Idiomatic Expressions Flashcards
A kick in the head
“Not getting the promotion felt like a real kick in the … as I’d put in so much hard work for the company.”
A kick in the head - a thoroughly devastating or disappointing setback or failure. Un fracaso o un revés decepcionante. Una patada en el culo.
To be at the end of one’s tether
“Could somebody please help me as I am at the end of my … over next door’s barking dog.”
Having no strength or patience left.
Estoy en mi límite, no puedo más.
Tether – atadura, amarre
Food for thought
“I hope readers have enjoyed this article and that it has offered some … for thought.”
Food for thought – an idea or piece of information that is worth thinking over. Que te hace pensar o reflexionar.
To go out on a limb for someone
“I went … on a limb for you, and this is how you thank me!”
To go out on a limb for someone – you put yourself in a risky position in order to support someone or something.
Arriesgarse, aventurarse. Dar la cara por alguien.
Not to be a spring chicken
“He ran up three flights of stairs and wasn’t the slightest bit out of breath even though he’s no a … chicken.”
Not to be a spring chicken – a person who is no longer young, someone who can no longer be considered youthful. A young chicken for eating (originally available only in spring).
Que ya no es un jovenzuelo.
Until you are blue in the face
“My husband just won’t be told. He’ll argue about something till he’s … in the face.”
(A mi marido no se le puede decir nada. Discutirá sobre algo hasta que -se ponga azul de gritarlo-.)
Until you are blue in the face - If you say or shout something until you are blue in the face, you are wasting your efforts because you will get no results: “you can tell her to clean her room until you are blue in the face, but she won’t do it.”.
To give sb/sth a new lease of life
“An old warehouse in Brighton has been given a new … of life as a youth centre following government funding.”
o Warehouse - almacén
o Lease - Alquiler
o To give sb/sth a new lease of life - to improve something that was old so that it works much better. Darle a algo un nuevo uso, una nueva vida, una nueva oportunidad.
To have an axe to grind
“The athlete had been dropped from the team the previous year and clearly had an axe to … as she felt this had been totally unjustified.”
o Axe: hacha
o To have an axe to grind - to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something. To have a problem with someone, or a complaint against someone which you’d like to discuss.
Tener un “hacha de guerra”
