sp idioms A to C Flashcards
a (la) merced de
at the mercy of (n.b.: the “la” is often omitted)
a altas horas de la madrugada
in the small hours of the morning
a cargo de
in charge of; responsible for; by
a causa de
because of; as a result of (lit.: at the cause of)
a chorros
in abundance; plenty; lots
a contrapelo
wrong way; backwards; backassed
a corto plazo
in the short run; short-term; in the short term (lit.: at short place)
a deshora
at an inconvenient time
a diario
daily; every day
a disgusto
reluctantly
a duras penas
hardly; barely; with difficulty
a eso de
around about (time) (lit.: a this of)
a estas alturas
at this point; in this situation
a fin de cuentas
in the end; after all
a fondo
in depth; deeply; fully
a gatas
crawling (lit.: on legs/feet; used with the verbs estar or andar)
a juro
no matter what (used in Venezuela)
a la altura
at the level; up to (lit.: at the height)
a la intemperie
in the open (lit.: at/on the elements. Intemperie refers to the weather and other forces in the physical natural world particularly as experienced without the benefits of technology particularly modern technology)
a la par de
on the same level as
a la salida del sol
sunrise (lit.: at the appearance of the sun)
a la vez
at once; at the same time (lit.: at the time)
a la vista
in view; in sight (lit.: at the sight)
a la vuelta
on the way back (lit: at the turn)
a la vuelta de
just around the corner (lit.: at the turn of). 1. Mi restaurante favorito está justo a la vuelta de mi oficina.
a largo plazo
in the long run; long-term; in the long term (lit.: at long place)
a lo largo (de)
along; at the other end (lit.: at the far/long)
a lo lejos
from afar; at a distance (lit.: at the distant; allso in the form “a los lejos.”)
a lo mejor
probably; most likely (lit.: to the better)
a manos de
at the hands of
a manos llenas
generously; lavishly (lit.: with full hands)
a medida que
as (something happens or happened); in the process of (something happening)
a medio plazo
medium-term; in the medium term
a menudo
often frequently (lit.: of often)
a mi modo de pensar
in my view; the way I see it
a mi modo de ver
in my view; the way I see it
a otro perro con ese hueso
go tell it to the marines (lit.: [give] this bone to another dog)
a palo seco
on its own; with nothing else
a partir de ahora
from now one (lit.: at the start of now)
a pesar de
despite; in spite of
a plazo
on credit
a plena luz
in broad daylight
a primera hora
at the earliest moment
a primera vista
at first sight; at first blush (lit.: at first sight)
a propósito
on purpose; deliberately
a propósito
by the way; speaking of which
a punto de
on the verge of about to (lit.: at point of)
a que
I bet (lit.: to what)
a ratos
from time to time
a sus espaldas
behind someone’s back
a tientas
by touch by feel
a toda costa
at all costs (lit.: at all cost)
a toda máquina
quickly fast (lit.: at all machine)
a toda prisa
with all speed hastily quickly (lit.: at all haste)
a todas luces
by any reckoning
a todo correr
with all speed hastily quickly (lit.: at full running (run))
a toro pasado
in retrospect; in hindsight (lit.: by the bull gone past)
