B2_06_Valeria

Question 1

1. I was green with envy
2. she had tried to get over the jetlag (explain vb)
3. you (pl) could use them _as a dressing gow_n around the house (the kimonos)
4. I repeated the manoeuvre
5. a double-breasted grey cloth suit [1. What type of cloth? 2. What mean if piece of cloth?]

Answer 1

1. tenía envidia cochina
2. trató de deshacerse del jetlag (deshacerse de = to get rid of s.th or s.o)
3. podéis usarlos de bata por casa
4. repetí la maniobra
5. un abrigo cruzado de paño gris [1. wool 2. tea towel, for drying]

Question 2

1. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you got drenched,** **[damned] heartless wanker/prick [1.loc vb = to bucket down 2. Explain N in exp? 3. What 2 other vbs can use with exp?)
2. It’s been like a trillion years since I’ve seen him.
3. It’s a twenty-minute lecture (or rant) badmouthing me [1. It is alt exp = poner verde a alguien 2. What lit mean?]
4. So … sssh.

Answer 2

1. No sabes cuánto me alegro de que te llovieran chuzos de punta**, **maldito mamón desalmado. [llover chuzos de punta 2. chuzo = pointed stick 3. caer + nevar] (mamón = wanker) (desalmado - heartless)
2. Hace como un trillón de años que no lo veo.
3. Es una perorata de veinte minutos me puso a caldo**, (**poner a caldo a alguien - lit = put them in the broth)
4. Así que … chitón.

Question 3

1. You were both looking forward to seeing each other and it didn´t matter (loc exp = it doesn´t matter)
2. She answered while she let herself fall noisily into the couch [adv ← adJ deafening/thunderous ← N loud noise]
3. Lucky bastard
4. I stuffed it all in the suitcase in a scrunched up ball
5. including that absolutely shameless negligee

Answer 3

1. Que vosotros teníais ganas de veros y que no pintaba nada. (no pintar nada)
2. Contestó mientras se dejaba caer estrepitosamente en el sillón (also sofa, armchair) [← estrepitoso ← estrépito]
3. Cabrón con suerte
4. Lo metí todo hecho un gurruño en la maleta
5. incluido ese salto de cama tan absolutamente desvergonzado (Salto de cama = female only + feminine)

Question 4

1. I brought** the suitcase **out of the attic (vb - to bring out from X)
2. when two snowflakes fell
3. I’m due tomorrow (loc vb = to be due, eg a baby)
4. No - I answered a little dazed/bewildered [adj ← vb to stun + not atontar, when surprised ←Span def ie other verb]
5. but I think that it was beginning to get out of hand (or to get out of control)

Answer 4

1. saqué** la maleta **del altillo (sacar de X)
2. cuando caen dos copos de nieve
3. Salgo de cuentas mañana.
4. No – Contesté un poco alelada [← alelarse = to be dazed = pasmar a alguien]
5. pero creo que empezaba desmadrarse

Question 5

1. No more than I you. (in answer to, I missed you)
2. How nauseating, eh (vb explain → N) (N = nauseating, as in schmaltzy)
3. your tits bouncing in front of my face (to bounce)
4. I put the suitcase down on the bed and unpacked it. [vb - to unpack]

Answer 5

1. No más que yo a ti.
2. Cuánto empalago, ¿eh? (empalagar = to be too sweat or cloying → lit + fig re emotion)
3. tus tetas rebotando frente a mi cara (rebotar)
4. Dejé la maleta sobre la cama y la deshice [deshacer]

Question 6

1. Hence, the draft of my third novel
2. Are you going to give me a talking to (or a ticking off)
3. There’s no need** to **sharpen the pencil any further. (Alt exp = 1. NOT hace falta. 2. what exp 1 mean if insert de into the exp) (loc vb - to sharpen)
4. I grabbed the cordless (eg telephone)

Answer 6

1. De ahí que el borrador de mi tercera novela (also a rubber)
2. ¿Vas a darme una charla?
3. No hay que** + _sacar_le más **punta al lápiz (sacar punta) (Nb. No hay de que = de nada)
4. cogí el inalámbrico (p.e. teléfono inalámbrico)

Question 7

1. To get up I’m going to have to roll on the floor, like [a] killer meatball. (CLUE: think category or class)
2. he pulled me up easily until … (explain vb)
3. he took off his jacket, unbuttoned both cuffs and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.
4. Then he adjusted his suit pants [Q: how change to adjust vb → to get comfortable → to adjust to, eg a new situation)
5. I’ll tell you _anyway_.

Answer 7

1. Para levantarme voy a tener que rodar por el suelo, tipo albóndiga asesina.
2. tiró de mí con facilidad hasta … (tirar = throw → tirar de = to pull)
3. se quitó la americana, se desabrochó los dos puños y se arremangó la camisa (puño = fist + handful and cuff)
4. Luego se acomodó los pantalones del traje (acomodar = adjust → acomodarse = to get comfortable → acomodarse a algo = to adjust to)
5. Te lo diré _de todas maneras_

Question 8

1. “Have a good trip,” he said after handing me my suitcase. [1. vb 2. Two other common meanings][Clue: after NOT después de]
2. You’ll catch a cold.
3. A car honked behind Victor’s (vb = sound cars make when press claxón)
4. I let go of the suitcase and pressed myself against his chest.
5. I put my arms around his neck

Answer 8

1. Buen viaje – me dijo tras tenderme la maleta (tender = to hang + stretch out, eg game)
2. Te** vas a **resfriar (resfriarse)
3. Un coche pitó detrás del de Victor (pitar)
4. Solté la maleta y me apreté contra su pecho (apretar = to squeeze, eg a lemon → apretarse = to squeeze up (or press up) against, someone)
5. Le rodeé el cuello con los brazos

Question 9

1. I took a sip** of coffee as I **picked at the pastry. [explain vb = to pick at, as in food]Not sorbo]
2. What a handy boyfriend I had. (ie he could bake etc, explain adj ← vb)
3. he smiled, but strained. (Other meanings of adj x 2))
4. And I could only mumble a load of swear words** to **myself** (or **inwardly) [1. N = alt to palabrotas][2. vb = to mumble or to mutter ←What alt vb know?]
5. And that bed is a fuckin’ toy. [Construction 1.] It’s fuckin’ tiny. [Construction 2.]
6. Explain Constr 1. + Constr 2. + apply to: I’ve lost a lot of fuckin’ money

Answer 9

1. Bebí un trago** de café mientras **pellizcaba el bollo (pellizcar - lit = to pinch)
2. Qué novio más apañado tenía. (apañar = to fix (as in arreglar) eg broken tv)
3. sonrió, pero tirante (tirante = tight** or **taught)
4. Y yo no pude más que mascullar un montón de tacos para mis adentros [2. mascullar = musitar]
5. Y esa cama es de puto** juguete. Es **jodidamente minúscula.
6. Constr 1 = vb + de puto + N, Constr 2 = vb + jodidamente + Adj, He perdido un montón de puto dinero

Question 10

1. she crossed her legs sideways, elegantly
2. Three weddings in less than two months.
3. I know you told me you might not be stopping by today, but … (Nb: colq struct = maybe + NOT quizás, tal vez, a lo mejor)
4. … or just go naked and let’s see + how*** + ***I do then (clue THINK 1. go straight 2. how colq greet s.o. 3. loc vb use to express “do well or bad at sth)

Answer 10

1. cruzó las piernas de lado, elegantemente
2. Tres bodas a menos de dos meses
3. Sé que me dijiste que igual no pasabas por aquí hoy, pero …
4. … o directamente ir desnuda a ver + _qué tal_ + se me da entonces.

Question 11

1. And Jorge? Did you ask him about it?
2. I know full well that you’ll give some of your buddies [a] hundred euros and a couple of beers.
3. Always squeezing** (or **putting the screws on) me. Done. (Nerea is a hard negotiator) (loc exp + explain with 3. points)
4. She moved away from the cordless phone away like someone** + **getting rid of an insect _(l_oc exp = to get [s.th] out of the way or to get rid of [s,th])

Answer 11

1. ¿Y Jorge? ¿Se lo preguntaste?
2. Sé de sobra que le das a algunos de tus amiguetes cien euros y un par de cervecas.
3. Siempre apretándome las tuercas. Hecho. (1. apretar las tuercas a algien. 2 tuerca = a nut, goes on a perno (bolt+, tornillo (screw) 3. apretar = to tighten, as well as squeeze)
4. Apartó el teléfono inalámbrico como quien** + **se quita de encima un insecto (quitarse [algo] de encima)

Question 12

1. I felt like the evil step-mother (Clue: not lit transl, but referring to the baddie in children’s tales)
2. Behind her hopped a little girl of about six. (loc vb + explain loc vb)
3. a formal smile on her lips
4. his ex-wife laughed under her breath** before saying (Exp also = 1. **very quietly** 2. **in a low voice + 3. What alt exp know?)
5. The girl snuggled into her father’s arms (1.What’s vb’s usual meaning? 2. What usual vb = to snuggle up**/**to cuddle** + **to curl up?)

Answer 12

1. Me sentí la bruja del cuento.
2. Detrás de ella andaba a saltitos una niña de unos seis años. (andar a saltos + un salto = jump)
3. una sonrisa protocolaría en sus labios
4. su ex-mujer rio por lo bajini** antes de decir (3. alt exp = **con sordina)
5. La niña se arrebujó en los brazos de su padre (1.arrebujarse en= to wrap oneself in, usually clothes → she wrapped herself in arms of dad 2. acurrucarse)

Question 13

1. She’s been a handful** (or **a pain in the neck) as usual. (loc exp = to be a handful)
2. I see that you´re at home** here (loc vb = **to move freely** OR **to have a free rein)
3. … instead of a weekend of fornication I was looking forward to one of babysitting. (Clue: looking forward to = the idea of expecting)
4. No. I’m done, but now - the dwarf suddenly focused on me with sudden** + **self assurance [What perj meaning of N?]
5. You’re not having kids (or babies) then?

Answer 13

1. Ha dado guerra como siempre (dar guerra)
2. Veo que te mueves** por aquí **como soltura (moverse como soltura + soltura = ease)
3. … en lugar de un fin de semana de fornicio me esperaba uno de canguro
4. No. Termino pero ya – me fijó la enana de pronto** + **con desparpajo [= neg, cheek or nerve]
5. ¿No vais a tener nenes entonces?

Question 14

1. with a supervisor (his ex, to be precise) … [explain colq exp]
2. Well, pig-face ugly wasn’t a very reliable definition [explain insult re looks]
3. He was out of his depth. [explain colq exp][Nb - was = temporary situation not description or place]
4. She wanted to tell us all about it in great detail.
5. a nag [perj re old horse]

Answer 14

1. con un supervisor (su ex, para más señas)… [seña = clue, as well as sign]
2. Bueno, cara de almorrana no era una definición demasiado fidedigna [almorrana = hemorroid lit, but used as insult cos - rana implies ugly cos’ frog]
3. Quedaba fuera de su escaner. [escaner = scanner → implies beyond his range]
4. Quería contárnoslo con todo lujo de detalles
5. un jamelgo

Question 15

1. the possibility of working from home, if need be. [colq exp]
2. Especially now that her boy was of drinking age. [Exp lit refers to adolescents drinking on the street, usually between 14 and 18]
3. That meant he was a first-class arse-licker or he was brutally good or he was ugly as sin** [Adj → people = 1. ugly + 2. **a sight, as in ridiculous → things. What mean?]
4. she smoothed out her tight-fitting pinafore so it wouldn’t wrinkle [adj → vb + alt adj?]
5. Lola forgot _who the hell_ he was and what he was doing there …

Answer 15

1. la posibilidad de trabajar desde casa de darse el caso. [de darse el caso]
2. Sobre todo ahora que su chico estaba en edad de botellón
3. Eso quería decir que era un lameculos _de primer_a o que era brutalmente bueno o era un adefesio**. [things = **an eyesore]
4. se alisó el pichi ceñidito para que no hiciera arrugas [→ ceñir = to hug or to cling + muy ajustado]
5. Lola se olvidó _de quien narices_ era y qué hacía allí …

Question 16

1. she fancied** a game of X and later that **we skip**. [skip, as in over a **skipping rope] [Clue - fancy NOT apetecer]
2. on top of these beasts you could ride uphill
3. … to tell her a story of his own** [loc exp, also means **homegrown eg veggies]
4. she sniffled [Explain loc vb]
5. Then, rubbing her back, gently, he was soothing her as he rocked her. [Explain - rubbing]

Answer 16

1. se** le **antojó** una partida de X y más tarde que **saltáremos a la comba [saltar a la comba ← skipping rope (N)] [antojarse**]
2. encima de esas bestias se podría cabalgar monte arriba
3. … contarle un cuento de cosecha propia
4. se sorbió los mocos [sorber = to slurp ie drink noisely → sorberse = to sniffle or snuffle, cos noisely → sorberse los mocos = the usual situation, cos due to a runny nose]
5. Después, dando friegas en su espalda, suaves, fue tranquilizándola, mientras la acunaba [friega = massage or rub ← fregar = to scrub OR to do the dishes]

Question 17

1. she moaned as politely as she could [adj = courteously ← vb origin?]
2. I took great pains [and] with pleasure in that caress [loc vb = to go to, or put in, a lot of effort]
3. you’re so wet that I’m going to slide into you [NOT voy + a struct NB remember what Pilar said)
4. I felt him thrust into me fiercely [lit, I felt how he rammed into me with ferocity]
5. I writhed** under his body (vb, also **to squirm, in another context]

Answer 17

1. gimió lo más comedidamente que pudo [adj ← comedirse = to restrain o.s]
2. me esmeré con placer en aquella caricia [esmerarse]
3. estás tan húmeda que me resbalo en ti
4. sentí cómo me embestía con fiereza
5. me revolví bajo su cuerpo [revolverse]