by Peter Weibel
comerse/roerse los codos de hambre to be on the breadline (fig.), not to have a bite to eat, to be utterly destitute
romperse los codos (fam.) to cram (fam.), to swot (fam., Br.E.), to bone up (fam.)
hablar por los codos (fam.) to talk too much, to talk nineteen to the dozen (fam.), to talk one’s head off (fam.)
mentir por los codos (fam.) to lie through one’s teeth (fam.), to tell huge lies
llevar a alg. codo con codo (fig., fam.) to arrest s.o.
coger (~las al vuelo)
el cogote back of the head/neck
estar hasta el cogote de algo (fam.) to have had it up to here with s.th. (fam.), to be fed up to the back teeth with s.th. (fam.)
el cojón (pop., vulg.) (testicle): ball (pop., vulg.)
no valer un cojón not to be worth a shit (vulg.), not to be worth a damn (fam.)
los cojones (testicles) las canicas
tocarse los cojones (fig.) to do bugger all (vulg.) or damn all (fam.) or sod all (sl.) (Br.E.), to do sweet f.a. (fam.), to sit on one’s butt (Am.E.) or on one’s backside (Br.E.) (fam.)
tener cojones to have balls (vulg.), to have guts (fam.), to have gumption (fam.), to have bottle (fam., Br.E.), to have pluck (fig.)
tocar/hinchar los cojones a alg. (fig.) to piss s.o. off (sl., Br.E.), to get up s.o.’s nose (fam., Br.E.)
estar con los cojones de corbata to be in a flat panic, to be scared stiff (fam.), to be frightened or scared out of one’s wits (fam.)
salirle a alg. de los cojones to say what one damn well (fam.) or bloody well (sl., Br.E.) likes Decimos lo que nos sale de los cojones. We say what we damn/bloody well like.
hacer un frío de cojones to be cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey (fam., Br.E.), to be bloody (sl., Br.E.) or damn[ed] (fam.) cold
hacer un calor de cojones to be bloody (sl., Br.E.) or damn[ed] (fam.) hot
cojonudo (adj., pop.) (a) great (fam.), super (fam.), magic (fam.), splendid, magnificent, wonderful, fantastic (fam.), amazing (fam.), incredible (fam.), awesome (sl., Am.E.), brilliant (fam., Br.E.), outstanding (fig.), terrific (fam.), marvelous (fam.), smashing (fam.) (b) huge, enormous, colossal, gigantic, monumental un tío cojonudo a great guy/bloke una chavala cojonuda a smashing chick/bird un día cojonudo a glorious/wonderful day un apetito cojonudo a huge appetite
la col cabbage
Entre col y col, lechuga. (prov.) A change is a good thing. Variety is the spice of life. (prov.)
la cola tail, glue
hacer/guardar cola to queue [up] (Br.E.), to line up, to stand in line (Am.E.)
tener/traer cola (fig.) to have [grave] repercussions (fig.) or consequences Ese asunto va a tener cola. That is going to have consequences.
Aún falta/queda la cola por desollar. (fig.) The main difficulty or the most difficult part is yet/still to come. The worst is yet/still to come.
no pegar ni con cola (fam.) Eso no pega ni con cola. (fam.) That has nothing whatsoever to do with it. That’s utter rubbish (fam.) or nonsense. Esa corbata y esa chaqueta no pegan ni con cola. That tie and that jacket just don’t go together. That tie just doesn’t go with that jacket. Lo que dijiste no pegó ni con cola. What you said was utter nonsense.
el colador sieve
dejar algo/a alg. como un colador (fig., fam.) to riddle s.th./s.o. with bullets, to make a lot of holes in s.th. Dejaron al traidor como un colador. They riddled the traitor with bullets. Las polillas dejaron mi chaqueta de lana como un colador. The moths made/ate a lot of holes in my cardigan.
tener la cabeza como un colador (fig., fam.) to have a memory like a sieve (fig.)
colar to strain [off], to filter
colar (fam.) to pass muster (fig.), to wash (fam.) Esta excusa no va a colar. This excuse will not pass muster. This excuse will not wash [with me/etc.].
colar algo (por un sitio o por la aduana) (fam.) to smuggle/slip s.th. through (a place/the customs)
colar algo a alg. (fam.) to foist/palm s.th. off on s.o. Trataron de colarnos una imitación. They tried to foist a fake off on us.
¡A mí no me la cuelas! I’m not going to swallow that! You must think I’m stupid! Don’t [even] try to fool me!
el coleto (histórico) doublet (historical), jerkin (historical)
decir algo para su coleto (fig., fam.) to say s.th. to o.s.
echarse algo al coleto (fam.) (a) (beverage/drink): to down (fam.), to knock back (fam.), to drink down (b) (food): to put away (fam.), to polish off (fam.), to eat right up (c) (book/etc.): to devour (fig.), to read right through Me eché un sándwich al coleto. I put a sandwich away. Me eché el libro al coleto. I read the book right through.
colgado hanging
dejar a alg. colgado (fig.) to let s.o. down, to fail s.o., to stand s.o. up (fam.), to leave s.o. in the lurch (fig.), to leave s.o. high and dry (fig.), to leave s.o. out in the cold (fig.) Como me dejaron colgado, tuve que hacerlo todo yo. Since they left me in the lurch, I had to do it all myself.
estar colgado de las palabras de alg. (fig.) to hang on s.o.’s every word, to hang on s.o.’s lips (fig.)
quedar colgado (fig., fam.) to get hooked [on drugs] (fam.), to have a monkey on one’s back (fam., Am.E.)
colgar de un cabello/hilo
colmar to fill [to the brim]
colmar a alg. de algo (honores o alabanzas o favores/etc.) (fig.) s.th. (honors/praise/favors/etc.): to heap on s.o. (fig.), to lavish on s.o., to shower upon s.o., to shower s.o. with Los padres colmaron a sus hijos de regalos. The parents showered presents/gifts upon their children.
colmar la medida (fig.) to be the last straw, to take the biscuit (fam., Br.E.), to have had just about all one can take ¡Esto colma la medida! This is the last straw! This takes the biscuit! I’ve had just about all I can take!
el colmillo eyetooth
enseñar los colmillos (fig.) to show one’s teeth (fig.)
escupir por el colmillo (fig.) to talk big (fam.), to brag
el color color
ponerse de mil colores to blush to the roots of one’s hair, to go bright red
salírsele/subírsele a alg. los colores to blush [with shame], to go red [with shame], to flush [with anger/excitement/pride/strain/etc.] Se le subieron los colores por vergüenza. He/she blushed with shame.
color (para cada gusto se pintó un ~)
la coma comma
contar algo con puntos y comas to tell s.th. in minute or in great detail, to tell s.th. down to the last detail, to give a blow-by-blow account of s.th. Nos lo contó todo con puntos y comas. He told us all about it down to the last detail.
comer to eat
El comer es como el rascar, todo es cuestión de empezar. (hum.). Eating is like scratching: Once you start, you don’t want to stop or you can’t stop.
comer[se] a alg. vivo (fig., fam.) (threat): to skin s.o. alive (fig., fam.), to make mincemeat of s.o. (fig., fam.), to have s.o.’s guts for garters (fam., Br.E.) Cuando se entere de eso, te comerá vivo. When he finds out about that, he’ll make mincemeat of you.
comerse a alg. crudo (fig., fam.) to be head and shoulders above s.o. (fam.), to be more than a match for s.o., to be streets ahead of s.o. (fam.), to knock spots off s.o. (fam.), to outshine s.o. (fig.), to beat s.o. hollow (contest/sports/etc.) (fam.) Uno de los jugadores de ajedrez se los comió crudos a todos los otros. One of the chess players was more than a match for all the others.
comerse los santos to be a sanctimonious or an excessively pious man/woman or person, to be a holy Joe (sl., Br.E.), to be a churchy type (pej.), to be a pious Annie (pej.) Juan se come los santos. Juan is a holy Joe.
Está para comérsela. (fig., fam.) She looks a treat. (fam.) She’s a real dish. (fam.) She’s a feast for the eyes. (fam.)
¿Con qué se come eso? (fig., fam.) What on earth’s that? (fam.)
con su/etc. pan se/etc. lo coma/etc. (fam.) that’s his/etc. look-out (fam.), that’s his/etc. funeral (sl.), that’s his/etc. problem ¡Con tu pan te lo comas! That’s/it’s your problem!
estar algo d
iciendo cómeme (fam.) to be looking very appetizing or delightful or tempting Los pasteles están diciendo cómeme. The pastry is looking very appetizing.
comer a alg. la envidia (fig.) to be eaten up or consumed with envy Le come la envidia. He’s eaten up with envy.
sin comerlo ni beberlo (fig.) through no fault of one’s own, without having [had] anything to do with it or any part in it Tuve que indemnizarlo por los daños ocasionados sin comerlo ni beberlo. I had to compensate him for the damage even though I didn’t have anything to do with it.
comer (se juntaron el hambre y las ganas de ~)
comer a dos carrillos/a todo pasto/a más no poder
comer a lo gran señor ( el señor)
comer como un decosido/un gorrión/una lima/un pajarito/un sabañón
comer con los ojos
comer el coco a alg.
comer más que un alguacil/que un sabañón/que siete
comerse a alg. con los ojos
comerse el coco
comida (dar un buen golpe a la ~)
comida (regar una ~ con vino)
comida (una ~ de rechupete)
la comidilla (fam.)
ser la comidilla de la ciudad o de la gente o del público to be the talk of the town Sus romances son la comidilla de la ciudad. His love-affairs are the talk of the town.
comido full (to have eaten)
[lo] comido por [lo] servido (fam.) it’s not worth it, it’s not worthwhile, it doesn’t pay (fig.), it’s just enough to live from hand to mouth (wage[s]/salary) ¿Cómo es? Es comido por servido. How is it? It doesn’t pay. It’s not worthwhile. ¿Cuánto pagan? Lo comido por lo servido. How much do they pay? It’s just enough to live from hand to mouth.
la comilona (fam.) blow-out (fam.), binge (fam.), great nosh-up (sl.), spread (fam.), feast, slap-up meal (fam., Br.E.) ¡Qué comilona! What a blow-out! Sirvieron una comilona suntuosa. They laid on a magnificent spread.
el comino cumin
el comino (fig., fam.) little squirt (fam.)
no valer un comino (fam.) not to be worth a bean (fam.) no valer un ardite
[no] importar a alg. un comino (fam.) s.o. couldn’t care less (fam., Br.E.) no importar a alg. un ardite
el comistrajo (fam., pej.) awful food, muck/swill (fig., fam., pej.)
compás (bailar al ~ de la música de alg.)
la componenda (fam.) (a) compromise, [provisional/temporary] settlement or arrangement (b) wheeler dealing or wheeling and dealing or horse trading (esp. in politics) (fam.), shady deal (fam.) El senador estuvo hasta la coronilla de las componendas [políticas] y dimitió. The senator was fed up with the wheeler dealing or with the wheelings and dealings and resigned.
componer to put together, to compose
componérselas (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 compones? How do you manage? Se las compone siempre. He’s never at a loss as to what to do. Sabe componérselas. He can take care of himself. He can look after himself. ¡Allá se las componga [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!
componérselas para + infinitivo to manage/contrive to + infinitive No sé cómo se las compuso para convencer a su jefe. I don’t know how she managed to convince her boss.
la composición composition
hacer[se] su o una composición de lugar (fig.) to weigh up the pros and cons (of one’s/the situation), to take stock (of one’s/the situation) (fig.) Hice mi/una composición de lugar y decidí irme. I took stock of my situation and decided to leave.
comprar algo a huevo
comprar algo por un pedazo de pan
comulgar to receive/take communion
no comulgar en la misma iglesia (fig.) not to suit each other or one another
comulgar con ruedas de molino (fig., fam.) to swallow anything (fig.), to be easily taken for a ride (fam.), to fall for anything (fam.), to be pretty thick (fam.)
no comulgar con ruedas de molino (fam.) to be no fool, to be nobody’s fool, s.o. wasn’t born yesterday
la concha shellfish, scallop shell, tortoiseshell, snail shell
tener muchas conchas (fam.), tener más conchas que un galápago (fam.) to be very crafty, to be a sly one (fam.)
meterse en su concha (fig.) to retreat/retire/withdraw into one’s shell (fig.)
conciencia (la mejor almohada es una ~ tranquila)
la coneja doe rabbit
la coneja (fig., pop.) babymachine (fig., fam., hum.)
el conejo rabbit
el conejo (vulg.) (vagina): pussy (pop., sl.), fanny (vulg., Br.E.), beaver (sl., Am.E.), cunt (vulg.), twat (vulg.)
los conejos (vulg.) (testicles) las canicas
confiado (pecar de ~)
confianza (ganarse la ~ de alg.)
conocer (más vale malo conocido que bueno por ~)
conocer (ser más conocido que el tebeo)
conocer a su gente
conocer algo al dedillo
conocer algo como la palma de la mano
conocer el paño
consultar algo con la almohada
consultar con el bolsillo
contar las estrellas (tratar de ~)
contar los garbanzos
contento (estar más ~ que unas pascuas)
contonearse (women): to swing/sway one’s hips
el contoneo (women): swinging/swaying of the hips, hip-swinging
contrapelo: a contrapelo (adv.) (to brush/comb): the wrong way
venirle algo a alg. [muy] a contrapelo (fig., fam.) to go [totally] against the grain with s.o. (fig.) Nos vino muy a contrapelo. It went totally against the grain with us. Apoyarlo me viene a contrapelo. It goes against the grain with me to support him. Por mucho que me venga a contrapelo tengo que hacerlo. However much it goes against the grain [with me] I have to do it.
conversación (cortar el hilo de la ~)
la coña annoyance
dar la coña a alg. (pop.) to get on s.o.’s nerves or wick (Br.E.) (fam.), to pester s.o.
el coño (vulg.) (vagina) el conejo
¡Vete al coño! (vulg.) Piss off! (vulg.) Fuck off! (vulg.) Go to hell! (fam.)
¿Qué coño te importa? (vulg.) That’s none of your bloody business! (fam., Br.E.) That’s none of your goddam[n] business! (sl., Am.E.) Why the hell does it matter to you? (fam.)
el copete tuft of hair
gente de alto copete (fam.) important or socially prominent people, bigwigs (fam.), big shots (fam.), top nobs (fam., Br.E.), big names, top brass (fam.), VIPs (sl.)
tener mucho copete (fig.) to be stuck-up (fam.), to be haughty Ese tío sí que tiene mucho copete. That guy isn’t half stuck-up. (fam., Br.E.)
la copla verse, folksong
andar en coplas (fam.) to be the talk of the town, to be common knowledge La noticia ya anda en coplas. The news is already common knowledge.
¡Ni en coplas! (fam.) No way! Not on your life! Certainly not!
el corazón heart
tener corazón de alcachofa (fig.) to be quite a philanderer or womanizer, to be a lady-killer (fam.)
no caberle a alg. el corazón en el pecho (a) to be beside o.s. with joy, to be bursting with joy (fig.), to be overjoyed (b) to be very generous/kind, to be the very soul of kindness
tener el corazón en su sitio o bien puesto (fig.) s.o.’s heart is in the right place (fig.) No siempre hace lo que es justo, pero tiene el corazón en su sitio. He doesn’t always do what is right, but his heart is in the right place.
corazón (barriga llena, ~ contento)
corazón (de la abundancia del ~ habla la boca)
corazón (hacer de tripas ~)
corazón (la prensa del ~)
corazón (llegarle a alg. a las telas del ~)
corazón (ojos que no ven, ~ que no siente)
corazón (pedazo del ~)
corazón (tener pelos en el ~)
el corbatín bow tie
s
alirse por el corbatín (fam.) to be very thin, to be skinny (fam.), to be as thin as a rake (fam.)
corcho (cabeza de ~)
el cordero lamb
No hay tales corderos. (fig., fam.) There isn’t any such thing. There’s no such thing. It’s nothing of the sort. It’s enough to make a cat laugh. (fam.)
Ahí está la madre del cordero. (fam.) There’s or that’s the rub/snag. (fig.) That’s where the problem is/lies. That’s why [it doesn’t work/etc.].
cordero (un lobo con piel de ~)
la cornada thrust with the horns
Más cornadas da el hambre. (fig.) It could be worse. It could have been worse. Starving would be worse. Starving would have been worse. Worse things happen at sea. (fam., Br.E.) ¿Estuviste muy mal? Más cornadas da el hambre. Were you in a very bad way? It could’ve been worse. Worse things happen at sea.
no morir de cornada de burro (fam., hum.) to be a coward, to be chicken (sl.), not to risk anything at all ¡Nadie muere de cornada de burro! Don’t be chicken! Don’t be [such] a coward! Risk s.th.[for a change]! Be more adventurous! Ese tío no morirá de cornada de burro. That guy is a coward. That guy doesn’t risk anything at all.
cornudo horned, antlered
el cornudo (fig.) cuckold
el coro chorus, choir
hacer coro a/con alg. to chime in with s.o. (fig.), to agree with s.o., to go along with s.o.
la coronilla crown/top of the head
estar hasta [más allá de] la coronilla de algo (fam.) to be [utterly] fed up with s.th. (fam.), to be fed up to the back teeth with s.th. (fam.), to be sick to the teeth of s.th. (fam.), to be sick and tired of s.th. (fam.), to have had it up to here with s.th. (fam.), to be cheesed off with s.th. (fam., Br.E.), to blow/stuff s.th. for a lark (sl.) Estoy hasta más allá de la coronilla del asunto. I am fed up to the back teeth with the whole thing. I’m utterly fed up with the whole ball of wax. (fam., Am.E.)
andar/bailar de coronilla to lean/bend over backwards (to do s.th. or please s.o.) (fam.), to do one’s utmost (to please s.o.), to pursue s.th. very diligently
corral (estar/sentirse como gallina en ~ ajeno)
corral (meter las cabras en el ~ a alg.)
corral (vivir/sentirse como pava en ~)
correo (echar una carta al ~)
correr to run
correrse (fam.) (to have an orgasm): to come (fam.); (man): to shoot off (vulg., Br.E.)