Vocabulary Flashcards
Strain
strain2 [streɪn] N
1. (= breed) (of animal) → raza f; (of plant) → variedad f; (of virus) → tipo m
every year new strains of flu develop → cada año aparecen nuevos tipos de gripe
2. (= streak, element) → vena f
there is a strain of madness in the family → tienen vena de locos en la familia
there is a strain of cynicism in her writing → hay cierta vena de cinismo en sus escritos
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
strain1 (strein) verb
1. to exert oneself or a part of the body to the greatest possible extent. They strained at the door, trying to pull it open; He strained to reach the rope.estirar, tensar
2. to injure (a muscle etc) through too much use, exertion etc. He has strained a muscle in his leg; You’ll strain your eyes by reading in such a poor light.torcerse, hacerse un esguince, hacerse daño, forzar
3. to force or stretch (too far). The constant interruptions were straining his patience.poner a prueba, abusar
4. to put (eg a mixture) through a sieve etc in order to separate solid matter from liquid. She strained the coffee.colar, escurrir
noun
1. force exerted; Can nylon ropes take more strain than the old kind of rope?. tensión, presión
2. (something, eg too much work etc, that causes) a state of anxiety and fatigue. The strain of nursing her dying husband was too much for her; to suffer from strain.tensión, estrés
3. (an) injury especially to a muscle caused by too much exertion. muscular strain.torcedura, esguince
4. too great a demand. These constant delays are a strain on our patience.presión
strained adjective
(of a person’s manner, behaviour etc) not natural, easy or relaxed. a strained smile.tenso, forzado
ˈstrainer noun
a sieve or other utensil for separating solids from liquids. a coffee-/tea-strainer.colador
strain off
to remove (liquid) from eg vegetables by using a sieve etc. When the potatoes were cooked, she strained off the water.colar
Slouch
slouch [slaʊtʃ]
A. N
1. to walk with a slouch → andar con un aire gacho
2. he’s no slouch (in skill) → no es ningún principiante; (at work) → no es ningún vago
he’s no slouch in the kitchen → tiene buena mano para cocina
B. VI (walking) → andar desgarbado
to slouch in a chair → repantigarse en un sillón
he was slouched over his desk → estaba inclinado sobre su mesa de trabajo en postura desgarbada
C. CPD slouch hat N → sombrero m flexible
slouch about slouch around VI + ADV
1. → andar desgarbado; (aimlessly) → andar de un lado para otro (sin saber qué hacer)
2. (fig) (= laze around) → gandulear, golfear
slouch along VI + ADV = slouch about, slouch around 1
slouch off VI + ADV → irse cabizbajo, alejarse con un aire gacho
Slump
slump [slʌmp]
A. N (gen) → baja f (repentina), bajón m; (in production, sales) → caída f, baja f; (economic) → depresión f
the Slump → el crac
the 1929 slump → la depresión de 1929, la crisis económica de 1929
slump in prices → hundimiento m de los precios
the slump in the price of copper → la baja repentina del precio del cobre
slump in morale → bajón m de moral
B. VI
1. [price etc] → hundirse; [production, sales] → bajar, caer (fig) [morale etc] → desplomarse
2. to slump into a chair → hundirse en una silla
he slumped to the floor → se desplomó al suelo
he was slumped over the wheel → se había caído encima del volante
slump (slamp) verb
1. to fall or sink suddenly and heavily. He slumped wearily into a chair. bajar/caer en picado, caer de repente, desplomarse
2. (of prices, stocks, trade etc) to become less; to lose value suddenly. Business has slumped. bajar en picado
noun
1. a sudden fall in value, trade etc. a slump in prices.bajón, bajada repentina
2. a time of very bad economic conditions, with serious unemployment etc; a depression. There was a serious slump in the 1930s.crisis económica, recesión económica
Waft(ed)
- drift, float, be carried, be transported, coast, flow, stray, glide, be borne, be conveyed The scent of roses wafted through the open window.
- transport, bring, carry, bear, guide, conduct, transmit, convey A slight breeze wafted the heavy scent of flowers past her.
noun - current, breath, puff, whiff, draught, breeze A waft of perfume reached Ingrid’s nostrils
Translations
waft [wɑːft]
A. N → soplo m, ráfaga f
B. VT → llevar por el aire
C. VI → flotar, moverse
Trifle
- anything of very little value. $100 is a trifle when one is very rich. friolera, bagatela, fruslería; pequeñez
- (a dish of) a sweet pudding made of sponge-cake, fruit, cream etc. I’m making a trifle for dessert.
ˈtrifling adjective
unimportant. a trifling amount of money.insignificante, nimio, de poca monta
Brook
Arroyo
Clover
Trebol
Shrubbery
Arbutos
slam
A. ADJ → falso, fingido B. N 1. (= imposture) → farsa f it was all a sham → fue una farsa, fue pura pantalla (Mex) 2. (= person) → impostor/a m/f C. VT → fingir, simular to sham illness → fingirse enfermo D. VI → fingir, fingirse he's just shamming → lo está fingiendo
spurious
- Lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine: spurious poems attributed to Shakespeare.
- Not trustworthy; dubious or fallacious: spurious reasoning; a spurious justification.
- Archaic Born to unwed parents.
Hustle and bustle
ajetreo nm
trajín nm
I prefer the hustle and bustle of a big city to the quiet of the countryside.
Null and void
Null and Void
Describing anything that cannot be enforced legally. For example, a contract may be declared null and void if one party enters it under duress or if its terms violate local law.
Peace and Quiet
Tranquillity and freedom from disturbance. This phrase’s redundancy—quiet here does not mean “lack of sound” but “peacefulness”—gives added emphasis. It often is used in wishes for this condition, as in All I want is a little peace and quiet. [Mid-1800s]
Nip and Tuck
- noun A cosmetic surgery procedure, often (but not always) one performed on the face.
Many women consider getting a nip and tuck as they age, but I think my wrinkles make me look distinguished. - noun A minor change to improve something, often the appearance of something.
The house just needs a little nip and tuck before it is ready to go up for sale. - adjective Of a contest or competition, having a very close margin between the competitors.
This race has been nip and tuck, and we won’t know who has won until the final vote is counted. - adverb Very closely competing; head-to-head.
The two teams went nip and tuck down to the final seconds of the game.
Kiss and make up
informal
: to become friendly again after a fight or disagreement
It’s time for the mayor and the police chief to kiss and make up.
