TODAY'S IDIOM: ALL THE RAGE

"ALL THE RAGE"

If something is all the rage, it's very popular or it's in fashion at the moment.

Example: Can you remember when disco was all the rage and we'd go dancing all night in the clubs?

De moda.


Example sentences:

• When Hans was a kid, skate boards were all the rage / Cuando Hans era un niño, las patinetas estaban de moda.

• If one of our products becomes all the rage, our company will be very successful / Si uno de nuestros productos se pone de moda, nuestra compañía será exitosa.

Additional examples:

• A new dance called the "floppy disc" is all the rage.

• Wearing a rope instead of a belt was all the rage in those days.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: TEETHING PROBLEMS / TEETHING TROUBLES

"TEETHING PROBLEMS / TEETHING TROUBLES"

If someone or something is having teething problems, or teething troubles, they're having problems during the early stages of something.

Example: The government had a few teething problems early in its term, but most people think they did a good job overall.

Dificultades.

Example sentences:

• We're still having a few teething troubles, but when everyone adjusts to their roles, everything should be fine / Seguimos teniendo dificultades, pero cuando todo el mundo se ajuste a sus funciones, todo debería estar bien.

• The project went through the usual teething troubles early on / El proyecto pasó por dificultades al inicio.

Additional examples:

• We will have teething problems with this new policy in its early years.

• There were the usual teething troubles at the start of the project, but that's to be expected. 

• Many marriages go through teething problems in the first few months.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: NECK OF THE WOODS

"NECK OF THE WOODS"

A neck of the woods is a neighbourhood or a district, usually rural.

Example: Have land prices gone up in your neck of the woods too?

Por estos lares.

Examples sentences:

• What brings you to our neck of the woods? / ¿Qué te trae por estos lares?

• Wendy called and said she was in our neck of the woods so I told her to drop by and say hello / Wendy llamó y dijo que andaba por estos lares, así que le dije que pasara y saludara.

Additional examples:

• Stop by and see me the next time you're in my neck of the woods.

• I'm surprised to see you in this neck of the woods.

• What brings you here? There's no scenery like this in your neck of the woods, is there?

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TODAY'S IDIOM: NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED

"NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED"

If you do not take risks, you will never accomplish anything. 

Example: Should I ask my boss for a promotion? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

El que no arriesga, no gana.

Example sentences:

• Are you going to go to Law school? No, I don’t think so, It’s too expensive and I think it’s too difficult. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You won’t become rich if you keep working at your current job / ¿Vas a entrar a la escuela de leyes? No, no creo, es muy cara y creo que es demasiado difícil. El que no arriesga, no gana. No vas a hacerte rico si sigues trabajando en tu empleo actual.

• They quit their jobs, packed up, and moved to Wisconsin, saying "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" / Ellos renunciaron a sus puestos de trabajo, empacaron y se mudaron a Wisconsin, diciendo "El que no arriesga, no gana".

Additional examples:

• Margi and Namdev invested their life savings in the education of their children. They agreed with the philosophy "nothing ventured, nothing gained".

• He talks about repairing his porch and has done a lot of research on it but he just won't start it. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS

"IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS"

When one bad thing happens, a lot of other bad things also happen, making the situation even worse.

Example: I can't believe this, this morning I had a flat tire; when I went to the garage to get the tire patched, I discovered I didn't have any money, and I couldn't even charge it because my credit card's expired. It never rains but it pours.

Las desgracias nunca vienen solas.

• First of all it was the car breaking down, then the fire in the kitchen and now Mike's accident. It never rains but it pours! / En primer lugar, se descompuso el coche, entonces el fuego en la cocina y ahora accidente de Mike. Las desgracias nunca vienen solas!

• It looks like everyone in our department is sick again, and all at the same time.When it rains, it pours / Parece que todos en nuestro departamento estan enfermos y todos al mismo tiempo. Las desgracias nunca vienen solas.

Additional examples:

• It hadn't rained for over two months. Now it has started raining and it has been raining for a week straight. When it rains, it pours.

• Got the phone bill yesterday and now the gas bill, it never rains but it pours.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

"A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK"

A child who is similar to one or more of its parents.

Example: My son got in trouble at school again. I tell you, he's a chip off the old block.

De tal palo tal astilla.

Example sentences:

• Bill Jones, Jr., is a chip off the old block. He's a banker just like his father / Bill Jones, Jr., de tal palo tal astilla. Es un banquero como su padre.

• Did you meet Bill's son at the picnic yesterday? He's just like Bill! He's a chip off the old block / ¿Conociste al hijo de Bill ayer? Es como Bill! De tal palo tal astilla.

Additional examples:

• Did you see that boy, he is a chip off the old block. Very naughty just like his father.

• Like her mother, Karen has very little patience; a chip off the old block.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER

"BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER"

 

Similar people tend to associate with each other.

Example: Why do you think Donald is dishonest? All his friends are dishonest. Birds of a feather flock together.

Dios los hace y ellos se juntan. 

Example sentences:

• I saw the boy who stole my bag with that gang of trouble makers last night. Well, birds of a feather flock together / Vi al chico que me robó mi bolsa con esa pandilla de pleitistas anoche. Bueno, Dios los hace y ellos se juntan.

• John and James seem to get along really well. Birds of a feather flock together; they both love reading comics / John y James parecen llevarse muy bien. Dios los hace y ellos se juntan; a los dos les gusta leer historietas.

Additional examples:

• Do not complain about your friends, remember that birds of a feather flock together. They are just like you.

• The four boys were similar in every way and a good example that birds of a feather flock together.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: GOOD SAMARITAN

"GOOD SAMARITAN"

 

 

A compassionate person who unselfishly helps others.

Example: Miriam is always the good Samaritan; the other day she was helping me with my homework and today she’s helping Alex.

Buen Samaritano.

Example sentences:

• In this neighborhood you can't count on a good Samaritan if you get in trouble / En este barrio no puedes contar con un buen samaritano si te metes en problemas.

• He's such a good Samaritan; he used to go shopping for my grandma when she was sick / Él es un buen samaritano; solía llevar a mi abuela de compras cuando ella estaba enferma. 

Additional examples:

• A good Samaritan called a tow truck for us.

• My grandfather was a good Samaritan.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: PIG IN A POKE

"PIG IN A POKE"

 A deal that is made without first examining it.

Example: Clothes from a catalogue are a pig in a poke. You can't feel the quality of the fabric or know if the clothes will fit.

Gato por liebre.

Example sentences:

• When you buy a used car, you may be getting a pig in a poke / Cuando compras un automóvil usado, puedes conseguir un gato por liebre.

• You shouldn't buy a house without thoroughly inspecting it, It is like buying a pig in a poke / Usted no debería comprar una casa sin inspeccionarla a fondo, es como comprar un gato por liebre.

Additional examples:

• The car salesman was peddling a pig in a poke.  

• That car he bought is a real pig in a poke.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: FUDDY-DUDDY"

"FUDDY-DUDDY"

An old-fashioned and foolish type of person. 

Example: You may accuse me of being and old fuddy-duddy trying to stop young people having fun. 

Chapado a la antigua.

Example sentences:

• We know the world is changing and don't want to seem fuddy-duddy or to be left behind / Sabemos que el mundo está cambiando y no quiero parecer chapado a la antigua o quedarme atrás.

• George is just this fuddy-duddy person who married her mother / George es precisamente esta persona chapado a la antigua que se casó con su madre.

Additional examples:

• Someone whom you have thought of as a bit of a fuddy-duddy may show surprising insight born of years of experience.

• Yep, and my father never lost that either, that idea of being responsible without being a fuddy-duddy.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

"YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER"

Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.

Example:  I was nervous about talking to a guy that had big muscles and tattoos, but he was way nicer than I thought he would be, so I guess you can't judge a book by its cover.

No puedes juzgar a un libro por su portada.

• She doesn't look very intelligent, but you can't judge a book by its cover / Ella no parece muy inteligente, pero no puedes juzgar un libro por su portada.

• I know you want to think he's honest, but be careful; you can't judge a book by its cover / Sé que quieres pensar que él es honesto, pero ten cuidado; no se puede juzgar un libro por su portada. 

Additional examples:

• John: I want to buy this car. It looks great...Julie: Have a test drive with someone who knows cars well before you decide, you can't judge a book by its cover.

• Robert is a nice guy and you can't judge a book by its cover; so please don't comment on him.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU

"BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU"

 

 

Don't hurt anyone that helps you.

Example: Leaving the company after they've spent three years training you up; It's a bit like biting the hand that feeds you.

Morder la mano que te da de comer.

• If you bitterly complain about your boss you're just biting the hand that feeds you / Si te quejas amargamente sobre tu jefe sólo estás mordiendo la mano que te da de comer.

• Dogs know that they shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them / Los perros saben que no debe morder la mano que les da de comer. 

Additional examples:

• It is unwise to bite the hand that feeds you, but TV journalists need to tell the truth about the news business.

• He is biting the hand that feeds him if he continues to criticize and fight against his superiors.  

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TODAY'S IDIOM: ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE

"ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE"

 

Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.

Example: People are already unhappy, and if the government allows oil prices to increase it'll just be adding fuel to the fire. 

Echar más leña al fuego.

• If Billy's angry, don't say anything; you'll just be adding fuel to the fire / Si Billy esta enojado, no digas nada; solo echarás más leña al fuego.

• Our workers are already upset, and you'll just add fuel to the fire if you cut their wages / Nuestros trabajadores ya están molestos, y tú solo echaras más leña al fuego si les cortas su salario. 

Additional examples:

• Shouting at a crying child just adds fuel to the fire.

• His mild words only added fuel to the fire; Isabelle was furious. 

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