Compound Forms:
andar | andén |
andar a la greña,
estar a la greña loc verb | coloquial (reñir) (colloquial) | be at each other's throats v expr |
| | (colloquial) | be at loggerheads v expr |
| | | be bickering, be fighting v expr |
| | (fight) | come to blows v expr |
| | Mi perro Vobo siempre anda a la greña con el de los vecinos: se llevan fatal. |
| | No sé como esos dos siguen juntos si siempre están a la greña. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I heard raised voices from my neighbors: they were at each other's throats all evening. |
| andar a las patadas loc verb | AR, CL, UY: coloquial (personas: estar peleadas) | be at odds v expr |
| | | quarrel⇒ vi |
| andar a los apurones loc verb | AR, PY, UY: coloquial (tener demasiado trabajo que hacer) | be in a hurry v expr |
| | | do things in a rush v expr |
| andar abrazando postes loc verb | CL: coloquial (estar borracho) | be four sheets to the wind v expr |
andar al hilo de la gente,
irse al hilo de la gente loc verb | (seguir a la mayoría) | do what everybody else does expr |
| | | follow the crowd expr |
| | Siempre está andando al hilo de la gente, no tiene criterio propio. |
andar algo apurado de dinero,
andar algo justo de dinero loc verb | (no tener recursos) | be pressed for cash, be strapped for cash, be short on cash v expr |
| | (UK) | be short of money v expr |
| | Este mes hubo poco trabajo y ando un poco apurado de dinero. |
| | There hasn't been much work this month and I'm a bit strapped for cash. |
| andar caliente loc verb | vulgar (excitado sexualmente) (vulgar) | be horny v expr |
| | (slightly dated) | be randy v expr |
| | Con todas las hormonas que tomo últimamente ando caliente todo el día. |
| | With all the hormones I've been taking recently I'm horny all day. |
andar como el cangrejo,
caminar como el cangrejo loc verb | CO, EC: coloquial (empeorar, ir camino al fracaso) | go to pot, go up in smoke v expr |
| | (UK, colloquial) | go up the swanny v expr |
| andar como en las nubes loc verb | (estar muy feliz) | have your head in the clouds v expr |
| | | be daydreaming, be on cloud nine v expr |
| | (figurative) | walk on air, walk on clouds v expr |
| andar como huasca loc verb | PE: coloquial (estar muy borracho) | be four sheets to the wind v expr |
| | | be hammered, be sloshed v expr |
| andar con alguien loc verb | coloquial (tener pareja) (relationship) | be with [sb] v expr |
| | | see [sb]⇒ vtr |
| | Escuché que Laura anda con alguien, ¿sabés algo? |
| andar con dificultad loc verb | (caminar mal) | walk with difficulty v expr |
| | | have difficulty walking v expr |
| | Elena tiene 80 años y anda con dificultad. |
| | Elena is 80 and walks with difficulty. |
andar con el indio,
estar con el indio loc verb | NI, SV: coloquial (estar enfadado) (colloquial) | have the hump v expr |
| | (colloquial) | be pissed, be steamed vi + adj |
| andar con el paso cambiado loc verb | AR: coloquial (obrar con desacierto) | throw [sb] a curve ball v expr |
| andar con filigranas loc verb | (hilar muy fino) | fuss over details v expr |
| andar con juegos loc verb | (tomar algo a broma) (jokes) | play games v expr |
| | (colloquial) | horse around, monkey around v expr |
| andar con los monos loc verb | CL: coloquial (estar enfadado) | be all worked up v expr |
| | (colloquial) | have the hump v expr |
| andar con medias tintas loc verb | coloquial (decir verdades a medias) | beat around the bush v expr |
| | | be halfhearted v expr |
| | | be vague v expr |
| | No confío en ella, siempre anda con medias tintas. |
| andar con miedo vi + loc adv | informal (tener miedo) | be afraid, be scared v expr |
| andar con ojo loc verb | informal (actuar con precaución) (colloquial) | watch your back v expr |
| | | tread carefully vi + adv |
andar con pies de plomo,
ir con pies de plomo vi + loc adv | coloquial (actuar con cautela) | take your time v expr |
| | | proceed with caution v expr |
| | | tread carefully v expr |
| | Anda con pies de plomo en la nueva empresa que es mejor ser precavido. |
| | Take your time in the new business; it is best to be cautious. |
| andar con rencores loc verb | (estar resentido) | bear a grudge, hold a grudge v expr |
| | Anda con rencores desde que lo echaron del trabajo. |
| | He has borne a grudge ever since he was fired. |
| andar con tapujos loc verb | (esconder la verdad) | be sneaky v expr |
| | | beat around the bush v expr |
| | Es mejor decir la verdad a andar con tapujos. |
| | It's better to tell the truth than be sneaky. |
| andar de bolos loc verb | coloquial (estar de gira) | go on tour v expr |
| | (band, group) | go on gigs v expr |
| | Después de graduarnos, anduvimos de bolos durante tres días. |
| | After graduating we went on tour for three years. |
| andar de cabeza loc verb | coloquial (alguien: estar muy atareado) | have a lot to do v expr |
| | (colloquial) | have a full plate, have a lot on your plate v expr |
| | Luego te cuento bien cómo me fue; ahora ando de cabeza. |
| | I will tell you how it went later; right now I have a lot to do. |
| andar de cachetes embarrados loc verb | SV: coloquial (pareja: estar muy enamorada) (colloquial) | be head over heels v expr |
| | | be very in love v expr |
| andar de charanga loc verb | coloquial (alguien: estar de fiesta) | be in a festive mood v expr |
| | Anduvo de charanga todo el fin de semana con sus amigos. |
| | She has been in a festive mood all weekend with her friends. |
| andar de copas loc verb | (salir a beber) | go out drinking, go drinking v expr |
| | | get drunk v expr |
| | En Madrid todo el mundo anda de copas durante los fines de semana. |
| | Everyone goes out drinking in Madrid on weekends. |
| andar de lado loc verb | (no caminar recto) | walk lopsided vi + adv |
| | | limp⇒ vi |
| | El perro anda de lado desde que lo atropelló un auto. |
| | The dog has been walking lopsided since it was hit by a car. |
| andar de malas loc verb | coloquial (estar de mal humor) | be in a bad mood v expr |
| | No le hables de eso hoy que anda de malas. |
| andar de maletas loc verb | CL: coloquial (estar de mal humor) | be in a foul mood v expr |
| | | have the hump v expr |
| andar de manitas loc verb | MX: coloquial (ir de amigos) (US: colloquial) | be best buddies v expr |
| | (UK: colloquial) | be best mates v expr |
| | | be best friends v expr |
| | Alejandra y Gabriela ahora andan de manitas. |
| | Alejandra and Gabriela are now best buddies. |
| andar de metido loc verb | coloquial (entrometerse) | be nosy v expr |
| | Deja de andar de metido y métete en tus asuntos. |
| andar de parranda loc verb | (estar de fiesta) | go out on the town v expr |
| | | be out partying v expr |
| | Los chicos andan de parranda desde ayer, no sé donde estarán. |
| | The boys have been out on the town since yesterday and I don't know where they might be. |
andar de picos pardos,
salir de picos pardos,
ir de picos pardos loc verb | anticuado (ir de juerga) | go out and have fun v expr |
| | | go out and party v expr |
| | Dejaron a sus hijos pequeños en casa y anduvieron de picos pardos con los amigos. |
| andar de puntillas loc verb | (caminar sobre los dedos) | walk on tiptoe, walk on tiptoes v expr |
| | El niño anduvo de puntillas para que nadie lo escuche. |
| | The child walked on tiptoe (or: walked on tiptoes) so that nobody would hear him. |
| andar de revoltoso loc verb | (hacer tonterías) (colloquial) | horse around, goof around, mess around v expr |
| | | act rebelliously vi + adv |
| | | be a troublemaker vi + n |
| andar de rodillas vi + loc adv | (caminar arrodillado) | walk on your knees v expr |
| | En las procesiones católicas había penitentes que andaban de rodillas. |
| | In Catholic processions there were penitents who walked on their knees. |
| andar de vago loc verb | (estar poco trabajador) | laze around, hang around vi phrasal |
| | | hang out vi phrasal |
| | | idle⇒ vi |
| | | be idle v expr |
| | Juan está tomando un café hace una hora, hoy anda de vago. |
| | Juan's been sipping a cup of coffee for an hour: he's just lazing around today. |
| andar del brazo vi + loc adv | (ir tomados del brazo) (literal) | walk arm in arm, walk hand in hand v expr |
| | (literal or figurative) | go arm in arm, go hand in hand v expr |
| | (figurative) | be associated, be in bed v expr |
| andar derecho loc verb | (caminar recto) | walk upright vi phrasal |
| | | walk straight vi phrasal |
| | Después del tratamiento María anda derecha. |
| | Maria has been walking upright since undergoing the treatment. |
| andar detrás de vi + loc prep | coloquial (querer, gustar) | be after [sb] v expr |
| | (figurative) | pursue [sb]⇒, follow [sb]⇒ vtr |
| | Mauro anda detrás de Estefanía y cree que nadie lo sabe; ¡si es evidente! |
| andar detrás de algo loc verb | (buscar con insistencia) | be after [sth] v expr |
| | | go after [sth] v expr |
| | Anda detrás de un trabajo y no cejará hasta conseguirlo. |
| | He's after a job and won't give up until he gets one. |
| andar echando chispas loc adv | coloquial (estar muy enojado) | be seeing red, be hopping mad v expr |
| | | be mad as a wet hen v expr |
| | Tuvo una pelea con su novia y anda echando chispas. |
| andar en bandera loc verb | HN: coloquial (ser objeto de comentarios negativos) | be a target of criticism v expr |
| | | come in for criticism v expr |
| andar en carreras loc verb | CR, coloquial (tener prisa) | to be in a rush, to be in a hurry v expr |
| | Estás andando siempre en carreras, tanto estrés te va a matar. |
| andar en la calle loc verb | (estar fuera de casa) | be out and about v expr |
| | | be out v expr |
| | (literally) | be in the streets v expr |
| | Cuando éramos chicos era más común andar en la calle todo el día. |
| | When we were kids it was more common to be out and about all day. |
| andar en malos pasos loc verb | coloquial (ir por mal camino) (figurative) | be heading in the wrong direction, be headed down the wrong path v expr |
| | | be up to no good v expr |
| | | run with the wrong crowd v expr |
| | Desde que se junta con esos chicos anda en malos pasos. |
| andar en pelotas loc verb | coloquial (estar desnudo) (colloquial) | walk around in the buff, walk around buck naked v expr |
| | (colloquial) | walk around butt naked v expr |
| | (informal) | walk around naked, go naked v expr |
| | (UK, slang) | walk around bollock naked v expr |
| | Me gusta vivir solo porque puedo andar en pelotas. |
| | I like living alone because I can walk around buck naked. |
| andar en taxi loc verb | (desplazarse en taxi) (US) | go by taxi, be in taxi, take a taxi v expr |
| | (UK) | go by cab, be in a cab, take a cab v expr |
| | No tengo coche pero tampoco ando a pie, siempre ando en taxi. |
| andar en yunta loc verb | AR, UY: coloquial (personas: no separarse) | be joined at the hip v expr |
| | | be inseparable vi + adj |
| andar enamorado loc verb | (sentir amor por alguien) | be in love v expr |
| | Cecilia anda enamorada y sólo piensa en su chico. |
| | Cecilia is in love and all she thinks about is her boyfriend. |
| andar gritando loc verb | (hablar a gritos) | go around shouting, go around yelling, go around screaming v expr |
| | Todos en su casa andan gritando y es muy difícil concentrarse. |
| | Everyone in her house goes around shouting and it's very hard to concentrate. |
| andar haciendo algo loc verb | (realizando una acción) | be out doing [[sth]] v expr |
| Note: Se construye con gerundio. |
| | Leticia no está en su casa, anda comprando ropa para su bebé. |
| | Leticia isn't home, she is out buying clothes for her baby. |
| andar haciendo eses loc verb | coloquial (caminar como borracho) | stagger⇒, zigzag⇒ vi |
| | Salieron del bar haciendo eses por la calle. |
| andar liado loc verb | ES, coloquial (tener mucho trabajo) | be very busy v expr |
| | (figurative) | be tied up v expr |
| | Hace semanas que ando liado y no veo a mis amigos. |
| | I've been very busy for weeks and I haven't seen my friends. |
| andar ligero loc verb | (ir rápido) | walk briskly v expr |
| | | move quickly v expr |
| | (without baggage) | travel light v expt |
| | Anda ligero que llegas tarde. |
| | Walk briskly; you're running late. |
| andar mal loc verb | (tener problemas) | be in bad shape v expr |
| | | [sth]'s not going well, [sth]'s not doing well expr |
| | Anda mal desde que lo echaron del trabajo. |
| | She's been in bad shape since she got the sack. |
| andar mal de la cabeza loc verb | coloquial (estar loco) | not think straight, not have your head on straight v expr |
| | Agustín quiere renunciar a su trabajo, creo que anda mal de la cabeza. |
| | Agustín wants to leave his job. He's not thinking straight (or: He doesn't have his head on straight). |
| andar mandado loc verb | (dar órdenes) | tell [sb] what to do v expr |
| | | boss [sb] around v expr |
| | El nuevo jefe anda mandado últimamente. |
| | The new boss has been telling us what to do lately. |
| andar metido en todo loc verb | MX, AmC, coloquial (inmiscuirse) | poke your nose in everyone's business v expr |
| | | get into [sb]'s business v expr |
| | Eres un entrometido, siempre andas metido en todo. |
| | You're a meddler, you're always poking your nose in everyone's business. |
| andar metido en todo loc verb | (ser dinámico) | be involved in everything v expr |
| | | be into everything v expr |
| | | be on the go v expr |
| | Alberto anda metido en todo: inglés, natación, la tesis, etc. |
| | Albert is involved in everything: English, swimming, his thesis, etc. |
| andar metiendo la pata loc verb | (hacer inconveniencias) | mess things up, screw things up v expr |
| | | make mistakes, commit blunders v expr |
| | Yo que tú no lo invito a la fiesta, siempre anda metiendo la pata. |
| | I wouldn't invite him I were you because he always screws things up. |
| andar molesto loc verb | (sentirse ofendido) | be very upset v expr |
| | Virginia anda molesta con su madre. |
| | Virginia is very upset with her mother. |
| andar muy sobrado loc verb | coloquial (tener más de lo necesario) (rich) | be well-off, be wealthy v expr |
| | | have more than enough v expr |
| | La familia anda muy sobrada desde que el padre obtuvo el ascenso. |
| | The family is very well-off (or: wealthy) since the father got the promotion. |
| andar pato loc verb | CL: coloquial (no tener dinero) | be broke vi + adj |
| | (UK, slang) | not have a pot to piss in v expr |
| andar perdido loc verb | (estar desorientado) | be lost v expr |
| | (literally) | wander around lost v expr |
| | (figuratively) | be confused v expr |
| | Andrés anda perdido y aún no ha llegado. |
| | Andrés is lost and still hasn't arrived. |
| andar pipa loc verb | México, coloquial (estar borracho) | be drunk v expr |
| | (UK, colloquial) | be pissed v expr |
| | Ayer andaba bien pipa y hoy tiene una resaca tremenda. |
| | Yesterday he was really drunk and today he has a massive hangover. |
| andar pisando huevos loc verb | coloquial, figurado (caminar muy lento) | dawdle⇒ vi |
| | (US colloquial) | lollygag⇒ vi |
| | | drag your feet⇒ vi |
| | ¡Vamos chicos, dejen de andar pisando huevos y dense prisa! |
| | Come on guys, stop dawdling and get a move on! |
| andar pisando huevos loc verb | coloquial, figurado (ir con mucho cuidado) (figurative) | tread carefully v expr |
| | (figurative) | walk on eggshells vi + adv |
| | | pussyfoot⇒ vi |
| | Con el jefe es mejor andar pisando huevos: cualquier cosa que uno diga puede enfurecerlo. |
| | It's better to tread carefully with the boss: anything you say might infuriate him. |
| andar por ahí loc verb | (por lugar indefinido) | move around v expr |
| | | walk around v expr |
| | | be around v expr |
| | Anda por ahí, tratando de ganarse la vida. |
| | She is moving around, trying to make a living. |
| andar por ahí dando vueltas loc verb | (sin hacer nada de provecho) | wander around v expr |
| | | walk around v expr |
| | | take a walk v expr |
| | Anda por ahí, dando vueltas todo el día y no estudia ni trabaja. |
| | He wanders around all day and doesn't study or work. |
| andar por andar expr | (caminar sin propósito) | go for a stroll v expr |
| | | walk for the sake of walking v expr |
| | | walk aimlessly v expr |
| | Los domingos son perfectos para andar por andar. |
| | Sundays are perfect for going for a stroll. |
| andar por la calle de la amargura expr | (estar muy triste) (UK) | walk around stormily v expr |
| | | be in a bitter mood v expr |
| | | feel sad, feel upset vi + adj |
| | | feel depressed vi + adj |
| | Desde que su esposo murió, Julia anda por la calle de la amargura. |
| | Ever since her husband died, Julia has been walking around stormily. |
| andar por la vida loc verb | coloquial (vivir) | go about life, go through life v expr |
| | | live life v expr |
| andar por las nubes loc verb | (estar despistado) | have your head in the clouds v expr |
| | | daydream⇒ vi |
| andar quebrado loc verb | coloquial (estar en bancarrota) (money) | be broke v expr |
| | | be out of money v expr |
| andar regando veneno loc verb | CR, coloq (sembrar cizaña) | sow discord v expr |
| | A Marisol le encanta andar regando veneno, contando chismes. |
| andar regando veneno loc verb | CR, coloq (seducir, galantear) | flaunt sex appeal v expr |
| | Ayer la vi que andaba regando veneno con una minifalda. |
| andar sacando chispas loc verb | figurado, coloquial (estar furioso) (colloquial) | be hopping mad, be seeing red v expr |
| | (colloquial) | be mad as hell v expr |
| | | be furious, be very upset, be angry v expr |
| | Carlos se peleó con su jefe y anda sacando chispas. |
| andar tras de los huesos de alguien loc verb + prep | MX: coloquial (intentar conquistar a alguien) | have a crush on [sb] v expr |
| | | go after [sb] v expr |
| andar un poco flaco de memoria loc verb | coloquial (olvidar con frecuencia) | be forgetful, be scatterbrained v expr |
| | | have a bad memory v expr |
| | Anda un poco flaco de memoria, nunca sabe dónde deja sus llaves. |
| | He is a little forgetful, he never knows where he left his keys. |
| andar volando bajo loc verb | coloquial (estar decaído) | be down in the dumps v expr |
andarse con rodeos,
andar con rodeos loc verb | informal (no ir al grano) (US) | beat around the bush v expr |
| | (UK) | beat about the bush v expr |
| | No te andes con rodeos y dime ya qué necesitas. |
| | I don't like people who beat around the bush. |
| de andar por casa loc adj | (sencillo) | around the house, at home expr |
| | (clothing) | wear at home, wear around the house v expr |
| | Tengo puesto un pantalón de andar por casa. |
| | I have pants for around the house. |
estar corto,
andar corto vi + adj | coloquial (tener poco dinero) | be low on funds adj |
| | | be short adj |
| | Es fin de mes y estoy corta; la próxima semana puedo ir de compras. |
| | It's the end of the month and I'm low on funds, so I can't go shopping until next week. |
estar de malas pulgas,
andar de malas pulgas loc verb | coloquial (estar de mal genio) (temporary) | be in a bad mood v expr |
| | | be touchy vi + adj |
| | Hoy tuve un día difícil y estoy de malas pulgas: mejor ni me hables. |
| | I had a tough day today and I'm in a bad mood, so you'd better not speak to me. |
estar de suerte,
andar de suerte vi + loc adv | (tener la suerte de cara) | be in luck v expr |
| | | be lucky, be fortunate v expr |
| | (informal) | be on a hot streak, be on a winning streak v expr |
| | Ese día los ladrones estaban de suerte y se salvaron de que los atraparan. |
| | That day, the thieves were in luck and avoided capture. |
estar en boca de todos,
andar en boca de todos loc verb | coloquial (ser rumor) | be the talk of the town v expr |
| | | be the subject of gossip v expr |
| | | be on everyone's lips v expr |
| | El nuevo amorío de la actriz está en boca de todos. |
| | The actress's new fling is the talk of the town. |
estar en las nubes,
andar en las nubes loc verb | coloquial (estar distraído) | be daydreaming v expr |
| | | be in the clouds v expr |
| | | be distracted v expr |
| | | not be paying attention v expr |
| | El profesor nota si los estudiantes están en las nubes. |
| | The professor notices if the students are daydreaming. |
estar en las nubes,
andar en las nubes loc verb | coloquial (estar muy feliz) | have your head in the clouds v expr |
| | | be on cloud nine v expr |
| | | daydream⇒ vi |
| | Lucía está en las nubes desde que se casó y tuvo a su primer hijo. |
| | Lucy has had her head in the clouds ever since she got married and gave birth to her first son. |
estar en las nubes,
andar en las nubes loc verb | coloquial (soñar despierto) | have your head in the clouds v expr |
| | | be daydreaming v expr |
| | | be a dreamer v expr |
| | Es bonito estar en las nubes, pero no todo el día. |
| | It is nice to have your head in the clouds, but not all day long. |
estar manga por hombro,
andar manga por hombro loc verb | coloquial (estar muy desordenado) | be in a mess, be a shambles v expr |
| | Toda la casa está manga por hombro desde que llegaron mis sobrinos de visita. |
esto de estar,
esto de andar expr | (algo que está pasando) | all this about [+ present participle] expr |
| | | this stuff about [+ subject + verb] expr |
| Note: Se construye con gerundio. |
| | Esto de estar aguantando sus rollos a toda hora es pesadísimo. |
| | All this about putting up with his crap all day long is a pain in the ass. |
ir al retortero,
andar al retortero loc verb | ES: coloquial (ir de acá para allá) | go around expr |
ir por el buen camino,
andar por el buen camino loc verb | (vivir honestamente) (make good decisions) | be on the right track v expr |
| | (conservative lifestyle) | keep on the straight and narrow v expr |
| | Lucas va por el buen camino y seguro triunfará. |
| | Lucas is on the right track and he will surely do well. |
irse de picos pardos,
salir de picos pardos,
andar de picos pardos loc verb | (irse de juerga) | go out on the town v expr |
| | | paint the town v expr |
| | | paint the town red v expr |
| | Esta noche nos vamos de picos pardos. |
| meter las de andar loc verb | ES, coloquial (equivocarse) | stick your foot in your mouth v expr |
| | Cada vez que habla mete las de andar. |
montar en bicicleta,
andar en bicicleta vi + loc adv | (usar la bicicleta) | go cycling vi + gerund |
| | | ride a bicycle vi + n |
| | | cycle⇒ vi |
| | Ana y yo montamos en bicicleta todos los fines de semana. |
| | Tomás solo tiene cuatro años y ya anda en bicicleta. |
| | Ana and I go cycling every weekend. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I learned to ride a bicycle when I was just three years old. |
no andar muy allá,
no estar muy allá loc verb | coloquial (encontrarse en mal estado) | be in a poor state v expr |
| | | not be working v expr |
| | (informal: machine, appliance) | be on the blink v expr |
| | (UK, informal: machine, appliance) | be knackered vi + adj |
| | El refrigerador no anda muy allá: casi no enfría. |
| | Mi economía no anda muy allá, así que no puedo darme lujos. |
| | My finances are in a poor state and I can't afford any luxuries. |
| | This refrigerator is on the blink: it it hardly cooling. |