TODAY'S IDIOM: TALK TURKEY

"TALK TURKEY"

 

 

If you talk turkey, you discuss something seriously, usually to do with business or money.

Example: I started to say something about the deal, but Mr Hamilton said, "Not now, my boy. We never talk turkey at the dinner table."


Hablemos de negocios.

Example sentences:

• After the owner had shown him around the apartment, Shane decided it was just what he wanted, so he said, "OK, I'm interested. Let's talk turkey." / Después de que el propietario le había mostrado todo el apartamento, Shane decidió que era justo lo que quería, así que dijo: "OK, estoy interesado. Hablemos de negocios."

• Before we could talk turkey about the deal, we had to see the samples / Antes de que podamos hablar de negocios sobre el acuerdo, tenemos que ver las muestras.

Additional examples:

• Okay, Bob, we have business to discuss. Let's talk turkey.

• John wanted to talk turkey, but Jane just wanted to joke around.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: JUMP THE GUN

"JUMP THE GUN"

If you jump the gun, you start doing something too soon. 

Example: If you're in a debate, wait until you're invited to speak and don't jump the gun by speaking before you should.

Precipitarse.

Example sentences:

• The company jumped the gun and released the product before the public was ready for it / La compañía se precipitó y lanzó el producto antes de que el público estuviera preparado para ello.

 

• Donny was playing the part of a detective in the play, but he jumped the gun on the first night. He started saying his lines too soon / Donny estaba haciendo el papel de un detective en la obra, pero se precipitó en la primera noche. Empezó a decir sus líneas demasiado pronto.

 

• He shouted at me before I had time to explain, but later he apologised for jumping the gun / Me gritó antes de que tuviera tiempo de explicarle, pero más tarde se disculpó por haberse precipitado.

Additional examples:

 

• We all had to start the race again because Jane jumped the gun.

• When we took the test, Tom jumped the gun and started early.

 

• We do not want to jump the gun by making a statement about what caused the explosion before the investigation is completed.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW THAN THE DEVIL YOU DON'T KNOW

"BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW THAN THE DEVIL YOU DON'T KNOW"

Something that you say to mean it is better to deal with a person or thing you know, even if you do not like them, than to deal with a new person or thing who could be even worse.

Example: I know Mike can be difficult to work with sometimes, but better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer.

Example sentences:

• I hate my job so much that I'm thinking of asking for a transfer. I'd advise against it. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know / Odio tanto mi trabajo que estoy pensando en pedir una transferencia. Te aconsejo lo contrario. Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer.

• Although she was unhappy in her marriage, Donna never considered pursuing romances with other men. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know, was her philosophy / A pesar de que era infeliz en su matrimonio, Donna nunca consideró perseguir romances con otros hombres. Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer, fue su filosofía.

Additional examples:

• My friend wanted to change banks but he felt that it was better the devil he knew than the devil he didn't so he stayed with his old bank.

• Any other man might be as unpleasant to live with. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

 

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TODAY'S IDIOM: SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT

"SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT"

If you shoot yourself in the foot, you harm yourself in some way by doing something stupid or making a silly mistake.

Example: The Minister of Agriculture shot himself in the foot by saying that farmers couldn't understand economics because they weren't educated. He resigned soon after

Cavar su propia tumba.

Example sentences:

• Why does Kerry always shoot herself in the foot by saying the wrong thing? / ¿Porque Kerry siempre cava su propia tumba cuando se equivoca en algo?

• The head of the football association shot himself in the foot by telling a racist joke / El jefe de la asociación de futbol cavó su propia tumba al contar una broma racista.

Additional examples:

• He shot himself in the foot by suggesting that women politicians were incompetent.

• My brother has shot himself in the foot twice by turning down buyers for his house.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE

"BARK UP THE WRONG TREE"

If you're barking up the wrong tree, you're looking for something in the wrong place or going about something in the wrong way.

Example: The police think the drugs are being brought in by the mafia, but they're barking up the wrong tree. They should be looking much closer to home.

Estar equivocado (a)

Example sentences:

• The police think the murderer is hiding in the forest, but they're barking up the wrong tree. He is not in a forest /  La polocía cree que el asesino se esconde en el bosque, pero están equivocados. Él no está en un bosque.

• If you think I'm the guilty person, you're barking up the wrong tree / Si piensas que soy una persona culpable, estás equivicado.

Additional examples:

• She's barking up the wrong tree if she's interested in Gavin. Doesn't she know he's gay?

• The hitters blamed the team's bad record on the pitchers, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: PLAYING WITH FIRE

"PLAYING WITH FIRE"

You're playing with fire if you're involved in an activity that could be dangerous, or could lead to problems in the future.

Example: You're really playing with fire if you have loaded guns in the house, especially if there are kids around. 

Jugando con fuego.

Example sentences:

• Suzie says that if someone with mental or emotional problems smokes marijuana, they're playing with fire. She says it can make these problems much worse / Suzie dice que si alguien con problemas mentales o emocionales fuma marihuana, están jugando con fuego. Dice que puede traer problemas peores.

• People who have sex with many partners without using condoms are playing with fire because they could get a disease such as AIDS / Las personas que tienen sexo con muchas parejas sin usar condones están jugando con fuego ya que podrían tener una enfermedad como el SIDA.

Additional examples:

• Jimmy! I've told you never to play with fire!

• Be careful with that knife! You are playing with fire!

• If you mess with Max, you are playing with fire.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES

"A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES"

 

If something or someone is a sight for sore eyes, you are glad to see them.

Example: It's been raining here for a week, so it sure was a sight for sore eyes when we saw the sun this morning.

Es un gusto verte.

Example sentences:

• Hey, Ozzie! You're a sight for sore eyes, man. Haven't seen you for ages / ¡Hola Ozzie! Es un gusto verte, hombre. No te he visto en años.

• A water tap would be a sight for sore eyes after walking in the desert all day without water / Sería un gusto ver un grifo de agua después de caminar por el desierto todo el día sin agua.

Additional examples:

• After William returned from a long business trip, his own bed was a sight for sore eyes.

• When she finally saw the beach, it was a sight for sore eyes.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: TAKE FOR GRANTED

"TAKE FOR GRANTED"

We can say somebody takes something for granted if they assume it'll always be there for them, and they don't seem thankful for it.

Example: She had always taken her family's help for granted, and was shocked when told they wouldn't help her out this time. 

Dar por hecho / Dar por seguro

Example sentences:

• Rosa says her children take her for granted and never thank her for all the things she does for them / Rosa dice que sus hijos la dan por segura y nunca le agradecen por todas las cosas que ella hace por ellos.

• Parents are often taken for granted by their children / Los hijos dan por hecho que sus padres siempre van a estar ahí ayudándoles.

Additional examples:

• If someone says you take them for granted, they feel that you don't appreciate their help.

• I wish you didn't take me for granted.

• I guess that I take a lot of things for granted.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: THE UPPER HAND

"THE UPPER HAND"

If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage or you're in the stronger position in a contest or a conflict. 

Example: With one race to go, the Ferrari team has the upper hand. If they get one of the top three places in the last race, they'll win this year's title.

La sartén por el mango.

Example sentences:

• For many years Yahoo was the top search engine, but for the last few years Google has had the upper hand / Durante muchos años, Yahoo fue el principal motor de búsqueda, pero en los últimos años Google ha tenido la sartén por el mango.

• With three weeks to go until the election, the Democrats have the upper hand. If things stay like this, they'll win the election / Con tres semanas para la elección, los demócratas tienen la sartén por el mango. Si las cosas siguen así, van a ganar las elecciones.

Additional examples:

• At half time, the Italian team seem to have the upper hand.

• John is always trying to get the upper hand on someone. He never ends up having the upper hand, though.

• There is always worry over who will get the upper hand in the oil markets. 

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TODAY'S IDIOM: KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

"KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE"

If you kill two birds with one stone, you achieve two things with the one action.

Example: Jenny says that she kills two birds with one stone if she does her own housework because she gets the house clean and she gets some exercise at the same time.

Matar dos pájaros de un tiro.

Example sentences:

• I need to go to the bank, and if I drop the books off at the library on the way I'll be killing two birds with one stone / Necesito ir al banco y si en el camino dejo los libros en la biblioteca estaría matando dos pájaros de un tiro.

• Sandra killed two birds with one stone by going to Paris. She practiced her French before her exam and she went to her friend's wedding / Sandra mató dos pájaros de un tiro llendo a Paris. Practicó el Francés antes de su examen y fue a la boda de su amiga.

Additional examples:

• John learned the words to his part in the play while peeling potatoes. He was killing two birds with one stone.

• I have to cash a check and make a payment on my bank loan. I'll kill two birds with one stone by doing them both in one trip to the bank.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: FLEA MARKET

"FLEA MARKET"

A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.

Example: We're going to the flea market later on today to see what we can find, you can come with us if you'd like.

Mercado de pulgas.

Example sentences:

• I have only seen that specific model at the flea market / Ese modelo específico solo lo he visto en el mercado de pulgas.

• I bought this camera at half price in the flea market / Compré esta cámara a mitad de precio en el mercado de pulgas.

Additional examples:

• You can find almost anything on the flea market

• At first he didn't want to go to the flea market. Now, he wants to go every week!

• A flea market is supposed to be coming to our city in a few days, so I'm going to stop by and see what they have for sell and maybe trade away some of the junk we have taking up space in our garage.

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