| Additional Translations |
be on to [sth],
be onto [sth] v expr | informal (have: a promising idea) | tener⇒ vtr |
| | (cambio de sujeto: idea) | ser bueno v cop + adj |
| | Open a crèche in the office? You could be on to a good idea there. |
| | ¿Montar una guardería en la oficina? Tal vez tienes una buena idea. |
| | ¿Montar una guardería en la oficina? Esa podría ser una buena idea. |
be on to [sb],
be onto [sb] v expr | informal (suspect [sb]'s secret) | sospechar de alguien vi + prep |
| | | estar tras alguien loc verb |
| | The thief knew the police were on to him, so he was trying to keep a low profile. |
| | El ladrón sabía que la policía sospechaba de él y por eso estaba tratando de mantener un bajo perfil. |
| on adj | (occurring) | tener lugar loc verb |
| | The film festival is on all week. |
| | El festival de cine tendrá lugar durante toda la semana. |
| on adj | (broadcasting) (televisión) | dar⇒ vtr |
| | | pasar⇒ vtr |
| | | al aire, en el aire loc adv |
| | Your favourite programme is on. |
| | Están dando tu programa favorito. |
| on adj | (performing) | en escena loc adv |
| | I always get stage fright, but I'm OK once I'm on. |
| | Siempre tengo pánico escénico, pero estoy bien una vez que estoy en escena. |
| on adj | (planned) | estar en pie loc verb |
| | | hacerse⇒ v prnl |
| | Is the party still on for tonight? |
| | ¿Todavía está en pie la fiesta de esta noche? |
| | ¿Todavía se hace la fiesta de esta noche? |
| on adj | (baseball: on base) (béisbol) | en la base loc adv |
| | They have three men on. |
| | Ellos tienen tres hombres en la base. |
| on adj | informal, UK (acceptable) | aceptable adj mf |
| | | admisible adj mf |
| | Tom's behaviour is just not on. |
| | El comportamiento de Tom no es aceptable. |
| on adj | informal, figurative (due onstage) | a escena loc adv |
| | Theresa's on in two minutes! Where did she go? |
| | Teresa sale a escena en dos minutos, ¿dónde se fue? |
| on adv | (situated atop) | arriba, encima adv |
| | | subido participio |
| | Are you on? Can I start pedalling? |
| | ¿Ya estás arriba? ¿Puedo empezar a pedalear? |
| | ¿Te has subido ya? ¿Puedo empezar a pedalear? |
| on adv | (onto position, cooking) | a cocinar loc adv |
| | I'll put the potatoes on. |
| | Yo pondré las patatas a cocinar. |
| on adv | (covering, wrapping) (verbo: poner) | puesto participio |
| | Fred has his coat on already. |
| | Fred ya tiene el abrigo puesto. |
| on adv | (tightly attached) (verbo: cerrar) | cerrado participio |
| | Make sure the cap is on properly. |
| | Asegúrate de que la tapa esté correctamente cerrada. |
| on adv | (towards a place, object) | adelante adv |
| | They walked further on down the road. |
| | Siguieron adelante, por el camino. |
| on adv | (onward) | adelante adv |
| | | hacia delante loc adv |
| | The crowd urged her on. |
| | La multitud la impulsaba a seguir adelante. |
| | La multitud la impulsaba a seguir hacia delante. |
| on adv | (continuously) | continuar⇒ vtr |
| Note: Continuar es la traducción de "to carry on" en su conjunto. |
| | Carry on with what you were doing. |
| | Continúa con lo que estabas haciendo. |
| on adv | (into operation) | encender⇒ vtr |
| | (coloquial) | prender⇒ vtr |
| Note: Encender es la traducción de "to turn on" en su conjunto. |
| | Could you turn the radio on? |
| | ¿Podrías encender la radio? |
| | ¿Podrías prender la radio? |
| on n | (button) | botón de encendido grupo nom |
| | Press "on". |
| | Presiona el botón de encendido. |
| on prep | (suspended from) | en prep |
| | Her coat is on the hook. |
| | El abrigo está colgado en la percha. |
| on prep | (supported by) | sobre prep |
| | Lie on your stomach. |
| | Túmbese sobre el vientre. |
| on prep | (covering, wrapping) | en prep |
| | You should put a bandage on that wound. |
| | Deberías ponerte un vendaje en esa herida. |
| on prep | (carrying, with you) | con prep |
| | Have you got any cash on you? |
| | ¿Vienes con algo de efectivo? |
| on prep | (about) | sobre prep |
| | I'm looking for a book on orchids. |
| | Estoy buscando un libro sobre orquídeas. |
| on prep | (basis) | en prep |
| | | de prep |
| | The film is based on an 18th century novel. |
| | She depends on the dictionary to do her homework. |
| | La película está basada en una novela del siglo XVIII. |
| | Depende del diccionario para hacer su tarea. |
| on prep | (in the direction of) | a prep |
| | She shone the light on the intruder. |
| | Ella apuntó con la luz al intruso. |
| on prep | (vehicles) | en prep |
| | We can eat our sandwiches on the train. |
| | Podemos comer nuestros emparedados en el tren. |
| on prep | (membership) | en prep |
| | My Mum served on a jury for a murder trial. |
| | Mi madre participó en el jurado de un juicio por asesinato. |
| on prep | (media) (televisión) | en prep |
| | What's on Channel 4 tonight? |
| | ¿Qué hay en el canal 4 esta noche? |
| on prep | (undertaking: journey, etc.) | en prep |
| | | de prep |
| | Leah is on a business trip to London. |
| | Leah está en un viaje de negocios en Londres. |
| on prep | (added to) | por prep |
| | You can insure it for only pennies on the pound. |
| | Lo puedes asegurar por muy poco dinero. |
| on prep | informal (liability: down to) | tocar⇒ vtr |
| | It's always on me to sort out these problems. |
| | Siempre me toca a mí tener que solucionar estos problemas. |
| on prep | (destination) | a prep |
| | The police closed in on him. |
| | La policía se fue acercando a él. |
| on prep | (object) | a prep |
| | They've always looked on me with kindness. |
| | Ellos siempre me miraron a mí con amabilidad. |
| on prep | (reference) | sobre prep |
| | What are your thoughts on global warming? |
| | ¿Qué piensas sobre el calentamiento global? |
| on prep | (at the time of) | cuando adv |
| | (contracción a el) | al prep + art |
| | | a la prep + art |
| | They started to get lost on entering the city. |
| | Se empezaron a perder cuando entraron en la ciudad. |
| | Empezaron a perderse al entrar en la ciudad. |
| | Empezaron a perderse a la entrada de la ciudad. |
| on prep | (diet, medicine) (medicación) | con prep |
| | (dieta, régimen) | a prep |
| | She's on antibiotics. |
| | Ella está con antibióticos. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. María está a dieta para llegar más delgada al verano. |
| on prep | (to the detriment of) | con respecto a loc prep |
| | They have a three-mile lead on us. |
| | Llevan una ventaja de tres millas con respecto a nosotros. |
| on prep | (via the medium of) | en prep |
| | They saw it on TV. |
| | Lo vieron en televisión. |
| on prep | (about: a subject) | acerca de loc prep |
| | This presentation is on the French Revolution and changes in society thereafter. |
| | Es una presentación acerca de la Revolución Francesa y los cambios que significó para la sociedad. |
| | | sobre prep |
| | La presentación es sobre la Revolución Francesa y sus consecuencias para la sociedad. |
| on prep | informal (taking: drugs) | drogado adj |
| | (ES: coloquial) | colocado/a adj |
| | (CO: coloquial) | trabado adj |
| | Mitch seemed agitated and strange all evening, as if he were on something. |
| | Mitch estuvo agitado y raro toda la tarde como si estuviese drogado. |
| on prep | informal (paid by) | tocarle a vi + prep |
| | | pagar⇒ vtr |
| | Dinner's on me tonight! You paid last time we went out. |
| | Esta vez me toca a mí; tú pagaste la última vez que salimos. |
| | Esta vez pago yo la cena; tú pagaste la última vez. |
Locuciones verbales
on | ON |
| act on [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (respond) | reaccionar ante vi + prep |
| | | reaccionar a vi + prep |
| | Olga acted on the email she received. |
| | Olga reaccionó ante el correo electrónico que recibió. |
| act on [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (have effect) | actuar⇒ vi |
| | The engraving was the result of the acid acting on the metal. |
| | El grabado fue el resultado del ácido al actuar sobre el metal. |
add [sth] on,
add on [sth] vtr phrasal sep | (charge [sth] in addition) | añadir⇒ vtr |
| | | agregar⇒ vtr |
| Note: A hyphen is used when the term is or modifies a noun |
| | Restaurants add on sales tax after the bill is calculated. |
add on [sth],
add [sth] on vtr phrasal sep | (append [sth]) | adjuntar⇒ vtr |
| | Before sending the email, Irene added on a document. |
| | Antes de enviar, Irene adjuntó un documento a su correo electrónico. |
bail out on [sb],
UK: bale out on [sb] vi phrasal + prep | informal, figurative (abandon: [sb]) (informal) | dejar tirado a loc verb |
| | | dejar colgado a loc verb |
| | | dejar plantado a loc verb |
| | James bailed out on Chris and left him to do all the work on his own. |
| bang on vi phrasal | UK, informal (talk insistently about [sth]) (coloquial) | dar la lata, dar la brasa, dar la paliza expr |
| | The lecturer kept banging on even though most of the students weren't listening. |
| | El profesor seguía dando la brasa, aun cuando la mayor parte de los alumnos no le escuchaban. |
| bang on about [sth] vi phrasal + prep | UK, informal (talk insistently about [sth]) | no parar de hablar de loc verb |
| | Tanya is always banging on about how awful her boss is. |
| | Tanya no para de hablar de lo horrible que es su jefe. |
bargain on [sth],
bargain on doing [sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (expect) (tener expectativas) | esperar⇒ vtr |
| | I hadn't bargained on retiring at 59, but here I am, retired! |
| | No esperaba jubilarme a los 59 años, pero aquí me ves, ¡jubilado! |
| barge in on [sth] vi phrasal + prep | informal (interrupt [sth]) | interrumpir⇒ vtr |
| | | irrumpir en vi + prep |
| | It was rude of you to barge in on their family reunion. |
| | Fue muy grosero interrumpieras su reunión familiar. |
| barge in on [sb] vi phrasal + prep | informal (interrupt [sb]) | interrumpir a vtr + prep |
| | She barged in on me while I was getting dressed! |
| | ¡Me interrumpió mientras me estaba vistiendo! |
| barge in on [sth] vi phrasal + prep | informal, figurative (conversation: interrupt) | meterse en, entrometerse en v prnl + prep |
| | | interrumpir⇒ vtr |
| | What makes you think you can just barge in on someone else's conversation? |
| | ¿Qué te hace pensar que puedes meterte en la conversación de los demás? |
| bash on vi phrasal | informal, UK (continue, persevere) | seguir⇒ vi |
| | | continuar⇒ vi |
| | The mountaineers decided to bash on even though the weather was getting worse. |
| be on about [sth] vi phrasal + prep | UK, slang (talk incessantly) (coloquial) | parlotear⇒ vi |
| | What on earth are you on about? |
| | ¿De qué cuerno estás parloteando tanto? |
| bear down on [sth/sb] vi phrasal + prep | (push, press on) | accionar con fuerza loc verb |
| | | hacer presión sobre loc verb |
| | Bear down on the pen to make clear carbon copies. |
| | Acciona con fuerza la birome para hacer copias con carbónico. |
| bear down on [sb] vi phrasal + prep | figurative (weigh heavily upon) (figurado) | aplastar a vtr + prep |
| | Emma felt the full weight of her financial worries bearing down on her. |
| | Las preocupaciones financieras aplastaban a Ema. |
| bear down on [sb/sth] vi phrasal + prep | UK (rush towards) | venirse encima loc verb |
| | | echarse encima loc verb |
| | The truck came bearing down on the brothers as they were crossing the street. |
| | El camión se les vino encima a los hermanos cuando estaban cruzando la calle. |
| bear down on [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (approach threateningly) | cernerse sobre loc verb |
| | The man was bearing down on Jim along the path. |
bear on [sth],
bear upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | formal (be relevant to) | pesar sobre vi + prep |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Su política financiera pesará sobre nuestra forma de actuar el próximo trimestre. |
Compound Forms:
on | ON |
| a night out on the town n | (evening at bar, party) (coloquial) | una noche de parranda, una noche de juerga, una noche de rumba loc nom f |
| | | una salida nocturna nf + adj |
| | After I got my promotion, my friends and I went for a night out on the town to celebrate. |
| | Después de que me ascendieran, mis amigos y yo nos fuimos al centro para tener una noche de parranda. |
add [sth] onto [sth],
add on [sth] to [sth] v expr | (charge in addition) | agregar algo a, añadir algo a loc verb |
| | | sumar algo a loc verb |
| | This restaurant automatically adds a service charge onto the bill. |
add [sth] onto [sth],
add on [sth] to [sth] v expr | (append) | adjuntar algo a loc verb |
| | You can set this app to automatically add a signature to your emails. |
| add-on n | (optional extra feature) | complemento nm |
| | | extensión nf |
| | The software has lots of add-ons. |
| | El programa tiene muchos complementos. |
| add-on n | (additional charge) | cobro adicional nm + adj mf |
| | The bill includes add-ons. |
| | La cuenta incluye cobros adicionales. |
| add-on adj | (feature: optional, extra) | adicional adj mf |
| | | complementario/a adj |
| | The program provides many add-on features. |
| | El programa ofrece muchas funciones adicionales. |
| adjudicate on [sth] vi + prep | (settle a dispute) | fallar a favor de loc verb |
| | | adjudicar⇒ vtr |
| | The ombudsman was asked to adjudicate on the dispute. |
| advise [sb] on [sth] vtr + prep | (counsel [sb] on [sth]) | aconsejar en vtr + prep |
| | | asesorar en vtr + prep |
| | He was hired to advise the Queen on matters of state. |
| | Lo contrataron para que aconsejara a la reina en cuestiones de estado. |
| advise [sb] on [sth] vtr + prep | (warn about or recommend) | aconsejar sobre vtr + prep |
| | Eddie advised us on the best restaurants to visit. |
| affidavit on demurrer n | (law: objection to decision) | declaración jurada de excepción loc nom f |
| | | declaración jurada de objeción loc nom f |
| aggression on [sth/sb] n | (attack, infringement) | agresión contra nf + prep |
| | | ataque contra nm + prep |
| | This recent violence against a minority is an aggression on our society as a whole. |
| | Esta violencia reciente contra una minoría es una agresión contra nuestra sociedad en su conjunto. |
agree with [sb] about [sth],
agree with [sb] on [sth] v expr | (have same opinion about) | coincidir con alguien sobre algo, coincidir con alguien en algo loc verb |
| | | estar de acuerdo con alguien en algo loc verb |
| | We all agreed with Jack about the colour of the new chairs. |
| | Todos coincidimos con Jack sobre el color de las sillas nuevas. |
| agree on [sth] vi + prep | (decide mutually) | acordar⇒, convenir⇒ vtr |
| | | ponerse de acuerdo en loc verb + prep |
| | Both sides agreed on a truce. |
| | Ambos lados acordaron una tregua. |
| agree on terms v expr | (decide conditions) | aceptar las condiciones loc verb |
| | | aceptar los términos loc verb |
| | The two companies agreed on terms and the contract was signed. |
| | Las dos empresas aceptaron las condiciones y se firmó el contrato. |
| always on the move adj | informal (never still) | nunca quieto loc adj |
| | | siempre en movimiento loc adj |
| | Sheila is always on the move and never has the time to sit down for a chat. |
| always on the move adj | informal (travelling a lot) | siempre en marcha loc adj |
| | | siempre en movimiento loc adj |
| | | siempre de viaje loc adj |
| | Barry is always on move because he has to go on a lot of business trips. |
| and so on adv | (et cetera) | y demás loc adv |
| | | etcétera adv |
| | Victims of the disaster urgently need drinking water, food, medical supplies, and so on. |
| | Las víctimas del desastre necesitan con urgencia agua, comida, medicamentos y demás. |
| and so on and so forth adv | (et cetera) | etcétera adv |
| | First we preheat the oven, and then we measure the ingredients; mix the eggs with the sugar, and so on and so forth. |
| | Primero se calienta el horno, y después medimos los ingredientes, mezclamos los huevos con el azúcar, etc. |
| animadvert on [sth/sb] vi + prep | formal (criticize) | criticar⇒, censurar⇒, desaprobar⇒, condenar⇒ vtr |
| | (persona) | criticar a, censurar a, desaprobar a, condenar a vtr + prep |
| | The author animadverted on his rival's work. |
| ants on a log n | (celery-based snack) (comida) | hormigas en tronco loc nom fpl |
| | | apio con pasas nm + loc adj |
applique [sth] on [sth],
applique [sth] to [sth],
appliqué [sth] on [sth],
appliqué [sth] to [sth] vtr + prep | from French (decorative patch: sew on to [sth]) | bordar apliques loc verb |
as if on cue,
as though on cue expr | (as though responding to a signal) | como si fuera una señal expr |
| | Tom was thinking about his mother when, as if on cue, she knocked on his front door. |
| as seen on TV expr | (as advertised on television) | como se ve en la televisión expr |
| an assault on the senses n | (overwhelming noise, color, smells) | asalto a los sentidos loc nom m |
| | A walk through the market is an assault on the senses; there is so much noise and activity. |
at the cutting edge of [sth],
on the cutting edge of [sth] adv | figurative (at the forefront of [sth]) | a la vanguardia de loc adv |
| | In 1440 Gutenberg's printing press was at the cutting edge of technology. |
at the stroke of [sth],
on the stroke of [sth] prep | (at exactly: a given hour) (hora) | justo a expr |
| | | en punto expr |
| | The party ended at the stroke of midnight. |
| | La fiesta terminó justo a medianoche. |
| | La fiesta terminó a las doce en punto de la noche. |
at the weekends (UK),
on the weekends (mainly US) adv | (on Saturday or Sunday in given period) | los fines de semana loc adv |
| | | el fin de semana loc adv |
| | When I lived in France, I worked in Rouen during the week and stayed with friends in Paris at the weekends. |
| at work on [sth] adj | (working on) | trabajando en gerundio + prep |
| | The show is a great success, and its writers are already at work on the second season. |
| | El programa es un éxito y los guionistas ya están trabajando en la segunda temporada. |
| attend on [sb] vi + prep | UK (serve) | atender a vtr + prep |
| | There were several staff to attend on the guests. |
| | Había varios empleados para atender a los invitados. |
authoritative on [sth],
authoritative about [sth] adj + prep | (knowledgeable about) | conocedor de adj + prep |
| | | acreditado en adj + prep |
| | My history teacher is particularly authoritative on the Tudor period. |
| | Mi maestro de historia es especialmente conocedor del período Tudor. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El médico cirujano está acreditado en la nueva técnica quirúrgica. |
| authority on [sth] n | (authoritative publication) | autoridad en nf + prep |
| | The famous astronomer's book is considered to be the authority on black holes. |
| | El libro del famoso astrónomo se considera una autoridad en agujeros negros. |
| available on request adj | (can be obtained by asking) | disponible bajo pedido loc adj |
| | Further information is available on request. |
| back water on [sth] v expr | (retreat from a position) | dar marcha atrás expr |
| backtrack on [sth] vi + prep | figurative (change your opinion about [sth]) | cambiar de opinión loc verb |
| | When the investigation began, the politician quickly began to backtrack on his previous remarks. |
balance [sth],
balance [sth] on [sth]⇒ vtr | (place precariously) | poner en equilibrio vtr + loc adv |
| | The hiker balanced his water bottle on a rock. |
| | El excursionista puso la botella de agua en equilibrio sobre una roca. |
| bang on adj | UK, slang (on target, exact) (coloquial, acertar, ser correcto) | dar en el clavo expr |
| | It was a tricky question, but I thought his answer was bang on. |
| | Era una pregunta complicada, pero creí que con su respuesta había dado en el clavo. |
bank on [sth/sb],
bank upon [sth/sb] vi + prep | figurative (rely, bet) | contar con vtr + prep |
| | I'm banking on the stock market recovering; otherwise I won't have enough retirement funds. |
| | Estoy contando con la recuperación del mercado de valores, de otro modo no tendré una jubilación suficiente. |
base [sth] on [sth],
base [sth] upon [sth] vtr + prep | often passive (use as evidence) | basar en, fundamentar en vtr + prep |
| | | cimentar en vtr + prep |
| Note: "Base on" is more common than "base upon." These expressions are often used in the passive voice--e.g., "My opinion is based on facts, not rumor." |
| | She based her conclusion on close examination of the evidence. |
| | Basó su conclusión en un cuidadoso examen de la evidencia. |
base [sth] on [sth],
base [sth] upon [sth] vtr + prep | (adapt from) | basar en vtr + prep |
| Note: "Base on" is more common than "base upon." These expressions are often used in the passive voice--e.g., "The movie is based on a true story." |
| | They will base the film on a short story written by Mark Twain. |
| | Van a basar la película en un cuento corto de Mark Twain. |
| base on balls n | (baseball: walk awarded) | base por bolas loc nom f |
| | The pitcher gave a base on balls. |
| be based on [sth] v expr | (be founded on [sth]) | surgir a partir de loc verb |
| | | basarse en v prnl + prep |
| | | basarse en v prnl + prep |
| | His political ideas are based on his conservative beliefs.Ideally, your decision should be based upon sound reasoning. |
| | Sus ideas políticas surgen a partir de sus convicciones conservadoras. |
be based on [sth],
be based upon [sth] v expr | (be adapted from [sth]) | basarse en v prnl + prep |
| | | estar basado en loc verb |
| | Many movies are based on true stories. |
| | The play is based on the novel of the same name. |
| | Muchas películas se basan en hechos reales. |
based on [sth],
based upon [sth] expr | (founded on) | basado en adj + prep |
| | | fundamentado en adj + prep |
| | Some countries have laws based upon state religions. |
| | Ciertos países tienen leyes basadas en las religiones oficiales. |
based on [sth],
based upon [sth] expr | (adapted from [sth]) | basado en adj + prep |
| | Based on a true story. |
| | Basado en una historia real. |
batten on [sth],
batten upon [sth] vi + prep | rare (grow fat on) | engordar con vi + prep |
| | The sheep are battening well on the rich grass in the meadow. |
batten on [sth],
batten upon [sth] vi + prep | (feed greedily on) | comerse todo loc verb |
| | The revellers sat down at the table and battened upon the food. |
batten on [sb],
batten upon [sb] vi + prep | UK, figurative (prosper at [sb]'s expense) | aprovecharse de v prnl + prep |
| | The millionaire is famous for gaining his wealth by battening on others. |
| be agreed on v expr | (be decided) (ideas) | coincidir⇒ vi |
| | It seems we are all agreed on the need for health care reform, but we differ totally on how to implement it. |
| | Parece que todos coincidimos en la necesidad de una reforma del sistema sanitario, pero disentimos completamente en el modo de llevarla a cabo. |
| | | estar de acuerdo en loc verb |
| | Parece que todos estamos de acuerdo sobre la necesidad de una reforma del sistema sanitario, pero disentimos completamente en el modo de llevarla a cabo. |
| be carried on v expr | (be continued or perpetuated) | ser llevado adelante loc verb |
| | | ser manejado loc verb |
| | After all these years, the business is still being carried on by the founder's great-great-grandson. |
| | Luego de todos estos años, el negocio aún es llevado adelante por el bisnieto del fundador. |
| be hell on [sb/sth] v expr | (cause extreme difficulty) (figurado) | ser la pesadilla de loc verb |
| be on a roll v expr | figurative, informal (experience a run of success) | estar en racha, estar de buena racha loc verb |
| | | tener buena suerte loc verb |
| | I think I'll strip the wallpaper from another wall before bedtime; I'm on a roll! |
| | Creo que arrancaré el papel pintado de otra pared antes de irme a la cama, estoy en racha. |
| be on borrowed time n | figurative (uncertain time period) | tener el tiempo prestado loc verb |
| | With all the budget cuts we're experiencing, there's no doubt this project is on borrowed time; it's going to get shut down any day now. |
| | Con los cortes al presupuesto, no queda duda de que este proyecto tiene el tiempo prestado y lo van a cancelar en cualquier momento. |
| be on [sb]'s trail v expr | (follow [sb] or evidence of [sb]) | seguir los pasos, seguir las huellas expr |
| | | seguir⇒, perseguir⇒ vi |
| be on shaky ground v expr | figurative (be in a precarious situation) | estar en tierra poco firme loc verb |
| | | estar en terreno peligroso loc verb |
| be on the rag v expr | vulgar, informal, US (menstruating) | andar con la regla loc verb |
| | (AR, coloquial) | estar con andrés loc verb |
be on your best behavior (US),
be on your best behaviour (UK) v expr | (behave very well) | tener buena conducta expr |
| beat up on yourself v expr | US, informal (feel guilty or bad) | autoflagelarse⇒ v pron |
on behalf of [sb/sth],
on [sb/sth]'s behalf,
also US: in behalf of [sb/sth],
in [sb/sth]'s behalf prep | (in place of [sb]) | de parte de loc prep |
| | | en nombre de loc prep |
| Note: "On behalf of, on sb/sth's behalf" is currently much more common than "in behalf of, in sb/sth's behalf." |
| | I'm phoning on behalf of my daughter, who has lost her voice. |
| | The millionaire sent somebody to bid on the painting on his behalf. |
| | Llamo de parte de mi hija, que perdió la voz. |
| | | en representación de loc prep |
| | Llamo en representación de mi hija, que está afónica. |
| bent on [sth] adj + prep | (determined) | decidido a adj + prep |
| | | empeñado en adj + prep |
| | | empecinado en adj + prep |
| | The victim's father is bent on revenge. |
| | The reigning champion, bent on keeping his title, has been training non-stop for the match. |
| | El padre de la víctima está decidido a vengarse. |
| bent on doing [sth] adj | (determined to do [sth]) | estar empeñado en loc verb |
| | That cousin of yours is bent on doing as much damage as he can. |
| | La madre está empeñada en que vendan la casa. |
| be bent on [sth] vtr | (be determined about [sth]) (AR, coloquial) | estar emperrado con loc verb |
| beset on all sides expr | (surrounded, under attack) | cercada por todos los lados loc adj |
| | | completamente rodeada loc adj |
| | | sitiada adj |
bestow [sth] on [sb],
bestow [sth] upon [sb] vtr + prep | formal (present, give [sb]: an award, gift) | otorgarle algo a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | (formal) | concederle algo a alguien, conferirle algo a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | The head of the Board of Education bestowed the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award on Mrs. Hall. |
| | The king bestowed knighthoods on his most loyal subjects. |
| | El director de la Junta de Educación le otorgó el premio al Mejor Maestro del Año a la señora Hall. |
| bet on [sth] vi + prep | (place a wager on) | apostar a vtr + prep |
| | Rita bet on a horse at the race track. |
| | Rita apostó a un caballo en las carreras. |
| bet on [sth] vi + prep | figurative (be totally confident of) (figurado) | apostar a vtr + prep |
| | (AR, coloquial) | poner las fichas a loc verb |
| | My holiday starts tomorrow, so you can bet on it raining! |
| | Mis vacaciones empiezan mañana, puedes apostar a que llueve. |
bet the farm,
bet the farm on [sth] v expr | (risk everything) | apostar todo expr |
| | | apostar la casa expr |
| | (AR, coloquial) | apostar a la madre expr |
| | I'm not going to bet the farm on such a risky investment. |
| bid on [sth] vi + prep | (make an offer to buy [sth]) | hacer una oferta por loc verb |
| | Sheila bid on a vase at an auction. |
| | Sheila hizo una oferta por un jarrón en una subasta. |
be big on [sth],
be big on doing [sth] v expr | informal (be keen on, consider important) | gustar⇒ vtr |
| | | encantar⇒ vtr |
| | My maths teacher is big on learning by rote, so his lessons are pretty dull. |
| binge on [sth] vi + prep | (eat [sth] to excess) (coloquial) | darse un atracón de loc verb + prep |
| | | darse una comilona de loc verb + prep |
| | | atracarse con v prnl + prep |
| | When I'm feeling down, I binge on chocolate. |
| | Cuando estoy triste, me doy un atracón de chocolate. |
| binge on [sth] vi + prep | (indulge in [sth] excessively) (películas, música, etc.) | hacer un maratón de loc verb + prep |
| | | darse un atracón de loc verb + prep |
| | On weekends I like to curl up on the couch and binge on a box set. |
| | Los fines de semana me gusta tirarme en el sofá y hacer un maratón de películas. |
| bit on the side n | UK, informal (lover you are unfaithful with) | pareja a la que uno le es infiel nf + loc adj |
wear a black hat,
put on a black hat v expr | US, informal, figurative (be the bad guy) | ser el villano loc verb |
| | (figurado) | ser el malo de la película loc verb |
| blame [sth] on [sb/sth]⇒ vtr | (attribute: [sth] bad) | culpar de algo, culpar por algo vtr + prep |
| | (informal) | echar la culpa de algo loc verb + prep |
| | | decir que [algo, alguien] es culpable de algo loc verb |
| | He blamed his lack of concentration on having slept badly that night. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. La señora Gómez culpó a su hermano del crimen. |
| | Dijo que la mala noche que había pasado era la culpable de su falta de concentración. |
| blazon [sth] on [sth]⇒ vtr | (display proudly or defiantly) | exhibir⇒ vtr |
| | | publicar⇒ vtr |
| blow [sth] on [sth]⇒ vtr | (squander money) | despilfarrar en vtr + prep |
| | | derrochar en vtr + prep |
| | | malgastar en vtr + prep |
| | Sophie blew all her wages on a new dress. |
| | Sophie despilfarró todo su salario en un nuevo vestido. |
| blow on [sth] vi + prep | (direct breath onto [sth]) | soplar en vtr + prep |
| | Janine blew on her fingernails to dry her nail varnish. |
| | Janine sopló en sus dedos para secar el barniz de uñas. |
| blow the whistle on [sb] v expr | figurative (inform on [sb]) (ES) | cantar⇒ vtr |
| | The employee decided to blow the whistle on his employer for the illegal transactions. |
| | El empleado decidió cantar lo de las transacciones ilegales de su patrón. |
| | (ES informal) | dar el soplo loc verb |
| | El empleado decidió dar el soplo de las transacciones ilegales de su patrón. |
| | (ES) | denunciar⇒ vtr |
| | El empleado decidió denunciar las transacciones ilegales de su patrón. |
| | (AR fam.) | alcahuetear⇒ vtr |
| | El empleado decidió alcahuetear las transacciones ilegales de su patrón. |