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 / Martín 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: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

"BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER"

Said to emphasize that you believe that family connections are always more important than other types of relationship.

Example: Don't trust anyone outside the family, blood is thicker than water. Never forget that.

Los lazos familiares son mas fuertes

Example sentences:

• My friends invited me to go camping on Saturday, but I have to go to my cousin's wedding instead. Blood is thicker than water, after all / Mis amigos me invitaron a ir a acampar el Sábado, pero en lugar de eso me tengo que ir a la boda de mi primo. Después de todo, los lazos familiares son más fuertes.

• Nancy will drop everything to help her sister; blood is thicker than water / Nancy dejó todo para ayudar a su hermana; los lazos familiares son más fuertes.

Additional examples:

• If you ever need help, don't ask your friends; come home and ask us, your family. Blood runs thicker than water.

• Never forget that ‘blood is thicker than water’. one day you will guilty for what you done with your parents.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: CHANGE YOUR TUNE

"CHANGE YOUR TUNE"

If you change your tune, you change your opinion about something or your attitude towards someone.

Example: At first Bill was against selling the rights to his book, but he changed his tune when he realized how much money he could make.

Cambiar de parecer.

Example sentences:

• The prime minister wasn't polite to journalists at first, but he changed his tune when he realised they had a lot of influence / El primer ministro no fue amable con los periodistas al principio, pero cambió de parecer cuando se dió cuenta que había un montón de influencia.

• The teller was most unpleasant until she learned that I'm a bank director. Then she changed her tune / El cajero fue muy desagradable hasta que se enteró de que soy un director de banco. Luego cambió de parecer.

Additional examples:

• Kelly was quite rude to me at first, but she changed her tune when someone mentioned how wealthy I was.

• "I will help change your tune by fining you $150," said the judge to the rude defendant.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: BY WORD OF MOUTH

"BY WORD OF MOUTH"

If something becomes well-known by word of mouth, it becomes well-known because people are telling each other about it, and not because of advertising or other marketing tools. 

Example: Word of mouth made this movie a hit. A few people saw it and told their friends about it, and then they told more people about it, and before long everyone was going to see it. 

De boca en boca.

Example sentences:

• People heard about the book by word of mouth, so the publisher didn't have to spend much on marketing / La gente ha oído hablar del libro de boca en boca, por lo que el editor no tiene que gastar mucho en la comercialización.

• I don't trust things I hear about by word of mouth / No confío en las cosas que escucho de boca en boca.

Additional examples:

• The best possible marketing tool is word of mouth, but a product has to be extremely good to earn it.

• I learned about it by word of mouth. I need it in writing.  

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TODAY'S IDIOM: DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED

"DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED"

 

 

Don't rely on something you are unsure about.

Example: Helen bought an expensive couch and was going to use the money from her paycheck to make the purchase, but she counted her chickens before they hatched because her paycheck was delayed a week. 

No cantes victoria antes de tiempo.

Example sentences:

• Here's the list of the things I'm going to buy next month when I get money. It looks great, but don't count your chickens before they hatch / Aquí está la lista de las cosas que voy a comprar el próximo mes cuando tenga dinero. Se ve muy bien, pero no cantes victoria antes de tiempo.

• A friend of mine was competing in a local race and was planning his victory celebration before the race had even begun, so I warned him not to count his chickens before they hatched and instead focus on the race / Un amigo mío estaba compitiendo en una carrera local y estaba planeando su celebración de la victoria antes de la carrera, incluso había comenzado, por lo que le advertí que no cantara victoria antes de tiempo y que se centrara en la carrera.

Additional examples:

• You might not win the prize and you've already spent the money? Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

• I know you have big plans for your consulting business, but don't count your chickens before they hatch.

• You may be disappointed if you count your chickens before they hatch.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: PUT A GOOD FACE ON IT

"PUT A GOOD FACE ON IT"

 

 

Pretend to be happy when this is not the case.

Example: The engineers have put a good face, saying the telescope can easily be repaired.

Al mal tiempo, buena cara.

Example sentences:

• She failed, but put a good face on her defeat / Ella falló, pero al mal tiempo buena cara a su derrota.

• He was sad when his girlfriend moved away, but he put on a good face for his friends / Él estaba triste cuando su novia se alejó, pero al mal tiempo buena cara con sus amigos.

Additional examples:

• She was disappointed about her test scores, but she put on a good face for her classmates.

• He looks calm, but I suspect he's just putting on a good face.

 

 

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TODAY'S IDIOM: STEER CLEAR OF

"STEER CLEAR OF"

If you steer clear of something, you don't go near it because it could harm you or cause you a problem.

Example: I'd steer clear of that guy if I were you. He's a bit crazy and he's always looking for a fight with someone.

Mantenerse alejado de...

Example sentences:

• My doctor said I should steer clear of spicy foods until I feel better / Mi doctor me dijo que debería de mantenerme alejado de los alimentos picantes hasta que me sienta mejor.

• Tell your kids to steer clear of that dog. I was told that it bites people / Dígale a sus hijos que se mantengan alejados de ese perro. Me dijeron que muerde a la gente.

Additional examples:

• John is mad at me, so I've been steering clear of him.

• Steer clear of that book. It has many errors in it.

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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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TODAY'S IDIOM: FOR THE TIME BEING

"FOR THE TIME BEING"

 

 

If something will be the way it is "for the time being", it will be that way for a limited period of time only.

Example: My car is being repaired, so for the time being I'll have to use the bus.

Por el momento.

Example sentences:

• You can stay here for the time being, but you'll have to move out when you find your own place / Puedes quedarte aquí por el momento, pero tendrás que mudarte cuando encuentres tu propio lugar. 

• Fatima wants to lose weight, so she's decided to stop eating cakes for the time being. She'll try not to eat them until she thinks she's lost enough weight / Fátima quiere bajar de peso, por lo que ha decidido dejar de comer pasteles por el momento. Va a tratar de no comerlos hasta piense que ha perdido bastante peso.

Additional examples:

• You can stay with us for the time being.

• We've decided to do without a car for the time being.

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TODAY'S IDIOM: NECK AND NECK

 "NECK AND NECK"

If two competitors are running neck and neck in a race, they are almost level. 

Example: Nearly all the votes have been counted and the two candidates are still neck and neck, so we don't know who's won the election yet.

Parejos.

Example sentences:

• The horses were neck and neck as they crossed the finishing line, so the judges have called for a photo / Los caballos estaban muy parejos cuando cruzaron la línea de la meta, por lo que los jueces pidieron una foto.

• The top two runners were neck and neck as they started the last lap of the race / Los dos mejores corredores estaban parejos al comenzar la última vuelta de la carrera.

Additional examples:

• John and Tom finished the race neck and neck.

• Mary and Ann were neck and neck in the spelling contest. Their scores were tied.

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