Canciones y Recuerdos 01

Question 1

1. she lay + dying [1. How use this vb - fml + casual?][2. adj <- vb]
2. Don’t you also think the same as me?
3. You’re [just] saying that because you feel bad leaving her alone in this! [loc vb = to feel bad, as in to feel guilty about]
4. it was poor-form (ie a discourtesy)
5. They always did that when I broached the subject of work …[loc vb = to bring up]

Answer 1

1. yacía + moribundo [1. yacer = A. to lie, eg dead B. to lay sprawled, eg on the sofa][2. adj <- morir]
2. ¿A que tú también piensas como yo?
3. ¡Lo estás diciendo porque te sabe mal dejarla sola en esto! [me/te + saber mal]
4. era una ordinariez
5. Siempre lo hacían cuando sacaba a colación el trabajo … [sacar a colación]

Question 2

1. It’s perfect for you because … [loc vb = to be just what you need]
2. Twice over, darling.
3. an unhealthy relationship [adj, also sick as in perverse]
4. Can you stop poo-pooing Coque, please? [loc vb = to put down]
5. My brother was tall, quite well-built (as in, strapping)

Answer 2

1. Le viene al pelo porque … [me/te + vener el pelo]
2. Por partida doble, chata.
3. una relación enfermiza
4. ¿Podéis dejar de ningunear a Coque, por favor?
5. mi hermano era alto, bastante fornido …

Question 3

1. one could hear the clamour (as in, shouting) of a load of youths
2. a silly and lighthearted message [Exp adj + 2 alt meanings <- vb meaning]
3. a couple of fast food chainstores + crowded with people [1. like Maccas] [2. exp adj <- vb meaning]
4. as if I was wearing a wet-suit (or space-suit)
5. Los recuerdos, en tropel, … (or in a mad rush) [exp loc exp <- N]

Answer 3

1. se escuchaba el vocerío de un montón de jóvenes
2. un mensaje tonto y desenfadado [adj, also relaxed, carefree <- desenfadar = to pacify or to calm down]
3. un par de franquicias de comida rápida + atestadas de gente [atestado <- atestar = to pack, to cram, as in full completely]
4. como si llevara puesta una escafandra
5. the memories, en masse,… [tropel = a crowd or mob, a jumble or a heap]

Question 4

1. the scantiness of her skirt [change to -> her short skirt]
2. That’s the sentimental part of the matter. The practical part is …
3. I had to give myself a second to refocus
4. I was going to tell her some nonsense to buy myself some time, but I gave in to temptation …
5. a burning ember

Answer 4

1. el corto de su falda [-> su falda corta]
2. Esa es la parte sensiblera del asunto. La parte funcional es …
3. Debía darme un segundo para volver a centrarme
4. Iba a contestarle alguna sandez para coger un poco de tiempo, pero cedí a la tentación …
5. un ascua encendida [but unas ascuas]

Question 5

1. Of course. Anyhow, what do you care that + I almost passed out while waiting? [A. What colq exp lit mean?] [B. What N lit mean? C. How spanish tense diff to Eng?]
2. The girl at reception glared at us. [Exp vb lit meaning -> vb fig meaning]
3. How about looking out for the economic interests of the person who pays you? [CLUE: lit = to watch over]
4. You’re a retard/moron [ie a friendly insult, when doing s.th unwise] [Exp lit meaning?]
5. skateboard

Answer 5

1. Por supuesto. Total, ¿qué más da que + me dé una lipotimia mientras espero? [A. to feel light-headed B. lit. a fainting spell C. In Eng in past tense, in Span in Eng cos’ a general statement]
2. La chica de la recepción nos fulminó con la mirada. [fulminar = lit to strike down eg by lightning -> fig to look daggers at]
3. ¿Qué tal si velas por los intereses económicos de la persona que te paga?
4. Tú estás tarada [tarado = defective or faulty]
5. monopatín

Question 6

1. Now where were we?
2. It was a reminder that … [Exp N <- vb]
3. less patient and more stubborn
4. I think well of Macarena and I like you …
5. Why would it result in any trouble for you? [vb = to lead to, or to give rise to]

Answer 6

1. ¿En qué quedamos?
2. era el recordatorio de que …. [N <- recordar]
3. menos paciente y más terco
4. Aprecio a Macarena y tú me gustas …
5. ¿Por qué te iba a acarrear a ti ningún problema?

Question 7

1. I’m well-groomed/dressed, but sometimes I don’t even put on make-up
2. a coaster (or beer-mat) {Exp origin of compound N]
3. he didn’t give + a damn [loc vb = to not care about]
4. God help us. [What vb lit mean?]
5. She doesn’t fuckin listen to me [loc vb = to listen to or to pay attention to

Answer 7

1. Soy coqueta, pero a veces ni siquiera me echo maquillaje
2. un posavasos [posavasos <- posar = to place, like colocar]
3. Se la sudaba + un mundo. [sudársela a alguien]
4. Dios nos ampare. [ampar = to protect]
5. A mí no me hace ni puto caso [hacer caso]

Question 8

1. I haven’t slept a wink thinking about it
2. Do I look like I’m kidding?
3. Relationships are a give and take [What does give N mean as interj!]
4. Julian, tall, sinewy and with a wild (as in loutish) smile
5. And what’s with the balcony?

Answer 8

1. no he pegado ojo dándole vueltas
2. ¿Me ves cara de estar de coña?
3. las relaciones son un toma y daca [¡Daca! = Give it to me!
4. Julián, alto, fibroso, de sonrisa gamberra
5. ¿Y a qué viene lo del balcón?

Question 9

1. It was so-so [colq, What alt colq exp?]
2. someone so picky, pain in the ass and antisocial as X
3. he noticed that I was down in the dumps [N if male?]
4. the second quarter [what word if it is a 4-month period?]
5. the thirty enrolled in that “course” of sixteen teaching hours [A. alt N = enrolled person B. what adj normally mean?]

Answer 9

1. Estaba pichí pachá [ni fu ni fa]
2. alguien tan melindrosa, tocapelotas y asocial como X
3. notó que me quedaba mohína [mohíno]
4. el segundo trimestre [el segundo cuatrimestre]
5. los treinta inscritos en aquel “curso” de dieciséis horas lectivas [A. matriculado B. adj = school, eg school day]

Question 10

1. I had two options: try and weasle out comply full stop or …
2. I’m going for a coffee
3. he was just a loudmouth [a bullshitterie an unrealiable person]
4. I wanted to finish [it] with Raquel [What vb mean re A. a matter? B. a debt?]
5. she took the time to delete the cookies from her computer

Answer 10

1. Tenía dos opciones: escurrir el bulto, cumplir y punto o …
2. me voy A por un café
3. era solo un cantamañanas
4. me apatecía finiquitar con Raquel [finiquitar A. to wrap up, B, to settle]
5. se dio tiempo para borrar las cookies del ordenador

Question 11

1. I’m sure she was + perched on some stunning stillettos [1. Nb to be vb 2. adj also = mounted, eg on a horse)
2. And then there was me, standing there like a half-wit [Exp N <- vb origin]
3. a racket of voices [2 alt Ns know?]
4. Before merging into the crowd, our gazes happened to met [CLUE: vb 1 non-reflex = melt]
5. the hedges that surrounded the garden

Answer 11

1. seguro que iba + subida a unos stilettos impresionantes
2. Y luego estaba yo, plantada como un pasmarote [cos’ stunned <- pasmar=to surprise]
3. un guirugay de voces [algarabia, barullo]
4. Antes de fundirse entre la gente, nuestras miradas coincidieron
5. los setos que rodeaban el jardín

Question 12

1. I turned to check that Raquel wasn’t milling nearby. [1.What does vb literally mean? CLUE: bees 2. NOT girarse]
2. When **I was sure ** that she was still with the author [vb = to make sure]
3. It’s a question without judgement or innuendo.
4. As fate would have it. [Explain phrase]
5. In case your girlfriend sees us?

Answer 12

1. Me volví para comprobar que Raquel no pululaba por allí cerca [pulular]
2. Cuando me cercioré de que seguía con la autora [cerciorarse de]
3. Es una pregunta sin juicios ni dobles sentidos.
4. Avatares del destino. [avatar = twists and turns, ups and downs]
5. ¿Por si nos ve tu novia?

Question 13

1. I didn’t think you were going to settle down with a Blogger either [loc vb. to settle down, as in get married, have kids etc]
2. There’s a value judgement where she comes off pretty bad. [loc vb - to come out of s.th badly]
3. It pissed me off [colq vb - to piss off]
4. After 3 yeas he still managed to drive me around the bend [loc vb - to drive s.o crazy or up the wall]

Answer 13

1. Tampoco pensé que fueras a sentar la cabeza con una Blogger [sentar la cabeza]
2. hay un juicio de valor en el que ella sale bastante mal parada [salir mal parado]
3. Me repateó. [rapatear]
4. después de tres años siguiera consiguiendo sacarme de mis casillas [A.sacar de sus casillas B. casilla = square on a boardgame]

Question 14

1. She wanted me to shower her with flattery [vb = regale orlavish]
2. I regretted the sappiness.
3. My heart started pumping in my chest with force
4. …most of the details of my love life. [CLUE: as in romantic]
5. There was no escape [or way out]

Answer 14

1. Quería que la agasajara con halagos. [agasajar
2. Me arrepentí de la ñoñería
3. El corazón empezó a bombearme en el pecho con fuerza
4. la mayor parte de pormenores de mi vida sentimental
5. No tenía escapatoria.

Question 15

1. If Pipa saw it, she would have a fit. [A. CLUE: struct = it was going to give her a fit B. exp v. colq]
2. What’s that! - she shouted terrorified
3. Pipa asked, sheltering behind a jacket.
4. My sincere condolences for your lost willpower.
5. Don’t fall apart. It happens to many of you. [Loc. vb also to go to pieces]

Answer 15

1. Si Pipa la veía le iba a dar un parraque.
2. ¡qué es eso! - gritó despavorida
3. preguntó Pipa parapetada detrás de una chaqueta
4. Mi más sincero pésame por tu fuerza de voluntad perdida.
5. No te vengas abajo. Os pasa a muchas. [venirse abajo

Question 16

1. with her prop glasses on
2. she was respected, intelligent, decisive
3. this schedule + is a total mess [CLUE: schedule, as in programme] [Loc. vb = to be a shambles, an old exp]
4. If you don’t leave your mobile phone alone for one minute [loc. exp A. neg to not leave alone for one minute B. pos to be a trusty friend]
5. I told him (in a nice way) to get stuffed [loc vb - to tell s.o to get stuffed]

Answer 16

1. con sus gafas de atrezo colocadas
2. era válida, inteligente, resolutiva
3. este programa + está manga por hombro [estar manga por hombro]
4. Si no dejas el teléfono móvil ni a sol ni a sombra [no dejar ni a sol a sombra]
5. Lo mandaba (de buenas maneras) a freír porras [mandar a freir espárragos]

Question 17

1. Let’s face it (or be honest), she ruled the roost. [loc vb - to call the shots]
2. I didn’t even bat an eyelid. [vb, also phys = to flinch]
3. You’ve got to put her in her place [loc vb - to put in one’s place, seen before]
4. She’s a school bully.
5. You’ve got nothing to worry about.

Answer 17

1. Seamos sinceras, ella era el ama del cotarro [dirigir el cotarro]
2. Ni me inmuté. [inmutarse]
3. Tienes que parrarle los pies.
4. Es una abusona de colegio.
5. No tienes de qué preocuparte.