by Peter Weibel
barbaridad (gastar una ~ en trapos)
el barbas (fam.) bloke/guy with the beard (fam.), [old] hairy face (fam.) ¿Quién te lo dijo? Ese barbas allí. Who told you that? That guy with the beard over there.
barquero (decirle a alg. las verdades del ~)
la barra bar (legal system)
no pararse en barras (fig.) to stop at nothing
sin pararse en barras (fig.) inconsiderately, unscrupulously, regardless El gobierno actuó sin pararse en barras. The government took drastic action or measures.
el barranco ravine
No hay barranco sin atranco. (prov.) No pains, no gains. (prov.)
barrer to sweep
barrer hacia/para dentro (fig., fam.) to look after Number One (fam.), to put o.s. first
barrer en su propia casa (fig.) to put one’s own house in order [first] (fig.) Siempre se queja de otra gente. Dile que barra en su propia casa. He’s always complaining about other people. Tell him to put his own house in order first.
barrer con algo (fig.) to make a clean sweep of s.th. (fig.)
barrer con todo (fig.) to wipe the slate clean (fig.)
la barrera barrier
El pensamiento no tiene/conoce barreras. (prov.) You can think what you like.
ver los toros desde la barrera (fig.) to watch from the sidelines, to sit on the fence, not [to want] to have anything to do with it or with the matter
el barrido sweeping
servir lo mismo para un barrido que para un fregado (fam.) to be a/the [general] dogsbody (sl.), to be a jack-of-all trades, to be a/the handyman, s.o. who can turn his hand to anything Aquí sirve lo mismo para un barrido que para un fregado. He’s the general dogsbody [around] here. Sirve lo mismo para un barrido que para un fregado. He can turn his hand to anything.
la barriga belly
llenarse la barriga (fam.) to stuff o.s. (fam.), to make a [real] pig of o.s. (fam.)
Barriga llena, corazón contento. (prov.) A full stomach makes for a happy heart. (prov.)
barrigón (fam.) potbellied
Al que nace barrigón es al ñudo que lo fajen. (prov., Cono Sur). A leopard never changes or cannot change its spots. (prov.)
el barrio area or part of a town, district
irse al otro barrio (fam., hum.) to kick the bucket (fam.) cascar[la]
mandar a alg. al otro barrio (fam.) to send s.o. to glory (fam.), to do s.o. in (fam.)
el barro clay, mud
el barro (fam.) (money): dough (sl., Am.E.), bread (sl.), sugar (sl.), brass/dosh/lolly (sl., Br.E.), wampum (sl., Am.E.)
tener barro a mano (fam.) to have money to burn (fig.)
la bartola (fam.)
echarse/tenderse/tumbarse a la bartola to take it easy, to have an easy/a lazy time of it, to do nothing
los bártulos (fam.) belongings, things, stuff (fam.), gear (fam.), goods and chattels (fam., Br.E.)
liar los bártulos (a) to pack one’s bags/things (b) to die, to peg out (fam.), to kick the bucket (fam.)
el basilisco (mitología) basilisk (mythology)
estar hecho un basilisco (fig., fam.) to be hopping mad (fam.), to be terribly angry, to be [really] fuming (fig., fam.), to be livid (fam., Br.E.), to be seething [with rage] (fig., fam.), to be wild with rage (fam.)
ponerse como un basilisco (fig., fam.) to get terribly angry, to blow/flare up (fig.), to blow/pop one’s cork (sl.), to go ape (fam., Am.E.) salirse de sus casillas Cuando se entere se pondrá como un basilisco. When he finds out he’ll get terribly angry.
el bastón baton, stick
empuñar el bastón (fig.) to take command, to take charge
meter el bastón (fig.) to intervene, to intercede
meter un bastón en la rueda o bastones en las ruedas [de alg.] (fig.) to put a spoke in s.o.’s wheel (fig., fam., Br.E.), to throw a spanner (Br.E.) or a monkey wrench (Am.E.) in[to] the works (fam.) Me metió un bastón en la rueda. He put a spoke in my wheel. Casi echó nuestros planes por el suelo cuando de repente se rajó. Él sí que metió bastones en las ruedas. He almost ruined our plans when he suddenly backed out. He really threw a monkey wrench into the works.
batalla (ganar la ~)
batalla (ganarle la ~ a alg.)
las Batuecas backward region of Extremadura
estar en las Batuecas (fig., fam.) 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 daydreaming
la batuta baton
llevar la batuta (fig.) to call the tune/shots (fig.), to play first fiddle (fig.), to wear the pants (Am.E.)/the trousers (Br.E.) (fig.), to carry the ball (fig., Am.E.), to rule the roost (fig.), to be the boss (fig.), to run the show (sl.), to be firmly in command Su esposa lleva la batuta. His wife calls the tune/plays first fiddle.
el baúl trunk (travel), chest
cargar el baúl a alg. (pop.) to pass the buck to s.o. (fig., fam.), to pin the blame on s.o., to leave s.o. holding the baby (Br.E.) or the bag (Am.E.) (fam.)
el baúl (fig., fam.) belly, paunch
henchir el baúl (pop.) to stuff o.s. (fam.), to feed/stuff one’s face (fam.), to make a [real] pig of o.s. (fam.), to eat like a horse (fig., fam.)
el bautismo baptism
romper el bautismo a alg. (fam.) to smash s.o.’s head/face in (fam.), to knock s.o.’s block off (fam.), to brain s.o. (fam.)
la baza (playing cards): trick
la baza maestra (fig.) masterstroke
meter baza [en] (fig., fam.) to interfere (in the conversation/etc.), to butt in [on] (fam.), to shove/put/stick one’s oar in (fam.), to put in one’s [own] two bits (fam.), to put in one’s [two] pennyworth (fam., Br.E.), to put in one’s two cents[’ worth] (fam., Am.E.) Siempre quiere meter baza. He always wants to put in his own two bits or his two cents’ worth.
no dejar meter baza a nadie (fig., fam.) not to let anybody get a word in edgewise (Am.E.) or edgeways (fig.)
no dejar meter baza a alg. (fig., fam.) not to let s.o. get a word in edgewise (Am.E.) or edgeways (fig.) No nos dejó meter baza. He didn’t let us get a word in edgeways.
la beata lay sister
la beata (pop.) peseta
la beata (fam., pej.) sanctimonious woman, churchy type (pej.), pious Annie (iron.), excessively pious woman, goody-goody (fam., pej.)
De día beata, de noche gata. (pop.) During the day pious Annie, during the night a bit of all right (sl., Br.E.) or hot stuff (fig.) or mistress.
beber (a ~ y a tragar, que el mundo se va a acabar)
beber (sin comerlo ni ~ lo)
beber a morro/a palo seco/a pote/a todo pasto
beber como un descosido/una esponja
beber hasta tumbar a alg.
beber los aires
beber los aires por algo/alg.
beber los vientos
beber los vientos por algo/alg.
beber más que siete
beberle a alg. las palabras
beberse las lágrimas
el becerro bull calf
adorar el becerro de oro (fig.) to worship the golden calf (fig.) Me parece que le interesa sólo el dinero. Diste en el clavo. Siempre ha adorado el becerro de oro. It seems to me that he’s only interested in money. You hit the nail on the head. He’s always worshipped the golden calf.
el Belén Bethlehem
estar en Belén (fig., fam.) 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 daydreaming
la bellota acorn, bud (carnation)
si le/etc. menean, da bellotas (fig.) he’s/etc. as thick as they come (fam.) ser más tonto que Carracuca Si les menean, dan bellotas. They’re as thick as they come.
la bendición blessing, benediction
echar la bendición a algo/alg. (fig.) to say goodby[e] to s.th. (fig.), to give s.th./s.o. up for lost, not to want to have anything more to do with s.th./s.o. Puedes echar la bend
ición a tu cartera. You can say goodbye to your wallet. Será mejor echar la bendición a él. It will be best to have nothing more to do with him.
el bendito (fig.) good/simple soul (fam.)
dormir como un bendito to sleep like a baby (fig.), to sleep like a log (fam.)
benedictino (tener una paciencia de ~)
beneficio (sin oficio ni ~)
el beo (pop., Esp.) (vagina) el conejo
el berenjenal aubergine field (Br.E.), eggplant field (Am.E.)
meterse en un berenjenal (fig., fam.) to get o.s. into a pickle (fam.), to get o.s. into a jam/fix (fam.), to get o.s. into a tight spot (fam.), to get o.s. into a mess (fig.) ¡En buen berenjenal nos hemos metido! We’ve got ourselves into a real pickle! This is a pretty kettle of fish! (fam., iron.) We’ve got ourselves into a fine mess! (fig.)
berenjenal (huir del perejil y dar en el ~)
la berza cabbage
el/la berzas (fam.) washout (sl.), dead loss (fig., fam.), idiot, imbecile, dummy (fam.), moron (fam.) (all pej.)
mezclar berzas con capachos (fig.) to jumble things up, to get things in a complete mess (fig.), s.o.’s place/etc. is in a complete mess (fig.) or is a[n absolute] shambles (fig.), everything’s topsy-turvy (fam.) in s.o.’s place/etc. No le digas a ese berzas que vaya por el documento. Mezclará berzas con capachos en el archivador. Don’t tell that idiot to get the document. He’ll jumble things up or things will be all jumbled up in the filing cabinet. Mezcló berzas con capachos en el/su cajón. He jumbled things up in the drawer. Things were all jumbled up in his drawer. Mezclaron berzas con capachos en su casa. They got things in a complete mess in their house. Everything was topsy-turvy in their house. Their house was a shambles.
besar la cruz/tierra
bestial bestial, brutal
bestial (fig., fam.) great (fam.), fantastic (fam.), (to be) the business (sl., Br.E.), huge cojonudo (a), (b) Es bestial. It’s fantastic. It’s the business. Tenemos un hambre bestial. We’re famished. (fam.) We’re incredibly hungry.
besugo (tener ojos de ~)
la Biblia Bible
ser la biblia (fig., fam.) to be the tops (fam.), to be [really] super/great/magic (fam.)
saber la biblia en verso (fam.) to know everything, to know about [absolutely] everything
contar la biblia en verso (fam.) to tell in minute or in great detail, to tell down to the last detail, to give a blow-by-blow account Nos contó la biblia en verso. He told us about it in minute detail.
biblioteca (la rata/el ratón de ~)
el bicho [wild] animal
No hay/había bicho viviente. (fig., fam.) There isn’t/wasn’t a living soul here/there. There isn’t/wasn’t a sod here/there. (sl., Br.E.) No hay bicho viviente en la calle. There isn’t a living soul in/on the street.
todo bicho viviente (fig., fam.) everyone, everybody, each and every one of them; every Tom, Dick and Harry (fam.); every man jack [of them] (fam.), every living soul, [all] the world and his wife (fam., Br.E.), every mother’s son [of them], everyone and his brother (fam., Am.E.), all the odds and sods (sl., Br.E.) Vino todo bicho viviente. Everyone came. The world and his wife came.
ser un mal bicho (fig., fam.) to be a nasty piece of work (fig., fam.), to be a nasty (fig.) character, to be a mean son of a bitch (sl., Am.E.), to be a rotter (sl., Br.E.)
el bien good
hacer [el] bien sin mirar a quién to do good to all alike, to cast one’s bread [up]on the waters
Haz bien y no mires a quién. (prov.) Do good to all alike.
No hay bien ni mal que cien años dure. (prov.) Nothing lasts forever. Nothing goes on forever. There’s an end to everything.
bien (no hay mal que por ~ no venga)
el bigote mustache (Am.E.), moustache (Br.E.)
menear el bigote (fam.) to scoff (fam., Br.E.), to feed/stuff one’s face (fam.)
tener bigote o tres pares de bigotes (fam.) (a) to stick to one’s guns (fig.), to stick to one’s decision (b) to be [very] difficult or complicated or tricky Este problema tiene tres pares de bigotes. This is a very difficult problem.
de bigote (pop., Esp.) una cochinada de bigote s.th. that’s incredibly disgusting/rotten Cometieron una falta de bigote. They made a huge mistake. hacer un calor de bigote to be sweltering, to be sizzling/scorching hot Esta idea está de bigote. This is a fantastic/great idea.
la bilis bile
exaltársele a alg. la bilis (fig., fam.) to get very cross (fam.) ponerse como un basilisco Se le exaltó la bilis. He got very cross.
descargar la bilis contra/en alg. (fig., fam.) to vent one’s anger/spleen on s.o. (fig.), to take it out on s.o. (fam.)
[tener que] tragar bilis (fig.) to suppress/stifle one’s anger, to force o.s. not to get angry, [to have] to put up with it, [to have] to take it, [to have] to lump it (fam.) Me insultaron y tuve que tragar bilis. They insulted me and I had to take it.
birlibirloque (fam.)
[como] por arte de birlibirloque by magic, as if by magic hacer desaparecer algo como por arte de birlibirloque to magic s.th. away
bizantino Byzantine
discusiones bizantinas (fig.) protracted and pointless/unresolvable/idle discussions or arguments, hair-splitting Fue una discusión bizantina. It was a protracted and idle discussion. Siempre se meten en discusiones bizantinas. They always get involved in protracted and pointless/etc. discussions. They’re always splitting hairs.
bizco cross-eyed
quedarse bizco (fig., fam.) to be very impressed, to be amazed, to be dumbfounded, to be astounded, to be stunned (fig.), to be flabbergasted, to be lost for words Cuando abrió el regalo se quedó bizco. When he opened the present he was lost for words.
dejar bizco a alg. (fig., fam.) to impress s.o. strongly, to amaze s.o., to stun s.o. (fig.), to leave s.o. open-mouthed (with wonder or amazement)
la blanca (pop.) (cocaine/heroin): snow (sl.); (cocaine): coke (sl.)
la blanca old Spanish copper coin
la blanca (fig., Esp.) money
estar sin blanca o no tener blanca (fam.) to be broke (fam.) estar sin un cuarto o no tener [ni] un cuarto
blanco white
no distinguir lo blanco de lo negro (fam.) not to have the foggiest [idea] (fam.), not to have the faintest idea (fam.), not to have a clue (fam.), not to know left from right (fam.)
estar tan lejos como lo blanco de lo negro (fam.), no parecerse ni en el blanco de los ojos (fam.) (persons; views/etc.): to be totally different personalities, to be poles apart (fig.), to be as different as night and day (Am.E.)/as chalk and cheese (Br.E.) (fam.), not to look in the least bit alike Aunque son gemelos, están tan lejos como lo blanco de lo negro. Although they are twins, they are as different as chalk and cheese. Sus hermanos no se parecen ni en el blanco de los ojos. Her brothers don’t look in the least bit alike.
hacer de lo blanco negro (fam.), volver en blanco lo negro (fam.) to make out that white is black, to distort/twist things (truth/facts) (fig.)
quedarse en blanco s.o.’s mind goes blank or is a blank (fig.), to fail to see the point
blanco y en botella, leche truism, triviality, triteness, platitude (fig.)
blanco (la noche blanca)
blanco (ponerse más ~ que la pared/que una sábana)
el blanco target
dar en el blanco (fig.) to hit the mark (fig.), to score a bull’s-eye (fig.), to be right on (fam., Am.E.), to be spot-on (fam., Br.E.), to strike/hit home (fig.) Dio en el blanco con ese regalo. He was spot-on or right on with that gift/present. Tu observación dio en el blanco. Your remark struck home.
cargar el blanco a alg. (fig.) to pass the buck to s.o. (fig., fam.), to pin the blame on s.o., to leave s.o. holding the baby (Br.E.) or the bag (Am.E.) (fam.)
blanco (tirar más allá del ~)
blandengue weak, soft
ser un blandengue (fam.) to be a weakling (fig.), to be a softy (fam.), to be a wimp (fam.) (pej.)
blasfemar como un carretero
el bledo
[no] impo
rtar a alg. un bledo (fig.) not to give/care two hoots (fam.) no importar a alg. un ardite
bobo (la caja boba)
la boca mouth
andar algo/alg. de boca en boca (fig.) to be going/doing the rounds, to be the subject of gossip, to set [a lot of] tongues wagging El rumor anda de boca en boca. The rumor is going the rounds. En aquel momento la noticia ya anduvo de boca en boca. The news was already common knowledge at that [point in] time. Ella anda de boca en boca. She’s the subject of gossip. Desde ese incidente anda de boca en boca. Since that incident he’s set a lot of tongues wagging.
andar algo en boca de todos (fig.) everybody is talking about s.th., to be on everybody’s lips, to be the talk of the town Su nombre anda en boca de todos. His/her name is on everybody’s lips. El escándalo anda en boca de todos. Everybody is talking about the scandal. The scandal is the talk of the town.
traer en bocas a alg. (fam.) to gossip about s.o., to run s.o. down (fam.)
mentir con toda la boca to tell a barefaced lie
Pide por esa boca. (fam.) Just ask. All you have to do is ask.
írsele la boca a alg. to blurt out s.th., to talk thoughtlessly Se le fue la boca. He blurted it out.
coserse la boca (fig.) to keep one’s mouth shut, to keep mum (fam.), to keep quiet, not to say/breathe a word, s.o.’s lips are sealed (fig.), to keep s.th. under one’s hat (fam.) or to o.s.
no descoser la boca (fam.) not to open one’s mouth, not to say/breathe a word
no decir esta boca es mía (fam.) not to open one’s mouth, not to say/breathe a word No dijo esta boca es mía. He didn’t say a word.
sin decir esta boca es mía (fam.) without saying a word Se fue sin decir esta boca es mía. She left without saying a word.
decir algo con la boca chica to say s.th. just to be polite, to say s.th. without really meaning it, to say s.th. insincerely
decir lo que se le viene a la boca a alg. not to mince one’s words (fig.), to speak one’s mind Digo lo que se me viene a la boca. ¡Ahora sí que la has cagado! I won’t mince my words. You’ve really screwed things up now!
hablar con boca de ganso to repeat s.th. (other people’s opinions/ideas/etc.) parrot fashion
de boca [para] afuera lip service, (to support s.th./s.o.) in name only, not to be sincere [in what one says] Apoyaron nuestra idea de boca para afuera. They were [only] paying lip service to our idea. Habló o lo dijo de boca afuera. He said one thing and meant another. He didn’t mean what he said. He wasn’t sincere in what he said.