Idioms Flashcards

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1
Q

A drop in the ocean

A

T: Una gota en el océano

D: A very small amount that will not have much effect.

E: The cost of a hotel for one night is a drop in the ocean for a big company like that.

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2
Q

A home from home

A

T: Como en casa

D: A place where you feel as relaxed as you do in your own home

E: Being with you is a real home from home.

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3
Q

A leopard can’t change its spots

A

T: Aunque el mono se vista de seda, mono se queda

D: Used for saying that someone will never change their behaviour or character.

E: Jimmy says he’s changed, but a leopard can’t change its spots, you know.

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4
Q

A sight for sore eyes

A

T: Un regalo para la vista

D: Someone or something that you are very pleased to see.

E: You’re a sight for sore eyes! Thank goodness you’re here.

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5
Q

A stitch in time (saves nine)

A

T: Más vale prevenir que curar

D: Used for saying that it is better to solve a problem now, rather than leave it until later when it may be more difficult to deal with.

E: If there’s a problem with your car, it’s better to get it looked at now. You know what they say: ‘a stitch in time…’

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6
Q

A stone’s throw (away / from)

A

T: Muy cerca

D: Very close (to)

E: Where we live is only a stone’s throw from the park.

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7
Q

Achilles’ heel

A

T: Punto débil

D: A weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure or be attacked.

E: She’s an extremely talented politician, but her Achilles’ heel may be her inability to prioritise.

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8
Q

Add fuel to the fire

A

T: Echar leña al fuego

D: Make a bad situation worse

E: Your refusing to discuss with Colin is just adding fuel to the fire, in my opinion.

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9
Q

All in good time

A

T: Todo a su tiempo

D: Used for telling someone to wait for something and not try to make you hurry.

E: You will get the report when it’s finished. All in good time!

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10
Q

All mod cons

A

T: Con todas las comodidades

D: All modern conveniences, the machines and pieces of equipment in your house that make life easy and confortable.

E: I’d quite like to move to a place that has all mod cons.

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11
Q

An act of God

A

T: Sucesos impredecibles

D: An event such as a flood, lightning or an earthquake that is produced by natural forces, and that people have no control over.

E: The insurance doesn’t cover acts of God.

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12
Q

As the crow flies

A

T: En línea recta

D: In a straight line (used for measuring distance).

E: It’s about 200 miles as the crow flies.

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13
Q

At a loose end

A

T: No tener nada mejor que hacer.

D: With nothing in particular to do.

E: If you’re at a loose end this weekend, why don’t we get together?

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14
Q

At the drop of a hat

A

T: En un abrir y cerrar de ojos

D: Immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing something.

E: Let me know if you need help and I’ll be there at the drop of a hat!

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15
Q

Be born with a silver spoon in your mouth

A

T: Nacer en una cuna de oro

D: Have advantages because you come from a rich family.

E: I’ve always had to work hard because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

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16
Q

Be on the same wavelength

A

T: Estar en la misma sintonía

D: Understand the way another person thinks because you often have the same ideas and opinions they do.

E: It was difficult meeting because David and I didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength.

17
Q

Before your time

A

T: Antes de que nacieras

D: Used for saying that something happened or existed before you were born or before you lived or worked somewhere.

E: When I was a girl, we didn’t have mobile phones. That was before your time, of course.