Compound Forms:
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| be accompanied by [sb/sth] v expr | (go in company with) | estar acompañado de loc verb |
| be accompanied by [sth] v expr | (coexist with) | estar acompañado de loc verb |
| along by prep | UK (along the length of, next to) | a lo largo de loc prep |
| | | junto al loc prep |
| | Dimos un paseo por el sendero que corre a lo largo del río. |
annuity paid by installments (US),
annuity paid by instalments (UK) n | (business: periodic payments) | anualidad pagada a plazos loc nom f |
| | | renta anual pagada a plazos loc nom f |
| as time goes by expr | (as circumstances change) | a medida que pasa el tiempo expr |
| | Sometimes, as time goes by, people's interests and tastes change. |
at the hands of [sb],
at the hand of [sb],
by the hands of [sb],
by the hand of [sb] prep | (because of) | a manos de loc adv |
| | Many women die at the hands of their own families for perceived dishonor. |
| | Muchas mujeres mueren a manos de sus propios familiares por cuestiones de honor. |
at [sb]'s hands,
at [sb]'s hand,
by [sb]'s hands,
by [sb]'s hand prep | figurative (because of) | a menos de loc conj |
| | | a causa de loc conj |
| | | porque conj |
| | The current world champion was relegated to second place at the hands of the Italian rookie. |
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. |
| attended by [sb/sth] adj + prep | (accompanied) | escoltada por, atendida por, acompañada por participio + prep |
| | The queen was attended by six ladies in waiting. |
| | La reina iba escoltada por seis damas de honor. |
baptism by fire,
baptism of fire n | figurative (difficult initiation) (figurado) | bautismo de fuego loc nom m |
| | My first day as a math teacher was a baptism of fire. The pupils just wouldn't keep quiet! |
| | Mi primer día como profesor de matemáticas fue un auténtico bautismo de fuego. ¡Los alumnos no se callaban ni un momento! |
baptism by fire,
baptism of fire n | figurative (soldier: first combat) (figurado, primer combate) | bautismo de fuego loc nom m |
| | Bullets were flying all around and people were dying; it was truly a baptism by fire. |
| | Las balas volaban por todas partes y la gente moría. Fue un verdadero bautismo de fuego. |
| be bogged down in/by [sth] v expr | figurative (encumbered or oppressed) | estar tapado de loc verb |
| | | estar inundado de loc verb |
| | (figurado) | hundido/a adj |
| | | sobrecargado/a adj |
| | The lawyer was bogged down in paper work. |
| | (figurado) | estar tapado de loc verb |
| | | estar abrumado por loc verb |
| be followed by [sth/sb] v expr | (precede, come before) | ir seguido de loc verb |
| | The calm is always followed by the storm. |
| | La calma siempre va seguida de una tormenta. |
| be hit by a car v expr | (be knocked down) | ser atropellado por un coche, ser atropellado por un auto, ser atropellado por un carro loc verb |
| | Greg crossed the street without checking for traffic, and was consequently hit by a car. |
| | Greg cruzó la calle sin mirar y fue atropellado por un coche. |
| | (coloquial) | llevárselo un auto por delante, llevárselo un coche por delante, llevárselo un carro por delante loc verb |
| | (AR, coloquial) | llevárselo puesto un auto loc verb |
| | Greg cruzó la calle sin mirar y se lo llevó un auto por delante. |
| be led by [sth] v expr | (be guided) | dejarse guiar por loc verb |
| | I will be led by my doctor's advice. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. No le convencen los médicos, sólo se deja guiar por los consejos de la vieja curandera. |
| | | guiarse por v prnl + prep |
| | | dejarse guiar por loc verb |
| | Me guiaré por el consejo de mi médico. |
| be led by [sb] v expr | (be managed) | estar dirigido por loc verb |
| | The research project was led by a university professor. |
| | La investigación estaba dirigida por un profesor de la universidad. |
| be powered by [sth] v expr | (run or function on) | funcionar con vi + prep |
| | Most cars are powered by petrol. |
| | La mayoría de los coches funcionan con petróleo. |
| be tainted by [sth] v expr | figurative (experience: be spoiled by [sth]) | estar arruinado por loc verb |
| | (figurado) | estar contaminado por loc verb |
| | My memories of the wedding are tainted by the argument that broke out at the reception. |
| | Mis recuerdos de la boda están arruinados por la pelea que estalló en la recepción. |
| be written by [sb] v expr | (have as author) | ser escrito por, estar escrito por loc verb |
| | The story "The Pit and the Pendulum" was written by Edgar Allan Poe. |
| | El cuento "El pozo y el péndulo" fue escrito por Edgar Allan Poe. |
| begin by doing [sth] vi + prep | (do first) | empezar por vi + prep |
| | When learning a new recipe, it is best to begin by reading all the way through. |
| | Si vas a seguir una nueva receta, es mejor empezar por leerla toda. |
| benumbed by [sth] adj + prep | literary (made numb by: cold, etc.) | entumecido por adj + prep |
| | | entumecido de adj + prep |
| be beset by [sth/sb] v expr | (under attack: from enemy) | estar asolado por loc verb |
| | | estar cercado por loc verb |
| | The campers were beset by a family of bears. |
| be beset by [sth] v expr | (surrounded by) | estar rodeado por loc verb |
| | | estar cercado por loc verb |
| | The farmhouse is beset by a dense forest. |
| | La granja está rodeada por un denso bosque. |
| be beset by [sth] v expr | figurative (assailed: by difficulties, doubts, etc.) (figurado) | ser asaltado por loc adj |
| | Joan was suddenly beset by doubts as to her brother's motives. |
| | Joan fue asaltada por dudas respecto a los motivos de su hermano. |
besotted by [sb],
besotted with [sb] adj + prep | (infatuated) | estar perdidamente enamorado de loc verb |
| | Gary is besotted by Evie and would do anything for her. |
| | Gary está perdidamente enamorado de Evie y haría cualquier cosa por ella. |
| bit by bit adv | informal (gradually) | poco a poco loc adv |
| | | de a poco loc adv |
| | The baker adds the flour bit by bit, folding it into the mixture. |
| blow by [sb/sth] vi + prep | (be swept past) | ser llevado por loc verb |
| blow-by-blow adj | informal (account: detailed) | paso a paso loc adj |
| | | detallado/a adj |
| | The eyewitness gave a blow-by-blow description of the horrific event. |
| | El testigo hizo una descripción detallada del horrible suceso. |
| | | paso por paso loc adj |
| bothered by [sth] adj + prep | (concerned, troubled) | preocupado por adj + prep |
| | I am bothered by the way he treats my daughter. |
| | Estoy preocupado por el modo en que trata a mi hija. |
| bound by [sth] adj + prep | figurative (legally obligated) | obligado por adj + prep |
| | | legalmente obligado por loc adj |
| | We are bound by the terms of the contract. |
| | Estamos obligados por los términos del contrato. |
| bounded by [sth] adj + prep | figurative (limited) | limitado por, delimitado por, constreñido por adj + prep |
| bounded by [sth] adj + prep | (surrounded) | rodeado de adj + prep |
by a great deal,
by a good deal adv | (by a large amount or extent) | por mucho loc adv |
| | | por una gran cantidad loc adv |
| | | por un gran número loc adv |
| | The Indian Ocean is smaller than the Pacific Ocean by a great deal. |
| by a hair adv | (by a very slight margin, only just) | por un pelo, por un pelito loc adv |
| | (MX, infantil) | por un pelo de rana calva loc adv |
| | (AR, coloquial) | de pedo loc adv |
| | The truck missed the cyclist by a hair. |
| | El camión no chocó al ciclista por un pelo. |
| by a hair's breadth adv | (by the slightest margin) | por un pelo loc adv |
| | The horse won by a hair's breadth. |
| | Ganó la carrera por un pelo. |
| | (PR, familiar) | con las justas loc adv |
| | Ganó la carrera con las justas. |
| | (México) | por un pelito loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Se salvó de tener un accidente por un pelito. |
| by a long chalk expr | informal, figurative (by a large margin) (oración afirmativa) | de lejos, por mucho loc adv |
| | (oración negativa) | ni mucho menos expr |
by a long margin,
by a very long margin expr | (by a large number or amount) | por un gran margen loc prep |
| | | por una gran cantidad loc prep |
| by a long shot expr | informal (by a large margin) | ni por asomo expr |
| | | ni de casualidad expr |
| by a majority adv | (by most people, by more than half) | por mayoría loc adv |
| | They were able to pass their laws by a majority vote of 51 to 49. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Salió elegido por mayoría simple. |
| | | por la mayoría loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. La decisión fue tomada por la mayoría. |
by a narrow margin,
by a small margin expr | (by a small number or amount) | por un estrecho margen loc adv |
| | He was elected president by a narrow margin. |
| | Salió electo presidente por un estrecho margen. |
| by a show of hands adv | (with an impromptu vote) | por votación a mano alzada loc adv |
| | Our class decided to continue reading the novel by a show of hands. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Los allí reunidos votaron a mano alzada. |
| by accident adv | (mistakenly, not intentionally) | sin querer loc adv |
| | | por accidente loc adv |
| | I spilt some coffee on the carpet by accident. |
| | Volqué café en la alfombra sin querer. |
| by acclamation adv | Canada (elected without opposition) | por aclamación loc adv |
| by acclamation adv | (by oral vote) | por aclamación loc adv |
| by air adv | (via aeroplane) | por aire loc adv |
| | | vía aérea loc adv |
| | | por avión loc adv |
| | Did you send the package by air? |
| by air adv | (through the atmosphere) | por el aire, por aire loc adv |
| | Es imprescindible usar barbijo, el virus se trasmite por el aire. |
| by airmail adv | (postal delivery: via plane) | por correo aéreo, por avión loc adv |
| | All letters from the U.S. to Africa go by airmail these days; surface mail isn't available. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. La carta tiene que estar allí mañana: envíala por avión. |
| | | por vía aérea loc adv |
| by all accounts adv | (according to everyone) | según todos los testigos loc adv |
| | | según se dice loc adv |
| | I'm sorry I never met Mr Greene. By all accounts, he was a lovely man. |
| by all manner of means expr | (by all means, certainly) | de todas las formas y maneras loc adv |
| by all means adv | (of course, certainly) | por supuesto loc adv |
| | | desde ya loc adv |
| | "Can I borrow your pen for a moment?" "By all means!" |
| | "¿Me prestas tu bolígrafo un momento?" "¡Por supuesto!" |
| by all odds expr | (by far, undoubtedly) | por lejos loc adv |
| | | sin duda alguna loc adv |
| by analogy expr | (in comparison with [sth] similar) | por analogía loc adv |
| by and by adv | (in a short while) | en un rato loc adv |
| | | dentro de un rato loc adv |
| | | de aquí a un rato loc verb |
| | | poco más tarde loc adv |
| | Josie asked a stranger in the waiting room if he knew what time it was; by and by, the two of them were chatting like old friends. |
| | Josie le preguntó a unac extraña en la sala de espera si sabía qué hora era, y en un rato las dos estaban charlando como viejas amigas. |
| by and by adv | (eventually) | luego adv |
| | Be patient! I'll get around to it by and by. |
| | ¡Ten paciencia! Nos vemos luego. |
| | | dentro de un rato loc adv |
| | ¡Ten paciencia! Me encargaré de ello dentro de un rato. |
| by and large adv | (in general, on the whole) | en líneas generales, en términos generales loc adv |
| | | en general loc adv |
| | Not everything about my job is good, but by and large, I enjoy it. |
| | No todo en mi trabajo es bueno, pero en líneas generales me gusta. |
| by any chance adv | (possibly) (¿hay posibilidad?) | por casualidad loc adv |
| | Would you by any chance be able to lend me $10? |
| | ¿Por casualidad podrías prestarme 10 dólares? |
| | | de casualidad loc adv |
| | ¿De casualidad podrías prestarme 10 dólares? |
| | | acaso adv |
| | ¿Acaso podrías prestarme 10 dólares? |
| by any means expr | (in any way, via any method) | como sea loc adv |
| | | por cualquier medio loc adv |
| | The cheating cyclist said he had been desperate to win the race by any means. |
| | El ciclista tramposo dijo que había estado desesperado por ganar la carrera como sea. |
| by any standard adv | (by no matter what measure) | de cualquier punto de vista, de cualquier punto de vista que se lo mire loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. De cualquier punto que se lo mire me parece un negocio muy conveniente. |
| by birth adv | (through natural talent) (talento natural) | nato/a adj |
| | He was an artist by birth. |
| | Era un artista nato. |
| by birth adv | (through one's family) | nativo/a adj |
| | The U.S. Constitution requires the president to be American by birth, not a naturalized citizen. |
| | La constitución exige que el presidente sea nativo de los Estados Unidos, no un ciudadano naturalizado. |
| | | de nacimiento loc adv |
| | La constitución exige que el presidente sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos de nacimiento, no un ciudadano naturalizado. |
| by bus adv | (travel or transport: on a bus) (AR, PY, VE) | en colectivo loc adv |
| | | en autobús, en ómnibus loc adv |
| | Amy usually travels to work by bus. |
| | Amy suele ir en colectivo al trabajo. |
| by candlelight adv | (illuminated only by candle flame) | iluminado por velas loc adv |
| by car adv | (via motor vehicle) | en auto loc adv |
| | By car, you could get from Lansing to Detroit in about two hours. |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. En auto se llega en unas dos horas. |
| | | en coche loc adv |
| | ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. No hace falta que vayamos en coche, queda cerca; podemos ir caminando. |
| by chance adv | (coincidentally) | por casualidad loc adv |
| | I met my French teacher by chance in the supermarket. |
| | Me encontré con mi profesora de francés por casualidad en el supermercado. |
| by choice adv | (willingly, of one's free will) | por elección propia loc adv |
| | I did not exactly retire by choice. |
| by command adv | (by giving orders) | por obligación loc adv |
| by common consent adv | (with everyone's agreement) | por consenso loc adv |
| | | por mutuo consentimiento, por común consentimiento loc adv |
| Note: Puede permutarse la posición del sustantivo y el adjetivo. "Mutuo" se emplea más cuando se refiere sólo a dos aunque es válido también para más |
| | Se acepta lo propuesto por consentimiento común/mutuo de los presentes. |
| | | de común acuerdo loc adv |
| by comparison adv | (when compared) | por comparación loc adv |
| by comparison with expr | (compared with, relative to) | en comparación con loc prep |
| by consensus adv | (by general agreement) | por consenso loc adv |
| | Quakers make their decisions by consensus, not by compromise. |
| by contrast adv | (on the other hand) | por el contrario loc conj |
| | | en cambio loc conj |
| | | por otro lado loc conj |
| | I'm always late but you, by contrast, are always on time. |
| | Yo siempre llego tarde, y vos, por el contrario, siempre sos puntual. |
| by cracky interj | US, dated (surprise, emphasis) | ¡sorpresa! interj |
| by default adv | (not actively or purposefully) | por defecto loc adv |
| | Jenny hadn't ever given much thought to her career and had ended up as a secretary by default. |
| | Jenny nunca pensó mucho en su carrera y por defecto terminó de secretaria. |
| by default adv | (sports: due to non-participation) | por abandono loc adv |
| | When his opponent pulled out of the match, Barry won by default. |
| by definition expr | (according to nature of [sth]) | por definición expr |
| by definition expr | (according to dictionary meaning) | por definición expr |
| by degrees adv | (little by little) | gradualmente adv |
| | | poco a poco loc adv |
| by dint of [sth] prep | dated (by means of: work, effort) | mediante prep |
| | | a fuerza de loc prep |
| | By dint of brilliant organization, we were able to depart on time. |
| | Mediante una brillante organización pudimos salir a tiempo. |
| | A fuerza de una brillante organización pudimos salir a tiempo. |
| by doing adv | informal (by practising, on the job) | haciéndolo loc adv |
| | I've never been great at tests and exams: learn best by doing. |
| | Nunca fui bueno con los exámenes; aprendo mejor haciéndolo. |
| | | con la práctica loc adv |
| | Nunca fui bueno con los exámenes; aprendo mejor con la práctica. |
| by extension adv | (in a more general sense) | por extensión loc adv |
| | Calling me a dumb blonde insults me and, by extension, insults all women with blonde hair. |
| | Llamarme rubia estúpida me ofende a mi y, por extensión, a todas las mujeres rubias. |
| by far adv | (by a large margin) | de lejos loc adv |
| | | con creces loc adv |
| | | por mucho loc adv |
| | The U.S. is, by far, the largest producer of corn in the world. |
| | Estados Unidos es, de lejos, el mayor productor de maíz del mundo. |