Locuciones verbales
upon | up on |
lean on [sb],
lean upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (rely on for support) (figurado) | contar con vtr + prep |
| | | apoyarse en v prnl + prep |
| | You can always lean on me. |
| | Siempre puedes contar conmigo. |
light on [sth],
light upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (find, discover [sth]) | encontrar⇒ vtr |
| | Ned lit on the perfect solution to his problem. |
| | Ned encontró la solución perfecta para su problema. |
look down on [sb],
look down upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (feel superior to) | menospreciar a alguien vtr + prep |
| | | mirar con desprecio a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | | mirar a alguien por encima del hombro loc verb + prep |
| | | desdeñar a alguien vtr + prep |
| | It is wrong to look down on people less fortunate than yourself. |
| | No está bien menospreciar a quienes tienen menos suerte que uno. |
look down on [sth],
look down upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (consider inferior) | despreciar⇒, menospreciar⇒ vtr |
| | | considerar inferior loc verb |
| | | desdeñar⇒ vtr |
| | These were rich girls who looked down on cheap clothes. |
| | Eran niñas ricas que despreciaban la ropa barata. |
look on [sb] as [sth],
look upon [sb] as [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (regard, consider: as) | considerar⇒ vtr |
| | | sentir como loc verb |
| | I always looked upon him as a brother. |
| | Siempre lo consideré mi hermano. |
| look upon [sth/sb] vtr phrasal insep | (regard, consider: as) | considerar⇒ vtr |
| Note: Ante complemento directo de persona debe usarse la preposición «a». |
| | I look upon television as a bad influence. |
| | Considero la televisión como una mala influencia. |
| look upon [sth/sb] vtr phrasal sep | literary (gaze at, take in) | contemplar⇒ vtr |
| | | observar⇒ vtr |
| | The sculptor looked upon his latest creation with pride. |
| | El escultor contempló su última creación con orgullo. |
| play upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (exploit, take advantage of) | aprovecharse de v prnl + prep |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Ya lo sabes, Carla siempre se aprovecha de sus novios: esta vez le pidió a Jordi que la llevara de vacaciones a Córcega. |
| put upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | informal (burden) | abusar⇒ vi |
| Note: Ante complemento directo de persona debe usarse la preposición «a». |
| | The head of the department put upon Roger by giving him the responsibility for checking all the figures in the report. |
| | El jefe del departamento abusaba de Roger, dándole la responsabilidad de revisar todas las cifras del informe. |
rely on [sth],
rely upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (depend on) | confiar en vi + prep |
| | Can you rely on that car? |
| | ¿Puedes confiar en ese auto? |
rely on [sb],
rely upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (have trust in) | confiar en vi + prep |
| | | fiarse de vi + prep |
| | Can you rely on her? |
| | ¿Puedes confiar en ella? |
rely on [sb],
rely upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | (be dependent on) | depender de vi + prep |
| | My mother relies on me to go shopping for her. |
| | Mi madre depende de mí para que le haga la compra. |
| rest upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (rely on) | apoyarse⇒ v prnl |
| | You need to rethink your argument, as it presently rests upon a very flimsy premise. |
| | Debes reconsiderar tus razones pues en este momento se apoyan en premisas poco consistentes. |
seize on [sth],
seize upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (adopt, exploit) | aprovechar⇒ vtr |
| | | aprovecharse de v prnl + prep |
| | | sacar partido de loc verb |
| | A great tennis player will seize upon his opponent's mistakes and use them to his own advantage. |
| | Un gran jugador de tenis aprovechará los errores de su oponente y los usará en su beneficio. |
| set upon [sth/sb] vtr phrasal insep | (attack) | lanzarse sobre v prnl + prep |
| | | abalanzarse sobre v prnl + prep |
| | The gang set upon their victim without warning. |
| | The hounds set upon the fox. |
| | La pandilla se lanzó sobre la víctima sin aviso. // Los perros se lanzaron sobre el zorro. |
| set upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (apply yourself to enthusiastically) | atacar⇒ vtr |
| | | lanzarse sobre v prnl + prep |
| | | abalanzarse sobre v prnl + prep |
| | Jose set upon his dinner as though he hadn't eaten in a week. |
strike on [sth],
strike upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (suddenly have an idea) | tener una idea loc verb |
stumble on [sth],
stumble upon [sth],
stumble across [sth] vtr phrasal insep | figurative, informal (discover, encounter by chance) | encontrar⇒ vtr |
| | | topar con vtr + prep |
| | | toparse con v prnl + prep |
| | | tropezarse con v prnl + prep |
| | The other night I happened to stumble on an old photo album. |
| | La otra noche encontré un álbum de fotos antiguas. |
thrust [sth] on [sb],
thrust [sth] upon [sb] vtr phrasal sep | figurative (impose) (figurado) | imponer algo a loc verb |
| | (figurado, coloquial) | encajar algo a loc verb |
| | Imogen's parents thrust a career in law on her from a young age. |
| | Los padres impusieron una carrera en derecho a Imogen desde que era pequeña. |
touch on [sth],
touch upon vtr phrasal insep | figurative (mention very briefly) (un asunto, un tema) | tocar brevemente vtr + adv |
| | | tocar de paso loc verb |
| | In the course of the interview we touched upon the delicate matter of his conviction for assault. |
| | A lo largo de la entrevista tocamos brevemente el delicado asunto de su condena por agresión. |
| | | aludir brevemente vi + adv |
| | | tocar apenas, tocar superficialmente vtr + adv |
| touch upon [sth] vtr phrasal insep | figurative (mention very briefly) | mencionar de pasada, tocar de pasada loc verb |
| | Her lecture did not touch upon the details of accounting. |
| | The teacher touched on each tested subject area. |
| | Su clase no mencionó de pasada los detalles de contabilidad. // La maestra mencionó de pasada todos los temas evaluados. |
| wait upon [sb] vtr phrasal insep | formal (serve) | servir a vi + prep |
| | Servants waited upon the aristocrats. |
| | Los sirvientes servían a los aristócratas. |
Compound Forms:
upon | up on |
incumbent on [sb] to do [sth],
incumbent upon [sb] to do [sth] expr | (obligatory for [sb]) | corresponderle a alguien hacer algo loc verb |
| | | ser deber de alguien hacer algo loc verb |
| | It is incumbent on the bride's father to make a speech at the wedding. |
| | Le corresponde al padre de la novia dar un discurso en la boda. |
incumbent on [sth],
incumbent upon [sth] adj + prep | archaic (resting on) | descansar en, descansar sobre vi + prep |
| | The man was incumbent on his bed. |
| | El hombre estaba descansando en su cama. |
insist on doing [sth],
insist upon doing [sth] v expr | (be determined) | insistir en vi + prep |
| | | empeñarse en v prnl + prep |
| | Despite my complaints, he insisted on doing things his way. |
| | Insistía en hacer las cosas a su manera, a pesar de mis quejas. |
intent on,
intent upon prep | (determined to) | decidido a participio + prep |
| | With all their drug use some celebrities seem intent on self-destruction. |
| | John works very long hours: he's intent on becoming a millionaire before he turns 30. |
| | Con todo su consumo de drogas, algunas celebridades parecen decididas a autodestruirse. |
| | | tener el propósito de loc verb |
| | | tratar de vtr + prep |
| | Con todo su consumo de drogas, algunas celebridades parecen tener el propósito de autodestruirse. |
lean on [sth],
lean upon [sth] vi + prep | (rest your weight on) | apoyarse en v prnl + prep |
| | Don't lean on the railing of this balcony - it isn't secure! If you will lean on my shoulder as we walk, it will take some of the weight off your sore ankle. |
| | No te apoyes en esa barandilla de este balcón, ¡no es segura! |
look down on [sb/sth],
look down upon [sb/sth] v expr | (observe from high up) | ver desde lo alto vtr + loc adv |
| | | ver desde arriba vtr + adv |
| | From the top of the tower you can look down upon the whole city. |
| | En la cúspide de la torre, puedes ver toda la ciudad desde lo alto. |
| looked upon with [sth] expr | (regarded in a particular way) | considerado participio |
| | Your work is likely to be looked upon with favor by the doctoral dissertation committee. |
| | Es muy probable que tu tesis doctoral sea considerada en forma favorable por el tribunal. |
| looked upon as [sth] expr | (regarded as) | considerado/a adj |
| looked upon as being [sth] expr | (regarded as being) | considerado/a adj |
| once upon a time adv | (start of a fairy tale) | había una vez expr |
| | | érase una vez expr |
| | | érase que se era expr |
| | Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived an orphan girl with her wicked stepmother. |
| | Había una vez, en una tierra lejana, una niña huérfana que vivía con su malvada madrastra. |
pattern [sth] on [sth],
pattern [sth] after [sth],
pattern [sth] upon [sth]⇒ vtr | (model, base: on [sth]) | seguir los patrones loc verb |
| | This design is patterned after the latest Paris fashions. |
| | Este diseño sigue los patrones de la última moda de París. |
press [sth] upon [sb],
press [sth] on [sb] vtr + prep | (pressure [sb] to accept [sth]) | presionar a alguien para loc verb |
| | Julie didn't want to take the money, but her mother pressed it on her. |
| | La madre de Julie la presionó para que aceptara el dinero. |
presume on [sth],
presume upon [sth] vi + prep | formal (rely) | fiarse de v prnl + prep |
| | | confiar en vi + prep |
| | I wouldn't presume on his honesty, if I were you; he won't confess unless he has to. |
| | Yo no me fiaría de su honestidad si fuera tú, él no confesará a menos que tenga que hacerlo. |
prevail on [sb] to do [sth],
prevail upon v expr | (persuade: [sb] to do [sth]) | convencer a alguien de que haga algo loc verb |
| | | persuadir a alguien a que haga algo loc verb |
| | | incitar a alguien a que haga algo loc verb |
| | He prevailed on the jury to hear of his innocence, but they labelled him guilty anyway. |
| | Convenció al jurado de que considerara su inocencia, pero igualmente lo declararon culpable. |
prey on [sth],
prey upon [sth] vi + prep | (animal: hunt as food) | cazar⇒ vtr |
| | | alimentarse de v prnl + prep |
| | Sharks prey on seals. |
| | Los tiburones cazan focas. |
prey on [sb],
prey upon [sb] vi + prep | figurative (person: victimize) | tomar como presa a loc verb + prep |
| | (coloquial) | agarrárselas con v prnl + prep |
| | | asediar a, acosar a vtr + prep |
| | | abusar de vi + prep |
| | Bullies prey on the weak. |
| | Los bravucones toman como presa a los débiles. |
prey on [sth/sb],
prey upon [sth/sb] vi + prep | figurative (worry, preoccupy) | apoderarse de v prnl + prep |
| | | carcomer⇒ vtr |
| | The thought of my upcoming appointment preyed on my mind. |
| | The stress of his financial worries was preying upon Carl. |
| | La idea de la próxima cita se apoderó de mi mente. |
| | El estrés de los problemas financieros estaba carcomiendo a Carl. |
pronounce on [sth],
pronounce upon [sth] vi + prep | (make a statement) | pronunciarse sobre vtr + prep |
| | | declarar sobre vtr + prep |
| | The critics have already pronounced on this book and they didn't like it. |
| | Los críticos ya se han pronunciado sobre el libro y no les ha gustado. |
put upon,
put-upon adj | informal (burdened) | sobrecargado/a adj |
| Note: hyphen used when term is an adj before a noun |
| | The boss asks me to do extra work so often that I really feel put upon. |
| | El jefe me pide hacer trabajo extra tan frecuentemente, que realmente me siento sobrecargado. |
reflect on [sth],
reflect upon [sth] vi + prep | (think about, consider) | reflexionar⇒ vi |
| | Please reflect on your actions. |
| | Por favor reflexiona sobre tus actos. |
remark on [sth],
remark upon [sth] vi + prep | (comment upon) | comentar⇒ vtr |
| | | hacer una observación loc verb |
| | | hacer comentarios loc verb |
| | Lisa's teacher remarked on her rapid progress in maths. |
| | La maestra de Lisa comentó su rápido progreso en matemáticas. |
| sit-upon n | (cushion) | cojín de asiento loc nom m |
smile on [sb/sth],
smile upon [sb/sth] vi + prep | (bless with good fortune) (bendición) | sonreír⇒ vi |
| | God smiled upon us and gave us a good crop this year. |
| | Dios nos sonrió y nos dio una buena cosecha este año. |
| take it upon yourself to do [sth] v expr | (take responsibility for [sth]) | responsabilizarse⇒ v prnl |
| | James took it upon himself to make the arrangements for the party. |
| | James se responsabilizó de hacer los arreglos para la fiesta. |
| take [sth] upon yourself v expr | (independently decide to do [sth]) | encargarse de v prnl + prep |
| | | hacerse cargo de loc verb + prep |
| | Jessica took it upon herself to write the boss a birthday card on behalf of everyone in the office. |
| | Jessica se encargó de escribirle una tarjeta de cumpleaños al jefe a nombre de todos en la oficina. |
trample on [sth],
trample upon [sth],
trample over [sth] vi + prep | (tread heavily) | pisotear⇒ vtr |
| | | pisar fuerte vtr + adj |
| | Someone has trampled on my flower beds. |
| | Alguien ha pisoteado mis canteros. |
trample on [sb/sth],
trample upon,
trample over vi + prep | figurative (treat roughly) (figurado) | pisotear a vi + prep |
| | | abusar de vtr + prep |
| | The high taxes trample on small business owners. |
| | Los elevados impuestos pisotean a los propietarios de las pequeñas empresas. |
tread on [sth],
tread upon [sth] vi + prep | (trample, squash) | pisotear⇒ vtr |
| | | aplastar⇒ vtr |
| | The great oaf wasn't looking where he was going and he trod on my foot! Tread softly for you tread upon my dreams. (W.B. Yeats) |
| | ¡El pedazo de zoquete no miraba por dónde iba y me pisoteó el pie! Pisa suavemente, pues caminas sobre mis sueños. (W.B. Yeats) |
| | | pisar⇒ vtr |
| | ¡El pedazo de zoquete no miraba por dónde iba y me pisó el pie! Pisa suavemente, pues caminas sobre mis sueños. (W.B. Yeats) |
| upon closer inspection adv | (having examined [sth] in more detail) | tras un examen más detallado loc adv |
| upon completion expr | (when it's finished) | una vez terminado loc adv |
| | | cuando terminado loc adv |
| | | cuando se termine loc adv |
| | Upon completion, the building will be 20 storeys high. |
| upon delivery adv | (when goods are received) | a la entrega loc adv |
| | | al ser entregado loc adv |
| upon reflection adv | (after consideration) | pensándolo bien loc adv |
| | Pensándolo bien, no me vendrían mal unas vacaciones. |
| upon request adv | (if and when asked for) | de ser solicitadas loc adv |
| | References are available upon request. |
| | Referencias disponibles, de ser solicitadas. |
| | | a pedido loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Las copias del discurso del presidente serán enviadas a pedido de los interesados. |
| | (Der) | previa instancia nf |
| | | bajo solicitud loc adv |
| | Tenemos referencias a su disposición, bajo solicitud. |
| upon which conj | (on which, whereon) | sobre el cual, sobre la cual loc prnl |
| upon which conj | (whereupon, at which point) | tras lo cual loc prnl |
| urge [sth] upon [sb] vtr + prep | (impress importance of) | insistir a alguien sobre algo loc verb |
| | The preacher urged the importance of helping the poor upon his congregation. |
| | El cura le insistió a su congregación sobre la importancia de ayudar. |
wish on [sth],
wish upon [sth] vi + prep | (use [sth] as magic charm) | pedir un deseo loc verb |
| | Audrey looked up at the night sky and wished upon a star for all her dreams to come true. |
| | Audrey miró al cielo nocturno y le pidió un deseo a una estrella: que todos sus sueños se hicieran realidad. |
wish [sth] on [sb/sth],
wish [sth] upon [sb/sth] vtr + prep | (want [sb] else to have) | desear algo a alguien loc verb |
| Note: Often used in negative sentences. |
| | Gout is very unpleasant; I wouldn't wish it on anyone. |
| | La gota es una enfermedad desagradable, no se la deseo a nadie. |