General Expressions Flashcards
(119 cards)
1
Q
you’re right on time!
A
llegas justo a tiempo!
2
Q
‘I didn’t catch that’
A
I didn’t hear that.
3
Q
Give me a buzz later
A
ring me (call me on the phone) later
4
Q
Please hold
A
I have to leave the call for a moment, please
5
Q
Hang on
A
wait for a moment
6
Q
Hang up
A
end the telephone call.
7
Q
Someone’s nose is runny
A
Saying that someone’s nose is “runny” means that there’s liquid coming out of it. The slang word for this liquid is “snot”, and the formal word is “mucus”. This happens when someone has a cold.
You can either say that a person’s nose is “runny” (an adjective) or “running” (a verb)
e. g. Your son has a runny nose. He’s playing a few meters away from you:
- Your nose is runny. Come here and let me wipe it.
8
Q
not give __ a second thought
A
Not worry about something at all.
Example: “would you put your baby in the freezing cold for their lunchtime nap? Most Nordic parents wouldn’t give it a second thought. For them it’s part of their daily routine”.
9
Q
Thanks a bunch
A
= Thanks a heap
muchas gracias, un montón de gracias
10
Q
to keep an eye out
A
Means that you’ll look for something.
“I’ll keep an eye out for it”.
11
Q
Happen to (do something)
A
Use the phrase “happen to ___” to talk about something that doesn’t seem very likely. One way this is useful is for asking questions, even though you don’t think the listener will know the answer:
“Do you happen to know a guy by the name of Fred Breedlove?”
(someone) by the name of (a name)
Talk about a person this way when you think that your listener probably doesn’t know who the person is.
12
Q
so far
A
hasta ahora (up until now) hasta aquí (to a limited extent), hasta cierto punto.
“So far so good” - Hasta aquí todo bien, por ahora todo bien, bien hasta ahora (all is well up to this point)
13
Q
It gives me the creep
A
me da escalofríos, mala espina…
14
Q
Frown Upon
A
Disapprove of, To disagree with something.
desaprovar, no ver con buenos ojos, estar mal visto.
example: “Laughing at your own joke is generally frowned upon” (reir tus propios chistes es generalmente mal visto)
15
Q
To go about
A
To deal with something.
“The only way to go about it, is to laugh it out”.
16
Q
“It’s kind of hit-or-miss.”
A
(something) is hit-or-miss
When something is good sometimes, but not-so-good other times, you can describe it as “hit-or-miss”.
Example: You’ve been watching a comedy TV show. A friend asks what you think of it. Some episodes are good and others are bad, so you describe it this way: “It’s kind of hit-or-miss”.
17
Q
It’s dirt cheap
A
Es baratísimo.
18
Q
It blows (one’s) mind
A
When something is amazing and unbelievable, you can say that “it blows your mind”. Examples:
- Whenever I think about how many people live there, it blows my mind.
- It blows my mind how talented Katie is at such a young age.
Sometimes people use this phrase to talk about something that’s surprising in a negative way:
- It blows my mind how some people can just lie right to your face.
You can also use this expression in the past tense:
A: How was the exhibit?
B: Oh, it absolutely blew my mind!
19
Q
(someone) doesn’t go for (something)
A
I don’t go for ___” means “I don’t enjoy ___.” For example:
- I don’t go for all that fancy stuff. I like a good, old-fashioned meal.
- I don’t go for action movies.
You can also use this phrase to explain that someone doesn’t accept something. For example:
- You’d better be prepared when you go in to talk to Marjorie; she doesn’t go for excuses.
20
Q
(someone) is leaving money on the table
A
his means to not get as much money as you could.
You use this phrase to talk about negotiations, finance, and buying and selling things. For example: “If you just blindly accept whatever they decide to offer, you’re definitely leaving money on the table”.
The “table” in this expression comes from poker: when you don’t play intelligently, you’re leaving your money on the poker table.
21
Q
sit around (doing something)
A
To “sit around ___ing” means to do something lazily. Here are some of the best examples:
“sit around watching TV”
“sit around on the Internet”
“sit around talking to your friends” (when you’re supposed to be working or studying)
“sit around waiting for something”
This is a negative phrase. You usually use it when you’re complaining about someone who seems lazy.
Example: Your roommate broke up with his girlfriend two weeks ago. Since then, he’s been at home every day and seems depressed. You don’t want to see him being depressed any longer, so you’re trying to encourage him to go out and have fun with other people. You say:
-“You can’t just sit around feeling sorry for yourself forever”.
22
Q
Your (pay check, career, etc.) are At Stake
A
Tu (sueldo, carrera) está en juego.
23
Q
Tone it Down
A
“Toning it down” means doing less of something, or making something less extreme.
You can “tone down” a lot of different things. Here are some examples:
- If your children are playing really loudly, you can ask them to “tone it down”, meaning to play more quietly.
- If someone is playing a sport really aggressively even though it’s not a serious game, you can comment that this person should “tone it down”, meaning to play less aggressively.
- If your boyfriend usually likes to talk a lot about politics, you can ask him to “tone it down” when you bring him to have dinner with your parents.
Example: There’s a new employee at your job. He’s really energetic and tries to be helpful to everyone. It’s nice, but it’s also a little annoying. You complain about him to one of your close work friends.
“That new guy is so eager to please. I wish he’d tone it down a little”.
24
Q
It’s the thought that counts.
A
This is a set phrase that English speakers use to talk about gifts. It means that it’s OK if a gift isn’t perfect; the purpose of giving someone a gift is just to show that you care about that person.
People say this when someone gets a gift which doesn’t match what they wanted.
Example: Your cousin sent you a birthday present. It was a book, but you’re actually not interested in reading that book at all. Even though you don’t like the gift, you’re happy that your cousin sent you something. You think this to yourself.
“Well, it’s the thought that counts”.
(La intención es lo que cuenta)
25
get back to (someone)
To "get back to" someone means to respond. You can "get back to" someone who sent you an e-mail or left a telephone message.
You can also use "get back to ___" to talk about answering someone's question later:
"Please get back to me by the end of the day". (por favor, contáctame (o contacta conmigo) a final del día)
26
(someone) is swamped
When someone is very busy at work ('agobiado'), you can describe them as "swamped".
A: Hey, do you want to go out for lunch?
B: I can't today. I'm swamped.
Example II:
A professional contact calls you. He left a voicemail message for you last week, but you forgot to call him because you were so busy. After saying hello, you apologize and explain why you haven't called him back.
"Sorry I haven't gotten back to you. I've been swamped".
The word "swamp" means a big pool of mud. So when you're "swamped" with work, it's like being stuck in a pool of mud that you can't get out of.
If someone is busy but not extremely busy, just use the word "busy" instead.
27
There's (a contagious sickness) going around
When a lot of people are sick with a cold, a flu, etc., you can say that it "is going around". For example:
- Be careful. There's a flu going around.
- I've noticed a few people sniffling. I hope that there's not something going around.
A bug:
You can call a slight illness like a cold, a flu, or a stomach virus a "bug".
A: Are you OK?
B: I think I got some kind of stomach bug.
Example II: It's winter. A lot of people that you work with are getting sick with colds and flus. You're worried that you're going to get sick too. You're talking to your wife about it: "There's some kind of bug going around"
The more common meaning of "bug" is insect, but when you use it this way, "bug" means a virus or bacterial infection.
28
What's-(his/her/its)-name
When you can't remember the name of someone, you can call him or her "What's-his-name" or "What's-her-name":
- It stars What's-his-name. You know, the guy from Titanic.
A: Where is it?
B: I gave it to What's-her-name.
A: Isabelle?
B: Yeah, I think so.
In sentences like these, "What's-his-name" replaces the person's name.
This phrase can seem rude because it seems like you don't care much about what the person's name is. Or it can just seem like you're forgetful and relaxed.
29
swing by (somewhere)
"Swinging by" a place means visiting it quickly before going somewhere else (dejarse caer por...). It's very similar to "stopping by": "Can we stop by an ATM on the way there?"
But when someone says "swing by", it's even more casual and the visit sounds even shorter. You can tell someone to "swing by" a place when you want the trip to sound short and easy.
```
drop off (something),
(leave sb, sth somewhere - dejar a alguien o algo en algún sitio)
```
To "drop off" something means to leave it in a place. But you only use it for things that you leave on purpose, not by accident. For example:
- I need to swing by the office and drop off a few documents.
- Could you drop this off for me at the post office?
30
A hard nut to crack
Un hueso duro de roer
Examples:
“Johnny is a hard nut to crack. He’s so quiet, I can never tell what he’s thinking.”
“Journalism is a hard nut to crack. It’s very difficult to get published. There is a lot of competition.”
“My boss is a hard nut to crack. No matter what I do, he never says thank you. I can’t tell if he likes me or not.”
31
To live beyond (someone) means.
vivir por encima de las posibilidades.
| "unfortunately people do live beyond their means most of the time".
32
(someone) is saddled with (debt)
A creative way to say that someone owes a lot of money is to describe them as "saddled with debt".
A "saddle" is a seat that you put on a horse's back so that a person can ride the horse. So being "saddled" with debt is like having something heavy on your back. It sounds tiring.
33
Jump to conclusions
"Jumping to conclusions" means accepting an explanation too quickly. For example, if a coworker is late for work, you might think that she overslept. However, this would be "jumping to conclusions" because there are other possible explanations for why she's late: she might have gotten in a car accident, for example.
"Jumping to conclusions" is a bad habit. You often hear this phrase used in the sentence:
Don't jump to conclusions.
34
What was (someone's) name again?
If you've been told someone's name before, but have forgotten it, you should ask for that person's name again this way: What was your husband's name again?
This expression shows that you remember hearing the person's name once before.
35
On Behalf of (a group of people)
('En nombre de..., en representación de...") Use this phrase when you want to formally make an announcement that expresses the feelings of a group of people. For example, in a written "Thank You" card, you can write:
- "On behalf of Tina and myself, thank you so much for agreeing to come speak on such short notice. We and the entire audience really appreciated it".
"On behalf of ___" is a fairly (fairly-bastante) formal phrase.
In your behalf - En tu nombre.
36
Going-Away Party
Fiesta de despedida
| - "I'm going to organize a going-away party at a restaurant for my friend who's moving to another area of the country.
37
Get to Work
This means to begin working. It gives the impression that there is some work that needs to be done, and you need to start on it. Of course, these same words can also mean "get to (the place where I) work".
Example: You're leading a group of people that is decorating for a wedding. You discuss the plans with the group and tell each person what to do. Now it's time to break up (dividirse) and start doing the work, so you say: "All right – let's get to work".
38
Block someone's View
"Blocking someone's view" means putting something in the way and preventing a person from seeing something that they want to see.
For example, if you want to look out of your window and see your neighborhood, but there's a tree growing in front of the window, you can say that the tree is "blocking your view".
39
Could Use a little help
when you're struggling with something, and there's someone nearby who isn't helping you, you can say: "I could use a little help".
Example:
You're cleaning your house because you're having guests over this weekend. Your husband isn't helping you. You're annoyed, so you ask for help this way: "Excuse me, I could use a little help..."
40
(something) Is Down to (a number of something)
When there used to be more of something, but now there's less of it, you can use the phrase "down to ___" (lit: bajado a... / = que: 'nos hemos quedado en...')
Examples:
- We sold the van, so we're down to two vehicles now.
- We're down to half a bag of rice.
Usually you say the number of things that you are down to, but you can also list what's left like this: - Now it's down to just me, Brad, and Gbenga.
Notice that it's common to include "now" somewhere in the sentence.
41
Fire Away
slang (begin asking questions)
Adelante. Pregúntame lo que quieras.
Dispara.
42
I'm on it
The phrase "I'm on it" means "I will deal with this" or "I will handle the problem." You can use it in work situations.
"I'm on it" sounds helpful and positive. When you say this, it makes it seem like you've already started to work on the problem.
43
Make a Left/Right
When you're giving someone driving instructions, you can tell them where to turn using the phrases "make a right" or "make a left". This is a little more casual than telling someone to "turn right" or "turn left".
Example: You're riding in a car with your friend. Your friend is driving but she's never been to the store that you're going to. You tell her where to turn: "Make a right at the next light".
44
(some time) sharp
When you're making plans for a specific time, and don't want people to be late, you can use the word "sharp" after the time:
- Be there at 8 o'clock sharp.
- We start at 9:30 sharp. Don't be late!
Adding "sharp" to the time makes you seem strict, but not rude or unfriendly.
45
A Running Joke
Una broma recurrente.
A RUNNING JOKE is something that happens on a regular basis in TV shows and programs, for instance, and a typical example of that would be Kenny being killed in each and every single one of the South Park episodes.
46
It Stands to Reason
( = it is logical)
tener sentido, 'parece lógico'
- "The company isn't profitable: it stands to reason that the owners will sell it". (La compañía no genera ganancias: tiene sentido que los dueños quieran venderla).
47
A Run-In With
quarrel with (informal)
tener una pelotera con..., tener un roce con...
Example: I had a run-in with my brother yesterday over whose turn it was to borrow the car.
48
to Put my Finger On It
I couldn’t put my finger on it - this expression is used to describe one’s inability to clearly identify the issue or a specific detail but its origin is clearly of a practical nature; if you don’t see something, you can’t put your finger on it!
(= 'no puedo poner la mano en el fuego')
49
Moving On
Use this phrase to switch to a new topic.
You use it at the beginning of a sentence like this: - Moving on, let's discuss the budget cuts (= 'budget cuts - recortes presupuestarios)
50
Win-Win
Beneficial to both parties (todos ganan)
| - It's a win-win situation. (es una situación en la que todos ganan)
51
There/Here you go
You say "There you go" when you're giving or handing a person something. More generally, you use it when you're doing something for another person. For example, say "There you go" when: - you stand up to let someone sit down, - you've finished tying someone's necktie for them, - you clear a space on the kitchen counter for someone to set a hot dish on.
You can also say "here you go" in the same way. While there are no absolute rules for when to use one or the other, I would use "here you go" if I brought something to them from far away, and "there you go" if I'm sitting in place and handing them the object.
52
(something is) up and running
Use this expression to talk about things that are now working and ready to use. Here are some things that you can describe as "up and running": a computer, a website, a factory, a new government program...
- "The software should be up and running now".
53
(do something) from scratch
Doing something "from scratch" means that you do it from the very beginning, without having some parts of it done for you.
For example, baking cookies "from scratch" means combining flour, eggs, sugar, etc. to make the cookies (instead of buying pre-made cookies or frozen cookie dough). A lot of people believe that food that's made "from scratch" tastes better.
If you're writing something and lose your work, "starting over from scratch" would mean re-writing it completely.
"Please tell me I don't have to start over from scratch..." ('start over' - to start doing something again)
54
my end (of a conversation)
On a telephone or video chat conversation, you call the location of each person on the conversation an "end". It might help to imagine a string that connects each of the people on the call. So each person is at one "end" of the string.
You can use "my end", "your end", "this end", and "that end" to talk about things that are happening in each location. For example:
- I hear some kind of strange beeping noise. Can you hear that on your end?
- It's eight o'clock here. What time is it on your end?
- The video's pretty choppy on my end.
55
Get to Know (something)
This means to gradually start to know more about something (like a computer program).
- Once you get to know this program, it's not that hard.
It's also used with people:
- Once you get to know Chelsea, she's actually pretty nice.
56
Wouldn't you know it (sentence)
Use this phrase when something really inconvenient – maybe the most inconvenient thing in that situation — happens.
For example, if you drove 30 minutes to a library in order to check out a specific book, but the book was already check out, you'd say:
- "Wouldn't you know it, it was checked out".
Another example: -"Wouldn't you know it, my car broke down on the way to the interview!".
The tone of "Wouldn't you know it" is disappointed but accepting, like you're thinking that inconvenient things always happen to you.
57
(some people) are On a First-Name Basis
When people in English-speaking countries get to know each other well, they often start to call each other by each other's first names. People who use each other's first names are "on a first name basis".
If someone calls a person like a teacher, a political figure, a celebrity, etc. by their first name, you can tease this person:
- Oh, are you on a first name basis now?
(Tutearse, llamarse por el nombre de pila)
58
(someone) is toying with the idea of (doing something)
"Toying with" an idea means to consider whether or not you should do something. You're thinking that you might do it, but you're not sure yet.
For example:
- I've been toying with the idea of studying abroad for a semester.
- I'm toying with the idea of cutting it really short.
59
Jaw Dropping
Boquiabierto, dejar con la boca abierta, sorprendente, asombroso...
- "If you wanna travel to Italy, then start planning your visit to stunning Venice or jaw-dropping Tuscany".
60
(someone's body part) is asleep
When part of your body like your arm, leg, hand, etc. is in a strange position for a while, it starts to feel tingly (sensación de hormigueo*). It feels like someone is poking it with lots of little needles. You describe this situation by saying that the body part "is asleep": "My foot's asleep!"
You can also say that the body part "went to sleep": "My arm's gone to sleep. Can you move over for a minute?"
*I feel tingly all over. siento hormigueo en todo el cuerpo
61
Get out of here! (in a 'nice' way)
When someone tells you something that's: surprising, really exciting or good news, possibly a trick... For example:
A: Mom, I got into Harvard.
B: What!? Get out of here!
Example II: Your brother tells you that he met a really famous celebrity. You say this because you're surprised that he met someone so famous: No way! Get out of here!
Of course, you can also tell people "Get out of here!" when you're actually mad at them and want them to leave. People will usually know whether you're surprised or angry based on the situation. Your facial expressions also give people clues. If you say "Get out of here!" while you're smiling, people will think that you're happy and surprised. If you say it while frowning (frunciendo el ceño), they'll think that you're angry.
62
(Someone) is Stumped
Being "stumped" means that you don't know the answer to something, and you don't have any more ideas about how to solve it. For example, you might say this to another student about your math homework:
A: Do you know how to solve number 15?
B: No, I'm stumped.
Example II: You've been trying to fix a problem with your car's engine, with your son helping you. You tried to fix it in a few different ways, but now you don't have any more ideas. You say this to your son: "Hmm... well, I must admit: I'm stumped"
This idiom doesn't sound too negative. It is fine to use in either formal or casual situations.
I'm stumped - estoy perplejo.
63
As I'm Sure you're Aware
Add this at the end of a sentence when you think your audience already knew about what you said:
- Today is my last day here, as I'm sure you're aware.
You can also say this if the listener should have known something, but might not have:
- It's your father's birthday today... as I'm sure you're aware.
64
To pass the buck
Pasar la pelota
65
blow off steam
To "blow off steam" means to get rid of stress. You "blow off steam" by doing things like drinking, complaining about work with coworkers, yelling at someone, or maybe doing exercise or playing video games.
This expression comes from the old days of steam-powered engines. When the pressure inside the engine got too high, the engine operators had to let some of the steam (vapor) out. Stress is like steam that has to be released.
(desahogarse)
blow off - tirarse un pedo (i think the dog blew off, it smells horrible) / escaquearse (Since I was feeling better, I blew off my appointment with the doctor)
blow sb off - pasar de alguien, ningunear. "I went over to talk to him, but he just blew me off" (fui a hablar con él, pero pasó de mí)
66
Crack Open a window
To "crack open" a window means to open it a little bit. However, sometimes people say "crack open" just to sound cool, when actually they mean to open something completely.
(entreabrir, abrir en dos)
Other things that you can "crack open" include:
- Come on over! We'll crack open (descorchar) a bottle of wine and cook some steak on the grill.
- I saw him crack open the door and look out.
67
do (something) overnight
You can describe a process that starts one day and ends the next day can be as happening "overnight". For example:
- Soak the beans overnight.
- Let it dry overnight.
(por la noche, durante la noche...)
68
Chip In
Contribuir, poner dinero (entre varias personas)
To "chip in" means to help with something that a group of people is doing. Sometimes "chipping in" means giving money. In the example above, the speaker wants her friend to "chip in" by giving some money for the gift.
- We all chipped in to buy you a present (te compramos un regalo entre todos)
Someone can also "chip in" by volunteering their time or work:
- Come on, guys! If we all chip in and help, we'll have this place clean in no time!
"Chip in" is only used to talk about groups of people. Volunteering alone to help someone isn't really "chipping in".
69
Every So Often (something will happen)
You can use this phrase to talk about things that sometimes happen. "Every so often" means that something happens again and again, but not very often. For example:
- I run into him in the city every so often.
- I don't eat sweets all that much, but every so often I'll get a craving for a bowl of ice cream.
70
Painkillers
Analgésicos, calmante.
The painkillers haven't kicked in yet.
(When something "kicks in", it means that it starts to work. This is a common expression for talking about medicine)
71
(something) is Out of Whack
Things that are "out of whack" (fuera de control) are not working properly.
Things that you can describe as being "out of whack" include systems like: a person's body cycles, including digestion, menstruation, and sleep; the climate in a certain part of the world; a company's communication system
This is a very casual, colloquial phrase. A more formal way to say "out of whack" is "out of balance".
- "Ugh. My sleep cycle is still totally out of whack".
72
Back Down
Echarse atrás (give in)
- Despite the evidence, he refused to back down.
- she has no intention of backing down (no tiene intención de ceder)
73
(something is) In Demand
When something is "in demand", it means that a lot of people want it.
This can apply to products:
- The new 4.5-inch models are really in demand these days.
Or to people who are popular and busy:
A: Sorry, someone else is calling me.
B: Wow, you're really in demand!
- I hear that mobile app developers are in demand right now.
An adjective that often comes along with this phase is "high":
- It's in high demand.
74
Place an Order
"Placing an order" means ordering something. You can "place an order" for things like: takeout food, stuff that you buy through the Internet, a big shipment of supplies for your company
Grammatically, you place an order "with" the company that you're ordering from, and "for" the thing that you're buying:
- I placed an order with Diamond Comics for 30 copies of the new X-Men comic.
- It's dinner time, but you don't want to cook. You call a restaurant to get some food sent to your house. When they answer, you start this way: - Yes, I'd like to place an order for delivery?
However, when you're ordering food by phone, you can also say that the order is "for pickup", meaning that you'll go to the restaurant to get the food, or "for delivery", meaning that you'd like someone to bring the food to your home:
- Hi. I'd like to place an order for pickup, please.
75
(someone) Pulled (a muscle)
"Pulling" a muscle (un músculo que tira) means that the muscle has been torn or overstretched a little bit. It's a painful situation that happens sometimes when you play sports, exercise, or move in a way that you're not used to.
Only muscles are "pulled". Similar problems that happen to other parts of the body include:
- spraining a joint (torcedura de articulaciones) (your ankle, wrist, etc.)
- breaking a bone
- tearing a tendon (desgarro de un tendón) (like the big tendon on the back of your foot which is called the "Achilles tendon")
Example: You're limping (cojeando). A coworker asks what's wrong. You explain that you injured one of your leg muscles: - Ah, I pulled my hamstring.
[ Your "hamstrings" (tendón de la corva) are the set of muscles on the backs of your thighs. These are the muscles that allow you to bend the bottom of your leg backward.
"Hamstring" is the everyday name for these muscles. There are also scientific or medical names for each muscle in this group.]
76
To Make Ends Meet
Llegar a fin de mes
77
(a situation continues) Until Further Notice
"Until further notice" is a formal phrase. It means that a situation will continue until someone tells you that the situation has changed. For example:
- You are suspended from duty until further notice.
- We are instituting a hiring freeze until further notice.
- We are in a state of emergency. Please return to your home and remain there until further notice.
- We're closed for construction until further notice.
78
On the rocks (relationships)
In a bad state, particularly of a romantic relationship.
| Example sentence: “Philippa and David are not talking to each other. I think their relationship is on the rocks.”
79
Head Over Heels
To be very much in love with someone, completely in love (locamente enamorado)
Example sentence: “I have never seen Andre so happy. He is head over heels in love with his new girlfriend.”
Fall head over heels - Fall in love, enamorarse perdidamente
- What makes a man fall head over heels for a woman?
Fall head over heels For - Perder la cabeza por.
- I bet that when I introduce you to my friend, you will fall head over heels for her!
80
Lovey-Dovey
Making an excessive display of affection.
Expressing affection in an extravagantly sentimental way; mushy (mushy-pasteloso, sentimentaloide)
Example sentence: “Mary and Tony are always holding hands and kissing in public. They are so lovey-dovey.”
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(someone) is talking up a storm
This is a casual expression that means to talk a lot.
You can use it to talk about young children who start talking a lot once they reach a certain age. Here are some other expressions that use "___ up a storm":
- Mom would always be in the kitchen, cooking up a storm while we played in the yard.
- You should have seen him at the wedding. He was dancing up a storm!
You're talking to your friend, who lives in another city. She asks about your baby, who she hasn't seen for several months. The baby talks now, so you say this: - She's talking up a storm these days.
["_ing up a storm" es hacer esa actividad mucho y con mucha energía, implica que hay mucha actividad. // doing something as crazy]
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As (someone) goes along
While doing something else. To continue to happen or develop.
- The teacher seemed to be making up the lesson as he went along.
- Everything was going along (marchando) just fine until she turned up!
- I'm making up this story as I go along. (me estoy inventando esta historia sobre la marcha)
(= Sobre la marcha)
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(someone) doesn't stand a chance
This phrase means that someone can't win or won't survive.
Use this phrase to talk about a game:
- She's practically a professional pool player. He doesn't stand a chance.
You're talking with a friend about an upcoming professional baseball game. Your friend's favorite team is playing, and your friend says that they're going to win. You completely disagree: - No way. You don't stand a chance!
Or talk about someone's safety:
-She doesn't stand a chance out there alone.
This phrase is a little casual but OK to use in most situations, including at work
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Stop horsing around!
- dejad de armar barullo, dejar de hacer el tonto/el indio.
| horse - act silly
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Go Ahead and (do something)
People use this phrase in casual conversation to express doing something soon, instead of waiting:
- You guys go ahead and eat — I'm not hungry.
- Let's go ahead and pick a day and time for our next meeting.
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Zone Out
zone or zone out (American informal) to stop paying attention and just look in front of you without thinking, especially because you are tired, bored, or have taken drugs.
To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing
- “Yeah, I start to zone out after about five minutes.”
- "She had her iPod with her and figured she’d zone out for the trip".
('desconectar'?)
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Test the Limits of (something)
If you want to see how loud a pair of stereo speakers can get, you turn the volume knob up as far as you can. Similarly, if you want to see how quickly your car can speed up, you might push the gas pedal down as hard as you can. These are both examples of "testing the limits" of something.
The "limit" of something is be largest, strongest, farthest, hottest, etc. possible. When you "test the limits" of something, you're trying to find out what the limit is.
Here are some expressions with "test the limits": test the limits of my endurance (resistencia, aguante), test the limits of human potential, test the limits of the law, test the limits of credulity.
(something) is Testing the Limits of my Patience
When people (or things) are really annoying, you can say that they're "testing the limits of your patience".
It's like you're imagining that the annoying things are trying to be as annoying as possible, so that they can find out what will finally make you angry.
Example: You're trying to have a conversation with your friend, but your children are running around and yelling. They're starting to make you angry. You say this: - "They are testing the limits of my patience!".
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Later this (year/month/week/etc)
You can explain when something is going to happen this way:
- She's coming by later today.
- I'm moving to Miami later this year.
- We're meeting up to sign the lease later this afternoon.
If today is Monday, "later this week" might be Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. If today is Friday or Saturday, you probably won't use this expression.
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Get Together
This means to meet and have fun with someone.
This can be used by itself as an intransitive verb: - "We should get together".
Or you can specify who you're getting together with: - "I'm getting together with some friends of mine later tonight".
This phrase is a good casual way to express the idea of meeting with friends. The word "meet" can sound too formal.
Example: You made vague plans to meet an old friend of yours this weekend, but you haven't heard from her and want to check to make sure that she hasn't changed her plans. You ask this: "Do you still want to get together?".
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Every Now and Then
"Every now and then" means "sometimes":
- My mom still sends me packages from home every now and then.
- I don't really play golf, but I do like to go hit balls on the driving range every now and then.
- It wouldn't kill you to do a load of laundry every now and then, would it?
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Way Out
When English speakers who live in cities talk about places that are in the country or in the wilderness, we use the word "out":
- She lives out in the country.
You can also use "out" to describe being in another city that's far away toward the east or west:
- Mirabel just moved out to L.A. a few weeks ago.
When somewhere is especially far, use "way out":
- The nearest one I know of is way out in Burlington
You're talking to a client at a business lunch. You're telling him about a vacation you recently took to a remote cabin in the mountains. You say this while explaining how far away from the city it was: - It was way out in the middle of nowhere.
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Wish Fulfillment
"Wish fulfillment" means doing all of the things that someone wishes they could do. It's mostly used to talk about things like movies, games, books, TV shows, and so on.
For example, if there's a TV show about rich people wearing expensive clothes and driving around in expensive cars, that can be described as "wish fulfillment".
"Wish fulfillment" is actually negative. When you describe something as "wish fulfillment", it usually suggests showing someone getting a wish which is selfish, harmful, or silly.
Example: A James Bond movie has recently come out. A friend asks you if you've seen it. You don't like this kind of action movie because it has too much violence and sex. You explain why you don't like them: - I don't go for those kind of movies. It's just a bunch of adolescent male wish fulfillment.
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and so on and so forth.
y así sucesivamente; y etc, etc.
| - 'First we preheat the oven, and then we measure the ingredients, mix the eggs with the sugar, and so on and so forth'.
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Without Further ado
without any delay. Sin más preámbulos.
| - Without further ado, let's begin the show.
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Showtime!
ya es la hora.
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(someone) thinks on (his/her) feet
"Thinking on your feet" means making decisions about things as they happen. It means figuring out what to do when you don't have a clear plan. For instance: You're in a job interview. The interviewer asks about one of your strengths. You explain that you can make good decisions quickly: - 'I’m good at thinking quickly on my feet'.
You can talk about someone thinking "quickly" on their feet, or "well":
- 'We're looking for someone who can think well on their feet and make good decisions'.
- 'You've got to think quickly on your feet in this job'.
"Thinking on your feet" is almost always a positive quality. If you want to talk negatively about someone who makes decisions without planning, you can say this: - 'He doesn't know what he's doing. He's just making it up as he goes along'.
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What's this world coming to
Example: You see a commercial for a TV show that looks really dumb. You're disgusted that the network would allow such a dumb show and that people would watch it. You say this to yourself: - "What's this world coming to?"
This expression means "What is going to happen to the world?" It expresses your disapproval of something. Use it when you notice a negative trend in society.
For example, you can ask "What's this world coming to?" if you hear about:
horrible news stories, children behaving much worse than they did when you were younger, rising prices, movies that are very sexual, violent, or dumb...
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Shed Light On (a topic)
The phrase "shed light on ___" means to explain or give information about something that people don't know much about.
For example, if there's something broken in your house and you think that your children may have caused it, you can ask them:
- The lamp seems to be broken. Can anyone shed some light on what happened?
News stories often use this expression in headlines. For example:
- Testimony sheds light on politician's shady dealings
This means that the things that people have said in court ("testimony") has shown some of the dishonest ("shady) things that the politician did.
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Try (someone)
You can talk about calling someone on the telephone with the phrase "try ___". Here are some examples:
You call a client's office. The client isn't there, so his assistant answers and offers to take a message. You say this because you don't want to leave a message: - No thanks. I'll just try him again later.
- I tried her three or four times, but there was no answer.
- I'll try him again tomorrow.
This is a casual expression. When you're writing or speaking formally about calling a person, use the phrase "try calling" instead:
- I tried calling her three or four times, but there was no answer.
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Stop By
(informal) visit in passing (parar un momento, parar a saludar..)
- I was in the neighborhood so I just thought I would stop by and visit for a while.
- Can we stop by an ATM on the way there? (This means to go to one place for a short time before going to another place)
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That's Impressive!
The word "impressive" describes an accomplishment that you think is good, which not many people are able to do. You say this to praise someone in a slightly formal way.
A: He built the whole thing himself.
B: Oh, wow. That's so impressive!
It's common to add words like "so", "truly" or "really" before "impressive": - That is truly impressive. I'm so proud of you.
You can also talk about "an impressive (something)": - You have quite an impressive background.
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(someone) is one of those
Saying that someone is "one of those" means that the person is bad, annoying, difficult to deal with, etc. You use it like this:
A: Whenever my sister travels somewhere, she packs three huge suitcases and her poor boyfriend has to wheel them around for her.
B: Ah, so she's one of those.
So you can think of this as meaning "She's one of those (difficult or annoying people)."
This might seem like a rude thing to say to someone, but people usually use the phrase "one of those" in a friendly, teasing way. You can even say this directly to someone you've just met: - You're one of those, aren't you? I can tell!
Example2: You're a hair dresser. You're talking with a customer while you cut his hair. You ask what he does, and he says that he's a lawyer. You tease him about it: - Oh, so you’re one of those, huh?
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On Behalf Of
you express not just your own feelings, but the official opinion of a group (for, in the place of / en nombre de, de parte de, en representacion de)
- I'm phoning on behalf of my daughter, who has lost her voice.
- “I'd just like to say, on behalf of everyone here, good luck in your new home.”
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Drowing my Sorrow
Ahogando mis penas
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Holding Grudges
Guardar Rencores
'Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head' What’s the point of re-living the anger over and over?.
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It takes two to tango
Esas cosas no se hacen sin cooperación (parecido a 'dos no se pelean si uno no quiere'?
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Catch Up On Sleep
Recuperar el sueño, recuperar horas de sueño...
Tb. 'Sleep In' - 'Dormir hasta tarde'.
- 'I just want to sleep in!'
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(someone) put on weight
You're chatting with a group of friends about your weight. Some of them say that they have to work hard to lose weight. You don't have this problem at all. You describe your situation: - If anything, I have to actively work to put on weight. (subir de peso)
When a person gets heavier, you can say that they're "putting on weight".
- Has he put on weight?
Another phrase that you can use is "gain weight":
- Has he gained weight?
A person can also "put on muscle", which means to grow bigger muscles.
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If anything, ( + sentence)
Use this phrase to say that an idea is very incorrect.
For example, imagine that a friend says that you're not as good of a tennis player as you used to be. You disagree. The conversation goes like this:
A: We're all getting older, right? We can't play like we used to.
B: Oh, no. If anything, I'm actually better now than I was in college.
Person A thinks that you're a worse tennis player. You think that you're the same skill, or maybe even better than before.
Here's another example. Person A promised to go to Person B's art show, but now has to cancel:
A: I feel so bad for saying that I would go and then not following through.
B: No reason to feel bad. If anything, I'm the one who should feel bad for pressuring you into coming.
A: No, not at all! I really wanted to go.
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...and so forth
...y así sucesivamente
"UX designers study and evaluate how users feel about a system, looking at such things as ease of use, perception of the value of the system, utility, efficiency in performing tasks and so forth".
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(someone) blew it
You had a job interview. Your roommate asks how it went. You think that you did a really bad job in the interview, so you say this: "I think I blew it".
When someone messed up or wasted an opportunity, you can say that they "blew it".
Here are some examples:
- I could have talked to her, but I blew it.
- I was so close to winning, and I blew it!
You can also tell someone:
- This is your last chance. Don't blow it!
This is a casual expression, but it's not rude. You can use it around most people.
(spoil, ruin. Fastidiarla/o, echar a perder o desperdiciar la oportunidad de algo).
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(someone) has got (something) in teh bag
You're playing tennis against a friend. You like to tease each other. He says that he's going to beat you. You boast that you're going to win: "Not a chance! I've got this one in the bag".
If you strongly think someone is going to win a competition or contest, you can say that they've "got it in the bag".
Use this expression to talk about sports, business deals, job applications, etc.
(estar/tenerlo en el bote)
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I could have sworn (clause)
Use the phrases "I could have sworn..." when you were really sure that you knew something, but then you find out that you were wrong.
For example, imagine that you're telling a story about a trip that you took a long time ago with your friend. But then your friend says that she doesn't remember it:
A: I don't remember that at all. It must have been someone else.
B: Really? No, I could have sworn it was you!
You were really sure that she was on the trip with you, but now you find out that maybe she wasn't.
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Get Going
Leave now
(salir, irse, ponerse en marcha)
Say this when it's time for you to leave:
- “I should get going.”
- "If we don't get going soon we'll be late".
- "Si no salimos rápido llegaremos tarde".
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Draw Near
Be inminent
(acercarse, llegar ya, venirse, ser inminente, avecinarse)
- "New Year's Day is drawing near.
El Año Nuevo se acerca"
Also: "The year is drawing to an end" (el año llega a su fin)
(Approach - Aproximarse)
- As we drew near, the air became thick with smoke. (A medida que nos aproximábamos, el aire se volvía denso por el humo)
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Help yourself
Take something offered, serve yourself, take without asking, take what you wish, take without paying.
- I've prepared some printed handouts. Feel free to help yourselves.
- Help yourself to more cake
- She helped herself to the office stationery (Ella echó mano de los artículos de oficina)
- There's plenty to eat and drink, folks – just help yourselves.
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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
You can usually hear this spoken by one person in response to another person bemoaning the errors he/she has made: "I shoulda done this different"..."I coulda done this better"..."If only I woulda done this that way"... The person listening to the lamentations will say: "woulda, shoulda, coulda..." meaning more or less "it's no use to cry over spilled milk."
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Head Start
This means to do something earlier than you need to:
- “I'm getting a head start on my Christmas shopping.”
(Race: starting ahead)
- My little sister runs slowly, so I give her a head start. (Mi hermanita corre más lento, por eso le di ventaja)
(Figurative: advantage)
- His parents' wealth gave him a head start in life. (La fortuna de sus padres le dio ventaja en la vida)
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Take aback
Take (sb) aback - Surprise. Dejar de Piedra, pillar desprevenido.
- Seeing so many alligators in one place really took me aback.
- I was really taken aback when she reacted so angrily.
