by Peter Weibel
venir/sentar [a alg.] como anillo al dedo (fam.) (a) to come at just the right time, to be a [real] godsend (fig.), to be just what the doctor ordered (fig., fam.), to be just what s.o. needs/needed, s.th. couldn’t have come at a better time (b) to fit/suit [s.o.] to a T, to fit [s.o.] like a glove El dinero me vino como anillo al dedo. The money was just what I needed. The money was a real godsend. Este vestido te sienta como anillo al dedo. This dress fits you like a glove or fits you perfectly. Esa fecha nos viene como anillo al dedo. That date suits us to a T. That date’s perfect for us.
anís (no ser grano de ~)
las anteojeras blinkers (Br.E.)/blinders (Am.E.)
llevar las anteojeras puestas (fig., fam.) to be blinkered (fig., Br.E.), to have blinders on (fig., Am.E.) Simplemente no vee que este plan dará [buen] resultado. Debe de llevar o parece llevar las anteojeras puestas. He just doesn’t see that this plan will prove a success. He must have blinders on.
ver las cosas con anteojeras (fig., fam.) to be narrow-minded, to suffer from tunnel vision (fig.)
la antigualla (pej.) old thing, [piece of] old junk (pej.) Quiero deshacerme de esas antiguallas. I want to get rid of that old junk. ¿A esa antigualla le llamas coche? (fig.) Do you call that old heap of metal (fam.) or that old banger (fam.) or that old crock (fam., Br.E.) or that old relic (fam.) or that old wreck (fig., fam.) a car? una antigualla (libro) (fig.) out-of-date [and worthless] book, old tome una antigualla (costumbre o cuento/chiste/etc.) (fig.) (custom/story/joke/etc.): old chestnuts (fam.), old hat (fam.), it’s out of the Ark (fig.), it went out with the Ark (fig.) una antigualla (persona) (fig.) (person): has-been (fam., pej.), back number (fam., pej.), old crock (fam., Br.E.), old relic (fam.), walking antique (fig., hum.)
el año year
¡Tal día hará un año! (fig., fam.) A fat lot I care! (fam., iron.) I don’t care/give a damn! (fam.)
quitarse/restarse años (fig.) to lie about one’s age, to be older than one says/admits Las mujeres siempre se quitan años. Women always lie about their ages. Women are always older than they admit.
Dentro de cien años todos calvos. (prov.) Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. (fig.) It will all be the same in a hundred years.
año (llevar a alg. un/etc. ~)
año (no hay bien ni mal que cien ~s dure)
año (una tostada de ~s)
año de la nana/pera/polca (del ~/en el ~)
año de Maricastaña
el apagabroncas (pop.) bouncer (fam.)
la apaña (pop.) lover
el apaño (pop.) (a) fiddle (fam., Br.E.), putup job (fam.), piece of juggling (with figures/etc.) (fig.) (b) [love] affair (c) lover
aparecer por [el] escotillón
apiparse (fam.) (a) to stuff o.s. (fam.), to feed/stuff one’s face (fam.), to guzzle (b) to get tanked up (sl.), to guzzle
apostar[se] la cabeza/el cuello a que …
apretar la cuerda
apretar las calzaderas
apretar las clavijas/los tornillos/las tuercas a alg.
apuro (sacar a alg. de un ~)
la araña spider
matar la araña (fig.) to waste one’s time
arder to burn
estar alg. que arde (fig.) to be fuming/seething (fig., fam.) Tu amigo está que arde. Your friend’s fuming.
arder de entusiasmo [con/por algo] (fig.) to be as keen as mustard [on s.th.] (fam.)
el ardite (histórico) coin of little value
no valer un ardite (fig.) not to be worth a bean (fam.), not to be worth a [brass] farthing (Br.E.) or a red cent (Am.E.) (fig.), not to be worth a [tinker’s] damn/cuss (fam.), not to be worth anything Este coche no vale un ardite. This car isn’t worth anything.
no importar a alg. un ardite (fig.) s.o. couldn’t care less (fam., Br.E.), not to give/care two hoots (fam.), not to give/care a [tinker’s] damn/cuss (fam.), not to give/care a monkey’s (sl., Br.E.), not to give/care a rap (fig., fam.) No me importa un ardite lo que digan/piensen. I don’t give a damn what they say/think. No me importa un ardite lo que hagas. I couldn’t care less what you do. No le importan un ardite tus problemas. He doesn’t care a rap for your problems.
arena (aportar/poner su grano/granito de ~)
arena (sembrar en la ~)
el arma weapon
el arma (vulg.) (penis) el calvo
pasar a una por las armas (fig., pop.) to screw a woman (vulg.) calzar[se] a alg.
ser de armas tomar (fam.) to be a tough customer (fam.), you’ve got to watch [out for] s.o. Es de armas tomar. He’s a tough customer. Esos tíos son de armas tomar. You’ve got to watch out for those guys.
una mujer de armas tomar (fam.) battle-ax[e] (fam.), shrew, butch (sl.), virago, termagant, Xanthippe (fig.)
arma (ser un ~ de dos filos)
armar camorra/[un] cisco/[un] jaleo
armar la de Dios es Cristo/la de San Quintín
armar la gorda ( gordo)
arrancar algo de raíz
arrancarle a alg. el alma
arrancarle a alg. lágrimas
arrastrar algo/a alg. por el fango/por los suelos
arrastrar el ala
arrastrar el ala a alg.
arrastrar los pies
el arrastre dragging
estar alg./algo para el arrastre (fam.) (a) (s.o.): to have had one’s day, to be over the hill (fam.), to be [a bit] long in the tooth (b) (s.th.): to have had it (fam.), to be ready for the breaker’s yard or scrapyard or scrapheap Mi coche está para el arrastre. My car has had it. My car’s ready for the scrapheap.
arrear to hurry along
¡Arrea! Get moving! Make it snappy! (fam.) Sharp’s the word! (fam.)
¡El que venga detrás, que arree! (fig.) Devil take the hindmost. (prov.) Every man for himself [and the devil take the hindmost].
arreglar to arrange
arreglárselas (fam.) to manage, to get along/by, not to be at a loss as to what to do, to find a way (fig.) ¿Cómo te las arreglas? How do you manage? Se las arregla siempre. He’s never at a loss as to what to do. Sabe arreglárselas. He can take care of himself. He can look after himself. ¡Allá se las arregle [él]! He has to sort that out himself! (fig.) That’s his problem! That’s his funeral! (sl.) That’s his look-out! (fam.) On his [own] head be it!
arreglárselas para + infinitivo to manage/contrive to + infinitive No sé cómo se las arregló para convencer a su jefe. I don’t know how she managed to convince her boss.
arriba above, up
codearse con los de arriba (fam.) to belong to the upper crust (fam., hum.), to belong to the upper class[es], to move in high circles (fig.), to rub shoulders (fig.) or hobnob with upper-crust people (fam., hum.)
arrojar hasta los huesos
arroyo (huir del toro y caer en el ~)
el arroz rice
haber arroz y gallo muerto (fig., fam.) to be a real feast/a slap-up (sl.) meal, to be a slap-up do (sl., Br.E.) Hubo arroz y gallo muerto. It was a real feast. It was a slap-up do.
arrugarse to get wrinkled
arrugarse (fig., fam.) to get scared, to get the wind up (sl.)
el arte art, skill
no tener arte ni parte en algo (fam.) to have nothing whatsoever to do with a matter No tuvimos arte ni parte en el asunto. We had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
arte de birlibirloque
el asa handle, grip
el asa (fig., fam.) (nose): beak/hooter (fam., hum.), conk (sl., Br.E.), snout (fam.), schnozzle (fam., Am.E.)
tener a alg. por el asa (fig., fam.) to have s.o. in one’s grip (fig.)
asador (poner toda la carne en el ~)
asar to roast
asar a alg. a preguntas (fig., fam.) to pester or plague (fam.) s.o. with questions
asarse vivo (fam.) to be roasting (fig.), be dying of the heat (fig.)
el ascua ember, live coal
arrimar el ascua a su sardina (fig., fam.) to work things to one’s own advantage, to put one’s own interests first, to look after Number One (fam.)
Siempre arrima el ascua a su sardina. He always puts his own interests first.
estar en/sobre ascuas (fig., fam.) to be on tenterhooks (fig.), to be/sit on pins and needles (fig., Am.E.), to be like a cat on hot bricks or on a hot tin roof (fig.), to cool/kick one’s heels (fam.) Mientras esperábamos las noticias estábamos sobre ascuas. We were sitting on pins and needles while [we were] waiting for the news.
tener a alg. en/sobre ascuas (fig.) to keep s.o. on tenterhooks (fig.), to have s.o. on the hook (fam.), to keep s.o. in suspense ¡Dímelo ahora! ¡No me tengas en ascuas más tiempo! Tell me now. Don’t keep me on tenterhooks any longer!
el asidero handle, grip
tener buenos asideros (fam.) to have [powerful/influential] friends in the right places, to have [a lot of] influence/pull (fig.)
el asiento seat
calentar el asiento o pegársele a alg. el asiento (fig., fam.) to stay [too] long (on a visit), to overstay one’s welcome Anoche se le pegó el asiento. He stayed too long last night.
asiento (ser [un] culo de mal ~)
el asno donkey
asno muerto, la cebada al rabo (fig.) to lock the barn door after the horse is stolen (fig., Am.E.), to lock/shut the stable door after the horse has bolted/gone (fig., Br.E.)
el asperges sprinkling with holy water
quedarse asperges (fam.) to come away or be left empty-handed, to end up with nothing
el asta horn, antler
dejar a alg. en las astas del toro (fig.) to leave s.o. in the lurch (fig.), to leave s.o. high and dry (fig.), to leave s.o. in a jam/fix (fam.), to leave s.o. in a tight spot (fam.)
poner a alg. en las astas del toro (fig.) to get s.o. into a [hell of a (sl.) or into a real or into a right] mess (fig.), to get s.o. into a [real] jam/fix (fam.), to get s.o. into a [very] tight spot (fam.)
astilla (de tal costilla/palo, tal ~)
el asunto business, matter, affair
el asunto (pop.) (penis) el calvo
el atajo shortcut
echar/tirar por el atajo (fig.) to take the easiest way out, to seek a quick solution
No hay atajo sin trabajo. (prov.) No pains, no gains. (prov.)
atar to tie [up]
atar corto a alg. (fig.) to keep s.o. on a tight rein (fig.), to keep s.o. on a short leash (fig., Am.E.)
atar (estar/ser loco de ~)
atención (acaparar la ~ [de todos])
atención (prestar ~ a alg./algo)
atender a alg. a cuerpo de rey
el atolladero puddle, mire
meterse en un atolladero (fig.) to get o.s. into a [fine/nice] mess (fig.), to get o.s. into a fix/jam (fam.)
sacar a alg. del atolladero (fig.) to get s.o. out of a jam/fix (fam.), to get s.o. off the hook (fam.)
haber salido del atolladero (fig.) to be off the hook (fam.), to be out of the wood (Br.E.) or woods (Am.E.)
el atranco (fig.) jam (fam.), fix (fam.), tight spot (fam.), awkward situation
no saber como salir del atranco to be at a loss as to what to do [next], to be at one’s wits’ end, to be at the end of one’s rope or one’s tether (Br.E.) (fig.)
No hay barranco sin atranco. (prov.) No pains, no gains. (prov.)
atravesado crossed, oblique
tener algo o a alg. atravesado (fig., fam.) s.o. can’t stand s.th./s.o. (fam.), s.o. can’t stomach s.th./s.o. (fam.), s.th./s.o. sticks in s.o.’s gullet (fig.) Tengo atravesado tu comportamiento. I can’t stomach your behavior. Lo tengo atravesado. I can’t stand him. He sticks in my gullet.
el atún tuna
un [pedazo de] atún (fig.) idiot un [pedazo de] alcornoque
querer ir por atún y a ver al duque (fam.) to want to have it both ways, to want to have one’s cake and eat it [too] (fig.), to want to kill two birds with one stone (fig.)
aurora (acabar como el rosario de la ~)
la ausencia absence
brillar alg./algo por su ausencia (fam.) (a) (person): to be conspicuous by one’s absence (b) s.th.: there’s a distinct lack of Brilla por su ausencia. He’s conspicuous by his absence. El orden brilló por su ausencia. There was a distinct lack of order.
ausente absent
Ausente sin culpa, ni presente sin disculpa. (prov.) The absentee is always [in the] wrong.
el avispero wasp’s nest
meterse en un avispero (fig.) to stir up a hornet’s nest (fig.), to get o.s. into trouble
ayer ( nacer: no nació alg. ~)
ayer (ser periódico de ~)
ayuda (costar Dios y ~ a alg.)
ayuda (necesitar Dios y [su] ~)
azotar el aire
el azote whip
azotes y galeras (fam.) monotonous fare, same old muck or same old rotten food (fig., fam., pej.)
la azotea flat roof, terrace roof
estar mal de la azotea (fam.) to be crazy no estar bueno de la cabeza
B
la baba slobber, dribble
caérsele a alg. la baba con/por alg./algo (fig., fam.) to be drooling over s.o./s.th. (fig.), to be/go soft on s.o. (fam.), to dote on a child, to be crazy/wild about s.o./s.th. (fam.), to be besotted or infatuated with s.o./s.th., to be thrilled to bits or delighted with s.th. (plan/idea/etc.) Se les cae la baba con sus nietas. They dote on their granddaughters. Se le cae la baba por ella. He’s soft on her. He’s crazy about her. Se nos cae la baba por ese coche. We’re drooling over that car. We’re wild about that car. Se me cae la baba por esta idea. I’m thrilled to bits or infatuated with this idea.
cambiar babas (pop.) to have a good old snog (sl., Br.E.), to kiss
baba (llorar a moco y ~)
Babia
estar en Babia to have one’s head in the clouds, to be away with the fairies (fam.), to be remote from it all (fig.), to be miles away (fig.), to have one’s mind on other things, to be out to lunch (fam., Am.E.), to be day-dreaming, to be woolgathering (fam.)
el bacalao codfish
el bacalao (pop., Esp.) (vagina) el conejo
cortar el bacalao (fig., fam., Esp.) to call the tune/shots llevar la batuta
bachiller Trapazas ( el trapaza)
la badana tanned sheepskin
zurrar la badana a alg. (fig., fam.) (a) to tan s.o.’s hide (fig., fam.), to beat s.o. up (fam.), to give s.o. a [good] tanning or hiding or thrashing or clobbering (fam.), to let s.o. have it (fam.) (b) to give s.o. a [good] dressing-down or wigging (Br.E.) or telling-off or ticking-off (Br.E.) or tongue-lashing or roasting (fam.), to give s.o. a piece of one’s mind, to read the riot act to s.o. (fig., hum.), to haul s.o. over the coals (fig.), to give s.o. a rocket (fig., fam., Br.E.), to come down on s.o. like a ton of bricks (fam.)
bailar to dance
¡Que me/nos quiten lo bailado! (fam.) Nobody can take away the good times I’ve/we’ve had.
bailar ( feo: tocarle a alg. ~ con la más fea)
bailar ( pelar: bailan que se las pelan)
bailar al compás de la música de alg.
bailar al son que le tocan a alg.
bailar el agua a alg.
bailar en la cuerda floja
balazo (coser/freír a alg. a ~ s)
la balsa pool, pond
balsa de aceite (fig.) El mar/lago está como una balsa de aceite. The sea/lake is as smooth as a millpond/as smooth as glass. Este pueblo es una balsa de aceite. This village is [as] quiet as the grave or is [as] quiet as a Sunday-school party. This is a very sleepy village. (fig.) Todo iba como una balsa de aceite. Everything was going swimmingly (fig.) or very smoothly. La asamblea fue una balsa de aceite. The meeting went off very smoothly.
bambolla (sin alharaca s ni ~ s)
bañar to bathe
¡Anda a bañarte! (pop.) Go jump in a lake! (fam.) Go take a running jump! (fam.) Go fly a kite! (fam., Am.E.) Go fry an egg! (fam.) Go climb a tree! (fam.) Take a hike! (fam., Am.E.) Go to hell! (fam.) Get lost! (fam.) Piss off! (sl., Br.E.)
el baquetazo lash (with a switch)
echar a alg. a baquetazo limpio (fig., fam.) to throw s.o. out, to kick s.
o. out (sl.), to boot s.o. out (fam.)
tratar a alg. a baquetazo limpio (fig., fam.) to be tough with s.o. (fam.), to give s.o. a hard time (fam.), to treat s.o. harshly
el bar (americano) bar
el bar de ligue o de alterne (fam.) singles bar, a joint (sl.) where people go to pick s.o. up (fam.)
la baraja deck, pack of cards (Br.E.)
jugar con/a dos barajas (fig.) to play a double game
O jugamos todos o se rompe la baraja. Either we all do it/we all go/etc. or nobody does.
la barba beard, chin
barba a barba (fam.) face to face Ayer nos encontramos barba a barba por primera vez. We met face to face for the first time yesterday.
hacer la barba a alg. (fig.) (a) to get on s.o.’s nerves (fam.), to get on s.o.’s wick (fam., Br.E.) (b) to flatter s.o., to butter s.o. up (fam.), to suck up to s.o. (fam.), to fawn on s.o. (fig.), to soft-soap s.o. (sl.)
con toda la barba (fam.) ser un hombre con toda la barba to be a real man ser un líder con toda la barba to be a real/true leader mantir con toda la barba to tell a barefaced lie, to lie through one’s teeth (fam.) un coche/etc. con toda la barba a car/etc. with all the trimmings
en mis/etc. propias o mismísimas barbas (fam.) from right under my/etc. nose, from under my/etc. very nose, from right in front of me/etc. Le robaron el coche en sus mismísimas barbas. They stole his car from under his very nose. Nos robaron el coche en nuestras propias barbas. They stole our car from right in front of us or from right under our noses.
subirse a las barbas de alg. (fam.) to take liberties with s.o., to be disrespectful to s.o., to get cheeky (Br.E.) or fresh (Am.E.) with s.o. (fam.), to get too familiar with s.o. (fam.)
decir algo en las barbas de alg. (fam.) to say s.th. to s.o.’s face
Cuando las barbas de tu vecino veas arder, pon las tuyas a remojar. You should learn from other people’s mistakes.