Compound Forms:
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| a feather in your cap n | figurative (achievement) | tanto a tu favor grupo nom |
| | | logro nm |
a millstone around your neck (US),
a millstone round your neck (UK) expr | figurative (burden: mental or emotional) | una mochila en la espalda expr |
| | | una cruz a cuestas expr |
| act your age interj | informal (stop behaving immaturely) | comportarse conforme a su edad expr |
| | | madurar de una vez expr |
| | Fred should start acting his age. |
| | Fred debería empezar a comportarse conforme a su edad. |
| all the days of your life expr | (for rest of your life) | por el resto de tus días loc adv |
| | | por el resto de tu vida loc adv |
| have ants in your pants v expr | informal, figurative (be restless, unable to settle) | inquieto/a adj |
| apple of [sb]'s eye n | (beloved person) | la niña de [mis, tus, sus...] ojos loc nom f |
| | | [mi, tu, su...] ojito derecho loc nom m |
| | | la luz de [mis, tus, sus...] ojos loc nom f |
| | Jenny loved all her children, but her eldest child was the apple of her eye. |
| arch of your back n | (curve of lower back) | arco de la espalda nm + loc adj |
| | In this yoga pose, tuck your right arm behind the arch of your back. |
| arch your back v expr | (stretch over backwards) | arquear la espalda loc verb |
| | Please arch your back and take a deep breath. |
| as good as your word expr | (trustworthy) | de palabra expr |
| as long as your arm expr | figurative, informal (very long) | larguísimo adj |
| | | muy largo loc adj |
| at the top of your class adj | (among the best) | entre los primeros de su clase loc adv |
| | He graduated at the top of his class and was accepted to a very good university. |
| | Se graduó entre los primeros de su clase y fue aceptado en una universidad prestigiosa. |
| at the top of your game expr | figurative (performing brilliantly) | al máximo loc adv |
| at the top of your lungs expr | (voice: as loud as possible) | a pleno pulmón loc adv |
at wit's end,
at your wit's end,
at your wits' end adj | (upset, frustrated) | desesperado/a adj |
| Note: Both positions of the apostrophe are in use: wit's and wits'. |
| | Kathy was at her wit's end with worry when her son failed to come home from school. |
| | Carla estaba desesperada cuando su hijo no llegó a casa de la escuela. |
at wit's end,
at your wit's end,
at your wits' end adj | (unable to find a solution) | a un punto muerto loc adv |
| Note: Both positions of the apostrophe are in use: wit's and wits'. |
| Note: Se usa con el verbo llegar. |
| | Having spent three hours unsuccessfully trying to fix the photocopier, Dave was at his wit's end. |
| | David había llegado a un punto muerto tratando de arreglar la fotocopiadora. |
at [sb]'s beck and call,
at the beck and call of [sb] expr | (available to serve you at any time) (con nombre) | a la entera disposición de expr |
| | (informal) | a tu disposición, a tu entera disposición expr |
| | (AmL, formal) | a su disposición, a su entera disposición expr |
| | (ES) | a vuestra disposición, a vuestra entera disposición expr |
| | I will be at your beck and call. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. El hotel designó a un conserje para que estuviera a la entera disposición del mandatario. |
| | Estaré a tu entera disposición. |
| | Estaré a su entera disposición. |
| | Estaré a vuestra entera disposición. |
| at your command adv | (under your control) | a tus órdenes loc adv |
| | ¿Cuanta gente tienes a tus órdenes? |
| at your command adv | (available to you) | a tu alcance loc adv |
| | Conseguir ese objeto es algo que está a tu alcance. |
| at your command adv | humorous (ready to help you) (AR) | siempre listo loc adv |
| | | dispuesto a ayudar loc adv |
| at your convenience expr | formal (when it suits you) (formal) | cuando pueda loc adv |
| | | a su conveniencia loc adv |
| | | cuando le venga bien loc adv |
| | Please return my books at your convenience. |
| | Devuélvame los libros cuando pueda. |
| | Devuélvame los libros a su conveniencia. |
| | Devuélvame los libros cuando le venga bien. |
| | (coloquial) | cuando puedas loc adv |
| | | a tu conveniencia loc adv |
| | | cuando te venga bien loc adv |
| | Devuélveme los libros cuando puedas. |
| | Devuélveme los libros a tu conveniencia. |
| | Devuélveme los libros cuando te venga bien. |
| at your discretion adv | (according to your judgement) (usted, él, ella) | como prefiera, como lo vea loc adv |
| | (tú) | como prefieras, como lo veas loc adv |
| | (ustedes, ellos, ellas) | como prefieran, como lo vean loc adv |
| | | según a alguien le parezca loc adv |
| | You may sign your name or remain anonymous, at your discretion. |
| | Puede firmar, o mantenerse en el anonimato, como prefiera. |
at [sb]'s disposal,
as the disposal of [sb/sth] adv | (available for your use) | a disposición loc adv |
| | I'll leave the computer at your disposal. |
| | Dejo la PC a tu disposición. |
at [sb]'s disposal,
as the disposal of [sb] adv | (person: available to serve you) | a disposición loc adv |
| | Once I finish this work I will be at your disposal. |
| | Cuando termine este trabajo estaré a tu disposición. |
| at your earliest convenience expr | (as soon as it is possible for you) | tan pronto como te sea posible, lo antes que puedas loc adv |
| | (formal) | tan pronto como le sea posible, lo antes que pueda loc adv |
| | Please respond at your earliest convenience. |
| | Please call me back at your earliest convenience. |
| | Por favor respondeme tan pronto como te sea posible. |
| at [sb]'s elbow expr | figurative (within easy reach) | a mano expr |
| at [sb]'s fingertips expr | figurative (easily available) (figurado) | al alcance de la mano de loc adv |
| | You should have everything you need at your fingertips before you start your work. |
| | Debes tener todo lo que necesitas al alcance de tu mano antes de empezar a trabajar. |
| be at [sb]'s heels expr | figurative (close behind, chasing) | pisarle los talones a expr |
| at your leisure adv | (when you feel like it) | cuando te venga bien, en tu tiempo libre loc adv |
| | (formal) | cuando le venga bien, en su tiempo libre loc adv |
| | You may finish the job at your leisure. |
| | Puedes terminar el trabajo cuando te venga bien. |
| at your own discretion adv | (as you see fit) | según te parezca mejor, según le parezca mejor loc adv |
| at your own pace adv | (at a speed one is comfortable with) | a su ritmo loc adv |
| | From the tortoise and the hare, we learn that one can proceed at one's own pace and still be a winner. |
| | De la fábula de la tortuga y la liebre aprendimos que cada uno puede ir a su ritmo para ser un ganador. |
| at your own risk adv | (without anyone else being liable) | bajo su propia responsabilidad loc adv |
| | Swim in the river at your own risk. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. No tiene Ud. que preocuparse, esto lo hago bajo mi propia responsabilidad. |
| | | a riesgo propio loc adv |
| | | bajo tu responsabilidad expr |
| | Si te metes en el río es a riesgo propio. |
| at your service adv | (ready to help you) | a tu servicio loc adv |
| | (formal) | a su servicio loc adv |
| | I am at your service. |
| | Estoy a tu servicio. |
at [sb]'s side,
by [sb]'s side adv | (beside) | al lado de alguien loc prep |
| | | junto a alguien loc prep |
| | I will sit at your side during the banquet. |
| | Voy a sentarme a tu lado en el banquete. |
at [sb]'s side,
by [sb]'s side adv | figurative (supporting, comforting) | al lado de alguien loc prep |
| | | junto a alguien loc prep |
| | | con alguien prep |
| | Fortunately, your husband will always be at your side because he loves you. |
| | Afortunadamente, tu esposo siempre estará a tu lado porque te ama. |
| | Afortunadamente, tu esposo siempre estará contigo porque te ama. |
the autumn of your life,
your autumn years n | figurative (later years of life) | otoño de la vida expr |
| | | final de la vida nm + loc adj |
| | In the autumn of his life, Charles was no longer interested in his former hobbies. |
at the back of your mind,
in the back of your mind expr | (in background thought processes) | estar pendiente de expr |
bane,
bane of your life,
bane of your existence n | figurative (source of annoyance) (informal) | cruz nf |
| | | desgracia nf |
| | | pesadilla nf |
| | | flagelo nm |
| | My computer's crashed again; technology is the bane of my life! |
| | Otra vez mi computadora se tildó: ¡la tecnología es mi cruz! |
| | Otra vez mi computadora se tildó: ¡la tecnología es mi desgracia! |
| | Otra vez mi computadora se tildó: ¡la tecnología es mi pesadilla! |
| | Otra vez mi computadora se tildó: ¡la tecnología es mi flagelo! |
bang for your buck,
bang for the buck n | US, slang (value for money) | sacar partido al dinero, sacar provecho al dinero loc verb |
| | This computer is last year's model, but it has great bang for your buck. |
| bare your teeth v expr | (snarl, show teeth) (ES) | enseñar los dientes loc verb |
| | (AmL, en una sonrisa) | pelar los dientes loc verb |
| | (AmL, con coquetería) | pelar el diente loc verb |
| | (CL) | mostrar los dientes loc verb |
| | The dog growled and bared his teeth at the cat. |
| | Además, los partidos políticos vuelven a mostrar los dientes a la hora de las definiciones. |
| barge your way in v expr | (enter by force, pushing) | abrirse paso loc verb |
| barge your way into [sth] v expr | (enter by force, pushing) | entrar a la fuerza a loc verb |
| | Sarah has a bad habit of barging her way into places. |
| barge your way through v expr | informal (move forcefully, push) | abrirse paso loc verb |
| barge your way through [sth] v expr | informal (move forcefully, push) | abrirse paso entre loc verb |
| | You can't simply barge your way through the crowd like that. |
bat your eyes,
bat your eyelashes v expr | (flutter your eyelashes) | pestañear⇒ vi |
| bawl your eyes out v expr | figurative, informal (cry, weep loudly) | llorar sin parar loc verv |
| | | llorar desconsoladamente loc verb |
| | | llorar con desesperación loc verb |
| | The little girl was bawling her eyes out because she had lost her doll. |
| be bored out of your mind v expr | figurative, informal (be extremely bored) | estar mortalmente aburrido expr |
| | | estar harto del aburrimiento expr |
| be caught with your hand in the cookie jar v expr | US, informal (be caught taking bribes) | ser encontrado con las manos en la masa expr |
| be in your death throes v expr | (be actively dying) | estar en los últimos estertores loc verb |
| | | agonizar⇒ vi |
| | (coloquial) | estar en las últimas loc verb |
| be in [sb]'s shoes v expr | figurative (be in another person's situation) (figurado) | ponerse en el lugar de expr |
be on your best behavior (US),
be on your best behaviour (UK) v expr | (behave very well) | tener buena conducta expr |
| be out of your wits v expr | (be very worried or frightened) | estar fuera de los cabales expr |
| be scared out of your wits v expr | (be terrified) | estar cagado del susto, estar cagado de miedo loc verb |
| | | morirse de susto, morirse de miedo loc verb |
be to [sb]'s advantage,
be to the advantage of [sb] v expr | (benefit [sb]) | ser una ventaja para loc verb |
| | | ser un beneficio para loc verb |
| | I know you're not a natural linguist, but learning French would be to your advantage, given that we live in France. |
| | Sé que no eres lingüista, pero aprender francés será una ventaja para ti dado que vivimos en Francia. |
| be your own man v expr | (male: be independent) | ser uno mismo loc verb |
| bear your cross v expr | figurative (accept your burden) (figurado) | aceptar la cruz expr |
| beat your breast v expr | (display sorrow) | darse golpes de pecho expr |
before your eyes,
right before your eyes,
before your very eyes adv | (right in front of you) | ante sus ojos loc adv |
| | His father was murdered right before his eyes. |
| | Asesinaron a su padre ante sus ojos. |
| before your time adv | informal (before your birth) | antes de que nacieras loc adv |
| | I remember the day President Kennedy was shot - but that's before your time. |
| | Recuerdo cuando mataron al presidente Kennedy, fue antes de que nacieras. |
| before your time adv | informal (before your involvement) | antes de que llegaras loc adv |
| | | antes de que estuvieras loc adv |
| | He used to be Managing Director here, but that was a few years before your time. |
| | Él era Director aquí, pero es fue un año antes de que llegaras. |
| behind [sb]'s back expr | figurative, informal (without [sb]'s knowledge) | a espaldas de loc adv |
| | She often told lies about him behind his back. |
| | A menudo decía mentiras a espaldas de él. |
bend an elbow,
bend your elbow,
lift your elbow v expr | figurative, informal (drink alcohol) | empinar el codo expr |
| bend [sb]'s ear v expr | figurative, informal (bore [sb] by talking uninterruptedly) (coloquial) | dar la lata a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | (ES: coloquial) | dar la tabarra a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | (AR: coloquial) | quemarle el cerebro a alguien loc verb + prep |
| | (CO: coloquial) | echarle carreta a alguien loc verb + prep |
the best bet,
your best bet n | informal, figurative (most promising option) | mejor opción adj + nf |
| | Your best bet would be to contact the organisers directly and ask if they still have tickets. |
| | La mejor opción sería contactar directamente con los organizadores y preguntarles si todavía hay entradas. |
| bet your bottom dollar v expr | US, figurative, informal (be certain) | apostar hasta el último centavo loc verb |
| | You can bet your bottom dollar I'll get home in time for supper. |
| | Puedes apostar hasta el último centavo que volveré a casa a tiempo para la cena. |
| | | jugar hasta el último chavo loc verb |
| | Puedes jugarte hasta el último chavo que volveré a casa a tiempo para la cena. |
| beyond your ability | (not possible) | por encima de mi capacidad expr |
| | Sorry, I can't help you. That's beyond my ability. |
| bide your time v expr | (wait calmly) | esperar el momento loc verb |
| | | aguardar el momento loc verb |
| your birthday suit n | slang, figurative (nakedness) | desnudez nf |
| | "What do you wear in bed?" "My birthday suit." |
bite [sb]'s head off,
bite the head off [sb] v expr | figurative, informal (respond angrily, impatiently) (figurado) | echarle la bronca a loc verb |
| bite your nails v expr | (chew fingernails) | morderse las uñas loc verb |
| | | comerse las uñas loc verb |
bite your tongue,
bite your lip v expr | figurative (refrain from saying [sth]) | morderse la lengua loc verb |
| Bless your little cotton socks interj | informal (affection, endearment) | bendito seas loc interj |
| blot your copybook v expr | figurative (spoil record) | manchar su reputación loc verb |
| | Poor discipline on the field blotted the team's copybook. |
blow your cool,
lose your cool v expr | US, informal (lose composure) | perder la calma, perder la compostura loc verb |
| | (coloquial) | salirse de sus casillas, salirse de casillas loc verb |
blow your cork,
pop your cork v expr | figurative, informal (become very angry) (informal) | sacar de quicio expr |
| blow [sb]'s cover v expr | (reveal [sb]'s true identity) | desenmascarar a vtr + prep |
| blow [sb]'s mind v expr | informal (astound [sb]) (figurado, coloquial) | volarle la cabeza a loc verb |
| | | maravillar a, impresionar a vtr + prep |
| | When I heard about the revolutionary new cancer treatment, it blew my mind. |
| | Wait until you see the final scene of the movie--it's going to blow your mind! |
| | Me voló la cabeza enterarme del nuevo tratamiento contra el cáncer. |
| blow [sb]'s mind v expr | informal (drugs: disorient, overwhelm [sb]) (figurado, coloquial, droga) | dar vuelta a loc verb |
| blow your nose v expr | (expel mucus) | sonarse la nariz, soplarse la nariz loc verb |
| | | sonarse los mocos loc verb |
| | Please blow your nose instead of sniffing. |
| | Por favor suénate la nariz en vez de tragarte los mocos. |
blow your own horn,
toot your own horn,
blow your own trumpet v expr | figurative (boast, praise yourself) (figurado) | echarse flores expr |
| blow your own trumpet v expr | figurative (boast, be self-congratulatory) (figurado) | tirarse flores loc verb |
| | | darse bombo, darse autobombo, darse importancia loc verb |
blow your top,
blow your stack v expr | figurative, informal (become very angry) (coloquial) | cabrear⇒ vtr |
| | | enfadar mucho vtr + adv |
boggle the mind,
boggle your mind v expr | (be bewildering, amazing) | sorprender⇒ vi |
| | | asombrar⇒, deslumbrar⇒ vi |
| born with a silver spoon in your mouth adj | figurative (have a wealthy upbringing) (riqueza) | nacer en cuna de oro, nacer en una cuna de oro loc verb |
| | She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. |
| bounce [sb] on your knee v expr | (baby, child: dandle) | mecer sobre las rodillas a loc verb |
| bow your head vtr | (lower: your head) | inclinar la cabeza loc verb |
| | | agachar la cabeza loc verb |
| | | bajar la cabeza loc verb |
| | The parishioners bowed their heads in prayer. |
| | Los fieles inclinaron la cabeza para rezar. |
| bow [sb] to your will v expr | (force to obey) | tener a alguien a tus pies loc verb |
| break your back v expr | figurative (work very hard) | romperse la espalda loc verb |
| | | trabajar duro loc verb |
| | My dad breaks his back trying to earn enough money to feed us all. |
| break your duck v expr | (cricket: make first score) | anotar primero loc verb |
| break your duck v expr | UK, dated, figurative (achieve [sth] for first time) | inaugurar⇒ vtr |
| | | lograr⇒ vtr |
| | | alcanzar⇒ vtr |
| break [sb]'s fall v expr | (lessen impact) | aminorar la caída loc verb |
| | Fortunately, the pillow broke the boy's fall, and he wasn't injured. |
| break [sb]'s heart v expr | figurative (make [sb] sad) (figurado) | romperle el corazón a loc verb |
| | | partirle el corazón a loc verb |
| | It breaks my heart to hear you are quitting. |
| | Me rompe el corazón saber que renuncias. |
| | (figurado) | partirle el alma a loc verb |
| | | romperle al alma a loc verb |
| | Me parte el alma saber que renuncias. |
| break [sb]'s heart v expr | figurative (end relationship) (terminar relación) | romperle el corazón a expr |
| | | dejar a vtr + prep |
| | | terminar con vtr + prep |
| | That boy will only break your heart. |
| | Ese chico sólo te romperá el corazón. |
| break your neck v expr | (fracture a neck bone) | desnucarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | romperse el cuello loc verb |
| | | quebrarse el cuello loc verb |
| | Chris ended up paralysed after breaking his neck in a motorcycle accident. |
| | Chris quedó paralítico después de desnucarse en un accidente de moto. |
| break your neck v expr | figurative (make effort) (coloquial) | partirse el lomo, romperse el lomo expr |
| | | partirse el alma expr |
| | (MX, vulgar) | partirse la madre expr |
| | This project is so much work; I've been breaking my neck all week and I still don't feel like I'm getting anywhere! |
| | Este proyecto es demasiado trabajo. Me estuve partiendo el lomo toda la semana y todavía no siento que avanzo. |