Idioms A-B Flashcards
To understand Spanish Idioms
a (la) merced de
at the mercy of (n.b.: the “la” is often omitted)
a altas horas de la madrugada
in the small hours of the morning
a cargo de
in charge of; responsible for; by
a causa de
because of; as a result of (lit.: at the cause of)
a chorros
in abundance; plenty; lots
a contrapelo
wrong way; backwards; backassed
a corto plazo
in the short run; short-term; in the short term (lit.: at short place)
a deshora
at an inconvenient time
a diario
daily; every day
a disgusto
reluctantly
a duras penas
hardly; barely; with difficulty
a eso de
around, about (time) (lit.: a this of)
a estas alturas
at this point; in this situation
a fin de cuentas
in the end; after all
a fondo
in depth; deeply; fully
a gatas
crawling (lit.: on legs/feet; used with the verbs estar or andar)
a juro
no matter what (used in Venezuela)
a la altura
at the level; up to (lit.: at the height)
a la intemperie
in the open (lit.: at/on the elements. Intemperie refers to the weather and other forces in the physical, natural world, particularly as experienced without the benefits of technology, particularly modern technology)
a la par de
on the same level as
a la salida del sol
sunrise (lit.: at the appearance of the sun)
a la vez
at once; at the same time (lit.: at the time)
a la vista
in view; in sight (lit.: at the sight)
a la vuelta
on the way back (lit: at the turn)
a la vuelta de
just around the corner (lit.: at the turn of). 1. Mi restaurante favorito está justo a la vuelta de mi oficina.
a largo plazo
in the long run; long-term; in the long term (lit.: at long place)
a lo largo (de)
along; at the other end (lit.: at the far/long)
a lo lejos
from afar; at a distance (lit.: at the distant; allso in the form “a los lejos.”)
a lo mejor
probably; most likely (lit.: to the better)
a manos de
at the hands of
a manos llenas
generously; lavishly (lit.: with full hands)
a medida que
as (something happens or happened); in the process of (something happening)
a medio plazo
medium-term; in the medium term
a menudo
often, frequently (lit.: of often)
a mi modo de pensar
in my view; the way I see it
a mi modo de ver
in my view; the way I see it
a otro perro con ese hueso
go tell it to the marines (lit.: [give] this bone to another dog)
a palo seco
on its own; with nothing else
a partir de ahora
from now one (lit.: at the start of now)
a pesar de
despite; in spite of
a plazo
on credit
a plena luz
in broad daylight
a primera hora
at the earliest moment
a primera vista
at first sight; at first blush (lit.: at first sight)
a propósito
on purpose; deliberately
a propósito
by the way; speaking of which
a punto de
on the verge of, about to (lit.: at point of)
a que
I bet (lit.: to what)
a ratos
from time to time
a sus espaldas
behind someone’s back
a tientas
by touch, by feel
a toda costa
at all costs (lit.: at all cost)
a toda máquina
quickly, fast (lit.: at all machine)
a toda prisa
with all speed, hastily, quickly (lit.: at all haste)
a todas luces
by any reckoning
a todo correr
with all speed, hastily, quickly (lit.: at full running (run))
a toro pasado
in retrospect; in hindsight (lit.: by the bull gone past)
a trabajar
to work (n.b.: said when encouraging yourself or others to start working)
a tráves de
through
a veces
sometimes; at times
a ver
now then; let’s see; hm-m
a verga
by hook or by crook
a(l) fin de cuentas
when all’s said and done; when it comes down to it (lit.: at (the) end of accounts)
ahora mismo
right now; this minute
al azar
at random; randomly (lit.: to chance)
al cabo de
after, since (lit.: at the finish of)
al fin y al cabo
in the end; ultimately (lit.: at (the) end and at (the) finish)
al final
in the end, finally (lit.: at (the) end)
al menos
at least, at a minimum (lit.: at the least)
al oro
good; well done (used in Venezuela)
al parecer
apparently; apparent; by appearances
al pelo
just what is wanted or needed
al poco rato
after a little while
al rape
closely-cropped; close cut (lit.: to the monkfish)
al revés
backwards; the other way around; the opposite
alcornoque
blockhead; dunderhead; nincompoop (lit.: cork oak)
almas gemelas
soulmates (lit.: twin souls)
andar a palos
be fighting or squabbling all the time
andar como burro sin mecate
be wild; be out of control (lit.: to walk like a donkey wihout a leash)
año nuevo, vida nueva
Happy New Year (lit.: new year, new life; used as a greeting or statement around Jan. 1)
apalear oro
be rolling in dough; be made of money
apretarse el cinturón
tighten one’s belt; economize
armar un jaleo
make a fuss, commotion (lit.: to arm or raise a fuss)
armar una bronca
kick up a fuss
armarse la gorda
cause a ruckus; have all hell break loose (lit.: to arm oneself the fat one)
armarse un lio
raise hell; make a fuss (lit.: to arm or raise a fight)
arrimar el ascua a su sardina
put one’s own interests first; work things to one’s advantage (lit.: to bring coals or embers to one’s sardine)
así que
so that, which means that (lit.: thus that)
atar corto a alg
keep someone on a short leash; keep someone under tight rein (lit.: tie someone close)
ausente sin culpa ni presente sin disculpa
the absentee is always in the wrong (lit.: absent without blame and no present without excuses)
Ave María Purísima
for heaven’s sake (lit.: hail most pure Mary; n.b.: used in religious services, and as an exclamation)
bar de ligar
singles’ bar; pickup joint (used in Spain)
bicho raro
oddball (lit.: rare bug)
brillar por su ausencia
be conspicuous by one’s absence
buscar bronca
be spoiling for a fight; be looking for a fight
