🅰️Lex

Question 1

Heat up

Answer 1

Heat up” se utiliza principalmente para describir el acto de aumentar la temperatura de algo. A continuación te doy algunos usos comunes:

1. Calentar comida:

Ejemplo: I’m going to heat up the leftovers. (Voy a calentar las sobras.)

2. Aumentar la temperatura de un lugar o cosa:

Ejemplo: The sun heats up the ground during the day. (El sol calienta el suelo durante el día.)

3. Intensificar una situación (especialmente en un contexto emocional o competitivo):

Ejemplo: The argument started to heat up. (La discusión comenzó a intensificarse.)

Ejemplo: The competition is heating up as we approach the finals. (La competencia se está intensificando a medida que nos acercamos a las finales.)

4. Preparar un vehículo o máquina:

Ejemplo: I need to heat up the car engine before driving in cold weather. (Necesito calentar el motor del carro antes de conducir en clima frío.)

Este phrasal verb se usa para referirse tanto a lo literal (elevar la temperatura) como a situaciones más figurativas (aumentar la intensidad de algo).

Question 2

When they retired, this American couple was ready take a leap with a move to Europe. Their hearts were set on Italy, but things didn’t quite go to plan.

Answer 2

Aquí tienes una explicación detallada de las expresiones clave en la frase para que puedas comprender su significado:

1. Take a leap

Significado: Dar un salto, tanto literal como figurado. En este contexto, significa arriesgarse o tomar una decisión audaz.

Ejemplo: Implica que la pareja estaba dispuesta a salir de su zona de confort al mudarse a otro continente.

Traducción aproximada: “Dar un salto” o “atreverse.”

En la frase: “This American couple was ready to take a leap…” → Esta pareja estadounidense estaba lista para dar un salto audaz…

2. With a move to Europe

Significado: Con una mudanza a Europa.

Ejemplo: Describe el contexto del salto audaz que planeaban, es decir, cambiar su residencia a un continente diferente.

Traducción: “Con una mudanza a Europa.”

En la frase: “…with a move to Europe” → …con una mudanza a Europa.

3. Hearts set on

Significado: Estar decididos o muy enfocados en algo, especialmente cuando se trata de un deseo o un objetivo emocional.

Ejemplo: Significa que deseaban profundamente mudarse a Italia y que esta idea era su sueño o su meta.

Traducción aproximada: “Con el corazón puesto en” o “decididos a.”

En la frase: “Their hearts were set on Italy…” → Su corazón estaba puesto en Italia…

4. Quite go to plan

Significado: Que algo no salió exactamente como se había planeado o imaginado.

Ejemplo: En este caso, aunque planeaban mudarse a Italia, las cosas no resultaron como esperaban.

Traducción: “No salió exactamente como se planeó” o “no salió según lo previsto.”

En la frase: “…but things didn’t quite go to plan” → …pero las cosas no salieron exactamente como lo habían planeado.

Traducción completa de la frase:

“Cuando se retiraron, esta pareja estadounidense estaba lista para dar un salto audaz con una mudanza a Europa. Tenían el corazón puesto en Italia, pero las cosas no salieron exactamente como lo habían planeado.”

Question 3

Mental bandwith

Answer 3

Meaning of “Mental Bandwidth”

“Mental bandwidth” is a metaphor derived from technology, referring to the mental capacity or focus a person has to process information, handle tasks, or deal with emotions at a given time. Just like internet bandwidth, it implies that mental resources are limited and can become “overloaded” if too much is demanded.

Usage Contexts:

1. Limited Focus: Refers to having too many things on your mind, leaving little capacity for additional tasks.
2. Emotional or Cognitive Overload: When someone is overwhelmed by stress, emotions, or responsibilities.
3. Prioritization: Describing the need to allocate mental energy to important tasks or decisions.

Examples of Usage:

1. In Work or Productivity:

“I’d love to take on that new project, but I just don’t have the mental bandwidth right now.”
(No puedo asumir ese proyecto ahora; no tengo la capacidad mental para hacerlo.)

“Delegating tasks is essential when your mental bandwidth is stretched thin.”
(Delegar tareas es esencial cuando tu capacidad mental está al límite.)

2. In Personal Life:

“After dealing with work and family issues, I barely have the mental bandwidth to think about my personal goals.”
(Después de lidiar con el trabajo y los problemas familiares, apenas tengo energía mental para pensar en mis metas personales.)

“Sometimes, taking a break helps you regain your mental bandwidth.”
(A veces, tomarse un descanso te ayuda a recuperar tu capacidad mental.)

3. Emotional Context:

“I know you’re going through a tough time; do you have the mental bandwidth to talk about this now?”
(Sé que estás pasando por un momento difícil; ¿tienes la capacidad mental para hablar de esto ahora?)

“Grief can consume your mental bandwidth, leaving little room for anything else.”
(El duelo puede consumir tu energía mental, dejando poco espacio para otras cosas.)

4. Social or Group Dynamics:

“Our team is at full capacity; we don’t have the mental bandwidth to take on additional clients.”
(Nuestro equipo está al máximo; no tenemos la capacidad mental para asumir más clientes.)

“She’s juggling so many responsibilities that her mental bandwidth for socializing is non-existent.”
(Está manejando tantas responsabilidades que su capacidad mental para socializar es inexistente.)

Key Synonyms:

Cognitive capacity

Mental energy

Focus

Attention span

Mental load

Summary:

“Mental bandwidth” is a versatile metaphor that captures the limitations of a person’s mental and emotional capacity. It is especially useful in contexts of stress, multitasking, or prioritization.

Question 4

Suck out

Answer 4

Meaning of “Suck Out”

The phrase “suck out” is a phrasal verb with several meanings, depending on the context. It often conveys the idea of removing or extracting something forcefully or draining energy or resources. Its usage can be literal or figurative.

1. Literal Meanings:

To physically extract something, often with a suction-like action.

Examples:

“They used a pump to suck out the water from the flooded basement.”
(Usaron una bomba para extraer el agua del sótano inundado.)

“I sucked out the juice from the orange using a straw.”
(Extraje el jugo de la naranja con un popote.)

2. Figurative Meanings:

To drain energy, enthusiasm, or resources from someone or something.

Examples:

“That long meeting really sucked out all my energy.”
(Esa reunión larga realmente me drenó toda la energía.)

“The constant criticism sucked out the joy of working on the project.”
(Las críticas constantes eliminaron la alegría de trabajar en el proyecto.)

3. Emotional or Psychological Context:

To describe situations or actions that drain emotional strength or leave someone feeling depleted.

Examples:

“Dealing with toxic people can suck out your happiness.”
(Tratar con personas tóxicas puede drenar tu felicidad.)

“The stress of juggling work and personal life is sucking out all my motivation.”
(El estrés de equilibrar el trabajo y la vida personal está agotando toda mi motivación.)

4. Negative Impact on Atmosphere:

Refers to removing excitement or positivity from a situation.

Examples:

“The bad news sucked all the energy out of the room.”
(Las malas noticias drenaron toda la energía de la sala.)

“His constant negativity sucks the fun out of every event.”
(Su constante negatividad arruina la diversión de cada evento.)

Key Synonyms:

Drain

Extract

Deplete

Remove

Exhaust

Summary:

“Suck out” can describe physical extraction, emotional depletion, or the removal of positivity from a situation. It’s commonly used figuratively to convey feelings of exhaustion or negativity.

Mental Image:

You’re at a kid’s birthday party. Ten toddlers. One you.
You’ve been asked to supervise the bouncy house.
Screaming. Sugar. Chaos.
One kid is sticking frosting in another’s ear. Another is crying because his balloon touched the ground.

Three hours later, you sit slumped on a plastic chair, frosting in your hair, eyes staring into the void.
Your friend walks by and says,
“You good?”
You croak:
“That…sucked out my soul.”

The deflated balloon next to you nods in agreement.

Question 5

Retrieve

Answer 5

Meaning of “Retrieve”

The verb “retrieve” means to get something back, to recover it, or to bring it back to its original place or condition. It can be used both in literal and figurative contexts.

1. Literal Meanings:

To recover or bring back a physical object.

Examples:

“I need to retrieve my bag from the locker.”
(Necesito recuperar mi bolso del casillero.)

“The dog retrieved the ball from the river.”
(El perro recuperó la pelota del río.)

2. Figurative Meanings:

To regain or restore something intangible, like a feeling, memory, or situation.

Examples:

“He tried to retrieve his confidence after the failure.”
(Trató de recuperar su confianza después del fracaso.)

“The company is working hard to retrieve its reputation.”
(La empresa está trabajando arduamente para recuperar su reputación.)

3. In Technology or Information Contexts:

To access or extract data or information.

Examples:

“The system allows users to retrieve lost files.”
(El sistema permite a los usuarios recuperar archivos perdidos.)

“I retrieved the email from the archive folder.”
(Recuperé el correo electrónico de la carpeta de archivo.)

4. In Animal Training or Hunting:

Refers to fetching or bringing back prey or items, often done by trained animals like dogs.

Examples:

“The dog was trained to retrieve ducks during hunting.”
(El perro fue entrenado para recuperar patos durante la caza.)

“She taught her dog to retrieve the frisbee.”
(Enseñó a su perro a recoger el frisbee.)

5. Emotional or Psychological Context:

To describe recalling or bringing back memories or emotions.

Examples:

“The photo helped him retrieve fond memories of his childhood.”
(La foto lo ayudó a recuperar entrañables recuerdos de su infancia.)

“She tried to retrieve the feeling of joy she once had.”
(Trató de recuperar la sensación de alegría que una vez tuvo.)

Key Synonyms:

Recover

Regain

Fetch

Reclaim

Bring back

Access

Summary:

The verb “retrieve” is versatile and applies to recovering objects, regaining intangible qualities (confidence, reputation), accessing data, or even recalling memories. It emphasizes the action of bringing something back to its rightful place, condition, or owner.

▶️▶️▶️

On the outskirts of Kyiv, under heavy snow and drone surveillance, Anya—a former ballet prodigy turned resistance courier—raced through alleyways. Her mission: retrieve a flash drive hidden beneath the old Mariinsky stage, containing names of Russian collaborators. A single misstep meant capture—or worse. Inside the ruined theater, she found it lodged in a music box playing Swan Lake. As she grabbed it, a soldier’s shadow loomed. She spun, pirouetted low, and stabbed his thigh with a blade hidden in her pointe shoe. Blood on snow. She vanished into the storm. In war, grace retrieves more than hope—it saves history.

Question 6

Raise a glass

Answer 6

Meaning of “Raise a Glass”

The phrase “raise a glass” means to offer a toast or to lift your drink in celebration, honor, or acknowledgment of someone or something. It’s a symbolic gesture used during formal or informal gatherings, often accompanied by a short speech or words of appreciation.

Examples of Usage:

1. Celebrating Someone:

“Let’s raise a glass to Sarah for her incredible achievements this year.”
(Levantemos nuestras copas por Sarah y sus increíbles logros este año.)

“We raise a glass to the happy couple on their wedding day.”
(Levantamos nuestras copas por los novios en su día de boda.)

2. Honoring a Memory:

“Let’s raise a glass in memory of those who are no longer with us.”
(Levantemos nuestras copas en memoria de aquellos que ya no están con nosotros.)

“We raise a glass to honor the sacrifices of our ancestors.”
(Levantamos nuestras copas para honrar los sacrificios de nuestros antepasados.)

3. Expressing Gratitude:

“I’d like to raise a glass to all of you for your hard work and dedication.”
(Quiero levantar mi copa por todos ustedes por su arduo trabajo y dedicación.)

“Let’s raise a glass to our incredible team for making this event possible.”
(Levantemos nuestras copas por nuestro increíble equipo por hacer posible este evento.)

4. Celebrating a New Beginning:

“Here’s to new adventures! Let’s raise a glass to the future.”
(¡Por nuevas aventuras! Levantemos nuestras copas por el futuro.)

“Raise a glass to new opportunities and fresh starts!”
(¡Levantemos nuestras copas por nuevas oportunidades y nuevos comienzos!)

Synonyms or Variations:

“Let’s toast to…”

“Here’s to…”

“Lift your glass for…”

Cultural Context:

It is a common practice during celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, or formal dinners.

“Raise a glass” is often used figuratively in speeches, even if no drink is present, to signify honor or celebration.

This phrase adds a touch of formality and warmth to gatherings and occasions.

Question 7

Adele has been accused of sabotaging the sale of the £6m mansion she used to live in by saying it gave her “the creeps”

Answer 7

.

Question 8

Seasoning

Answer 8

Sure! Here’s a full explanation of “seasonings” in English — including its meaning, types, uses, and examples:

WORD: Seasonings

Meaning:

“Seasonings” are ingredients used to enhance the flavor or aroma of food. They do not usually change the main nature of the dish, but make it taste better or more interesting.

Part of Speech:

Noun (usually plural)

Common Types of Seasonings:

Salt

Pepper

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Paprika

Cumin

Oregano

Basil

Chili flakes

Curry powder

Bay leaves

Typical Uses:

To enhance or balance flavor

To add complexity or aroma

To bring out the natural taste of ingredients

Used in marinades, rubs, soups, sauces, stir-fries, and roasted dishes

Example Sentences:

1. Don’t forget to add some seasonings before you cook the chicken.
2. This soup needs more seasoning; it tastes too bland.
3. Italian seasonings like basil, oregano, and garlic give pasta its distinctive flavor.
4. She used a special blend of seasonings to marinate the beef overnight.
5. Some people prefer to add their own seasonings at the table.

Collocations / Phrases:

Seasoning blend (a mix of spices and herbs)

Lightly seasoned

Overseasoned / Underseasoned

Adjust the seasoning (taste and add more if needed)

Would you like a flashcard or quiz version of this too?

Question 9

Pretty much

Answer 9

Claro, aquí tienes todo sobre “pretty much” en inglés:

PHRASE: Pretty much

Meaning / Significados:

1. Almost completely / Almost entirely
   → Casi por completo / Prácticamente
2. Approximately / More or less
   → Aproximadamente / Más o menos
3. Basically / Essentially
   → Básicamente / Esencialmente

Examples of Use:

1. We’re pretty much done with the project.
   → Ya casi hemos terminado el proyecto.
2. I pretty much agree with everything you said.
   → Estoy prácticamente de acuerdo con todo lo que dijiste.
3. He eats the same thing for lunch pretty much every day.
   → Come lo mismo en el almuerzo casi todos los días.
4. That’s pretty much what I expected.
   → Eso es más o menos lo que esperaba.
5. The store is pretty much empty now.
   → La tienda está prácticamente vacía ahora.

Notes:

Es una expresión informal, muy común en conversaciones cotidianas.

Puede usarse con el mismo sentido que “almost”, “more or less” o “basically”.

Se usa antes de un verbo o al final de la frase, según el contexto.

Mental Image:

You’re at an all-you-can-eat buffet with your best friend. Plates are stacked high with pizza, tacos, sushi, and a mountain of desserts that defy gravity. After two hours of relentless munching, your friend leans back in the chair, belly protruding like a drum, and groans:

“I think I ate the entire dessert table.”
You glance at the buffet. Only a single sad éclair remains, trembling slightly under the flickering light.
You raise an eyebrow and say with a smirk:
“Yeah… pretty much.”