emple6 esta Frase en un discurso dirigido al parlamento aleman en 1897, en el que se refiri6
214
places
poacher
§ al deseo de su pars de tamar parte
nose on your (ace tlwtthis c"m,Dariy i,;:' wildly undervalued.
§ en la colonizaci6n deAsia ~ oriental: "No queremos obligar a
::i
*
~ exigimos nuestro lugar bajo el § sol",
* what planet is someone on? what planet does someone come
0
from! (Brit, (amiliar) ite falta algun tornillo? (literal: (de que planeta
In a few words
viene alguien?) 0 What planet are they on?The Government could easily do something about bank charges, they won't because that might Offend their supporters in the banking industry.
she had not only put him in his place, but delivered a precise and damning
assessment of his movie. * take second place
quedaren un segundo plano aMy persona/life has
had to take second placeta my career.
places
* can be going places play like that every week, then this * in is places You do not rise so
plank walk the plank (Periodismo) la responsabilidad (literal:
Ilegar lejos olfwe
por el tablon)
club going places. high bien situados (literal: en lugares altos)
(or him!'
high, so fast, without having a few
~
~
plague
~ ~
avoid someone or something like the plague huirde alguien oalgo como de la peste 0 I normally avoid
~ ala plaga bubonica, una
I(they thinl< that the
decide, '01(, why should I wall<
friends in high places.
§ enfermedad que mate a mas de ~ 50 mil!ones de personas en
0
i
President is gOing to lose, they might
0
cheap Chianti like the plague. ~ Aquf la palabra plague se refiere
~ ~
Mucha gente cree que los i solfan matar a sus prisioneros obligandolos a caminar sobre una tabla que sobresalfa del borde de un barco hasta que (afan al mar.
hand someone something on a silver platter 0 hand someone something on a platter poneralgo a alguien en bandeja de plata 0 You act like a fiveyear-Old. You expect meto hand you everything on a silver platter, and when you don't get it, you stamp your little (oot and cry.
play
make great play of something
(Brit) hacer hincapie en algo 0 The Conservatives made great play of the defection to them Of20 former members
o(theSDP. make a play for something intentar
oAnalysts say the company could soon be making a play (or properties around the world. conseguir algo
makea play for someone intentar conquistar a alguien
plate
*
oAIl the girls
ojohn, do not play mefora (001. You owe me better than that. aJguien como a un tonto
have enough on your plate 0 have a lot on your plate estar muy atareado (literal: teller mnnroe,p
~ xfvyfue bautizada como la Peste § Negra (the Blacl< Death).
without worrying about tactics and performances of others.
*
and the kidnapping o(theAmerican.
platter
made a play (or him. play someone for a fool tratar a
~ Europa yenAsia durante el siglo
plain
com plica (litera': la trama se hace mas espesa) oAt this point the plot thickened further. A link emerged between the attempt to kill the Pope
0
put someone in their place poner a alguien en SU lugar
the plot thickens la cosa se
cuando los jugadores de beisbol
~ se dirigen a la base meta para ~ batear, se dice que they step upto ~ the plate.
Enadie a ponerse a la sombra, pero planet
something is handed to someone on a plate (sobre todo Brit) algo se I
playing field
*
215
a level playing field igualdad de
condiciones (literal: un terreno de juego nivelado) oAt the moment we
are not competing on a level playing neld.
~
Esta frase seus6 muy a menudo
~ en los melodramas del siglo XIX
~ en los que se representaban ~ situaciones y emociones ~ extremas. Actualmente se usa § de forma humorfstica.
plug
*
pull the plug on something dejar de apoyar algo (literal: desenchufar alg'o) 0 The Government has set out detailed conditions under which it would pull the plug on the sale.
plum a plum in your mouth (Brit) acento de c1ase alta (literal: una ciruela en la boca) 0 I heard Mr Downer speaking
on the radio on the previous day. Iwas not conscious of the 'plum in the mouth', but I was aware of his clear diction. ~
Esta expresion se basa en la idea
~ de que los britanicos de clase alta
§ pronuncian las palabras como si § tuvieran una ciruela en la boca.
plunge
* take the plunge (literal:
aventurarse zambul!irse) 0 Helen decided
to take the plunge and turned pro(essional in 1991.
poacher
plain as day bien a la vista (literal:
pone a alguien en bandeja
He was lying there plain as day, a starchy sheet covering the lower half of his hospital gown.
conveyed the untortuncltetimf
in his life: even the presidency was handed to him on a plate.
asjuniordoctor he's losing the plot
poacher turned gamekeeper (Brit) persona que abandona una actividad para hacertodo 10 contrario (literal: cazadorfurtivo convertido en guarda forestal)
plain as the nose on your face mas
step up to the plate (EE UU) dar la
completely and keeps mumbling about
o Gary Mason, boxing's poacher turned
claro que el agua (litera': claro como la nariz de tu cara) 0 It's plain as the
He's got to step up to the plate and deal with these accusations.
the peaple he's killed by (ailing asleep on the job.
gamel
daro como el dfa) 0
cara
0
0
He
plot
* lose theVikram's plot working so many hours (Periodismo) frsele la
olla 0
216
pocket
pocket
*
dip into your pocket 0 dig into your pocket rascarse el bolsillo 0 Potential lenders will need to
be persuaded that the government is taclding its economic problems before
they dig into their pockets again. in someone's pocket metido en el bolsillo de alguien 0 The Labour party
suffered badly in the election from Conservative claims that it was in the pockets of the unions. out of pocket perdiendo oThe
* promoterc/aims he was left £36,000
* out of pocket.
out-ot-pocket expenses gastos varios 0 I charge twenty dollars an hour plus out-oF-pocket
expenses.
pockets
*o
line your pockets forrarse He has been lining his pockets (Of27 years while his country has festered in
a sticking point un escollo
and commitment to follow me up the greasy pole of pro motion.
capital gains tax is the main sticking point in budget negotiations.
::: Antiguamente, trepar par una ~ cucaAa para conseguir el premia ~ atado en su extreme era una ~ competicion muy popular en las ~ ferias.
points
*
score points
They're not concerned about the disabled.
1 sacar ventaja 0
off Willie Brown, the Democratic speaker ofthe State Assembly. o We can see our leaders looking in close-up every night on television. There is no frankness, only pointscoring. 2 apuntarse tantos oAgain, Laine paused, clearly confident in his arguments. He was scoring points thejudge and the spectators. kept nodding in agreement.
*poles East seemed
poles apart polos opuestos 0 The to be poles apart from the
capitalist West. ~
g
poor as a church mouse
(anticuado) mas pobre que las ratas (literal: mas pobre que una rata de iglesia) 0 I was as poor as a church mouse, but I bought that wreck of a car.
pole in pole position (sobretodo Brit)
oS
en una pOSicion muV ventajosa
~
(litera': en la pole position) 0 They've been favourites all season and are in pole position now.
~ ~
be a sore point with someone ser un tema delicado para alguien
o The continuing presence of(oreign troops in their country remains a very sore point with these students. boiling point aJ rojo vivo (literal: punta de ebullicion) 0 Tempers were already close to boiling point as the dispute remained deadlocked for the ninth day. not to put too fine a point on it
(Brit) hablanda sin rodeos 0 We didn't meet. In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, J was warned off.
someone wouldn't touch something or someone with a barge pole (Brit) 0 someone WOUldn't touch something or someone with a tenRfoot pole (EE UU) alguien no querrfa alga oa alguien ni regalado (literal: alguien no tocarfa alga a a alguien ni can una pertiga de una barcaza) 0 The history ofthe place
I(ept the price down. No one would touch it with a barge pole. s Barge pole significa "pertiga" ~ (para impulsaruna barcaza).
up the greasy pole (Brit) el dificil camino (litera': subiendo par una cucaAa) 0 The way has now been
eased to aI/ow other women Of courage
Esta expresi6n se refiere al polo norte y al polo sur.
poor
poverty.
point
*
* say a Republican call for a cut in the
live in each other's pockets (sabre
todo Brit) no dejarse ni a sol ni a sombra (literal: vivir en eJ bolsillo del otro) 0 Just because you're married doesn't mean you have to live in each other's pockets.
*
postal
~
No es probabJeque las ratas que vivan en una iglesia encuentren demasiada comida, va que en las iglesias no havcocina ni despensa.
pop take a pop at someone (Brit,
Periodismo, familiar) golpear a oAndywasjust having a quiet meal with some of his pals when this guy took a pop at him. alguien
*
take a pop at someone or something (Brit, Periodismo, familiar)
oSheena couldn't resist taking a pop at the revival ofScots culture abroad.
criticar a alguien 0 algo
port a port in a storm un refugio en tiempos turbulentos (literal: un puerto durante una tormenta)
oShe was sweet to ta/(e me in the way she did, hardly any notice at all,just
217
told meto come right to her. A port in a storm is a welcome thing.
possum play possum (literario) hacerse el dormido, hacerse el muerto
o 'Playing possum, huh?' said joe.
'Right: said Fran/<. 'I rgured it might be interesting to hear what they had to say to each other when they thought I was unconscious.' 2 La zarigueva (possum) es un § animal quevive en Norteamerica ~ yen Australia. Cuando la ~ § ~ ~ §
zarigueva se sieme amenazada porotro animal, a veces yace inmovi! como si estuviera muerta para que su agresor pierda el interes.
post Las expresiones siguientes se refieren al poste de lIegada en una carrera de caballos.
first past the post el primero
o First past the post was Kenyan
othleteJohn Mutai, who pipped Irishman Jerry Healy by just 20 seconds. ~
Esta expresion suele usarse al
~ hablar sobre sistemas electorales. ~ E! sistema electoral denominado ~ prst-past-the-post es aquel en el § que gana las elecciones el ~ candidate que obtiene mas votos, ~ 0 e! partido mas votado en la § mavorfa de zonas. pip someone at the post 0 pip someone to the post (Brit) ganar a alguien par un pelo 0 They were concerned that their rivals might pip them to the post.
postal go postal (familiar) subirse porlas
posted
218
paredes 0 When he saw the sign he
went postal.
posted
*
keep someone posted mantener a alguien al corriente aShe made me
promise to keep her posted on
developments.
poster poster child (Periodismo) icono o Eikenberry has led Q campaign to ma/
praise the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow un EI Dorado (litera': la de oro al final del arcofris) 0
rather be honest with people than mislead them that there is going to be
some pot ofgold atthe end ofthe rainbow. ~ Segun reza una antigua leyenda,
§ hay una alia de oro enterrada ~ ellugaren que el extrema de un ~ arcofris roza el suelo.
a watched pot never boils
increases and everything wrong with government.
(anticuado) el que espera. desespel·a (literal: una olla a la que miras
§ La Frase poster child se refiere, en ~ su sentido literal, a un nino que § aparece en un cartel anunciando
nunca hierve) 0 This strategy is
§ algo.
pot gotopot irsealtraste o The neighbourhood really is going to pot. keep the pot boiling mantener las casas en marcha (literal: mantener la cazuela hirviendo) 0 I threw in a
question/just to keep the pot boiling while my brain caught up. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n se ~ refiera a un trozo de carne
g cortada en pedazos y cocinada en § una cazuela. La cazuela (pot) ~ podrfa habersido un crisol en el § que sefundfan objetos de metal. the pot calling the kettle black
doomed from the start because it too public: a watched pot never boils.
potato drop something or someone like a hot potato ... ver drop a hot potato una patata caliente o When she is confronted with a political hot potato such as abortion or tightening the gun laws, she is not beyond voicing heropinion.
potatoes small potatoes poca cosa ('itera': patatas pequenas) 0 While a total tour attendance of around 20,000 is small potatoes by British standards, it is very big in this country.
a prime case ofthe pot calling the kettle blacl(, 48-year-old lan, whose recent loves included two 22-year-olds, asked a
friend: 'Why must she go for on older man? She should know better than
that: Antiguamente, tanto las alias como los hervidores se colgaban sabre e! fuego y se ponlan negros.
ingles americano.
be pot luck ser improvisado 0 'We'll just be casual and eat in the Idtchen. It's just pot luck,' Moira said. 'Hope you don't mind.' Potlucl( significa "comida 0 cena
~ en la que cada invitado aporta un ~
plato".
* take pot luck
pound
power all power to your'elbow 0
corresponde a uno (literal: tu libra de carne) 0 Banks are quick enough to
more power to your elbow (Brit, anticuado) que tengas exito
demand their pound afresh from the
(litera': toda la fuerza para tu coda)
small businessman and other regular customers when overdrafts run a little overthe limit.
o Bobby Gould is a good man and he's
Esta expresion proviene de la obra
§;
now paving the way for a very good third division campaign. So all power to his elbow.
~ de Shakespeare EI mercaderde ~ Venecia (acto IV, escena I). Antonio ~ Ie debe dinero a Shylock, quien ~ intenta que se cumpla el trato
g Con esta frase se desea a a!guien ~ la fuerza suficiente para seguir g levantando el vasa y poder g continuar bebiendo.
§ segun el cual podra cortaruna
the power behind the throne
~ libra de la carne deAntonio si este ~ no Ie devuelve el dinero.
powder keep your powder dry no gastar p61vora en salvas (litera': mantener la polvora seca) 0 The only course upon which the government could agree was to move cautiously, keep its powder dry, and await the outcome of events abroad. ~ Aquf powdersignificagunpowder, ~ 0 "p6Ivora". La expresi6n proviene
ingles OliverCromwe!!. Se dice
~ que Cromwell acabo una arenga ~ dirigida a sus soldados, los cuales ~ estaban a punto de cruzar un rio y § entrar en batalla, con estas ~ palabras: "Depositad vuestra ~ confianza en Dios, muchachos, y mantened seca la po!vora".
g
powder keg Powder keg significa "barril de
probar suerte 0 We'd
sit on a powder keg estar en un polvorfn 0 The Prime Minister was all too aware that he was sitting on a powder keg which could explode at any moment.
your pound offlesh !o que Ie .
@.
Pot lucl( suele escribirse potlucl( en
~
with hundreds of unsold package holidays are offering great breal(s on a pot-luck basis.
§ de una historia ace rca dellfder
pot luck
mira quien fue a hablar(literal: la alia lIamando negro al hervidor) 0 In
tal(e potluck at whatever restaurants might still be open. 0 Travel firms stuck
219
polvera".
la eminencia gris (literal: el poder pordetras del trono) oShewas
the real power behind the throne, a strong and single-minded woman manipulating a wea/(er husband for her own ends.
practise EI verba practise se escri be practice en ingles americano.
* practise what you preach
predica con el ejemplo 0 Blundell practised what he preached; having declared himself to be a Kenyan, he was the first British-born resident to apply for Kenyan citizenship.
praise damn with faint praise despachar con falsos elogios 0 In recent months he has consistently damned the government with faint praise, but earlier this week he issued an appeal forcontinuity. ~ Esta expresi6n apareci6 por
~ primera vez en la obra del escritor
220
praises
pump
~ inglesAlexander Pope titulada ~ Ep(sto/a a Arbuthnot, de 1735.
economic remedies also '"CIlia e., move, by the Treasury Secretary. ~ En el baloncesto, (ull-court press
praise someone or something to the skies poner a alguien 0 alga par /fyou area famous sportsman, you have got to get used to hearing yourself praised to the skies but las nubes
0
only minutes later reading about how you afe a disaster.
praises
* sing the praises of someone or
~ significa "presion defensiva en ~ toda la pista".
* o So-called 'arranged
. common in many cultures, W"lt" no'. bad press in the West.
honestly think most people find our
prawn come the raw prawn (sabre toda Australia) intentar metersela a alguien 0 I'm afraid to say they were
caught trying to come the raw prawn, as it were.
prayer someone does not have a prayer of doing something alguien no tiene la menor posibilidad de hacer algo (literal; alguien no tiene una oracion de hacer algo) 0 He did not seem to
have a prayer o(regaining the world title.
pregnant you can't be half pregnant un compromiso tiene que ser total (literal; no se puede estar embarazada a medias) 0 We did,
however, pick up a valuable lesson: you can't be hal(-pregnant. An entrepreneur must be able to give his enterprise a (ull commitment.
press a fuliMcourt press (EE UU) una presion intensa 0 The
administration's (ull-court press on
*
* likely
~
take no prisoners (Periodismo) no andarse con miramientos (literal: no hacer prisioneros) 0 You will have to
at a price
Guests can always find a meal o(sorts in the hotel restaurant, but at a price.
1 pagando caro 0
production make a production of something montarun show haciendo alga
Fame comes at a
pricks (sobretodo Brit, literario, anticuado) darcoces contra el aguijon 0 Kicking against the priC/(s when you're 30 or 40 or more stri/(es me as a better test o( one's convictions. kick against the pricks
Esta expresion aparece en la
Biblia (Hechas de lasApostales 9:5). Se refiere a las coces que dan las reses cuando alguien intenta que se muevan empujandolas con un palo.
pudding overMegg the pudding (sobre todo Brit) exagerar 0 The movie obviously
over-eggs the glowing childhood pudding with lots o( cuddles, warm mill< and snow pattering against the window panes.
pull pull the other one a pull the other one, it's got bells on it (Brit) icuentase!o a tu abuela!
o He made a production o(brushing his hands clean on his pant legs. ~ Aquf la palabra production se
everyone has their price a every man has his price todos tenemos un precio 0 While it
be true that every man has his price, there are always those who have.
~ calidad de un pudfn es ~ corniendolo, y no admirando ~ su aspecto.
fight for what you want and what you believe in and you should assume the attitude that you're taking no prisoners.
peace process at any price.
o 'The Duchess gave it to me.' Thin/< I'd
believethat? Pull the other one, it's got bel/son it.' ~ En esta expresion, la palabra one
~ refiere a una obra de teatro a a un
~ musical.
~ se refiere a la pierna de alguien.
profile
* * *
~ Ver la explicacion de pull someone's § leg en leg.
have a high profile seruna figura de relieve 0 He will bethinking about his
(uture now that he has such a high profile in the cycling world. high-profile prominente 0 She works three days a week in a highprofile job as communications director (or a top advertising agency. keep a low profile tratar de pasar desapercibido 0 The Home Secretary
was keeping a low profile yesterday when the crime figures were announced in the House o(Commons.
Esta expresion sugiere que la
~ mejor manera de probar la
covered are being hit by huge bills because they did not read the small print on their insurance (arms.
at any price a toda costa 0 There's to be more violence (rom rebel groups that are determined to stop the
come at a price 2 tener un precio 0
the small print 0 the fine print la letra pequeAa
prisoners
price
* * price.
the changes were implemented, perhaps we can now apply the old saying that 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating'.
o patients who thought they were (ully
sit pretty estar bien colocado
*
0
print
o When the war started, they thought they were sitting pretty, because they had all that extra surplus grain.
we're singing our own praises here, but I music irresistible.
However, i(political compulsions demand, he can swallow his pride and ally himselfwith his political enemies.
pretty
something cantar las alabanzas de alguien oalgo 0 This may sound like
the proof of the pudding is in the eating para saber si alga es bueno hay que probarlo (literal: un pudln se prueba comil§ndolo) oA year after
swallow your pride tragarse el
get a bad press tener mala I
proof
pride
"* orgullo
221
pulp beat someone to a pulp a beat someone to pulp hacer papilla a alguien o Motorists were pulled (rom
their cars, beaten and kicked to a pulp, and left to die in the road.
pump
*
prime the pump (Periodismo) sacar las cosas adelante o Spring is the
time when the government primes the
putty
punch
222
pump to help farmers prepare their
relds .
pup be sold. pup (Brit) ser dado gato par liebre (literal: comprar un cachorro) 0 No-one is being sold a pup. What vou see is what you
Prime a water pump significa cebar
~
~ una bomba hidraulica hasta que
§ se Ilene deagua ytodo el aire ~ haya salido, de modo que este ~ lista para usarse.
get.
be putty in your hands ser un muFieco de alguien (litera': ser masilla en las manos de a!guien) 01 was completely in awe Of him, I was
putty in his hands.
Puede que en esta expresi6n los cachorros se comparen a 105 ~ animales adultos que no preciSi,", ~ ser adiestrados. ~
* pack a punch pegarduroof
oArthur Miller's classic p/ay'Death a Salesman' still packs a punch. pleased as punch como unas Pascuas (literal: contento como Polichinela) 0 Branfoot announced he was as pleased as punch with his team's
purposes we are at cross purposes ha habido un malentendido 0
performance.
been tall
~
at all.
Punch es Lin personaje de los
~ espectaculos tradicionales de
g tfteres conocidos como Punch and
~ Judy shows que disfruta causando ~ problemas. Esta marioneta suele tener pintada una gran sonrisa ~ bur/ana.
purse
*
¥
not pull your punches 0 pull no punches no morderse la 0
He had never lied to me in the
push at a push en el peor de los casas o The anly thing yau didn't get in
past and he didn't pull his punches now. He told me that in his opinion, Robin would be dead in nine months.
the village was mil/( and you could always, at a push, get some from the
g 5i 105 boxeadores no golpean a
Farm. get the push 0 be given the push (Brit, familiar) ser puesto de patitas en la calle 0 The
~
sus contrincantes con toda la ~ fuerza de que sedan capaces se @ dice que they pull their punches.
roll with the punches sobrevivir o He has impressed al/ sides by his ability to negotiate and willingness to
roll with the punches. 5i 105 boxeadares mueven la cabeza y el cuerpo hacia atras para evitar 105 puFietazos de sus contrincantes, se dice que they roll
with the punches.
hold the purse strings administrar el dinero (literal: sostener la cuerda del monedero) 0 Six out often women
think that rnancial institutions treat them like simpletons, even though they usually hold the domestic purse strings.
punches lengua
pushers with PhOs and MBAs from top schools, but lacl< operating experience in business.
putty
~
punch
*
a pencil pusher (EE UU) un chupatintas oManyofthe men who noW sit on company boards are pencil
boss has been given the push in favour
*
of his current numbertwo. when push comes to shove 0 if push comes to shove en el peor de los casas 0 They knew they could sit back, and when push came to shove
I'd do al/ the work.
pusher
* a pen pusher (sobre todo Brit) a
223
81bljo~:eca P~)b!ica ~turram2
de
Itunarnako
quote The quick es la carne que esta debajo de las unas de las manos y de los pies. quick as a flash como un, rayo
o Harrison responded as qUIck as a
rash.
quids quids in (Brit, familiar) habiendo ganado mas pasta de la esperada
quantity
*
§ de tunes par la manana" es
an unknown quantity una incognita (literal: una cantidad desconocida) 0 She had known Max (or some years now, but he was still
pretty much an unlmown quantity.
quart fit or squeeze or put a quart into a pint pot (Brit) intentar meter alga donde no cabe
0
In putting together
the article, Iwas faced with the problem offitting a quart into a pint pot, there being so much material available. ~ La unidad de medida equivalente
§ a 1,141itras se denomina quart.
quarterback a Monday morning quarterback (EE UU) alguien que se aprovecha de la ventaja de saber como ocurrieron las casas para criticar a 105 otras a posteriori (literal: un mariscal de campo de lunes por la manana) oSomeMonday-morning
quarterbacks said the initial lower bid, without junk bonds, was a factor in his losing thecompany. En el futbol americana, el mariscal de campo suele ser el jugador que grita consignas al resto del equipo. En Estados Unidos, la mayorfa de partidos de futbol profesional sejuegan en domingo. Un "mariscal de campo
~ alguien, normal mente un ~ hombre, que Ie dice a la gente 10
~ que el entrenador deberfa haber
~ hecho para ganar el partido.
question
"* beg the question
Hopewell's success begs the question, why aren't more companies doing the same? 2 (culto) plantear la pregunta o The New York Times stated that 'the warming of the earth's climate is no longer in dispute', somewhat begging the question o( whether or not that warming is a greenhouse effect or, indeed, necessarily part of a continuing long-range trend. 1 lIevar a preguntarse 0
§ Esta expresion es una traduccion ~ apraximada de la Frase latina ~ petitio principii, un term ina tecnico ~ empleado en la logica para describir ~ una situacion en la que se da par § sentado la verdad de algo antes § de haberse demostrado.
* oMulti-party democracy has arrived
a question mark un interragante
- albeit with many question marks about its eventual (orm.
quick cut someone to the quick herir a 0 Thattoneofhers always cut him to the quiclc
alguien en 10 vivo
o Workers at a window factory were
furious when they found German money in their wage packets. But they soon cheered up when they realised it left them quids in. ~
Quid es una palabra informal que
~ significa "libra esterlina".
. quiet quiet as a lamb muytranquilo
225
(litera': tranquilo como un cordero) aShe's fine, quiet as a lamb. You really mustn't worry. quiet as a mouse sin hacer ruido (literal: callados como un rat6n) o We were quiet as mice, hiding in
there.
quits call it quits darse porvencido o There is a disco cal/ed the Club Coqui,
which stays open until the last customer is ready to call it qUits.
quote
"* quote.·unquote 'Even though this big, huge
entre comillas
o
I'm
superstar quote unquote, I have (amily problems, insecurities about my body,' she says.
rap By the spring, the project seemed to be going Offthe rails. No major sponsor had come forward with the extra f1 million or so needed. jump the rails (Brit, Periodismo) estropearse (literal: descarrilar) o There is a point in the movie where it seems to jump the rails. on the rails (sobre todo Brit) encarrilado a Co-ordinated action is needed more than ever to put the European economy back on the rails. o I was released from prison last year. I
and why the police were having
2 perder el norte 0
rabbit like a rabbit caught in the headlights pasmado (literal: como un conejo al que Ie han dado las luces de un coche) 0 He just sat there, like Q rabbit caught in the
La forma antigua de escribir rack
wrack, significa 10 mismo que wreck: algo que se ha destruido.
radar drop off the radar caer en el olvido (literal: desaparecerdel radar) o Stories in the news drop off the radar
headlights. ~ Algunos animates, como los
~
*
with people after a couple of wee/
conejos 0 los ciervQs, a veces
~ permanecen inm6viles porque no ~ saben en que direcci6n correr ~ cuando los faros de un vehfcuto ~ los deslumbran par la noche.
rag lose your rag (Brit) perder los estribos (literal: perder el trapo)
o Everyone said Wright did well simply
pull a rabbit out of the hat
(Periodismo) sacar un conejo de la chistera 0 I cannot pull a rabbit out of a hat every time I go into the boxing ring. Alii can do is do my best.
because he didn't lose his rag with anyone. a red rag to a bull .. ver bull
ragged run someone ragged hacer sudar tinta a alguien 0 He tends to produce
race
* contra reloj
a race against time una carrera 0 The paramedics were in a race against time to treat a six-year-old
his best football before half-time, though often coming back to run defenders ragged in the closing minutes.
girl suffering with breathing difficulties
in Crawley, West Sussex.
rack
rags
*
on the rack (sobretodo Brit) en
ascuas 0 They put us on the rael< when we were 2-1 up but we came back well and it was great to win with such a late goa/. ~ En esta Frase rack significa "potro
§ (de tortura)". rack and ruin venirse abajo 0 The country is going to rack and ruin under
this government.
'
rags to riches de pabre a rica (literal: de harapas a riqueza) 0 His life sounds to me like the classic rags to
riches story. He married some money, I gather, but he made a lot more himself.
rails
*
go off the rails (sobretodo Brit) descarriarse (literal: descarrilar) o Ourfamilywas so happy until our
1
daughter went offthe rails. She lett school at 15, left home, and now lives rough.
have managed to get part of my life back on the roils by finding a rat and a
difficulty finding proof; they might as well be chasing rainbows.
ranch bet the ranch (EE UU) jugarse el todo par el todo (literal: apostar el rancho) aWethoughtthatifwecould do it, it would give us an important lead over our competition in future years.
We've taken risl
rank pull·rank aprovecharse de tener un rango superior 0 The Federal
part-timejob.
Government threatened to pull ranI< ana override the states with its own legis/ation.
rain come rain or shine pase 10 que pase
(literal: lIueva a haga sol)
0
He ploys
ranks
golf, come rain or shine, every Monday. it never rains but it pours las desgracias nunca vienen solas (literal: nunca Ilueve sina que diluvia) a He had a -legitimate goa/
disallowed for 'handball' and later had a shot handled by a defender, only to see no penalty given. It never rains but it pours.
* *
I'll take a rain check de momento, paso aShe says she'd like to take a rain check on it and do it in May. §
Esta expresi6n provlene del
~ beisbol. 51 un partido de beisbol ~ se cancelaba a causa de la lIuvia, ~ los espectadores tenfan derecho a ~ verotro partido si mostraban la g entrada del que se habfa ~ cancela do. Esta entrada se ~ denominaba rain check.
rainbows chase rainbows intentar la cuadratura del cfrculo (literal: perseguir arcos iris) a Kemp could see why there had been that open verdict,
227
A ranI< ofsoldiers significa "una fila de soldados". break ranks desmarcarse (literal: romperfilas) 0 Would you break ranks
with your party and vote against the president's tax bill? close ranks cerrarfilas oMaiaysian Cabinet ministers have closed ranks behind Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, saying there was no question of his stepping down.
ransom
*
hold someone to ransom (Brit) poner a alguien entre la Espada y la pared (literal: pedirun rescate por alguien) 0 But who are the powerful
men at the Bundesbank who have the powerto hold Europe to ransom? a king's ransom .... ver king
rap take the rap pagar los platos ratos a He had tried, and failed, to get
someone to take the rap fora corruption scandal.
rat
228 ~
rhyme reap the whirlwind (litera rio)
Rap es un terminG argotico que
~ significa "acusacl6n criminal",
10 que uno ha sembrado 0 We are
reaping the whirlwind from parents who grew up in the sixties, and who themselves were encouraged to question everything.
rat look like a drowned rat ir calado
hasta los huesos (literal: parecer una rata ahogada) 0 By the time I got there I looked like a drowned rat. the rat race la lucha poria supervivencia (literal: la carrera de
*
real world again. (literal: oler una rata) 0 If only I'd used my head, I'd have smelt a rat
~
rate publishing at a rate ofknotsadventures, (airy tales, mysteries.'
Esta expresi6n esta basada en
rearguard
*
fight a rearguard action resistiren la medida de 10 posible (literal:
La velocidad de los barcos se mide en nudos, a knots. Un nuda @ equivale a una milia nautica par § hora.
g
*
~
o I am looking forward to the wedding, it's the one ray Of sunshine forthe future. 0 The midwife who delivered Jamie was a real ray Of sunshineshe couldn't have been more
La retaguardia de un ejercito es la ~ unidadqueseseparadelrestoy § cubre la retirada.
helpful.
be on the record as saying ... declarar publicamente ... 0 We are on the record as saying we will protect our friends in the war zone, and we mean
that.
* offthe record. Don't go repeatingoThat's what off the record extraoficial
reap reap the harvest recoger 10 que uno
Tonight we reap the bitter harvest ofa decade of national indulgence. § Reap a crop significa "cosechar un 0
* I've said, you hear. 0
see red sulfurarse (litera': ver rojo) o The programmes so far have simply
catch someone red-handed coger a alguien can las manos en la masa o In fact, the burglar wasn't inside the
nat, but on the roof, and was caught red-handed by the police. ~
set the record straight poner las casas en claro
En algunos calendarios, las g festividades religiosas § importantes se imprimen en rojo.
red-handed
*
But a company seeing
wrong information about itself on a report can have a frustrating time setting the record straight.
a reign of terror un regimen de terror 0 The president last night dismissed the g'overnment, accusing it of having unleashed a reign of terror against its political opponents.
~ denominado "el Terror" (the Reign
~ corrida de taros, el torero agita ~ una muleta para que el tore la § embista.
record
*
*
una remolacha) 0 He turned as red as beetroot when I told him. a red letter day un dfa senalado (literal: un dfa de letra roja) 0 Back in 1986 Jim hod his first picture published in BBCWildlife Magazine. That was a
reinforced negative stereotype images of young Black people. It makes me see red. g Mucha gente cree que e! color § rojo enfurece a los taros. En una
fighting a rearguard action against competition from beyond their frontiers.
a ra'yofsunshine un sol, una alegrfa (literal: un rayo de sol)
reign
~
~
o National telephone companies are
ray
were a broken reed.
red as a beetroot (Brit) mas rojo que un tomate (literal: rojo como
real red letter day for mel' he confesses.
combatir para cubrir la retirada)
~
~ cultivo".
Esta expresi6n proviene de la' ~ antigua costumbre de usartinta ~ roja para anotar asientos en el ~ debe de un libro de contabilidad.
~ una cita bfblica (Galatas 6:7).
at a rate of knots (Brit) a toda pastilla o By 1935, Blytonwas
The
§
we create areas of such bleakness and social deprivation we should expect to reap what we sow.
straight away and never touched the proposition.
persona quemada (literal: una (ana rota) 0 They recognized that their allies
to the
paunds.
you reap what you sow recoges 10 quesiembras o It seems to me that if
smell a rat oler algo sospechoso
0
extent of more than three million
Esta expresi6n es una cita bfblica ~,(Oseas 8:7). Se refiere al castigo § infligido a los israelitas p~r ~ desobedecer aDios. SegOn dicha ~ cita, quien siembrevientos ~ recogera tempestades.
0 I had to get out o(the rat race for Q while and ta/
ha sembrado
in the red en numeros rojos
~
las ratas)
*
*company was already in the red
red
229
Esta expresi6n hace referenda al
~ culpable de algun delito cuyas
~ manos estan cubiertas de sangre.
reed a broken reed (Brit, literario) una
Esta expresi6n hace referenda al
~ periodo de la Revoluci6n francesa
~ ofTerror); quetuvo lugarentre ~ abril de 1793 y julio de 1794. En § dicho periodo miles de personas ~ fueron ejecutadas.
rein
*
give someone free rein dar rienda suelta a alguien 0 Hewas given free rein to manage the cavalry as he
* wished.
keep a tight rein on someone or something atar corto a alguien a
Other grave errors were made as wel" such as not providing proper civilian government and failing to keep a tight rein on the troops. 0 The recession has forced people to keep a very tight rein on their finances when on holiday. controlar algo de cerca 0
~
Estas expresiones hacen ~ referencia a unjinete que usa las ~ riendas (reins) para controlar a ~ un caballo.
rest the rest is history -+ ver history
rhyme without rhyme or reason sin ton ni son (litera': sin rima ni raz6n) 0 Cuts
are being made without rhyme or reason. The only motive is to save money to meet Treasury targets.
rich
230
road
rich
right
be as rich as Croesus (Brit) nadar
right as rain perfecta mente
en la abundancia (literal: ser rico
We bandage on his knee, gave him a I and a-cup of tea and he was right as rain. recto como la lIuvia) 0
comoCreso) oHemavbenearlyas rich as Croesus, but that's still not rich enough for him. ~ (reso fue el reyde Lidia, un reino
~ deAsia Menor, en el siglo VI a. C. ~
0
bang to rights 1 con las manos en la masa 0 You've got your man - got him bang to rights - evidence, witnesses, the lot. 2 con acierto 0 I read "'1atthew ~;unl'c piece on you last month and I thought he gat yau bang ta rights.
I've been
thinking, prospecting might be just what we've been loo/(ing for: a quick way to strike it rich.
riddles
ride
*
* *
a free ride un beneficia sin esfuerzo 01 never wanted anyone to thin/< 1was
getting a (ree ride or special treatment from the boss. go along for the ride apuntarse por hacer alga 0 Your boyfriend is not likely to be serious about anything this week except having a good time. Go alang far the ride. a rough ride un mal rato 0 The government is lil
him five thousand francs? Esta expresi6n proviene del argot empleado por los gangsters estadounidenses. Cuando los gangsters "lIevaban a alguien a dar un paseo" (tool< someone for a ride), se lIevaban a dicha persona en un coche para secuestrarla 0 matarla.
*
o The president read the riot act to his party, warning those who sought to preserve the old system that power was already slipping from their grasp. :g The RiotActfue una ley aprobada ~ en Gran Bretafia en 1715 segun la ~ cual se consideraba ilegal que un
a dead ringer for someone el vivo retrato de alguien oAn ordinary guy from Baltimore, Dave Kovic is extraordinary in one respect: he's a dead ringer for the US President. ~ Puede que la palabra ringer
~ proviniera inicialmente del ~ nombre dado a los comerciantes § deshonestos quevendfan anillos ~ de laton en las ferias afirmando ~ que eran de oro. En la hfpica ~ estadounidense, al caballo ~ sustituido porotro deforma ~ fraudulenta en una carrera ~ tam bien se Ie denomina ~
ringer.
rings run rings round someone dar mil
oMental/y, he can still run rings round men ha/(his age.
vueltas a alguien
ringside a ringside seat una vision muy cercana (literal: una butaca de
*
~ grupo de doce 0 mas personas se ~ negaran a dispersarse cuando ~ alguna autoridad les lefa el § artfculo pertinente de la ley.
run riot
There can be no parts afBritain which are no-go areas, where gangs run riot terrorising the innocent while the police stay safely away. 2 dispararse oWe have no proofand when there is no proof, rumour runs riot.
1 desmandarse 0
§
wondered ifit WOUldn't be better ifshe let rip as she used to do over his inadequacies in the past.
rise get a rise out of someone chinchar
Johnson stopped bothering him once he saw he couldn't get a rise out of him. a alguien 0
0 They had thegame won by half-time but they weren't satisfied with that. They were taking the rise out of us and we wan't forget that in a hurry.
el pelo a alguien
read the riot act leer la cartilla (literal: leer la ley sobre desordenes)
ringer
2 soltar de todo 0 He sometimes
take the rise out of someone tomar
riot
§ Es probable que esta Frase este ~ relacionada con la expresi6n ~ bang-on 0 dead-on, que significa ~ "exactamente".
talk in riddles hablar en clave 0 For
several days, he dropped enigmatic clues to Ann, and talked in riddles about
his unpredictable absences of the past months.
En el boxeo, los asientos que ~ estan mas cerca del cuadrilatero ~ y tienen la mejor vista se § denominan ringside seats. §
rights
Fue famosa por SU riqueza.
strike it rich hacerse rico
primera fila) 0 The first US presidential election for which I had a ringside seat was that which brought Jahn F. Kennedy to office over30 years aga.
231
En la caza, cuando lajaurfa sigue
~ la pista de un animal que no es el ~ que deberfan perseguirse dice ~ que they run
riot.
1 desenfrenarse 0
Estas expresiones hacen ~ referencia a un pez que sube ~ hasta la superficie para picar en ~ el anzuelo.
river sell someone down the river traicionar a alguien (literal: vender a 0 Hehas been sold down the river by the people who were supposed to protect him. It had a devastating effect on his health.
alguien rio abajo)
~ Esta expresion hace referencia a
~ la venta de esclavos problematicos ~ a propietarios de plantaciones ~ situadas al sur del rfo Mississippi, ~ donde las condiciones de vida ~ eran peores.
road
* five years down the road from Twentydown the road despues
0
independence, we have to start making some new priorities.
rip
* let rip
~
* o Urban commuters are having to hit hit the road ponerse en camino
I give a dinner
party for ten people about every three weeks. It's a big number where I can really let rip and make things 1001< beautifu/.
the road earlier to be sure of beating the jams and finding a parking space. take the high road (EE UU) seguirel camino mas etico 0 US diplomats say
232
robbery
the president is ii/
road in his statements about trade.
robbery daylight robbery (Brit) 0 highway robbery (EE UU) atraco a mana armada 0 They are charging
three bucks (orthe comics, which sounds like highway robbery to us,
rock
*
root rocks on the rocks fatal 0 Their marriage was on the rocks, but they had determined not to divorce until the children were grown up.
§ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
§ de un barco encallado en las . §
Tocas.
rod
between a rock and a hard place entre la espada y la pared (literal: entre una roea Vun Jugar duro) 0 We're caught between a roel< and a hard place. Either we spend two
cavartu propia tumba (literal: hacer una vara para tu propia espalda) o If you give in to your children, you'll just be making a rod for your own back.
months planning the operation and end up being late, orwe come in right now
g Esta expresi6n se refiere a alguien g que propordona a sus agresores
and risk making mistakes. hit rock bottom haber tocado fondo 0 The UK motor industry slumped to one orits blackest days yesterday as new car sales hit roel< bottom. 0 When my girlfriend asked me to move out of Durf/at and end our relationship, I hit rock bottom. § Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~ minerfa, y se refiere a la capa de ~ roca a la que se lIega cuando los ~ minerales que se extraen de la ~ mina se han agotado.
rocker off your rocker (familiar) majareta oMrs. Stevens will think I'm offmy
rocker handing out my money like that before the bankruptcy business is even settled.
rocket it isn't rocket science no tiene
mucha cienda (literal: no es ingenierfa espacial) 0 In 1981, it didn't tal(e long for our people at CBS to learn these techniques. As I'd told Sauter, this isn't rocket science.
make a rod for your own back
I
~ el palo con el que van a pegarle.
* on
a roll and we're winning, which gives the players that extra belief in themselves. ~
Es probable que esta expresion
be rolling in it (familiar) estar forrado o She's only 25 and she's rolling in it.
Rome fiddle while Rome bUrns perder el
tiempo con nimiedades e ignorarel verdadero problema (literal: tocar mientras arde Roma) 0 Fighting with one another over small details is like fiddling while Rome burns: it is a distraction from the main issue. Se dice que el emperador Neron incendi6 Roma y a continuacion se puso a tocar la lira y a cantar mientras contemplaba las llamas. Despues neg6 haberlo hecho, y culpo a los cristianos de Ja destruccion de la ciudad.
§ Esta expresi6n se uso por primera
gan6 Zamora en una hora (litera': Rama no se construy6 en un dfa) o Ilwow Rome wasn't built in a day but i don't want to wait 200 years. when in Rome donde fueres, haz 10 que vieres (literal: cuando estes en Roma) 0 We had a leisurely lunch, (allowed by a little sleep - when in Ramel § Puede que esta expresi6n la ~ empleara por primera vez san ~ Ambrosio (0. 340-397d. de c.) en ~ respuesta a una pregunta sobre si ~ el ayuno religioso debfa seguirse ~ en el dfa designado en Milan a en ~ el designado en Roma.
~ vez en referenda a la suite del § Hotel Blackstone de Chicago en la ~ que Warren Harding fue elegido ~ candidato presidencial de los g republicanos en 1920.
roost
*
*
go through the roof
estar por las nubes (litera': salir par el tejado) 0 House prices were going through the roOf 2 subirse por las paredes 0 I admitted I had ordered a racing car, and found myselfin terrible trouble. He went through the roo(! raise the roof armar un estruendo (literal: levantar el tejado) 0 Best audience I've ever had in my life - they practically raised the roof
*
rooftops
~ poema titulado The Curse Of § /(ehorilO (La rnoldici6n de /(ehorno), § del poeta ingles Robert Southey.
rule the roost lIevar la batuta 0 In Germany, scientists will be found at the top of many manufacturing companies; in Britain, accountants rule the roost.
~
Sin embargo, puede que rule the ~ roost sea una variante de la ~ expresi6n anterior rule the roast, ~ referida aljefe de familia que § trincha y sirve el asado (roast).
root
* (literal:
root and branch completamente
rafz y rama) 0 These measures should change our economic system root and branch.
proclamar alga a los cuatro vientos
(/iter.': gritar algo desde el techo) o I would love to be able to shout our results from the rooftops.
room a smoke-filled room un petit co mite (literal: una habitacion lIena
de humo) 0 Richards doesn'tthinl< that a return to the smoke-riled room, in which a few bosses make the decision, would be possible.
fruto amargo (literal: volver a casa a dormir) 0 You ought to have Imown that your lies would come home to roost in the end.
§ Esta expresi6n parece referirse al ~ galla dominante de un gallinero.
shout something from the rooftops
*
come home to roost producir un
2 Esta expresi6n proviene del
1
be on a roll estar en racha 0 We're
@ provenga del surf.
Rome was not built in a day no se
roof
*
roll
233
*
~ En 1641 se presento ante el § parlamento ingles el "proyecto de ~ ley de Erradicaci6n" (Root and ~ Branch Bill) para impedirque los ~ obispos gobernaran la iglesia.los § que apoyaban dicho proyecto de ~ ley eran conocidos como root-and~ branch men, terminG que se ha ~ usado desde entonces para hacer § referencia a cualquier reforma.
take root arraigar 0 The idea
of
,
Rubicon
roots
234
starting up his own picture library began to take root.
'* o
on the ropes contra las cuerdas The Denver-based de;'eloperha:; be'en on the ropes because Of depressed housing markets in Denver, Texas and Arizona.
roots put down roots 1
echar rafces 0 Servicemen and
§ ~ ~ §
women are seldom in the same place long enough to put down roots and buy
their own home. arraigar 0 Not only did the party increase its share ofthe poll but it a/so put down roots in areas where it had 2
rope be at the end of your rope (EE UU) no poder aguantar mas (litera': estar al final-de la saga) 0 Everything is dreadful and I am at the end of my rope.
~
§ lejos porque esta atado a algo con ~ una cuerda.
marineros tenfan que aprender e! ~ complicado sistema de cuerdas ~ que formaban las jarcias.
roughshod
*
roses come up smelling of roses salir bien parada (literal: aparecer oliendo a rosas) 0 Ellis, who was sacked on Monday, has come up smelling of roses. He has been taken on by a rival company and his financial package is even healthier. everything is coming up roses todo estasaliendoa pedirde boca o For Rachel Ashwell, everything's coming up roses both in her home and herworldng life,
give someone enough rope to hang
~
Este era el tftulo de una cand6n ~ del musical Gipsy (1959), con letra ~ de Stephen Sondheim.
ropes
* (literal:
EI origen de esta expresi6n viene de los veleros, en los que los marineros tenfan que aprender e! complicado sistema de cuerdas queformaban lasjarcias.
EI origen de esta expresi6n viene
~
themselves dejar a alguien actuar que se condenara el mismo (literal: dar a alguien suficiente cuerda que se ahorcara el mismo) 0 The King has simply given the politicians enough rope to hang themselves: once the party system has been discredited by pOlitical in-fighting, he will present himself once again as an absolute ruler.
learn the ropes ponerse al tanto aprender los cabos) 0 By the time he was 34, he had learnt the ropes of the jewellery trade.
take the rough with the smooth (Brit) tamar las duras can las maduras (literal: tamar 10 aspero can 10 suave) 0 You have to take the rough with the smooth. I never promised there would be no risk.
§ de los ve/eros, en los que los
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
~ de un animal que no puede irmuy
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen de un boxeador a! que han empujado contra las cuerdas que rodean los lados del cuadrilatero.
show someone the ropes mostrar a alguien c6mofuncionan las casas (literal: ensefiar a alguien los cabos) o We had a patrol out on the border, breaking in some young soldiers, showing them the ropes.
previously been wea/< or even nonexistent.
~
*
rough
*
cut up rough (Brit) ponerse hecho unafuria oWetookapoliceofficerin case he cut up rough. rough and ready 1 improvisado 0 The rough and ready method used to limit total costs worked
reasonably wel,. 2 tosCO oAt first the rough and ready sailors did not know what to make Of the young cleric. rough and tumble rifirrafes o Whoever expected leaders in the rough and tumble ofelectoral politics to be niceorfair? § Originalmente, un combate de ~ boxeo sin reg/as ni restricciones ~ se denominabaa rough and § tumble.
ride roughshod over someone pisotear a alguien 0 Bosses nowadays seem to think they can ride roughshod over unions and I like to see them fighting baclc ~ Antiguamente algunos caballos ~ were roughshod, 0 se herraban con herraduras de ramplones, piezas ~ pequefias de hierro que § sobresalfan para que el animal no ~ resbalara en el hielo. Estas § herraduras podfan causar heridas gterribles si el caballo pisaban a ~ una persona 0 bien en una batalla § 0 por acddente.
g
roulette
*
play Russian roulette jugara la ruleta rusa o America's space agency has been accused ofmismanagement and playing Russian roulette in launching some of its missions. Eljuego de la ruleta rusa consiste en dispararse varios jugadores en la cabeza con un rev61verque contiene una unica bala.
235
row. a tough row to hoe un huesa duro de reer (literal: una fila dura de sachar) 0 I think, however, that in a criminal prosecution against the police, the prosecutor has a very tough row to hoe.
rub don't rub it in (hob/ado) no se 10 restriegues par las narices 0 Of course too much good fortune could give rise to someone else's envy, so don't rub it in by boasting. the rub of the green (sobretodo Brit) el santo de cara 0 Providing we have the rub of the green, there is no reason why we can't do really we!! in the summer. ~ Esta expresi6n viene § probablemente del golf 0 del ~ juego de bochas. La palabra rub se ~ refierea!a direcci6n en que se § inclina la hierba al segarse, 10 cual ~ afecta al movimiento de la pelota.
* othere's the rub
ahf esta e[ problema
'J am definitely not part ofthe club.
They think I am this ferocious feminist who doesn't approve of them.' And there's the rub. Women are much more like/yto imagine they are being criticised even when they are not. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene del ~ conodda soliloquia que empieza ~ con la Frase lOser 0 no serIO en la ~ obra de Shakespeare Hamlet, ~ e[ (acto Ill, escena I), cuando ~ Hamlet se pregunta si debe 0 no ~ suicidarse.
Rubicon cross the Rubicon pasar e! Rubic6n 0 Today the Government has crossed the Rubicon in favour Of the furo.
236
rug
rush
~ EI Rubic6n era un pequeno rro que ~ separaba la Italia romana de la ~ Galia, fa provincia gobernada par ~ Julio CE~sar. Cesarcruzo el Rubicon ~ en el ana 49 a. de c., invadi61a § Italia romana y desato una guerra
*
~ incidente.
have someone on the run tener a a[guien contra [as cuerdas·o It is clear that the Oppositian thinks it has
rug pull the rug from under someone's
him an the run.
feet dejar a alguien en la estacada (literal: tirar de la alfombra debajo de 105 pies de alguien) 0 Every time we have been close to saving the shipyard, the Government has pulled
run before you can walk (Brit) empezar [a casa pore[ tejado (literal: correr antes de saber caminar) 0 They tried to. run befo.re theycauld walle They made it too.
the rug from underourfeet.
camplicated.
sweep something under the rug (EE UU) ocultar alga (literal: barrer alga debajo de la allombra) 0 BV
runaround give someone the runaround traer a a[guien a[ retortero 0 In early
sweeping the wrongdoing under the rug, executives seek to avoid being accused of mismanagement by directors
August, sameone close could give you the runaround, especially where it concerns maney or ather joint matters.
and shareholders.
rule
*
a rule of thumb [a regIa general (literal: una regia de pulgar) oA
runes read the runes (Brit,literario) saber interpretar [as senates (literal: leer [as runas) 0 The management has
good rule o(thumb for any type Of
studio. phatagraphy is to. use no. mare light saurces than are strictly necessary.
proved itselfinnavative and imaginative. They read the runes and knew what would happen.
~ Esta expresion se remonta
~ probab[emente a[ uso de [a ~ primera falange del pu[gar como § unidad de medida.
§ Las runas eran un conjunto de
g caracteres que formaban un
~ a[Fabeto usado par [as antiguos ~ escandinavos hasta [a epoca
rules
*
give someone a run fortheir money hacer sudar a alguien
o The British team gave the hast side a run (or its maney to. finish a clase second in the team cam petit ian.
~ civil. La expresion the die is cast ~ esta basada en el mismo
*
run, checking out all the streets and affices we would use, and planning OUr escape route.
~ medieva[.A[gunos crefan que
bend the rules adaptar [as normas
The river autharities said they were willing to. bend the rules (ar us and allowed us to. go through the rrst loci<. (literal: doblar [as reg [as)
.§ estes caracteres posefan
0
run
~ propiedatles magicas.
running
*
be in the running tener posibilidades 0 The US needs a win
a dummy run (Brit) un ensayo
tanightta still be in the running (ar
o Be(are we started we did a dummy
the gold.
Se dice que un caballo is in the running cuando tiene posibilidades de ganar una carrera.
237
rush a rush of blood un arrebato (litera': un charro de sangre) 0 Hughes' rush
o(b/oad may have cost Manchester United a couple a(millian pounds.
sands salad
someone's salad days (litera rio) la juventud de alguien (literal: los dfas de ensaladas de alguien) 0 The
Grand Hotel did not seem to have changed since her salad days. ~
Esta expresi6n es una cita sacada de la obra de Shakespeare Antonio ~ yCleopatra (acto I, escena V), en la § que Cleopatra habla de su ~ juventud. ~
sabre
seguro como las casas)
La palabra sabre significa "sable". Sabre se escribe saber en ingles americana.
* sabre-rattling oAfter more than a week Of sabre-rattling, the bravuconerfa
two countries have agreed to ta/!< about their differences.
sack hit the sack echarse a dormir
0
It
was raining and we were tired, so we only hal(-unpacked the car and .then hit
the sacl<. § Antiguamente, la gente a veces §
usaba sacos y heno como cama.
in the saddle en el poder (literal: en la silla de montar) 0 It is his bad luck
to be in the saddle when his country has to decide which road it is now going to (aI/ow. ride high in the saddle atravesar un buen momenta 0 The Australian cricl
saddle after their recent victory against England.
safe
* play it safe The pilot decided that Christchurch was too for ir a 10 segura
0
away, and played it safe, landing at Wellington. safe as houses (Brit) completamente segura (literal:
Both
their jobs are safe as houses.
sailing
*
plain sailing (Brit) 0 smooth sailing (EE UU) cosery cantar (literal: navegaci6n
tranquila) 0 Once I got used to the diet it was plain sailing. I lost 2 stones in weight over a four month period
saloon the last chance saloon for someone (Brit) la ultimfsima oportunidad para alguien (literal: el sal6n de la ultima oportunidad para alguien) 0 The boxers understand one thing clearly. As
far as the world title goes, Saturday is the last chance saloon for both of them.
and the weight loss has been
maintained. ~ Plain sailing significa navegaren ~
condiciones favorables, sin que
salt
* something no-one worth their salt would do
nadie que se precie harfa alga (literal: nadie que valga su sal haria algo) 0 No player worth
§ 5urjan dificultades. Sin embargo, ~ ~
saddle
0
managers can count on one thing-
puede que esta expresi6n venga
his salt wants to play in the lower divisions.
de la Frase pJane sailing, un
§ metoda empleado para ~ ~ ~ ~
determinar la posicion de un barco y para planear SU ruta empleando calculos basad as en que la Tierra era plana en lugar de
~
redonda. Setrata de un metoda
~ faeil y senciHo que resulta ~ bastante preciso en distancias ~ cortas, especial mente cerca del
s ecuador. sails
trim your sails apretarse el cintur6n (literal: orientar las velas) o Mr Lee, for his part, has already
begun trimming his sails in preparation for dealing with the new government.
§ Antiguamente, la sal era cara y § escasa. A los soldados romanos se les pagaba un solarium, a dinero ~ para sal, a fin de que pudieran s comprar sal ymantenerse sanos.
g
*
rub salt into the wound poner sal en la Ilaga o Compensation paid to
criminals is rubbing salt into the wounds ofvictims of serious crimes. the salt of the earth la sal de la tierra 0 These are good people, rather rough-and-ready, but the salt o(the
earth. ~
Esta expresi6n proviene de la
~ Biblia. Jesus dice a sus discfpulos: ~ "Vosotros so is la sal de la tierra". § (Mateo 5:13).
239
* take something with a pinch of salt (sabre todo Brit) a take something with a grain of salt (EE UU) no tomarse alga al pie de la letra (literal: tomarse alga con una pizca de sal) 0 You have to tal
salt because respondents in such surveys tend to give the answers they (eel they should.
§ Hay quien cree que esta expresi6n § se refiere al rey de Ponto @MitridatesVI, que vivi6 en el siglo § I a. de c. Se dice que Mitrfdates se ~ inmuniz6 al veneno tragando § ,pequenas cantidades con un ~ grana de sal. Sin embargo, otros ~ creenquesetratadeuna ~ expresi6n medieval inglesa que § sugiere que es preciso desconfiar ~ de las historias inverosfmiles, al ~ igual que es preciso anadirsal ala § comida.
sand be built on sand tener pies de barre (litera': estar construido sobre arena) 0 He moved into the newspaper
business in the Seventies. It was an empire built on sand. The newspapers (olded, and by 1981 he was bankrupt. ~
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
~ un relata biblico (MateoT24-27) ~ en el que Jesus campara a los ~ disdpulos que siguen sus
§ enseiianzas con un hombre ~ prudente que edifica su casa ~ sobre la roca. AI lIegar las ~
inundaciones, la casa cimentada ~ sobre roca no se derrumb6, a § diferencia de aquellas construidas ~ sobre la arena.
sands shifting sands arenas movedizas o Even his critics in theWest have
240
screws
sandwich
acknowledged his shrewd tactical skills
Esta es una referencia al relato bfblico sobre Saul, el cual qued6' ciego tras aparecersele Dios en una visi6n de camino a Damasco' (Hechos de losApostoles 9:18). Saul se convirti6 al cristianismo despues de que un discfpulo de Jesus Ie devolviera la vista. Segun la Biblia, cuando Saul r~cobr6la vista fue como si Ie hubieran cafdo escamas de los ojos.
in the shifting sands ofArab politics.
sandwich someone is one sandwich short of a picnic alguien esta mal de la azotea (literal: a aJguien Ie falta un
bocadillo para eJ picnic)
0
His
daughter confirmed that her father was definitely one sandwich short ofa picnic.
sardines be packed like sardines estar como sardinas en lata o The people are in
appalling conditions. They're packed like sardines on the ship. They can
barely move so the sanitary conditions are very, very bad.
sauce what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander (anticuado) 10 que es buena para uno es buena para el atro (litera': 10 que es buena para la Dca es bUena para el ganso) 0 Unless
Washington acknowledges that what is
sauce (or the goose is sauce (or the gander, these talks with Russia and China are unlikely to make progress.
say it goes without saying ni que decir
aAnd o(course it goes without saying that i(there's anything you should need while you're out here, please don't hesitate to call me here at the embassy. tiene
scales the scales have fallen from someone'seyes (literario) a alguien se Ie ha cafdo la venda de los ojos (litera': a alguien se Ie han cafdo las escamas de los ojos) a The scales
have rnallv fallen fram his eves and he
realises that he's made a dreadful mistal
school
*" olthe old school de la vieja escuela oAs a builder of the old school, he did
not always see eye to eye with designers of new houses. aShe is very much an old-school nurse and her outlook leads to clashes with other staff the old school tie (Brit) las ayudas que se dan los que estudiaron en el mismo colegio privado aMostof
these men claim that school made little difference to the professional paths they
scene
*
fallowed and try to denvthe notion Of
set the scene for something
the old school tie.
(Periodismo) situar la escena de a To set the scene for this latest programme exploring the improvement in East-West relations, here's Kevin Connolly from Moscow. 2 crear el ambiente para algo a The nrst hour's cricket set the scene fora superbly entertaining day as England and South Africa battled to win the match.
the school of hard knocks la escuela de la vida a He graduated
1
algo
from the school o(hard knocks as well - most of his family perished in the war. § Otra frase similar es the University ~ ofUfe.
impresionar a alguien citandole muchos datos cientfficos (literal: cegar a alguien con ciencia) aAs a
entre bastidores
the public arena a debate which has been going on behind the scenes for months. a The debate was postponed for a third time after another day of intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations.
scent throw someone off the scent
The murderer tried to throw the cops offthe scent by claiming that he saw another man attacking the woman. despistar a alguien a
Esta expresi6n se refiere a los perras de caza que pierden el rastra del animal al que persiguen, por ejemplo a causa de otra olor.
teenage, amateur photographer, I learned all the technicaljargon
so I could impress people by blinding them with science.
no one to blame but themselves if their performances are not up to scratch. ~ Tiempo atras, los boxeadores
~ empezaban un combate con el ~ pie izquierdo colocado sobre una ~ Ifnea marcada en el suelo, ~ conocida como the scratch. ~ Cuando un boxeadorera ~ noqueado, se Ie permitfan treinta g segundos de descanso antes de ~ volver a colocarse sobre la Ifnea ~ (come up to the scratch). Los g boxeadores que no Ilegaban a ~ tiempo a esta lfnea perdfan el § combate.
* startafrom scratch She moved to a strange place
empezar desde
cero
~ las carreras solfa seruna Ifnea ~ marcada en el suelo conocida § como the scratch.
screw have a screw loose «(amiliar) faltar!e un tornillo (literal: tener un tornillo suelto) aMy sister looked at
meas if had a screw loose. * turn the screw on someone tighten the screw on someone I
score
*
alguien no da la ta!!a o Athletes have
~ Tiempo atras, la lfnea de salida en
blind someone with science
* abehind the scenes The Prime Minister's remarks put in
come up to scratch (Brit) algo 0
where she had to make new friends and start a new life from scratch.
science
scenes
241
know the score estar al cabo de 10 que pasa (literal: conocer el marcador) a Taylor knows the score now, and what will happen ifhe foils.
"* settle a score settle an old score 0
saldar las cuentas pendientes a The ethnic
groups turned on each other to settle old scores, leaving millions dead.
scratch
* something or someone is not up to scratch 0
something or someone does not
0
apretar las clavijas a alguien a NATO is turning the screw on the president and piling on the pressure. ~ Esta expresi6n hace referencia a
~ uninstrumentodetortura
§ conocido como "empulgueras" ~ (thumbscrew) que se utllizaba para ~ apretar los pulgares de un § prisionero.
screws put the screws on someone apretar
242
sea
shadow warning that Britain's I I is in danger of coming apart at seams because Of cuts in government funding. 0 He stood for a moment. breathing deeply; he was coming at the seams. something he had never
las clavijas a alguien 0 They had to put the screws on Harper. So far, he was the only person who might know
something. ~
Esta expresi6n hace referenda a ~ un instrumento de tortura ~ conocido como "empulgueras" ~ (0 thumbscrew); ver la explicacion
§ en turn the screw on someone.
sea
* atall sea at sea
(Brit) a
perdido (literal: en el mar)
o When he was in prison, he knew at least where he stood. Now that he's been released, he's all at sea. ~ Esta expresion hace referenda a
§ un barco 0 a una barca que se ha ~ perdido.
* a sea change (literal: radical
(/iterario) un cambia un cambia de mar)
* (literal:
burst at the seams a reventar
a punta de reventar par las casturas) 0 If your shed is bursting at the seams or you can't get your car into
the garage because ofthe clutter, it's time to get organised. come apart at the seams desmoronarse (literal: descoserse) o University lecturers have given a
sent my boyfriend pac/
shade put someone in the shade hacer
oAlthough nowin her seventies,joan Collins always stuns the crowds with her chic outfits and still manages to put younger women in the shade. sombra a alguien
go to seed if a menos
seat
0 Once he had carried a lot of muscle but now he was going to seed. 2 echarse a perder 0 The report painted a grim picture of an America going to seed, its bridges and roads falling apart. its national parks neglected. 1
fly by the seat of your pants hacer algo por instinto 0 The truth is that neither experts nor mothers know as
much as each might wish; to a great
§
0
(EE
al en el asiento del
manda (litera': conductor) 0 Politically, the radicals
seed corn inversi6n de futuro
in the hot seat como responsable
The club was formed in 1900 and since 1902 they have had only seven managers. Syd King was the longest-serving with 30 years in the hot seat from 1902. en el asiento caliente) 0
that there are some situations when it is wise to take a back seat and some where it is appropriate to fight for your, and
fantasmas de alguien
~ plantarlo y no para venderlo a ~ comerla.
seeds
*
sow the seeds of something a plant the seeds of something
0
algo)
oAndie Mac Dowel/stars in the bizarre mystery thriller Ruby Cairo, as the wife
Cuanda una verdura como la
(literal: trigo de siembra) 0 I regard the teachers as the people who are planting the seed corn for the future and therefore I regard their work as crucially important. ~ Seed corn significa "triga de § siembra", 0 grana que se usa para
were in the driving seat, much to the anxiety ofthe moderates.
quedarse en segundo plano sentarse en el asienta trasero) 0 You will be aware
shades of someone or something recordando a alguien a alga (litera':
crook who hos (aked his death (shades o(TheThird Mon, perhops?).
0(0
~ significa que produce flares y ~ semi1!as yya no resulta ~ comestible.
* inin the driving seat (Brit) the driver's seat UU)
* take a backseat(literal:
shades
~ lechuga grana (goes to seed),
§ usar mapas a instrumentas.
* (litera':
mandar a alguien a frefr esparragos (litera': mandar a alguien a hacer las maletas) 0 We hod an idyllic H(e in the country until I decided I wanted to live alone forthe first time in my life and I
. seed
experience. § Fly an aircraft by the seat of one's ~ pants significa pilatar un avion sin
La palabra seams significa "costuras" (de una prenda).
~ marder en busca de consuela.
Open season significa ""1:ennOlmn,:
so until there is a sea change in political thinking on food.
seams
~ nino suele sujetary a menuda
on the rayal (amily. ~ de caza".
* send someone packing
~ prenda 0 trozo de tela que dicho
media are concerned, it's open season ~
send
teachers are security blankets -loved. respected. trusted. § La manta de seguridad (security ~ blanket) de un nino es cualquier
open season on someone or something veda de algo a alguien abierta 0 It seems that, as far as the
extent, all o(us ny by the seot o( our pants and try to learn quickly from
Esta frase proviene de la obra de § Shakespeare la tempestad (1611, ~ acto I escena II), que empieza con ~ una tormenta en el mary trata § sabre la magia y las § transfarmacianes.
seguridad 0 To small chfJdren,
season
oSupermarkets have Q huge innuence on what we eat and will continue'to do
~
a security blanket una manta de
thought would happen to him.
*
armies, foreign settlers and foreign apartheid, which planted the seeds of today's crises in Africa.
others', rights. 0 Dr Mclaren's own private life takes a back seat to the problems and difficulties Of his patients.
security
243
~ Shadees una palabra antigua que § significa "fantasma".
shadow afraid of your own shadow con miedo hasta de su propia sambra
*
o They're all afraid of their own shadows. Can't say I blame them. After ali, this is a police state. cast a long shadow over something ensombrecer alga (litera': proyectar una larga sombra sabre algo)
o Cancer has cast its long shadow over
* almost every family in the country.
a shadow of someone's or something's former self la sombra
Kevin
sembrar las semillas de algo
de 10 que alguien 0 algafue 0
o Shortly after that came foreign
dreaded going downhill os 0 (ootball
244
shirt
shake
plover. He hated the thought
orending
up a shadow of his former self
shake shake like a leaf temblarcomo un flan oAt three o'clock in
the morning she sat up suddenly in bed, shaking like
a leaF.
shakes
separate the sheep from the
(anticuado, hablado)
separar e! grana de Ja paja (literal: separar las ovejas de las cabras)
Of a lamb's tail. no great shakes nada del atro mundo 0 This restaurant is no great
sha/
~ refieraaagitarlosdadosy ~ obtener un mal resultado, § aunque hay otras explicadanes ~ posibles. .
shape
*
knock something into shape a whip something into shape poner
oAttera successful career at the Italian central bank, few people doubt his ability to whip the economy into shape.
~ SegCm consta en la Biblia, el
Dla '
~ del Juicio FinalJesus separara a @ovejas de las cabras (Mateo § 25:32). Las ovejas representan a ~ aquellos que iran a! cielo, ~ mientras que las cabras § representan a los que iran a! ~ infierno.
I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb de perdidos, al rfo
(literal: mas vale que me cuelguen por una aveja que par un cordero)
shape up or ship out
o This seductive thought process-/ might as well be hanged lamb - is a trap which awaits al/ dieters. After succumbing to one biscuit you feel such a failure you consume the whole packet.
0 te pones las
The message to every player in the team is clear - shape up or ship out.
shave have a close shave salvarse por 105 pelos (literal: tener un afeitado apurado) 0 Gingrich had a close shave in the 1990 general election.
~ ladrones de ovejas.
sheet keep a clean sheet (Brit, Periodismo) mantener la porterfa imbatida
sheep
(litera': mantener una sabana
the black sheep 0 the black sheep of the family la oveja negra (de Ja familia)
~ Antiguamente, en Inglaterra se ~ condenaba a muertea 105
oMyaunt
Tottenham's most successful season was 1944-1945: on twelve occasions they kept a clean sheet. limpia) 0
ship
empezarcan una sabana limpia)
o The Christmas break has erased unhappy memories and allowed the Government to start the new year with a clean sheet.
shelf on the shelf (Brit) que se ha quedado para vestir santos (litera': en el estante) 0 I certainly don't
is getting harder and harderto the sheep from the goats among the 4,000 or so titles for children that are published every year.
algo a punta
pilas 0 te Jargas 0
*
~ valiosas que las blancas porque . ~ no es posible teFiir su lana. ~ Asimismo, la gente sona asocial" ~ el color negroa la rnaldad.
in two shakes of a lamb's tail en un periquete (literal: en dos sacudidas del rabo de un cordero) 0 I'll be bacf< in two sha/(es
start with a clean sheet hacer barron y cuenta nueva (literal:
was very famous in those days, but because she was the black sheep family I was never encouraged to about her. ~ Las ovejas negras san menos
*
abandon a sinking ship abandonar un barco que se hunde 0 When the party leader resigned, opposition MPs accused him Of abandoning a sinl
government lost a vote of conrdence last week. Some ruling party members immediately jumped ship and created
equate being single with being on the
new parties.
shein shelf life vida util oA large
~ 51 los marineros "saltan de! barco"
proportion of small businesses have a short she/(lire.
shell
*
245
come out of your shell salir del
She used to be very timid and shy but / thin/< she's come out of her
caparazon 0
shell. playa shell game (sabre todo EE UU) embaucar (literal: jugar unjuego de trileros) 0 The union accused the mine-
owners ofp/aying a shell game, planning to open mines in the future with the intention o(hiring non-union miners. ~ Puede que la raz6n de que a este
~ truca se Ie conozca coma
shell
g game sea porque en un principio ~ se lIevaba a cabo con cascaras de ~ nuez en !ugardevasos.
shine take the shine off something (sabre
todo Brit)
deslucir algo (literal: quitarel brilloaa!go) o There are two
(actors which mayta/(e the shine offthe immediate euphoria following the end
~ (jump ship), abandonan e! barco § sin permisoyya novuelven a el.
runa tight ship Ilevarel tim6n con mana firme o Andy, ourteam coach, is very organized and conrdent. He runs a tight ship and he does a great job. when someone's ship comes in cuando alguien se haga rico (literal: cuandovenga el barco de alguien)
o When my ship comes in, I'll buy a big
house in the country. ~ Esta expresion hace referenda a
~ un barco rnercante que regresa a
~ puerto cargado de mercancfas.
shirt keep your shirt on (sobretodo EE UU) calmarse (literal: no quitarse
'For heaven's sa/(e, hurry up, Pete!' - 'All right. Keep your shirt on! I'mjustcoming.' lose your shirt (sobretodo Brit) perder hasta la camisa 0 If you play cards with these guys, you can lose your shirt. put your shirt on something (sabre todo Brit) apostar todo por algo la camisa) 0
arthecoup. take a shine to someone (Brit)
(litera': ponertu camisa en alga)
tamarsimpatfa por alguien 0 Laura
took a shine to her at the interview and
shirt on Go/den Boy in the next race. It's bound to be a winner, isn't it?
orrered herthejob on the spot.
a stuffed shirt un petulante (literal:
01 wasjust thinking you might put your
246
shot
shoe
una camisa rellena) 0 His seminars work because he keeps things simple. He walks around talking like an
quake in your shoes estar muerto
ordinary person, ratherthan a stuffed shirt. ~ Esta expresi6n se refiere a la
give evidence against him in coe'rt ''''"". the witnesses quake in their shoes. smudge your own shoes (Brit)
0
no Ie gustarfa estar en el lugar de otra persona (literal: a alguien no Ie gustarfa estar en los zapatos de persona) 0 He hasn't made any .
Last week, Time
ofWarnerCommunications Inc. if the shoe fits (EEUU) elquese pica, ajos come (literal: si cabe el zapata) oAlthough I trained as an architect, I have always been interested
in interior design too. So, when people saw my work and said 'You're an interior
designer', I thought 'IFthe shoe nts: the shoe is on the other foot -+verfoot
shoes dead men's shoes (Brit) situaci6n en la que no se puede progresar en un trabajo hasta que alguien superior sejubile a fallezca (litera': loszapatos de un hombre muerto)
oAt that particulartime,jobs were very difficult to obtain. It was more or less dead men's shoes. fill someone's shoes reemplazar a alguien (literal: lIenar los zapatos de
*
alguien) 0 It'll take a good man to nil our old boss's shoes. put yourself in someone's shoes ponerse en ellugar de alguien (literal: ponerse en los zapatos de alguien) 0 You should be kinder when
considering others, and put yourselfin their shoes once in a while.
shut up shop (Brit) 0 close up shop (sobre todo EE UU)
oFgombling.
Warner Inc. dropped the ather shoe in its two-step $13.86 billion acquisition
*
and has upset a lot of powerful V""V"'.' wouldn't like to be in his shoes ifhe comes back to work step into someone's shoes pasar a ocupar el puesto de alguien (literal: meterse en los zapatos de alguien) o In America, if a president resigns or
dies in office, the vice-president steps into his shoes.
shoestring
* oon a shoestring
con 10 justo
Newly divorced with two children to raise, she was living on a shoestring. oA British science fiction film made on a shoestring budget is taldngAmerica by storm. ~
En ingles americano, los cordones ~ de los zapatos se lIaman ~ shoestrings. Esta expresi6n hace ~ referenda a la minuscula ~ cantidad de dinero que se precisa ~ para comprar cordones.
shoo-in ( A veces shoo-in se escribe shoe-in. )
be a shoo-in for something ser el favorito para alga 0 The president
sell yourself short subestimarse o Be confident in your ideas and ability, and don't sell yourself short.
the shop.
someone wouldn't like to be in another person's shoes a alguien
drop the other shoe (EE UU)
Esta expresi6n hace referenda a ~ alguien a quien engafian dandole ~ unacantidad menordealgoque § ha pagado.
o When the pipe in the kitchen burst this morning, it sprayed water all over
He dishes the dirt on his buddies smudges his own shoes with ad'7Jissi""~""
shoe
~
over the shop (Brit) portodas partes (literal: portoda la tienda)
·0
§ el espacio que oeupa la camisa.
completar la faena
of selling him short.
perjudicarse a sf mismo (literal: manchar tus propios zapatos)
~ camisa que exhibe un maniquf en ~ una tienda de ropa. EI maniquf § esta hueco y solo sirve para lIenar
alguien 0 The president accused his former aides offailing to support him,
loo/
de miedo (literal: temblar en tus zapatos) 0 The prospect of having to
247
*
cerrar (litera': cerrar la tienda) o Unless business picks up soon, some ofthe 245 foreign-owned banl(s in switzerland may have to shut up shop.
~
Esta expresi6n hace referencia a ~ alguien a quien engafian dandole § una·cantidad menordealgoque
, ha pagado.
a talking shop (sobretodo Brit) una reuni6n donde se habla mucho pero no se hace nada 0 Governments which used to dismiss the UN as a mere
'talking shop' now see possibilities for the international body to act more as a world policeman. talk shop hablar de trabajo (literal: hablar de la tienda) oAlthaugh Iget on well with my colleagues, if you hang around together all the time you just end up talking shop, which gets boring.
shopping
shot· by a long shot ni de lejos (literal: porun tiro largo) 0 We have to know
what is going on, and we don't, not yet,
not by a long shot. do something like a shot hacer algo rapidamente (litera': hacer algo como un disparo) 01(1 won the lottery, I would give up my job like a
shot.
* fire a warning shot across someone's bows 0
fire a shot across someone's bows
a shopping list una lista de
lanzar una advertencia contra a!guien (litera': disparar un cafionazo de advertencia contra la papa de alguien) 0 Britain's
peticiones (litera': una lista de la compra) 0 Mr Baker presented a
shopping list ofadditional help the United States was requiring from its allies.
agriculture minister departed from his prepared speech to (ire a shot across Norway's bows.
short have someone by the short and curlies (Brit) tener a a!guien en un pUfio 0 The unions' chief negotiator
:: La pa!abra bows significa "proa".
last night said: 'We had the company by the short and curlies.' En esta expresi6n, puede que ~ short and curlies hag a referencia al ~ vella pubico, a! pelo de la nuca 0 al ~ pelo de la barba de alguien.
@.
sell someone short engafiar a
*
get shot of something or someone (Brit) deshacerse de alga 0 alguien o He didn't want to talk to me, and didn't invite me into the house. He COUldn't wait to get shot of me. give something your best shot intentar hacer alga 10 mejor posible
(literal: darle a algo tu mejor disparo) 0 Igove it my best shot, but I
248
shots
wasn't quite good enough to win. have one shot in your locker tener un ultimo as en la manga (literal: tener un ultimo disparo en la taquilla) o They had one hapele(tone shot in their locker- an appeal to the Supreme Court. ~
En este casa, la taquilla (locker) ~ podrfa ser un pequeno armaria en ~ ~
el que se guardaban las municiones.
a long shot una posibilidad remota (literal: un disparo largo) 0 You could try to find her. It's Q long shot but you could look in the phone book.
o Observers say a deal between the White House and Congress is a long shot in an election year, when both political parties are trying to get the upper hand. § Esta expresi6n se refiere a alguien que dispara a un blanco desde § muy lejos.
g
*
a shot in the arm un bal6n de oxfgeno (literal: un disparo en el
The remaining problems can be dealt with in weeks, and to risk brazo)
0
(urther delay would beta deny the world
economy a desperately needed shot in the arm. § Aquf shot significa "inyeccion". ~ En estecaso,setratadela ~ inyeccion de alguna sustancia § estimulante.
someone's best shot at something la mejor posibilidad que tiene alguien de alga (literal: el mejor dispara de alguien contra alga)
oMazankowski and other analysts say Canada's best shot at economic recovery is continued growth in the United States.
shots
*
call the shots Ilevaria voz cantante
shuffle o Is the military really the power the President now? Who really shots? Puede que esta expresion se ~ refiera a alguien que, al disparar, ~ dice en que parte del blanco ~ piensa dar. Porotra parte, ~ referirse a unjugador debiillle",,,", ~ dice que bola piensa golpear, 0 ~ que tronera piensa meterla.
.@
shoulder come straight from the shOUlder serfranco y directo (literal: venir directamente del hombro)
0
'*
His
from the shoulder. 'The president,' he says, 'was out of touch with reality.' § En el boxeo, los golpes dados ~ desdeel hombro son golpes § directos y potentes, asestados § can el brazo recto.
* give someone the cold shoulder
carruajes 0 en carras nor r;,mino',X'
* stop the show
0 Twelve-year-old Reggiejaci
stand shoulder to shoulder estar hombro con hombro 0 The prime minister said that Britain stood shoulder to shoulder with the US in response to the terrorist atrocities.
showers send someone to the showers (EE UU) mandar a alguien a la ducha
rub shoulders with someone (sobre
o Within the first 15 minutes, four
codearse con alguien (literal: frotarse los hom bros con alguien) 0 johnson had always loved
rghting.
En las expresiones siguientes, la palabra show hace referencia a un espectaculo teatral.
get the show on the road ponerse en marcha (literal: poner el espectaculo en la carretera)
0
He
checked his watch. 'Shouldn't we get this show on the road, now that Rolfe's here?' keep the show on the road asegurarse de las cosas continuan funcionando (literal: mantener el espectaculo en la carretera) 0 The
*
arrasar (literal: parar
el espectaculo)
players had been sent to the showers for ~ En el beisbol y en otros deportes
~ los jugadores expu!sados no ~ tienen permitido volver al campo, § por 10 que pueden ducharse antes ~ de que acabe el partido.
show
put your shoulder to the wheel
§
o For a lot of new mums the health visitor becomes a real friend, full of sound advice and the perfect shoulder to cryan when it all gets too much.
rubbing shoulders with celebrities.
~ Esta expresion se refiere a la g costumbre medieval de dar ~ carneasada a los invitados § importantes, mientras que a los ~ menos importantes se res daba ~ unicamente lacarnefrfa que ~ habra sobrado de comidas § anteriores.
~ En la epoca en que se viajaba en
swimmers who stole the show on the first day of competition. They set new Asian records in almost every race.
*todo Brit)
the cold shoulder at the party; tal/< to me at all. ~ Aqur shouldersignifica "paletilla".
build a better society.
acaparar toda la atencion (litera': robar el espectaculo) 0 It was the Chinese
shoulders
hacer el vado a alguien (literal: alguien el hombrofrfo) 0 He
arrimar el hombro (literal: poner el hombro en la rued a) 0 These hardworking and decent people are prepared to put their shoulders to the wheel, to
quien desahogarse(literal: un hombro en el que poder lIorar)
government is going to have to find something to offer the unions during theseta/ks ifit is to keep the show on the road. run the show mandar (literal: contralar e! espectaculo) 0 is that you have on paper the
249
military still run the show. * the steal the show
a shoulder to cry on alguien con
*
opinions about top politicians in Washington and NelNl'
que solfan estar lIenos de barra, la gente ayudaba a mover los vehfculos atascados apoyandose contra una rueda y empujando.
-
The fear
restoration of democracy, but in reality
shrift
*
get short shrift recibir muy poca atencion 0
Employees' complaints are
getting short shrift. § Shriftes una palabra antigua ~ que significa "confesion a un g sacerdote". Antiguamente, a los ~ delincuentes condenados a ~ muerte solo se les concedfan unos § minutos para confesarse antes de ~ la ejecucion.
shuffle get lost in the shuffle (sobretodo EE UU) ser dejado de lado (literal: perderse al barajar) 0 He worries
campaign finance reform will get lost in the shuffle ofWhite House priorities.
sick
250
sing
~ Cuando se barajan bien las cartas, ~ es imposible saber d6nde esta
~
una carta en concreto.
be sick as a dog echar las tripas
(literal: estar enfermo como un perro) 0 In the children's story The
Choco/ateWedding, the main character, Lulu, eats 16 chocolate eggs and is as sic/( as a dog. sick as a parrot (Brit) fatal (literal: 0
I can't
believe Ronaldo missed the goal with that shot. He must be sick as a parrot
about it j@ EI origen de esta expresi6n es ~ incierto. En el sigle XVII ya se decfa § que una persona era "tan ~ melanc61ica como un loro ~ enfermo" (as melancholy as a sick § parrot). En la decada de '970 se ~ produjo en Africa occidental un
~ brote de psitacosis 0 fiebre del ~ loro, enfermedad que los pajaros
g pueden contagiar a las personas.
~ Hacia esa epoca los futbolistas V ~ sus entrenadores empezaron a ~ usar con frecuencia esta § expresi6n para explicarc6mo ~ se sentfan tras perder un ~ partido.
sickasapig (Brit) muvcabreado (literal: enfermo como un cerdo) o Les has just been sacked from hisjob. He's as sick as a pig.
side
*
have time/youth/money on your side terlertiemr,oiJiuvenl:ud/diner.,)
sight
*
de tu lado 0 Having time and money on your side always helps, of course.
sick
enfermo como un lora)
o The law is not on our side.
be on the safe side estarseguro (literal: estaren ellado seguro) o You probably won't need to apply for planning permission to build a shed in
your gorden, but to be on the safe side, check with your local planning department.
be on your side estar de tu lado
give someone the rough side of your tongue -+ vertongue laugh out of the other side of . your mouth ... ver mouth let the side down (Brit) decepcionar 0 The workers are the best in the world - it is the managers
quite as bad as it looks at first sight. look a sight (sabre todo Brit, familiar) tener un aspecto horrible 0 By the time we got to the restaurant, I was soal
* sight.
lose sight of something no tener
presente alga oAs so Often happened, peter, Tommy and Henry had totally lost sight of their real objective. out of sight, out of mind ojos que no ven, coraz6n que no siente (literal: fuera de la vista, fuera de
who let the side down. § En esta expresi6n, side significa g "equipo" (en un partido 0 en una § competici6n).
* look on the bright side
la mente) 0 My boyfriend and I broke up when he went to work in Chinait was a case Of out of sight, out Of mind.
ser optimista (literal: mirar allado brillante) 0 I tried to 1001< on ,h,' hr.inht side, to be grateful that I was I didn't talk to other people at all about
a sight for sore eyes un placer
my disastrous relationship with my
para la vista (literal: una vista para ojos doloridos) 0 The sunset over the Strait ofMal acea is a sight
boyfriend. be on the side of the angels -+ ver angels sunny side up (sabre todo Brit, Periodismo) risuefio o It's not always easy to be sunny side
1
for sore eyes.
sights La palabra Sights signiflea "mira"
up. (sobretodo EE UU) frito solo par un lado (literal: con ellado soleado hacia arriba) 0 Nicole cooked his eggs the way he liked them - sunny side up with a drizzle of melted butter on top. 2
(de un arma defuego).
* have something in your sights tener las miras puestas en algo
oMonroe had more important game in his sights. 0 I am studying at university, with goodjob prospects firmly in my Sights.
sides talk out of both sides of your mouth -+ ver mouth two sides of the same coin a opposite sides of the same coin dos caras de la misma moneda o He says he draws no line between
tragedy and comedy. 'I've always felt that they are inseparable, that they are two sides of the same coin.'
at first sight a primera vista o Nothing is ever quite as good or
*
~ Esta expresi6n se usa a menudo 2 en su sentido literal.
set your sights on something tener las miras puestas en algo oAlthough she came from a family of bankers,
Fiona set her sights on a career in medicine.
HEsta expresi6n tambien se usa en ~ su sentido literal.
251
signed
* osigned and sealed
firmado Vsellado
Well, the agreement is signed and sealed, and there's nothing you can do or say about it. ~ Antiguamente los documentos se
§ sellaban con cera. La marca 0 el ~ diseno en la cera demostraba que ~ el documento era autentleoy no ~ habra sido abierto.
silk you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear no se puede pedir peras al olmo (literal: no se puede hacer un monedero de seda con la oreja de un cerdo) 0 Well, thisjust goes to show that you can't make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear. It's a truly awfUl novel, and even when you throw famous stars at it, you can't make it into a great movie.
silver born with a silver spoon in your mouth nacido con un pan debajo de! brazo (literal: nacido can una cuchara de plata en la boca)
oSamantha was born with a silver spoon in her mouth; there's always someone to pay her bills ifher inheritance isn't enough. ~ Esta expresi6n se remonta al siglo
~
XVII.
Hace referencia a los ninos
§ de las familias ricas que eran ~ alimentados con cucharas de § plata.
hand someone something on a silver platter ... ver platter
sing sing the same tune 0 sing the same song entonar la misma melodfa 0 The president keeps singing the same tune he's been singing for years, which presumably he believes. o Everyone was Singing the same tune
sky
sink
252
should be doing. ~ Se han sugerido dos posibles
~ orfgenes de esta Frase. EI primero ~ se refiere a un juego de dados, y el
sink leave someone to sink or swim abandonar a alguien a su suerte (literal: dejar quealguien se hunda 0 nade) 0 The sad part is that many of
these wounded soldiers have been left to
sink or swim on their own after serving their country.
sitting
* do something at one sitting hacer do something in one sitting 0
alga de una sentada oShecan easily go through a box of chocolates in one sitting.
segundo a la disputa que surgi6 ~ entre dos gremios del Londres . ~ medieval sobre quh§n iba a iren ~ sexto y en septimo lugar en la ~ procesi6n anual que recorrfa la ~ ciudad. La disputa se resolvi6 COn ~ la decisi6n de que los dos'gremios § se turnaran, 10 que han seguido ~ hacienda hasta hoy.
*
slowly, trying on the idea for size and seeming to find it plausible.
fault.
oMany people are very positive and see redundancy as a chanceto start a new career, but the emotional impact Of being made redundant can knock other people for six. ~
~
En el crfquet, un equipo se anota seis carreras cuando el bateador golpea la pelota de modo que esta no bote dentro del terreno de juego. Cuando esto sucede, puede decirse que el lanzador has been
~
hit for six.
~
~ ~ ~
sixes at sixes and sevens (sobre todo Brit) hecho un no (literal: en seis V sietes) o
Everything in the office is at sixes and
*oMy marriage was
skates get your skates on (sabre todo Brit) darte prisa (literal: ponerte los patines) 0 Bargain hunters had better get their skates on - the best properties are selling fast.
skeleton
*
have a skeleton in the closet 0 have a skeleton in the cupboard
(Brit) tener un secreta vergonzoso (literal: tener un esqueleto en el armaria) 0 But everybody's got secrets,
haven't they? Everybody has a skeleton in the closet.
skid be on skid row haber perdido todo (literal: estar en los barrios bajos)
o Gamblers can get through huge
o Atter a slow start, the film gets under your skin because of its affection for its characters and sympathy with the frustrations of 2 encantar a alguien
smal/-tawn life.
*
on the skids yendose al garete
aalgooalguien o Two new witnesses in the murder case have putthe skids
(literal: no es piel de mi nariz)
o When I heard she'd got the sac/(, I thought, it's no sldn offmy nose.
under the accused man's alibi.
skin
*
*
She's not what you'd call a mate, and losing a lousy job like that's no big deal, is it?
be skin and bone(s) estar en los huesos (literal: ser piel V huesos)
oMany villages are deserted. In one we found nomads looldng for water. They were skin and bones. They had no food.
jump out of your skin lIevarse un susto tremendo (literal: salir saltando de tu piel) 0 When I heard gunshots, Ijumped out army sldn.
do something by the skin of your teeth hacer algo por los pelos (literal: hacer algo por la piel de los dientes) 0 Chelsea won the title by the skin of their teeth.
make your skin crawl poner Ja
*
~
Puede que esta expresi6n ~ provenga dellibro de Job en la ~ Biblia, aunque su significado ha § cambiado total mente. Job 10 ~ pierde todo y entonces dice "He ~ escapado con la piel entre los ~ dientes" (/ am escaped with the skin ~ ofmyteeth,Joblg:20), loque ~ significa que la piel de los dientes ~ es todo 10 que Ie queda.
3 meterse en la piel dealguien o It is only through getting right under the skin of your colleagues and loved ones that you will be able to relate to them as equals. have a thin skin ser muy susceptible (literal: tener una piel fina) 0 He has a thin skin and lacks
determination - he's certainly not cut out to be ajournalist. it's no skin off my nose (Brit, familiar) a mf ni me va, ni meviene
on the skids.
put the skids under something or someone (Brit) ponerlazancadilla
cut someone down to size bajar los humos a alguien 0 It may bethat people are drawn to work injournalism because of the chance to cut everyone else down to size. try something on for size estudiar algo (literal: probar la talla de algo)
especiaJmenteen Ingles americano, para referirse a los barrios bajos de una ciudad en los que viven muchos borrachos y personas sin techo.
skids
o 'Jarvis /
dozen of the other. They were both at pasmado a alguien (literal: golpearle seis carreras a a!guien)
~
size
be six of one and half a dozen of the other dar 10 mismo (literal: ser seis de uno y media docena de atro) o To me it was six of one and half a
knock someone for six (Brit) dejar
~ ~ ~ ~
~
six
*
amounts of money. They spend their savings, then the mortgage payments stop. It's a downhill spiral and soon they're on Skid Row. g La Frase skid road se usa,
sevens. None of us knows what we
- one politician after another stood up to dec/are that there was only one solution to the crisis.
253
*
carne de gallina oHegavea laugh that made my skin crawl.
save your own skin salvarel pellejo
The government is trying to save its own skin ratherthan trying to help the victims ofthe disaster.
o
a thick skin mucho aguante (literal: una piel gruesa) oA woman politician
needs a thick skin.
sky blow something sky-high hacer saltar algo par los aires oAII our
hopes, plans and dreams havejust been
get under someone's skin 1 irritar a alguien (literal: meterse debajo de la piel de alguien) 0 The
blown sky-high. out of a clear blue sky inesperadamente (litera': de un
continuing criticism of his behaviour is getting under his skin a little bit.
cielo azul despejado)
0 Out of a clear blue sky and atter34 months of
•
slack
254
smoke
successive increases, unemployment
put something on the slate (Brit)
has dropped by 22,000.
apuntar alga en la cuenta (literal: poner alga en la pizarra) 0 'Give me
~ Esta expresi6n compara un
§ suceso inesperado a un rayo ~ procedente de un (iela azul. Las
§ expresiones out o(the bluey a bolt ~
*
*
from the blue estan basadas en la
~ misma idea.
the sky's the limit el ciela es el Ifmite 0 'How much are you hoping to mal
2 acabarcon los numeros rojos
o Over a decade he wiped the,rrm's slate clean Of debt and brought it into healthy prort. 3 pagar por sus pecados o Serving a
hopeFully I mean the sky's the limit.'
slack cut someone some slack dar un respiro a alguien 0 When you're new at ajob, colleagues and bosses cut you Q
prison sentence ma/
little slack. They forgive minor mistakes because you're new. *: take up the slack a
sledgehammer
pick upthe slack emplearse a fondo o Losing one of our best plavers was
La paJabra s/edgehammersignifica "mazo".
tough. However, the rest of the team
came together and picked up the slack. ~
be a sledgehammer to crack a nut 0 use a sledgehammer to crack a nut (Brit) matar moscas a canonazos
Take up the slack in a rope significa
@"tensar una cuerda".
(literal: ser 0 utiHzar un mazo para
slap
* (literal:
another coffee and put it on the slate: wipe the slate clean 1 hacer borron y cuenta nueva o There's a strong desire among the public to wipe the slate clean and to caf! for early presidential and legislative elections. .
Bankers say that the proposed law is a sledgehammer to crac/< a nut. cascar una nuez)
a slap in the face una afrenta una bafetada) 0 The
daughter ofa murdered terrorist victim said that it is a slap in the face when convicted terrorist killers are being treated like national heroes. a slap on the wrist un tir6n de
sleep
*
orejas (literal: un manotazo en la muneca) 0 Other than a fews/aps on
the wrist, the General went unpunished.
slate Tiempo atras, se usaban pizarras para escribir en colegios, tiendas y pubs. Los tenderos y los duenos de los pubs anotaban las deudas de sus clie'ntes en una pizarra, y la borraban cuando los clientes pagaban.
0
not lose any sleep over something no perder el sueno por alga 0 Well, don't lose any sleep over it. sleep on it consultar can la almohada 0 Don't make any promises today. We'll tall< about it tomorrow when you've had a chance to sleep on it.
sleeve
*
have something up your sleeve tener algo escondido en la manga
o The company's strategy for improvement is simple, according to Mr Pearse: 'We've got nothing fancy up our sleeves. We just have to be better.'
Si alguien quisiera hacer trampas en unjuego de naipes, podrfa esconderse una carta buena en la manga para sacarla en el momenta oportuno.
there is many a slip twixt cup and lip (literario) de la mana a Ja boca se pierde la sopa (literal: hay muchos errores entre taza y labia) 0 Joe must be a hot favourite to win in Belfast, but there's many a Slip twixt cup and
laugh up your sleeve refrte disimuladamente 0 He wondered just
lip.
how smugly she was laughing up her sleeve at his ineptitude.
2 para between ("entre").
§ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de alguien que intenta ocultar sus ~ risas tapandose la boca can la § mana a can el brazo.
~
Ja carne en el asador (literal: arremangarse) 0 He was very much a
team player, rolling up his sleeves and getting down to work.
slice
slippery as an eel mas escurridizo que.una anguila 0 His opponent in the boxing ring was as slippery as an eel, as cunning as a fox and as quick as
lightning.
slope
*
make someone feel/look small hacer sentir insignificante a alguien/rebajar a alguien 0 He made me feel small, like an idiot. 0 I could see
slings
he was going to do whatever he could to make me look small.
smoke blow smoke (sabre todo EE UU) levantar una cortina de humo 0 It was time to
~ Esta expresi6n es una cita
(literal: soplar humo)
§ procedente del famoso soliloquio ~ de la obra de Shakespeare, ~ Hamlet, en el que Hamlet § considera si debe 0 no suicidarse ~ (acto III, escena I)
slip a slip of the tongue un lapsus (linguae) 0 The interviewer asl
on a slippery slope en terreno resbaladizo 0 These young people are already on the slippery slope to criminality.
small
a slice of the action ... ver action the slings and arrows of something (sabre todo Brit) las adversidades de alga (literal: la honda y las flechas de alga) oShe was very ill at that time, which reduced her ability to cope with the slings and arrows of life.
Twixt es una palabra anticuada
slippery
sleeves roll up your sleeves poner toda
255
*
see ifSam was just blowing smol
256
smoke and mirrors (sabre toda EE UU) artificios 0 The president claims that his economic plan is free of the smoke and mirrors that have characterized earlier budget plans.
s Los magos a veces usan humo y ~
espejos al realizar sus trucos de
~ magiaafindeconfundirode ~ enganar al publico.
there's no smoke without fire cuando el rfo suena, agua [leva
(literal: no hay humo sin fuego) o I was incredibly upset by the story. It was the main item on the news and people were bound to think there was
no smoke without (ire.
smooth
*
smooth the way preparar el terreno (literal: alisar el camino) 0 For several
weeks now, the president has been trying to smooth the way for this package of spending cuts and tax increases.
snail
*
spade
smooth
at a snail's pace a paso de tortuga (literal: a ritmo de caracol) a The economy grew at a snail's pace in the rrst three months
o(this year.
snake a snake in the grass un traidor (literal: una serpiente en la hierba) a He's just a snake in the grass. You can't trust that guy. ~
EI poeta romano Virgilio us6 por § primera vez esta frase en su obra ~ Buc6licas para referirse a un g peligro oculto.
snake oil (sobretodo EE UU) remedios de charlatan (literal: aceite de serpiente) a He said he was in the oil business. Hejust omitted to say it was the snake oil business.
En Estados Unidos, el aceite de serpiente se solfa elaborar con la pianta lIamada ageratina (snal
callarse (literal: meterle un calcetfn) a 'put a sock in it, all of you. I need to tell you something.'
socks pull your socks up (Brit) poner empeno (literal: levantarse los calcetines) a Listen, it's about time
you pulled your socks up and worked a bit harder because you're falling behind in your school work.
snow
someone or something will knock your socks off alguien a algo es
a snow job (sabre todo EE UU) camelo, intento de embaucar
para quitarse el sombrero (literal: alguien 0 algo te quitaran los calcetines) a This band will knock
a He called the report a snow job. a They have the experience to know the difference between getting information and getting a snow job.
your socks off!
work your socks off trabajar como
snowball not a snowball's chance in hell -+ ver chance
snug be as snug as a bug in a rug
un animal a We've all worked our socks off to produce this show.
song
* be on song (Brit,
Periodismo) estar inspirado a It only needs one or two
(Brit, anticuado) estar bien comodo (literal: estar comodo como una chinche en una alfombra)
a Jamieson sat down beside McKinnon. 'Ideal worldng conditions, you said. Snug as a bug in a rug, one might say:
soap no soap (EE UU) no hubo forma (literal: sinjabon) a I looked everywhere for him, then finally I went home. I called him at home this morning. No soap.
sober sober as ajudge (Brit, anticuado) perfectamente sobrio (literal: sobria como unjuez) a 'Have you been
drinking?' the policeman asked. Les looked up at him and shook his head. 'No. Sober as ajudge, officer:
sock put a sock in it (Brit, anticuado)
*
players to ploy badly and we'll be in trouble. The whole team must be on song.
go for a song venderse a precio de saldo (literal: venderse por una canci6n) a / bought this rug (rom a second-hand shop. I couldn't resist it when I saw it- it was going fora song. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n haga ~ referencia a las partituras ~ impresas de canciones, las cuales ~ eran muy baratas. TambiE~n ~ podrfa referirse a las pequenas ~ cantidades de dinero que los § transeuntes dan a alguien que ~ canta en la calle.
make a song and dance about something (sabre todo Brit) hacer aspavientos par algo (literal: hacer una canci6n y un baile sobre algo)
a Jan made a great song and dance about the change a(plan at rest, but
257
she calmed down soon enough.
sing the same song -t ver sing
sorrows drown your sorrows ahogar las penas a His girlfriend hasjust dumped him so he's gone off to the pub to drown
his sorrows.
soul bare your soul to someone abrir el coraz6n a alguien (literal: desnudar el alma a alguien) a We all need someone we can bare our souls to, someone we can conrde in.
* sell your soul forasomething
vender
They have sold their soul to the devil; they do anything for money. el aJma par algo
~ Existen muchos relatos sobre ~ personas que vendieron su alma § al diablo a cambio de riqueza, ~ exito a placer. La mas famosa esla ~ de Fausto, narrada porprimera § vez en un libro publicado en ~ Alemania en 1587, y mas tarde por ~ escritores como el autor ingles ~ Marlowe y e! poeta aleman ~ Goethe.
sound sound as a bell en perfectas condiciones (literal: s61ido como una campana) a The doctor says that
granddad's heart's as sound as a bell. ~
En esta expresi6n, sound significa ~ "entero y sin desperfectos". Una § campana que tenga una grieta no g repicara con claridad.
soup in the soup en apuros (literal: en la sopa) aShe has a Imack of landing herse/(right in the soup.
spade call a spade a spade Ilamar al pan
• 258
spades
spot 259
pan y al vinovino (literal: Hamar a una pala para) 0 I'm not at all
todo Brit) hacer saltar el ingenio por efecto mutua 0 It was a productive partnership, the two designers striking creative sparks off each other, ensuring whatever they worked on was fresh and
secretive, and I'm not afraid to call a spade a spade. ~
En una cora del autor griego ~ c!.3.sico Menandro, uno de los ~ personajes dice "Llama higo al § higo y pala a la pala",
spades
* have something in spa(ies tener algo en cantidades industriales
o This Glaswegian band have got talent in spades.
spectacles
*,
look at something through rosetinted spectacles ver solo la parte buena de alga (literal: ver alga a traves de gafas con cristales de color de rosa) 0 He accused dip/om'ats of looking at the world through rose-
tinted spectacles.
spanner
*
edgy.
throw a spanner in the works (Brit) meter un palo en la rueda (literal: lanzar una !lave en la fabrica) 0 If
Britain objects, this would throw a spanner in the works and could damage
the prospects orthetreaty being successfully concluded.
spare spare no expense no reparar en
( Spectresignifica "espectro".
the spectre at the feast (Brit) el aguafiestas (literal: el espectro en la fiesta) 0 The overwhelming good humour was only marred by some catcalls when the US delegation arrived, but no one directly criticised the spectre
at the (east.
and the club is ambitious and they plan
to spare no expense to catch up with
§ sentar a un esqueleto a la mesa
0
Their stadium is magnipcent
Celtic once more.
spark a bright spark (sabre todo Brit) una lumbrera (literal: una chispa brillante) oOurpoorexam results were totally demoralizing because in the third form we'd been real bright sparks.
sparks sparks fly saltan chispas 0 From what I have seen of this TV discussion programme, the presenters are not afraid to tackle serious issues or let the sparks nV when necessary. 0 Whenever two such temperamental artists meet, you know sparl
~ durante un banquete para
~ morirfan ellos tam bien.
speed bring someone up to speed poner a alguien al dfa 0 I guess / should bring you up to speed on what's happened since I came to see you yesterday. bring something up to speed poner alga a punto 0 The fear is that the system will not be cheap to bring up to
speed.
spick spick and span como los charros
* make a splash
g Esta expresi6n es una variante de ~ la antigua frase spicl< and span~ new, que significa "muy nuevo". ~ Spicl< probablementevenfa de una
spoke put a spoke in someone's wheel (sabre todo Brit) ponertrabas a a!guien (literal: meterun radio en!a rueda dealguien) 0 Ifshe had Imown he was seeing Tinsley, she undoubtedly would have tried to put a spoke in his
~ palabra holandesa que significaba ~ "nuevo", mientras que span-new ~ significaba"completamente g nuevo".
spin
wheel.
g Las ruedas de carro solfan estar § hechas de madera maciza y ~ tenfan agujeros a traves de los
§ cuales era posible introducirun
~ 5i un avi6n entra en barrena,
~ radio (spoke) para hacer que el ~ carro fuera mas despacio a para
~ se dice que it goes into a spin.
~ que se detuviera.
spit be the spitting image of someone serla viva imagen de alguien oSam is the spitting image of his father. He's
spoon
* get the wooden spoon
(Brit) ser el farolillo rojo (literal: !Ievarse la cuchara de madera) 0 England must
)
beat Scotland today to avoid getting the wooden spoon.
.§ EI origen de esta expresi6n es ~ incierto, pero puede que sea ~ una variante de la frase spirit and ~ image ("espfritu e imagen"). 51 una ~ persona era e! espfritu y la imagen ~ de otra, ambas eran similares en .§ cuanto a caracter y aspecto flsico.
spit and polish muy limpio 0 The bar, which had been open for two months now, was 0/1 spit and polish. spit and sawdust (Brit) lugarde mala muerte 0 There's Hogan's Bar in the High Street if it's spit and sawdust you're otter. Tiempo atras, muchos bares echaban serrfn en e! suelo para absorber los escupitajos y las bebidas derramadas de los clientes.
causar sensaci6n
(literal: salpicar) 0 She made quite a splash at the party with her outspoken views and colourful and expensive clothes.
tall and dark,just like his dod.
g recordarse a sf mismos que un dfa
( A veces spicl< se escri be spic.
splash
in a spin (sabre todo Brit) muy confundido (literal: en barrena) o This news came right out of the blue and it's lett me in a spin.
spectre
@ Segun el autorgriego Plutarco, ~ los antiguos egipcios solfan
gastos
del oro 0 When she arrived, she found Ann dusting the furniture, mal
.§ Tiempo atras, el estudiante que
§ sacaba la nota mas baja en su
~ examen final de matematicas
§ de la Universidad deCambridge § recibfa una cuchara de madera.
spot
* be on the spot
*
estar en ellugar de
He likes to deal with emergencies promptly ifhe's on the spot. 0 Ironically, the (frst that reporters on the spot Imew about the release ofMr Mann was when they heard a news nash on a local radio station. a blind spot un punto flaco (literal: un punta ciego) 0 Computers are a los hechos
0
blind spot with me.
260
* *
state
spots
do something on the spot hacer algo en el acto 0 Watch out tor sales
spring no spring chicken ningun nino (literal: ningun polluelo) oAt 85, he is no spring chicken, but Enrico Cuccia is busierthan ever.
sta((who say yau'li get a special discount or prize {(you sign on the spot. have a soft spot for someone tener debilidad par alguien (literal: tener un punta suave par alguien) o It looked to me as if Tom had a soft
spot (ar Emily. hit the spot dar en el clava
0
The
company's new advert really hits the spot.
* put someone on the spotYou shouldn't poner a
alguien en un aprieto
0
have asked Gary whether he's asked Linda to marry him. You put him on the spot and that's very unfair.
spurs
*
spots
~ esta apuntando.
spout up the spout (Brit, familiar) 1 haberse ido al garete 0 The economy's up the spout. 2 estarcon bombo olnthevillage where I grew up, there was always somebody up the spout. Originalmente, esta expresi6n hada referencia a articulos empenados. EI montacargas en el que un articulo era transportado desde la casa de empenos hasta el almacen de la planta superior se denominaba
spout.
Un petardo pequeno se denamina § squib. 5i el petardo esta mojado ~ no esta!!ara, 10 que supondra una § decepci6n.
stable close the stable door after the horse has bolted at ver door blow your stack (sobre todo EE UU) ponerse hecho una furia 0 My father really blew his stack overthis. stack the deck (EE UU) manipular
demostrartu valla (litera': ganarte las espuelas) 0 How did he earn his
everything in his power to stack the deck in his favour and guarantee his regime's return to power.
square
~ significa "hacertrampas al barajar"
empezar desde cera (litera': volver a la primera casilla) oSo weare back to
(coloeando la baraja de tal forma ~ que benefieie al que baraja).
~
~
§ ~ ~ ~
Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a los juegos de mesa en que losjugadores mueven las fichas por una serie de casillas y a veees tienen que empezar de nuevo desde el principia.
on the square (sobre todo EE UU) de fiar oAre you sure this guy's on the square? Puede que esta expresi6n pravenga del usa de una escuadra
(square).
tus razones (litera': montartu puesto) o He has set out his stall to retain his
place in Europe's Ryder Cup team.
stand
* stand(literal: up and be counted y
hacerse ofr levantarse ser contado) o We must have the courage to stand up
and be counted on this issue.
standard
*
~
stage
*
set the stage for something crear el marco id6neo para algo
ojamaica's prime minister set the stage fora snap election this month by announcing candidates for his People's National Party.
stake go to the stake to defend something (sobre todo Brit, anticuado) dar la eara para defender algo 0 English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley was prepared to go to the stake to defend Darwin's theory of evoiution.
the standard bearer of something el abanderado de algo 0 Inevitably, the public perception of her is that Of a standard bearerforwomenjockeys.
stars have stars in your eyes estar ilusionado (literal: tener estrellas en los ojos) 0 We had stars in our eyes last
~ En su sentido literal, esta expresi6n
be back to square one volver a
square one. Their costly intervention has been for nothing, a carefullyconstructed peace process lies in ruins.
set out your stall (Brit) presentar
la situaci6n (literal: amontonar la baraja) 0 The President is doing
En la epoea medieval, cuando § hadan a un hombre caballero a ~ veces Ie entregaban unas ~ espuelas de ora.
*
stall
stack
~
~ Puede que esta expresi6n haga
§ tan bien que es capaz de derribar ~ las marcas (spots) del naipe al que
earn your spurs (sobre todo Brit)
fiasco (literal: un petardo mojado)
~
spurs for the toughest policejob in the country?
knock spots off something or someone (Brit) dar ciento y raya a algo 0 alguien 0 I'm looking forward to the return of their chat show. It knocks spots off all the others.
§ referenda a alguien que dispara
do, something on the spur of the moment haceralgo sin pensar o He had decided on the spur Of the moment to make the journey south to Newcastle. 0 Judges currently cannot renect in their sentencing the difference between a planned killing and a spur-ofthe-moment emotional crime.
Antiguamente, a veees ataban a una persona a una estaea via quemaban viva por negarse a rechazar creencias que la Iglesia consideraba heretieas.
a damp squib (sabre todo Brit) un oAs political scandals go it was a damp squib, and in Central Office it was greeted with hilarity and relief rather than indignation.
spur
*
Stake significa "estaea".
squib
*
261
*
weekend. Now we understand the reality of the situation. reach for the stars apuntarmuy alto (literal: intentar alcanzar las estrellas) 0 If you're ready to move on
in your career, keep your feet firmly on the ground while reaching forthe stars!
starter under starter's orders (Brit) estar esperando la orden de comenzar
o TheVice-President is under starter's orders - his job exists to provide a legitimate successor if a president dies.
state
*o
the state of play (Brit) la situaci6n Ben Willmott gives you the state of play on marijuana and the law.
262
steam
steam Las expresiones siguientes se refieren al usa de vapor para proporcionar potencia a una maquina, especial mente a una
maquina de vapor.
do something under your own steam hacer alga par tus propios
He lett the group convinced he could do better under his own steam. medios
0
go full steam ahead avanzar a toda marcha 0 The prime minister declared it was full steam ahead for a fourth
term ofgovernment. go somewhere under your own steam ira algun lugarportus
*
stools manojo de nervios (literal: en un estofado) 0 He's been in a stew ever since he tool< that phone call early this
morning. let someone stew 0 let someone stew in their own juice dejar que alguien se (ueza en su propia salsa
0
He was very nasty to
.everyone and now no one will speai
stick carry a big stick tener mucho poder (literal: lIevar un palo grande) 0 The company carries a big stick. Overthe past 107 years it has built itself up into
propios medios
the biggest brand in the world and now controls 44 per cent of the global
desahogarse (litera': soltar vapor) o I was so upset that I pulled the car
§ Esta expresi6n viene de un dicho ~ que se hizo muy popular a ra!zde ~ un discurso pronunciado por ~ Theodore Roosevelt en 1903: "Hay g un sencillo adagio antiguo que ~ dice as!: 'Habla en voz baja y lIeva ~ un palo grande; lIegaras lejos:"
oMost hotels organise tours to inland beauty spots, but car hire is cheap enough to consider taking off into the hills under your own steam. let off steam (sabre todo Brit) 0 blow off steam (sobretodo EE UU) over to the side of the road, got out, and tool< a long walle Ijust had to let 0((
steam. ~
marl
* get a lot of stick The muchos palos
0
(Brit) lIevarse cricket team got
a lot Of stick when they returned from their tour of India, butthey deserved it
y la pared (literal: en un palo hendido) 0 Debbie now nnds hersel(in a cleft stick Ifshe pays her rent, she won't have any money to buy food.
§ puede que esta expresion se ~ refiera ala costumbre de atrapar ~ serpientes sujetandolas detras de § la cabeza can un palo hendida.
* a stick to beat someone with (Brit)
un arma can la que atacar a alguien (literal: un palo can el que pegarle a alguien) oSurprisingly, the opposition, usually eager to find any stick to beat the government with, is refusing to
comment on the affair.
stiff be as stiff as a board estar mas 0 When you start to do yoga, you can gain flexibility very quickly - even if you are as stiff as a board at your first session.
tieso que un palo
sting
"* something has a sting in the tail (Brit)
alga tiene algo nada agradable al final (literal: algo tiene un aguijon en la cola) 0 The agreement had a sting in the tail. It said
that the entire aid package would be suspended if the country did not make progress on the economic front.
263
prevenir que curar (literal: un punta dado en su momento evita nueve)
o The saying'a stitch in time saves nine' is never more true than with a boat's paintworlc one must be immediately ready to touch up the chips that occur in order to prevent a, bigger job later.
stitches someone or something has you in stitches alguien oalgo te hace partirte de risa 0 The outrageous comedienne plans to have the north Of England in stitches when she performs at the Liverpool Festival of Comedy.
stone
* leave no stone unturned In the diffiCUlt
no dejar
piedra par mover
0
weeks ahead, we'll leave no stone unturned in our search for a peaceful solution to the crisis. a rolling stone gathers no moss piedra movediza nunca moho cobija
o He said that a rolling stone gathers no
moss, that I'd never have a family if I spent my life touring with the band. I was determined to prove him wrong. something is not set in stone algo no es para toda la vida (literal: algo
Esta expresi6n hace referencia al ~ vapor que sale ruidosamente par ~ la valvula de seguridad de una ~ m.3quinadevapor.
as they had played so badly. get the short end of the stick (sabre todo EE UU) tocar la peor
pick up steam empezar a tamar impulso (literal: (alentar calderas)
parte
oAs usual it's the consumer who gets the short end Of the stick.
~ un escorpion. Pese a ser pequeno ~ y parecer inofensivo, tiene un
o Baskin said the economy should pick up steam next year.
get the wrong end of the stick coger el rabano por las hojas (literal:
~ aguijon venenoso en la cola.
o Burke found employment and rented a
coger el extrema equivocado del palo) 0 People are so easily confused,
take the sting out of something restarfuerza a algo (litera': quitar el
flat a stone's throw from his new office.
run out of steam perderfuelle (literal: quedarse sin vapor) o The US is in a triple dip of recession.
The promised recovery ran out of steam, the economy is slowing sharply and consumer spending is falling.
stew in a stew (anticuado) hecho un
and so Often get the wrong end ofthe stick. have more things than you can shake a stick at tener montones de cosas oMy daughter has more pairs Of shoes than you can shake a sticl( at. in a cleft stick (Brit) entre la espada
§
Esta expresion hace referencia a
aguijon a alga) 0 The most serious situation can be viewed with humour and that always helps to ta/(ethe sting out o(hard (acts.
stitch a stitch in time 0 a stitch in time saves nine mas vale
no esta tallado en piedra) 0 Promises made two orthree years before an election are not set in stone and can
be changed.
* a stone's throw from somewhere a un tiro de piedra de algun lugar
stools fall between two stools (sabre todo Brit) quedarse nadando entre dos aguas (literal: caerse entre dos taburetes) 0 Labour says that young
people on waiting lists for youth training fall between two stools. They can't get unemployment benefit, nor
264
streets 265
stops
can they get the allowance for the scheme they're waiting to get on.
en resumidas cuentas (literal: para abreviaruna larga historia) 0 I met
Paul at a party two years ago - he Was the most handsome man I'd ever seen - and, to cut a long story short, we're getting married next year.
stops
*
pull out all the stops tocartodos los registros 0 The government has
pulled out all the stops to try and ensure an election victory. ~ Aquf stop significa "registro" (de ~ un 6rgana). EI6rgano toea mas ~ §:
alto cuando se sacan todos los registros.
storage put something into cold storage
o The author's illness means that he has
put completion of his fourth novel into cold storage.
storm a storm in a teacup (Brit) una
tormenta en un vasa de agua (literal: una tormenta en una taia de te) 0 I know how much Ella II/
time. take somewhere by storm cautivar a un lugar(litera': tomar al asalto un lugar) 0 The rim has taken America by
storm. Originalmente esta expresion ~ significaba capturar un fuerte 0 ~ un puesto militar mediante un ~ ataque repentino y violento.
weather the storm capear el
The company has weathered the storm of the current recession better than most. As car sales have plummeted, it's seen its share of the market actually increase. temporal
0
story
*
keep someone on the straight and narrow manteneraalguien porel Our goal is to keep these vulnerable young people on the buen camino
0
straight and narrow. La forma original de la palabra ~ straight era strait, que significa g "estrecho". La expresion se refiere ~ probable mente al siguiente ~ pasaje bfblico: "jQue estrecha la ~ entrada yque angosto el camino ~ que lIeva a la Vida! V-pocos son los ~ que 10 encuentran" (Because strait ~ is the gate, and narrow is the way g which leads to life, and there are few " that rnd it. .)(Mateo 7:14).
straight as a die (Brit) muy honrado (literal: recto como un troquel) 0 Tom's not the
to cut a long story short (Brit) 0 to make a long story short (EE UU)
'*
devious type - he's as straight as a die. 2 recto como una vela 0 The streets are lined up, straight as a die, along the ~
Die significa "troquel" (de metal).
g Puede que esta expresion se
~ refiera a los troqueles que se ~ ~ ~ ~
usa ban para acuflar monedas. Los obreros metalurgicos tenfan que darle un martillazofuerte aJ troquel a fin de dejar una ~ impresion clara en la maneda.
straw draw the short straw (sabre todo Brit) tocarle la china (literal: sacar el palito mas corto) 0 Jim drew the
short straw: he had to drive (orty miles
Hay quien echa al suelo pajitas para ver hacia d6nde se mueven al eaer, de modo que sea posible adivinaren que direeeion sopla el viento.
Elizabeth. the final straw el colma (literal: la paja final) oMrElton was already distraught over his mother's death. When his wife asked him (or a divorce, it was the rnal straw. a man of straw (Brit, culto) un
streak
remlyin the grip o(men o(straw
talk a blue streak (EE UU) hablar par los codas (literal: hablar un rayo aZUl) oAlthough I'm usually shy, that night Italked a blue streak from the
without guts and without principles.
moment I arrived at the party.
the straw that breaks the camel's back la gota que colma el vase (literal: la paja que rompe ellomo
~
hombre de paja
0
The problem o(the
Labour Party is that it is once again
del camello) 0 Lastweel<, I broke my wrist skateboarding for the second time. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. My dad has told me to give up the sport. § Esta expresion hace referencia a § un animal queya !leva una gran ~ eargasobreellomoyquese ~ desmorona cuando alguien Ie § afiade un objeto mas.
1
le(t bank o(the Guodiono estuory.
~
*
*
~
aparcar alga (literal: refrigerar alga)
*
straight
to the airport at midnight to picl< up
straws
Esta expresi6n se refiere al ~ resplandor instantaneo de un § relampago azulado queaparece g er] el cielo.
stream
*
street
*
lacalle oButhowdothesemassive changes appear to the man in the street?
Roy Barraclough has taken on a role that's right up his street, as Sherlock Holmes' bumbling sidekickWatsan.
? Esta expresion sugiere la imagen
economy is starting to climb out o( recession. The latest straws in the wind are improved retail sales and an increase in property sales.
the man in the street el hombre de
something is right up your street (sobre todo Brit) alga es 10 tuyo (literal: algo esta en tu calle) oActor
0 This extraordinary speech was made by a man clutching at straws to gain much-desired pUblicity.
pajas)
straws in the wind (Brit, Periodisma) indicios (literal: pajas al viento) o There is new evidence that the
entrar en funcionamiento 0 Faults at Romania's rrst nuclear power plant must be repaired before it comes on
stream.
clutch at straws agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo (literal: agarrarse a
~ de una persona que se esta ~ ahogando yque intenta § desesperadamente agarrarse a ~ eualquier cosa para salvarse, § incluso a una paja.
come on stream (sabre tado Brit)
streets
*
be streets ahead of something or someone (Brit) dar ciento y raya a algo 0 alguien (literal: estar muchas calles pordelante de algo o alguien) 0 Bill had a great
imagination and was always streets ahead of his fellow-teachers in seeing children's needs and in arranging ways to meet them.
266
suit
stretch
stretch
* be at full stretcha fonda (litera': estar estar
string
(Brit)
empleandose
completamente estirado)
Police are warning that emergency services afe 0
at full stretch and they are advising motorists to travel only iFtheir journey is absolutely necessary.
stride
* getyour into your stride coger el ritma hit
stride.
* take something in your stride (Brit) o
o He said to me, 'Listen, you've got three
strikes against you. You're poor, you're uneducated and you're homeless.' three strikes and you're out tres de!itos V te caera todo el peso de la
lev 0 California has recently introduced
a law known as three stri/(es and you're out, meaning that atter a third conviction, you are put in prison.
pull strings moverhilos
to pull the strings mover los hilos
~ que remarexactamenteal ~ tiempo. Cada remada se ~ denomina stroke.
political changes and pulled the strings from behind the stage, he now feels it's his due, as it were, to become national leader. Esta expresi6n hace referenda a g un tftere controlado mediante ~ hilos.
strip tear a strip off someone 0 tear someone off a strip (Brit) echar una bronca a alguien (literal: arrancaruna tira de alguien) 0 We were sent to the headmaster's office and
he tore strips off both of us.
knock the stuffing out of someone dejar a alguien para el arrastre 0 The opposition knocked the stuffing out of us early on and we never got into the
stump
*
be on the stump (sobretodo EE UU) hacer campana electoral 0 Despite
his fa/ling populority, the president braved it on the stump today on behalf of his fellow Republicans. ~
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
g de un polItiCO que se sube al toc6n
~ de un arbor (tree stump) al ~ pronundarun discurso al aire ~ libre.
cramp someone's style cortar las alas a alguien (literal: poner obstaculos al estilo de alguien)
will lay out in broad stro/(es the two candidates' differing approaches towards how best to stimulate the economy.
o Like many women with goodjobs, independent spirits and high standards, she believes marriage would cramp her
Esta expresion sugiere fa imagen
strong strong as an ox fuerte como un toro 0 Big Beppe, as everybody calls
him, is enormous and as strong as an ox. stubborn as a mule mas terco que una mula 0 He is, without question,
a man of his word, but he can certainly be stubborn as a mule.
stuff strut your stuff pavonearse
style.
suck suck it and see (Brit) probar aver (literal: chuparlo y ver) 0 These results do not mean that theJapanese will like these Western products. The only sure way to prove that is to suc/( it and see.
suit
stubborn
*
game.
style
~ de un pintorque pinta un cuadro § a grandes trazos.
with strings attached con condiciones 0 The charity has a very strict rule that it refuses to accept any
donations with strings attached.
stuffing
in broad strokes a rasgos generales (literal: a grandes trazos) 0 The speech
§
with no strings attached sin compromiso alguno 0 This Isan
extremely generous offer, which comes with no strings attached. I think that we should accept.
mismo
strokes
:@
*
Esta expresi6n hace referenda al
~ deporte del remo, en el que todos ~ los miembros de un equipo tienen
* Anna's colleagues felt that sheoManyof was pulling strings advance her career. * o Having engineered many ofthese
didn't start shouting, o(anything like
three strikes against someone or something (sobre todo EE UU) tres cosas en contra de alguien 0 algo
§
strings
that. In foct, right until the end he seemed to be taking it all in his stride.
En el beisbol, la palabra strike significa "golpe". EI bateadores eliminado despues de tres golpes.
been happening has quite put me offmy stroke.'
her money and controlling every aspect of her life.
take something in stride (EE UU) tomarse algo con calma 0 Ridley
strikes
differentfoll
have someone on a string tener a alguien en un puno 0 Forthe rest of his life he had heron a string, spending
fUlfilling its promises.
Off and strut his stuff.
has always been respectful of local customs in local communities, and therefore you had different strokes for
§. Los arqueros solfan lIevar una . ~ cuerda de repuesto para Su arco ~ por si la primera se les rompfa,
o The Government is getting into its stride and seems, (or the moment, to be put someone off their stride (Brit) hacer perder los papeles a alguien (literal: sacar de su paso a alguien) o The player's bad behaviour is a tactic designed to put his opponent offhis
different strokes for different folks cada cual tiene sus gustos (literal: diferentes golpes para diferentes personas) 0 The federal government
she was a photographer.
stride 0
was the type ofguy who lil
stroke
have another string to your bow (Brit) tenervarios recursos (literal: tener otra cuerda en e! arco) oStephanie has another string to her bow. Before her career in interior design,
267
Las expresiones siguientes se refieren a los cuatro palos de ciertas barajas: diamantes, corazones, treboles V picas.
* seguir el palo)
follow suit seguirel ejemplo (literal:
0
He
0
IfTim decided to have
summer
268
pancakes for breakfast, Pam would follow suit. ~
En un juego de naipes, jugar una
~ carta de! mismo palo que ha ~ jugado antes atro jugador se
~ denomina (ollow suit. something is not someone's long suit alga no es el fuerte de alguien (literal: alga no es el palo mas numeroso de alguien) 0 Looking
after children is not her long suit. She's dennitelya career woman. g Si muchas de las cartas de un ~ jugador pertenecen al mismo
§: palo, dicho palo se denomina ~ their long suit.
summer an Indian summer (sobretodo Brit) un exita tardio (literal: un veranillo
de San Martin) 0 The recent revival in international fashion is proving an Indian summer for Mr Rabanne, better
known for his perfumes in the Seventies and Eighties.
supper sing for your supper (anticilado) trabajarselo (literal: cantar durante la cena) 0 'You're going to have to sing
foryoursupper,' said the organizer. 'While the guests are eating, I want you to sit at the end ofthe table and perform for us.'
sure sure as eggs is eggs (Brit) como que dos y dos son cuatro (literal: tan seguro como que los huevos son huevos) 0 He'll be bacl< later on. Sure
as eggs is eggs. Puede que esta expresi6n sea una corrupci6n a un error de comprensi6n de as sure asx isx, frase que se refiere al usa de la letra equis para representar una variable en el algebra y en la 16gica.
system 269 surface
*
scratch the surface of something tocar superficial mente alga o Ofrcials say they've only scratched
the surface of the city's pOlitical corruption.
swallow . one swallow doesn't make a summer una golondrina no hace verano o Sales are up bYl%, which isa
vast improvement on the last six months. One swallow, however, make a summer and business could stUl be better.
swear swear up and down ... ver up
sweat do something by the sweat of your brow (literario) hacer alga con el sudor de tu frente oMost people are
no longer earning their bread by the sweat oftheir brow. in a cold sweat can un sudorfrfo
o It was a terrifying experience, a nightmare. I still come out in a cold sweat thinking about it.
sweep make a clean sweep hacertabla rasa 0 The new CEO made a clean sweep of longtime employees, rring the
* managers, one by one.The USA has made make a clean sweep of something arrasar con algo 0 a clean sweep ofall 5 titles in the
Women's Gymnastics event.
sweet cop it sweet (sobretodoAustralia) aguantar sin reaccionar 0 Bullies tend to lose interest in a victim very quickly i(that victim refuses to 'cop it
sweet'.
* keep someone sweet (Brit) oSomerrms
tener a
alguien contento
reserve boxes at football grounds and at
oAs a Grand Prix driver you have the
theatres that can be used by high-nying staff they want to keep sweet. sweet as pie (sobre todo Brit) como un angelito (literal: dulce como una tarta) oShe really is sweet as pie, as well as being original, honest and very funny.
Sword ofDamocles hanging over your head at every moment.
swing
"* apogeo be in full swing estar en plena Twelve days after Hurricane 0
Andrew left its trail of destruction and misery across South Florida, ofrcia/s say recovery efforts are at last in full swing. get into the swing of something coger el tranquillo a alga (literal: meterse en el ritmo de algo) 0 I
assumed everything would be okay once Igot into the swing of college but I had no idea how lonely I would be. go with a swing (Brit) ir a las mil maravillas 0 These impressive recipes are guaranteed to make the party go with a swing.
swings it's swings and roundabouts (Brit) 10 que se gana por un lade se pierde por el otro (literal: son columpios y tiovivos) 0 When it rains, high-street
pubs will do better than country pubs because people may not want to leave town. When the sun shines, pubs with gardens benert. It's very much swings and roundabouts.
sword
* a double-edged sword un arma de doble fHo 0 The strong currency is a double-edged sword. It helps the nation's banks, but it also raises the
costs of exports for ear and electronics manufacturers. have the Sword of Damocles hanging over your head la Espada de Damocles pende sobre tu cabeza
~
Esta expresi6n viene de una ~ leyenda griega. Dionisio, el ~ gobernante de Siracusa, no ~ soportaba a Damocles, quien no ~ dejaba de adularia y de mostrarle ~ su admiraci6n. Dionisio invit6 a ~ Damocles a un banquete y Ie pidi6 ~ que se sentara en su asiento. AI ~ levantar la mirada durante el § banquete, Damoc!essefij6en ~ una Espada que pendfa de un pel a ~ de crin sabre su cabeza, por 10 que ~ va no pudo disfrutar del festfn. La § Espada simbolizaba tanto los ~ temores V los peligros que ~ acechan a los dirigentes como los ~ privilegios de los que gozan.
swords beat swords into ploughshares forjar de las espadas azadones
o For Ukrainians, beating swords into ploughshares and turning rocket plants into car factories is an economic necessity. ~ Ploughshares se escribe plowshares ~ en ingles americano. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n venga de la Biblia (Isaias 2:4). donde se dice que las gentes deberfan forjar de sus espadas azadones. Es decir, deberfan dejar de combatirv empezar a trabajarjuntos de g forma productiva.
~ § ~ ~ ~
cross swords with someone haberselas con alguien (literal: cruzar espadas can alguien) 0 These
two politicians have crossed swords on many occasions.
system
* get something out of your system
270
systems
sacarse algo de la cabeza (litera': sacarse alga de tu sistema) 0 If something Qwful happens to you at least you can write about it. I'm sure you feel better if you get it out of your system.
year and it's now all systems go, with a huge team of builders working on the project.
it's all systems go estartodo en marcha 0 Work started on the indoor
Esta expresi6n se hizQ popular a raiz de su usa durante el lanzamiento de naves espaciales en Estados Unidos en las decadas delg60 Y1970. Indicaba que una nave funcionaba correctamentey
sports arena at the beginning of the
estaba lista para el despegue.
systems
tab
the novelist, at times opening his mail and recording his conversations.
*
pick up the tab pagar la cuenta o pollard picked up the tab for dinner.
~
Original mente, en esta expresi6n ~ se· usaba la palabra tab en su ~ sentido americano, con el ~ significado de "cuenta" 0 "factura" § que puede emplearse para anotar § 10 que gasta alguien.
table can drink someone under the table dar den vueltas a alguien bebiendo o Donna is the only person / know who can drinl< me under the tab/e.
do something under the table (sabre todo EE UU) hacer alga bajo mano (literal: hacer algo debajo de
tail chase your own tail 0 chase yourtail caminaren cfrculos (literal: perseguirtu rabo) 0 It feels great to be making some progress on this project at last, and not just chasing
0 Some staf(made deals under the table with freight companies by charging extra money for express delivery when sometimes the express service did not exist.
la mesa)
*
my own tail. go off with your tail between your legs irse con e! rabo entre las piernas 0 I ran out of money, lost my
put something on the table poner algo sobre el tapete 0 The United States said Europe must put a new offer on the table to save the talks.
tables
*
turn the tables on someone volver
The Prime Minister has turned the tables on his many enemies and has given them something to worry about for a change. las tornas contra alguien
~
~
~ ~
~ ~
0
Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen de unjugadorde unjuego como el ajedrez, el eual da un giro de180 grados al tablero para que las respectivas situaciones de los dos jugadores se inviertan.
tabs
*
keep tabs on someone vigilara alguien 0 The FBI kept close tabs on
*
job, my house, my girlfriend. I came home to Sydney with my tail between my legs, absolutely broke and shattered. on someone's tail pisandole los talones a a!guien (literal: en el rabo de alguien)
o}uarez entered the
finishing lap with Zodrobilel< right on
his tail. Only three kilometres remained. the tail wags the dog elmundoal reves (literal: e! rabo menea al perro)
o To avoid the Impression of the tail
wagging the dog, the prime minister cannot be seen to be giving in to the wishes of a minority party. turn tail salir eorriendo 0 Rebels were forced back from position after position until they turned tail and fled. with yourtail up sin dejarse abatir
272
teeth
tale tango
(literal: con el rabo levantado) o We'll go to court with our tails up.
tale live to tell the tale vivi r pa ra (ontario a Michael Sproule was attac/(ed by a shark. He lived to tell the
tale but underwent emergency surgery for multiple injuries. something tells its own tale alga habla par sf solo 0 The fact that we originally bool
ended up staying eight tells its own tale. We can't recommend the hotel highly enough.
tales tell tales chismear 0 She had no right to tell tales to his mother!
relationship. ~ Esta expresi6n es e! tftulo de una
~ canci6n de Hoffman y Manning, ~ compuesta en1952.
tank someone or something is built like' a tank alguien 0 alga es fuerte como un rable (literal: alguien 0 algo esta construido como un tanque) 0 Nick's built like a tank and
really friendly. gentle guy,
tall
* was described
tall tales cuentos chinos 0 Pollard as someone whose rich
* on tap
The enterprise agency's close links with both the university and several business institutions provides local businesses with a wealth of knowledge on tap. (EE UU) en el orden del dia
0
More
military and medical experiments are 0/1 tap for Atlantis astronauts today.
imagination and keen intellect were convincing; some of his college chums believed his tall tales. ~ La palabra tall solfa usarse para ~ describir un lenguaje considerado
§ extremadamente formal 0 § exagerado.
go off on a tangent irseporlasramas
o Our teacher occasionally goes off on a tangent, talking about things totally unrelated to ourtextboo/{s orthe curriculum.
armed to the teeth armado hasta
estar apuntando al mismo objetivo blanco) 0 We'll only succeed ifwe're both shooting for the same target.
*
task take som'eone to task reprender a
~
have written a book in a bid to help people cut through the red tope when dealing with British immigration and nationality laws.
~ China.
Los abogados y los funcionarios solfan atar los documentos con cinta raja 0 rosa.
always supported the Conservative Party but I'm fed up to the bacf< teeth
*
tea
not change hisjob for all the tea in China.
s Antiguamente, todo el tevenfa de
him too tee.
with them at the moment. get your teeth into something hincarle el diente a algo 0 Half the trouble is having nothing interesting to do. We've not had a project to get our teeth into for weeks.
gnashing of teeth rechinado de 105
*
dientes
gnash your teeth rechinar los dientes 0 He stood glaring at me, gnashing his teeth. 0 In times of widespread strife and much gnashing of teeth, a sense of community is needed to stop everyone plummeting into the dark
depths of despair,
tee *toateeo to a T que ni pintado
cutting theirteeth
fed up to the back teeth with something a sick to the back teeth of something (Brit) hasta la coronilla de alga 0 I've
boca
tramites burocraticos (literal: cinta roja) 0 Two lawyers
Cuando' a los ninos les salen los
~ dientes, se dice que they are
something leaves a nasty taste in your mouth algo deja malsabor de
someone would not do something
dar los primeras pasos con alga o Dennis cut his teeth with theatre roles before taking on parts in N series and ~
your mouth a
o$ome people are abusive in shops, in buses and on trains. They seem to think it is smart. For the victim it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.
cutvourteeth doing something
rims,
One day she tool< me to task for never using her name when I was talking to her.
alguien 0
for all the tea in China alguien no harfa algo ni portodo elora del mundo (literal: alguien no harfa alga portodo el te de China) 0 Hewould
S la cerveza, significa "de barril".
The police are grossly underpaid and underequipped while the criminals are armed to the teeth with the latest weapons.
los dientes 0
be shooting for the same target
~ on tap, referida a una bebida como
* red tape
)
teeth
target
~ En su senti do literal, la expresi6n
tape
tangent
one certainty of parenthood is that whenever you feel you've got it taped, something will happen and prove you wrong!
something leaves a bad taste in
1 disponible 0
2
tener cogido el tranquiHo a alga (literal: tener alga grabado) 0 The
taste
tap
believe a word he says. He's alJ tall< and no action. No matter what he promises, nobody will be able to trust him.
marca -como e! punta sabre la i- usada en la imprenta. Esta expresi6n hace referencia a la escritura que es muy clara y exacta.
have got something taped (Brit)
(literal: estar disparando al mismo
they first meet him, but he's actually a
someone is all talk 0 someone is all talk and no action alguien habla mucho pero no hace nada 0 No wonder people no /(jnger
( Tangent significa "tangente".
to stop our marriage falling apart. But it takes two to tango and, so far, my husband has made no effort to save OUr
lots of people are ofroid of him when
talk
''T'' significa tittle, una pequena
taped
it takes two to tango es cosa de dos (literal: para bailar el tango hacen falta dos) 0 ' trlEl'a everyth'ina'
273
Las frases weeping and gnashing of teeth y wailing and gnashing of teeth 0
His job suits
("can Iloras y rechinar de dientes" y "can lamentos y rechinar de
274
thorn
teething
~ la Biblia en descripciones de ~ personas enviadas at infierno.
tell someone where to get off mandar a alguien a paseo (literal:
grind your teeth rechinar los
dientes
0
over for Q moment and then walked away, grinding her teeth in frustration.
* grit your teeth apretar los dientes o
He says that there are no simple solutions and that it will be hard work,
I'd tell them where to get Off
on tenterhooks sobre ascuas o 'It was a good match wasn't it?Very exciting.' 'Yes, we were on tenterhooks.' ~
Antiguamente, despues de tejer § una tela se estiraba en un ~ bastidor denominado tentery se § sujetaba con ganchos (hooks). ~ Aquf el estado emocional de una § persona se com para a la tension ~ de la tela.
teeth. like pulling teeth dificHfsimo (literal: como sacar muelas)
~
exam - he's thick as mince. thick as thieves ufiaycarne o)ones and Cool< have lmown each other since the age often - they're thick as thieves. thick as two short planks (Brit) mas carta que las mangas de un chaleco (literal: grueso como dos tablas cortas) a His people regarded him as a great and wise monarch. In fact he was as thick as two short planks.
porque esta atado a algo con una soga .
Thames not set the Thames on fire no ser nada del otro mundo (literal: no hacer arder elTamesis) 0 They both had reasonably successful careers in London, without exactly setting the Thames on fire.
something goes with the territory alga son gajes del aficio (literal: algo va con el territorio) 0 People often point me out and ask me for photos and autographs, but that goes with the territory. I chose to become an actor and I'm not going to complain about that.
foiled to set my teeth on edge.
*
good friend to me - he's always been there for me with support and advice. someone is not all there a alguien Ie falta un tornillo (literal: alguien no
esta del todo ahi)
*
0
You could tell thot
she wasn't all there. You could see it in her eyes.
thick
*
do something through thick and thin haceralgo a las duras y a las maduras (literal: hacer algo a traves del grueso Vdel delgado) 01'11 love you through thick and thin, no matter what happens.
algo ha resistido el paso del tiempo a Since it began
~ and thin wood, a "a traves de @ matorrales y de bosques poco
manufacturing in 1933, Gossen has built easy-to-use, reliable equipment that has stood the test oftime.
~
be atthe end of your tether (sabre todo Brit) no aguantar mas (literal: estar al final de la soga) aShe was at
thing
*
*
~ Esta Frase viene de una expresion ~ tfpica de la caza, through thicket
* time something has stood the test of
tether
spread yourself too thin intentar abarcar mas de la cuenta (literal: untarte demasiadofino) a The company grew too fast and spread itself too thin across too many diverse areas. thin as a rake en los huesos (litera': delgado como un rastrillo) 0 I'd always been as thin as a rake but in London my weight went up to more than 12 stone.
be there for someone (hablado) estar allado de alguien o)immy's a
test
teething
thin·
there
territory
dentera a His casual arrogance never
teething problems (Brit) problemas iniciales 0 The company conceded there have been teething problems with the new system but said that these were now being corrected.
~
tenterhooks
lie through your teeth mentir
*
•
una tormenta en un vasa deagua (literal: una tormenta en una tel~e"'H a 'It's a tempest in a teapot,' he said Of the controversy over the painting.
descaradamente 0 It's clear that the government are lying through their
show your teeth enseiiar los dientes 0 We need to show our teeth if we are going to overturn thecounciJ's plan to build new houses in our village. something has teeth alga tiene recursos para hacerse valer (literal: alga tiene dientes) 0 The prison operates under a contract service level agreement which has teeth - financial penalties can be imposed and it's independently monitored.
Tether significa "soga". Esta
. a tempest in a teapot (EE UU)
expected that the coalreld would be given favourable treatment: 'Instead we have been kicked in the teeth,'
a Getting this information out of him was like pulling teeth. set your teeth on edge darte
mas carta que las mangas de un chaleco (literal: grueso como la carne picada) 0 He's bound to fail the
@ expresion sugiere la imagen de un @animal que no puede ir muy lejos
tempest
but wejust have to grit ourteeth and get on with it. kick someone in the teeth humillar a alguien (literal: dar una patada a alguien en los dientes) 0 The union
§'
deckle a alguien donde se puede bajar) 0 Ifsomebody said that to me
Lucy appeared to think this
she'd ever seen. thick as mince (sabre todo Escocia)
the end of her tether. She needed someone she could tall< to, someone she could trust.
g dientes") aparecen varias veces en tell
*
poblados". in the thick of it metido en el ajo
275
do your own thing iratuaire o Her
parents let herdo her own thing as long as she keeps in touch by phone to say she is okay. one thing led to another una cosa Ilevo a la otra a Elsa got in with the wrong crowd ofpeopJe. They were bad news. One thing led to another and she
started Shoplifting.
thorn
*
a thorn in someone's side una espina para alguien (literal: una
oA fight broke out in the bar and he
espina que alguien tiene clavada)
suddenly found himselfin the thick of it.
o She has become a thorn in the side of
lay it on thick recargar las tintas a Sue was Jaying it on a bit thick when
the government since publishing a number of reports pointing out that public cash was being mishandled.
she said that Tom was the best dancer
276 ~
tide
thread Esta expresi6n se refiere a un
a la fuerza por la garganta) a was a kid, my parents rammed religion down my throat.
~ pasaje de la Biblia (Segunda a los
§ Corintios 127), en el que san Pablo @ afirma que el diablo Ie diD "un ~ aguij6n en la carne" (0 a thorn in ~ his nesh) para hacerle sufrir e § impedirle valverse demasiado § orgulloso.
alga se apodera de ti (literal: algo te agarra por la garganta) a Fifty years'
a It sticks in 'my throat thot politicians think that they still have something to tell the rest of us about morality. 2 alga no consigue salir aShe found it impossible to utter the usual '"rI'HS<", maternal endearment: words such as 'darling' or'pet' stuck in her throat , alga te irrita
vida de alguien pende de un hila o The baby was delivered by emergency
cut your own throat ti rar pied ras contra tu propio tejado (literal: cortarte el cuello) 0 I thin/, the union
is cutting its own throat because, if the company can't reduce its costs, then even morejobs will be lost grab something by the throat tamar el control de alga (literal: agarrar alga par la garganta)
a Instead of being passive and waiting for things to happen, you must get out there and grab lire by the thraat. jump down someone's throat
;
something sticks in yourthroat
time. someone's life hangs by a thread Ja
throat
dominado par alguien (literal: estar bajo el pulgarde alguien) a Ian was
after it was made, the film still grabs you by the throat.
hang by a thread pender de un hila o It's clear that the ceaseffre is hanging by a thread and may be broken at any
§ relacionada con la historia de la ~ espada de Damocles: ver la § explicaci6n en sword.
"* beundersomeone'sthumb estar
something grabs you by the
thread
Caesarean and the life of her mother hung by a thread. ~ Puede que esta expresi6n este
thumb
completely under his wife's thumb. She controlled the money, told him what to do and wouldn't aI/ow him to have any friends of his own.
green thumb and, using only instinct and loads of manure, casually grew huge crops offruit. someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb alguien 0 algo llama la atencl6n (literal: alguien 0 algo sobresale como un pulgar dolorido) 0 'First impressions are very
Important,' says Baines. 'You don't want a new house to stick out like a sore thumb;
get on; they'd been at each other's throats for years.
it should blend into its surroundings.'
thumbs be all fingers and thumbs 0 be all thumbs ser un manazas
in the throes of something estar en
(literal: ser todD dedos y pulgares)
*
do something at full throttle hacer
a Even ifljust asked her how she was, she'd jump down my throat, as if I were interrogating her. garganta)
Cuando un motor funciona a toda ~ marcha, se dice que it is operating § atrull thrattle.
* throat ram something down someone's
meter algo a alguien par narices (litera': meter alga a alguien
throw a wobbly 0 throw a wobbler (Brit) ponerse histerico a I can't even lie in the bath without him throwing a wobbly because there are a few shampoo battles with the lids aff
give something the thumbs down 0 give the thumbs down to something rechazar alga (literal:
thumbs down to the proposa/.
~
throw
o (an you open this pacl
mostrar el pulgar hacia abajo a algo) o Out Of58,000 replies to the questionnaire, 79 per cent gave the
alga esforzandose al maximo a She's a high-powered businesswoman who always goes at things at full throttle.
~
arremetercontra alguien sin mas
(literal: saltarle a alguien a la
invested time and their parents' money twiddling their thumbs on the dole.
estar
throttle
hacer nada (literal: darvueltas a los pulga res) O-Graduates who have
buena mano con las plantas (literal: tener un pulgarverde) aShe had a
atacandose
medio de alga a The newspaper's future looks bleak. It's in the throes ofa four-month-old strike and is losing nearly a million dollars a day.
twiddle your thumbs estar sin
to go to university do not want to sit
* be at each other's throats a He and Stevens didn't
*
En la antigua Roma, se colocaba el pulgarderecho para indicar a un gladiador victorioso que matara a su rival.
have a green thumb (EE UU) tener
throats
throes
277
*
En!a antigua Rama, se dirigfa el
§ pulgar hacia abajo para indicar a ~ un gladiador victorioso que no § matara a su rival.
give something the thumbs up 0 give the thumbs up to something aprobar algo (literal: mostrar el pulgar hacia arriba a alga) aA big US
oil company has given the thumbs up to the president's energy plan.
thunder steal someone's thunder robar el exito' a alguien (litera': robar los truenos a alguien) 0 He's a very
insecure boss - he's always afraid that his staffmight steal his thunder. § Puede que esta expresi6n provenga ~ de un incidente que tuvo lugar a ~ principios del siglo XVIII. Un autor ~ teatral britimico, John Dennis, ~ invent6 una nueva forma de imitar ~ el son ida de los truenos para su obra § Appius and Virginia, pero la obra no ~ tuvo exito y dej6 de representarse § enseguida. Poco despues, Dennis ~ asisti6 a una produccion de ~ Macbeth representada par otra § companfa y descubri6 que Ie ~ habfan robado la idea de como § imitarel sonido de los truenos. ~ Se dice que Dennis se levant6 de ~ un salta V los acuso de "robarle ~ los truenos", 0 stealing his thunder.
ticket a one-way ticket to something un camino que conduce a alga (literal: un billete de ida a algo) a Having
strong feelings for someone when those feelings aren't returned is a one-way ticket to unhappiness.
tide
* stem the tide of somethingThe detener el curso de algo
0
authorities seem powerless to stem
278
toffee
tight
the tide orviolenee. swim against the tide nadar contra corriente oAdenauer generally appeared to be swimming against the tide in international pOlitics.
tight
* sitrecession, the message is that those tight no hacer nada
0
In a
*
have time on your hands tener todo el tiempo del mundo (literal: tener tiempo en tus manos)
o Children need discipline and planned
*
activities. Irthey have too much time on their hands, they can get into trouble.
who wantto sell their houses should sit tight for 0 couple ofyeors if they con.
tightrope
*
You're going to be OK, buddy. We'l/get some back-up out here and you'll be on your way to hospital in no time at all. ojos 0
tiles
* omark time We reel we'rejust marking time until dejar pasar e! tiempo
our new boss arrives.
be out on the tiles (Brit) salirde juerga (literal: salir a las tejas) 0 You look as though you've been out on the tiles, Ken. ~ Esta expresi6n podrfa hacer
g referencia a los gatos que pasan ~ la noche en los tejados.
time
* los dfas contados
be living on borrowed time tener (literal: estar viviendo en tiempo prestado)
*
o From this moment onwards, this government is Jiving on borrowed time. big time a 10 grande 0 With a little luck we could make this plan work, and work big time. call time on something (sabre todo Brit, Periodismo) poner punto final a algo (literal: decirle a alguien que es la hora) 0 Scott Hastings has called
time on his international rugby career by cutting short his contract. ~ Esta expresi6n se origin6 en los
~ pubs britanicos, en los que el
§ dueno anuncia la hora para que § sus clientes sepan que el pub esta § a punta de cerrar.
~
*
En el contexto militar, mark time
2 significa "marcar el paso".
lengua 01 know the answer to this question. No, no, don't tell me. Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue.
jewellery through rash;on stores, she finally dipped a toe in the water and opened her own jewellery shop in London. go toe to toe with someone (sabre todo EE UU) enfrascarse en una pelea con alguien 0 They're confident that the company is now strong enough to go toe to toe with its rivals.
you Imow anything about this?' he asked arter a while. It was on the tip or my tongue to tell him what I'd seen but, in the end, I said nothing.
*
tip the balance 0 tip the scales inclinar la balanza
oAs the election looms, the two main parties appear so evenly matched that just one issue could tip the balance.
toast
que se ricen !os dedos del pie)
told me.
0 I can't believe that you managed to work this out on your tad.
behave like a little tin god a behave like a tin god (sobre todo Brit) ser un endiosado (literal: comportarse como un dios de hojalata) 0 He accused the officials
behaving liI(e tin gods. have a tin ear for something no tener ordo para algo (literal: tener
For a playwright specializing in characters· who use the vernacular, he has a ' for diologue. un oido de hojalata para algo)
0
tip
We
make your toes curl hacer que te mueras de verguenza (literal: hacer
es historia 0 'Hit your sales targets next year or you're toast,' my manager
~
Esta expresi6n viene del argot
~ rimado empleado por los ~
cockneys (habitantes del este de ~ Londres). On yourTod Sloan ~ significa mark on your own ("a ~ solas"). Tad Sloan fue un famoso ~ jockey estadounidense de ~ principios del siglo xx.
today here today, gone tomorrow se cambia constantemente (literal: hoy aquf, manana ya no) oMost gang members live day to day and their philosophy is 'Heretoday, gone
tomorrow.' la punta 2,000
complaints isjust the tip ofthel'ceb'erg. M,ny more f'eop'le! just surrer in silence.
toe· dip your toe in the water 0 dip a toe in the water (sabre todo Brit) tantear un nuevo terreno
keep-someone on their toes mantener a alguien sobre ascuas o Our new boss has kept us on our toes right rrom the moment she took overthe
job.
someone is toast (ramiliar) alguien
a salas
tin
0
*
on yourtod (Brit, ramiliar, ant;cuado)
time, giving himsel( a berore he answered her question.
* just the tip of thegeticeberg about
toes
tad
play for time tratarde o He poured himsel(a drink,
del iceberg
(literal: meter un dedo del pie en e! agua) o After yeors of selling her
0'00
0
in no time en un abrirycerrarde
walk a tightrope andar en la cuerda floja 0 He is walking a tightrope
between the young activists and the more traditional elements within the democracy movement.
The rash ion deSigner hit the big time in 1935, when he was chosen to design the Duchess or Gloucester's wedding dress. estrellato
something is on the tip of your tongue tienes algo en la punta de la
something was on the tip of your tongue estar a punto de decir alga
hit the big time alcanzar el
279
*
o There are moments ortenderness and some very runny scenes in Nigel Charnock's direction. And there are scenes, too, that make your toes curl. o Movies about ramous explorers rarely work, as some recent toe-curling efforts show. step on someone's toes a tread on someone's toes meterse en e! terreno de alguien (literal: pisar en los dedos del pie a alguien)
o Women often reel ridiculously
inhibited and duty-bound notto antagonize the men they work with or tread on too many toes. turn up your toes (Brit) estirar la pata 0 I've discovered that all myoid admirers have turned up their toes to thedoises. Now I feel old!
toffee someone can't do something for toffee (Brit) alguien notiene ni idea de c6mo hacer alga (literal: alguien no sabe hacer alga ni porcaramelos)
o She can't sing rortoffee.
280
torch
Tom
Tom every Tom, Dick, and Harry un fulano cualquiera (literal: todos los
Tom, Dicky Harry) 0 This hotel used to be exclusive. Nowadays they let in every Tom, Die/< and Harry. 2 Todos estos nombres eran muy
g comunes, par 10 que empezaron a ~ usarse para referirse a la gente ~ normal en general.
tomorrow like there's no tomorrow como si Ie fuera la vida en ella (litera': como si no hubiera manana) 0 In the
property boom orthelg8os, the banks lent to property companies in Britain like there WQS no tomorrow. tomorrow is another day manana sera atro dfa 0 Everything went wrong. I didn't play well. However,
tomorrow is another day.
ton come down on someone like a ton of bricks echar una bronca descomunal a alguien (litera': caerle a alguien como una tonelada de ladrillos) 0 If you make even the tiniest mistake, they a/I come down on you like
a ton ofbricl
situation hit her like a ton ofbricl
tongue be unable to get your tongue round something (Brit) no conseguir pronunciar alga (literal: no poder
When my brother was little, he couldn't get his tongue round the word 'bicycle'; it always came out as 'bi-ci-c/ick'. rodear alga can la lengua) 0
*
bite your tongue morderse la lengua 0 I wanted to tell
him how
much I would miss him, but I bit my tongue. find your tongue recuperarel habla o After a long silence, Tom eventually
found his tongue. give someone the rough side of your tongue a give someone the rough edge . of your tongue (Brit, anticuado) echar una buena bronca a alguien (literal: dar a alguien ellado aspero de la lengua) 0 He's really going to
give the boy the rough side ofhis tongue. give someone a tongue-lashing poner aalguien como un trapo (litera': dar a alguien latigazos con
la lengua)
0
The President afthe EU
Commission was given a tonguelashing from Mr Major and told to drop his objections to a world trade deal. speak with forked tongue hablar con dobleces (literal: hablar con lengua bffida) 0 He speaks with
tongue. I don't trust him and I him.
* tongue in cheek
en tono de burla (literal: lengua en la mejilla) 0 I
people are taking 0/1 this morn"n,ouslV than we intended. It was supposed to tongue in cheel<.
tongues tongues are wagging las rna/as lenguas estan hablando (literal: las lenguas se estan meneando)
spent an evening together at his I
tools down tools (Brit) declararse en huelga (literal: bajar las
In August 1980, the workers at this shipyard downed tools and went on strike for pay increases.
herramientas) 0
the tools of the trade las
oAs a pianist, Grace's fingers were the tools Of her trade.
herramientas del trabajo
* from top to toe (sobreoShewas todo Brit) trembling from top to toe. get ~n top of you desbordarte (litera': ponerse encima tuyo)
o Most of us are irritable or badtempered when things get on top of us.
be long in the tooth tener muchos anos a cuestas (literal: tener los
'Why don't you enrol in the University and take a course?' tl.ren't I a bit long in the tooth to start being an undergraduate?, Esta expresi6n se refiere al hecho @ de que es posible determinar la ~ edad de un caballo al mirarle los ~ dientes.A medida que los caballos § envejecen, parece que tienen los ~ dientes mas largos porque sus ~ encfas se retraen. §
fight tooth and nail luchar can unas Vdientes 0 The prime minister let it be known that she would fight
*tooth and nail
to stay in omce.
have a sweet tooth ser goloso (literal: tener diente dulce) 0 She has
a sweet tooth; she can't resist chocolate cake and peppermint creams. red in tooth and claw (litera rio) lucharcon uiiasydientes oHis intention was to demonstrate that Labour is no longer red in tooth and claw, but a serious and sober political party. ~ Esta expresi6n es una cita del
~ poema In Memoriam (1850) del
~ poeta ingJesTennyson.
top at the top of the heap'" ver heap blowyourtop estallar 0 I never
asked her personal questions because,
for some reason, she'd always blow her tell was being * topSheandcleaned the house from top
me I nosy. from top to bottom de arriba abajo o to
bottom.
de
la cabeza a los pies
tooth dientes largos) 0
281
*
off the top of your head ... ver head on top of something cuidandode algo 0 With two young children and a
full-timejob, I'm so busy that I'm not keeping on top of the housework. on top of the world ... ver world
* over the top
0
I'm sorry. I realize now that I was a bit over the top, accusing you of being a traitor. 0 Each design is very different in style. Some are subtle, some gloriously OTT. OTT excesivo 0
@ Durante la Primera Guerra
§ Mundial, go over the top significaba § salirtrepando de las trincheras V ~ correr hacia tierra de nadie a fin § de atacar al enemigo.
push someone over the top (EE UU) lIevar a alguien al liderazgo 0 The
advertising campaign pushed the company over the top, allowing them to replace their rivals as the number-one soft drink in supermarl
torch En las expresiones siguientes, la palabra torch significa "antorcha".
carry a torch for someone estar enamorado de alguien (literal: lIevarle una antorcha a alguien)
o What makes a woman so special that a man will carry a torch for her all his life? carry the torch for something mantenerviva la llama de algo
(literal: lIevar la antorcha de algo)
o This group carries the torch forthe
track
toss
282
millions of people who demonstrated
against the regime, and the thousands who died.
toss
argue the toss (Brit) discutir inutilmente (literal: dis(utir el resultado del cara 0 cruz) 0 Arguing the toss over whether Sydney or Melbourne is a better place to live is an
Australian pastime. ~
Puede que esta expresi6n se
§ refiera a alguien que lanza una ~ moneda al aire a fin detomar una ~ decisi6n.
* not give a toss about something
(Brit, familiar) no importarte un bleda alga 0 'We don't give a toss whatjourna/ists think about us,' says Dave Chambers, the band's drummer.
toss-up
*
it's a t05S~Up las dos casas son igualmente probables (literal: es un cara a cruz) 0 It's a toss-up whether oil prices will go up or down overthe days ahead. § Allanzaruna moneda al aire, ~ existen las mismas posibilidades ~ de que salga cara 0 cruz.
touch
be kicked into touch (sobre todo Brit) ser abandonado (literal: ser enviado fuera de banda) 0 Trish Johnson's challenge forthe USWomen's Open Championship was kicl
~ enviada fuera de banda se dice ~ que it is kicked into touch.
* theYudhoyono common touch seen as o
is
el don de gentes a politician with
the common touch, who sings, writes poetry and plays guitar in a band.
* it's touch and go
todavla no esta
"*
decidido (literal: es tocar e irse) o I thought I was going to win the race, but it was still touch and go. someone is a soft touch alguienes facil de convencer (literal: alguien es un toque suave) 0 Pamela was
a/ways a soft touch when Michael needed some cash. :§ Touch a person for money sjgnifica
g "darle un sablazo a alguien".
touch paper
light the blue touch paper a light the touch paper (Brit)
a tower of strength una gran ayuda (literal: una torre de fortaleza)
town go to town on something dedicarse can entusiasmo a algo (literal: ir ala
§ Parece ser que esta expresion se ~ remonta al Oeste america no. ~ puede que se usara para describir ~ a grupos de indios americanos § que incendiaban las ciudades. ~ Tambien es posible que se ~ refiriera a unos vaqueros que ~ amenazaban con "pintar de rojo la g ciudad" (paint the town red) can la ~ sangre de cualquiera que ~ intentara ponerfreno a su § comportamiento de borrachos.
g La mecha de papel azul oscuro de ~ un petardo se denomina touch ~ paper. AI encenderla, se va ~ quemando lentamente hasta ~ hacer estallar el petardo.
tough
group, but across a negotiating table, he was tough as nails.
kick over the traces rebelarse (literal: dar patadas a los tirantes)
Young people a/ways want to kick over the traces, refusing to accept old values without question.
o
* othrowseemed, in the towel initially, as if the police
§ Cuando un caballo que tira de un ~ carro a de un carruaje salta sobre ~ los tirantes sujetas al ames para ~ que el cachero ya no pueda ~ controlarlo, se dice que dicho ~ caballo kicks over the traces.
tirarla toalla
It
had thrown in the towel and were planning to abandon the investigation, butthe following day the interviews resumed.
track
*
the fast track to something el camino mas rapido hacia algo 0 Like many of his classmates, Chris Urwin believes a university degree will be the fast tracl< to corporate success. 0 The
~ una pista de atletismo, a un ~ hipodroma 0 a un circuito de ~ autamovilismo.
have the inside track (sobre todo EE UU, Periodismo) estaren una posicion de ventaja (literal: correr por la calle de dentro) 0 Denver has
the inside trac/( among 10 sites being considered for the airline's new $1 billion maintenance facility. ~ En un hipodromo a en circuito de
~ automovilisma, la calle interior es
~ la mas corta, de modo que todos
*
~ los participantes en la carrera § quieren aprovechareste hecho.
keep track of something or someone seguir la pista a algo 0 alguien 0 I could never keep track ofall the visitors to the mansion.
* something lose track of someone or
perder la pista de alga 0
You may wonder how the administrators of this fund can lose track of £20 million meant to help the poorest citizens. alguien
traces
towel
En el boxeo, el entrenadorde un boxeador a veces tira una toalla 0 una esponja al cuadrilatero en senal de derrota para detener el combate antes de que se produzcan mas heridas.
*
ciudad en algo) 0 They really went to town on the decorations for the party. paint the town red irsedejuerga (literal: pintar la ciudad de raja) o Let's go out and paint the town red!
politicians.
fuerte como unas) 0 He was a very easy-going type of person in a large
~ Aquf la palabra track se refiere a
o In herterrible sadness she has found Charles to be a tower ofstrength.
encender la mecha 0 This kind of remark is guaranteed to light the blue touch paper with some Labour
tough as old boots (Brit) 0 tough as nails fuerte como un (literal: fuerte como botas viejas,
company offers fast-track promotion schemes for promising young executives.
tower
*
283
0
* off the beaten track
apartado
(literal: lejos del camino trillado) o The village is sumeiently affthe
beaten track to deter all but a few tourists. S Aquf la palabra track se refiere a
*
~ un sendero a a un camino § estrecho.
on the right track porbuencamino o Guests are returning to our hotel in
increasing numbers - a sure sign that we are on the right track.
* onPolls the wrong track show that around
parmal camino 55 percent of voters believe the country is headed on the wrong trac/e
o
284
*
tracks
truck
management team with a good trac/( record.
tracks come from the wrong side of the tracks venirde los barrios bajos (literal: venirdellado malo de las vias) a Here are two sisters who come from the wrong side of the tracks in Los Angeles and have come to dominate the world of women's tennis.
E Las vfas ferreas a veces senalan ~ los I(mites entre distintas partes ~ de una ciudad, porejemplo entre
§ zonas ricas Vpobres.
* cover your tracks a
borrar las huellas
The killer may have returned to the scene of the crime to cover his trael(s. make tracks empezar a irse a Webb looked at the barcloele 'Ten past nine. We must make tracks or we'll be late for the meeting.'
* *
~ En esta expresi6n, ~ "huellas".
tracks significa
stop someone in their tracks 0 stop someone dead in their tracks parar a alguien en seco a The sound ofgunfire stopped them dead in their tracks. stop something in its tracks 0 stop something dead in its tracks parar algo en seco a Ifthe Chancel/or pulls the plug on the £22 billion programme, the resulting job losses could stop Britain's economic revival dead in its tracks.
trail
*
as a psychiatrist, administrator and teacher.
a track record un historial 0 This corporation has a high-quality
blaze a trail abrir camino (literal: seilalar un camino con marcas en los arboles) a The party is blazing a trail for the advancement of women in pOlitics. aA trailblazer in the treatment of mental illness, Bateman has served
a alguien no cae del dela (literal: alga 0 alguien no crece en los arboles) 0 Mitchell will not be replaced
trap
*
hacer alga 0 School administrators a(ten (all into the trap a(thinldng that
. discipline problems, not unsatisfying education, are the cause of/ow levels Of achievement among pupils.
§ Esta expresi6n viene de la caza del ~ mapache, que tiene lugar durante ~ la noche. Los perras adiestrados ~ para indicar mediante ladridos ~ d6nde se esconden los mapaches § a veces senalan el arbol § equivocado.
* be at the top of the tree (Brit)
estar
en la cumbre de su carrera (literal: estar en la copa del arbol) aShe has
*
~
Cuando un boxeadoresta en ~ forma y listo para boxear se dice
~ que esta in fighting trim.
trolley off your trolley (Brit, familiar) chiflado (literal: fUera de tu carrito) a She has decided to leave
London to go and live on a remote island. Most people thinl< she's Off her trolley, but she's never been so sure of anything in her life.
~ sobre las condiciones § meteorol6gicas.
trick
*
*
do the trick servir (literal: hacer e! trueo) 0 I(these self-help remedies don't do the trick, consult a qualified homoeopath. it's the oldest trick in the book es un trueD muy viejo a Well, that's the oldest trick in the book - to blame someone else for your problems. not miss a trick no perderse nada (literal: no perderse un truco) aMy assistant, Eileen, has a good eye fordetail and never misses a trick § Esta expresi6n hace referenda a ~ unjugadorque gana todas las § bazas enjuegos de naipes como
trooper swear like a trooper jurar como un carretero (literal: jurar como un soldado) aMo was rude and abusive and swore like a trooper.
trot
*
wear the trousers -+ ver wear
trowel lay it on with a trowel (Brit) recargar las tintas (literal: ponerlo can una paleta) a To make sure the significance of his remarks was not missed, the Prime Minister laid it on with a trowel.
use every trick in the book emplear todos los trucos a Companies are using everytricl( in the book to stay one step ahead of their competitors.
tricks
*
be up to your old tricks volver a hacer de las tuyas (litera': volver a tus viejos trucos) a They're up to their old tricks of promising one thing and doing the opposite.
on the trot (Brit,(omiliar) seguido (literal: al trote) a It was the team's fifth win on the trot, a elub record.
trousers
g el whist 0 el bridge.
someone cannot see the wood for the trees (Brit) a someone cannot see the forest for the trees (EE UU) a a!guien los
are so tired that they can't see the wood for the trees. something or someone does not grow on trees (sabre todo Brit) algo
a trial balloon (sobre todo EE UU) un globo sonda a Theadministration has not officially released details of the economic plan, although numerous trial balloons have been floated and hints have been dropped. § Ailos atras se usaban globos
trees
arboles no Ie dejan ver el bosque
decade, when domestic competition may increase.
§ sonda para recogerinformaci6n
been at the top of the acting tree for35 years. out of your tree (familiar) como una cabra (litera': fuera de tu arbol) a It was obvious they had been drinking. They were both out of their tree.
a The staff here are working so hard and
in fighting trim (sabre toda EE UU)
en perfecto estado 0 The company needs to be in fighting trim (or the next
trial
tree bark up the wrong tree ir m uy descaminado (literal: ladrar en el arbol equivocado) 0 If you plan to become a writer because it will make you lots of money, you're barking up the wrong tree.
trim
in a hurry: managers with his expertise do not grow on trees.
fall into the trap of doing something caer en la trampa de
285
truck
*
have no truck with something no tener nada que ver con alga aSmith stated clearly that his party will have no truck with any extremist attitudes or views.
286
turn
true
~ Truc/( es una palabra antigua @que se referfa al trueque de §: mercancfas. Have no truck with
~
someone significa, literal mente,
§: "no tener tratcs con alguien".
true sonar a cierto 0 He said he was sorry for upsetting me but his apology just didn't ring true.
ring true
trump play your trump card jugartu mejor baza (literal: jugartu trjunfo) o If she wished, she could threaten to play her trump card, publishing an autobiography of embarrassing disclosures. @ Enjuegos de naipes como el whist ~ vel bridge, uno de los cuatro
~ palos se elige comotriunfo para § cada mana. Las cartas de dicho ~ palo puntuan mas alto que las ~ cartas de 105 otros tres.
* days into the strike, the distribution of
s Enjuegos de naipes como el whist g y el bridge, uno de los cuatro
~ ~ ~ .~
palos se elige como triufo para cada mano. Las cartas de dicho palo puntuan mas alto que las cartas de los otros tres. ES,ta § expresion hace referencia al ~ jugadorque saca un triunfo de la § baraja.
* be economical with the(litera': truth no decirtoda la verdad economico con la verdad)
The three candidates traded insults and blew their own trumpets yesterday as each one claimed to be heading for victory. ~
Antiguamente, la Ilegada de g gente importante a algun sitio se g anunciaba tocando trompetas.
trumps
* come up trumps 1
(Brit) tenerun exita inesperado
aSylvesterStallone came up trumps at the US box office with his movie Cliffhanger.
~ proviene de!a historia ~ estadounidense sabre un hombre § blanco quefue de caza con un ~ indio americano. Los dos ~ compaAeras cazaran varios pavos §: salvajes, as! como algunas aves @ mas. Despues del viaje, el hombre ~ blanco dividiolas presas de forma ~ injusta, quedandose elias pavos y § dando al indio americana las aves ~ menDs sabrasas. EI indio ~ americana pratest6, diciendo § que querra "hablarde los pavos" § (talk turkey).
~ ("quien paga, manda").
change your tune cambiarde parecer (litera': cambiar!a melodfa)
oSupermarkets buy huge quantities of meat from farmers, but at the lowest possible price. So farmers have, unfortunately, been forced to dance to theirtune. sing a different tune ver las cosas de otro color a She declared herself at peal, fitness. Just 24 hours later, she was singing a different tune after losing badly in her match against Williams. '/ wasn't prepared,'
1
tub (Brit, Periodismo)
§ Algunas personas se referfan a los ~ pulpitos como "cubas" (tubs), ~ especial mente al hablar de forma g humorfstica sabre los ~ predicadores no conformistas. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de un predicador que da ~ punetazos en ei"pulpito para § enfatizar su mensaje.
tubes be going down the tubes ... ver down go down the tubes ... ver down the tune Ilevar la voz cantante
aMy husband spends lotsofmoneyon
a turkey shoot un combate desigual
stopped earlier than expected partly because of public disquiet at the 'turkeyshoot'. s Turkey shoot significa "cacerfa de
2 tener discursos diferentes
~ pavos", unas aves muyfaciles de cazar.
o The problem of homelessness is great enough without two Government departments singing different tunes. sing the same tune ... versing
§
turkeys like turkeys voting for Christmas
tunnel
*
(Brit) como tirar piedras contra tu prapio tejado (litera': como pavos votando a favor de la Navidad) a If we accept this proposal, it would be like
have tunnel vision concentrarse en Ja meta (litera': tener vision de tunel) a They always say that you
aAfterweeksofbombing,
it was a one-sided battle. The fighting
she said.l\nd I was suffering (ramjet lag.'
have
turkeys voting forChristmas.lt'sjust not going to happen.
to have tunnel vision to be a champion.
You can't have anyoutside distractions at all. § En el contexto medico, tunnel g vision significa "vision periferica g reducida".
turkey
tune
"* call
s Parece ser que esta expresi6n
o He had maintained for many years that the Earl was dead. But these days he has changed his tune.
ser
goods was sUffering: and that, ultimately is the rai/waymen's trump card. (Brit) darte soplartu propia
2 Esta expresi6n viene del proverbio
son que toca alguien
does not depend on tub-thumping speeches from politicians, but on the Government creating jobs.
bombo trompeta) a
oSudden/y government and industry are talking turkey. Last month the Prime Minister promised a partnership to improve the climate for business.
dance to someone's tune bailar al
a trump card una baza oOnlytwo
* blow your(litera': own trumpet
"*
aShe asked repeated questions but only received answers which were at best economical with the truth, at worst deliberately designed to deceive. tub~thumping
buy anything. He thinks he has the right to call the tune as he earns more money than Ida.
g he who pays the pipercal/s the tune
truth
demagogico (litera': que da pWletazos en el pulpito) a Recovery
trumpet
his hobbies but moans when Iwant to
2 serunbaluarte olnmomentsof crisis for me, you a/ways come up trumps!
287
talk turkey (sabre toda EE UU) hablar en serio (litera': hablar pavo)
§ En Gran BretaAa yen algunos g parses mas, existe la tradici6n de g comer pavo par Navidad.
turn
*
at every turn a cada paso (litera': a
oAlthough the government has had a coherent economic plan,
cada giro)
288
turn-up
parliament has set out to block it at
(literal: 105 dos nunca se
every turn.
encontraran)
turn-up a turn-up for the books (Brit) un
acontecimiento inesperado
0
'This
is Q real turn-up forthe books for me,' he chuckled, leaning on his bike at the
0 The education system is notorious for separating the sciences and the humanities. This academic 'ne'er the twain shall meet' policy unfortunately does not always reRect the needs of the real world.
~ Twain es una palabra anticuada
rnish. 'I've never won a race before: ~
~ que significa two. Esta expresi6n ~ es una cita de The Ballad of East 1and West (188g) del poeta ingles ~ Rudyard Kipling.
Esta expresion hace referenda a
~ un caballo que gana ~
inesperadamente una carrera. ~ La palabra books significa las ~
anotaciones de los (arredores de
~ apuestas sabre las apuestas ~ aceptadas.
turtle
round the twist (Brit) chiflado
o This man's clearly round the twist. be two ofa kind sertal para cual (literal: ser dos del mismo tipo)
o We're two of a kind, Ed. That's prabably why our Friendship's lasted
managed to I(eep her upright. ~ Las tortugas quedan indefensas
never the twain shall meet 0 ne'er the twain shall meet (/iterario) estan condenados a no entenderse
~
*
this long. it takes two to tango ... vertango put two and two together atar cabos (literal: juntar dos y dos) 0 It's not going to be long before the police put two and two together and come looking (or you.
Unbowed significa "erguido, sin
~ darmuestrasdetemorode
two
como una tortuga) 0 The dinghy nearly turned turtle twice, but I
twain
bloodied but unbowed (literario) maltrecho pero en pie 0 He went out there and worked for every single vote. It was a narrow victory but an important one. He is bloodied but unbowed.
twist
turn turtle volcar (literal: vo1car
~ cuanda estan boca arriba.
unbowed
~ dolor".
unglued come unglued (EE UU) 1 desquiciarse 0 She had apparently
come unglued since losing her job. 2 fracasar 0 Their marriage rnally came unglued.
unstuck
*
come unstuck (Brit) fracasar oAustra/ia's Greg Norman came badly unstuck in the third round ofthe Memorial gOlf tournament yesterday.
up
* on the up and up
Their career path has nattened aut slightly rather than still being on the up and up. 2 (EE UU) recto 0 /Fyou're honest and on the up and up, I'll be able to tell it, feel it. If you're hiding something, I can tell that too. swear up and down (EE UU) jurar y perjurar (literal: jurar arriba yabajo) o He'd sworn up and down he was going
1 (Brit) cada vez mejor 0
* toup and coming pro of up
get the cash and bring it right bacle meted or
*
0
He
was one our very and coming young ministers and I feel he had a great future in front ofhim. up and running en funcionamiento o l(IIe've invested in the people, tools, and technology to get your system up and running quicl
uppers on your uppers (Brit) sin un duro o The company is on its uppers and shareholders can forget about receiving dividends for a couple of years. ~
Aquf upper significa "pal a" (parte
~ superior de un zapato). SI lIevasla
~ suela y el tac6n de los zapatos ~ desgastados, 5010 te queda la ~ pala (you are on your uppers).
upstairs kick someone upstai'rs (Brit) ascender a alguien para que no moleste (literal: dar una patada a alguien hacia el piso de arriba) o The radicals /<;ci
the ceremonialjob of president.
use it's no use crying over spilled
milk ... ver milk no use to man or beast ... ver man
volumes ~
violet (literal: una vialeta que se encoge) be described as shrinking violets. Antiguamente se consideraba
que las vialetas simboHzaban la
vacuum
* decisions
in a vacuum en un vado oSuch do not occur in a pOlitical
vacuum, but have serious political implications both at home and abroad.
variety
*
variety is the spice of life en la variedad
esta el gusto
0
It is
important to vary the training program so that boredom is avoided. Exercise should be fun and variety is the spice of life.
humilde de las casas (literal: una vista de gusana) o They were
veil draw a veil over something correr un tupida vela sabre alga 0 Most of us have something in our past career over which we choose to draw a veil.
vessels empty vessels make the most sound (anticuado) mucha ruida y pocas nueces (literal: las embarcaciones vadas san las que hacen mas ruida) 0 There's a lot of
truth in that old saying, 'Empty vessels make the most sound'. 0 The trouble is that empty vessels seem to be making the most sound and getting the most words in print. ~
Aquf la palabra vessel significa ~ "recipiente".
view a bird's-eye view una vision de conjunto (literal: una vista de
pajaro) 0 Before I left England, I was Q parliamentary lobby correspondent, getting a bird's eye view Ofthe way politicians encourage people to believe in dreams. take a dim view of something ver algo con malos ajas 0 Back in 1989 he took a dim view of lotteries, and wrote to a proposer: 'I do not support your proposal for a lottery and would wish not to be involved at this stage.' a worm's eye view una vision
considered to be leaders who, for the most part, 'were complete fools, with a worm's eye view of the world and a poor underst'anding of their jobs'.
villain
*
the villain of the piece (Brit) el malo de la pelfcula 0 Ifhe is indeed the villain of the piece, as the pOlice claim he is, he should have been more carefully watched. ~
En esta expresi6n, piece significa
~ "pieza (teatral)".
vine wither on the vine 0 die on the vine (litera rio) marchitarse (literal: marchitarse en la vid) 0 I talked to senior citizens and
ordinary people al/ overthis state who are worried that theAmerican dream is dying on the vine.
flores permanecen ocultas entre
§ las hojas hasta que se abren.
a shrinking violet un vergonzoso
o None ofthe women he paints could
291
volumes
*
speak volumes decir mucho (literal: hablar volumenes) 0 What you wear speaks volumes, and it can lie, too.
modestia, debido a su pequeno
~
tamana y aJ hecho de que las
§ "volumen" (libra).
En esta expresi6n, volume significa
walls
someone will go to the wall for someone or something (Brit) alguien 10 darfa todo por alguien 0 algo oAbove all, he prizes loyalty. He'll
(literal: un paseo en el parque)
o I thought marriage was tough, but that's a wall< in the park compared to gol( walk the walk «(amiliar) hacer 10 que se predica (literal: caminarel camino) o Butthetime has come (or MrColeman to prove that hecan walk the walk to the same level as he can talk
wagon
Segun algunos relatos sobre'el Oeste americano, cuando 105 indios atacaban las caravanas de carromatos, los colonos colocaban los carromatos en cfrculo para paderdefenderse mejor.
be on the wagon no beber (literal: estar en la carreta)
0
He was an
alcoholic, but he's been on the wagon
for more than 10 years. ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Original mente, la expresion era "en la carreta del agua" (on the water wagon) 0 "en el carro del agua"(onthewatercart). Los
wake
carras del agua eran carras tirados par caballos que se
§ usaban para transportar agua 0 ~ para rociarlas calles. Si alguien
§ bebfa agua en lugarde alcohol, ~ se decfa que dicha persona was on ~ the wagon. hitch your wagon to someone subirse al carro de alguien (literal: enganchartu carro a alguien)
should not hitch its wagon too closely toAmerica.
§ Esta expresi6n es una cita del ~ ensayo titulado Civilization (1870), g del escritarestadounidense Ralph § Waldo Emerson.
wagons circle the wagons cerrarfilas (literal: poner las carretas en un cfrculo) oSomeA(rican-Americans
who initially opposed Thomas because o(his politics are circling the wagons to support him because o(his race.
drive someone up the wall saca r de quicio a alguien (litera': conducir a alguien pared arriba) 0 He's so uncooperative - he's beginning to drive
barco).
hit the wall meterse en un callej6n sin salida (literal: golpear la pared)
o To ensure their businesses do not hit the wall, operators must ensure their financial management is strong and streamlined.
* o The trouble at Shotts prison (allows in in the wake of something tras algo
the wake o(unrest at several prisons in England.
wake-up
*
a wake-up call una lIamada de atenci6n (literal: una Ilamada para despertar) 0 Thejury said the damages were intended to send a wakeup call to the firm and other big
companies that sexual harassment would not be tolerated.
walk The Coastguard bro/
0
a walk in the park cosery cantar
me up the wall. go to the wall (Brit) ir ala bancarrota (literal: ir al muro) oA total 0(1,776 companies went to the wall in the three months to March
- a drop 0(14 percent on the first three months 0(1992.
in something's wake en la estela de alga oA deadly cloud o( gas swept
along the valleys north o(Lake Nyos in western Cameroon, leaving a trail o( death and devastation in its wake.
o The increasing power of the Pacine rim provides a reason why Russia
~
wall
Wake significa "estela" (de un
*
go to"the wall (or someone or something he believes in.
the toile
*
*
293
*
Una explicac;i6n de esta ~ expresi6n es que hace referencia ~ a alguien atrapada de espaldas a ~ la pared, sin posibilidad de ~ escapar. Otra posible explicaci6n ~ es que se refiere a las capillas ~ medievales en las que las § pe"rsonas sanas solfan estar de ~ pie, perc que tenfan asientos ~ colocados junto a las paredes ~ para los enfermos. Una tercera @ explicaci6n es que se refiere a ~ alguien que esta de pie frente § a una pared antes de ser @ ejecutado par un pelot6n de g fusilamiento. the writing is on the wall (sobre todo Brit) a the handwriting is on the wall (sobretodoEEUU) sevelaquese avecina (literal: la escritura esta en la pared) 0 The writing is clearly on the
nail someone to the wall hacerselas pasar canutas a alguien (litera': c!avar a alguien a la pared)
wall./(wedo nothing about it, we shall only have ourselves to blame.
o I(he could not pay o((his debt, they
§ relata biblico (Daniels) en el
would nail him to the wall. off the wall fuera de serie 0 The new channel is so off the wall and unlike
anything we see at the momentthat you really have to watch it to appreciate how it will be. oAt other times the band plays a kind o(o((-the-wall/ounge music, a kind o(soundtrack to a hip science fiction movie. Puede que esta expresi6n se refiera a un tiro en unjuego como el squash 0 el balonmano, en el que la pelota rebota contra la pared desde un angulo inesperado.
~ Esta expresi6n proviene de un
~ ~ § ~
que aparece una mana misteriosa yescribe un mensajeen Ja pared, anunciando que el reino de Baltasar pronto tocara a su fin.
walls climb the walls subirse por!as paredes 0 I'm climbing the walls now
because I have not got ajob. I have been searching hard (or six months without success. walls have ears las paredes oven o Take care. This place is like a vii/age.
Assume all walls have ears.
294
war
waters 295
war
*
something will come out in the wash alga se aclarara 0 It will mal(e great listening at an industrial tribunal. Everything will come out in the wash, and Flashman will deserve it all.
a war of nerves -+ ver nerves a war of words (Periodismo) una guerra de palabras oAwarofwords has blown up over who is to blame for a
confrontation between pOlice and fans outside the venue.
waste a waste of space (Brit) un inutiJ (literal: un desperdicio de espacio) o·Even Sarah, a taIl13-year-old with a white face and black-ringed eyes, treated him as ifhe were a waste Of space.
warpath on the warpath en pie de guerra
o StVincent and Grenadines' biggest businessmen are on the warpath atter claims that foreign nationals are trying to con them out of thousands ofdollars. § En su sentido literal, esta expresi6n ~ se refiere a los indios americanos.
*
watch
*
wars
on someone's watch bajo la vigilancia de alguien oMistakeswere made on my watch, and accordingly I believe my decision to retire, while
in the wars herido, lesionado
painful, is appropriate.
o Charlotte's four-year-old brother, Ben, has a/so been in the wars. He is still in
~
Be on watch significa "estar de ~ guardia".
s Las plumas de la espalda de un
*
water
*
warts and all con todas sus imperfecciones (literal: verrugas y todo)
0
judith would not bethe first
wife to have got the measure of her husband and decided that he is still the man for her, warts and all. § Se dice que ellfder ingles del siglo ~ XV!! Oliver Cromwell Ie pidio al ~ pintorque pintaba su retrato que § no 10 favoreciera y que pintara ~ "todas las asperezas, granos, ~ verrugas y cualquier otra cosa tal ~ y como me ves, de otro modo no ~ te pagare ni un cuarto de penique § par el retrato".
wash everything will come out in the wash al final todo se arreglara o That will be the end of that.
Everything will come out in the washI promise you.
*
be dead in the water (Periodismo) haberse ida al garete (literal: estar muerto en el agua) 0 People are not spending money: they're not buying housesithey're not going into stores. This economy is dead in the water. ~ Esta expresion sugiere la imagen
hablar bajo el agua) oMy friends tell
*
§ navegar porque no hay viento. blow something out of the water government is in a state of paralysis. It~ main economic and foreign policies have been blown out of the water. ~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen ~ de un barco compJetamente ~ destruido par un misil 0 parun ~ torpedo.
in deep water hasta el cuello (literal: en aguas profundas) 0 You certainly seem to be in deep water and
pour cold water on something 0 throw cold water on something
French proposal for a peace conference involving both the EU and the UN. someone can talk under water (sobretodoAustralid) alguien habla par los codas (literal: alguien sabe
§ de un velero que rio puede
hacer saltar alga en pedazos (literal: volar alga fuera del agua) 0 The
~ pato estitn cubiertas de una ~ sustancia aceitosa que las § impermeabiliza.
echar unjarro de agua frfa sobre algo 0 They poured cold water on the
plaster atter breaking a leg.
warts
doing your utmost to reverse the negative trends of the past couple of months or so. in hot water metido en un 110 (literal: en agua caliente) 0 Debbie is in hot water when RiC/( discovers her attempt to sabotage his relationship with Sarah. like water off a duck's back como si nada (literal: como agua en la espalda de un pato) 0 Every time you discipline him he will smile sweetly so that you maythinl< your rebukes are streaming away like water Offa duck's bac/e
* *
me that I can tal/( under water. something does not hold water alga carece de fundamento (litera': alga no aguanta el agua) 0 They mal(e it clear that the British Government's argument does not hold water. test the water 0 test the waters tantear el terreno (litera': probar el agua) 0 I was a bit sceptical. I decided to test the water before committing the complete management team. tread water estar en un punto muerto 0 I could either tread water until I was promoted, which looked to be a few years away, or I could change what I was doing.
(uando los nadadores mueven los brazos y las piernas a fin de mantenerse a flote sin moverse, se. dice que they tread water.
water over the dam (EE UU) 0 water under the bridge algo que ya ha pasado a la.historia oMr Bruce said that he was relieved it was over and that he regarded his time injai/ as water under the bridge.
waterfront cover the waterfront (sobre todo EE UU) cubrir todo 0 We have five employees looldng after this whole project. They cover the entire waterfront: oil, real estate, high-tech, and everything else.
Waterloo meet your Waterloo [Jegar tu San Martin (literal: encontrartu Waterloo) oAtthefootofcliffl met
my Woterloo. The face of the cliff rose sheer above us, and it was clear even to methat we would not be able to climb it. ~ En 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte
~ sufri6 su ultima derrota en la
~ batalla de Waterloo, en Belgica.
waters fish in troubled waters pescar en rfo revuelto 0 They had had boundary disputes with their previous neighbours, and did not want to appearto be fishing in troubled waters. muddy the waters enredar las cosas (literal: enturbiar el agua) o This ruling seems only to have muddied the waters. It seems a bit confusing and we are seeking clarification. still waters run deep las apariencias engafian 0 He's extremely shy and withdrawn, though it may be that still waters run very deep. test the waters ..... ver water
296
wave
weight 297 oA peace agreement last year paved the
wave catch the wave subirse a! tren (literal: coger la ala) 0 With
parliamentary elections still officially scheduled for October, pOliticians are
hoping to catch the wave of rising discontent. ~ Los surfistas tienen que "coger la
~ ala" (catch the wave) justa cuando ~ esta rompe para poder montarla § con exito.
wavelength
* on the same wavelength could complete en la
misma onda 0 We
each other's sentences because we were on the same wavelength.
waves
o Ella had an uncommon knack of rubbing everyone up the wrong w~y. @. A los gatos no res gusta que los
ways
causar sensaei6n
a historyormaking waves.
way
* the easyiswaythe out easy way out
!a soluei6n mas to blame
others ror ourrailure, and this is bad practice. go back a long way (sobretodo Brit) 0 go way back (sabre todo EE UU) conocerse desde hace mucho 0 We
go bacl< a long way, and she's a/ways kept in touch, always been there ror me.
* look theStolen goods are sold
alguien con atenei6n 0 It is necessary a/ways to keep a weather eye on your symptoms and stay alert to the changes ~ En un principio esta expresi6n
prison and to mend his ways.
preparar el terreno para algo pavimentarel camino para algo)
make heavy weather of something (Brit) hacer algo mas diffcil de 10 que
profundamente arraigadas 0 Try not to become set in your ways. It's very
es 0 To an outsider, though, the surprising thing is not that Spain's conservatives are inching ahead but that they are maldng such heavy weather or it. ~ En sentido literal, make heavy ~ weather se usaba en referencia a
easy to develop personal routines and not to accept that other people have other ways ofdoing things.
wayside
* fall by the wayside 1
Each year our birthday parties grow more and more polite. We still have a birthday cake and give presents, but dancing seems to have faJ/en by the wayside.
* pave the way for something (literal:
§ [a usa ban [os marineros, los ~ cuales tenfan que vigilar § constantemente el tiempo y la ~ direcci6n del viento.
set in your ways con costumbres
tend to 1001< the other way and mind your own business.
2 quedarse por el camino 0
o I think it's the thin end Of the wedge when you have armed po/ice permanently on patrol round a city.
weight be worth your weight in gold valer
~ los barcos diffciles de controlar en
*
~ aguas agitadas.
underthe weather indispuesto (literal: bajo el tiempo) o If you're
feeling a bit underthe weather but can't work out what's wrong, try our DIY guide to self-diagnosis.
web a tangled web una marana
0
It is
Successrul television is about having ideas. People with ideas are worth their weight in go/d. 10 que pesa en oro 0
which occur.
meekly, promising to wor/< hard in
ar yau fall by the wayside.
el extremo delgado de la cuna)
keep a weather eye on something or someone (Srit) observar a[go 0 a
o He
unashamedly in broad daylight but you
the thin end of the wedge (Brit) e! principio de much os males (literal:
weather
* mendseemed your ways to accept his sentence
lado o
seemed to irritate her more. That made me upset, and I started to feel Toby was driving a wedge between us.
oShe may give the impression that she wears the trousers but it's Tim who makes the final decisions.
o For Britain, the impact cuts both ways. The immediate e(fect or cheaper oil is to reduce North Sea oil revenue. But it also produces lower domestic innation and stronger export markets.
lifespan at the top is pve years. You either play well, deal with the pressure,
other way mirar para otro
o Idid try to reassure her, but that only
pantalones
cut both ways tener doble filo
quedarse en aguas de borraja (litera': caerse en el borde del camino) 0 The average player's
* drive a wedge between people
wear the trousers (Brit) 0 wear the pants (EE UU) lIevar los
way).
out of a paper bag ... ver paper
wedge
wear
~ acaricien a contrapelo (the wrong ~
sometimes difficult to cut through the tangled web ofgovernment information in order to Imow the benepts you can claim.
abrir una brecha entre dos personas
enmendarse
In 1971 she became the prst woman in East and Central Arrica to earn a PhD.
faei! 0 It
rub someone up the wrong way (Brit) a rub someone the wrong way (EE UU) irritar a alguien (literal: acariciar a alguien a contrapelo)
someone can't fight their way
En el contexte de las emisiones radiof6nicas, wavelength significa "Iongitud de onda". _
* oMaathai make waves has
Esta expresi6n viene de la parabola del sembrador relatada por Jesus en [a Biblia (Marcos 4A). Las semillas que caen al borde del camino representan a las personas que no prestan atenei6n a las ensenanzas de Jesus.
way for this wee/('s ejections.
*
carry weight influir(litera': Ilevar peso) 0 EI Tiempo is Colombia's
leading newspaper. Its opinions carry considerable weight in the country. carry the weight of the world on your shoulders estar abrumado (literal: lIevar el peso del mundo a tus espa!das) 0 You loa/( as if you're carrying the weight ofthe world on those lovely shoulders. ~ Esta expresi6n tiene
~ probablemente su origen en e!
g mite de Atlas, un titan de la ~ mitologfa griega que fue
~ castigado por Zeus a cargar los
g cielos sobre sus hombros. A
~ menudo se 10 suele representar
~ sosteniendo un globo terraqueo ~ sobre la espalda.
a dead weight un peso muerto o It's time for him to see that Labour
must be free ofthe dead weight of union power.
298
whistle 299
west
"* (litera':
en infinidad de lenguas y culturas a 10 largo de 105 siglos. Par ejemplo, hay quien asocia esta expresi6n a 105 indios americanos, quienes solfan decirque un moribundo iba hacia el oeste para encontrarse can e! sol poniente.
pull your weight hacer tu parte tirar detu peso) 0 Your
performance will bejudged by the
performance of your team, and you cannot afford to carry members who are not pulling their weight.
punch above your weight (Brit, Periodismo) ser mas fuerte de 10 que aparenta 0 The small Florida city of Tallahassee has a/ways considered itself to punch above its weight when it
comes to sport. punch your weight (Brit, Periodismo) tener la influencia que te corresponde 0 There are some North-
Easterners who feel that the North will never be able to punch its weight
"*
have a whale of a time pasarlo' bomba (litera': pasarlo tamano ba[lena) 0 I had a whaleofa time in
Birmingham.
wheat separate the wheat from the chaff
against the affluent South-East.
separar la paja del buen grana o The reality is often blurred by the propaganda. It is becoming more and
throw your weight about (Brit) 0
more diffiCUlt to separate the wheat
throw your weight around ir de
sargento 0 Jonathon Rose, defending, told the jury: My client is the sort of person who likes to throw his weight
*
whale
around after he's been watching rugby with the lads.' throw your weight behind someone or something apoyar a alguien 0 alga can toda tu fuerza (literal: lanzartu peso atras de alguien 0 algo) 0 The U.S. government
is promising now to throw its weight behind the peace negotiations.
west go west (anticuado) estirar la pata (literal: iral oeste) o When he went west, he wanted to be
1
remembered. His hopes of a professional singing career went west long ago. 2 irse al garete 0
from the chaff. ~
Chaffsignifica "cascarilla del trigo". En [a Biblia (Mateo 3:12; Lucas 3:17), Juan el Bautista usa la imagen de alguien que separa la paja del grano para describir la forma en queJesus separara a los que iran al cielo de los que iran al § infiemo.
~ ~ ~ ~ § ~
wheel a big wheel un pez gordo (literal: una rueda grande) 0 They new Robin to NewYorl<, where George's uncJewas a big wheel at Memorial Hospital.
a fifth wheel 0 a third wheel (EE UU) un estorbo o Women really do suffer more as widows. The fifth woman at a couples
dinner party is a fifth wheel; the fifth
have created foundations for other countries to follow. Each country's organization does not need to reinvent
favours,just a faircrac/< of the whip. have the whip hand 0 hold the whip hand tener la sarten
the wheel.
par el mango (literal: sostener la mana dellatigo) 0 The biggest party in that government should have the whip hand in decision-making.
wheels oil the wheels (Brit) 0 grease the wheels allanarel terreno (literal: engrasar las rued as)
give something a whirl intentar
consumer boom by aI/owing us to buy what we want, when we want. set the wheels in motion ponerse
o Why not give acupuncture a whirl?
manos a la obra (literal: poner [as ruedas en movimiento) 0 I have set
the wheels in motion to sell Endsleigh Court: the sooner / get out of this bloc/<, the better. spin your wheels (sobretodo EE UU)
algo (literal: dar un giro a algo)
whirlwind reap the whirlwind .. ver reap
whisker be Within a whisker of something
perder el tiempo (literal: girar las rued as) 0 He is not getting anywhere.
He's just spinning his wheels. the wheels are turning esta en marcha (literal: las ruedas estan girando) 0 The wheels are turning on
plans to convert the building into a bookstore. wheels within wheels mas complicado de 10 que parece (litera': ruedas dentro de ruedas) 0 Our
culture is more complex than he knows. Wheels within wheels. Hierarchies. §
Esta expresi6n viene de [a Biblia:
~ "Ten fan las cuatro la misma forma ~ y parecfan dispuestas como si una ~ rueda estuviese dentro de la otra" § (Ezequieln6).
whip crack the whip apretar las clavijas
man is a social coup.
(literal: restaliar ellatigo)
EI sol "va hacia el oeste" (goes ~ west) cuando se oculta bajo el ~ horizonte en e[ oeste al final del
§
Una quinta rueda en un coche 0 ~ una tercera rueda en una bicicleta § serfan innecesarias.
the chapel, I don't. They cracl< the whip and I have to jump to it. a fair crack of the whip (Brit) la
~ dfa. La comparaci6n entre el sol ~ poniente y la muerte se ha usado
reinvent the wheel reinventar la rueda 0 learn from Scandinavia. We
oportunidad de demostrar 10 que se vale 0 Noneofthem is expecting any
§
whirl
o Credit cards greased the wheels of the
0
They run
*
faltarle un pe/o para alga (literal: estar a un bigote de algo) o Unemployment, at 6.4 percent of the labour force, is now within a whis/
come within a whisker of doing something quedarse a un pelo de hacer algo (litera': lIegar a un bigote de hacer algo) 0 He came within a
whisl
whisper whisper sweet nothings decir ternezas oSomewomen are turned on by romantic men who'll hold their hand in the street and whisper sweet nothings in their ears.
whistle
* something blow the whistle on someone or a
denunciar a alguien alga (literal: soplar el silbato) o Members of Queensland coastal communities are being asked to blow the whistle on activities that damage
300white the marine environment. 0 The department needs to protect whistie-
wind 301 wick
blowers, health professionals who want and [Qreta ma/
En deportes como el futbol, el ~ arbitro toea un silbate para § detener el juego cuando un ~ jugador ha cometido una falta. someone can whistle for something alguien esperara
be on a sticky wicket 0 bat on a sticky wicket (Brit) estar en un aprieto oMrHughes is batting on a very sticky wicket indeed. Should he succeed in proving his outrageous claims, he would lay himself open to a charge of treason. § En un campa decrfquet, el area de § hierba situ ada entre los dos palos ~ se denamina wicl(et. Cuando ha ~ lIovido mucho dicha area se ~ ablanda y se vuelve pegajosa ~ (sticky), y en estas condiciones a § los bateadores les cuesta predecir ~ c6mo botara fa pelota.
whistle for its money. una antigua superstici6n
~ entre marineros, silbanda podfan
§ conseguir que soplara el viento.
white white as a sheet 0 white as a ghost palido como la muerte (literal: blanco como una sabana 0 un fantasma) 0 There was another lady lorry driver who pulled in in front afme, who it affected badly. She was as white as a sheet. white as snow blanco como la nieve 0 When it's warm enough to go bare-legged but your skin's as white as snow, a fake tan's the answer. whiter than white irreprochable (literal: mas blanco que el blanco) o He is prepared to forgive Atherton's deceit this time, but it has left him in no doubt that his behaviour must be whiter than white in future.
wilderness
* in the wilderness
(Brit, Periodismo) en el ostracismo 0 He is delighted to get another chance to represent his country after a period in the wilderness. a voice crying in the wilderness a a lone voice in the wilderness una voz que predica en el desierto o For years, he was a lone voice in the wilderness, and a lot of it came across as self-serving. But I'll tell you, the man was right.
whys the whys and wherefores el porque o Even successful bosses need to be queried about the whys and wherefores of their actions. Whereforees una palabra anticuada que significa for what
a why.
~
§ eampoy aiD diffeil que resulta
§ controlarlos.
willies give you the willies darte harror o Living on the mountainside is enough to give anyone the willies - especially when the wolves how/like the wind at
night.
wind
*
blow in the wind estar bajo diseusi6n (literal: saplar al vienta) o The agreement blowing in the wind at Montreal signalled a change in business conditions, and du Pont decided to jump in. get wind of something enterarse de alga (literal: eonseguirviento de alga) 0 I want nothing said about this until I give the word. I don't want the public, and especially not the press, to get wind of it at this stage. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere a los §. ani males que son capaees de oler ~ aiDs eazadores 0 a atros ani males § desde cierta distancia, porque el § viento les lIeva el aiDr.
in the wind eociendose (literal: en el viento) 0 Change is in the wind and this England team will alter as the year
~ Esta expresi6n viene de la Biblia
unfolds.
~ (Mateo 3:3)Y se refiere aJuan el
it's an ill wind 0 it's an ill ~ind that blows nobody any good no hay mal que par bien no venga 0 It's an ill wind, of course, and what is bad for the oil companies is good for the consumer and inflation. like the wind como el viento 0 Out on the water, the boat goes lil
~ Bautista, el eual anunei61a ~ lIegada del Mesfas pero pocos Ie ~ hicieron caso.
wildfire
*
Esta expresi6n se refiera la
~ rapida propagaci6n de 105 ~ ineendios que empiezan en el
wicket
sentado par alga (litera': alguien puede silbar alga) 0 She refused to open her books to the Quditors, closed the show and told the city it could ~ Segun
extenderse como un ineendio)
o When ffnal conffrmation of his release came, the news spread like wildffre.
get on someone's wick (Brit, familiar) hacer que alguien se suba par las paredes (literal: subirse a la mecha de alguien) 0 Let's face it, after three or four songs that voice really does get on your wiele
spread like wildfire eorrercomo un reguero de p61vora (literal:
put the wind up someone (sobre todo Brit) dar un susto a alguien o The front door was jammed and they couldfJ't open it. The delay put the wind up me because, by then, Il
a second wind fuerzas (literal: un segundo viento) 0 It was great tennis and it was fun. I gota second wind midway through the fourth set. 2 Si 105 corredores que estan sin ~ aliento corisiguen reeuperar las ~ fuerzas y respirar mejor, se dice ~ que they get their second wind.
see which way the wind is blowing
a see how the wind is blowing esperar para ver par d6nde van 105 tiros (literal: ver hacia d6nde sopla el viento) 0 He wasn't one to make pronouncements before he had seen which way the wind was blowing. spit in the wind escupircontra el viento 0 But the idea that you can tall< about a sing Ie currency today is to spit in the wind of economic reality. take the wind out of someone's sail (EE UU) a take the wind out of someone's sails cortar alas a alguien (literal: quitarle el viento de las velas a alguien) 0 We hit a bad patch after losing in the semi-ffnal. The effort and
302
windmills
wobbly 303
disappointment tool< the wind out of
along because he had not been too well recently. I took him under my wing and looked after him.
our sails fora while. twisting in the wind 0 swinging in the wind (sobretodo EE UU) en la estacada 0 The Prime
~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
§ de una gallina que protege a sus § poHuelos bajo el ala.
Minister left the minister swinging in the wind, neither giving him his
under the wing of someone bajo el control de alguien (literal: bajo el ala de alguien) 0 If their problems are picked up at school and they come under the wing Ofan educational psycho/agist, they may be found a place in a special school.
support, nor being prepared to end the agony by saC/
some Spanishjourna/ists that he was going to win the tournament, but that turned out to be whistling in the wind.
§ polluelos bajo el ala. arremeter contra
molinos de viento 0 I have spent my
life tilting at windmills. Willi never Jearn? ~
wings
*
Esta expresi6n hace referenda a
~ la novela Don Quijote (1605) de ~
Cervantes.
go out the window 0 fly out the window irse al traste (literal: salir por la ventana) 0 Three years later she met Mici<, and her good intentions ~ew out the window.
wing do something on a wing and a prayer hacer algo a la buena de Dios 0 Whatever the cause, large parts o(the government seem to be running on a wing and a prayer. ~ Esta expresi6n se basa en el trtulo
*
~ de una canci6n de H.Adamson ~ compuesta en 1943, que hacfa ~ referenda al aterrizaje forzoso de § un avi6n.
take someone under your wing dar amparo a alguien (literal: redbir a alguien bajo tu ala) 0 Ilet him tag
try your wings probar suerte (litera': probar las alas) a Hewas very
*
keen to try his wings and be a deputy on his own. wait in the wings esperar entre bas tid ores a He was one o(a number of young, up and coming American players who were waiting in the wings (orthe next MajorChampionship.
wink not sleep a wink 0 not get a wink of sleep no pegar ojo a This was my first Grand Prix win o(
at your wits' end desesperado People are at their wits' end about crime and they want to do something. They want action. collect your wits 0 gather your wits (/iterario) reconcentrarse a Fora bone-jarred moment all he knew was the shocked terror of being left in a hail ofgunfire; then he collected his wits, scrambled up and ned. have to have your wits about you 0 have to keep your wits about you need your wits about you no perder la cabeza a You've got to have your wits about you when you're driving a car. pit your wits against someone (Brit) medir tu ingenio con alguien a He has to pit his wits against an adversary who is cool, clever, cunning and desperate not to be caught. scare someone out of their wits 0 scare the wits out of someone dar un susto mortal a alguien a The tree crashed through the conservatory and set offall the alarms, which joined with the sound Of the gale to scare me out o( my wits.
wire
*
down to the wire (sabre todo EE UU) hasta e! ultimo momento aAs Congress worked down to the wire to reach a compromise, the president lectured a group Of White House interns on the budget crisis. get in under the wire (sabre todo EE UU) entrar por los pelos
a On
§ alambre imaginario bajo el que
direction and I was ab/eto really ~ourish and spread my wings.
*o
stresses ofa hard day.
emprenderel vuelo (literal: extender las alas)
a J've always had a very strong musical
wits
cabezada (literal: cuarenta pestafleos) a There's nothing like (arty winks to ease away the tension and
first reading it looks like they'll get in under the wire because they have a US partner on the team.
* spread your wings
scare someone witless dar un susto mortal a alguien a The door used to blow-open and scare me witless.
forty winks (anticuado) una
Algunas personas les recortan las § alas a los p.3jaros cautivos para § impedirqueseescapen.
~
window
*
clip someone's wings cortar las alas a alguien a The opposition has been trying to clip his wings by making his actions and his appointments subject to parliamentary approval.
witless
winks
~ Esta expresi6n sugiere la imagen
§ de una gallina que protege a sus
windmills tilt at windmills
the season and I was so excited I COUldn't sleep a wink that night. tip someone the wink (Brit, anticuado) avisar a alguien secretamente a The commission may tip him the wink that certain compromises might prove acceptable to EU governments.
§ Aquf "el alambre" (the wire) es un
~ pasan los caballosal final de una ~ carrera. 5i un caballo consigue
§ pasaraotroyacabarenunode ~ los puestos ganadores, se dice
§ que dicho caballo ha entrado § underthewire. a live wire un torbellino (literal: un cable con corriente) aShe is a wonder(ul girl, a real live wire and (ull offun.
wires get your wires crossed tener un malentendido a Despite hertoneo( voice, she still looked vaguely confused. He began to wonder if they'd got their wires crossed.
wives
*
an old wives' tale un cuento de viejas aMy mother used to tell meta feed a cold and starve a (ever. Is it just an old wives' tale?
wobbler throw a wobbler -+ ver throw
wobbly throw a wobbly -+ ver throw
304 wolf
words 305 wolves
wolf
*
throw someone to the wolves arrojar a alguien a los lobos 0 What I fear most is the thought of being released into the general prison population. I don't know what will happen if they throw me to the wolves.
cry wolf dar una falsa alarma
(literal: gritar lobo) 0 Knowing when to order an evacuation is crucial. lfit is
issued too early, the storm could veer off in another direction, then officials could be accused of crying wal( and future orders might not betaken seriously. ~
En una de las fabulas de Esopo,
el en peligro. Un dfa
~ pero los aldeanos no creen al
§ pastorcillo cuando este les vuelve § a pedir ayuda a gritos. keep the wolf from the door
~ La expresion
defenderse contra la miseria (literal: mantener allobo lejos de la puerta)
g novenas de la religion catolica.
o Your pension will keep the wolffrom
§
los lobossimbolizaron el hambre
~ En una de las fabulas de Esopo, un
~ lobo se disfraza con una piel de g cordero V consigue entrar en un ~ redil sin que 10 vean.A continuacion § ataca a las ovejas V se las come ~ todas. Esta imagen tam bien ~ aparece en un pasaje de la Biblia ~ (Mateo ]:15) en el que se aconseja ~ ala gente que se guarde de los ~ falsos profetas; pueden parecer g inofensivos, pero en realidad son g peligrosos V destructivos.
*
deadwood alga 0 alguien que sobra (litera': ramas secas) 0 Now is the time (or the dead wood at the top o(the party to be cut away. Since the electio'ns, the leadership has received a great deal Of criticism. someone cannot see the wood for the trees -+ ver trees touch wood (sabre todo Brit) a knock on wood (sabre todo EE UU) knock wood (sabre todo EE UU) tocar madera 0 She's never even been to the doctor's, touch wood. She's a healthy happy child and anyone con see
that. Esta expresi6n tiene su origen probable mente en la antigua creencia de que los espfritus benignos vivfan en los arboles, par 10 que la gente solfa dar golpes en el tronco para pedir avuda 0 protecci6n a estos espfritus. Tambien podrfa guardar relaci6n
word
*
*
woodwork come out of the woodwork
wood
~ durante muchos siglos.
a lone wolf un lobo solitario oAmong his peers, heis something ofa lone wolf. a wolf In sheep's clothing un lobo disfrazado de cordero oMajor's grey image may disguise a wOlfin sheep's clothing.
§ Parece ser que el origen de esta ~ expresi6n es el proverbio Don't ~ halloo till you are out of the wood ~ ("No grites hasta que no havas ~ salida del bosque"), can el que se § advierte que no debe celebrarse § alga antes de haberlo conseguido.
a nine-day wonder
g se refiere probablemente a las
not out of the woods nofuerade peligro (literal: no fuera del bosque)
o One economist warns the nation's economy is not out of the woods yet, that there has to be concern about rnancial shocks coming from abroad.
people aware of environmental problems it was a great success. The fear of environmentalists, though, is that this may prove to be a one-day wonder.
§ Ilega un loboy ataca a las Dvejas,
the door, but (ora comfortable old age you need to make maximum use of the pnancial choices now open to you.
*
a one~day wonder 0 a nlne~day wonder flor de un dfa (literal: un milagro de un dfa 0 nueve dfas) 0 If the goa! was simp!yto make
§ que corran a rescatarlo pese a no
Antiguamente, las pelucas masculinas recibfan a veces el nombre de wool ("lana") porque parecfan un vell6n. Era facil bajarle a alguien la peluca para taparle los ojos, a bien como broma 0 para robarle.
woods
wonder
~ un pastorcillo se divierte pidiendo ~ ayuda a gritos a los aldeanos para
~ encontrarse
con la costumbre cristiana de tocar un rosario 0 un crucifijo. Hay quien incluso toea una superficie de madera al decir esta frase.
aparecer de no se sa be d6nde
(literal: salir del enmaderado) o People are starting to come out of the woodwork to tal/< about fraudulent practices in the industry.
(literal: no respirar una palabra)
wool
*
o Don't breathe a word of this to anyone. someone's word is law la palabra de alguien es lev 0 His father was the kind of parent who saw no reason to discuss anything with his son; his word was/aw. a word in someone's ear (Brit) una
dyed~in~the-wool acerrimo (literal: tenido en la lana) oMrPurves has
made Hong Kong his homeforthe past 38 years but he remains a dyed-in-thewoo! Scotsman. ~ En la epoca medieval, la lana salia
~ tenirse antes de hilarla y tejerla. ~ Asf el colorse distribufa mejorv ~ duraba mas.
pull the wool over someone's eyes dar a alguien gato por liebre (literal: poner la lana por encima de los ojos de alguien) 0 'I just told them I was
ten years younger than I really was,' says Liliana, speaking yesterday about how she pulled the wool over the medical profession's eyes.
a dirty word una palabrota (litera': una pa!abra sucia) oAtthe root of their problems was the misplaced belief that good products sell themselves. Marketing became a dirty word at the company. from the word go desde el principia mismo (litera': desde la palabra va) o Right (rom the word go, monyo(the players looked out of breath and out Of their depth. get a word in edgeways (Brit) 0 get a word in edgewise (sabre todo EE UU) meter baza (literal: meter una palabra de lado) 0 For heaven's sake, Sue, will you let me get a word in edgeways! not breathe a word no deck nada
conversaci6n en privado con alguien
01'11 goand see him. It won't beofrcia/, mind. Just a word in his ear over lunch.
words
*
eat your words tragarse las pa!abras 0 England made Denmark
eat their words with a brilliant victory in the European championship. The Danish coach had criticised England prior to their semi-rnal clash.
wounds 307
30Gwork (literal: un trabajo asqueroso) a What about the husband, then. He's a real nasty piece of work. a piece of work (EE UU) un personaje a Her next role is to play the most highly decorated policewoman in New York City. She's a real piece ofwork - very controversial.
famous last words me parece a mf que no (literal: famosas Oltimas palabras) 0 'All under control,' said Bertie. 'Famous last words,' added Idris with a wide grin. in words of one syllable como a un niiio (litera': en palabras de una
sllaba)
0
I'm sure I don't have to spell
things out in words of one syllable to
*
*
you. lost for words 0 at a loss for words sin palabras con que expresarse 0 I had the feeling
they were all waiting for me to say something. But forthe first time in my lire I (elt at a lass (arwards. not mince your words no tener pelos en la lengua (litera': no picar las palabras) aShe did not mince her
words when she came to the platform to demand a vote of no confidence in the president. put words into someone's mouth referirse a casas quealguien no ha dicho (literal: poner palabras en la boca de alguien) a You're trying to get me to say things! You're putting words
into my mouth which have got nothing to do with me or my book!
take the words out of someone's mouth quitarle la palabra de la boca a alguien a 'Well, it's been amazing,' she said in closing. 'You tool< the words right out of my mouth, Lisa.'
work
* *
do someone's dirty work hacer el trabajo sucio de alguien a He's always got other people to do his dirty work for him. have your work cut out teneri a bastante diffcil (literal: tener el trabajo recortado) a The Prime Minister has his work cut out for him as most analysts see little chance Of resolving the constitutional crisis. a nasty piece of work un canalla
works
*
perhaps knowing that he was not long for this world. When he died in June, Ian became chairman. not set the world on fire no comerse el mundo (literal: no
0
*
The Ofree a(Develapment
for the city says that a shopping center is in the works. the works 0 the whole works toda la pesca a Amazing place he's got there - squash courts, swimming pool, jacuzzi, the works.
*
world come down in the world 0 go down in the world (anticuado) venir a menos a Young women Of middle class families which had come down in the world also found work in the upper ranges of domestic service. come_up in the world 0 go up in the world (anticuado) prosperar aA well brought-up young man: hewas said to have been an ordinary worker who had come up in the
worm the worm has turned !a paciencia tiene un limite (literal: el gusano se ha dado la vuelta) 0 Then my mother came home and started bossing us around. She said, 'The worm has turned. Things are going to be different around here.'
oMunton is a good bowler, but hardly likely to set the world ofcricket on (ire. on top of the world demaravilla
(litera': en la cima del mundo) o When she came back from that
haliday she was sa happy, an tap a(the warld. out of this world una maravi!la (literal: de otro mundo) 0 The show was rea/ly good. The music was great and the costumes were out of this world. think the world of someone tener a alguien en gran estima (litera': pensarel mundo de alguien) 0 He is an involved and caring father, and Sam thinks the world of him. the world is your oyster tienes el mundo a tus pies (literal: el mundo es tu ostra) 0 You've got a wonderful watershed in your Iife,Johnny. You're young, you've got a lot ofopportunity. The world is your oyster. ~ Esta expresi6n indica que el exito
§ puede obtenerse en el mundo asf ~ como las perl as pueden obtenerse
warld. dead to the world dormido como un tronco (literal: muerto para el mundo) aSarah was dead to the world and would probably sleep for twelve hours. it's a small world 0 small world el mundo es un panuelo (literal: es un mundo pequeno) a I'm only just recovering from the surprise of running into you like this. Small world. not long for this world con un pie en la tumba 0 Peter asked Ian to become his assistant earlier that year,
law-quality (oatball.
prenderlefuego al mundo)
in the works (sobre todo EE UU) en proyeeto
-ambos mundos) 0 Fans got the worst of both worlds: higher prices and more
~ de las ostras. Esta idea aparece en ~ Las a/egres comadres de Windsor, de ~ Shakespeare (acto II, escena II).
worlds
*
*
the best of both worlds todas las ventajas (literal: 10 mejor de ambos mundos) 0 These locations combine the best a(bath warlds. They're in the town yet close to the beautifUl countryside ofWorcestershire and Warwickshire. the worst of both worlds todas las desventajas (literal: 10 peor de
worms
*
a can of worms 0 a bag of worms un asunto peliagudo (literal: una lata/balsa de gusanos) 0 Now we have uncovered a can of worms in which there has not only been shamefUl abuse of power, but a failure of moral authority ofthe worst
kind.
worried worried sick preocupadfsimo o Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you.
worse
* othe worse for wear
desmejorado He turned up at important functions
two hours late and noticeably the worse for wear.
worst the worst of both worlds -+ ver worlds
wounds
*o
lick your wounds lamer tus heridas England's cricketers are licking their wounds after being soundly defeated in the second Test against Australia at Melbourne. ~ ~
Algunos animales, como los gatos, se [amen las heridas.
open old wounds abrirviejas heridas 0 Butthat afternoon my world
308
wraps
was overturned. Ted's diagnosis had opened old wounds and I no longer felt
secure.
wraps
* mantener alga en secreta
keep something under wraps (literal: mantener alga bajo un envoltorio) o The official report has been kept under wraps for months by legal objections From BA. take the wraps off something desvelar alga (literal: quitar el envoltorio a alga) 0 Later this year, Porsche will take the wraps off their Ferrari-bashing 911 Turbo.
wrench throw a wrench into the works a throw a monkey wrench into the works (EE UU) meter un palo en la rueda (literal: tirar una Ilave inglesa en la maquinaria) 0 When Elton WQS robbed it threw a monkey wrench into treworks.
wringer go through the wringer 0 be put through the wringer pasar las de earn (literal: pasar par el escurridar) 0 I felt as though I'd been
through the wringer. My life seemed a
wreck.
yards go the whole nine yards (EE UU) ir hasta el final o She's been the whole
nine yards with the disease, has come through it, and has now taken up sailing. ~
Esta expresi6n se refiere a la
§ cantidad de cementa (nueve
§ yardas cubicas) que contiene ~ una hormigonera.
yesterday I wasn't born yesterday no nad
aver 0 He was rewarded with a disbelieving smirk 'Now you really do sou-nd like my father. I wasn't born yesterday, you know.'
yonder into the wide blue yonder a into the wild blue yonder (literario) hacia el mas alia
oSailing into the wide blue yonder, Colin discovers his very own Treasure Island.
i
zero-sum
:3 sumen cero se denomina ~ zero-sum game.
a zero-sum game (Periodisma)
una situaci6n en la que las ganancias de unos son las perdidas de otros 0 In New York people pursue money, which is not a zero-sum game. No one has to lose money for you to make money.
zone
~
Unjuego en el que las ganancias y ~ las perdidas de todos los jugadores
be in the zone estaren plena forma (literal: estar en la zona) o I remember riding back to the stables
on a rising tide of emotion and hugging my dad. By now I was in the zone and brimming with confidence.
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