B2_07_Valeria

Question 1

1. That answer knocked me for a six** [or **left me stunned] and I blinked. [fig, what vb lit mean?]
2. Well, it’s a substitute for a** relationship. (Nb struct = **it’s + a substitute for a + N, eg it’s ersatz chocolate)
3. because I believed her at face value** [ie **unquestioningly]
4. I feared dying buried by some unchewed slice of pizza.
5. We parked in a no-parking space on Orense Street [N what mean re river?]

Answer 1

1. Aquella respuesta me noqueó y parpadeé. [noquer = to knock out, boxing]
2. Bueno, es un sucedáneo de** relación. (**ser un sucedáneo de + N eg es un sucedáneo de chocolate]
3. porque lo creía a pies juntillas
4. Temí morir sepultado/a por algún trozo de pizza sin masticar
5. Aparcamos en un vado en la calle Orense [un vado = a ford]

Question 2

1. She was finishing putting on her mascara and her mother was putting her hair into a ponytail. [1. struct of to be finishing X]
2. he gave Borja a warm hug [Victor, warm as in affectionate]
3. they laughed under their breath**, so as not **to encourage him too much [Exp also = to give [him] false hope] (explain loc exp - fig = under one’s breath + alt exp know]
4. I don’t know what happens to all the women that have given birthI know [N = either a woman in labour OR a woman who has given birth]

Answer 2

1. Ella terminaba de ponerse rímel y su madre le peinaba una coleta [1. past imp terminar de + inf]
2. Le dio un abrazo afectuoso a Borja
3. se reían con sordina**, por no **darle muchas alas** [**dar alas a alguien] [sordina = the damper pedal on a piano + por lo bajini]
4. No sé qué les pasa a todas las parturientas que conozco

Question 3

1. Tell me, what’s up** **with your thing with Bruno? - What do you mean, + what’s up**? [Explain how use “**what’s up**” exp? **3 uses]
2. Are you seeing anyone? [What is the prep which changes the meaning?]
3. Exp: Silence means consent?
4. I’m trying (or doing) my best! Fuck! [loc vb = to be really trying hard** or **to put in a lot of effort]
5. You do it tremendously well.
6. To add injury to insult, he must have been putting on his T-shirt … [Exp the expression]

Answer 3

1. Dime, ¿de qué va lo tuyo con Bruno? ¿Cómo que + de qué va**? [**¿de qué va?** 1. **What was that for**? 2. **What´s his problem?** 3. **What´s up …?]
2. ¿Te ves _co_n alguien? [verse con]
3. Exp: ¿Quién calla otorga?
4. ¡Pongo todo mi empeño! ¡Joder! [poner mucho empeño + empeño = effort or determination]
5. Se te da tremendamente bien
6. Para más inri debía de estar poniéndose la camiseta en el pasillo [Para más inri → inri = insult]

Question 4

1. said Lola before approaching Gonzalo to give him a cuddle.
2. She’l put you in your place or you’ll soon find yourself with [a] bonnet cleaning her house. [loc exp = to put someone in their place]
3. Do you want to have more children some time in the future**? [loc exp or, **at some future date]
4. we then had telephone sex, dirty, crude (or rude) and brutal.

Answer 4

1. dijo Lola antes de acercarse a Gonzalo para hacerle un arrumaco
2. Párale los pies o pronto te encontrarás con cofia limpiándole la casa. [parar los pies a alguien]
3. ¿tú quieres tener más hijos el día de mañana?
4. Después tuvimos sexo telefónico, sucio, soez y brutal

Question 5

1. a bawling [or bellowing] brought Carmen out of her deep sleep [Q: How change bawling → tantrum?]
2. but she couldn’t help being sappy (or namby pamby)
3. he slept on his stomach, with his head tilted towards her. (adj ← vb)
4. she pulled up her pyjama top and unclasped her bra cup. [What vb - pull up → mean re a car?] (Nb - verb tense = description)
5. Borja stroked his little foot and smiled (referrring to baby)

Answer 5

1. un berrido sacó a Carmen de su sueño profundo [berrido → berrinche]
2. pero no podía evitar ser de ñoña
3. dormía boca abajo, con la cabeza ladeada hacia ella (ladeado ← ladear = to tilt or to lean)
4. se subía** **la parte de arriba del pijama y se desabrochaba la copa del sujetador [subirse → to get in, eg car]
5. Borja le acarició un piececito y sonrió

Question 6

1. What are you doing? - Lola said in a monotone voice
2. he was pointing to his crotch, where a bulging erection + was visible through his jeans. [explain - to be visible/show through]
3. maybe if he wasn’t kissing her with that horrible alcoholic breath (colq exp)
4. in reality it wasn’t a moan. It was more like a whimper.Suddenlyhe stiffened..

Answer 6

1. ¿Qué haces? – dijo Lola con un tono de voz monocorde
2. se estaba señalando la entrepierna, donde una erección de sobresaliente** + **se marcaba en su pantalón vaquero [marcarse en X - to show through + N, item of clothing eg T-shirt]
3. quizá si no la besaba con ese horrible aliento etílico (lit means ethylic ie from ethyl)
4. en realidad no era un gemido. Era más bien un quejidito. De pronto se puso tieso …

Question 7

1. she had forgotten her strip of pills
2. Are you about to file a harassment complaint against me?
3. You´d better keep jerking off in your office thinking about pulling my panties down. (vb to wank + alt vb know)
4. I’ll tell** [it] you **straight** (or **straight up** or **point blank + alt exp, know)
5. I’ll kick your ass on the way out

Answer 7

1. había olvidado su blíster de pastillas
2. ¿Estás a punto de ponerme una denuncia por acoso?
3. mejor sigue pajeándote en tu despacho pensando en bajarme las bragas (pajearse + cascarsela)
4. te lo diré sin rodeos [deci sin rodeos** + **a saco]
5. te doy una paliza a la salida

Question 8

1. he was fondling her breasts through her blouse. [vb, involves touching repeatedly, exact meaning depends on context eg to finger, say clothes + 2. What syn already know?]
2. It didn’t take long** to feef Jorge’s **thrusting**, **pumping her … [N = thrusting, only if sexual][to pump**, aggressive sex only → **built-in wardrobe → to fasten to the wall]
3. One of those who sleeps with someone lightly (or heedlessly)
4. You’re a dickhead (or cretin),” she said resentfully [resentment N ← vb 1. to sting (lit) 2. to cause bitterness/upset (fig)]
5. It annoyed me to no end** [or **greatly** or **enormously** + What adj ramp up → **supremely]

Answer 8

1. sobándole los pechos por encima de la blusa [sobar + manosear]
2. No tardó en sentir la embestida de Jorge empotrándola … [→ armario empotrado ← empotrar]
3. De esas que se acuestan con alguien a la ligera.
4. Eres imbécil – dijo ella con resquemor [resquemor ← resquemar]
5. Me fastidio sobremanera [→ soberanamente]

Question 9

1. some black skinny jeans [colq]
2. I had pulled my hair back in a ponytail
3. I was dressed warmly in a black jacket** [1. vb - **to wear, a loc vb not seen before] [2. jacket, like my Ted Baker or a Sea Captain]
4. I have to give a quote** [to them] **for some renovations
5. he averted his eyes from the roadway for a moment towards me [Clue - roadway, any paved surface for traffic ie road, avenue etc.HINK paved surface]

Answer 9

1. unos pantalones vaqueros pitillo negros
2. me había recogido el pelo en una cola de caballo
3. iba abrigada con** un **chaquetón negro [ir con]
4. Tengo que presupuestarles unas reformas
5. desvió los ojos de la calzada un momento hacia mi

Question 10

1. when he told me to help him find a serviced apartment. [CLUE: Italics = NOTE verb tense]
2. All things considered (or Given the situation), if I go somewhere else, …
3. he took off his trousers and jumped on top of me
4. when we had both unburdened ourselves (or vented)(adj ← vb ← vbse explained)
5. to keep on rushing around {EXPLAIN - rushing phrase]

Answer 10

1. cuando me dijo que le ayudara a encontrar un apartotel
2. Visto lo visto, si me voy a otro sitio …
3. se quitó el pantalón y se me echó encima
4. cuando los dos nos hubimos desfogado (← desfogar con/en = to vent on/at ← desfogarse** = **to let** **off steam, idea a release)
5. para seguir por ahí al trote (al trote = at a trot → irse al trote = to go off in a rush)

Question 11

1. I have already made the transfer of my professional** **fees to my account.
2. I only have to pay** the cost of the **Land Registry, which will be around 300/400 euros.
3. I am enclosing the “Official” [title] deed of the purchase of your property which I picked up yesterday and I paid your sum at the Notary’s office, [N = sum NOT coste o precio as emphasising the amount] [vb - to pay, fml]
4. I shall proceed to settlement of the tax payment

Answer 11

1. Ya he realizado la transferencia a mi cuenta de mis honorarios
2. ya solo queda abonar** el coste del **Registro de la Propiedad que estará en torno a los 300/400 euros
3. Te adjunto la escritura“Oficial” de la compra de tu vivienda que ya recogí ayer y aboné su importe en la Notaría, [abonar]
4. procederé a la liquidación** del **pago del impuesto

Question 12

1. Carmen now was caught up in other things (loc vb, as in not paying attention)
2. i_ts not_ _like_ I had adopted a puppy [Clue: NOT es como ie no extra word for “like”]
3. Nerea would tell her to draw up a detailed plan of all the things she wanted to achieve. [Exp adj ← vb]
4. … and a bunch of notes under his arm

Answer 12

1. Carmen ahora estaba a otras cosas [estar a otras cosas]
2. No es que hubiera adoptado un cachorrito [cachorro = puppy)
3. Nerea le diría que diseñase un plan pormenorizado de todas aquellas cosas que quisiera conseguir [adj ← pormenorizar = to describe in detail] [diseñar - think to outline or to sketch etc]
4. y un montón de apuntes bajo el brazo

Question 13

1. Do you remember the enormous (or huge) number of things I wanted to do?
2. And I’d tell you that I’d end up wanking** [or **jerking off] in a … [Exp: reflex vb → rude vulgar vb]
3. Do you expect me to go to*** (or ***come around to) your house with my dick out? - You’re a real pig [real, infml]
4. You mean I have to fuck him!? - She asked excited that someone would have given her the go-ahead. [loc vb = to give the okay or go ahead] [NOTE the vb tenses etc]

Answer 13

1. ¿Tú te acuerdas de la cantidad ingente de cosas que yo quería hacer?
2. Y yo te decía que terminaría cascándome pajas en … [cascarse = to crack → cascarsela** = to wank, here used pajas instead of la]
3. ¿Es que esperas que acuda a tu casa con la chorra _fuer_a? - Eres una cerda de cuidado.
4. ¿¡Quieres decir que tengo que follármelo!? - Preguntó emocionada porque alguien le diera el visto bueno [dar el visto bueno]

Question 14

1. _You’re seeing_ that you’re becoming older … [which become vb?]
2. Loc exp: Don’t spread yourself too thin [Explain exp?]
3. The Lola of times gone by would tell you that you’ve become a bed-wetter. [which become vb?]
4. Apply yourself to the story
5. Victor stayed looking at the phone, deep in thought (or thoughtful) [Clue: stay = a to be vb]

Answer 14

1. _Estás viendo_ que te haces _mayo_r …
2. Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta [abarcar = lit, to spread → fig, to take on, eg responsibility]
3. La Lola de antes te diría que te has vuelto un mea-camas
4. Aplícate el cuento
5. Victor se quedó mirando el teléfono, meditabundo.

Question 15

1. I’m going to make you a bit of jealous ... I’m out +** **eating tapas around Granada. (Elvi) [1.Clue: Not a literal transl][2. NOTE struct to be out Xing]
2. You’ve chosen the best city in Spain to buy a house.
3. Jorge, you and I we have nothing in common** - **Of course, not (ironic). [Ironic exp means the exact opposite, eg we do have things in common]
4. Use this ironic exp. 1. It’s not cold. 2. He’s not ugly
5. How exp used as an ¡interjection! [What alt exp means the same thing?]

Answer 15

1. Voy a darte un poco de envidia… estoy** **de + tapeo por Granada [estar + de tapeo, marcha etc]
2. Has eligido la mejor ciudad de España para comrar una casa
3. Jorge, tú y yo no tenemos nada que ver**. – **Anda que no.
4. 1. ¡Anda que no hace frío (ni nada)! (= hace mucho frío)
5. ¡Anda que no es feo (ni nada)! (= es muy feo)
6. ¡Anda que no! = Come on! No way! (denota molestia) [Venga ya]

Question 16

1. his ungainly gait [1. Ungainly = clumsy or awkward - exp. 2 What is the grammar point?]
2. Exp = back and forth** + **give and take** + **cut and thrust + TUG OF WAR {Explain why?]
3. She looked at herself in the reflection of the window on the landing. [Nb - en = multiple words]
4. a stool with the cushion stuffing (of filling) _showing_ (or _visible_). [What diff landing CF stuffing]
5. What was she supposed to do now?

Answer 16

1. sus andares desgarbados [1. desgarbado ← garbo = poise, grace, elegance 2. Gait in plural → todo en plural, altthough only one him]
2. EL tira y afloja [tirar de = pull, aflojar = slacken, like what lit happens in a tug-of-war → then used more metaphorically]
3. se miró en el reflejo de la ventana q_ue había en_ el rellano
4. un taburete con el relleno del cojín a la vista [rellano CF relleno]
5. ¿Qué se supone que iba a hacer ahora?

Question 17

1. Nerea found that in spite of the dust it was true [1. Expl: why that vb? 2. How diff to a similar spelt vb?]
2. a woman which you pay to tidy this up [vb + origin] [What mean in reflex?]
3. you’re so stiff you look like you’ve swallowed a broom [Adj also = rigid]
4. empty DVD cases + sleeves {Explain why?]

Answer 17

1. Nerea constató que a pesar del polvo era verdad [1. constatar ie confirm, check, verify room clean 2. cf constar = to be stated/recorded, ie as a fact, in a doc]
2. una mujer a la que pagues para adecentar esto [poner decente ie make decent → tidy up][also adecentarse = to tidy oneself up]
3. estás tan tiesa que parece que te has tragado una escoba [tieso]
4. carátulas de DVD vacías [carátula = the outer cover]