Compound Forms:
be | B.Eng. | BE |
| be a far cry from [sth] expr | informal (very different from) | estar a años luz de expr |
| | | no tener nada que ver con expr |
| | Life in Canada is a far cry from what she's used to in Haiti. |
| | Su vida en Canadá está a años luz de la que llevaba en Haití. |
| | Su vida en Canadá no tiene nada que ver con la que llevaba en Haití. |
| | | ser muy diferente loc verb |
| | Su vida en Canadá es muy diferente de la que tenía en Haití. |
| be able to do [sth] v expr | (can, have the ability to do) | ser capaz de loc verb |
| | | poder⇒ vtr |
| | Claire wasn't able to reach the jar on the top shelf. |
| | Claire no era capaz de tomar el frasco en al estante de arriba. |
| be about [sth/sb] v expr | (be on the subject of) | ser sobre vi + prep |
| | | tratar sobre vi + prep |
| | My presentation is about the effects of alcohol. |
| | This book is about a king who loses his crown. |
| | Mi presentación es sobre los efectos del alcohol. // Este libro es sobre un rey que pierde su pueblo. |
| be about to do [sth] v expr | (on the point of doing) | estar a punto de hacer algo v cop + loc prep |
| | | estar por hacer algo v cop + prep |
| | | estar para hacer algo v cop + prep |
| | I was just about to step into the bath when the doorbell rang. |
| | Estaba a punto de entrar a la bañera cuando sonó el timbre. |
| be above v expr | figurative (morally superior to) | ser incapaz de loc verb |
| | He's above lying about such things. |
| | Sería incapaz de mentir sobre algo así. |
| be above v expr | figurative (too complex for) | sobrepasar⇒ vtr |
| | | estar por encima de las capacidades de loc verb |
| | | ser demasiado complicado loc verb |
| | All this talk of economics is above me. |
| | Todo este tema de la economía me sobrepasa. |
| be absorbed into [sth] v expr | (be integrated, assimilated) | ser asimilado por loc verb |
| | The police lost sight of Tom when he was absorbed into the crowd. |
| | La policía perdió de vista a Tom cuando fue asimilado por la multitud. |
| be accepted and agreed to v expr | (terms: be legally agreed) | estar aceptados y aprobados, ser aceptados y aprobados loc verb |
| be accompanied by [sb/sth] v expr | (go in company with) | estar acompañado de loc verb |
| be accompanied by [sth] v expr | (coexist with) | estar acompañado de loc verb |
| be acquainted vi + adj | (know each other) | conocerse⇒ v prnl |
| | | ser conocido loc verb |
| | Are you two already acquainted? |
| | ¿Ustedes ya se conocen? |
| | ¿Ustedes ya son conocidos? |
| be acquainted with [sb] v expr | (know [sb]) (persona) | conocer a vi + prep |
| | Harry, I believe you are acquainted with Miss Forbes? |
| | Harry, creo que ya conoces a la Señorita Forbes, ¿no? |
| be acquainted with [sth] v expr | formal (be familiar with [sth]) | estar familiarizado con loc verb |
| | | estar al tanto de loc verb |
| | Audiences in Ancient Greece were acquainted with the idea of a hero having a tragic flaw. |
| | El público en la antigua Grecia estaba familiarizado con la idea de un héroe con un defecto trágico. |
| be adapted from [sth] v expr | (story, movie: be based on [sth]) | estar basado en loc verb |
| | The film "Invictus" is adapted from a book by John Carlin. |
| | La película "Invictus" está basada en un libro de John Carlin. |
| be addressed to [sb] v expr | (mail: be intended for [sb]) | estar dirigido a loc verb |
| | | ser para loc verb |
| | This letter is addressed to you. |
| | Esta carta está dirigida a ti. |
| be after [sth/sb] vi + prep | informal (search for [sth], [sb]) | estar buscando loc verb |
| | I'm after a new service provider; which one would you recommend? |
| | Estoy buscando un nuevo proveedor de servicio, ¿cuál me recomiendas? |
| be after doing [sth] v expr | Ire (be about to do) | estar por vi + prep |
| | | estar detrás de loc verb |
| | If you're after telling me how to cook this meal that I've cooked a thousand times before, you can save your breath. |
| be after doing [sth] v expr | Ire (have just done) | acabar de vi + prep |
| | I'm after hanging out the clothes and now it's starting to rain! |
| be a man/woman after [sb]'s own heart v expr | (sharing your tendencies) | tener los mismos gustos loc verb |
| | | tener las mismas ideas loc verb |
| be against [sth/sb] vi + prep | (oppose) | estar en contra de loc verb |
| | Many Americans are against the war. |
| | Muchos estadounidenses están en contra de la guerra. |
| be all ears v expr | figurative, informal (eager to hear about [sth]) | ser todo oídos loc verb |
| | Tell me about your wedding plans; I'm all ears. |
| be all eyes v expr | figurative, informal (look intently) | ser todo ojos expr |
| | | mirar atentamente vtr + adv |
| be all thumbs v expr | figurative, informal (be clumsy) | ser torpe loc verb |
| | (ES, coloquial) | ser manazas loc verb |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Tiene buena voluntad pero es torpe. |
| be anathema to [sb] v expr | (be considered abhorrent) | ser repugnante para loc verb |
| | | aborrecer a vi + prep |
| | The newly proposed law is anathema to most small business owners. |
| be anchored in [sth] v expr | figurative (have a strong link to) (figurado) | estar anclado a loc verb |
| | The traditions of this annual festival are anchored in the distant past. |
| be ancient history v expr | figurative, informal (no longer be relevant) (figurado) | historia antigua expr |
| | Don't worry about that! It's ancient history. |
be annoyed at [sb/sth],
be annoyed with [sb/sth] adj + prep | (irritated, angry) | enojado con adj + prep |
| | I'm annoyed at my brother for leaving the room in such a mess. |
| | Estoy enojado con mi hermano por dejar la habitación hecha un lío. |
| be anxious about [sth] v expr | (be nervous about [sth]) | estar nervioso por algo v cop + loc adj |
| | | estar inquieto por algo v cop + loc adj |
| | Claire is anxious about her appointment with the dentist tomorrow. |
| | Claire está nerviosa por su cita con la dentista mañana. |
| be anxious to do [sth] v expr | (be eager) | estar ansioso por hacer algo v cop + loc adj |
| | | no poder esperar para hacer algo loc verb + prep |
| | The avid fans were anxious to meet their favorite author. |
| | Los fanáticos estaban ansiosos por conocer a su autor favorito. |
| appear to be [sth] v expr | (seem, look) (con oración subordinada) | parecer ser, parecer estar loc verb |
| | (con infinitivo) | parecer ser, parecer estar loc verb |
| | Ken appears to be very dedicated to his family. |
| | Parece que Ken está muy dedicado a su familia. |
| | Ken parece estar muy dedicado a su familia. |
| appear to be doing [sth] v expr | ([sth]: seem) | parecer que vi + conj |
| | The rain appears to be easing off. |
| | Parece que la lluvia aminora. |
| be apprehensive about [sth] adj + prep | (be nervous about [sth]) | preocupar⇒ vi |
| | | nervioso con respecto a loc adj |
| | I'm apprehensive about moving to Japan; I have never lived abroad before. |
| | Me preocupa mudarme a Japón; nunca antes he vivido en el extranjero. |
| be approved to work v expr | (be permitted, qualified to do a job) | estar apto para trabajar loc verb |
| | | estar homologado para trabajar loc verb |
| | | estar aprobado para trabajar loc verb |
| be armed to the teeth v expr | figurative (have many weapons) | estar armado hasta los dientes expr |
| | Switzerland is a neutral nation, but is also armed to the teeth to preserve its neutrality. |
| be armed to the teeth with [sth] v expr | figurative (be equipped with [sth]) (figurado) | estar armado hasta los dientes expr |
| be arsed vi + adj | vulgar, informal, UK (willing to make effort) (coloquial) | darle a alguien la gana loc verb + prep |
| | | apetecerle a alguien vi + prep |
| Note: Used in the negative, in questions, or when there is doubt. |
| | I asked him to check it for me but he said he couldn't be arsed. |
| | Le pedí que se fijara por mí, pero me dijo que no le daba la gana. |
| be arsed to do [sth] v expr | vulgar, informal, UK (willing to make effort) (coloquial) | darle a alguien la gana de hacer algo loc verb + prep |
| | | apetecerle a alguien hacer algo vi + prep |
| Note: Used in the negative, in questions, or when there is doubt. |
| | The story's quite good so far, but I don't think I can be arsed to read the whole thing. |
| | La historia está muy buena hasta ahora, pero no me da la gana de leerla toda. |
as can be,
as ... as can be expr | (perfectly, extremely) | muy adv |
| | (informal) | -ísimo sufijo |
| | | sumamente, extremadamente adv |
| | My sister's new baby is cute as can be. |
| | The children were excited as could be when their dad arrived home with a puppy. |
| as it ought to be adj | (correct, proper) (correcto) | como debiera ser, como debería ser loc adv |
| | (coloquial) | como Dios manda expr |
| | She completed her inspection and found that everything was as it ought to be. |
| | Terminó su inspección y descubrió que todo era como debería ser. |
| as it ought to be adv | (in an ideal state) (estado ideal) | como debería ser loc adv |
| | Her speech gave us a vision of the world as it ought to be. |
| as it should be adj | (correct, proper state) | como debiera ser expr |
| | | como debería ser expr |
| | The bus driver checked that everything was as it should be before switching on the engine. |
| as it should be adj | (in a desirable state) | como uno quisiera loc adv |
| | We felt that the hotel was not as good as it should be for the high price. |
| | No todo está como uno quisiera, pero poco a poco iremos haciendo reparaciones y comprando nuevos muebles. |
| as the case may be adv | (whatever the actual situation) | sea cual sea la situación loc adv |
| | | según sea la situación loc adv |
| | Trato siempre de actuar apropiadamente según sea la situación. |
be ashamed of yourself,
feel ashamed of yourself v expr | (feel shame) | estar avergonzado de ti mismo loc verb |
| | | dar vergüenza loc verb |
| | You should be ashamed of yourself for failing that test! |
| | Deberías estar avergonzada de ti misma por haber reprobado el examen. |
| | Debería darte vergüenza haber reprobado el examen. |
| be assimilated into [sth] adj | (be absorbed or integrated into [sth]) | ser asimilado a loc verb |
| | Foreigners stand out for a while, but then they are assimilated into the host culture. |
| be associated with [sth/sb] v expr | (be related to) | estar relacionado con adj + prep |
| | | asociarse a, asociarse con v prnl + prep |
| | For many people, Christmas is associated with gifts and shopping. |
| | Para mucha gente, la navidad está relacionada con los regalos y las compras. |
| be astonished at [sth/sb] v expr | (be amazed by) | asombrado ante, asombrado por adj + prep |
| | | sorprendido ante, sorprendido por adj + prep |
| | Onlookers were astonished at the firefighter's bravery. |
| | Los espectadores estaban asombrados ante el coraje del bombero. |
| be at ease v expr | (relaxed) | estar relajado loc verb |
| | | estar tranquilo loc verb |
| | | estar a gusto loc verb |
| | I am more at ease when my boss is not in the office. |
| | Estoy más relajado cuando mi jefe no está en la oficina. |
| be at ease v expr | (not standing at attention) (militar) | estar en descanso loc verb |
| | The troops were at ease on the parade ground. |
| | Las tropas estaban en descanso en el área del desfile. |
| be at it v expr | slang (have sex) (coloquial) | estar dando loc verb |
| | I couldn't sleep because, they were at it all night! |
| | No pude dormir porque le estuvieron dando toda la noche. |
| be at it again v expr | slang (repeat usual bad behavior) | estar otra vez con lo mismo loc verb |
| | The next-door neighbours are at it again; playing their music so loud that our walls are shaking! |
| | Los vecinos de al lado están otra vez con lo mismo: ¡tienen la música tan alta que las paredes de nuestra casa tiemblan! |
be at loose ends (US),
be at a loose end (UK) v expr | (feel unsettled or restless) | sentirse perdido expr |
| | | estar descarriado expr |
| | (VE) | estar al garete expr |
| be at the bottom of [sth] v expr | figurative (be the cause of [sth]) (figurado) | estar detrás de loc verb |
| | Childhood experiences are often at the bottom of adult complexes. |
| | Las experiencias durante la niñez suelen estar detrás de los complejos adultos. |
| be at the bottom of [sth] v expr | (be at the lowest part of [sth]) (montaña, cerro) | estar al pie de loc verb |
| | | estar en lo bajo de loc verb |
| | | estar en el fondo de |
| | The village is at the bottom of the mountain. |
| | El pueblo está al pie de la montaña. |
| be at variance with [sb] adj | (disagreeing) | no estar de acuerdo con loc verb |
| | | estar en desacuerdo con loc verb |
| be at variance with [sth] adj | (not corresponding) | estar en contradicción con loc verb |
| | | discrepar con vi + prep |
| | Your opinion is definitely at variance with the facts. |
| | Tu opinión está completamente en contradicción con los hechos. |
| be at [sb]'s heels expr | figurative (close behind, chasing) | pisarle los talones a expr |
| be attracted to [sth] v expr | (interested by: an idea, etc.) | sentirse atraído por loc verb |
| | | estar interesado en loc verb |
| | I am attracted to medieval European history; I find it absolutely fascinating. |
| | Me siento atraído por la historia de la Europa medieval, me resulta absolutamente fascinante. |
| be attracted to [sb] v expr | (sexually drawn to: [sb]) | sentirse atraído por loc verb |
| | I'm attracted to him, but he does not even know my name. |
| | Me siento atraída por él, pero ni siquiera sabe mi nombre. |
| be attracted to [sth] v expr | (physics: drawn to: [sth]) | ser atraído magnéticamente, estar atraído magnéticamente loc verb |
| | The positive and negative points of magnets are always attracted to each other. |
| | El polo positivo y negativo de los imanes siempre son atraídos magnéticamente. |
| be bad at [sth] v expr | (unskilled at [sth]) | ser malo en loc verb |
| | | ser malo para loc verb |
| | Why is Britain so bad at tennis? |
| | ¿Por qué los británicos son tan malos en tenis? |
be in a bad place,
be in a dark place v expr | figurative, informal (be in a poor state of mind, unhappy) | estar muy mal loc verb |
| | | no estar bien loc verb |
| be balding vi | (lose your hair) | quedarse calvo loc verb |
| | | caerse el pelo loc verb |
| | | perder el pelo loc verb |
| | Homer is balding, but he doesn't seem to mind. |
| | Homer se está quedando calvo pero no parece importarle. |
| be based in v expr | (having work base) | estar radicado en loc verb |
| | The consultant was based in Miami but worked all over the country. |
| | El consultor estaba radicado en Miami pero trabajaba por todo el país. |
| be based at v expr | (having work base) | trabajar en vi + prep |
| | Fernando is based at the firm's São Paulo office. |
| | Fernando trabaja en la oficina de la empresa en Sao Paulo. |
| 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 in v expr | (film: take place) | estar ambientado en v cop + loc adj |
| | | desarrollarse en v prnl + prep |
| | | tener lugar en loc verb + prep |
| | The movie is based in Seattle, but sometimes episodes take place in Portland. |
| | La película está ambientada en Seattle, pero algunas escenas transcurren en Portland. |
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. |
| be a bargain v expr | (represent good value, be cheap) (Argentina) | ser una pichincha expr |
| | (barato) | ser una ganga expr |
| | El traje que te compraste es una verdadera pichincha. |
| be a deal v expr | (transaction: be agreed) | trato hecho expr |
| | | ser un trato expr |
| | That's a deal! |
| | ¡Trato hecho! |
| | ¡Es un trato! |
be a handful,
be a real handful v expr | informal, figurative (child: be difficult, badly-behaved) | ser revoltoso v cop + adj |
| | | ser difícil v cop + adj mf |
| | (ES: coloquial) | ser un trasto loc verb |
| | That boy is a real handful. |
| | Ese niño es muy revoltoso. |
be a law unto yourself,
be a law onto yourself v expr | (disregard conventions) | dictas las propias leyes expr |
| be a man v expr | figurative (male: show strength) (figurado) | comportarse como un hombre expr |
| | (figurado) | ser un hombre expr |
| | You have to be a man about this, and admit that you made a mistake. |
| | Tienes que comportarte como un hombre y admitir que te equivocaste. |
| be a man v expr | (male: reach adulthood) | ser grande loc verb |
| | Dan's young son wants to be an astronaut when he is a man. |
| | El hijo menor de Daniel quiere ser astronauta cuando sea grande. |
| be a part of [sth] v expr | (be involved) | ser parte de loc verb |
| | | formar parte de loc verb |
| | Taking part in the protest made John feel that he was a part of something big. |
| | Participar de la protesta hizo a John sentir que era parte de algo grande. |
| be a stumbling block to [sth] v expr | figurative (hinder progress) (figurado) | ser un obstáculo para loc verb |
| | | ser un escollo para loc verb |
| | | ser una traba para loc verb |
| | The issue proved to be a stumbling block during the peace talks. |
| | Ese tema terminó siendo un obstáculo para las negociaciones de paz. |
| | Ese tema terminó siendo un escollo para las negociaciones de paz. |
| be a success v expr | (achieve popularity) | tener éxito loc verb |
| | The chocolate cake was a real success with the guests. |
| | La torta de chocolate tuvo un éxito bárbaro entre los invitados. |
| be a thing v expr | informal (be recognized or legitimate) | existir⇒ vi |
| | | ser algo loc verb |
| | | ser una cosa loc verb |
| | His band plays something called "sludge metal". I didn't even know that was a thing! |
| | Tocan algo que se llama "sludge metal". Ni siquiera sabía que eso existía. |
| be a total blast v expr | slang, figurative (be great fun) (figurado) | ser una bomba loc verb |
| | I can't wait for this weekend, it will be a total blast! |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. La fiesta de cumpleaños fue una bomba; todos se divirtieron muchísimo. |
| | | ser fabuloso loc verb |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. No dejes de venir a la fiesta este fin de semana, será fabulosa. |
| be accustomed to [sth] v expr | (be familiar with [sth]) | estar acostumbrado a loc verb |
| | I grew up in India, so I am accustomed to spicy food. |
| | Nací en la India y estoy acostumbrada a las comidas picantes. |
| be accustomed to doing [sth] v expr | (be used to doing [sth]) | estar acostumbrado a hacer algo loc verb |
| | George has six siblings, so he is accustomed to having to share a bedroom. |
| be across [sth] vi + prep | UK, AU, informal (be informed about) | estar al tanto de v cop + loc prep |
| | We need to make sure all team members are across these changes. |
| be adhered to vi | (not be deviated from) | cumplirse⇒ v prnl |
| | These rules and regulations must be adhered to at all times, or you will face discharge. |
| | Las reglas deben cumplirse siempre, los que las infrinjan serán expulsados. |
| be afoul of [sth/sb] v expr | (be in conflict with [sth] or [sb]) | estar en conflicto con, entrar en conflicto con loc verb |
| | (ley) | contravenir⇒ vtr |
| | (persona) | estar enemistado con loc verb |
| | The defendant was well aware that in accepting the bribe, he was afoul of the law. |
| | El acusado estaba muy consciente de que, al aceptar el soborno, estaba en conflicto con la ley. |
| | El acusado estaba muy consciente de que, al aceptar el soborno, contravenía la ley. |
| 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 aimed at [sth/sb] v expr | (be intended for) | estar dirigido a loc verb |
| | | estar pensado para loc verb |
| | This series of videos is aimed at preschool-aged children. |
| | Esta serie de videos está dirigida a niños pre-escolares. |
| be all about [sth] v expr | informal (be characterized by) | caracterizarse por algo v prnl + prep |
| | | ser reconocido por algo v cop + loc adj |
| | You don't need to worry about Sandra delivering the project on time; she's all about reliability. |
| be all fingers and thumbs v expr | figurative, informal (be clumsy) | ser torpe loc verb |
| | Victor was all fingers and thumbs because he felt very nervous. |
| | Victor era torpe porque estaba nervioso. |
| be all over v expr | informal (be finished, ended) | haber terminado loc verb |
| | The battle was all over in less than three hours. |
| | La batalla había terminado en menos de tres horas. |
| be allowed to do [sth] v expr | (have permission to) | ser permitido loc verb |
| | | permitirse⇒ v prnl |
| | | ser autorizado a loc verb |
| | If you do not have your passport, you will not be allowed to enter the country. |
| | Once they had finished their exams, the students were allowed to leave. |
| | Si no tienes tu pasaporte, no te será permitido entrar al país. |
be an instant success,
be an overnight success v expr | (be immediately popular) | ser un éxito inmediato loc verb |
| | | ser un éxito de la noche a la mañana loc verb |
| | The TV show proved to be an instant success. |
| | El programa fue un éxito inmediato. |
| be AWOL vi + adj | (military: be absent without leave) | ausentarse sin permiso loc verb |
| | | estar ausente sin permiso loc verb |
| be AWOL vi + adj | figurative, informal (be absent without permission) | ausentarse sin permiso loc verb |
| | | estar ausente sin permiso loc verb |