Idioms & Phrasal Verbs Flashcards
> > ESTAR A PUNTO DE hacer algo
> > BE ABOUT TO DO (sth)
= to be on the point of doing something
I was about to leave when the phone rang
> > DE ACUERDO CON
> > ACCORDING TO (someone or something)
= as said or told by someone, in agreement with something, in the order of something, in proportion to something
According to our teacher, there will be no class next week. We did everything according to the terms of our agreement.
> > EXPLICAR algo
> > ACCOUNT FOR (sth)
= to provide an explanation or answer for something
The bad weather accounts for the fact that few people came to the meeting.
> > DESPUÉS DE TODO
> > AFTER ALL
= considering the fact that something happened, something that is usually assumed
You don’t need to phone him. After all, he never phones you.
> > DE PRONTO
> > ALL OF A SUDDEN
= suddenly, without advance warning
All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain.
> > DE HECHO
> > AS A MATTER OF FACT
= actually
As a matter of fact, we have been to the history museum many times.
> > HASTA LO QUE
> > AS (SO) FAR AS
= to the extent or degree of something
As far as I know the movie will start in a few minutes.
> > EN CUANTO A
> > AS FOR
= with regard to, concerning
As for me, I think that I will return home now.
> > COMO SI
> > AS IF
= in the same way that something would be
The drink tastes as if it were made with orange juice.
It seemed as if the whole town came to the concert.
> > CON TAL QUE
> > AS LONG AS
= provided that, on condition that
As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car.
> > TAN PRONTO COMO
> > AS SOON AS
= just after something, when
I phoned my friend as soon as I finished dinner.
> > EN CUANTO A
> > AS TO
= with regard to, according to
As to your question, I will answer it tomorrow.
The players were put into groups as to their ability.
> > TAMBIÉN, ASIMISMO
> > AS WELL
= in addition, also, too
I plan to take a computer course this summer as well.
> > ASÍ COMO
> > AS WELL AS
= in addition to
Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel.
> > ALANTE Y ATRAS
> > BACK AND FORTH
= backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way
The argument went back and forth before the judge made a decision
> > HACER MEJOR
> > BE BETTER OFF (IF)
= to be in a better situation than before
My friend would be better off if he sold his old car and bought a new one.
> > DESCOMPONER, DESGLOSAR algo
> > BREAK DOWN (sth)
BREAK (sth) DOWN INTO (sth)
= to divide something into parts, to separate something into simpler substances
We tried to break down the problem for further study
We’ll break the total down into monthly payments
> > DIVIDIRSE, ROMPER algo, una relación
> > BREAK UP
BREAK UP INTO
= to separate, to divide into groups or pieces, to put an end to something
Nobody wanted to break up their groups We usually break up into small groups during our class She's just broken up with her boyfriend
> > POR CIERTO
> > BY THE WAY
= incidentally
By the way, could you please bring your laptop computer tomorrow.
> > REALIZAR, EJECUTAR
> > CARRY OUT (sth)
= to put something into action, to accomplish something, to do something
The scientist wanted to carry out several experiments before discussing the new medicine.
> > VAMOS! DATE PRISA!
> > COME ON!
= please, hurry, go faster
Come on, I only have a few minutes before I must go.
Come on, stop doing that.
> > ENCONTRAR algo Y APORTARLO
> > COME UP WITH (sth)
= to produce or find a thought/idea/answer
I tried to come up with a name for the new magazine.
> > TRATAR
> > DEAL WITH (sth)
= to be concerned with something, to take action about something
We will deal with the objectives tomorrow.
> > TERMINAR
> > END UP (doing something or going somewhere)
= to do something that one had not planned to do, to go somewhere one had not planned to go
We ended up going to a restaurant after the movie last night.
> > RELLENAR un impreso, etc.
> > FILL IN (sth)
= to write words in blank spaces
Please fill in this form and give it to the receptionist.
> > ENTERARSE, ENCONTRAR, DESCUBRIR
> > FIND OUT (sth)
= to learn or discover something
My mother is angry at me because she found out that I had quit my French class.
> > ANTE TODO
> > FIRST OF ALL
= the very first thing
First of all we prepared the garden and then we planted the seeds
> > SEGURO QUE, CON SEGURIDAD
> > FOR SURE
= without doubt, certainly, surely
I will go to the movie with you for sure next week.
> > VOLVER A (realizar, tratar, hablar, etc.)
> > GET BACK TO (sth/sb)
= to return to something
I was happy to get back to my work after my holiday.
> > ENTRAR EN (discusión, detalle, etc.)
> > GET INTO (sth)
= to become interested or involved in something
I do not want to get into an argument with my friend.
We will get into the details of the plan tomorrow.
> > LIBRARSE DE
> > GET RID OF (sth)
= to give or throw something away, to sell or destroy something, to make a cold or fever disappear
I bought a new television set so I want to get rid of the old one
> > TERMINAR
> > GET THROUGH (sth)
= to complete something, to finish something
My friend is having trouble getting through her final exams.
I have much reading that I must get through before tomorrow.
> > ¡ADELANTE!
|»_space; EMPEZAR, SEGUIR con algo
> > GO AHEAD!
GO AHEAD WITH (sth)
= to begin to do something
Lets go ahead and start now. We cant wait any longer.
> > SEGUIR, CONTINUAR
> > GO ON
= to continue
The game will probably go on for an hour after we leave.
> > REVISAR, EXAMINAR, TRATAR en detalle, a fondo
> > GO OVER (sth)
= to examine or review something
The accountant will go over the books tomorrow.
We plan to go over that question tomorrow.
> > TRATAR, HACER, REALIZAR
> > GO THROUGH (sth)
= to discuss something, to look at something, to do something
The teacher decided to go through the exercise before the test.
> > INCLINARSE POR, ESCOGER
> > GO WITH (sth)
= to choose one thing rather than another
We decided to go with the small rental car rather than the large one.
> > ENGANCHARSE, LIARSE CON
> > HANG OUT (swh/with sb)
[[ hang hung hung ]]
= to spend one`s time with no great purpose, to spend leisure time with friends
Recently my friend has been hanging out with a group of people who are not a good influence on him.
> > TENER QUE VER CON
> > TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH (sth)
= to be about something, to be on the subject of something, to be related to something
The book has something to do with cooking but I am not sure if you will like it.
That problem has nothing to do with me.
> > ESPERE, por favor (al teléfono)
> > HOLD ON, please (on the phone)
= to wait a minute, to stop, to wait and not hang up the phone
Please hold on for a minute while I lock the window.
> > EN CIERTO MODO
> > IN A WAY
= to a certain extent, a little, somewhat
In a way I want to go to the new restaurant but in a way I don`t really care.
> > POR SI
> > (JUST) IN CASE
= if, if something should happen
I will take my umbrella in case it rains.
> > EN COMÚN CON
> > IN COMMON WITH
= shared together or equally, in use or ownership by all
I had nothing in common with the other members of the class.
> > EN DETALLE
> > IN DETAIL
= giving all the details, item by item
The saleswoman explained about the new product in detail.
> > EN EFECTO
> > IN EFFECT
= for practical purposes, basically
The man’s silence was in effect a way of disagreeing with the other people in the meeting.
> > DE HECHO, EN REALIDAD
> > IN FACT
= actually, the truth is
The man has been to China before. In fact he has been there three times.
> > A FAVOR DE
> > IN FAVOR (favour) OF (sb/sth)
= to approve or support someone or something
Everybody is in favor of the new police chief.
My company is not in favor of changing our holiday schedule.
> > EN GENERAL
> > IN GENERAL
= in most situations or circumstances
In general, most of the people in our apartment are happy with the new manager.
> > CON EL FIN DE, PARA
> > IN ORDER TO
= for the purpose of
They have decided to close down the school for the summer in order to do some major repairs.
> > DICHO DE OTRO MODO, CON OTRAS PALABRAS
> > IN OTHER WORDS
= in a different (usually more direct) way
In other words, if you do not finish the assignment by Wednesday you will not pass the course.
> > EN SU SITIO
> > IN PLACE
= in the proper place or location
Everything in the room was in place when we arrived for the meeting.
> > EN CIERTO MODO
> > IN SOME WAYS
= in some unspecified way or manner, by some unspecified means
In some ways I know what my friend means but in some ways I do not.
> > EN BASE A, EN LOS TÉRMINOS DE
> > IN TERMS OF (sth)
= with regard to something
In terms of our agreement with the other company we were not allowed to sell the products online.
> > A TIEMPO
> > IN TIME
= early enough
I did not come home in time to meet my cousin.
> > RECORDAR, NO OLVIDAR algo
> > KEEP (sth/sb) IN MIND
= to remember and think about someone or something
I told my co-workers to keep the new starting time for work in mind.
> > ESTAR COMO (+adj)
> > BE KIND OF (+adj)
= somewhat, more or less, moderately
I was kind of tired when I arrived home last night.
> > BUSCAR
> > LOOK FOR (sth)
= to try to find something, to hunt/search for something
My friend has been looking for her credit card all morning but she can`t find it.
> > BUSCAR algo (en un diccionario, repertorio, etc.)
> > LOOK UP (sth)
= to search for something in a dictionary or other book
I will look up my friend’s name in the telephone book.
I looked up the word in the dictionary.
> > DAR LO MISMO, NO HABER DIFERENCIA
> > NOT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
= not to cause a change in a situation
It does not make a difference whether our boss comes to the meeting or not.
> > SER RAZONABLE
> > MAKE SENSE
= to seem reasonable
His new proposal really does make sense.
> > ASEGURARSE
> > MAKE SURE
= to make certain, to establish something without a doubt
I want to make sure that my friend is going to meet me tomorrow.
> > MÁS O MENOS
> > MORE OR LESS
= somewhat, to some extent
I more or less have decided to study business next year.
> > POR MUCHO QUE
> > NO MATTER
= regardless
No matter how hard that I try, my piano teacher is never satisfied.
> > EN ABSOLUTO
> > NOT AT ALL
= certainly not
I am not at all happy with my new computer.
> > POR SUPUESTO
> > OF COURSE
= certainly, definitely, naturally
Of course you can use my car if you want to.
> > POR OTRO LADO
> > ON THE OTHER HAND
= however, in contrast, looking at the opposite side of a matter
He is very intelligent but on the other hand he is very lazy and always gets low marks at school.
> > PUNTUAL, A LA HORA
> > ON TIME
= at the scheduled time, exactly at the correct time, punctually
Our train arrived exactly on time.
> > UNA VEZ MÁS
> > ONCE AGAIN
= again, one more time, once more
I tried once again to phone my boss at his home .
> > ESTAR ABIERTO A
> > OPEN TO (sth)
= to be agreeable to learn or hear about new ideas or suggestions
Most members of the class were open to the teacher’s ideas.
> > COGER, RECOGER
> > PICK UP (sth)
= to get or receive something
I will pick up my dry cleaning tomorrow.
I picked up a copy of the newspaper at the station.
