lunes, 30 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: COME OUT BADLY

"COME OUT BADLY" 


To have a bad result.

Example: I hope trying to get back together with Joan doesn't come out badly.

Salir mal.

Example sentences:

  • Things come out badly when I'm nervous / Las cosas me salen mal cuando estoy nervioso.

  • If things come out badly, I will step aside / Si las cosas salen mal, me haré a un lado.

Additional examples:

  • These surveys always come out badly for me.

  • If you don't follow the steps the recipe will come out badly.
 
 
 
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sábado, 28 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: A FULL PLATE

"A FULL PLATE"



A busy schedule, a lot to do.

Example:  Nancy has a full plate these days, she has two jobs and three kids. 

Saturado.

Example sentences:

  • I'm very busy at work, and I've got a full plate at home too / Estoy muy ocupado en el trabajo y saturado en la casa también.

  • I don’t mind having a full plate, It’s better than being bored / No me importa estar saturado, es mejor que estar aburrido.

Additional examples:
 
  • Kerri would like to take a vacation but her plate is too full at work.

  • This week is going to be very busy for me. I have a full plate!


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jueves, 26 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY

"WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY"


 


Used to mean that if you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult.

Example: We are beginning to get some idea of local needs, the sorts of things that are lacking in human and material terms, and we are thinking that, where there's a will there's a way.

Querer es poder.

Example sentences:

  • I don't quite know how I'm going to get to London with no money, but where there's a will there's a way! / No se muy bien como llegar a Londres sin dinero, pero ¡querer es poder!

  • Max has no idea of how to get the money to repair his boat, but where there's a will, there's a way / Max no tiene idea de como conseguir dinero para reparar su barco, pero querer es poder.

Additional examples:

  • Other areas are lagging dangerously behind these eminently desirable goals, but where there's desire, there's a will, and where there's a will, there's a way.

  • "Where there's a will, there's a way," she said.


 
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miércoles, 25 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

"A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY"
 
 

A good chance to succeed, a good investment.

Example: The Royal Hotel is for sale. What a golden opportunity!

Una oportunidad de oro.

  • When I failed to finish college, I missed my golden opportunity to prepare myself for a good job / Cuando no pude terminar la universidad, perdí mi oportunidad de oro de prepararme para un buen trabajo.

  • John had a golden opportunity to introduce himself to Anna and let her know of his existence / Juan tuvo una oportunidad de oro para presentarse con Anna y hacerle saber de su existencia.

Additional examples:

  • Thesaurus entry for this meaning of golden opportunity.

  • If we do not act effectively and immediately, this golden opportunity will be lost.
 
  
 
 
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martes, 24 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: CLOUD NINE

"CLOUD NINE"

You are extremely happy or blissful.

Example: For a few days after I heard I'd got the job, I was on cloud nine.

En una nube.

  • Was on cloud nine after winning the marathon / Estaba en las nubes después de ganar el maratón.

  • I was on cloud nine after I got the promotion / Yo estaba en las nubes después de que consiguiera el ascenso.

Additional examples:

  • When Bev received her diploma, she was on cloud nine.  

  • I've been on cloud nine ever since I landed my dream job.

 
 
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sábado, 21 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: GOING DOWN

"GOING DOWN"


If you know what's going down, you know what's happening in a situation.

Example: A young guy ran over and said, "You know what's going down? I heard some gunshots and just now I saw these guys running from over that way."

Lo que está pasando.

Example sentences:

  • If you need someone who knows what's going down in the world of youth fashion, you need a young person, not a middle-aged executive /  Si necesitas a alguien que sepa lo que está pasando en el mundo de la moda, necesitas a una persona joven, no a un ejecutivo de mediana edad.


  • As soon as I know what's going down, I'll let you know / Tan pronto como sepa que está pasando, te lo haré saber.

Additional examples:


  • Hey, we just got here! What's going down? What does it look like? This is a party, dude!


  • "A collection of memorable pieces about the general craziness that was going down in those days"- James Atlas.


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jueves, 19 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: YOUNG BLOOD

"YOUNG BLOOD"



If you say "young blood", you mean young people who have fresh, new ideas and lots of energy. 

Example: The trouble with the seniority system is that it keeps young blood out of decision-making positions.


Sangre joven.


Example sentences:


  • The company is successful because they're always bringing in young blood, and this helps them keep up with the latest fashions and ideas / La compañía es exitosa porque siempre están trayendo sangre joven y esto les ayuda a mantenerse al día con lo último en moda e ideas.

  • We think the company needs some young blood because we need staff who know how young people think / Pensamos que la compañía necesita sangre joven porque necesitamos personal que sepa como piensa la gente joven.

Additional examples:

  • An aging company badly in need of young blood management. 

  • Here come the young bloods!


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miércoles, 18 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: ON THE STRENGTH OF

"ON THE STRENGTH OF"



If you do something on the strength of certain advice or information, you do it because the advice or information suggests doing it. 

Example: I saw the movie on the strength of what Rod had said. I wouldn't have seen it if he hadn't said it was good.

Gracias a...

Example sentences:

  • They gave me an interview on the strength of a recommendation from my tutor at university / Me dieron la entrevista gracias a la recomendación de mi tutor en la universidad.

  • Susan got the job on the strength of her previous achievements / Susan consiguió el trabajo gracias a sus logros anteriores.

Additional examples:

  • On the strength of your comment, I decided to give John another chance.

  • On the strength of my testimony, my case was dismissed.



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martes, 17 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS

"BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS"
 
 

When you cannot have exactly what you want, you must accept whatever you can get.

Example: I asked Joe to lend me his bicycle, and he sent me this old, rusty one, but beggars can't be choosers.

Cuando hay hambre, no hay pan duro.

Example sentences:

  • My company gave me free tickets to the ballgame but they are in the bleachers. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers / Mi compañía me dio boletos gratis para el juego de pelota, pero están en las gradas. Pero bueno, cuando hay hambre no hay pan duro.

  • I would have preferred a house of my own rather than sharing but I suppose beggars can't be choosers / Hubiera preferido una casa para mí en vez de compartirla, pero supongo que cuando hay hambre no hay pan duro.

Additional examples:

  • Look Ed, you better take the job. Sure, the salary they offered is lower than your old job, but in this economy beggars can't be choosers.

  • I needed a car while I was in town and Bart lent me his.  It was a real clunker, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers.


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lunes, 16 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING

"APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING"

Things can look different from the way they really are.


Example: That software looks great but appearances can be deceiving.


Las apariencias engañan.


Example sentences:

  • Edward seems like a very nice boy, but appearances can be deceiving / Edward parece un chico muy agradable, pero las apariencias engañan.


  • Jane may look like she doesn't understand you, but she's really extremely bright. Appearances can be deceiving / Puede parecer como si Jane no te entendiera, pero ella es extramadamente brillante. Las apariencias engañan.


Additional examples:


  • Remember that appearances can deceive just because something looks good doesn't mean it is good.


  • Results indicated that preschoolers recognize that appearances may be deceiving when it comes to judging causes of illness.



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viernes, 13 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

"JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED"



You can say something was just what the doctor ordered when it was exactly what was needed. 

Example: Kathie said she had a great time at the beach. After all those problems at work it was just what the doctor ordered.

Justo como me lo recetó el doctor.

Example sentences:

  • That was great meal, Ken. Just what the doctor ordered! / Fue una comida genial Ken. ¡Justo como me lo recetó el doctor!

  • Monica smiled and said, "That was just what the doctor ordered," after I had massaged her shoulders / Mónica sonrió y dijo, "Esto es justo como me lo recetó el doctor", después de que le di masaje en sus hombros.

Additional examples:

  • That meal was delicious. Just what the doctor ordered.

  • Would you like something to drink? Yes, a cold glass of water would be just what the doctor ordered.



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miércoles, 11 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES

"CAN'T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES"



If you can't see the wood for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.

Example: I don't think we can see the wood for the trees at this stage, so let's get an outsider to take a look at the project and give us a progress report.

No puede ver el panorama.

Example sentences:

  • Marcus is so focused on product details that he can't see the wood for the trees when it comes to the overall needs of the company / Marcus está tan enfocado en los detalles del producto que no puede ver el panorama cuando se trata de las necesidades generales de la empresa.

  • I don't think we can see the wood for the trees at this stage, so let's get an outsider to take a look at the project and give us a progress report / Creo que no podemos ver el panorama en esta etapa, así que vamos a ver a una persona externa para que le eche un vistazo al proyecto y nos dé un reporte del progreso.

Additional examples:

  • The safety officer can't see the wood for the trees because she's too focused on safety issues / El oficial de seguridad no puede ver el panorama porque está demasiado centrado en cuestiones de seguridad.

  • After you've spent years researching a single topic you get to a point where you can't see the wood for the trees.



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sábado, 7 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: WAITING IN THE WINGS

"WAITING IN THE WINGS"



If you're waiting in the wings, you're ready to take over a role or a position when you have the chance to do so.

Example: Everybody knows that the chairman's son is waiting in the wings and will take over as soon as his father retires.

Esperando su momento.

Example sentences:

  • In politics, there are always plenty of people waiting in the wings ready for a chance to take power / En la política siempre hay un montón de gente esperando su momento para tomar el poder.

  • The assistant coach is waiting in the wings, and when the coach retires, he'll take over as coach / El asistente del entrenador está esperando su momento y cuando el entrenador se retire, él tomará el cargo de entrenador.

Additional examples:

  • The rumour is that Green will be sacked and Brinkworth is waiting in the wings to take over as manager.

  • Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings.

  • Jane was waiting in the wings, hoping that a member of the hockey team would drop out and she would get a place on the team.


 
 
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viernes, 6 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: UM AND AH (FILLER SOUNDS)

"UM AND AH (FILLER SOUNDS)"



If you "um and ah" you're having trouble deciding what to say, or you're having trouble telling somebody something.

Example: James ummed and ahed for a while, but he eventually agreed to help us get the deal.

Um y ah

Example sentences:

  • Sharon always ums and ahs when she can't make up her mind / Sharon siempre ums y ahs cuando no puedo hacerse a la idea. 

  • Stop umming and ahing and just get on with it / Deja los um y ah y sigue adelante con esto.

Additional example:

  • Stop um and ah and come here.



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jueves, 5 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: PAINT THE TOWN RED

"PAINT THE TOWN RED"



If you paint the town red, you visit bars, nightclubs and other nightspots to have a good time.

Example: It's Ian's birthday so he's going out with some friends tonight to paint the town red

Salir de fiesta.

Example sentences:

  • Going out and painting the town red is great fun, but you can't do it every night / Salirse de fiesta es muy divertido, pero no puedes hacerlo todas las noches.

  • We're heading out to paint the town red tonight, so don't forget to bring plenty of cash / Nos iremos de fiesta esta noche, así que no olvides llevar mucho dinero en efectivo.

Additional examples:

  • To celebrate their win, the whole football team went out to paint the town red.

  • Jack finished his exams today so he's gone out to paint the town red.



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miércoles, 4 de diciembre de 2013

TODAY'S IDIOM: NOW AND THEN / NOW AND AGAIN

"NOW AND THEN / NOW AND AGAIN"



If you do something now and then, or now and again, you do it occasionally.

Example: Harry and Irene nearly always go to Spain or France on their holidays, but now and again they'll go somewhere different for a change.

De vez en cuando.

Example sentences:

  • We usually stay home in the evenings during the week, but now and then we'll go and see a movie / Normalmente nos quedamos en casa por las noches durante la semana, pero de vez en cuando vamos y vemos una película.

  • Most of the time our neighbours are very quiet, but now and then they'll have a party / La mayoría de las veces nuestros vecinos son muy tranquilos, pero de vez en cuando hacen fiestas.

Additional examples:

  • We eat lamb every now and then.


  • We eat pork now and then.


  • I read a novel every now and again.



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