TODAY'S IDIOM: THE JURY IS STILL OUT

"THE JURY IS STILL OUT" 

We can say the jury is still out when a decision still hasn't been made about something.

Example: It was a terrible mistake, and the jury's still out on whether Bob will lose his job over it, or not.

El jurado sigue sin saber / Aún no toma la decisión

Example sentences:

• The jury's still out on who's going to be the new CEO, but we should find out soon / El jurado sigue sin saber quién va a ser el nuevo CEO, pero debemos encontrar algo pronto.

• The jury's still out on whether the new drug works because the test results are still being analysed / El jurado sigue sin saber si el nuevo fármaco funciona porque los resultados de las pruebas siguen analizándose.

Additional examples:

• The jury is still out on Jane. We don't know what we are going to do about her.

• The jury is still out on the question of building a new parking lot.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

TODAY'S IDIOM: AHEAD OF THE GAME

"AHEAD OF THE GAME"

You are ahead of the game if you have an advantage over your competitors in any activity in which you try to do better than others, such as in business, academia, sports, etc.

Example: We got ahead of the game by employing the best people in our research laboratories.

La delantera.

Example sentences:

• You'll be ahead of the game when you start at university if you do a lot of preparation before the term begins / Cuando comiences la universidad estarás en la delantera si ya te preparaste mucho antes de que empiece.

• The best way to stay ahead of the game in the fashion business is to do market research and surveys / La mejor manera de estar en la delantera en el negocio de la moda es hacer investigación de mercado y encuestas.

Additional examples:

• Without the full cooperation of my office staff, I find it hard to stay ahead of the game.

• If being ahead of the game is important to you and to your business, lease a mobile phone from us.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'SIDIOM: OFF YOUR OWN BAT

"OFF YOUR OWN BAT"

If you do something off your own bat, you do it without being asked to or told to.

Example: One of the actresses decided, off her own bat, to change her lines in the movie. The director wasn't happy. 

Por su propia cuenta.

Example sentences:

• I didn't tell the gardener to cut down the tree. He did it off his own bat / No le dije al jardinero que cortara el árbol. Lo hizo por su propia cuenta.

• The production manager decided, off his own bat, to change the quality of the raw materials used in the factory. He did it without being asked to / El gerente de producción decidió por su propia cuenta cambiar la calidad de los materiales usados en la empresa. Lo hizo sin haber preguntado primero.

Additional examples:

• He chose to talk to the press off his own bat.

• I didn't ask her to buy them a present she did it off her own bat.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: MAKE THE MOST OF

"MAKE THE MOST OF"

If you make the most of something, you get as much as possible from it.

Example: After I retire from work I'll make the most of all the free time and do all the things I've never had time for.

Aprovechar.

Example sentences:

• The warm weather won't last long, so we should make the most of it while we can / El buen tiempo no durará mucho tiempo, por lo que debemos aprovechar mientras podamos. 

• She made the most of her time in Egypt by exploring the Pyramids / Ella aprovechó la mayor parte de su tiempo en Egipto al explorar las pirámide.

Additional examples:

• We made the most of our vacation by leaving our phones and computers turned off.

• Mary knows how to make the most of her talents.

• They designed the advertisements to make the most of the product's features.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB / STAND OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB

"STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB / STAND OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB"

If someone sticks out like a sore thumb, or stands out like a sore thumb, everyone notices them because they're not the same as the people around them.

Example: When I was in the Nigerian countryside I stood out like a sore thumb. I was the only white person around.

Sale a relucir.

Example sentences:

• Kenny stuck out like a sore thumb at the party. He was the only person wearing a suit and a tie / Kenny salió a relucir en la fiesta. Era la única persona que portaba traje y corbata.

• When Hector went to the dance club he stuck out like a sore thumb because he was the only person there who was over fifty years old / Cuando Héctor fue a la discoteca salió a relucir porque él era la única persona ahí que tenía 50 años de edad.

Additional examples:

• That pimple really sticks out like a sore thumb.

• Do you think I would stick out like a sore thumb at the party if I wear this coat?

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: A PAT ON THE BACK

"A PAT ON THE BACK"

You've given someone a pat on the back if you've told them they've done something well, or done a good job. 

Example: Don't you think Salim deserves a pat on the back for his report? Why don't you tell him it was excellent work?

Felicitar.

Example sentences:

• Our boss doesn't often praise us for our work, so if he gives you a pat on the back for something, you've really earned it / Nuestro jefe no suele alabarnos por nuestro trabajo, así que si él te felicita por algo, realmente te lo mereces.

• Mr Murdoch gave Jenny a pat on the back for doing such a good job / El señor Murdoch felicitó a Jenny por haber hecho un buen trabajo.

Additional examples:

• The coach patted each player on the back after the game.

• The teacher patted all the students on the back for their good work.  

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: (YOUR) HEART ISN'T IN IT

"(YOUR) HEART ISN'T IN IT"

 

If your heart isn't in something you're doing, you don't really want to do it.

Example: Ali was studying to be a doctor, but his heart wasn't in it so he decided to follow his real dream and study film-making instead. 

Su corazón no estaba ahí.

Example sentences:

• We could tell that Sally's heart wasn't in it when she tried singing jazz, so we said she should stick to pop songs / Podríamos decir que el corazón de Sally no estaba ahí cuando intentó cantar jazz, así que digamos que debería atenerse a las canciones de pop.

• She's doing the photo shoot to promote her book, but her heart isn't in it. She looks really bored / Ella está haciendo la sesión de fotos para promocionar su libro, pero su corazón no está ahí. Se ve realmente aburrida.

Additional examples:

• I tried to do some writing, but my heart wasn't in it.

• I tried to look interested, but my heart wasn't in it.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE

"WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE"

If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you show your emotions openly and you don't try to hide your feelings.

Example: You'll never be a good card player if you wear your heart on your sleeve. Other players can tell if your cards are good or not by watching your reactions when you get them.

Con el corazón en la mano.

Example sentences:

• Ivan is one of those tennis players that spectators love to watch because they always wear their heart on their sleeve / Ivan es uno de esos jugadores de tenis que a los espectadores les encanta ver porque siempre lleva el corazón en la mano.

• Benny always wears his heart on his sleeve, so it'll be easy to know what he's feeling / Benny siempre lleva el corazón en la mano, así que es fácil saber lo que siente.

Additional examples:

• John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels.

• Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

 www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: RING A BELL

"RING A BELL"

If something rings a bell, it sounds familiar or you think you've heard it before. 

Example: The name rang a bell but I couldn't remember exactly where I'd heard it before.

Me suena.

Example sentences:

• Does the name "Hunter S. Thompson" ring a bell? / ¿Te suena el nombre "Hunter S. Thompson"?

• When I heard the poem, some of the lines rang a bell and I thought I'd heard it somewhere before / Cuando escuché el poema, algunas de las líneas me sonaron y pensé que ya las había escuchado antes en algún lugar.

Additional examples:

• I've never met John Franklin, but his name rings a bell.

• Whenever I see a bee, it rings a bell. I remember when I was stung by one.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com 

www.pebtest.com 

 

TODAY'S IDIOM: (YOUR) HANDS ARE TIED

"(YOUR) HANDS ARE TIED"

 

You can say your hands are tied if you're prevented from doing something that you'd normally have the power or the authority to do.

Example: The president says he'd like to spend more on schools in poor districts, but says his hands are tied by what he calls "budgetary restrictions".

Estoy atado/a de manos.


Example sentences:

• I'd really like to give you the contract, Mr Gambino, but my hands are tied because of those laws on giving contracts to people with criminal records / Realmente me gustaría darte el contrato, Señor Gambino, pero estoy atado de manos a causa de las leyes que impiden contratar a personas con antecedentes penales.

• I'm in favor of public health care but my hands are tied. I have to wait for a government decision / Estoy a favor de la atención de la salud pública pero estoy atado de manos. Tengo que esperar la decisión gubernamental.

Additional examples:

• Some of my students are failing, but my hands are tied by their parents, who can'tadmit their kids need extra help.

• The new rules have tied his hands.

• I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. My hands are tied. 

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com

www.pebtest.com

TODAY'S IDIOM: ADD INSULT TO INJURY

"ADD INSULT TO INJURY"

Someone adds insult to injury if they say or do something to upset you a second time, after you've already been upset somehow. 

Example: He said my clothes didn't suit me, and then to add insult to injury he said I needed to lose some weight!

Para colmo de males / Peor todavía / Poner sal a la herida.

Example sentences:

• The bank took back my car, and then added insult to injury by cancelling my credit cards! / El banco se llevó mi coche y para colmo de males me canceló las tarjetas de crédito.

• After saying Beverly made too many mistakes, Bob added insult to injury by saying she worked very slowly / Después de decirle a Beverly que hizo demasiados errores, Bob le puso sal a la herida diciendo que trabajaba muy lento.

• First, the basement flooded, and then, to add insult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen / Primero el sótano inundado y luego peor todavía una tubería estalló en la cocina.

Additional examples:

• They got lost in the woods. Then, to add insult to injury, they were out of food.

• My car barely started this morning, and to add insult to injury, I got a flat tire in the driveway.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com

www.pebtest.com

TODAY'S IDIOM: A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH

"A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN 

THE BUSH"

Is better to have something that is certain than take a risk to get more, where you might lose everything.

Example: If I were you I'd accept the money they're offering. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

Example sentences:

• I’ve been offered $150 for my walkman. Should I take it or wait for a better offer? Take the $150. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush / Me han ofrecido $150 para mi walkman. ¿Debo tomarlo o esperar a una mejor oferta? Toma los $150. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

• He says that if we go to Saudi Arabia we could find a job which pays three times as much. But what if we don't find a job? I think we should stay here. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush / Él dice que si vamos a Arabia Saudita podríamos encontrar un trabajo que paga tres veces más. Pero ¿y si no encontramos un trabajo? Creo que deberíamos quedarnos aquí. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

Additional examples:

• I think I'm gonna quit my job; another firm is going to offer me a better job. Are you sure? You probably shouldn't quit unless you know you're gonna get in for sure. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

• I'm tempted to leave my job and start on my own but I'm worried that I won't be able to make a living, after all a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 

 El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com

www.pebtest.com

TODAY'S IDIOM: EARN YOUR STRIPES

"EARN YOUR STRIPES"

If you earn your stripes, you do something to prove that you have the skills or ability for a particular job or rank.

Example: He earned his stripes in the department of foreign affairs before becoming one of our ambassadors.

Ganar tus galones. 

Example sentences:

• He earned his stripes playing for the reserve team / Se ganó sus galones jugando para el equipo de reserva.

• You'll need to earn your stripes as a travelling salesman before we can think about giving you more responsibility / Tendrás que ganarte tus galones como viajante de comercio antes de que pensemos darte una mayor responsabilidad

Additional examples:

• If someone has earned their stripes, they can expect to get a higher position.

• She earned her stripes as a local reporter before becoming a foreign correspondent.

El blog "La cultura del Inglés" es patrocinado por:

www.laculturadelingles.com

www.pebtest.com