Compound Forms:
dar | decir | di |
| a todo dar loc adj | AmL: coloquial (muy bueno, genial) (slang) | awesome adj |
| | | very good, excellent adj |
| | | the best adj |
| | Cuando sea rico, voy a comprarme una casa a todo dar. |
| | When I get rich I'm going to buy myself an awesome house. |
| a todo dar loc adv | MX: coloquial (a toda su capacidad) (informal) | great, amazing adv |
| | (slang) | awesome adv |
| | (informal) | like a dream expr |
| | (more formal) | perfectly adv |
| | Mi auto funciona a todo dar: nunca tuve ningún problema. |
| | My car works great; I've never had any problems with it. |
| a todo dar loc adj | MX, coloquial (muy divertido) (slang) | awesome adj |
| | (informal) | really cool adj |
| | (US, slang) | sweet, sick, tight adj |
| | (US slang, dated) | off the hook, off the chain adj |
| | La fiesta estuvo a todo dar, bailamos hasta el amanecer. |
| | The party was awesome! We danced until dawn. |
asustar al miedo,
dar un susto al miedo expr | (figurado: ser muy feo) | be frightful v expr |
| | ¿Viste al nuevo novio de Jimena? ¡Asusta al miedo el pobrecito! |
| dar carpetazo a loc verb | (expediente: dejar sin resolver) (colloquial) | put on ice v expr |
| | (colloquial) | mothball⇒ vtr |
| | | shelve⇒ vtr |
| | El jefe dio carpetazo al expediente y su equipo empezó a trabajar en otra cosa. |
| | The boss put the dossier on ice and his team got to work on something else. |
| dar carpetazo a loc verb | figurado (dar por terminado) | put an end to v expr |
| | | be done with v expr |
| | (case) | close⇒ vtr |
| | (formal) | consider the matter closed v expr |
| | Florencia dio carpetazo a la pelea familiar y no volvió a hablar del tema. |
| | Florence put an end to the family feud and never spoke about it again. |
| dar gusto a loc verb | (agradar, complacer) | please [sb] v expr |
| | | make [sb] happy v expr |
| | (colloquial) | go down well with [sb] v expr |
| | A mi madre le dio gusto verte. |
| dar a conocer loc verb | (hacer público) | publish⇒ vtr |
| | | make [sth] public v expr |
| | El laboratorio dio a conocer los resultados de su investigación. |
| | The laboratory published the results of its research. |
| | The laboratory made the results of its research public. |
| dar a entender loc verb | (insinuar) | insinuate⇒ vtr |
| | | lead [sb] to believe v expr |
| | Pedro dio a entender que no quería ir a la fiesta. |
| | Pedro insinuated that he didn't want to go to the party. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Maria led Jose to believe that dinner was ready, but she actually finished cooking it after he sat down to the table. |
| dar a la prensa loc verb | (divulgar: medio escrito) | give to the press, leak to the press v expr |
| | Te voy a contar un secreto pero no se lo des a la prensa. |
| dar a luz loc verb | (hijo: traer al mundo) | give birth v expr |
| | | go into labor v expr |
| | Carla dio a luz un bebé sano. |
| | Carla gave birth to a healthy baby. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Maria is going into labor, she needs to go to the hospital immediately. |
| dar a luz loc verb | (parir, alumbrar) | give birth v expr |
| | Fernanda dio a luz anoche. |
| | Fernanda gave birth last night. |
| dar abasto loc verb | (rendir de manera suficiente) | be enough, be sufficient vi + adj |
| | | be enough to get by v expr |
| | | keep up vi phrasal |
| | | cope⇒ vi |
| | No necesitamos comprar más comida; lo que tenemos dará abasto. |
| | Si me sigues dando trabajo, no podré acabar a tiempo: no doy abasto. |
| | We don't need to buy more food: what we have will be enough. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. My boss gave me so much work that I couldn't keep up and I needed to ask for help. |
| dar acceso a algo loc verb | (abrir) | open⇒ vtr |
| | | provide access to v expr |
| | | give access to v expr |
| | El guardia dio acceso a la sala. |
| | The policeman opened the hall. |
| dar acidez vtr + nf | (estomacal) | give [sb] heartburn v expr |
| | | produce heartburn, cause heartburn vtr + n |
| | La cerveza me dio acidez. |
| | The beer gave me heartburn. |
| dar al traste con algo loc verb + prep | (echar a perder, arruinar) | mess up vtr phrasal insep |
| | | throw overboard v expr |
| | | blow⇒ vtr |
| | Dimos al traste con el proyecto: tendremos que volver a empezar. |
| | Óscar dio al traste con su futuro en el trabajo por culpa del alcoholismo. |
| | We messed up the project and we'll have to start all over again. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. That was your last opportunity to make amends and you blew it. |
| dar alaridos vtr + nmpl | (pegar de gritos) | shriek⇒, scream⇒ vi |
| | El niño daba alaridos mientras su madre lo bañaba. |
| | The boy was shrieking while his mother was bathing him. |
| dar alcance loc verb | (alcanzar, atrapar) | catch up with vtr phrasal insep |
| | La policía dio alcance al fugitivo. |
| | The police caught up with the fugitive. |
| dar en garantía loc verb | (avalar) | pledge as collateral v expr |
| | | give [sth] as a guarantee v expr |
| | | leave [sth] as a guarantee v expr |
| | Dimos la casa en garantía para cerrar el contrato. |
| dar en prenda loc verb | (dar a cambio) | pledge⇒ vtr |
| | | give [sth] as a guarantee v expr |
| | | leave [sth] as a guarantee v expr |
| | Dimos el auto en prenda de la casa. |
| dar por descontado loc verb | (tener la seguridad) | take [sth] for granted v expr |
| | | be sure of v expr |
| | | assume that vtr + adv |
| | Demos por descontado que Pablo vendrá, nunca falta. |
| dar por hecho expr | (creer, confiar) | consider [sth] as a given, assume [sth] as a given v expr |
| | | take [sth] for granted v expr |
| | Doy por hecho que vendrás a mi fiesta. |
| dar por sentado expr | (creer) | take for granted v expr |
| | | assume⇒ vi |
| | Di por sentado que aprobaría pero me equivoqué. |
| dar por visto expr | (mirar descuidadamente) | consider [sth] as seen v expr |
| | | take a quick glance at v expr |
| | La jefa dio por visto el informe. |
| dar alojamiento loc verb | (hospedar) | provide lodging, provide accommodation v expr |
| dar amor loc verb | (demostrar afecto) | show love, demonstrate love v expr |
| | Mi novio es muy cariñoso, me da amor con detalles especiales. |
| dar apellido a alguien loc verb | (reconocer como propio) (child) | take [sb] as your own v expr |
| | (child) | give [sb] your surname v expr |
| | Pedro le dio apellido al niño, aunque no era su hijo. |
| | Pedro took the child as his own, even though he wasn't the father. |
dar apoyo a,
darle apoyo a loc verb + prep | (apoyar, auxiliar) | support [sb]⇒, support [sth]⇒ vtr |
| | Tenemos que dar apoyo a las víctimas del huracán. |
| dar apuro loc verb | (dar vergüenza) (socially) | feel uncomfortable vtr + adj |
| | | be embarrassed vtr + adj |
| | Me da apuro ir a la cena porque no conozco a nadie. |
| | I feel uncomfortable about going to the dinner because I don't know anyone. |
dar arranque a,
darle arranque a loc verb + prep | figurado (iniciar, empezar) | make a start on v expr |
| | | kick off vtr phrasal sep |
| | | get [sth] underway v expr |
| | Quiero dar arranque al proyecto cuanto antes. |
| | I want to make a start on the project as soon as possible. |
dar arranque a,
darle arranque a loc verb + prep | (vehículo: arrancar) (engine) | start⇒ vtr |
| | Juan le dio arranque al auto. |
| | Juan started the car. |
| dar batalla loc verb | (no doblegarse) (figurative) | put up a fight v expr |
| | Los grandes atletas siempre dan batalla en el campo de juego. |
dar batalla,
darle batalla a alguien loc verb | coloquial (causar problemas) | cause problems, cause trouble v expr |
| | Mi sobrino da batalla cada vez que lo cuido, no sé cómo disciplinarlo. |
dar braguetazo,
pegar braguetazo loc verb | ES: coloquial (casarse por interés) (financial benefit) | marry for money v expr |
| | (social benefit) | marry for status v expr |
| | Todos en el pueblo dicen que Ramón ha dado braguetazo. |
| | Everyone in town says that Raymond married for money. |
| dar buen uso a algo loc verb + prep | (emplear bien) | put [sth] to good use v expr |
| | Mariana dio buen uso a su talento y se convirtió en violinista profesional. |
| | Mariana put her talent to good use and became a professional violinist. |
dar buena imagen,
dar una buena imagen loc verb | (aparentar) | give a good impression, give a good image v expr |
| | El vendedor no da buena imagen, mejor vamos a otra tienda. |
dar cabida a,
darle cabida a loc verb + prep | (tener espacio para) (room) | accommodate⇒ vtr |
| | (hotel room) | sleep⇒ vtr |
| | | have space for, have room for v expr |
| | | be big enough for v expr |
| | El cuarto da cabida a tres personas. |
| | The room accommodates three people. |
dar cabida a,
darle cabida a loc verb + prep | (permitir, generar) | give rise to v expr |
| | El discurso del vicepresidente dio cabida a toda clase de comentarios. |
| | The vice-president's speech gave rise to all sorts of comments. |
dar cabida a,
darle cabida a loc verb + prep | AR: coloquial (prestar atención, interesarse) | pay attention to v expr |
| | | pay mind to v expr |
| Note: Generalmente en negativo. |
| | No le des cabida a lo que dicen y hacé lo que vos quieras. |
| | Don't pay any attention to what they say and do whatever you want. |
| dar cabuya loc verb | AmL (amarrar) | tie up vtr phrasal sep |
| | ¿Le doy cabuya al perro o lo dejo suelto? |
| dar calabazas loc verb | coloquial (rechazar un pretendiente) | give the brushoff v expr |
| | Le pidió que fuera su novia y ella le dio calabazas. |
| | He asked her to be his girlfriend and she gave him the brushoff. |
| dar calor loc verb | (animar, avivar) (figurative) | spice [sth] up, perk [sth] up v expr |
| | | ignite⇒ vtr |
| | Los hinchas dieron calor a los deportistas. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. It's time we spice up the party! |
| dar calote loc verb | AR: coloquial (estafar, eludir pago) (payment) | dodge a payment v expr |
| | | skip out vi phrasal insep |
| | (colloquial) | pull a fast one v expr |
| | El gobierno dio calote con el pago de la deuda. |
| | The government dodged a debt payment. |
| dar caña loc verb | coloquial (retar, increpar) | tell off vtr phrasal sep |
| | | reprimand⇒ vtr |
| | (UK) | tick [sb] off, give [sb] a ticking off v expr |
| | | scold⇒ vtr |
| | Los padres dieron caña a sus hijos cuando se enteraron del lío. |
| | The parents told off their children when they found out about the mess. |
| dar caña loc verb | coloquial (apresurar) | hurry [sb]⇒ vtr |
| | | hurry⇒, hurry up⇒ vi |
| | | get a move on⇒ vi |
| | Dale caña a tu hermano o llegaremos tarde. |
| | Hurry your brother or we'll be late. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Hurry up or we won't get there in time! |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. We need to get a move on; the concert starts in 30 minutes. |
| dar caña loc verb | ES, coloquial (atizar, golpear) | beat⇒, thrash⇒, flog⇒ vtr |
| | Martín le dio caña a su hermano por romper el juguete. |
| | Martin beat his brother for breaking the toy. |
| dar cantonada loc verb | ES (desaparecer tras una esquina) | go around a corner expr |
| dar capote loc verb | coloquial (en juego) (card game) | score a capot v expr |
| | Ya no invitamos a Miguel a jugar baraja porque siempre nos da capote. |
| dar capote loc verb | coloquial (en discusión) | be witty v expr |
| | Si te preguntan algo comprometedor, les das capote y cambias el tema. |
| dar capote loc verb | coloquial (dejar sin comida) | make [sb] go hungry v expr |
| | | not let [sb] eat v expr |
| | | deprive [sb] of food v expr |
| | Por llegar tarde a la fiesta le dieron capote. |
| dar capote loc verb | CL, coloquial (engañar) | be deceived, be mislead v expr |
| | Nos dieron capote con los términos del contrato. |
| dar capote loc verb | CL, coloquial (violación colectiva) | gang rape⇒, gang-rape⇒ vtr |
| | El reporte dice que a la pobre chica le dieron capote. |
| dar capote loc verb | CL, coloquial (broma, castigo) | play a prank on [sb] v expr |
| | Es costumbre darle capote a los nuevos. |
| dar carrete loc verb | (soltar el sedal) | keep amused, keep entertained v expr |
| dar carta blanca loc verb | coloquial (dar libertad de acción) | give carte blanche v expr |
| | | give free rein v expr |
| | | give a blank cheque v expr |
| | Han dado al nuevo director carta blanca para hacer cambios en la empresa. |
| | The new CEO has been given carte blanche to make changes in the company. |
dar cátedra,
sentar cátedra loc verb | coloquial (demostración ejemplar) | give a demonstration v expr |
| | Pablo da cátedra en la cancha de tenis; juega como un profesional. |
| dar cátedra loc verb | (academia: enseñar) | teach⇒ vtr |
| | Mi novio da cátedra de filosofía en varias universidades. |
dar cátedra,
sentar cátedra loc verb | irónico (pronunciarse doctamente) | give a lecture v expr |
| | No me des cátedra de psicología que yo sé cómo educar a mis hijos. |
| dar cien patadas loc verb | coloquial (fastidiar mucho) | annoy the hell out of v expr |
| | Me da cien patadas tener que ir al cumpleaños de ese impresentable. |
| | It annoys the hell out of me to have to go to the birthday of that disgrace. |
| dar clase loc verb | (impartir lecciones) | teach a class vtr + n |
| | | give a class vtr + n |
| | Doy clase en un colegio secundario. |
| | Ana da clase de física los martes y jueves. |
| | I teach a class at a high school. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Nancy gives a class at the local community college once a week. |
| dar clase loc verb | (recibir lecciones) | go to class vtr + n |
| | | attend class vtr + n |
| dar clases particulares loc verb | (ser maestro privado) | teach private classes v expr |
| | | tutor⇒ vtr |
| | Pedro da clases particulares de inglés. |
| | Pedro teaches private English classes. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Jose tutors elementary school children every Tuesday. |
| dar coba a loc verb + prep | ES: coloquial (adular) | suck up to [sb] v expr |
| | María siempre da coba a todos los jefes. |
| | Maria always sucks up to all her bosses. |
| dar cobijo loc verb | (refugiar) | provide shelter vtr + n |
| | | take [sb] in v expr |
| | Debemos dar cobijo a quienes lo necesitan. |
| | We should provide shelter to those who need it. |
dar color,
dar colores loc verb | (con pintura) (US) | give color, provide color vtr + n |
| | (UK) | give colour, provide colour vtr + n |
| | Necesitas dar más color a esa pared. |
| | You need to give this wall more color. |
| dar color loc verb | coloquial (animar, avivar) (colloquial) | jazz up, juice up v expr |
| | | cheer up, brighten up v expr |
| | Hace falta darle color a la propuesta y hacerla más atractiva. |
| | The proposal needs to be jazzed up and made more attractive. |
| dar comienzo a algo loc verb | (empezar) | start [sth]⇒, begin [sth]⇒ vtr |
| | | get [sth] underway v expr |
| | | commence [sth]⇒ vtr |
| | El maestro de ceremonias dio comienzo al acto. |
| | The master of ceremonies began the ceremony. |
| dar como resultado loc verb | (resultar, producir) | result in [sth], give rise to [sth] v expr |
| | | produce as a result v expr |
| | La crisis dio como resultado una ola de violencia. |
| | The crisis resulted in a wave of violence. |
| dar con alguien loc verb | (hallar a una persona) | come across [sb] v expr |
| | | find [sb]⇒ vtr |
| | | end up with [sb] v expr |
| | Ayer di con Juan camino al trabajo, hacía mucho no lo veía. |
| | Yesterday I came across Juan on the way to work; it had been a long time since I'd seen him. |
| dar a alguien con la badila en los nudillos loc verb | coloquial (molestar, fastidiar) | bug [sb]⇒ vtr |
dar con la puerta en las narices,
darle a alguien con la puerta en la cara,
darle a alguien con la puerta en las narices loc verb | coloquial (rechazar de plano algo) (figurative) | slam the door in [sb]'s face v expr |
| | Me dio con la puerta en las narices cuando le dije que fuéramos a Francia este verano. |
dar confianza,
inspirar confianza loc verb | (ser digno de crédito) | inspire confidence vtr + n |
| | | build trust, generate trust vtr + n |
| | Marcos inspira confianza y por eso siempre se hace cargo del dinero. |
| | Marcos inspires confidence and, for this reason, is always trusted with the money. |
dar contenido a,
darle contenido a loc verb + prep | (dotar de sentido) | give substance to v expr |
| | | flesh out v expr |
| | | give more importance to [sth], attach more importance to [sth] v expr |
| | Tenemos que dar contenido a esta historia. |
| | We have to give substance to this story. |
| dar corte a alguien loc verb + prep | ES (darle vergüenza) | feel awkward, feel embarrassed vi + adj |
| | | get embarrassed vi + adj |
| | Me da corte pedir preservativos en la farmacia. |
| | I feel awkward (or: embarrassed) asking for condoms at the pharmacy. |
| dar cosa loc verb | coloquial (causar asco) | feel funny, feel strange, feel weird vi + adj |
| | Me da cosa meter la mano en la tierra. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Hearing chalk on a blackboard makes me feel funny. |
| dar cosa loc verb | coloquial (causar pena) | upset v expr |
| | Me da cosa ver a María siempre tan triste. |
| | It upsets me to always see Maria so sad. |
| dar cosa loc verb | coloquial (causar miedo) | give [sb] the creeps v expr |
| | | creep [sb] out v expr |
| | A Juan le da cosa dormir con la luz apagada. |
| | Sleeping with the light off gives Juan the creeps. |
| dar crédito loc verb | (creerse algo) | believe⇒ vtr |
| | (UK) | credit⇒ vtr |
| | No doy crédito a lo que me estás contando. |
| | I don't believe what you are telling me. |
dar cualquier cosa por,
dar lo que sea por loc verb + prep | (sacrificar) | give anything for [+noun] v expr |
| | | give anything to [+verb] v expr |
| | | give up anything for |
| | Daría cualquier cosa por volverte a ver. |
dar cuenta de,
dar buena cuenta de loc verb + prep | informal (terminar, consumir) | polish off vtr phrasal sep |
| | | make short work of v expr |
| | Los niños dieron buena cuenta de la tarta. |
| | The children polished off the cake. |
dar cuenta de,
dar cuenta y razón de loc verb + prep | (informar, comunicar) | inform of [sth], inform about [sth] vtr + prep |
| | | notify of [sth] vtr + prep |
| dar cuenta de loc verb + prep | (explicar, justificar) | explain⇒, justify⇒ vtr |
| | | account for v expr |
| | El empleado dio cuenta de su error ante el jefe. |
| | The employee explained his mistake to the boss. |
| dar cuenta de algo loc verb | (acabar algo) | give an account on [sth], account for [sth] v expr |
| | Dieron cuenta del asunto y se fueron a casa. |
| | They gave an account of the matter and went home. |
| dar cuenta de sus actos loc verb | (dar justificaciones) | be held accountable for your actions v expr |
| | Juan dio cuento de sus actos, pero el jefe no le creyó. |
| dar cuerda loc verb | (aparato mecánico) | wind up vtr phrasal sep |
| | El abuelo le da cuerda al viejo reloj de pared todas las noches. |
| | The grandfather winds up the wall clock every night. |
| dar cuerda a alguien loc verb | coloquial (alentar, animar) (on activity) | get [sb] started, get [sb] wound up v expr |
| | Si le das cuerda a mi papá, te va a hablar de ovnis toda la noche. |
| | If you get my father started (or: get my father wound up), he'll talk to you about UFO's all night long. |
dar cuerpo a,
darle cuerpo a loc verb + prep | (poner en práctica) | give shape to [sth], give [sth] shape v expr |
| | | flesh out v expr |
| | María dio cuerpo al plan y empezó a trabajar. |
| | Maria gave the plan shape and began to work. |
dar cuerpo a,
darle cuerpo a loc verb + prep | (idea: concretar) | flesh out v expr |
| | | shape [sth]⇒ vtr |
| | | ⇒ vtr |
| | Debemos dar cuerpo a esta idea o nunca avanzaremos. |
| | We should flesh out that idea or we will never move forward. |
dar cuerpo a,
darle cuerpo a loc verb + prep | (espesar, densificar) | thicken⇒ vtr |
| | | make [sth] thicker v expr |
| | Debes darle cuerpo a esa sopa: está muy líquida. |
| | You need to thicken the soup: it's too runny. |