THE EXPRESSION

 

AS FAR AS I KNOW. Que yo sepa

As far as I know there are not trains after midnight.

 

EVERY OTHER DAY

We’re gonna to look at the way we in English say “Un día sí, otro no”

I talk to my boss every other day.

I see my uncle and aunt every other year. Veo a mis tíos un año sí otro no

The car dealer sells a car every other day.

Saturday:

I go to the mountains every other Saturday.

 

AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. Por lo que a mi concierne

As far as we’re concerned the sooner the better.  

 

A FRIEND OF + POSSESSIVE PRONOUN

The Mayor is a very good friend of mine.

 

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. De vez en cuando

Every now and again she needs to cry.

Every now and again he gets really angry. …se pilla tremendo cabreo.

 

This is the way we say “Por un lado y por otro” ON THE ONE HAND AND THE OTHER

On one hand we would make a lot of money, but on the other hand we’d probably lose a lot of friends.

On one hand I’m happy that she got the job, but on the other hand I know, she’ll have to deal with a lot of stress.

On one hand sales have increased. On the other hand staff morale is at an all-time low.

…más baja que nunca. We use the indefinite article “an” at all low. En absoluto bajo.

 

On one hand I want to develop my career, but on the other hand I don’t want to spend so much time away from my family.

On one hand he helped to create this company, on the other hand he’s become increasingly demanding recently (more and more demanding).

Se ha hecho cada vez más exigente últimamente.

 

TO HAVE TROUBLE DOING SOMETHING. Cuesta hacer algo

He has trouble tying his own shoelaces.

He had trouble learning the language.

 

AGREE. Estar de acuerdo

I agree.

Do you agree with the government’s policy? la primera “n” es muda

She agrees that we postpone it.

 

TO FIND SOMETHING EASY OR DIFFICULT. Resulta fácil o difícil

In English we don’t ever say that something results us easy or results us difficult.

He found it easy to learn Spanish. Le resultó fácil aprender…

I didn’t find it easy to get used to the food. No me resultó fácil acostumbrarme…

He finds it very difficult to concentrate.

 

TO MAKE A KILLING

To make a fortune, to make a killing

For example:

He has made a killing on the stock market. Ha hecho una fortuna en la bolsa

 

I CAN’T HEAR

No oigo:

We'd always say: I can’t hear; I can’t hear you; I can’t hear what it he’s seeing.

 

TO GO BLANK. Quedarse en blanco

When I got up to talk, my mind went blank. Me levanté para hablar…

My mind always goes blank when I have to speak in public.

Of course we can also say: I always go blank; my mind or I.

During the exam I went blank.

I hope I don´t go blank during the interview.

Half-away through (during) the play my mind went blank. A la mitad de la obra… 

My mind has gone blank.

 

I CAN’T SEE

In English when you say “no veo” we can’t say; I don’t see, because if we’d say; I don’t see means “pues que somos ciegos” so normally we say; I can’t see. I can’t see it.

I couldn’t see the whole picture.

I can’t see the sign from this distance. No veo el letrero…

 

TO ASK A QUESTION

We never, ever, ever say; to make a question, in English.

I’m glad, you ask me that question. Me alegro que me hagas esa pregunta.

She asked me an embarrassing question. Me hizo una pregunta violenta

 

TO ASK FOR TROUBLE

To ask for trouble means; we use it when we’re talking about “buscando problemas”.

You’re asking for trouble if you go to that neighbourhood.

Te lo estás buscando si vas a aquél barrio.

 

You’re asking for trouble if you don’t wear your seatbelt. …si no te pones…

Trevor is in trouble! Trevor se ha metido en líos!

If you tell your boss in those terms, you’re asking for trouble.

Do you think I’d be asking for trouble if I told him what I think? …si le dijera…

You’re asking for it! ¡Te lo estás buscando!

The man arrested at the demonstration was really asking for it. …se lo estaba buscando.

I don’t like shouting but she’s been asking for it, all afternoon.

Podemos decir tanto:

You’re asking for trouble or you’re asking for it.

 

 

TO ASK FOR VS. TO ASK

Are you feeling alright? I’m fine, I’m alright.

Today we’re going to look at the different between 'To ask for something (Pedir algo) and to ask something (Preguntar por algo)' Okay? And of course when we use 'Ask' by self it simply means 'Preguntar o hacer una pregunta' 'To ask a question' I’m glad you remember that. Okay let’s have a look some examples then of 'To ask for'. 

I’m going to ask for the bill. Voy a pedir la cuenta

She asked me for a favour. Ella me pidió un favor

The workers are asking for a pay rise. Los trabajadores piden un aumento de sueldo

I asked him for a lift; la forma más común de pedir que alguien te lleve:

Can you give me a lift? I asked him for a lift.

I can give you a lift. Te llevo si quieres

TO ASK. To ask someone. Pedir o solicitar a alguien.

I asked to go. Solicité ir

I asked her to come with me. Le pedí a ella que me acompañase

She asked to be considered for the position. Solicitó que fuese considerada para el puesto

Will you ask him to call me? ¿Le pedirás que me llame?

 

I CAN’T REMEMBER. No recuedo

We would say; I can’t.

I can’t remember what I was saying.

She can’t remember where he left his keys.

She can’t remember when she first met him….cuando le conoció por primera vez.

He can’t remember anything if you don’t write it down.

 

BUT IT’S NOT THAT. Pero no es para tanto

It’s complicated but it’s not that complicated.

 

I CAN'T FIND. No encuentro

I can’t find my pen.

You can’t find anything unless it’s right in front of you.

He can’t find the receipt for that shirt.

 

TO TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO. Cuesta acostumbrarse

Living in Spain doesn’t take much getting used to. No cuesta acostumbrarse

Diet soft drinks take some getting used to. Refrescos “light” Cuesta acostumb..

Wearing a tie takes some getting used to. Cuesta acostumbrarse

Speaking in public takes some getting used to. Cuesta acostumbrarse

Using a new mobile phone doesn’t take much getting used to. No cuesta acost..

Dealing with the general public takes some getting used to.

 

TO DO SOME GARDENING. Labores caseras

When we’re talking about domestic chores, domestic tasks

To do some plus the verb in the gerund: To some gardening, to do some ironing, to do some dusting.

This is very idiomatic by the way it’s used a lot; to do some ironing.

I’m going to do some washing-up.

We’re thinking about doing some painting at the week end. …este fin de semana

 

GO HOME

Shall we carry on or would you rather stop?

The important thing here is that we don’t need to use the preposition “at” or “to”. Another thing is we don’t ever need to say; to go to my home.

 

TO BE IN CHARGE OF.

To be in charge of means; ser el responsible de algo.

We don’t say “to be the responsible for”. Responsible is only an adjective in English: You can’t be a responsible, okay? You can be a manager or you can be in charge of something or someone.

 

TO GO FOR A…    -TO COME FOR A…; actividades

To go for a walk, to go for a run, to go for a swim, to go for a drive; dar una vuelta.

 

We change “to go for” by “to come for” on invitations

Would you like to come for a run this evening?

 

'TO LOOK FORWARD TO SOMETHING' and it means 'TENER MUCHAS GANAS'

We often see this at the end of the letter; I’m really looking forward to hearing from you or I look forward to hearing from you.

 

I’m really looking forward to hearing from you soon. Okay? Let's look at some examples:

Isn’t he looking forward to seeing the football match too? ¿No tiene ganas..

This expression is again one of the few expressions where the proposition 'To' is followed by the gerund, the verb ended up “ing”: looking forward to doing; looking forward to going; looking forward to speaking; looking forward to listening.

 

In English there are two ways of saying “menos mal”.

We can say: It’s a good thing or it’s just as well. We use both expressions all the time.

It’s a good thing you’ve got a big car. Menos mal que tienes…

 

Let’s look at some examples now with it’s just as well.

It’s just as well she stopped when she did.

It’s just as well I didn’t realise who it was.

It’s just as well you came.

 

AS IT HAPPENS. 'Da la casualidad que'

As it happens I bumped into him yesterday, as it happens. Or; I ran into him yesterday, as it happens.

Da la casualidad que me tropecé con él.

 

We’ve put the same shirt on today, as it happens.

As it happens, we do have some saffron. Da la casualidad que sí tenemos azafrán..

 

I’m not happy, I’m over the moon

Over the moon means; estar loco de contento

I was over the moon when I found out they were getting married. Estaba loco de contento cuando me enteré que se habían casado

 

I’m over the moon about it! …por ello!

You don’t exactly look over the moon about the news. Precisamente no pareces…

To look like; is not used when is going followed an adjective.

 

SEEING AS: En vista de que…

SEEING THAT: Ya que…

SEEING: Cómo…

Seeing as you don’t like fish, we can have meat, for lunch.

Seeing that you don’t like fish, we can have meat, for lunch.

Seeing you don’t like fish, we can have meat, for lunch.

 

TO BE BOUND TO

This is our expression that we use when you in Spanish say: Seguro que algo va a pasar.

Seguro que él te va a llamar; we would say:

He’s bound to call you. 

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Tarde o temprano tenía que pasar

Have you seen Oscar’s new coat? It’s bound to cost him an arm and a leg.

Seguro que cuesta un ojo de la cara.

 

TO HAVE…LEFT

Let’s look at the way we say; pues me quedan x tal, for example:

I have five minutes left.

How long do we have left?

I only had one euro left in my account.

He didn’t have any strength left after de fight.

 

TO MAKE THE MOST OF. Aprovecha

Make the most of your day off.

Make the most of your leftovers. Aprovecha tus restos de comida

Restos arqueológicos decimos “Remains” o también de un cadáver; the remains of the dog.

 

TO BE IN A HURRY

To be in a hurry means; tener prisa

I’m in a bit of a hurry.

Ask him why he’s in such a hurry.

You fell over because you were in a hurry to catch the bus.

 

TO MAKE DO.

An interesting verb here we have both of verbs; to make and do. The main verb is to make, okay?

I made do. I will make do. “Do” nunca cambia en esta expresión y significa; conformarse con algo o arreglárselas con algo. For example:

We’ll have to make do with what we have. Tendremos que conformarnos…

 

TO GET THE HANG OF SOMETHING. Cogerle el truco a algo

How long did it take you to get the hang of your laptop?

Have you got the hang of it yet? ¿Le has cogido el truco ya

You just have to get the hang of it. It’s not that difficult,

 

LEAVE ME ALONE! ¡Dejádme en paz!

I need some time to think it over or about it. Leave me alone. Necesito un tiempo (uncountable noun)...

Leave your dad alone; he’s sleeping.

If he has the door closed, it means leave him alone.

 

TO HAVE A GO AT DOING SOMETHING

Today’s expression means: Intentar hacer algo o probar a hacer algo. To have a go at doing something. “A go” como sustantivo aquí significa un intento; I’ll have a go! Lo intentaré! It’s a very common expression.

 

I’d like to have a go at learning how to play the piano. Intentar aprender

 

MAKE YOUR MIND UP

To make your mind up, means: Decidirse

I make my mind up –You make your mind up – He makes his mind up…

Make your mind up or make up your mind

Why do you always find it so difficult to make your mind up?

¿Por qué te cuesta siempre tanto decidirte?

 

TO BE ON THE BALL

To be on the ball means; estar espabilado, okay? O estar al tanto.

Don’t let your guard down, be on the ball. No bajes la guardia, estate al loro.

 

TO BE OVER

We use this verb “To be over” when we’re talking about; some event that finishes or something that finishes, for example:

When the meeting is over

When the match is over

Give me a call when the match is over.

 

UNDER THE WEATHER

To be under the weather or to feel under the weather means; estar pachucho, for example: Just like me I’m little bit under the weather at the moment. You can probably hear my cold in my voice sound. I’m a bit bunged up.

 

Under the weather you call it? I’d call it a hangover!

¿Pachucho dices? ¡Yo diría que es una resaca!

 

NOTHING BUT

Nothing but means; nada más que

I read nothing but gossip magazines at the weekend.

No leí nada más que revistas del corazón este fin de semana.

Okay now, this expression can also be follow by a verb, in which case the verb goes in the basic form, okay the basic verb; I did nothing but do. I did nothing but go.

I’ve done nothing but go from meeting to meeting today.

No he hecho nada más que ir de reunión en reunión hoy.

 

It’s done nothing but rain all week. No ha hecho nada más que…toda la semana.

Yesterday I did nothing but watch films in bed. No hice nada más…

 

SOME STUFF

Today’s expression of the week isn’t really an expression, it’s just a word but it’s a really important word. The word we use all the time: Staff basically means things, okay? And it’s an uncountable noun so we always refer to some stuff or any stuff.

Okay let’s have a look at some examples then:

I’ve got to collect some stuff from my old flat. Tengo que recoger unas cosas…

Have you got any of that stuff you gave me for back ache left?

¿Te queda algo de esa cosa que me diste para el dolor de espalda?

 

My son’s room is such a mess it’s full of stuff.

I’ve got so much stuff in my handbag it’s untrue.

Tengo tantas cosas en mi bolso que no es creíble (no te lo creerás).

 

He knows a lot of stuff about the Romans. Sabe muchas cosas acerca de…

 

TO HAVE A BUTCHER’S

To have a butcher’s is a typical English expression, okay? And it belongs to a type of lounge which originated in the east end of London.

To have a butcher’s hook; rhymes with "look": To have a look. Echar un vistazo.

 

Let’s have a butcher’s! ¡Echémosle un vistazo!

I’ll have a butcher’s at it and get back to you in the morning. Le echaré un vistazo y te diré algo por la mañana.

 

I had a butcher’s at the report last night but I don’t agree with the findings. Le eché un vistazo al informe anoche pero no estoy de acuerdo con las conclusiones.

 

TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. Pasarlo bien

Now, today’s expression is perfect for describing what we’re doing right now: We’re having a great time. We’re having a good time.

Have a good time and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! ¡….y no hagas nada que yo no haría!

 

TO HAVE A NAP

The word “siesta” of course exists in English; you can have a siesta. But we tent to use two other words, okay? : To have a nap or to have a kip. We can also say by the way; to have forty winks.

Have you had a nap yet? ¿Ya te has echado la siesta?

 

TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD

This a nice positive phrase today. To be in a good mood, means; estar de buen humor.

The opposite of to be in a good mood, of course is to be in a bad mood. An if you wanna say “que estás de un humor horrible execrable” we say to be in a foul mood.

 

TO LOSE CONTROL. Perder el control.

Max is beside himself, he’s completely lost control. …está fuera de sí, ha perdido el control completamente

 

If you drive when it’s icy, you’ll probably lose control of your vehicle.

Si conduces cuando está helado, probablemente pierdas el control del vehículo

 

TO BE EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING. Estar ilusionado con algo

 

IN THE LONG RUN. A la larga

In the long run eating excessive amounts of chocolate can be bad for your health.

A la larga comer cantidades excesivas…para la salud.

Hablando en general no decimos; for the health

 

TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START

To get off to a good start, means; empezar con buen pie

You’ve got off to a good start, well done.

To end up: Significa “acabar” y le sigue el verbo en gerundio

 

TO BE MARRIED TO. Estar casado

To be married to someone. I’m married to her. She’s married to me.

 

 TO PULL A FEW STRINGS or TO PULL SOME STRINGS. Tener enchufe

To pull some strings literally means; tirar unas cuerdas. But what it really means is; hacer algo por enchufe.  

I pulled a few strings and managed to get my sister a job.

Conseguí un trabajo para mi hermana por enchufe

 

Did you pull any strings to land that job?

To land means; conseguir, es un poquito como “get”. When we’re talking about getting something very attractive; you can land a good deal. You can land a good job. Si no, normalmente significa “aterrizar”

 

TO GET TO THE POINT. Ir al grano

To get straight to the point: Ir directamente al grano.

Are you going to get to the point or what? ¿Vas a ir al grano o qué?

When we say “or what” at the end of the question it that sounds of bit rude, so you have to be careful when you use it. You can see it with the friends; Are you gonna come or what?   

Rude: Grosero, desagradable, maleducado.

 

TO AGREE WITH SOMEONE. Estar de acuerdo con alguien

He never agrees with her

 

TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF (DOING) SOMETHING.

I hope you’re not in the middle of anything. Espero no estés haciendo nada justo en este momento

 

TO MAKE A MESS OF SOMETHING.

To make a mess of something means; hacer algo muy mal

You can make a mess of your live. Puedes arruinar tu vida.

I’m worried I’m going to make a mess of this report. Estoy preocupado de que me vaya a salir mal este informe.

 

AT LEAST.

At least means; por lo menos o al menos.

 

TO COST AN ARM AND A LEG. Un ojo de la cara

Those shoes must have cost you an arm and a leg! Esos zapatos deben de haberte costado un ojo de la cara

 

FROM TIME TO TIME. De vez en cuando

From time to time I go to the cinema. De vez en cuando voy al cine

 

TO BE OVER YOUR HEAD or TO GO OVER YOUR HEAD. Too complicated for someone

If something is over your head means; is too complicated for you to understand.

For example:

It’s over my head I’m afraid. Me temo que es demasiado complicado para mí

Everything you just said went straight over my head.

De lo que acabas de decir no entendí completamente nada.

The use of the adverb “straight” here is simply emphatic purposes. El uso del adverbio "recto" es aquí simplemente,  propósitos enfáticos.

 

Straight means: directamente, completamente, por enciama. 

Sorry, that went straight over my head. Lo siento, no he entendido nada

 

IT’S NO WONDER

It’s no wonder basically means; no es de extrañar o no me extraña o que no sorprende.

It’s no wonder that; pero solemos omitir “that”.

It’s no wonder you’re happy. Because you’re here with me

 

INSTEAD OF. En vez de, en lugar de…

Instead of + verb + ing.

Instead of doing.

Instead of going.

 

TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS

To pull out all the stops is an expression which has a musical origin.

To pull out all the stops means; hacer uso de todos los recursos disponibles.

We’ll have to pull out all the stops if we want to finish everything by the deadline.  Tendremos que tirar de todos nuestros recursos si queremos terminar todo para la fecha tope.

 

I’m going to have to pull out all the stops to get the money together.

To get the money together or to get something together is the most common way of saying: Acumular. Much, much more common in fact than the verb: To accumulate.

We tent to say to accumulate debts “acumular deudas”. Hay un verbo que se utiliza más:

To run up debts.

 

TO DO ALRIGHT FOR ONESELF.

To do alright for yourself means; que te va muy bien en la vida.

The only important here is to remember to change to modify the reflexes personal pronoun:

I do alright for myself. You do alright for yourself. She does alright for herself, etc. etc.

 

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. En cuanto antes o lo antes posible.

Es muy corriente usar la sigla “ASAP”

 

TO BLOW ONE’S TOP.

Today’s expression means; ponerse como una fiera; or literally explode like a volcano.

So let’s look at some examples, shall we? For example:

I wouldn’t push it or he might blow his top. Yo no insistiría o puede que explote.

When the boss finds out, he’s really going to blow his top. Cuando el jefe se entere se va a poner como una fiera

 

TO GET ON SOMEONE’S NERVES

This week’s expression of the week, means; sacar a alguien de quicio o cripar los nervios.  

Will someone answer that damned phone; it’s really getting on my nerves. Que alguien coja  ese maldito teléfono; está sacándome de quicio de verdad.

 

RIGHT NOW. Ahora mismo

Do you want to start right now?

What are you doing right now? Qué haces ahora mismo?

 

TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

In Spanish there are two acceptable translations for this expression: Now, one when we’re talking about people; you say “ser un pesado”, but when we’re talking about situations or things in general you say; “ser una lata, verdad?” Exactly!

Let’s look at some examples shall we?

My brother in-law is a pain in the neck. Mi cuñado es un pesado

 

TO MAKE A PIG’S EAR OF SOMETHING

Now, it’s a very strange expression we use very often when something goes very, very badly or we do something very, very badly.

So you say; I made a real pig’s ear of that, didn’t I?

The surgeon made a real pig’s ear of the plastic surgery. La cirugía plástica le salió muy mal al cirujano.

 

He makes a pig’s ear of everything he touches. Todo lo que él toca le sale muy mal

 

IT DEPENDS ON…

It depends on you. Depende de ti

For day-to-day transactions, I report to Miguel. Para las operaciones de día a día, dependo de Miguel

Depender de alguien en sentido jerárquico: Report to.

 

BY THE LOOK OF THINGS. Según parece

By the look of things or by the look of it

By the look of things, it’s going to snows. Según parece va a nevar

 

By the look of things, we’re in for a difficult year. Según parece, nos espera un año difícil.

We’re in for something; nos espera.

 

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRUNCH

When it comes to the crunch means; a la hora de la verdad.

To crunch means; hacer crujir.

 

When it came to the crunch, everybody pulled together. A la hora de la verdad todos se esforzaron codo con codo

 

POINT OF VIEW. Punto de vista

What’s your point of view? ¿Cuál es tu punto de vista?

 

AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

This is one of my favorite expressions, means; estar muy tranquilo

To be as cool as a cucumber

 

TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL

Literalmente; hacer una montaña de una topera; hacer una montaña de un grano de arena.

 

TO GO SHOPPING. Ir de compras

I went shopping.

 

TO BUG SOMEONE.

To bug means: Molestar; es como un sinónimo de “to annoy”.

She bugged me all evening about changing the sofa.

Ella me dio la lata toda la tarde para que cambiásemos el sofá.

What’s bugging you? Qué mosca te ha picado?.

Hargreaves bugs me every day about getting a pay rise.

Hargreaves me da la lata todos los días para conseguir un aumento de sueldo.

 

Doesn’t his attitude bug you? ¿No te molesta su actitud?

 

TO KNOW SOMETHING or TO KNOW SOMEWHERE LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND

This means literally; conocer a alguien como la palma de la mano.

Exactly, but we don’t say like the palm of our hand, we say like the back of our hand “como el revés de la mano”.

 

Percy used to know Barcelona, like the back of his hand. Antes Percy conocía Barcelona como la palma de su mano.

 

TO GO ON HOLIDAY. Ir de vacaciones.

When are you going to go on holiday? Cuándo vas a ir de vacaciones?

 

TO CALL THE SHOTS means; mandar o si tú tienes la última palabra.

Who calls the shots around here? ¿Quién manda por aquí?

If you call the shots, you have the final say. Si estás al mando, tienes la última palabra.

Si se trata de una discusión decimos; to have the final word.

Literalmente:

The person to call the shots; es la persona que dice o grita fuego! en un ejército.

 

TO BE ON TIME; to be punctual

Hayden always arrives on time. Hayden siempre llega punctual.

 

TO KEEP AN EYE ON SOMETHING

What does “to keep an eye on something” means? What do you think? Vigilar.

The police are keeping an eye on the suspect. La policía está vigilando al sospechoso.

 

TO HAVE A GO AT SOMEONE means; meterse con alguien

For example: You always having a go at me.

Don’t have a go at us. No te metas con nosotros.

When I arrived this morning, Clive was having a go at Steven about the sales figures.

 

ON THE WHOLE (in general)

“Whole” of course with the double u.

On the whole means; exactly is totally synonymous with “in general”: In general or on the whole.

We tent to places it at the beginning of the sentences.

 

TO TAKE THE PLUNGE

To take the plunge means literally; tirarse a la piscina, decidirse de una vez, arriesgarse o dar el paso sobre todo en el caso del matrimonio.

 

HAVE TO

Sí, tener que hacer algo.

I have to go. I have to go to the dentist’s tomorrow, for example.

 

PROS AND CONS

Prons and cons means; los pros y los contras.

Let’s have a look then:

The pros outweigh the cons. Los pros tienen más peso que los contras.

 

TO WORK ONE’S SOCKS OFF. Trabajar muy duro.

The only way to master a language is to work your socks off.

La única manera de dominar un idioma es trabajar muy duro.

A first is; a first in his degree; una matrícula de honor.  

If you work your socks off you just might pass the exam.

Si trabajas muy duro puede que apruebes el examen.