TODAY'S IDIOM: THE CREAM OF THE CROP

"THE CREAM OF THE CROP"

 

 

If something or someone is in the cream of the crop, they are among the best of a class of things or people.

Example: The cream of the crop of this year's high-school graduates will get into the best universities, as usual.

Crema y nata.

Example sentences:

• We're only interested in the cream of the crop, so don't send us any second-rate samples / Sólo estamos interesados en la crema y nata, así que no nos envíen nada de segunda categoría.

• Martin was always told by his parents and teachers that he was the cream of the crop, so he thought he was better than other kids / Martin siempre fue considerado por sus padres y maestros como la crema y nata, por lo que él pensó que era mejor que otros niños.

Additional examples:

• This particular car is the cream of the crop.

• These three students are very bright. They are the cream of the crop in their class.

 

 

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TODAY'S IDIOM: THE WRITING / HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL

"THE WRITING / HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL"

If the writing is on the wall, or the handwriting is on the wall, there are signs that a person or organization is in trouble and might soon fail.

Example: Their old quarterback was occasionally dropped from the team early in the season, so the handwriting was on the wall even then. 

Está escrito.

Example sentences:

• The writing has been on the wall for this government ever since the street protests and demonstrations against it first began / Estaba escrito para este gobierno desde las protestas y manifestaciones callejeras en contra de su inicio.

• The writing had been on the wall for a few months, so no-one was surprised when the restaurant finally closed down / Y aestaba escrito desde hace algunos meses, así que nadie se sorprendió cuando el restaurante finalmente cerró.

Additional examples:

• Area residents can see the writing on the wall and realize that if they don't cooperate with the police, these crimes will continue.

• As leaders, they should have seen the handwriting on the wall and come up with an alternative course of action.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: KEEP AN EYE ON

"KEEP AN EYE ON"

 

 

If you keep an eye on someone, you make sure you know what they're doing.

Example: The media has promised to keep an eye on the new government and report anything that seems suspicious.

Echar el ojo.

Example sentences:

• I'm a bit worried about Hannah's health so could you keep an eye on her while I'm away / Estoy un poco preocupado por la salud de Hanna, ¿le podrías echar un ojo mientras estoy fuera?

• I'm going to the shop so could you keep an eye on the baby? / Voy a la tienda, ¿le puedes echar un ojo al bebé?

Additional examples:

• I have my eye on the apple tree. When the apples ripen, I'll harvest them.

• Will you please keep your eye on my house while I'm on vacation?

 

 

 

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TODAY'S IDIOM: The real McCoy

"The real McCoy" 

 

You can say something is the real McCoy if it's genuine, and not a fake or a copy.

Example: The duck liver pate was the real McCoy. It tasted so much better than the stuff in tins they call duck liver pate back home.

Original / Verdadero.

Example sentences:

• You only paid $50 for a Gucci handbag? Well it's obviously not the real McCoy then, is it / ¿Solo pagaste $50 por una bolsa Gucci? Bueno, obviamente no es verdadera, es todo.

• I know my new Rolex is the real McCoy because I bought it from the Rolex store in Paris / Sé que mi nuevo Rolex es original porque lo compré en la tienda Rolex en Paris.

Additional examples:

• Of course it's authentic. It's the real McCoy.

• Cheap sparkling wines cannot be labelled 'champagne'. It has to be the real McCoy.

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IDIOM OF THE DAY: GO DOWN A TRET

"GO DOWN A TRET"

If something goes down a treat, it's a great success and everyone enjoys it.

Example: The speech Lenny made at his daughter's wedding went down a treat. Everyone thought it was very funny but also very moving.

Un lujazo.

Example sentences:

• Geraldine made some pancakes for breakfast and they went down a treat. They were really delicious / Geraldine hizo unas tortitas para el desayuno y eran un lujazo. Eran realmente deliciosas.

• The band came back on stage and played one last song and it went down a treat. Everybody clapped and cheered / La banda regresó al escenario y tocó una última canción y fueron un lujazo. Todo el mundo aplaudió y aclamó.

Additional examples:

• His animal impressions went down a treat with the children.

• A cup of tea would go down a treat.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: NO DICE

"NO DICE"

To not agree. To not accept a proposition.

Example: Can i use your car tonight? No dice!

De ninguna manera.

Example sentences:

• That was their final offer. Will you take it? No dice! / Esa fue su última oferta ¿la aceptará? ¡De ninguna manera!

• Do you think you can come on sunday to finish the paperwork? No dice! / ¿Crees poder venir el Domingo a terminar el papeleo? ¡De ninguan manera! 

Additional examples:

• Do you think the local team will make it to the finals? No dice! 

• When I asked about a loan, he said, "No dice." 

• No. It can't be done, no dice.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: KNOCK ON WOOD

"KNOCK ON WOOD"

Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.

Example: Today's going to be a great day, knock on wood!

Tocar madera.

Example sentences:

• We could lose the sponsorship. Knock on wood so it won't happen / Podríamos perder el patrocinio. Toca madera para que no pase.

• You should knock on wood before saying something like that / Deberías tocar madera antes de decir algo como eso.

Additional examples:

• I'm pretty sure my car is going to be ready today.I won't have to knock on wood...I hope.

• I think I am well at last. Knock on wood. 

• I knock on wood when I wish something were true.  

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TODAY'S IDIOM: LEND ME YOUR EAR

"LEND ME YOUR EAR"

To politely ask for someone's full atention.

Example: I will lend you my ear whenever you need it.

Poner atención / Escuchar.

Example sentences:

• I need you all to please lend me your ears / Necesito que todos por favor me presten su atención.

• Could you please lend me your ear for a moment? / ¿Podrías por favor escucharme un momento? 

Additional examples:

• I'll need you to lend me your ear for the next couple of hours.

• Could you lend me your ear for a minute? I need to talk with you about something.

• This is really important. All I ask is that you lend me your ear.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BUY (SOMETHING) A CREDIT

"BUY (SOMETHING) A CREDIT"

To buy something without paying cash.

Example: My friend had no money so he decided to buy some furniture on credit.

Comprar algo a crédito.

Example sentences:

• I think it's more convenient to buy it on credit / Creo que es mas conveniente comprarlo a crédito.

• You can buy on credit and pay for it in 12 months / Puede comprarlo a crédito y pagarlo en 12 meses.

Additional examples:

• I've decided to buy the new tv on credit.

• Be careful with what you buy on credit.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: A WAR OF WORDS

"A WAR OF WORDS"

If you're in a war of words with someone, you're having a long argument or dispute with them. 

Example: The leaders of the two main political parties are in a war of words over the issue of gun ownership. They debate the topic whenever they see each other.

Intercambio de palabras.

Example sentences:

• The war of words between community leaders and church leaders has been dominating the newspaper headlines lately / El intercambio de palabras entre los líderes de la comunidad y líderes de la iglesia ha estado dominando los titulares de los periódicos últimamente.

• During their war of words, Jenny and Ben got angry with each other / Durante el intercambio de palabras, Jenny y Ben se enojaron con los demás.

Additional examples:

• The war of words between the two rivals for the presidency continues to dominate the news bulletins.

• When the student refused to be quiet, a war of words ensued between the teacher and him. 

• A debate on the causes of global warming has turned into a bitter war of words.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

"LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG"

If you let the cat out of the bag, you let someone know a secret.

Example: We'd planned a surprise party for Donna, but some guy she works with let the cat out of the bag, so now she knows.

Revelar el secreto / Revelarlo.

Example sentences:

• Don't forget that this is a secret, so whatever you do, don't let the cat out of the bag / No hay que olvidar que se trata de un secreto, así que cualquier cosa que hagas, no lo reveles.

• After Julie let the cat out of the bag, we all knew / Después de que Julie reveló el secreto, todos sabíamos.

• It's a secret. Try not to let the cat out of the bag / Es un secreto, trata de no revelarlo.

Additional examples:

• When Bill glanced at the door, he let the cat out of the bag. We knew then that he was expecting someone to arrive.

 

• I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Jim went and let the cat out of the bag.

• Amazingly, not one of the people who knew about the surprise let the cat out of the bag.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

"NEITHER HERE NOR THERE"

You can say something is neither here nor there if it's not important, or not relevant.

Example: Whether we like a band or not is neither here nor there. The only thing that matters is whether we can sell enough tickets to their concert.

No viene al caso.

Example sentences:

• Her popularity among the other teachers is neither here nor there. What's important is her ability to teach her students / Su popularidad entre los demás profesores no tiene importancia. Lo importante es su capacidad de enseñar a sus alumnos.

• Our boss says a person's private life is neither here nor there if they do a good job / Nuestro jefe dice que la vida privada de una persona no tiene importancia si hacen un buen trabajo.

Additional examples:

• Whether you go to the movie or stay at home is neither here nor there.

• Your comment though interesting is neither here nor there.

• Whether they go or not is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: KICKBACK

"KICKBACK"

An amount of money that is paid illegally for favorable treatment.

Example: The construction company was giving kickbacks to the local politicians.

Soborno / Iguala

Example sentences:

• The judge ruled on their favor because he's receiving kickbacks / El juez falló a su favor porque recibe sobornos.

• No wonder they got the contract, they're paying kickbacks to the purchaser / Con razón consiguieron la orden: le dan una iguala al comprador.

Example sentences:

• He was convicted of exaggerating costs in the contracts to generate kickbacks to the city inspectors.

• They were ordered to repay $5 million for rigging bids, receiving kickbacks and fixing lucrative computer contracts.

 

 

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