Idioms A-B

Question 1

a (la) merced de

Answer 1

at the mercy of (n.b.: the “la” is often omitted)

Question 2

a altas horas de la madrugada

Answer 2

in the small hours of the morning

Question 3

a cargo de

Answer 3

in charge of; responsible for; by

Question 4

a causa de

Answer 4

because of; as a result of (lit.: at the cause of)

Question 5

a chorros

Answer 5

in abundance; plenty; lots

Question 6

a contrapelo

Answer 6

wrong way; backwards; backassed

Question 7

a corto plazo


Answer 7

in the short run; short-term; in the short term (lit.: at short place)

Question 8

a deshora

Answer 8

at an inconvenient time

Question 9

a diario

Answer 9

daily; every day

Question 10

a disgusto

Answer 10

reluctantly

Question 11

a duras penas

Answer 11

hardly; barely; with difficulty

Question 12

a eso de

Answer 12

around, about (time) (lit.: a this of)

Question 13

a estas alturas

Answer 13

at this point; in this situation

Question 14

a fin de cuentas

Answer 14

in the end; after all

Question 15

a fondo

Answer 15

in depth; deeply; fully

Question 16

a gatas

Answer 16

crawling (lit.: on legs/feet; used with the verbs estar or andar)

Question 17

a juro

Answer 17

no matter what (used in Venezuela)

Question 18

a la altura

Answer 18

at the level; up to (lit.: at the height)

Question 19

a la intemperie

Answer 19

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)

Question 20

a la par de

Answer 20

on the same level as

Question 21

a la salida del sol

Answer 21

sunrise (lit.: at the appearance of the sun)

Question 22

a la vez

Answer 22

at once; at the same time (lit.: at the time)

Question 23

a la vista

Answer 23

in view; in sight (lit.: at the sight)

Question 24

a la vuelta

Answer 24

on the way back (lit: at the turn)

Question 25

a la vuelta de

Answer 25

just around the corner (lit.: at the turn of). 1. Mi restaurante favorito está justo a la vuelta de mi oficina.

Question 26

a largo plazo

Answer 26

in the long run; long-term; in the long term (lit.: at long place)

Question 27

a lo largo (de)


Answer 27

along; at the other end (lit.: at the far/long)

Question 28

a lo lejos

Answer 28

from afar; at a distance (lit.: at the distant; allso in the form “a los lejos.”)

Question 29

a lo mejor


Answer 29

probably; most likely (lit.: to the better)

Question 30

a manos de

Answer 30

at the hands of

Question 31

a manos llenas

Answer 31

generously; lavishly (lit.: with full hands)

Question 32

a medida que

Answer 32

as (something happens or happened); in the process of (something happening)

Question 33

a medio plazo

Answer 33

medium-term; in the medium term

Question 34

a menudo

Answer 34

often, frequently (lit.: of often)

Question 35

a mi modo de pensar

Answer 35

in my view; the way I see it

Question 36

a mi modo de ver

Answer 36

in my view; the way I see it

Question 37

a otro perro con ese hueso

Answer 37

go tell it to the marines (lit.: [give] this bone to another dog)

Question 38

a palo seco


Answer 38

on its own; with nothing else

Question 39

a partir de ahora

Answer 39

from now one (lit.: at the start of now)

Question 40

a pesar de

Answer 40

despite; in spite of

Question 41

a plazo

Answer 41

on credit

Question 42

a plena luz

Answer 42

in broad daylight

Question 43

a primera hora

Answer 43

at the earliest moment

Question 44

a primera vista

Answer 44

at first sight; at first blush (lit.: at first sight)

Question 45

a propósito

Answer 45

on purpose; deliberately

Question 46

a propósito

Answer 46

by the way; speaking of which

Question 47

a punto de

Answer 47

on the verge of, about to (lit.: at point of)

Question 48

a que

Answer 48

I bet (lit.: to what)

Question 49

a ratos

Answer 49

from time to time

Question 50

a sus espaldas

Answer 50

behind someone’s back

Question 51

a tientas

Answer 51

by touch, by feel

Question 52

a toda costa

Answer 52

at all costs (lit.: at all cost)

Question 53

a toda máquina

Answer 53

quickly, fast (lit.: at all machine)

Question 54

a toda prisa

Answer 54

with all speed, hastily, quickly (lit.: at all haste)

Question 55

a todas luces

Answer 55

by any reckoning

Question 56

a todo correr

Answer 56

with all speed, hastily, quickly (lit.: at full running (run))

Question 57

a toro pasado

Answer 57

in retrospect; in hindsight (lit.: by the bull gone past)

Question 58

a trabajar

Answer 58

to work (n.b.: said when encouraging yourself or others to start working)

Question 59

a tráves de

Answer 59

through

Question 60

a veces

Answer 60

sometimes; at times

Question 61

a ver

Answer 61

now then; let’s see; hm-m

Question 62

a verga

Answer 62

by hook or by crook

Question 63

a(l) fin de cuentas

Answer 63

when all’s said and done; when it comes down to it (lit.: at (the) end of accounts)

Question 64

ahora mismo

Answer 64

right now; this minute

Question 65

al azar

Answer 65

at random; randomly (lit.: to chance)

Question 66

al cabo de


Answer 66

after, since (lit.: at the finish of)

Question 67

al fin y al cabo

Answer 67

in the end; ultimately (lit.: at (the) end and at (the) finish)

Question 68

al final

Answer 68

in the end, finally (lit.: at (the) end)

Question 69

al menos

Answer 69

at least, at a minimum (lit.: at the least)

Question 70

al oro

Answer 70

good; well done (used in Venezuela)

Question 71

al parecer

Answer 71

apparently; apparent; by appearances

Question 72

al pelo

Answer 72

just what is wanted or needed

Question 73

al poco rato

Answer 73

after a little while

Question 74

al rape

Answer 74

closely-cropped; close cut (lit.: to the monkfish)

Question 75

al revés

Answer 75

backwards; the other way around; the opposite

Question 76

alcornoque

Answer 76

blockhead; dunderhead; nincompoop (lit.: cork oak)

Question 77

almas gemelas

Answer 77

soulmates (lit.: twin souls)

Question 78

andar a palos

Answer 78

be fighting or squabbling all the time

Question 79

andar como burro sin mecate

Answer 79

be wild; be out of control (lit.: to walk like a donkey wihout a leash)

Question 80

año nuevo, vida nueva

Answer 80

Happy New Year (lit.: new year, new life; used as a greeting or statement around Jan. 1)

Question 81

apalear oro

Answer 81

be rolling in dough; be made of money

Question 82

apretarse el cinturón

Answer 82

tighten one’s belt; economize

Question 83

armar un jaleo

Answer 83

make a fuss, commotion (lit.: to arm or raise a fuss)

Question 84

armar una bronca

Answer 84

kick up a fuss

Question 85

armarse la gorda

Answer 85

cause a ruckus; have all hell break loose (lit.: to arm oneself the fat one)

Question 86

armarse un lio

Answer 86

raise hell; make a fuss (lit.: to arm or raise a fight)

Question 87

arrimar el ascua a su sardina

Answer 87

put one’s own interests first; work things to one’s advantage (lit.: to bring coals or embers to one’s sardine)

Question 88

así que

Answer 88

so that, which means that (lit.: thus that)

Question 89

atar corto a alg

Answer 89

keep someone on a short leash; keep someone under tight rein (lit.: tie someone close)

Question 90

ausente sin culpa ni presente sin disculpa

Answer 90

the absentee is always in the wrong (lit.: absent without blame and no present without excuses)

Question 91

Ave María Purísima

Answer 91

for heaven’s sake (lit.: hail most pure Mary; n.b.: used in religious services, and as an exclamation)

Question 92

bar de ligar

Answer 92

singles’ bar; pickup joint (used in Spain)

Question 93

bicho raro

Answer 93

oddball (lit.: rare bug)

Question 94

brillar por su ausencia

Answer 94

be conspicuous by one’s absence

Question 95

buscar bronca

Answer 95

be spoiling for a fight; be looking for a fight