| Additional Translations |
| back adj | (last, final) | del fondo loc adj |
| | | al fondo loc adj |
| | The back pages of the magazine are devoted to advertisements. |
| | Las páginas del fondo de la revista están dedicadas a las publicidades. |
| back adj | (remote) (formal) | recóndito/a adj |
| | (figurado) | profundo/a adj |
| | They're going to camp out in the back woods. |
| | Van a acampar en la parte recóndita del bosque. |
| | Van a acampar en lo más profundo del bosque. |
| back adj | (at the rear) | en el fondo loc adv |
| | | al fondo loc adv |
| | How many passengers will fit on your back seat? |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Se sentaron en el fondo de la sala. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Se sentaron al fondo de la sala. |
| back adj | (of the past) | anterior adj mf |
| | (diarios, revistas) | atrasado/a adj |
| | I would like to buy a back copy of the magazine. |
| | Me gustaría comprar un número anterior de la revista. |
| | Me gustaría comprar un número atrasado de la revista. |
| back adj | (in arrears) | compensatorio/a adj |
| | | atrasado/a adj |
| | She received back pay to make up for the accounting error. |
| | Recibió un pago compensatorio para subsanar el error contable. |
| | Recibió un pago atrasado para subsanar el error contable. |
| back adj | (going back) | atrás adv |
| | His back pass led to the goal that won the match. |
| | Su pase atrás generó el gol con el que ganarían el encuentro. |
| back adv | (in return) | devolver⇒ vtr |
| | | de vuelta loc adv |
| | She gave back the book. |
| | Ella devolvió el libro. |
| back n | (reverse side: body part) | dorso nm |
| | She wrote his telephone number on the back of her hand. |
| | Ella escribió el número de teléfono de él en el dorso de su mano. |
| back n | (rear) | parte de atrás nf + loc adj |
| | | detrás adv |
| | We hired a van and put the boxes in the back. |
| | Contratamos una camioneta y pusimos las cajas en la parte de atrás. |
| back n | (part of [sth] covering the back) (general) | parte de atrás nf + loc adj |
| | (camisa, remera) | espalda nf |
| | The company's logo will appear on the shirt back. |
| | El logotipo de la empresa aparecerá en la parte de atrás de la camisa. |
| back n | (reverse side: chair) | respaldo nm |
| | He placed his hands on the back of the chair. |
| | Él puso sus manos en el respaldo de la silla. |
| back [sth] vtr | (support [sth]) | respaldar⇒ vtr |
| | You should back your argument with facts. |
| | Deberías respaldar tus argumentos con hechos. |
| back [sth/sb]⇒ vtr | (wager on) | apostar por vtr + prep |
| | Which horse should we back? |
| | ¿Por cuál caballo debemos apostar? |
| back [sth]⇒ vtr | (form background of) | tener de fondo loc verb |
| | The field is backed by a row of trees. |
| | El campo tiene de fondo una hilera de árboles. |
| back [sb]⇒ vtr | informal (music: accompany) (general) | acompañar⇒ vtr |
| | (AR) | ser la banda soporte loc verb |
| | They're going to back Bob Dylan on his next tour. |
| | Ellos van a acompañar a Bob Dylan en su próxima gira. |
| | Ellos van a ser la banda soporte de Bob Dylan en su próxima gira. |
| back [sth]⇒ vtr | (mount) | montar sobre vtr + prep |
| | | enmarcar⇒ vtr |
| | She backed the photo with grey card. |
| | Montó la foto sobre cartulina gris. |
| back [sb]⇒ vtr | (support [sb]) | apoyar⇒ vtr |
| | I back this candidate for mayor. |
| | Apoyo a este candidato a alcalde. |
Locuciones verbales
|
| answer back vi phrasal | informal (reply impudently) | replicar⇒ vi |
| | Take your hands out of your pockets and don't answer back, young man! |
| | ¡Saca las manos de los bolsillos y no repliques jovencito! |
| | | responder⇒ vi |
| | ¡Saca las manos de los bolsillos y no respondas, jovencito! |
| | | contestar⇒ vi |
| | ¡Saca las manos de los bolsillos y no contestes, jovencito! |
| answer [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | informal (reply impudently) | contestar⇒ vtr |
| | | defenderse⇒ v prnl |
| | | insolentarse⇒ v prnl |
| | If she gets bossy, answer her back. |
| | Si ella se pone mandona, contéstale. |
| answer [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | informal (respond) | responder⇒, contestar⇒ vtr |
| | I left a message for him but he hasn't answered me back. |
| | Le dejé un mensaje pero aún no me ha contestado nada. |
| ask [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | (invite [sb] to return) | invitar de nuevo a loc verb |
| | | invitar otra vez a loc verb |
| | The panel asked the candidate back for a second interview. |
| | El panel invitó de nuevo al candidato para una segunda entrevista. |
| ask [sb] back vtr phrasal sep | UK (invite back to home) | invitar a la casa loc verb |
| | When they left the club, Zoe asked Luke back and he said yes. |
| back away vi phrasal | (retreat) | alejarse⇒ v prnl |
| | | retirarse⇒ v prnl |
| | Back away from the cookies and no one gets hurt. |
| | He nodded vaguely, continuing to dodge and back away. |
| | Aléjense de las galletas y nadie saldrá herido. |
| back down vi phrasal | (give in, yield) | recular⇒ vi |
| | (AmL) | retroceder⇒ vi |
| | (figurado) | echarse atrás loc verb |
| | (figurado) | dar marcha atrás, echar marcha atrás loc verb |
| | Despite the evidence, he refused to back down. |
| | A pesar de la evidencia, él se rehusó a recular. |
| | A pesar de la evidencia, él se rehusó a echarse atrás. |
| | (figurado) | dar el brazo a torcer loc verb |
| back off vi phrasal | (withdraw, retreat) | retroceder⇒ vi |
| | | retirarse⇒ v prnl |
| | The guys backed off when they saw the police coming. |
| | Los muchachos retrocedieron cuando vieron que llegaba la policía. |
| back off vi phrasal | (stop harassing or nagging [sb]) | dejar de molestar loc verb |
| | My French teacher is always picking on me to answer questions in class; I wish she'd back off! |
| | Mi profesor de francés siempre me elige para responder preguntas durante la clase, ojala me dejara de molestar. |
| back out vi phrasal | (withdraw involvement) (figurado) | echarse atrás, volverse atrás loc verb |
| | | desvincularse⇒, retirarse⇒ v prnl |
| | At the last minute, the investors backed out. |
| | A último momento, los inversores se echaron atrás. |
| | A último momento, los inversores se desvincularon. |
| back out of [sth] vi phrasal + prep | (promise: break) (figurado) | echarse atrás expr |
| | | irse para atrás expr |
| | The couple buying our house backed out of the purchase at the last minute. |
| | La pareja que iba a comprar nuestra casa se echó atrás a último minuto. |
| back out of doing [sth] vi phrasal + prep | (withdraw from) | echarse atrás, volverse atrás loc verb |
| | | desvincularse de, retirarse de v prnl + prep |
| | Sue backed out of helping us paint the house. |
| | Sue se echó atrás y no nos ayudará a pintar la casa. |
| back over [sth/sb] vtr phrasal insep | (vehicle: run over in reverse) | dar marcha atrás loc verb |
| | Oh no! I think I just backed over my son's bike. |
| | Creo que di marcha atrás sobre la bici de mi hijo. |
| | | atropellar en marcha atrás loc verb |
| | ¡Oh no! Creo que atropellé en marcha atrás la bicicleta de mi hijo. |
back [sth] up,
back up [sth] vtr phrasal sep | (computing: make copies) | hacer un respaldo, hacer una copia de respaldo loc verb |
| | | realizar una copia de seguridad loc verb |
| | (voz inglesa) | hacer un back up loc verb |
| Note: The single-word form is used when the term is or modifies a noun. |
| | It is advisable to back up all the files on your computer regularly, in case of breakdown. |
| | Se recomienda hacer un respaldo de todos los archivos, en caso de que su computadora se descomponga. |
| back [sb] up vtr phrasal sep | (support) | respaldar a vtr + prep |
| | | apoyar a vtr + prep |
| | Go ahead and tell the boss just what happened; I'll back you up on it. |
| | Ve y dile al jefe lo que pasó, yo te respaldaré. |
back [sth] up,
back up [sth] vtr phrasal sep | (confirm: fact, argument) | confirmar⇒ vtr |
| | | respaldar⇒ vtr |
| | | corroborar⇒ vtr |
| | The accused man insisted that his wife would back up his story and give him an alibi. |
| | El acusado aseguraba que su esposa confirmaría su historia y le daría una coartada. |
| | El acusado aseguraba que su esposa respaldaría su historia y le daría una coartada. |
| | El acusado aseguraba que su esposa corroboraría su historia y le daría una coartada. |
back [sth] up,
back up [sth] vtr phrasal sep | (vehicle: reverse) | echarse para atrás loc verb |
| | It's difficult to back up a truck when a trailer is attached. |
| | Es difícil echarse para atrás en un camión cuando el remolque está enganchado. |
| back up vi phrasal | (move in reverse) | retroceder⇒ vi |
| | | dar marcha atrás, conducir marcha atrás loc verb |
| | | ir en reversa, manejar en reversa, conducir en reversa loc verb |
| | A loud beeping alerts other road users when the lorry is backing up. |
| | Un pitido muy alto alertaba a los usuarios de la carretera cuando el camión retrocedía. |
| back up vi phrasal | (water: accumulate) | acumularse⇒ v prnl |
| | Water has backed up into the toilet and the flush won't work. |
| | El agua se acumuló en el inodoro y no anda la cadena. |
Compound Forms:
|
| and back expr | (returning) | y volver expr |
| | How long does it take to get to Maryland and back? |
| 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 far back as prep | (long ago) | desde prep |
| | As far back as Cleopatra's time, sugaring has been used as a hair removal technique. |
| | El azucarado se ha venido usando como técnica depilatoria desde los tiempos de Cleopatra. |
| as far back as prep | (from a point in the past) | alrededor de loc prep |
| | These cave paintings are believed to date as far back as 17,000 years. |
| | Se cree que estas pinturas rupestres tienen alrededor de 17.000 años. |
| ask [sth] back vtr + adv | (pose question in return) | responder con otra pregunta loc verb |
| | | hacer otra pregunta loc verb |
| | Audrey asked me a question, but I wasn't sure what she meant, so I asked her a question back. |
| at the back adv | (in, towards the rear) | al fondo loc adv |
| | | atrás adv |
| | We went to the cinema and sat at the back. |
| | Fuimos al cine y nos sentamos al fondo. |
| back and forth adv | (move: to and fro) | de acá para allá loc adv |
| | | de un lado para otro loc adv |
| | The little girl rocked back and forth on the swing. |
| | La pequeña niña se hamacaba de acá para allá en el columpio. |
back and forth,
back-and-forth adj | (movement: to and fro) | de acá para allá loc adv |
| | | de un lado para otro loc adv |
| | (coloquial) | vaivén nm |
| | | ir y venir loc nom m |
| Note: Hyphens are used when the term is an adjective. |
| | It is relaxing to sit on the beach and watch the back-and-forth motion of the waves. |
| | Es muy relajante sentarse en la playa a ver las olas moverse de acá para allá. |
| | Es muy relajante sentarse en la playa a ver el vaivén de las olas. |
| | Es muy relajante sentarse en la playa a ver el ir y venir de las olas. |
back and forth,
back-and-forth n | informal (conversation) (coloquial) | cuchicheo nm |
| | Rebecca could hear the back and forth of a conversation outside her window. |
| | Rebeca podía escuchar el cuchicheo de una conversación fuera de su ventana. |
| back bacon | (foodstuff) | lomo de tocino nm + loc adj |
| back bench n | UK (Parliament: junior members) | legislador junior, legisladora junior nm, nf + adj |
| Note: A hyphen is used when the term is an adjective |
| back-bench n as adj | UK (Parliament: junior) | de legisladores junior loc adj |
| back cover n | (book: rear outer part) | cubierta posterior nf + adj mf |
| | | contraportada nf |
| | (AmL) | contratapa nf |
| | The back cover had a brief description of the story. |
| | Había una breve descripción de la historia en la cubierta posterior. |
| back door n | (building: rear door) | puerta trasera nf + adj |
| | In this house the back door opens directly into the kitchen. |
| | En esta casa, la puerta trasera da directamente a la cocina. |
| | | puerta de atrás nf + loc adj |
| | En esta casa, la puerta de atrás da directamente a la cocina. |
| back end n | (rear part) | parte trasera nf + adj |
| | He cruelly likened her appearance to the back end of a bus! |
| | Con crueldad comparó su apariencia con la parte trasera de un autobús. |
| back end n | (software: data access layer) (voz inglesa) | backend, back end nm |
| | | modo administrador loc nom m |
| | | motor nm |
| | As a developer, Tim works on the back end of this web app. |
| back fat n | (excess fat on back) | grasa en la espalda nf + loc adv |
| back formation n | (linguistics: word creation method) (Lingüística) | derivación regresiva loc nom f |
| back home adv | informal (in your town or country of origin) (con pronombre) | en casa loc adv |
| | | en tierra loc adv |
| | Doris missed her life back home in Australia. |
| | Doris extrañaba la vida en su casa en Australia. |
| back home adv | (to your house again) (literal) | de nuevo en casa loc adv |
| | | de vuelta a casa loc adv |
| | Steve drove us back home after the party. |
| | Esteban nos dejó de nuevo en casa al terminar la fiesta. |
| back in action adj | informal (functioning or performing again) | en marcha de nuevo loc adv |
| | The doctor said I will be back in action in a few days, as soon as the scarring heals. |
| | El médico dijo que estaría en marcha de nuevo en unos pocos días, tan pronto como cicatrice la herida. |
| back in action adj | figurative, informal (at work again) (informal) | de vuelta al tajo loc adv |
| | After being away so long, we are all happy to see her back in action. |
| | | de vuelta al trabajo loc adv |
| | (figurado, familiar) | de nuevo al ruedo loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Maña se terminan las vacaciones y de nuevo al ruedo. |
| back in the day expr | (introduces reminiscence) | en aquellos tiempos expr |
| | | por aquellos días expr |
| | Back in the day, we only had a handful of TV channels. |
| back in the saddle adv | figurative, informal (at work again) | de regreso al jale loc adv |
| | It felt good to be back in the saddle after three months of sick leave. |
| | Estuvo bueno estar de regreso al jale después de tres meses de licencia por enfermedad. |
| | (figurado, coloquial) | de nuevo a la lucha loc adv |
| | Estuvo bueno volver de nuevo a la lucha después de tres meses de licencia por enfermedad. |
| back into [sth] vi + prep | (enter by reversing) | entrar marcha atrás loc verb |
| | Jeff looked into the rear-view mirror as he backed into the parking space. |
| | Jeff miró por el espejo retrovisor para entrar marcha atrás en el lugar para estacionar. |
| back [sth] into [sth] vtr + prep | (vehicle: reverse into) | entrar algo en reversa loc verb |
| | | entrar algo en marcha atrás loc verb |
| | My wife always has trouble backing the car into the driveway. |
| | Mi esposa siempre tiene problemas entrando el coche en reversa hasta la calzada. |
| back into [sth/sb] vi + prep | (hit by reversing) | chocar marcha atrás loc verb |
| | He wasn't paying attention and backed into the bollard. |
| | No estaba prestando atención y chocó marcha atrás contra el bolardo. |
| back [sth] into [sth/sb] vtr + prep | (vehicle: hit while reversing) | chocar algo marcha atrás contra loc verb |
| | Matt accidentally backed his car into a lamppost. |
back issue,
back number n | (magazine, etc.: earlier issue) | número anterior nm + adj |
| back judge n | (American football referee) | árbitro de fondo loc nom mf |
back line,
backline n | (sport: defensive players) | defensor, defensora nm, nf |
| | The back line stopped the other team from scoring. |
| | El defensor evitó que el otro equipo hiciera un gol. |
back line,
backline n | (sport: line on field) | línea de fondo loc nom f |
| | The ball crossed the back line before the player could reach it. |
| backline n | (equipment: amplification) | amplificadores nmpl |
| | The backline was at the back of the stage, ready for the musicians. |
| | Los amplificadores estaban al fondo del escenario, esperando a los músicos. |
| back lot | (outdoor area) | lote de atrás nm + loc adj |
back matter,
end matter n | (publishing) | paratexto final nm + adj mf |
| back number n | (out-of-date issue of magazine etc.) | número atrasado nm + adj |
| | | ejemplar atrasado nm + loc adj |
| | (VE) | periódico de ayer nm + loc adj |
| back number n | (anything out-of-date) | número atrasado nm + adj |
at the back of your mind,
in the back of your mind expr | (in background thought processes) | estar pendiente de expr |
| Back off! interj | (move away from me) | atrás interj |
| | (tú) | aléjate interj |
| | (vos) | alejate interj |
| | Back off! Don't touch me! |
| | ¡Atrás! ¡No me toques! |
| Back off! interj | (stop harassing me) | basta interj |
| | | no me molestes loc interj |
| | | deja de molestarme loc interj |
| | Back off, Dad! I'll do my homework later! |
| | ¡Basta papá! Haré la tarea más tarde. |
| back office n | (administrative department) | trastienda del negocio nf + loc adj |
| | All the staff from the back office are going to the pub – do you want to come? |
| | Todo el personal de la trastienda del negocio va a ir al pub, ¿quieres venir? |
| | | parte administrativa nf + adj |
| | Todo el personal de la parte administrativa va a ir al pub, ¿quieres venir? |
| back order n | (order for [sth] out of stock) | pedido pendiente nm + adj mf |
| | If your item is not in stock, the company will place a back order for you. |
| | Si el artículo está agotado, la empresa puede hacer un pedido pendiente. |
| back page n | often plural (final page of a publication) | contraportada nf |
| | | contratapa nf |
| back-page n as adj | sometimes figurative (fit for newspaper's last pages) | de contratapa expr |
| back pay n | (law: wages for previous work) | pago retroactivo nm + adj |
| | | pago de atrasos salariales nm + loc adj |
| | | pago de atrasos nm + loc adj |
| | The court has ordered that Mr Smith's former employer pay him £20,000 in back pay. |
| back pressure n | (force going against flow) | resistencia nf |
| | An obstruction in the water pipe was causing back pressure. |
| | Una obstrucción en la cañería estaba causando resistencia. |
| back projection | (photography) | retroproyección nf |
| back rent n | (law: money owed to landlord) | alquiler atrasado nm + adj |
| back road n | (not a main route) | camino interno nm + adj |
| | | calle interna nf + adj |
| | | camino alternativo nm + adj |
| | They got lost somewhere in the back roads of Devon. |
| | Se perdieron en los caminos internos de Devon. |
| back rub n | (massage) | masaje nm |
back seat,
backseat n | (seat at back of a vehicle) | asiento de atrás nm + loc adj |
| | | asiento trasero nm + adj |
| Note: The two-word form is more common. |
| | Children under 12 should sit in the back seat of a vehicle. |
back shift,
backshift n | (work period: afternoon, evening) | turno tarde nm + adj |
the back shift,
the backshift npl | (afternoon, evening workers) | trabajador de turno tarde nm + loc adj |
| back slang n | (backwards spelling) | jerga invertida nf + adj |
| back straight n | (part of a racecourse, track) | recta nf |
| back street n | (minor street) | calle secundaria nf + adj |
| | | calle lateral nf + adj |
| back the wrong horse v expr | figurative (be mistaken in judgment) (figurado) | apostar por el caballo perdedor expr |
| | | equivocarse⇒ v prnl |
| | (coloquial) | pifiarle v prnl |
| back then adv | (in those days) | entonces adv |
| | Back then most people didn't even have cell phones. |
| | Entonces, la mayoría de las personas no tenían ni siquiera teléfonos móviles. |
| | | en aquella época loc adv |
| | En aquella época, la mayoría de las personas no tenían ni siquiera teléfonos móviles. |
| | (ES, coloquial) | de aquella adv |
| | De aquella, la mayoría de las personas no tenían ni siquiera teléfonos móviles. |
| | (arcaico, desusado) | otrora adv |
| | Otrora, la mayoría de las personas no tenían ni siquiera teléfonos móviles. |
| | | antiguamente adv |
| | Antiguamente, la mayoría de las personas no tenían ni siquiera teléfonos móviles. |
| back to back adv | (with backs together) | espalda contra espalda loc adv |
| | Stand back to back so I can see who is taller. |
| | Párense espalda contra espalda para ver quién es más alto. |
back to back,
back-to-back adj | figurative (consecutive) | seguido/a adj |
| | | consecutivo/a adj |
| | | sucesivo/a adj |
| Note: A hyphen is used when the adjective precedes the noun. |
| | The team was able to win back-to-back games for the first time in a month. |
| | El equipo pudo ganar partidos seguidos por primera vez en meses. |
| back to front adv | (clothing: wrong way around) | al revés loc adv |
| back to front adv | figurative (completely, thoroughly) | de principio a fin loc prep |
| | (coloquial, figurado) | de pé a pá expr |
| | I've read this book so many times that I know it back to front. |
| back to normal adv | (reverting to usual state) | de vuelta a la normalidad loc adv |
| | In television, at the end of an episode usually everything goes back to normal. |
| | En televisión, al final de un episodio generalmente todo está de vuelta a la normalidad. |
| back to school expr | (return to school after vacation) | regreso a clases expr |
| | | de vuelta al colegio expr |
| | The sign above the supermarket shelf laden with books and stationery read "Back to school". |
| | El letrero sobre la góndola de supermercado lleno de libros y artículos de librería decía "regreso a clases". |
| back-to-school adj | (relating to return to school) (coloquial) | de vuelta al cole expr |
| | | de vuelta a clases expr |
| Note: Hyphens are used when the term is an adjective. |
| | We like to buy our children's clothes at back-to-school sales, when the prices are low. |
| | Nos gusta comprar la ropa de nuestros hijos en las ofertas de vuelta al cole, cuando los precios son más bajos. |
| back to the drawing board adv | figurative, informal (starting over) | empezar de cero loc verb |
| | | volver al punto de partida loc verb |