CLM Expresiones 01

Question 1

1. Exp: Grab the bull by the horns
2. Exp: to make a mountain of a molehill [idea: preocuparse demasiado]
3. Alt exp to 2? [same meaning]
4. Exp: to beat around the bush [ie s.th do intentionally] B. Why that illusion?
5. Exp: Opposite of 3? B. Where come from?

Answer 1

1. agarrar el toro por los cuernos
2. ahogarse en un vaso de agua
3. hacer una montaña de un grano de arena
4. andarse por las ramas B. pq. el tronco es lo más importante
5. ir al grano B. el grano o la semilla is lo importante p.q. donde aquí crece la planta

Question 2

1. Loc exp: Don’t laugh at me or Don’t take the piss
2. Loc vb: to think about or to brood on B. What other loc vb is it derived from
3. Loc exp: to be really happy B. explain catholic origin
4. Loc exp: to burn the midnight oil B. I was never the type to burn the midnight oil
5. Nat way to say: A. to (not) give it a second thought B. it’s not something we can abandon without a second thought

Answer 2

1. No me tomes el pelo (tomar el pelo)
2. Dar vueltas A + algo. B. dar vueltas = lit. to go around in circles
3. Estar en la gloria B. la gloria = el cielo en la fe católica, pero “estar en el cielo” = dead, what say to young children.
4. quemarse las cejas/pestañas B. Nunca yo era el tipo que se quemaba las pestañas
5. (no) pénsarlo dos veces B. No es algo que podamos abandonar sin pensarlo dos veces

Question 3

1. Loc exp: she shot me down in flames or gave me the brush off [to reject someone’s amorous advances] B. Explain
2. Loc exp: it’s wasted on them, cos’ they won’t appreciate it. B. Explain C. What is the Eng exp I never use.
3. Loc exp: to come to someone’s rescue (stronger than to give a hand). B. Explain.
4. Loc exp: they stuck together, eg the womens football team [to stick together]
5. Loc exp: the book was a drag B. When use 2x?

Answer 3

1. me dio calabazas [dar calabazas a alguien] B. calabazas son baratas PloT trata a alguien como que no vale nada
2. es como dar margaritas a los cerdos B. cos’ margaritas are a pretty flower which pigs won’t appreciate C. cast pearls before swine
3. echar un capote B. un capote is the cape bullfighters use to distract bulls (eg to save a trapped torredor)
4. han hecho una piña [hacer una piña]
5. El libro fue un ladrillo. B. Boring + Very difficult to understand [Juan Jesús]

Question 4

1. Loc exp: To blab or To spill the beans, as in when s.th shouldn’t, not necessarily a secret] B. My sister spilt the beans.
2. Loc exp A: To put one over s.o, via persuasion] B. Don’t try to put one over me!, eg to a salesman.
3. Loc exp B: Last night I had my [wicked] way with Maria or got into Maria’s pants [same exp, but sexual]
4. Loc exp: to pull it off or to win the day B. In the end I came out on top
5. Natural way to say: this involves [or carries] risk

Answer 4

1. Irse de la lengua B Mi hermana se ha ido de la lengua
2. llevar o llevarse a alguien al huerto B No intente llevarseme al huerto
3. Anoche me llevé a Maria al huerto
4. llevarse el gato al agua, es como un triunfo, conseguir un objeto dificil lo que otros perseguían. B. Al final me he llevado el gato al agua
5. Esto conlleva un riesgo

Question 5

1. loc exp: she said it with her hand on her heart B. exp. C. When use?
2. loc exp: to change sides [eg politically, for your advantage]
3. Loc Exp: to say no brusquely = to slam the door in ones face
4. Loc Exp: You’re nagging/pestering me. B. How else use the expression?

Answer 5

1. se lo dice con el corazón en la mano B. con el corazón en la mano C. when it’s hard to say cos’ don’t want to hurt eg you’ve got cancer
2. cambiar la chaqueta
3. Marta me dio con la puerta en las narices
4. me estás dando la lata B. When have a persistent pain eg el abrazo me da lata from p.e codo tendenitis

Question 6

1. Exp: take the plunge or throw caution to the wind
2. Exp: … to be on the safe side [ie 1. do things properly to have success 2. do things w/out risk]
3. Exp: to understand X quickly B. he understood maths quickly (ie s.th which normally hard to understand)
4. Exp: to be quick on the uptake
5. Exp: I wasn’t born yesterday

Answer 6

1. tirarse a la piscina
2. andar/ir sobre seguro
3. cazar (algo) al vuelo B. cazó las matemáticas al vuelo
4. cazarlas al vuelo
5. ¡No me he caído del nido [caerse del nido]

Question 7

1. Exp: to press s.o’s buttons eg You know how to press my buttons
2. Exp: to fall into one’s lap (like la maná del cielo) eg The opportunity fell into my lap
3. Exp: we’ll be giving free rein to a instinct [also, let loose]
4. Exp: I smell a rat
5. Exp: All hell broke loose

Answer 7

1. Sabes donde buscarme las cosquillas [buscar las casquillas a alguien]
2. Me ha caído la oportunidad del cielo [caer algo del cielo]
3. estaríamos dando rienda suelta a un instinto [dar rienda suelta]
4. Aquí hay gato encerrado
5. ¡Se armó la gorda [armarse la gorda]

Question 8

1. Exp: My turn to draw the short straw
2. More PC way to say 1?
3. Exp: to be plastered/smashed, as in drunk
4. Loc exp: to emphasise or to highlight (often used re promises by politicians) CLUE; from art world
5. Loc exp. I’m going to talk a little bit about s.th

Answer 8

1. Me toca bailar con la más fea [bailar con la más fea]
2. Me ha tocado lo peor parte
3. estar trompa (cos’ can’t walk a straight line, a trompa is wiggly)
4. poner DE relieve
5. voy a dar una pincelada

Question 9

1. Exp: It’s a small world
2. Exp: A. to put the cart before the horse, do things in a disorganised way B. to get ahead of oneself
3. Exp [alt]: to get ahead of oneself
4. Exp (2): to show one’s claws [idea, reaccion + aggressive + relevar una cara que gente no normalmente conoce]
5. Loc exp: I (still) don’t feel confortable (eg use in the neg) B. when pos = to be in one’s element

Answer 9

1. El mundo es un pañuelo
2. Empezar la casa por el tejado, has both meanings
3. Comprar la gasolina antes del coche
4. Enseñar los dientes or Sacar las uñas, como un gato.
5. (Todavía) no estoy en mi salsa B. Estar en su salsa

Question 10

1. Loc exp: to be extremely happy
2. Loc exp: to hold the fort [as in, to remain in a tough situation + everyone else gone].
3. Loc exp: it went swimmingly [use when it went well + finished]
4. Loc exp: it’s going great guns (or splendidly) [use when proyect etc. still not finished]
5. Loc exp: A. to be a chatterbox [can be used (+) or (-), depending on context] B. What other prep can use?

Answer 10

1. estar en el séptimo cielo (to be in seventh heaven)
2. estar al pie de cañon
3. fue sobre ruedas [ir sobre ruedas]
4. va viento al popa [ir viento al popa]
5. hablar por los codos B. hablar hasta los codos

Question 11

1. A natural way to say: That’s madness or That’s ridiculous, as in crazy
2. Loc exp A: That doesn’t make sense (eg va a Sevilla en agosto)
3. Loc exp B: That makes no sense what so ever [can use 2 vbs in 3rd psn singular]
4. Loc exp (variant of B): This plate is a dog’s breakfast (ie a complete mess)
5. Loc exp: to be in the driving seat (or to have someone by the balls)

Answer 11

1. Es un disparate
2. Esto no tiene pies ni cabeza
3. Esto no tiene/hay por dónde cogerlo
4. Este plato no hay por donde meterle mano
5. -En estas negociaciones, España tiene la sartén por el mango o El cabrón sabe que tiene la sartén por el mango, y … [This bastard knows that he has me by the balls and …

Question 12

1. Loc Exp: to call the tune or be the piper (ie have the final say)
2. Loc Exp: to take the steering wheel (as in, you can take the lead for a while)
3. Go to hell! or Piss off A. 2 ways to amp it up (really angry)? B. 2 ways to “suavizar” (mildly annoyed)
4. Loc exp: It’s useless to cry over spilt milk
5. Loc exp: to be in the middle of nowhere or in the back of beyond
6. Loc exp: to kill two birds with one stone

Answer 12

1. llevar la voz catante
2. llevar el timón pe puedes llevar el timón por un rato
3. A. ¡vete a la mierda! o al quinto coño! B. ¡Vete a freír aspárragos! o al mocillo!
4. No sirve DE nada llorar sobre la leche derramada
5. estar en el quinto pino
6. matar dos pájaros DE un tiro

Question 13

1. Exp: You were on a roll (eg re Maria with music)
2. Loc exp: he had my parents wrapped around her little finger or eating out of her hand
3. Loc exp: A. Don’t suck up to me [To suck up to s.o] B. What is “gesto” do with hands when s.o is sucking up?
4. Loc exp: He’s a brown nose (or a suck-up) (related to 3.) [what not confuse with)
5. Loc exp: A. to be the X’s pet -> explain to N

Answer 13

1. Estabas en racha (Maria y canciones)
2. se metía a mis padres en el bolsillo [meterse a alguien en el bolsillo]
3. No me hagas la pelota [hacer la pelota] B. hands horizontal, moving in circular direction, as if polishing an imaginary ball.
4. Es un pelota [ser un pelota][estar EN pelota(s) = naked]
5. Es el enchufado <- enchufe - socket (lit), a position got through influence w/out merit (fig)

Question 14

1. Loc exp: to make a scene, always idea of embarrassment. B. What origin? C. How change if make dimunitive?
2. Loc exp: to take the bait or to fall for it, as in caer en una trampa
3. Loc exp: his bark is worse than
4. Loc exp: he’s (or it was) full of hot air (or all talk), idea he or it promises much, delivers little
5. loc exp: to be no big deal or nothing special or nothing to write home about

Answer 14

1. Montar un número B. the theatre, = an act, eg musical C. …un numerito = make’s it ironic
2. morder el anzuelo (anzuelo = a fish hook)
3. perro ladrador, poco mordedor
4. es o fue mucho ruido y pocas nueces (eg a flamenco concert with the best guitarrist etc)
5. no ser nada del otro mundo

Question 15

1. Loc exp: to be a spare part ie not relevant to what’s going on (eg what say if at Kavita’s wedding?)
2. Loc exp: To drag your feet or to dawdle ie do anything slowly, reason doesn’t matter.
3. Loc exp: To lose one’s thread [cf “quedarse en blanco” is not completely forget]
4. Loc exp: I’d trust them with my life (or completely) B. What 2 reqs for use?
5. Colq exp: Break a leg! (when wishing s.o. luck eg before an exam)

Answer 15

1. No pintar nada p.e. Yo no pinto nada aqui. Me voy.
2. andar/ir pisando huevos
3. perder el hilo
4. Yo pongo mi mano en el fuego por ellos B. confia plenamente + una situación de desconfianza [poner la mano en el fuego]
5. ¡Mucha mierda!

Question 16

1. loc exp: to eavesdrop
2. loc exp: to have a big mouth (hablar de más y de forma inconveniente)
3. Loc exp: he’s a blabbermouth [clue: think flip flop or jandals and their movt]
4. Loc exp: I didn’t sleep a wink last night = no poder pegar ojo, B. origin
5. Loc exp: to ask for the impossible or to expect miracles or to ask too much [of s.o.]

Answer 16

1. escuchar detrás de la puerta
2. tener la lengua muy larga
3. es una bocachancla [ser una bocachancla ie boca + chancla]
4. anoche pasé la noche en blanco B. Middle ages, before admission to chivalric code had to velar [stay up/keep awake] the whole night dressed in white, purity.
5. pedirle peras a un olmo [olmo = elm] pe Decir a Jesús que coma con educación es como pedir peras al olmo

Question 17

1. Loc exp: A. to hit the jackpot, enriquecer B. to pig out, eat to excess
2. Loc exp: I’m going to stuff my face with Nougat
3. Colq; Juan binged on chocolate or got shit faced on beer, idea is compulsively
4. Loc exp: he pulled an ace out of the hat (as in, to unexpectedly come up with a solution, which helps succeed when failing)
5. Loc exp: don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg

Answer 17

1. ponerse las botas (A. cos’ boots instead of shoes were a sign of being rich)
2. voy a ponerme morado de turrón
3. Juan se puso hasta arriba de chocolate o cerveza [ponerse hasta arriba de]
4. se sacó un as de manga [as = ace] [sacarse algo de la manga = A. to come up with, as in “make up ie no truth” + to come up with, as in “a solution”
5. no matar a la gallina DE los huevos de oro