sp idioms A to C Flashcards
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
cada hijo de vecino
every Tom Dick and Harry; everyone
cada muerte de obispo
once in a blue moon; very rarely (lit.: each time a bishop dies)
caer en la cuenta
realize
caer mal
dislike; not like. 1. Me cae mal este tipo.
caerle bien a alguien
look good; feel good; seem pleasant (lit.: to fall well to someone)
caérsele a alg la baba con/por algo
drool over someone or something; dote on someone; be crazy about someone or something (lit.: to left fall slobber over someone or something)
caérsele los anillos a algn
be beneath one; be beneath one’s dignity (lit.: to have one’s rings fall off)
cambiar de idea
change one’s mind (lit.: to change idea)
cambiar de tema
change a/the subject
camino de
along the way on the way (lit.: road/path of)
canta a pelo
sing unaccompanied
carne de gallina
gooseflesh
cerrar algo a cal y canto
shut something tight firmly securely
chiflar el moño a algn
be nuts; be crazy
cielos
heavens; oh my gosh (lit.: heavens; n.b.: used when surprised often in place of something vulgar)
cien por cien
100%; with certainty; precisely (lit.: one-hundred by one-hundred)
claro que sí
of course; yes; indeed
cocerse en un propia salsa
stew in one’s (own) juice
coger el toro por los cuernos
grab the bull by the horns (n.b.: coger is used only in Spain)
comer a deshora
eat at odd times
como agua para chocolate
furious; enraged (lit.: like water for chocolate)
como de costumbre
as usual (lit.: as of custom)
como Dios manda
the way it’s supposed to be
como perro en barrio ajeno
out of place; in the wrong neighborhood (lit.: like a dog in a distant neighborhood; i.e.: people who try to enter other parts of society may be attacked or ostracized)
como quitarle un pelo al gato
a victimless crime (lit.: like removing a hair from a cat; i.e.: the quantity in question is so small that it has no significant effect and goes unnoticed)
como si no fuera poco
as if it were not enough
como siempre
as usual; as always
como un oro
like new (lit.: like a gold [coin])
como un perro
like a dog; like scum; in the gutter (lit.: like a dog)
como una balsa de aceite
smoothly; swimmingly; peacefully (lit.: like a pool of oil)
como una rosa
fresh as a daisy; soft as silk (lit.: like a rose)
con anticipación
in advance; ahead of time
con apuros
with difficulty
con pelos y señales
in minute detail; precisely
con permiso
with (your) permission
con seguridad
surely; certainly; absolutely
con toda la barba
real; the real deal; honest to goodness; true (lit.: with all the beard)
con todo respeto
with all due respect. 1. Con todo respeto no me parece tan importante.
consultarlo con la almohada
sleep on it (lit.: consult about something with the pillow)
contar con
count on
correr la bola
spread the word; put out the word
cortar el bacalao
call the shots (lit.: to cut the codfish; n.b.: Spain usage)
cortar las alas a alg.
clip someone’s wings; nip something in the bud (lit.: cut the wings of someone or something)
cortar un pelo en el aire
be smart
corto de luces
dim; dull; stupid
cuando pueda
when you can; when you have a moment
cuanto antes
as soon as possible (lit.: as much before)
cuatro gatos
a handful of people; half a dozen people; a small group of people (lit.: four cats)
