vocabulary a5

Vocabulary

ENGLISH IDIOMS

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS

BIRD as free as a bird = free, without worries a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush =

más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando the early bird catches the worm = al que

madruga Dios lo ayuda birds of a feather flock together = Dios los cría y ellos se

juntan to kill two birds with one stone = matar dos pájaros de un

tiro to eat like a bird = eat very little a bird's eye view = a vuelo de pájaro an early bird = a person who arrives or gets up early a bird of ill omen = un pájaro de mal agüero as the crow flies = in a straight line a little bird told me something = expression used to say that

you know something but you will not say how you found out = me contó un pajarito

We thank Marcela Bitetto (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) for her suggestion.

ExerciseChoose the right answer.

1. I don't want to go round and round. I only want to

go .

2. Thomas is never late at work. He always arrives at 9 o'clock, I guess

he really is .

3. I need to go to the bank. I think I will also go to the post office on my

way. I want to .

Pag. 1

4. Sheila was offered a better salary at a new company, but she's afraid of changing. She said to

me, .

5. You are really ! Yesterday you said Paul was going to have an accident and he was hit by a car!

Unbelievable!

6. Tina and Mary are all the time together chatting about other people.

You know the saying,

.

7. Now that I retired, I feel .

BULL to take the bull by the horns = face a difficulty

boldly like a bull in a china shop = a rough and clumsy person like a red tag to a bull = likely to cause anger a cock and bull story = an absurd and improbable story, used

as an excuse or explanation = un cuento chino to move like a bull at a gate = to move very fast, ignoring

everything in your way to hit the bull's eye = dar en el blanco to shoot the bull (US) = to have an informal conversation

about unimportant things don't mess with the bull, you'll get the horns! = if you look

for trouble, you'll find it

We thank Luciano Sivori (from Neuquén, Argentina) for his suggestion.


1. This is a difficult situation, be we will have

to .

Pag. 2

2. She broke three glasses while she was washing them up.

She's .

3. Come on, let's go to the bar tonight

and .

4. Sarah was late for her appointment so

she .

5. I don't believe you are late because you the bus driver forgot the

way. That is .

6. He supposed that his wife was shopping a lot of things at the market

and he because when she arrived,

she had a lot of bags on her hands.

CAT a cat has nine lives = un gato tiene siete

vidas (Nótese que en inglés el gato tiene dos vidas más!)

curiosity killed the cat (satisfaction brought it back) = it may be dangerous to be too curious

to fight like cat and dog = to fight a lot has a cat got your tongue? = ¿te comieron la lengua los

ratones? to let the cat out of the bag = to reveal a secret carelessly like a cat on hot bricks = very nervous no room to swing a cat = not enough space to have a cat nap = to have a short sleep to play cat and mouse with somebody = to keep somebody

in uncertain expectation, treating him alternately cruelly and kindly

when the cat's away, the mice will play = cuando el gato no está, los ratones se divierten

all cats are grey in the dark = por la noche todos los gatos son pardos

to put/set the cat among the pigeons = to introduce somebody/something that is likely to cause trouble

it's raining cats and dogs = it's raining a lotPag. 3

a cat in gloves catches no mice = gato con guantes no caza ratones

hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose you allies wisely


1. The thief went away with all the money but he

was because the police

was after him.

2. Shh! This is a surprise, don't .

3. I can't invite all of my friend to dinner, in my flat there

is .

4. Charles decided to go to work by car today

because .

5. One day you like him, one day you don't. I think you

are with him.

6. You always want to know everything about other people. Be

careful, .

7. When the boss isn't at his office, everyone stops working. It's

true, .

CHICKEN - HEN - STAG - COCK never count your chickens before they are

hatched = no cantes victoria antes de tiempo (lit. nunca cuentes tus pollos antes de que nazcan)

Pag. 4

which came first, the chicken or the egg? = it is difficult or impossible to decide which of two things happened first

a chicken and egg situation = a situation in which it is difficult or impossible to decide which of two things happened first

somebody's chickens have come home to roost = somebody's bad actions in the past cause problems now

to run around like a headless chicken = to go from one place to another in a disorganized way

chicken feed = small amount of money, almost useless to chicken out = to decide at the last moment not to do

something because you are afraid chicken pox = illness which causes fever and spots on your

skin = varicela somebody is no spring chicken = somebody is no longer

young to behave like a hen mother = to be very protective a hen party = party for women only, usually the night before

one of them gets married a stag party/night = party for men only, usually the night

before one of them gets married a cock and bull story = an absurd and improbable story, used

as an excuse or explanation = un cuento chino to live like fighting cocks = to enjoy the best possible food cock of the walk = person who dominates others


1. As Louise is getting married, the girls are having

on Saturday.

2. You didn't get that job

yet, .

3. She's 45, she's .

Pag. 5

4. During their free time, the kids

were .

5. You gave me this small change, but that's just . I

can't buy anything with that!

6. Come on, you said you wanted to go bungee jumping.

Don't now!

7. Sam was always disturbing his classmates. Now, nobody wants to be

with him. I guess

.

DOG a dog's life = constantly worried, troubled or

miserable every dog has his day = everyone can succeed sooner or

later love me, love my dog = if one loves somebody, one should

love everyone and everything associated with him to be like a dog with two tails = to be very happy to give a dog a bad name (and hang him) = once a person

has lost his reputation, it's difficult to regain it to go to the dog = (an organization) become less efficient to let sleeping dogs lie = to let it be quiet to make a dog's breakfast of something = to do something

very badly not to stand/have a dog's chance = to have no chance at all to work like a dog = to work a lot to treat somebody like a dog = to treat somebody with no

respect at all to die like a dog = to die in misery, with no honour nor dignity dog eat dog = (adj) when people compete against each other

and do anything to get what they want; a dog eat dog world/situation.

the tail wagging the dog = situation in which a minor part of something controls the course of the whole

his bark is worse than his bite = perro que ladra no muerde barking dogs seldom/never bite = people who look

aggressive are not really too bad

Pag. 6

you can't teach an old dog new tricks = it's difficult for an old person to change or do new things

top dog = person who has the most power in a group the underdog = a person or team that is weaker than the

others, and is always expected to be unsuccessful doggy bag = small bag for taking home the food that is left

over from a meal in a restaurant

We thank Marcela Bitetto (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Gabriel Mandrille (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) for their suggestions.


1. I think you are very tired because you .

You shouldn't worry so much.

2. Tom doesn't like computers, he's not very interested in them either.

You know what they say...

.

3. I'm poor and I have no job, but I don't care. I know

that .

4. Ellen works hard everyday and at weekends she has to take care of

her family. She never goes out, I think she has

.

5. I know I'm a bit strange for you, but you want to be with me...

So, .

6. Since the new boss took over, this firm

.

Pag. 7

7. Nelson hasn't study at all, he of passing

this exam!

DUCK a sitting duck = somebody easy to attack an ugly duckling = a person who at first

seems unpromising but later becomes admired like a duck to water = without fear, naturally like water off a duck's back = (of criticisms) without any

effect a dead duck = a plan that will probably fail a lame duck = a person/organization in trouble that needs help to duck a subject/question = to avoid a difficult or

unpleasant subject/question


1. He wasn't afraid at all, he jumped from the

plane .

2. Tamara looks very pretty now! She wasn't that pretty some time ago.

She's like .

3. I don't hear all those criticisms. For me, they

are .

4. Out in the vast field, the soldiers

were for the enemy.

5. Even before starting, they admitted that the project

was .

6. This organization needs the help of the employees to survive, it's

really .

Pag. 8

7. When the issue was mentioned, and everyone wanted to know,

Norbert .

FISH like a fish out of water = strange,

different to the rest = como sapo de otro pozo like a fish in muddy/troubled waters = in confused subjects a big fish (in a little pond) = an important person (in a small

comunity or a restricted situation) an odd fish = an eccentric person to dream like fish = to dream a lot to drink like a fish = to drink a lot of alcohol to have bigger/other fish to fry = to have something more

important to do neither fish, flesh nor good red herring = too ambiguous there are (plenty of) other fish in the sea = there are

(many) other people/things


1. I'm sorry, dear. I can't listen to your story,

I .

2. John's brother is a bit of . He's never gone

out of his house for years.

3. Sam is always giving me orders, he thinks he

is .

4. Being the only man here, I

feel .

5. She's a little confused about the situation.

She's .

Pag. 9

6. Laura had a terrible dream yesterday. She

really .

7. I know you love him, but he doesn't love you! Come on, don't

worry, .

GOOSE to cook somebody's goose = ensure that

somebody fails to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs =

to destroy something that would have produced continuous profit in the future

not to say boo to a goose = to be very timid or gentle what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander =

what is good for one person must be also good for another in similar circumstances

a wild goose chase = a situation where you look for something that does not exist so you waste a lot of time

to get goose pimples/flesh = to get small raised spots on your skin when you are cold or frightened


1. This business is brilliant at the moment. I hope they

don't .

2. We never had that book, so stop looking for it!

It's .

3. I like this wallpaper and my husband will like it too. You

know, .

4. As soon as they entered the dark room,

Michelle .

Pag. 10

5. Thomas doesn't talk much. I guess he

wouldn't .

6. Our teacher is , he wants us to fail in the

exam again.

HORSE to eat like a horse = to eat a lot to be flogging a dead horse = to be

wasting time or effort on something impossible

to be/get on one's high horse = to act proudly, be arrogant to be healthy as a horse = to be very healthy to get on one's hobby-horse = to start talking about

something that one likes to discuss to hold your horses = to do something more slowly to change horses in midstream = to transfer one's

preference for somebody to another in the middle of an undertaking

to close the stable door after the horse has bolted = try to prevent something when it is too late

to put the cart before the horse = to reverse the logical order

a Trojan horse = something that looks normal but hides somebody's real intentions

never look a gift horse in the mouth = a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes

a nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse) = a hint or suggestion can be understood without being explicitly stated

straight from the horse's mouth = from a reliable source = de buena fuente

you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink = you can give a person the chance to do something, but he may still refuse to do it

a dark horse = someone mysterious, who doesn't tell others about himself, but has surprising abilites or qualities

a horse of a different color (US) = something that is completely different = harina de otro costal

We thank Marcela Bitetto (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Lily (from Tucson, USA) for her suggestions.

Pag. 11


1. I know that he will not accept your suggestion. You

know, .

2. Oh, don't and accept your mistakes,

please.

3. If you don't like what Aunt Mollie gave you, don't say

it. .

4. Did you know that Isabelle is going to be fired next week? I know

it .

5. You always and start talking about computers. I don't like this subject, so please let's talk about something

else!

6. Forget about learning Chinese in two months,

you .

7. Mr White was replaced by a younger worker now that we need him to finish this task. You

can't .

PIG pigs might fly = expression used to say that you do not

believe that something will happen to buy a pig in a poke = to buy something that is not as good

as you thought = comprar gato por liebre

Pag. 12

to make a pig of oneself = to eat a lot = comer en gran cantidad, darse un atracón

to make a pig's ear of something = to make something very badly = hacer algo mal, como la mona

a guinea pig = somebody used in a scientific test = un conejillo de las Indias

to pig out = to eat a lot all at once to sweat like a pig = to sweat a lot to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear = to make

something good out of something that is bad quality


1. The technician of the repairs. The TV

shows no image and the VCR doesn't work!

2. Stop eating! You will really !

3. I don't want to try that drink of yours, I'm

not .

4. Phil had been working out at the gym so much that he

was .

5. You should be careful when you buy that car. What if

you ?

6. Eat something before Dudley arrives, he

always on all the food.

7. 'You know what? I was given a salary raise.' 'Yes, sure,

and .'

Pag. 13

RAT to smell a rat = to guess that something wrong is happening =

oler a gato encerrado the rat race = competition to keep one's position

in work/life like rats leaving/deserting the sinking ship =

expression used to describe people who leave a place when it is in trouble

like a drowned rat = soaking wet and miserable a pack rat = somebody who collects things that he does not

need hunt with cats and you catch only rats = you should choose

you allies wisely


1. I know the story of a couple who got out of and

they live very happily now.

2. Now that the company is about to go bankrupt all the shareholders

are leaving, just .

3. He collects stamps, spoons, envelopes, sugar lumps, anything!

He's .

4. It was raining so hard that when Lisa arrived home, she

looked .

5. Nobody wanted to tell me the news, but as soon as I entered the

room I looked at their faces and I said: 'I

here'.

SHEEP - LAMB - MUTTON to separate the sheep from the goats = to

distinguish good people from bad people

Pag. 14

a wolf in sheep's clothing = somebody who appears friendly or harmless but is really an enemy

like sheep = easily influenced by others to count sheep = to imagine sheep jumping over a fence and

count them, as a way of getting to sleep every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful = oveja

que bala, bocado pierde like a lamb (to the slaughter) = without realising that

something dangerous is going to happen the black sheep (of the family) = somebody regarded as a

failure or embarrassment as meek as a lamb = humble, obedient a mutton dressed as a lamb = older person wearing clothes

made for younger people to make sheep's eyes at somebody = to look at somebody

in a way that shows you love him God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb = Dios aprieta

pero no ahoga

We thank José María Vázquez López (from Pontevedra, Spain) and Enriqueta García Mouton (from Madrid, Spain) for their suggestions.


1. I always before getting to

sleep.

2. Don't trust Rob. He looks good but I think

he's .

3. Sheila looks ridiculous in those clothes. Doesn't she realize that she

looks like ?

4. In this organization, you will find good people and bad people. So it's

really important .

Pag. 15

5. The tourists were taken around ,

from the cathedral to the souvenir shop.

6. Sharon and Carol are about to graduate, but Bob, our youngest son, isn't studying for the moment. I think he

is .

7. Ron is very good and obedient, he's

really .

OTHERS donkey's years = a very long time donkey-work = the hard part of a job to talk the hind legs off a donkey = to talk a lot a scapegoat = chivo expiatorio a red herring = something that attracts people's

attention to have a frog in one's throat = to have a

phlem to have seen the lions = to have a lot of experience, to have

seen everything to come out of one's shell = to become less shy to learn/say something parrot-fashion = to learn/say sth by

heart, from memory a white elephant = possession that is useless and expensive

to maintain to be a busy bee = to enjoy being busy or active to have a bee in one's bonnet (about something) = to be

obsessed, mad with something to have bats in the belfry = to be eccentric or insane monkey business/tricks = dishonest or bad behaviour brass monkey weather = very cold weather to make a monkey out of somebody = to make somebody

look stupid to have ants in one's pants = to be very restless to be a bookworm = to like reading; ser un ratón de biblioteca to be mad as a March hare = to be completely mad to be packed like sardines = estar

como sardinas enlatadas to shed crocodile tears = llorar lágrimas de

cocodrilo

Pag. 16

to be like a bear with a sore head = be rude, in a bad mood to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or noticing things.

We thank Marcela Bitetto (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Norma (from Bernal, Argentina) for their suggestions.


1. I can't stop working and I love it! I guess

I'm .

2. Sarah and Selma can talk for hours!

They .

3. I have had this jacket for .

4. When this theatre first opened in 1845, it was regarded

as .

5. Our five-year-old son can't stop moving.

He .

6. Tom believed he had been made for what

happened.

7. When people take the bus at rush hour,

they .

Idioms with parts of the body

ARM to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost somebody a lot of

money.That car cost him an arm and a leg.

Pag. 17

to fold somebody in one's arms = hold somebody closely by putting one's arms around him.

to give one's right arm = be prepared to make a great sacrifice in order to do something.He would give his right arm to have a new house.

to hold/keep someone at arm's length = keep someone at a distance.I can't stand her, that's why I keep her at arm's length.

to twist somebody's arm = persuade somebody to do something he doesn't want to do.Nobody twisted my arm about coming here.

to welcome/accept/receive something with open arms = with enthusiasm.

to walk arm in arm = with the arms bent around each other's. as long as your arm = very long.


1. After her suffering past, she keeps all men to

avoid getting hurt.

2. My girlfriend about going to the

theatre, but I hate it!

3. Peter always has a list of things to do .

4. Getting our hourse insured is going to cost

us .

5. They walked along the beach .

6. I would to be young again!

7. Nancy's new in-laws accepted her .

Pag. 18

BACK behind someone's back = when someone is not present. They

were talking about me behind my back. to have no backbone = have a weak character. to have one's back against the wall = be in a difficult

position and forced to defend oneself. John had his back against the wall; he was fired and everyone was against him.

to pat oneself on the back = feel pleased with oneself. This report is excellent, you can certainly pat yourself on the back.

to see the back of something = get rid of something unpleasant. If you work hard next week, you'll see the back of this job.

to stab someone in the back = be disloyal to somebody. Don't trust him; he would stab you in the back when you don't expect it.

to turn one's back on someone = refuse to help somebody. when one's back is turned = when one can't see or know

what others are doing


1. When he became 18, he on his Catholic

faith.

2. It was terrible for me! They forced me to resign,

I .

3. I should have realized that they would do

that .

4. Sheila can't wait to this project, she can't

stand it any longer.

5. You can't do that to your friend,

you .

Pag. 19

6. Do you know what your children are

doing ?

BRAIN to pick somebody's brain = find out what somebody

knows/thinks by asking questions.The interviewer will pick your brain to discover how much you know.

to have a brainwave = have a sudden good idea.I've just had a brainwave! I know how to solve this!

to rack one's brain about something = think hard to remember something or to find a solution.I've been racking my brain all day and still can't remember her name.

to have somebody/something on the brain = think repeatedly about someone or something.

to be the brains behind/of something = be the person who thought of something (a plan, system, organization).Martin is definitely the brains behind this project.

to beat your brains out = think about something very hard and for a long time.He's been beating his brains out all afternoon trying to finish his homework.


1. Wow! How did you get to this idea? It's perfect! You

really !

2. The students have been trying to

understand what they were reading.

3. After the students had finished reading the story, the teacher

decided to to see if they had understood

everything.

Pag. 20

4. She tried to forget her boyfriend, but she

still .

5. Ron has been about learning the new trick,

but he still couldn't make it.

6. I'm sure that Thomas is this plan.

That's why it's so successful!

EAR to be all ears = listen with attention and interest.

He was all ears when I told him I had free tickets for the cinema.

to be out on one's ear = be forced to leave a place because something wrong has been done.You should work harder or you'll be out on your ear.

to be up to one's ears (in something) = be extremely busy.I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday, but I was up to my ears in work.

to turn a deaf ear to something = ignore something unwelcome, like criticism or complaints.I told him not to park there but he just turned a deaf ear to it.

to close/shut your ears to something = refuse to listen to bad or unpleasant news.Please, listen to him, don't shut you ears to his warning.

to go in (at) one ear and out (at) the other = to forget something almost immediately after hearing it.I don't know why I tell her. It just goes in one ear and out the other.

to play by ear = play an instrument from memory. to keep one's ears open = to listen in order to find out what is

happening.Please keep your ears open for anything unusual.

to have something coming out of one's ears = have too much of something.At this time of year, shops have Christmas lightings coming out of their ears.

ExercisePag. 21

Choose the right answer.

1. Albert has made a lot of mistakes and now he

is .

2. Thomas doesn't need to read the music, he

just .

3. When the director spoke to Elaine, she was

.

4. For Halloween, every place has

pumpkins .

5. I think I heard something at the kitchen. Please go down

and .

6. Tom would never listen to me. Everything I

say .

7. Norbert had a lot of work yesterday, he was

really .

EYE to catch someone's eye = attract someone's attention, make

someone notice.If you would catch the waiter's eye, I'd like some more bread.

to be easy on the eye = be pleasant to look at. to be eagle-eyed = be very good at seeing or

noticing things. to be up to one's eyes (in something) = be extremely busy.

I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday, but I was up to my eyes in work.

to cast/run an eye over something = look quickly over something.

to cry one's eyes out = cry a lot.

Pag. 22

to have an eye for something = be a good judge of something.Her flat is so nice, she obviously has an eye for decoration.

to have eyes in the back of one's head = be alert, notice everything going on around one.The teacher knows everything we do, she must have eyes in the back of her head!

to keep an eye on something/somebody = look at something/somebody continually and carefully.Would you keep an eye on the children while I go to the doctor's?

to see eye to eye (with someone) (on something) = agree.They are a perfect couple, they see eye to eye on most things.

to turn a blind eye to something = ignore something.He knows I always get late, but he just turns a blind eye to it.

to do something with one's eyes closed = do something very easily.Using this fax machine is really easy, you can do it with your eyes closed!

to keep one's eyes skinned/peeled = remain alert.Nobody should see that I'm doing this, so keep your eyes peeled and tell me if someone is coming.

to open someone's eyes = make somebody realize the truth about something.

there's more to something that meets the eye = something is more complex than it looks.


1. Your husband is lying to you, Mary. Please

.

2. The teacher knows that he's cheating all the time, but

she .

3. As a mother I know everything that my son does.

I !

Pag. 23

4. She's so pretty! She really is .

5. The boss and the employess don't usually

.

6. Come on, we have to go! Just over those

secret papers and let's get out of here!

7. Charles knows how to operate this machine. He

can .

FINGER to have a finger in every pie = be involved in many

activities.He's on the board of five companies, he likes to have a finger in every pie.

to twist someone round one's little finger = have someone under one's influence.She can twist him round his little finger, so she will convince him to go to the party.

to keep one's fingers crossed (for someone) = wish for luck.I have my final exam today, so keep your fingers crossed!

to get one's fingers burnt = suffer financially as a result of being careless.He got his fingers burnt dabbling in the stock market.

to not lift/raise a finger = to not make any effort to help someone.He can see that I'm busy, but he doesn't lift a finger.

to put one's finger on something = be able to explain what is wrong or unusual about something.There was something strange about him, but I couldn't put my finger on it.


Pag. 24

1. The 5-year-old boy

could .

2. Thomas playing the lottery

everyday.

3. I do all the work around the house. My husband

never .

4. Peter wants to do many things, but in fact, you

can't .

5. We are that she's going to be

fine.

6. Everybody knew that she was a strange girl, but nobody

could .

FOOT to fall/land on one's feet = get into a good situation because

of luck, after a difficult situation.Don't worry about George, he always falls on his feet.

to foot the bill = pay for something.She left in the middle of the meal, and I had to foot the bill.

to get back on one's feet = recover.While being ill for two weeks, his mother helped her to get back on his feet.

to get cold feet = stop doing something because one becomes afraid of the consequences.He was about to break into the house, but he got cold feet at the last minute.

to have/keep one's feet on the ground = be realistic.She's no dreamer, she has her feet firmly on the ground.

to have the world at one's feet = have the chance to become very successful.She's an intelligent young lady with the world at her feet.

to have two left feet = be very clumsy.

Pag. 25

to put one's best foot forward = do one's best.If you want to pass the exam, you'll have to put your best foot forward.

to put one's foot in it = do or say something foolish.Why did you tell her about it? You always put your foot in it!

to stand on one's own two feet = be independent.He is 19 and already has a job and a house, he's perfectly able to stand on his own two feet.

to start/get off on the right/wrong foot = make a good/bad start.The new student started off on the wrong foot with the teacher by answering back rudely.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.


1. The project was stopped because

sponsors .

2. She's 24 but she's never learned to

.

3. I think I've really this time, I didn't

know that she was his wife!

4. She ordered drinks and then left me to

.

5. John and I but we are good friends

now.

Pag. 26

6. It was a great result, but we have

to .

7. After being sick for two days, he

finally .

HAND to be hand in glove with someone = be in

close relationship with someone.He was found to be hand in glove with the enemy.

to be an old hand at something = be very experienced at something.

to be at the hands of somebody = be under somebody's will and power; be caused by a particular person.The team was defeated because it was at the hands of an inexperienced coach.

to eat out of someone's hands = be under someone's influence.She soon had the class eating out of her hand.

to give/lend someone a hand = help someone. to have/take a hand in something = be partly responsible

for something.The party was great, I bet he had a hand in it.

to have one's hands full = be extremely busy. to know something like the back of one's hand = be

thouroughly familiar with something.He's a taxi driver, so he knows the city like the back of his hand.

to live from hand to mouth = satisfy one one's present basic needs.He won't start saving money when he's been living from hand to mouth all his life!

to show one's hand = let others know one's intentions.I suspect they're planning something but they haven't shown their hand yet.

to wait on someone hand and foot = serve somebody by attending to all his needs.He seemed to expect to be waited on hand and foot.

We thank Gabriel Mandrille (from Buenos Aires, Argentina) for his suggestions.

Pag. 27


1. We never knowing where the next

meal was coming from.

2. I grew up in London, I

.

3. I need to finish this by 11.30, could you

please ?

4. There were so many rumours that the director had

to .

5. Jeff scored one goal and in another.

6. I'm sorry but I can't go right now, I at

the moment.

7. Sarah got divorced because she got tired

of .

HEAD to go off one's head = become mad. to have a head start = have an advantage over others.

Julia has a head start on us for the job in Paris because she's bilingual.

to have a good head on one's shoulders = have common sense and practical ability.John has a good head on his shoulders, he can do well in any trade.

to have one's head in the clouds = have one's thoughts far away, be day-dreaming.

to have one's head screwed on the right way = be sensible and practical.

Pag. 28

to keep one's head above water = keep out of debt.I'm managing to keep my head above water, even though I'm not earning much.

to make head or tail of something = understand.The student's essay is full of mistakes, I can't make head or tail of it!

to put our heads together = exchange ideas or advice.I'm sure we can solve the problem if we all put our heads together.

to talk one's head off = talk for a long time. to use one's head = use one's common sense. heads will roll (for something) = somebody will be punished

(because of something).


1. Whenever I'm talking to him, he .

2. For years they struggled to .

3. Tomorrow, we will to decide

what to do.

4. Come on, . Don't you realise that she's

lying?

5. She's so practical, she

really .

6. This book is so complex that I can't

.

7. I don't like talking to her on the phone because

she . Pag. 29

HEART to have the heart to do something = be unfeeling enough to

do something.I hadn't the heart to refuse.

to have one's heart in one's mouth = be badly frightened.I was alone and when the lights went out, I had my heart in my mouth!

to have one's heart in the right place = have good intentions.His gifts are always tacky, but he has his heart in the right place.

to do something to one's heart's content = do something as much as one wishes.There will be lots of food, so you'll be able to eat to your heart's content.

to learn/know something by heart = from memory.He knows the poem by heart.

to lose heart = become discouraged.She had so many job refusals that she's beginning to lose heart.

to set one's heart on something = want something very much.She had set her heart on becoming a policewoman.

to take something to heart = be much affected or upset by something.I took your criticism very much to heart.

at heart = in one's real nature.I'm a country girl at heart.

from the bottom of one's heart = sincerely.This advice comes from the bottom of my heart.

after one's own heart = of exactly the type one likes best.He likes good wine too, he's obviously a man after my own heart.

a heart of gold = a very kind nature.He looks bad-tempered but really he's got a heart of gold.

a heart of stone = a pitiless and unfeeling nature.He doesn't care about others, he's got a heart of stone.

We thank Fania Reyes (from Monterrey, Mexico) for her suggestion.


Pag. 30

1. Please believe me, this suggestion

comes .

2. The boys took my warnings .

3. After so many days of telephoning Steve, she knew his

number .

4. His father bought him the computer he had

.

5. The dog can run out here in the

park.

6. She's such a bad friend, she really has

.

7. You will have other chances to pass the entry exam,

don't .

LEG to be on one's last legs = be very tired or ill.

He looks like he's on his last legs. to cost someone an arm and a leg = cost

somebody a lot of money.That car cost him an arm and a leg.

to pull someone's leg = tease somebody, make somebody believe something that is untrue.Of course he doesn't want his present back, he's just pulling your leg!

not have a leg to stand on = have nothing to support one's opinion.You can't say that, you don't have a leg to stand on!

to give someone a leg-up = help somebody towards success.When he joined the company I noticed his talent, so I gave him the leg-up he needed.

Pag. 31

to shake a leg = hurry up.Come on, shake a leg! We are late!

with one's tail between one's legs = in a humble or sad manner.After being fired, he left with his tail between his legs.


1. I think he's lying, he .

2. I don't believe you, you are .

3. After working all day, he felt he

.

4. Move! or you'll be late again!

5. The defeated player left the

field .

6. She is good, but her boss also .

7. I don't have enough money to buy this computer. It

would .

TONGUE to bite one's tongue = try hard not to say what one thinks,

blame oneself for having said something embarrassing. to get one's tongue around something = be able to say a

difficult word.I couldn't get my tongue around the names of the villages we'd been to.

Pag. 32

to have something on the tip of one's tongue = just about to be spoken or remembered.His name's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think of it!

to hold one's tongue = say nothing. to set tongues wagging = encourage people to gossip.

Their scandalous affair has really set tongues wagging. a slip of the tongue = minor error in speech.

A slip of the tongue made me say Robert instead of Richard. with (one's) tongue in (one's) cheek = not intending to be

taken seriously.Don't be fooled by all his complimentary remarks, they were all said with tongue in cheek.


1. The royal divorce will certainly .

2. I'm sorry, that was a mistake. It was

really .

3. I wanted to argue with him, but I had

to .

4. These names are so difficult to say that I will

never .

5. I think you should learn to .

6. I can't remember this actor's name, but I have

it .

7. Don't take it seriously, he was talking .

Pag. 33

TOOTH to be armed to the teeth = have all the necessary

equipment.We left for a weekend's camping armed to the teeth with pots, pans, tins, tents and boots!

to cut one's teeth on something = gain experience from something.This reporter cut his teeth on his job at that small press agency.

to fight tooth and nail = fight fiercely, with energy and determination.During the war, these two countries fought tooth and nail.

to get one's teeth into something = deal with or concentrate on something.Now you know what the job involves, here's something to get your teeth into.

to lie through one's teeth = tell lies openly and without shame.That's not true! You're lying through your teeth!

to show one's teeth = use one's power or authority to intimidate or punish somebody.


1. Both players this

championship.

2. They had to to get this plan

approved.

3. I can't wait to the new course.

4. The gangs are always .

5. I could tell from his face that he was

.

Pag. 34

6. Our boss wanted to intimidate us, so he was

always .

Idioms with colours

BLACK to be in the black = have money in one's bank account. (The

opposite is to be in the red)I'm still in the black, so I don't need your money.

to black out = lose consciousness or memory temporarily.The plane dived suddenly, causing the pilot to black out.

a black day = an unhappy day when something bad happens.9/11 was a black day in history.

a blacklist = list of people who are considered undesirable.You are not on the blacklist yet, but be careful...

a black look = a look of anger.When Sarah heard him talk like that, she gave him a black look.

black market = illegal trade. black and blue = covered with bruises. in black and white = in writing or in print.

Do you understand? Or shall I put it in black and white? not so black as somebody is painted = not as bad as people

believe.Peter is a nice person, he's not so black as he is painted.

the black sheep (of the family) = person whose conduct is considered to be a disgrace to the family.

the pot calling the kettle black = the accuser having the same fault as the person he is accusing.She accused us of being extravagant! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!


1. If you do that again, I will beat you .

2. Hah! You say I'm slow at work? And you? Talk

about .

Pag. 35

3. This has been a for the car industry with more

job losses announced.

4. For a few seconds, he felt like he was going to

.

5. For me, Denise is a friendly girl. She's

not .

6. The government has created a of

environmentally damaging products.

7. Laura was so angry that she gave her husband

a .

BLUE to go off into the blue = go away suddenly and without trace.

The cashier went off into the blue with ten thousand dollars. to have blue blood = be aristocratic. to look/feel blue = look/feel sad, depressed. to scream/yell blue murder = protest wildly and noisily.

The union yelled blue murder when one of its members was sacked.

to do something till one is blue in the face = work as hard and as long as one possibly can (usually without success).He can write me letters till he's blue in the face, I'm not going to reply.

once in a blue moon = very rarely or never.I see her once in a blue moon.

out of the blue = unexpectedly.Her resignation came right out of the blue.

a bolt from the blue = unexpected and usually unwelcome event, complete surprise.The news of her resignation was like a bolt from the blue.

a blue-collar worker = manual worker. (The opposite is a white-collar worker)

a blue film/joke = a pornographic or indecent film/joke. the boys in blue = the police.

Pag. 36


1. Are you OK? You look .

2. When she was robbed, she began to .

3. Was this money or did you know you

were going to get it?

4. You can argue but they will still

do what they want.

5. The thieves managed to with all the

money they stole from the bank.

6. Thomas works a lot. He goes on a holiday

.

7. Nancy was walking with us and she

disappeared.

RED to be in the red = have no money in one's bank account. to catch someone red-handed = discover somebody in the

act of doing something wrong or criminal.I caught the boys red-handed smoking in the kitchen.

to roll out the the red carpet = to give a special welcome to an important visitor.We haven't seen Uncle Jones for years, so when he arrives tomorrow from Europe, we'll be rolling out the red carpet.

to see red = become very angry.Her criticisms were enough to make anyone see red.

Pag. 37

a red herring = unimportant matter introduced into a discussion to divert attention from the main subject.Make sure he answers all your questions. Don't let him confuse you with any red herring.

red tape = excessive bureaucracy.It takes weeks to get that visa. There's so much red tape involved.

a red-letter day = an important or memorable day because something good happened on it.


1. May 20th is the day we met for the first time, remember? For me,

it's .

2. Kimberly has always been avoiding the answer to that matter

with .

3. The new rules to get a driver's license should help cut

the .

4. He started to criticise me in a way that made

me .

5. Why are you borrowing money from me again? Are

you .

6. The police caught the thief .

7. Your cousin is not welcome at my home. Why are we going

to ?

WHITE a white-collar worker = non-manual worker. (The opposite is

a blue-collar worker)Pag. 38

as white as a sheet = very pale, as a result of fear or shock.She went as white as a sheet when I told her the news.

as white as snow = very white.That old man had his hair as white as snow.

a white lie = harmless or trivial lie. a white elephant = possession that is useless and often

expensive to maintain.


1. I'm sorry, what I told you was . Please

forgive me, but I had to invent something!

2. Are you OK? You are .

3. Peter works in an office, he's .

4. After painting the walls, I can assure you that they

look .

5. I told him a thousand times to get rid of that expensive car that he

doesn't even use. He doesn't realize that it's

.

BROWN to be browned off = be bored, fed up.

He's browned off with his job. as brown as a berry = having the skin tanned brown by the

sun or the weather. in a brown study = in deep thought.

Pag. 39

GREEN to be green = be immature, inexperienced, easily fooled.

You must be green to believe that! to be green with envy = be extremely envious.

I was absolutely green with envy when I saw his splendid new car.

to have green fingers = have skill in gardening. to give someone the green light = give somebody

permission to do something. a green belt = area of open land around a city. a greenhouse = building with sides and roof of glass, used for

growing plants.

GREY grey area = aspect that doesn't fit into a particular category,

and is therefore difficult to deal with.When the rules for police procedure were laid down, a lot of grey areas remained.

grey matter = one's brain or intelligence.He's a boy with much grey matter, he is extremely good at maths.

to go grey = become grey-haired.

YELLOW a yellow streak = cowardice in somebody's character. the yellow press = newspapers that deliberately include

sensational news items to attract readers.


1. When Sarah knew that her friend was travelling to Australia, she

was .

2. After spending three weeks in the Caribbean, Samantha came back

home .

Pag. 40

3. I don't trust that newspaper at all. It's part of

the .

4. We should find a solution to this problem, specially in all

those .

5. Hey, you're only 24 years old, but I can see you're

already .

6. Please shut up! I'm with your stories!

7. The local government has given the artisans

to open the flea market everyday.

8. Sue loves all plants and flowers. I can assure you that

she .

Idiomatic Pairs

IDIOMATIC PAIRS PART 1

Hemos reunido aquí una lista de las expresiones idiomáticas más comunes en que se utilizan dos palabras unidas por "and".

alive and kicking = in good health and active. I got a letter from Ronald, he's alive and kicking, working for an insurance company.

born and bred = born and educated. Helen was born and bred in London, that's why she always carries an umbrella.

bright and early = very early in the morning. We have to leave bright and early if we want to arrive there by 10.

cut and dried = final, decided (plans). Our plan is cut and dried: first we are going to the cinema, and then to the restaurant.

fair and square = in a fair way. We will pay for our part, let's make it fair and square.

Pag. 41

high and dry = without any help. She was left high and dry, but she managed to get on with her life.

home and dry = sure of success. If you study a lot, you will be home and dry for the final exam.

on and on = without stopping. I've been cleaning the house all morning, and I still have to go on and on to finish.

rough and ready = not exact. I don't understand much about grammar but I can give you a rough and ready explanation.

round and round = in circles. I started to feel sick, everything was going round and round in my head.

safe and sound = unharmed. After being away for five months, we arrived home safe and sound.

short and sweet = without unnecesary details. A long letter of complaint would be annoying, so when you write it, try to make it short and sweet.

sick and tired = completely annoyed or tired of something/someone. I'm sick and tired of hearing about your trip to Russia.

wine and dine = have a meal with wine at a restaurant. For our anniversary I think we could wine and dine at that new restaurant that opened last week.

We thank Fania Reyes (from Monterrey, Mexico) for her suggestion.


1. Please, Andrew, shut up! I'm really of your

excuses.

2. The boss promised all the employees to keep the

meeting .

3. Ingrid decided to get up , ready to start a

new day.

Pag. 42

4. This test is only a guide to the student's real

knowledge.

5. She stared at the washing machine, just looking at the clothes

going .

6. The beast was still .

7. Honestly, we should admit that they won the

competition .

8. I don't think that this plan is as as you

think.



bag and baggage = with all your possessions. Mary got tired of living with her boyfriend so she decided to move, bag and baggage.

bits and pieces = small things. I didn't hear everything he said, just some bits and pieces.

body and soul = physical and mental energy. Jim loves learning a new language, he puts body and soul into it.

bread and butter = way of earning money to live. Thomas doesn't have much money, he earns his bread and butter as a teacher.

bricks and mortar = property, buildings. If you want to invest your money, I would advise you to put it into bricks and mortar.

give and take = compromise. We can reach an agreement with a bit of give and take from both sides.

hustle and bustle = hurried activity. I don't like living in the city centre, it's all hustle and bustle.

ifs and buts = excuses. No ifs and buts, just finish your homework and then you can go to play with the computer.

Pag. 43

odds and ends = small things. I've almost finished this work, but there are still some odds and ends I have to deal with.

part and parcel = part. All those information programmes on TV are part and parcel of a campaign to destabilize the new government.

rack and ruin = in bad conditions. This is a nice neighbourhood, but it's a shame that these old buildings are going rack and ruin.

stuff and nonsense = foolish things. Oh, no, he was not fired! That's all stuff and nonsense!

touch and go = close to success and failure at the same time. After the accident, he's in a critical situation, the doctor said it's touch and go.

ups and downs = good and bad moments. Don't panic, in a married couple there are always ups and downs.

wear and tear = deterioration. Go change those clothes! Those can't stand any more wear and tear!


1. In every relationship there's some .

2. Before I leave, let me get all my .

3. Working irregular hours is all of being a

doctor.

4. Sheila doesn't have much on his desk, just a

few .

5. It was whether the ambulance would get

there on time.

6. The old house was left to go to .

Pag. 44

7. Before you leave, please check all your equipment

for .

8. They threw her out of the house, .



by and large = in general. I guess the team played quite well, by and large.

chapter and verse = with a lot of details. The teacher gave them chapter and verse about where to find the information.

far and wide = everywhere. She tried far and wide to find the keys but she couldn't. She had to take a taxi instead.

first and foremost = most important. First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for this welcome.

forgive and forget = forget enmity. Let's be friends again, I'm sorry for what I've done, but you have to forgive and forget.

free and easy = relaxed, friendly. She knew that life wouldn't be so free and easy at work.

hit and miss = random. I don't know how to operate this machine, it's just a question of hit and miss for me!

live and learn = become wiser. You trusted her and she deceived you. You live and learn, so don't get fooled again.

in and out = entering and leaving a place. The boss has been in and out all day, to see if the employees were working.

loud and clear = very clearly. Even though he was 400km away, I could hear him loud and clear on the telephone line.

now and again = occasionally. They like to go to a concert now and again.

on and off = not all the time, at irregular intervals. It's been raining on and off all day, I hate this kind of weather.

over and out = message used to end a radio communication. Understood. Over and out.

sink or swim = be successful or fail. This a very difficult job, you have to be careful. It's really sink or swim.

up and about = in good health. After the accident, he recovered very well, he's now up and about.

Pag. 45

wait and see = wait patiently. We don't know if this government will be able to put his plans into practice. We have to wait and see.


1. People came from to see this concert.

2. We got your message .

3. I guess we'll just how things develop.

4. It's good to see you again!

5. , the new arrangements have worked well

so far.

6. The guide won't help you much, you are really

left to .

7. We see our in-laws .

8. What if we stop arguing? Let's .


Hemos reunido aquí una lista de las expresiones idiomáticas más comunes en que se utilizan dos o más palabras unidas por "and".

by and by = soon, in a while from now. By and by they came to an enchanted place.

Pag. 46

chapter and verse = with a lot of details. The teacher gave them chapter and verse about where to find the information.

cheap and cheerful = simple, not expensive and of reasonable quality. This is really a cheap and cheerful Greek restaurant.

cloak-and-dagger = secret and mysterious. It was a cloak-and-dagger operation in which several spies were involved.

down-and-out = having no money. He's a down-and-out actor now.

free and easy = relaxed, friendly. She knew that life wouldn't be so free and easy at work.

in dribs and drabs = in small amounts or numbers. The public arrived in dribs and drabs.

in leaps and bounds = very quickly. My English is improving in leaps and bounds.

prim and proper = correct and very formal. She's a very prim and proper lady.

ranting and raving = shouting in an angry way. Please stop ranting and raving and listen to me!

skin and bone = extremely thin. She's really skin and bone, she doesn't need to go on a diet anymore.

spick and span = completely clean and tidy. Her room is always spick and span.

the length and breadth of some place = all over the place. Police searched the length and breadth of the town.

thick and fast = happening very frequently, in large amounts. Letters for the contest arrived thick and fast.

to be at somebody's beck and call = be ready to do what somebody wants. She got tired of being at his beck and call.

to blow hot and cold = keep changing one's attitude towards something. Now he agrees but I'm sure that later he'll disagree; he always blows hot and cold.

to believe something hook, line and sinker = believe a lie completely. Paul explained her why he was late and she believed it hook, line and sinker.

to risk/sacrifice life and limb = to risk/sacrifice one's life and health. She risked life and limb travelling to distant communities to help the poor.

to search high and low = search all over the place. Police searched high and low for the burglars.

We thank Mónica Tur Ramón (from Balearic Islands, Spain), Esther Morales (from Madrid, Spain) and Pilar (from Madrid, Spain) for their contribution.

Pag. 47


1. Can you decide yourself? You are all the

time.

2. Very few people were interested in the offer, so orders

arrived .

3. I have a headache, would you please stop

?

4. As John didn't know where to look up, his mother gave

him .

5. She's really very innocent, she will believe

anything .

More idioms

IDIOMS WITH FOOD the salt of the earth = a very good and honest person. Jack is

the salt of the earth. not my cup of tea = something that you don't like much. Rock

isn't my cup of tea. I prefer jazz. a butterfingers = somebody who often drops things. Sally is so

clumsy, she's really a butterfingers! a piece of cake = something very easy. Learning English is a

piece of cake! full of beans = full of energy. Sheila is full of beans this

morning! nuts / bananas = crazy. I'm going to go nuts/bananas if I don't

get a new job soon. peanuts = a very small amount of money. Hotel workers

usually get paid peanuts. the cream of something = the best things or people from a

group. Our university only takes the cream of applicants. the cream of the crop = the best of all. The students at this

university are the cream of the crop.Pag. 48

as cool as a cucumber = relaxed, calm. The driver was as cool as a cucumber when the police stopped him.

a lemon = a silly person. Thomas behaved like a real lemon at the party last night.

sour grapes = something important that somebody pretends that has no value. He says he doesn't want to marry her, but that's just sour grapes.

sour-faced = showing dislike for something or somebody. Tim's girlfriend was sour-faced when she saw him talking to another girl.

We thank Francis Dixon-Clarke (from Sao Paulo, Brazil) for his contribution.


1. Thomas is always throwing things as he walks, he's a

real .

2. I had my final exams yesterday but I

was .

3. This company only takes qualified people. All its employees

are .

4. I have to admit that Portuguese is . I

prefer English.

5. Susan is always coming and going, she's so !

6. You can't trust Peter. He's a real .

7. In many countries people are paid for their

jobs.

Pag. 49

8. This exercise is .

9. My boss was when I told him that the job was

not finished yet.

10. You can trust Peter. He's

.

IDIOMS WITH FOOD a couch potato = somebody who spends a lot of time sitting

and watching TV. I guess Ken is becoming a real couch potato. food for thought = something that makes you think

carefully. The teacher's advice game me food for thought. a red herring = a misleading statement or action that attracts

people's attention. The criminal dropped a red herring into his statement to the police. He wanted to confuse them.

brown as a berry = suntanned, having the skin turned brown by the sun. After her holiday in Florida, Samantha is as brown as a berry.

red as a beetroot = embarrassed. John was red as a beetroot when he noticed that he hadn't enough money to pay the bill.

warm as toast = very warm and comfortable. The kids sat near the fire, warm as toast.

flat as a pancake = very flat. The countryside in this area is flat as a pancake.

one's bread and butter = the work that provides most of the money needed in order to live. You must earn your bread and butter.

keen as mustard = very enthusiastic. Sheila was new in the job and keen as mustard.

to cut the mustard = be good enough to do something. Fred is not very good at his new job. I guess he can't cut the mustard!

to feel like jelly, to turn to jelly = lose physical strength because one gets frightened or nervous. When the thief saw the police, his knees turned to jelly.

to sell like hot cakes = become popular, sell a lot. These cheap shoes are selling like hot cakes.

small beer / small potatoes = not important. This profit is small beer/potatoes for the holding company.

chalk and cheese = completely different. The two brothers are like chalk and cheese, they are very different indeed!

Pag. 50



1. This country has no mountains at all, it's

really .

2. Whenever I come back from my holidays

I'm .

3. Sheila and Mary are twins but in fact, they

are .

4. When she saw that her car had been robbed, her

legs .

5. Don't even worry about that, it's .

6. When Tom knew that he was going to be promoted, he

was .

7. You shouldn't watch too much TV! You are

really !

8. The house is very cold but this room is

always .

9. Her latest book is really .

10. When the teacher caught him cheating, he

was .

Pag. 51

IDIOMS WITH FOOD gravy train = an activity from which people can make money

without much effort.Privatization isn't usually the gravy train that the government promises.

a good egg = a good trustworthy person. You can trust Mary, she's a good egg.

hard-boiled = tough, not showing any emotions. My boss is really hard-boiled. He's impossible to fool.

fishy = suspicious. I think that man's behaviour is a bit fishy. Call the police, please.

money for jam = money earned from a task that is very easy. Mark has a very easy job. In fact, it's money for jam.

salt-and-pepper = hair that is becoming grey. Some women like men with salt-and-pepper hair. They think it looks distinguished.

easy as pie = very easy. Learning English is easy as pie. in a stew = confused or worried about a difficult

situation. When David's girlfriend was late, he got into a stew. to be in the soup = to be in trouble. When Harry lost his job,

he was really in the soup. to be in a pickle = be in a difficult situation and not know what

to do. When Mark lost his passport, he was in a pickle. to be packed like sardines = be crowded tightly together in a

small space. People on the evening train are packed like sardines.

to beef up something = improve something, add force to something. The green party needs to beef the campaign up.

to get a roasting = to be told off for something wrong. The player got a roasting from angry fans.

to make a hash of something = make a mess of something, do something very badly.Fred made a real hash of his exams.



1. I don't understand what is going on here. This is a

bit .

Pag. 52

2. You are only 28 and you already have

hair!

3. The new school director is . He never

even smiles.

4. Using the Internet is .

5. The passengers on the underground trains are

always during the rush hour.

6. All you have to do in your job is push some buttons. That's quite

easy, in fact it's .

7. When the teacher caught him cheating,

he .

8. All the team from the coach.

9. The new employee didn't understand what he had to do and

he of the sales figures.

10. When Sheila noticed that she had lost her documents, she

got .

IDIOMS WITH FRUIT to bear fruit = (a plan, a decision, etc) to be successful,

especially after a long time.His investment eventually bore fruit. the fruit of one's labour = the results of one's hard work. I'm

looking forward to retirement and having time to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

to be the apple of somebody's eyes = to be loved very much by somebody. Laura was always the apple of her father's eye.

to be as American as apple pie = be typically American. Blue jeans are as American as apple pie.

Pag. 53

Adam's apple = the lump at the front of the neck mostly seen at men, that moves when talking or swallowing. When he talks, I can see his Adam's apple moving.

the Big Apple = term used to refer to New York City. We were in the Big Apple for Christmas.

a rotten apple = a bad person that has a bad effect on the rest of the group. There's always a rotten apple in every organization.

apple polisher = somebody who tries to gain something by flattering or praising somebody, without being sincere. She started to praise the director's project because in fact, she wanted a day off at work. She's just an apple polisher.

to compare apples to oranges = compare things that are completely different. This new video camera has nothing to do with the old models. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree = (US) used to say that children are usually similar to their parents. Tim is a very restless child. In fact, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

to upset the apple cart = do something that spoils somebody's plans. We were having a party in the garden, but the storm upset the apple cart.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away = (proverb) apples are so healthy that if you eat one every day, you will never need to visit the doctor. Our grandmother would always give us apple for dessert. She was convinced that an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

to go bananas = become very angry or excited. My father went bananas when I said I wanted to leave university.

a second bite of the cherry = (GB) a second chance to do something. I failed the exam, but I will get a second bite of the cherry next month.

sour grapes = something that you really want but you can't have, and so you say that you don't want it. When her friend bought a new car, she told him she didn't like it. But in fact, that was just sour grapes.

a lemon = a silly person. Thomas behaved like a real lemon at the party last night.

a real peach = (US) something/somebody that is nice or good. You should read this book, it's a real peach.


Pag. 54

1. Her mother when she said she

wanted to go to Europe for a year.

2. His project started to and he earned a lot

of money in the first month.

3. That wasn't a great job, and that's not

just because I was rejected at the

interview.

4. This year we spent our vacations in .

5. She wants to change the date of the meeting, but that

would .

6. My father retired and now he can

enjoy .

7. Donuts are .

8. He didn't get a medal on the first race, but he can still

get on the second one.

9. Do you still believe him? Don't be such .

10. Don't believe in his flatteries. He's just an .

IDIOMS WITH WATER

to break the ice = say something to reduce tension at a first meeting. She finally broke the ice and asked him about his family.

to cut no ice with somebody = have little influence, be unconvincing. His excuses cut no ice with me.

Pag. 55

to be in deep waters = be in trouble. Having lost his passport, he is now in deep waters.

a drop in the ocean = a quantity too small to make any improvement. Aid to the Third World is just a drop in the ocean.

the last straw (that broke the camel's back) = additional event that makes a situation intolerable. He had lost his job last week and now he was robbed. That was the last straw. He decided to move to a foreign country.

to leave someone high and dry = leave someone helpless. He left her high and dry in a strange country without any money.

to let off steam = release surplus energy from being restrained. The children were out in the playground letting off steam.

like a fish out of water = awkward because of being unfamiliar with the surroundings.She felt like a fish out of water among those high-society people.

like water off a duck's back = without any effect. Their hints about his behaviour were like water off a duck's back.

to be out of one's depth = be unable to understand something. When they start talking about economy, I'm out of my depth.

to be soaked to the skin = be completely soaked. They were soaked to the skin after the storm.

a storm in a teacup = a lot of fuss about something unimportant. That's a storm in a teacup, stop fussing about it, you can do it.

to take the plunge = take a decisive step after thinking about it for a long time. He finally decided to take the plunge and get married.

to be thrown in at the deep end = be introduced to the most difficult part of an activity, for which one is not prepared. He was thrown in at the deep end because he had to finish his job and didn't know where to start.

the tip of the iceberg = small but evident part of a much larger problem. More than ten burglaries are reported every week, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

water under the bridge = event that has already occurred and cannot be altered. Stop worrying about it, that dispute is water under the bridge now.


Pag. 56

1. When the children came back home after the storm, they

were .

2. I'm sure that these arguments will with the

opposition party.

3. In her new school, she felt like .

4. The boss finally by talking about the

weather.

5. The company is over their refusal to

reduce prices.

6. We and decided to set up our own

company.

7. We went jogging to .

8. The cases of food poisoning are

only .

9. Come on, forget about that dispute!

It's now.

10. Two new hospitals are being built, but this is

just for such a big city.

IDIOMS WITH BELLS

bells and whistles = attractive but with superfluous additions. The new version of that computer program is just bells and whistles.

Pag. 57

to ring a bell = sound familiar, revive a distant memory. His name rings a bell but I can't remember him.

to bell the cat = perform a very dangerous or risky task. The boss had to bell the cat and he finally dismissed him.

to be saved by the bell = be preserved from danger by an unexpected intervention. As they were fighting, the teacher came in. Tom was saved by the bell.

to be as clear as a bell = be very clear, easy to hear and understand. That is an excellent recording; the sound is as clear as a bell.

to be as sound as a bell = be in good condition. Since she stopped smoking, she's as sound as a bell.

to give somebody a bell = telephone somebody. I should give Mary a bell later.

alarm bells ring = used when you feel worried that something bad may be happening.When the kid failed to return home, alarm bells started to ring.

We thank Mónica Tur (from Islas Baleares, Spain) for her contribution.


1. That face but I can't remember who she

is.

2. That's not worth it. It's just .

3. Her voice came through the microphone

.

4. Paul hadn't seen his girlfriend in all day, so in the evening

he .

5. In spite of the car accident, she was

fortunately .

Pag. 58

6. That was a terrible decision but somebody had

to .

7. When she was dismissed, . What would she

do then?

8. You've been . But of course next time, we

will continue!

IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE HOUSE

armchair traveller = somebody who reads about being a traveller but doesn't have any experience of doing it.His books about his adventures are read by a lot of armchair travellers.

to be called on the carpet (US) = be criticised by an authority because of doing something wrong.She was called on the carpet by her boss because she didn't finish the task in time.

to sweep something under the carpet = try to keep something wrong as a secret.I'm sure she made a mistake and now she's sweeping it under the carpet.

to get out of bed on the wrong side = feel angry or annoyed for no particular reason.What's the problem with you? I think you just got out of bed on the wrong side.

not a bed of roses = not an easy situation.Working in an office isn't always a bed of roses.

you've made your bed and you must lie on it = you must accept the results of your actions.It was you who decided to resign. You've made your bed and you must lie on it.

everything but the kitchen sink = too many things.She packed a big suitcase for her holidays. She took everything but the kitchen sink!

a kitchen sink drama (GB) = a play or film about family problems at home.I'm tired of watching this kitchen sink drama!

Pag. 59

off-the-shelf = available to be bought as it is.Cars are sold in an off-the-shelf basis, we don't offer any personalized design.

to be left on the shelf = not be used or considered.His dancing skills were left on the shelf until he became a famous singer.

to roll out the red carpet = give special treatment.They rolled out the red carpet when the Prime Minister visited the country.

to be in the chair = be in charge of a meeting.Paul will be in the chair at our next meeting.

to be on the table = be officially suggested for somebody to consider.The offer is on the table, now you have to think if you accept or not.

under the table = in secret or illegally (usually referred to money).The main local authorities received money under the table.

to go out of the window = disappear or no longer have any effect.After drinking, his good intentions went out of the window.

to close the door on something = make something become impossible.The car accident closed the door on her acting career.

to get in through the back door = achieve something thanks to an unfair secret advantage.As his father is a cabinet member, he got in through the back door.

to lay something at somebody's door = blame somebody for something.The problem can't be laid entirely at his door.

to bring down the curtain on something = cause the end of something.His resignation brought down the curtain on his career.

to smoke like a chimney = smoke a lot.If he goes on smoking like a chimney, he will have serious health problems.

to have a bun in the oven = be pregnant.

DIOMS WITH MEANS OF TRANSPORT

to be in the same boat = be in the same unpleasant situation.All of us have lost our job. We're all on the same boat.

Pag. 60

to miss the boat = fail to take an opportunity that will give you an advantage.You'll miss the boat if you don't buy shares now.

to push the boat out (GB) = spend more money than usual on something special.Come on, push the boat out and get tickets for the concert!

to rock the boat = cause problems for other members of a group by criticizing something.She didn't want to rock the boat, so she kept silent during the meeting.

to paddle one's own canoe (GB) = do things for oneself.She was alone so she had to paddle her own canoe all the time.

to put the cart before the horse = do two things in the wrong order.First you must have dinner and then eat the dessert. You're putting the cart before the horse.

to upset the apple cart = spoil somebody's plans.She didn't want to upset the apple cart by asking to change the date of the meeting.

to climb/jump/get on the bandwagon = start doing something that a lot of people are already doing (used to show disapproval).They noticed the success of reality-shows around the world and decided to jump on the bandwagon to produce their own.

to fall off the back of a lorry = be probably stolen (used humorously).He has a new stereo, which, we suspect, fell off the back of a lorry.

to jump ship = leave an organization that you are working for, specially to join another.Our boss jumped ship and now he's working for our competitor.

to run a tight ship = manage a company effectively.Our new boss really runs a tight ship.

to desert/leave a sinking ship = leave a place or a person when things become difficult.She didn't want to desert a sinking ship but the company situation was really unbearable.

somebody's train of thought = somebody's sequence of ideas.She couldn't follow his train of thought on the matter.

to lose one's train of thought = forget what one was thinking about.I'm sorry, but I lost my train of thought. What was I saying?

Pag. 61

IDIOMS RELATED TO MUSIC

and all that jazz = and things like that. I need some glue, paper, string and all that jazz to make a kite.

to blow your own trumpet (GB) / horn (US) = talk a lot about your own achievements.Peter spent the whole evening blowing his own trumpet.

to call the tune = be in a position of authority to give orders and make decisions. In his job, Peter was able to call the tune.

to change one's tune = change one's ideas, start thinking in a different way, after something has happened. After the strike, will the president change his tune on taxes?

(as) clear as a bell = very clear. I fixed the radio, so now all the stations come in clear as a bell.

to dance to somebody's tune = do what somebody wants you to do. She's always dancing to her husband's tune.

to face the music = accept punishment for something. He made a big mistake but he can't still face the music.

to be music to one's ears = exactly what one wants to hear. His words were music to her ears.

to play something by ear = decide what to do according to the way something develops, without making exact plans. Depending on the weather, we'll play it by ear.

for a song = very cheaply. He bought his house for a song two years ago.

to make a song and dance about something = behave as if it was worse or more important that it really is. She made a song and dance about her aching feet, but it was nothing important.

it takes two to tango = when things go wrong, both sides are responsible for it. Stop blaming me for it, you know it takes two to tango!

to be fit as a fiddle = be in perfect health. She's 80, but still fit as a fiddle.

to play second fiddle (to somebody) = be in a lower position than somebody. He can't make any decisions, he just plays second fiddle to his boss.

to strike a chord = say something that people feel is familiar. Most of the things she says will strike a chord with other young women.

to whistle in the dark = try to show that you are brave when you are afraid, or that you know something when in fact you

Pag. 62

don't. He doesn't know what he's talking about, he's just whistling in the dark.

We thank Diego Arcos Cerda (from Quito, Ecuador) for his contribution.


1. My husband is the manager so he always

.

2. Oh, Romeo, you are so sweet. I must admit that your words

are .

3. I don't want to sit near James at the party, he's

always .

4.Stop complaining about your headache!

Don't !

5. I bought these old records at the flea

market last week.

6. After the accident, she on life.

7. Stop giving me orders, dear! I don't to

anyone!

8. She's just but she's really very

afraid.

Pag. 63

9. You were wrong, you shouldn't have hit him. Now you

should .

10. We lost our most valuable customer, and I'm sorry, but you know

that .

DIOMS RELATED TO SPORTS

the ball is in your court = it's your turn, it's your decision. We already decided what to do, now the ball is in your court.

out of left field = unexpected. Sheila didn't know what to do when she was asked that question out of left field.

to get to first base = to reach the first stage of success in an attempt to achieve something. We will get to first base when we finish this campaign.

to play the game = to accept the rules, to do things in the expected or usual way. If you want to be promoted, you have to play the game.

to hit below the belt = to hurt somebody in an unfair or cruel way. His comments hit below the belt.

to hold the aces = to have the necessary advantages so that you are sure that you will win. The Americans hold all the aces in space exploration.

to give the game away = to spoil a surprise or secret by doing something that lets somebody guess what the secret is. Laura gave the game away by laughing just when Tom came in.

a win-win situation = a situation that will end well for everyone involved. This campaign is a win-win situation.

to kick off = to start. The meeting kicked off with the director's speech.

to start/keep the ball rolling = to begin/continue something. To start the ball rolling, famous artists were invited to contribute to the campaign. To keep the ball rolling, people can donate their part too.

that's the way the ball bounces = that's the way things happen. Paul was fired because he had stolen a computer, that's the way the wall bounces.

to jump the gun = to start doing something too son. We have to take our time to think about this decision, so don't jump the gun.

to take time out = to take a break from an activity. I have a terrible headache, could we just take a time-out?

Pag. 64

to touch base with somebody = to talk to somebody about something. I have to touch base with my boss before

I present my resignation. to throw in the towel = to admit that you have been

defeated. I have to go on until I succeed, I'm not going to throw in the towel yet.

IDIOMS TO DO WITH EMOTIONS

FEELING HAPPY To be as pleased as Punch = to be really pleased. To be in seventh heaven = to be extremely

happy. To be on top of the world = to be really happy. To be thrilled to bits = to be very happy and

excited.

FEELING SAD / FED UP To be as miserable as sin = to be extremely sad. To be browned off = to be bored. To be downhearted = to feel sad. To have a long face = to look unhappy.

FEELING FRIGHTENED / SHOCKED To be in a cold sweat = to be in a state of shock or fear. To be rooted to the spot = to be unable to move through

fear. To be scared to death = to be extremely frightened. To go white as a sheet = to go pale through fear or shock.

FEELING WORRIED / ANXIOUS / NERVOUS To be keyed up = to be excited, tense. To be like a cat on hot bricks = to feel nervous and unable to

stand still.

Pag. 65

To be on tenterhooks = to be uncertain and anxious about what is going to happen.

To have something on one's mind = to have a problem that is worrying you.

FEELING CONFUSED / UNCERTAIN To be all at sea = to be puzzled and bewildered. To be at sixes and sevens = to be uncertain and confused. To be out of one's depth = to be in a situation which is

difficult for you to cope with.

FEELING ANGRY To be hopping mad = to be really angry. To be hot under the collar = to be annoyed or embarrassed. To go off at the deep end = to lose your temper, to become

very angry. To go spare = to lose your temper.

FEELING SURPRISED To be gobsmacked = to be very surprised. That's a turn up for the books! = you say it when something

surprising happens. You could have knocked me down with a

feather! = you say it to emphasize how surprised you were when you heard something.

FEELING QUARRELSOME / UNFRIENDLY

To have a go at somebody = to criticize somebody angrily. To tear somebody off a strip = to speak angrily to somebody

because they have done something wrong. To avoid somebody like the plague = to avoid somebody

completely. To cut somebody down to size = to reduce somebody's

sense of their own importance.

Pag. 66

IDIOMS WITH WEATHER

a sunny smile = a happy and friendly smile. The air hostess greeted the passengers with a sunny smile.

a stormy relationship = a relationship full of strong and angry feelings. They had a stormy relationship so they decided to get divorced.

a storm in a teacup = a lot of fuss about something unimportant. That's a storm in a teacup, stop fussing about it, you can do it.

a storm of protest / criticism = a situation in which people suddenly protest about or criticize something, showing very strong feelings. The government plan to raise the taxes provoked a storm of protest.

to weather the storm = to experience a difficult period and reach the end of it without being harmed too much. We're undergoing a difficult situation, but I will weather the storm.

to dance / sing up a storm = do something with energy. The schoolgirls were singing up a storm.

to be on cloud nine = to be very happy about something. When she realised that she had won the lottery, she was on cloud nine.

to have one's head in the clouds = to think about something that is unpractical. Come on, you always have your head in the clouds. It's time to get back to reality!

to be under a cloud (of suspicion) = to be suspected of doing something wrong or illegal. She left the company under a cloud of suspicion.

a cloud on the horizon = something that might spoil a happy situation. The only cloud on the horizon was the final exam in June.

every cloud has a silver lining = there is something good even in a difficult or sad situation. See, you lost your job but now you will start working for a better company. Every cloud has a silver lining.

to flood the market = to produce and a sell a large number of one type of thing, so that its price goes down. They have the intention to flood the market with their new mobile phones.

to be flooded with something = to receive so many letters or inquiries that you cannot deal with all of them. We've been flooded with letters, but we will try to answer them all.

in floods of tears = crying a lot. The little girl arrived in floods of tears.

Pag. 67

to shower somebody with something = to give somebody a lot of something. Her family showered her with birthday presents.

to shower something on / over something = to scatter something on / over a place.Hundreds of leaflets were showered over the streets.

to take the wind out of somebody's sails = to make somebody lose their confidence, especially by saying or doing something unexpected. She was ready to tell him that the relationship was over, but he appeared with a big bunch of flowers. That took the wind out of her sails.

a hail of bullets / stones = a large number of bullets / stones. The tanks were met by a hail of bullets.

to not have the foggiest idea = to not know something at all. None of us had the foggiest idea about how to use the computer.

a frosty look / stare / tone = an unfriendly look / stare / tone. I arrived late and the teacher gave me a frosty look.


1. They didn't about how to put the tent

up.

2. I'm e-mails from advertising companies.

3. The minister was met by from

protesters.

4. The government plans to close some hospitals

provoked .

5. That company is accused of with cheap

computers.

6. He was fired .

Pag. 68

7. Peter lost his job, but his family managed to

.

8. Travelers were shocked by the of the tour

guide.

9. The baby woke up .

10. Higher prices of fuel is another for

airlines.

NGLISH PROVERBS

Ofrecemos aquí una lista de los proverbios o refranes más comunes en inglés. Se incluye la equivalencia al español (y no la traducción literal) de cada proverbio.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.

A cat in gloves catches no mice.Gato con guantes no caza ratones.

A stitch in time saves nine.Más vale prevenir que curar.

A word is enough to the wise.A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.La ausencia alimenta al corazón.

Actions speak louder than words.Los hechos valen más que las palabras.Del dicho al hecho hay un gran trecho.

All cats are grey in the dark.Por la noche todos los gatos son pardos.

All roads lead to Rome.Todos los caminos conducen a Roma.

All that glitters is not gold.No es oro todo lo que reluce.

Pag. 69

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.Hay que divertirse y dejar de lado el trabajo por un rato.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.Más vale prevenir que curar.

Appearances are deceptive. / Looks are deceiving.Las apariencias engañan.

Barking dogs never bite.Perro ladrador, poco mordedor. / Perro que ladra no muerde.

Better late than never.Más vale tarde que nunca.

Better safe than sorry.Más vale pervenir que curar.

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer.

Birds of a feather flock together.Dios los cría y ellos se juntan.

Blood is thicker than water.Los lazos familiares son más fuertes.

Chip off the old block.De tal palo, tal astilla.

Common sense is the least common of senses.El sentido común es el menos común de los sentidos.

Do what is right, come what may.Haz siempre lo correcto.

Don't cry before you are hurt.No llores antes de tiempo.

Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth.A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.

Don't meet trouble halfway.No te preocupes antes de tiempo.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.No te lo juegues todo a una sola carta.

Early to bed, early to rise,makes the man healthy, wealthy and wise.A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda.

Every cloud has a silver lining.No hay mal que por bien no venga.

Every law has its loophole.Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa.

Every time the sheep bleats, it loses a mouthful.Oveja que bala, bocado pierde.

Experience is the mother of knowledge.La experiencia es la madre de la ciencia.

Finders, keepers; losers, weepers.El que se fue a Sevilla, perdió su silla.

Pag. 70

Give a dog a bad name and hang it.Hazte fama y échate a dormir. / Un perro maté y mataperros me llamaron.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.Dios aprieta pero no ahoga.

Half a loaf is better than none.Algo es algo, peor es nada. / Menos da una piedra.

He that fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.Soldado que huye, sirve para otra guerra. /Quien en tiempo huye, en tiempo acude.

Hunt with cats and you catch only rats.Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.

If you have made your bed, now lie in it.Si cometes un error, debes asumir las consecuencias.

In for a penny, in for a pound.De perdidos, al río.

It never rains, but it pours.Las desgracias nunca vienen solas.

It takes all sorts to make a world.Hay de todo en la viña del Señor.

It's good fishing in troubled waters.A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores.

It's never too late to learn.Nunca es tarde para aprender.

It's no good crying over spilt milk.A lo hecho, pecho. / No hay que llorar sobre la leche derramada.

It's the last straw that breaks the camel's back.Es la gota que colma el vaso.

Let bygones be bygones.Lo pasado, pisado. / Borrón y cuenta nueva.

Many hands make light work.Muchas manos hacen el trabajo ligero.

Money is the root of all evil.El dinero es el camino de la perdición.

More haste, less speed.Vísteme despacio que tengo prisa.

Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.No te hagas problema hasta que los problemas te angustien.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Quien no arriesga, no gana. / Quien no se arriesga, no cruza la mar.

One man's meat is another man's poison.Sobre gustos no hay nada escrito. / Para gustos, los colores.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.No hagas a los demás lo que no quieres que te hagan a ti.

Pag. 71

Politeness costs nothing.Lo cortés no quita lo valiente.

Rome wasn't built in a day.Roma no se hizo en un día.

Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.La experiencia es la madre de la sabiduría.

Take care of the pennies/pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.Ahorra la calderilla y tendrás dinero.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.De tal palo, tal astilla.

The die is cast.La suerte está echada.

The early bird catches the worm.A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.Lo mejor siempre lo tiene el otro.

The shoemaker's son goes always barefoot.En casa de herrero, cuchara de palo.

There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.Entre mano y boca desaparece la sopa. / Del plato a la boca se pierde la sopa.

Think twice, act wise.Piensa dos veces antes de actuar.

To call a spade, a spade.Al pan, pan y al vino, vino.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.Demasiados cocineros estropean el caldo. / Muchas manos en un plato hacen mucho garabato.

Two in distress makes sorrow less.Las penas compartidas saben a menos.

Variety is the spice of life.En la variedad está el gusto.

What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.Donde fueres haz lo que vieres.

When one is hungry, everything tastes good.Cuando hay hambre, no hay pan duro.

When there's a will, there's a way.Querer es poder.

While the cat's away, the mice will play.Cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan.

Pag. 72

You can't have your cake and eat it too.No se puede tener todo en la vida. / No puedes estar en misa y repicando.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.No se puede pedir peras al olmo. / Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.Loro viejo no aprende a hablar.

You have to take the rough with the smooth.Hay que tomar la vida como es. / Hay que estar a las duras y a las maduras.

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.Hoy por ti, mañana por mí.

THE STORY BEHIND THE IDIOMS

Descubre el verdadero origen de las expresiones idiomáticas más utilizadas en inglés!

A cock and bull story

This expression originated in the 18th century, at Stony Stratford in Buckinghamshire, England. That village had two small inns, one called 'The Cock' and the other called 'The Bull'. Coaches that would go from London to Birmingham and vice versa usually stopped there to change horses, at one

inn or the other. Travellers told their own stories there, which in general were exaggerated and funny. Today this expression means a silly story or a excuse that nobody believes.

Esta expresión se originó en el siglo XVIII, en Stony Stratford en Buckinghamshire, Inglaterra. En ese pueblo había dos pubs, uno llamado 'The Cock' y el otro llamado 'The Bull'. Los carruajes que iban de Londres a Birmingham y viceversa usualmente hacían una parada allí para cambiar los caballos, en uno de los dos pubs. Los viajeros contaban allí sus historias, generalmente exageradas y divertidas. Hoy en día, esta expresión significa una historia o excusa tonta que nadie se cree.

Pag. 73

A dark horse

This idiom means 'somebody who is not well known or doesn't talk about himself, but who has surprising abilities'. It comes from horse racing. A dark horse was an unknown horse on which it was difficult to place a bet. With time, the phrase was applied to other fields with the meaning we know today.

Esta frase significa 'alguien que no es muy conocido o no habla sobre sí mismo, pero que tiene habilidades sorprendentes'. Proviene de las carreras de caballos. Un dark horse (caballo oscuro) era un caballo desconocido sobre el cual resultaba difícil apostar. Con el tiempo, la frase fue aplicada a otros campos con el sentido con que se conoce hoy.

A white elephant

White elephants, also known as albino elephants, were considered holy in ancient times, specially in some Asian countries. To keep these animals was very expensive, because it was necessary to give them special food, and also to give access to the people who wanted to worship them. In Thailand, if a king was dissatisfied with someone, he would give him a white elephant, which would surely make that person lose all his money. Nowadays, this expression is used to refer to something that costs a lot of money to maintain but is useless.

Los elefantes blancos, también conocidos como elefantes albinos, eran considerados sagrados en la antigüedad, especialmente en ciertos países asiáticos. Mantener estos animales resultaba muy caro, porque era necesario darles comida especial, y también dar acceso a la gente que quería adorarlos. En Tailandia, si un rey no estaba conforme con alguien, le regalaba un elefante blanco, lo cual seguramente haría que esa persona pierda todo su dinero. Actualmente, esta expresión se usa

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para referirse a algo que cuesta mucho dinero mantener y no tiene ningún uso.

As easy as pie

This expression appeared in the United States in the mid-19th century. Even though it's not easy to make a pie, it's widely known that it is easy to be eaten. The phrase started to be used in literature and became later a part of colloquial language. Nowadays, it's used with the meaning 'very easy'. The first 'as' can also be omitted.

Esta expresión apareció en los Estados Unidos a mediados del siglo XIX. Aunque no es fácil hacer un pastel, generalmente se sabe que es fácil de comer. La frase comenzó a utilizarse en literatura y luego pasó a formar parte del idioma coloquial. En la actualidad se usa con el sentido de 'muy fácil'. El primer 'as' puede ser omitido.

As mad as a March hare

This idiom means "completely mad". It is believed that hares behave oddly during their mating season, which begins in March and extends several months. The expression was first used in literature in the mid-16th century, and it was even used later by Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The first 'as' can also be omitted.

Esta expresión significa "completamente loco". Se cree que las liebres se comportan de manera extraña durante su temporada de apareamiento, que comienza en marzo y se extiende durante varios meses. La expresión se utilizó por primera vez en literatura a mediados del siglo XVI, y fue incluso usada más tarde por Lewis Carroll en Alicia en el País de las Maravillas. El primer 'as' puede ser omitido.

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As old as the hills

This expression means "extremely old". It comes from the Bible, precisely from Job 15:7, where it says "Are you the first man that ever was born? Or were you made before the hills?" During the 18th century, it was introduced into the English language as a fixed expression originating from those words, with the meaning that we know nowadays.

Esta expresión significa "extremadamente viejo". Proviene de la Biblia, más precisamente de Job 15, 7, donde dice "¿Eres el primer hombre que ha nacido? O ¿fuiste creado antes que las colinas?". Durante el siglo XVIII, se introdujo al idioma inglés como una expresión fija originada a partir de esas palabras, con el significado que conocemos hoy en día.

At sixes and sevens

This phrase means "in disorder or in confusion". It first appeared in 1370 on a work by Geoffrey Chaucer. It used to make reference to betting everything that somebody had on one throw of the dice, meaning that this person was careless. Some years later, the idiom began to refer to disorder or confusion, just like its present meaning.

Esta frase significa "en desorden o en confusión". Apareció por primera vez en 1370 en una obra de Geoffrey Chaucer. Solía hacer referencia al hecho de apostar todo lo que alguien tenía a una tirada de dados, significando que esta persona era descuidada, despreocupada. Algunos años más tarde, la frase comenzó a referirse al desorden o confusión, tal como su significado actual.

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Bag and baggage

This expression means "with all one's possessions". It comes from the military phrase "to march off bag and baggage", meaning to depart without leaving anything behind for the enemy's use. Bag and baggage referred to the all the belongings of the army and that of each soldier. The phrase started to be used in other contexts in the 15th century. For example: When Peter quit his job, he walked out, bag and baggage.

Esta expresión significa "con todas sus pertenencias". Proviene de la frase militar "to march off bag and baggage", que significaba irse sin dejar nada que pueda usar el enemigo. Bag and baggage se refería a todas las pertenencias del ejército y a las de cada soldado. La frase se comenzó a utilizar en otros contextos en el siglo XV. Por ejemplo: When Peter quit his job, he walked out, bag and baggage.

Baker's dozen

This expression means "thirteen of something". It comes from a practice of bakers in medieval times. They used to include an extra loaf of bread in a dozen, so as to avoid being fined for selling less weight than it was permitted. A dozen had to have a certain weight regulated by law. To be sure that they weren't breaking the law, bakers included one (or two) more pieces of bread. The phrase began to be used in the 17th century to refer to a group of

thirteen items.

Esta expresión significa "trece de algo". Proviene de la práctica de los panaderos en la época medieval. Solían incluir un pancito extra con la docena, para evitar ser multados por vender menos peso del permitido. Una docena debía tener un peso determinado regulado por la ley. Para asegurarse de no estar violando la ley, los panaderos incluían uno (o dos) pancitos más. La frase comenzó a usarse en el siglo XVII para referirse a un grupo de trece elementos.

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Black Friday

The Friday after Thanksgiving (which is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November) is called Black Friday. It's the busiest shopping day in the USA and it's the beginning of the Christmas shopping

season. It's called like that because on that day all shops earn a lot of money from sales, so they go into the black (as opposed to be in the red, meaning that they have debts).

El viernes siguiente al Día de Acción de Gracias (que se celebra siempre el cuarto jueves de noviembre) es llamado Black Friday (Viernes Negro). Es el día de mayor cantidad de ventas en los Estados Unidos y es el comienzo de la temporada de compras para Navidad. Se lo llama así porque ese día todos los comercios ganan mucho dinero de las ventas, entonces vuelven al "negro" (en oposición a estar en "rojo", que significa que tienen deudas).

Can't hold a candle

This idiom originated in the times when there was no electricity and candles were used instead. If a master needed light,

he would employ an apprentice to hold the candle for him. Therefore, if someone was not fit to hold it or couldn't hold it to somebody else, he was considered inferior to the other. This is the meaning used nowadays. Notice that it's followed by the preposition to (can't hold a candle to somebody).

Esta expresión se originó en la época en que no existía la electricidad y en su lugar se usaban velas. Si el dueño de casa necesitaba luz, tenía un sirviente para que le sostenga la vela. Por lo tanto, si alguien no era apto para sostenerla o no podía sostenerla para otra persona, se lo consideraba inferior. Este es el sentido que tiene esta expresión en la actualidad. Note que es seguida de la preposición "to" (can't hold a candle to somebody).

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Cloud nine

The expression "to be on cloud nine" means "to be in a state of euphoria, or extremely happy". It appeared around 1950 in the United States. Many people believe that the use of number nine refers to the highest number in the meteorological classification

of clouds. However, this number was probably chosen because of its numerological significance and because it was already used in other phrases like dressed to the nines and the whole nine yards.

La expresión "to be on cloud nine" significa "estar en un estado de euforia, o extremadamente feliz". Apareció alrededor de 1950 en los Estados Unidos. Muchos creen que el uso del número nueve se refiere al número más alto en la clasificación meteorológica de las nubes. Sin embargo, este número fue probablemente elegido por su significado numerológico y porque ya era usado en otras frases como dressed to the nines y the whole nine yards.

Crocodile tears

In the past, it was often believed that crocodiles shed tears that slid down into their mouths to moisten the food, making it easier to chew and swallow. Nowadays, this expression is used when

someone pretends to cry to manipulate the situation. If someone sheds crocodile tears, it means they look sad or upset but in fact they are

not.

En el pasado, se creía comúnmente que los cocodrilos derramaban lágrimas que corrían hasta sus bocas para humedecer la comida, haciendo que sea más fácil de masticar y tragar. Hoy en día, esta expresión se utiliza cuando alguien simula llorar para manipular la situación. Si alguien derrama lágrimas de cocodrilo, significa que aparentemente lucen tristes o preocupados pero en realidad no lo están.

Dressed to the nines

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This may come from an alteration of "dressed to the eyes", which was written in Old English as "to then eyne". The letter n of then was

removed and moreover, eyne was changed to nine. Another explanation is that the number ten is considered the ultimate point of perfection. Therefore,

if someone is dressed to the nines, he must look really smart.

Esta frase podría tener su origen en una aliteración de "dressed to the eyes", vestido para los ojos, que en inglés antiguo se escribía "to then eyne". La letra n fue extraída y además, eyne cambió por nine. Otra explicación es que el número diez es considerado como el punto máximo de la perfección. Por lo tanto, si alguien se viste para nueve, estaría muy bien vestido.

Fast asleep

This phrase means 'sleeping deeply'. Fast comes from the Old German wordfest, meaning steady or stuck firmly. Therefore, to be fast asleep means to be steady in sleep.

Esta frase significa 'durmiendo profundamente'. Fast proviene de la palabra del alemán antiguo fest, que significa fijo o firmemente atascado. Por lo tanto, to be fast asleep significa estar fijo en el sueño.

High and dry

This expression means "without any help, or without the things that you need". It comes from the reference to ships that were stranded when the water that surrounded them

became too low. Therefore, the ships were too 'high'. The 'dry' refers that they were out of the water for a long time.

Esta expresión significa "sin ninguna ayuda, o sin las cosas que se necesitan". Proviene de la referencia a los barcos que quedaban varados cuando el agua que los rodeaba bajaba demasiado. Por lo tanto, los barcos quedaban 'altos'. El 'dry' (seco) se refiere a que estaban fuera del agua por un tiempo prolongado.

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In the limelight

This idiom comes from the fact that a limelight was used during the 19th century to illuminate the actors

in theatres. The light was produced by burning a piece of lime and it was first used in a public theatre in

Covent Garden in 1837. The expression was later used figuratively to refer to a situation in which somebody is at the centre of attention.

Esta expresión idiomática proviene del hecho que una luz de cal era usada durante el siglo XIX para iluminar a los actores en los teatros. La luz era producida al quemar un trozo de cal y fue utilizada por primera vez en un teatro público en Covent Garden en 1837. Más tarde, la expresión fue usada en sentido figurado para referirse a una situación en la cual alguien está en el centro de atención.

It's raining cats and dogs

This is a very old expression linked to the ancient beliefs of sailors and also to Norse mythology. Cats were associated with heavy

rain and dogs with storms and wind. Therefore, this expression was used to refer to severe

rainstorms. Nowadays, it has become old-fashioned.

Esta es una vieja expresión relacionada con las antiguas creencias de los navegantes y también con las mitología nórdica. Los gatos eran relacionados con las fuertes lluvias y los perros, con las tormentas y el viento. Por lo tanto, esta expresión se usaba para referirse a terribles tormentas de lluvia y viento. En la actualidad, ha caído en desuso y se considera un poco anticuada.

Like a red rag to a bull

This idiom means 'a deliberate provocation, something that makes somebody angry'. In the past, a piece of cloth was used to distract and catch different kinds of animals, like pheasants and turkeys. This was applied to bullfighting,

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where the bullfighter holds a red rag to infuriate the bull, giving origin to this expression. However, bulls cannot distinguish colours, they are merely enraged by the waving of the cloth.

Esta frase significa 'una provocación deliberada, algo que hace enojar a alguien'. En el pasado, se utilizaba un pedazo de tela para distraer y atrapar a diferentes tipos de animales, como faisanes y pavos. Esto fue aplicado a las corridas de toros, donde el torero sostiene una tela roja para enfurecer al toro, dando origen a esta expresión. Sin embargo, los toros no pueden distinguir los colores, se enfurecen simplemente por el movimiento de la tela.

Never look a gift-horse in the mouth

This is an old saying and it's related to the way that a horse's age is calculated: by looking at its teeth. The expression now means that you should accept a received gift without trying to find a fault in it.

Este viejo refrán A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes se encuentra relacionado con el método con el cual se calcula la edad de un caballo: mirándole los dientes. Actualmente, la expresión significa que se debe aceptar un regalo sin intentar encontrarle algún defecto.

Once in a blue moon

This expression means "very rarely". The "blue moon" refers to the second full moon in the same calendar month, something that occurs not very often, almost every two years and a half, to be exact. Well, it occurred

in July 2004, when there was a full moon on July 2nd and on July 31st. The second one is called "blue moon". This expression also originates from the fact that the moon is never blue, with the exception of rare occasions when there is lot of dust in the atmosphere, like during the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883 and the forest fires in Canada in 1951.

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Esta expresión significa "muy raramente". La luna azul ("blue moon") se refiere a la segunda luna llena en el mismo mes del calendario, algo que no ocurre muy a menudo, casi cada dos años y medio, para ser exactos. Bueno, ocurrió en julio de 2004, cuando hubo luna llena el 2 de julio y el 31 de julio. La segunda se llama "luna azul". Esta expresión también se origina por el hecho de que la luna nunca está azul, salvo en raras ocasiones cuando hay mucho polvo en la atmósfera, como ocurrió durante la erupción del volcán Krakatoa en 1883 y los incendios forestales de Canadá en 1951.

Red-letter day

This expression is nowadays used to refer to a day that is remembered because something special happened. It obviously comes from the old practice of showing the dates

of religious festivities or holy days on calendars in red. Much later it began to be used to refer to any day that is considered special or different from the others.

Esta expresión es usada en la actualidad para referirse a un día que se recuerda porque ocurrió algo especial. Obviamente proviene de la antigua costumbre de mostrar las fechas de las festividades religiosas o los días festivos en los calendarios en rojo. Mucho después comenzó a usarse para referirse a cualquier día que se considera especial o diferente de los otros.

Red tape

This expression refers to the bureaucracy or the official rules that seem unnecessary and prevent things from being done quickly and easily. It comes from the practice of binding legal documents with red cloth tape, a custom that started in the 17th century and still continues. By the 19th century, the term began to be used

figuratively with the meaning we know today.

Esta expresión se refiere a la burocracia o a las reglas oficiales que parecen innecesarias y evitan que las cosas se realicen con rapidez y facilidad. Proviene de la práctica de atar los documentos legales con una cinta roja, una costumbre que comenzó en el siglo XVII y que aún continúa. Hacia el siglo XIX, el término comenzó a usarse en sentido figurado con el significado que conocemos en la actualidad.

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Shopping days until Christmas

This expression was coined by Harry Gordon Selfridge, a famous American retailer, founder of the British

department store Selfridges. While working for the company Marshall Field in Chicago, he came with the

idea of putting a sign saying "Only ... shopping days until Christmas" to promote sales. The phrase was quickly picked up by other retailers too.

Esta expresión fue acuñada por Harry Gordon Selfridge, un famoso comerciante minorista norteamericano, fundador de los grandes almacenes británicos Selfridges. Mientras trabajaba para la compañía Marshall Field en Chicago, se le ocurrió la idea de colocar un cartel que decía "Sólo ... días de compras hasta Navidad" para promocionar las ventas. La frase fue rápidamente adoptada también por otros comercios minoristas.

Straight from the horse's mouth

This expression means "from the highest authority". It comes from horse racing. People who bet usually speculate which horse is likely to win the race. For

this purpose, the most trusted authorities are those who are in contact with the horse. But the idea of "straight from the horse's mouth" means even from a better source, i.e. from the horse itself.

Esta expresión significa "de la más alta autoridad". Proviene de las carreras de caballos. Las personas que apuestan normalmente especulan qué caballo podría ganar la carrera. Para esto, las autoridades más confiables son aquellas que están en contacto con el caballo. Pero la idea de "directamente de la boca del caballo" significa incluso una mejor fuente de información, es decir, del caballo mismo.

Tell it to the marines

This expression is used to show disbelief at something that has just been said. It comes from the fact that in the past marines were considered stupid or innocent by regular sailors. They would believe anything they were told, even if it was something foolish or false. That's why when you doubt about what someone is saying you can yell at him this idiom.

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Esta expresión se utiliza para mostrar incredulidad en algo que se ha dicho. Surge del hecho que en el pasado, los navegantes consideraban a los marineros como estúpidos o inocentes. Creían cualquier cosa que les decían, incluso si era algo tonto o falso. Por eso, cuando se duda sobre lo que alguien dice se puede emplear este expresión.

The black sheep

Somebody is called the black sheep of the family when he/she is regarded as the odd one out, the one who brings disgrace to the rest. This expression comes from the fact that a black sheep is considered the outcast of any flock, perhaps because its dark colour frightens the white sheep,

but also because the black fleece cannot be sold for wool, being of no use to the shepherd.

Alguien es llamado la oveja negra de la familia cuando es considerado distinto a los demás, o como el que trae la desgracia al resto. Esta expresión proviene del hecho de que una oveja negra se considera marginada del resto del rebaño, quizás porque su color oscuro asusta a las ovejas blancas. Pero también porque la lana negra no puede venderse, y la oveja negra no brinda ninguna utilidad al pastor.

To bark up the wrong tree

This expression means to do something in a way that will not give you the information or result you want. It derives from the practice of using

dogs for foxhunt. Dogs usually run after the fox until it is trapped in a tree, and they start barking

up, in the direction of the fox. The idea of barking at a tree when the fox is actually not there, is regarded as something useless.

Esta expresión significa hacer algo de una manera que no da la información o resultado esperado. Proviene de la práctica de utilizar perros para la cacería de zorros. Normalmente, los perros corren al zorro hasta que queda atrapado en un árbol, y comienzan a ladrar hacia arriba, en dirección al zorro. La idea de ladrar hacia un árbol cuando el zorro en realidad no está allí, es considerado como algo inútil o realizado en vano.

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To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

This expression is used to refer to a member of a wealthy family. It was probably originated from an old custom whereby godparents used to present the child at the christening with a silver spoon.

Esta expresión se usa para referirse a un miembro de una familia adinerada. Probablemente se originó en una vieja costumbre según la cual los padrinos solían presentar al niño al bautismo con una cuchara de plata.

To be long in the tooth

This phrase means 'to be old'. It comes from the concept that in horses gums recede with age, and teeth appear to grow longer. This idea was applied to horses in order to determine their age and therefore, their value. But by 1850 it also

began to be used to refer informally to old people.

Esta frase significa 'ser viejo'. Proviene del concepto de que en los caballos las encías se hunden con la edad, y parece que crecieran los dientes. Esta idea se aplicaba a los caballos para determinar su edad y por lo tanto, su valor. Pero hacia 1850 se comenzó a usar también para referirse informalmente a las personas mayores.

To be on the pig's back

This expression means "to be happy, to be rich". It comes from an Irish phrase that was literally translated into English. In Ireland it was already in use in the 17th century to mean "to be well off, in good conditions". Some time later in the 19th century it was introduced

into the English language.

Esta expresión significa "estar contento, ser rico". Proviene de una frase irlandesa que fue traducida literalmente al inglés. En Irlanda ya se utiilizaba en el siglo XVII con el significado de "ser adinerado, estar en buenas condiciones". Un poco más tarde, en el siglo XIX fue introducida al idioma inglés.

To break the ice

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This expression means "to break down social stiffness, to start up a conversation". It originally comes from the ships known as icebreakers, that were used to break the ice on the sea or rivers, making a path for other larger ships. In the

17th century, that phrase began to be used with the figurative meaning of "breaking the cold atmosphere" in uncomfortable social situations, especially when meeting a stranger.

Esta expresión significa "romper la frialdad social, comenzar una conversación". Proviene originalmente de los barcos conocidos como rompehielos, que se usaban para romper el hielo en el mar o los ríos, abriendo camino para otros barcos más grandes. En el siglo XVII, la frase comenzó a utilizarse con el sentido figurado de "romper la atmósfera fría" en situaciones sociales incómodas, especialmente al conocer a un extraño.

To bury the hatchet

This comes from the American custom of burying hawks and other weapons as a sign that hostilities between the American Indians and the White had ended. Nowadays, this idiom is used to refer to coming to peaceful terms with an opponent.

Esta frase (literalmente "enterrar el hacha") proviene de la costumbre norteamericana de enterrar las armas como signo de que las hostilidades entre los indígenas norteamericanos y los blancos había terminado. Actualmente, se usa para referirse a llegar a términos pacíficos con un oponente.

To catch someone red-handed

This meaning of this idiom is "to find someone when he/she is doing something wrong". It alludes to the discovery of the murderer so soon after committing the crime that blood is still on his hands.

El significado de esta frase es "encontrar a alguien haciendo algo incorrecto". Hace referencia a descubrir al asesino muy rápido, justo después de que haya cometido el crimen y con sangre aún en sus manos. Equivale al español "atrapar a alguien con las manos en la masa".

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To cut the mustard

This idiom means "to be very good". It appeared in 1898, when it was used to mean that something couldn't cut the mustard,

or couldn't be better than mustard. Mustard is considered something that adds flavour. Therefore if something is better than mustard, it's exceptionally good.

Esta frase significa "ser muy bueno". Apareció en 1898, cuando se utilizó para indicar que algo no podía ser mejor que la mostaza. La mostaza es considerada como algo que añade sabor. Por lo tanto si algo es mejor que la mostaza, es excepcionalmente bueno.

To cut to the chase

This phrase means "to get to the point, to leave details out". It originated during the early days of the cinema in the

United States. Most of the silent films produced in that time ended with a chase. The phrase was literally used

to change from one slow, dramatic scene to one full of action, like the chase. In the 1960s it began to be used

figuratively as we know it today.

Esta frase significa "ir al grano, dejar fuera los detalles". Se originó durante los comienzos del cine en los Estados Unidos. La mayoría de las películas del cine mudo producidas en aquella época terminaban con una persecución. La frase se utilizaba literalmente para cambiar de una escena lenta, dramática a otra llena de acción, como la persecución. En los años 60 comenzó a usarse en forma figurada tal como se la conoce hoy en día.

To fly off the handle

This expression means "to lose one's temper". It comes from the idea that in the past, axe heads were known to fly off the handle in an uncontrolled way while being used, causing injuries to the user or people nearby. It was coined in 1844 by Canadian writer Thomas C. Haliburton, in one of his Sam Slick

tales.

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Esta expresión significa "perder los estribos, enojarse". Proviene de la idea de que en el pasado, las cabezas de las hachas solían salir volando del mango en forma descontrolada cuando se usaban, provocando daño al usuario o a las personas que estaban cerca. Fue acuñada en 1844 por el escritor canadiense Thomas C. Haliburton, en uno de sus cuentos de Sam Slick.

To get/jump on the bandwagon

This idiom means "to start doing something that a lot of people are already doing". It originated during the mid-19th century in the United States. During that time, a bandwagon was a large wagon used to transport a musical band in a circus procession. Lots of people followed this circus parade when it came through a town.

The same idea was later used in political campaigns, when the politicians were carried in a wagon and their followers

came behind. The expression to get/jump on the bandwagon was then used with the meaning "to attach to anything that may succeed, to follow the crowds".

Esta expresión idiomática significa "comenzar a hacer algo que un montón de gente ya está haciendo". Se originó a mediados del siglo XIX en los Estados Unidos. En esa época, un bandwagon era una gran carroza que se utilizaba para transportar una banda de músicos en un desfile de circo. Mucha gente seguía este desfile del circo cuando atravesaba una ciudad. La misma idea fue usada más tarde en campañas políticas, donde los políticos eran llevados en una carroza y sus seguidores venían detrás. La expresión to get/jump on the bandwagon (subirse al carro) se utilizaba con el significado "unirse a algo que puede tener éxito, seguir a las masas".

To have bats in the belfry

This jocular expression is used in American English to refer to someone who is insane or eccentric. It originally appeared in the United States in 1899. A belfry is a place where bats may be found. The word "bats" is used as an alliteration of the word "batty", which means slightly crazy. In this case, the belfry represents the head and

the bats are the strange ideas or thoughts that the person has.

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Esta expresión jocosa se utiliza en inglés americano para referirse a alguien que está loco o que es excéntrico. Originalmente apareció en los Estados Unidos en 1899. Un campanario (belfry) es un lugar donde pueden encontrarse murciélagos (bats). La palabra "bats" se utiliza como una aliteración de la palabra "batty", que significa un poco loco. En este caso, el campanario representa la cabeza y los murciélagos son las ideas o pensamientos extraños que la persona tiene.

To have seen the elephant

This American idiom means "to have experience, to have seen the world." It originated at the beginning of the 19th century. The elephant is only a metaphor, referring to something exotic or unusual, just as what would be seen by a person who has a lot of travel experience. There is an

equivalent idiom in British English: to have seen the lions.

Esta frase norteamericana significa "tener experiencia, haber visto el mundo". Se originó a comienzos del siglo XX. El elefante es solamente una metáfora, que se refiere a algo exótico o inusual, como lo que vería una persona que tiene mucha experiencia de viajes. Existe una frase equivalente en inglés británico: to have seen the lions.

To have seen the lions

Nowadays this British expression means "to have a lot of experience, to have seen everything". It originated in the 16th century when people who came to London from other towns were taken to see the lions that were kept in the Tower of London, as a tourist attraction. Therefore, they would say "I have seen the lions" to mean they had seen the most

important thing there was to see.

Esta expresión británica actualmente significa "tener mucha experiencia, haber visto todo". Se originó en el siglo XVI cuando la gente que visitaba Londres desde otras ciudades eran llevados a ver los leones que estaban en la Torre de Londres, como una atracción turística. Por lo tanto, decían "He visto los leones" para indicar que habían visto lo más importante que había para ver.

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To have somebody over a barrel

This phrase means to put somebody in a situation in which he is forced to accept what another person wants. It originated during the 19th century, when prisoners were strapped over a barrel to be beaten with a whip or stick.

Esta frase significa colocar a alguien en una situación en la cual está forzado a aceptar lo que otra persona desea. Se originó durante el siglo XIX, cuando los prisioneros eran amarrados sobre un barril para ser golpeados con un látigo o una vara.

To jump the gun

This idiom means "to start something too soon, without thinking about it carefully". It comes from the track and field races organised in the early 20th century, where some athletes would start before the gunshot as a trick

to take some advantage. Some years later it began to be used figuratively with the meaning it has today.

Esta frase significa "comenzar algo demasiado rápido, sin pensar detenidamente en ello". Proviene de las carreras de atletismo organizadas a principios del siglo XX, en las que algunos atletas comenzaban antes del disparo como trampa para sacar ventaja. Algunos años más tarde se comenzó a utilizar en sentido figurado con su significado actual.

To keep up with the Joneses

This idiom means to try to have the same impressive possessions that other people have. It comes from the title of the comic strip created by Arthur R. Momand in 1913, "Keeping up with the Joneses". Throughout this comic, the McGinis were envious of their neighbours, the Joneses. By 1920, the expression began to be used in the sense it has nowadays.

Este modismo significa intentar tener los mismos bienes impresionantes que otras personas tienen. Proviene del título de una

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tira de historieta creada por Arthur R. Momand en 1913, "Keeping up with the Joneses". A lo largo de esta historieta, los McGinis estaban envidiosos de sus vecinos, los Joneses. Hacia 1920, la expresión comenzó a utilizarse en el sentido que tiene actualmente.

To learn the ropes

This expression means "to learn something new, to understand how to do a particular activity". It

comes from the times when sailing ships had new recruits who had to learn how to handle the ropes to raise the sails. The expression was later

introduced into everyday language with the meaning we know today.

Esta expresión significa "aprender algo nuevo, entender cómo se hace una actividad específica". Proviene de los tiempos en que los barcos de vela tenían nuevos reclutas que debían aprender a manejar las cuerdas para levantar las velas. Más tarde, la expresión fue introducida al idioma cotidiano con el significado que conocemos hoy.

To let off some steam

As you know, in steam heating systems and steam engines (like steam locomotives), boilers are used. They contain water that is heated by burning some fuel and then, the heated water turns to steam. This steam generates a lot of pressure in the boiler. If there's too much pressure, the boiler may explode. That's why boilers have safety valves that are opened to avoid this. The expression "to let off some steam" comes from the fact that blowing some steam prevents explosions in the boiler. Nowadays, this idiom means "to relax".

Como ya sabrás, en los sistemas de calefacción a vapor y en los motores a vapor (como las locomotoras a vapor), se utilizan calderas. Estas contienen agua que es calentada quemando algún combustible y luego, el agua caliente se convierte en vapor. Este vapor genera mucha presión en la caldera. Si hay mucha presión, la caldera podría explotar. Por eso las calderas tienen válvulas de seguridad que se abren para evitarlo. La expresión "to let off some steam" proviene del hecho de que liberar algo de vapor previene las explosiones en la caldera. Hoy en día, esta frase idiomática significa "relajarse".

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To let the cat out of the bag

This idiom was probably originated in English marketplaces many years ago. Traders would put a cat in a bag and would try to deceive possible customers by saying it was a pig. People would buy the bag without close inspection of the contents, but then they would let the cat out of the bag and realize that they had been deceived, which is the meaning it has nowadays.

Esta frase se originó probablemente en los mercados ingleses hace muchos años. Los comerciantes colocaban un gato en una bolsa y luego intentaban engañar a los clientes diciendo que contenía un cerdo. La gente compraba la bolsa sin fijarse en el interior, pero luego al abrirla, dejaban salir al gato y se daban cuenta que habían sido engañados, que es el significado que tiene la frase hoy en día.

To play ducks and drakes

This expression means "to squander one's wealth, or to behave irresponsibly". It comes from the pastime called "ducks and drakes", where a flat stone is thrown across calm water so that it bounces several times. Around the year 1600, this pastime was considered idle play, and the expression began to be used to give the idea of throwing away things carelessly, or squandering one's money.

Esta expresión significa "despilfarrar la riqueza, o comportarse irresponsablemente". Proviene del pasatiempo llamado "ducks and drakes" (juego de la rana, hacer patitos, hacer sapitos), en el cual se lanza una piedra plana sobre agua calma para que rebote varias veces. Alrededor del año 1600, este pasatiempo era considerado un juego holgazán o frívolo, y la expresión comezó a usarse para dar la idea de tirar las cosas sin cuidado, o de despilfarrar el dinero.

To push the envelope

This expression means "to try to go beyond the normal limits of something". It appeared in American English in the

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mid-19th century, when it was used with the meaning "to fly an aircraft beyond its limits". Airplanes were taken through different conditions, specially during flight tests. The term envelope was used here in a mathematical sense to refer to an area with many curves.

Esta expresión significa "intentar ir más allá de los límites normales de algo". Apareció en el inglés americano a mediados del siglo XIX, cuando se usaba con el significado "volar un avión más allá de sus límites". Se sometía a los aviones a diferentes condiciones, especialmente durante pruebas de vuelo. El término envelope se utilizaba aquí con un sentido matemático para referirse a un área con muchas curvas.

To push the boat out

This idiom means 'to spend more money than usual for a special occasion'. It originated in the early 20th century, when people needed to push boats to take them into the water. As boats were too large, the sailor needed the help of other people to move it, giving to the phrase the sense of generosity. During the 1930s it was used with

the meaning 'to buy a round of drinks for everybody'. This concept was then applied generally to refer to the action of spending money generously.

Esta frase significa 'gastar más dinero de lo normal para una ocasión especial'. Se originó a principios del siglo XX, cuando la gente necesitaba empujar los botes para meterlos en el agua. Como los botes eran muy grandes, el navegante necesitaba la ayuda de otra gente para moverlo, dando a la frase el sentido de generosidad. Durante los años 30 se utilizaba con el significado 'comprar una ronda de bebidas para todos'. Este concepto fue luego aplicado en forma generalizada para referirse a la acción de gastar dinero en forma generosa.

To run out of steam

This expression means "to run out of energy". It comes from steam engines that slow down or stop when they don't receive enough steam. In the late 19th century, the phrase began to be used figuratively to refer to the moment when a person becomes tired and cannot continue doing an activity.

Esta expresión significa "quedarse sin energía". Proviene de los motores a vapor que reducen la velocidad o se detienen cuando no reciben suficiente vapor. A finales del siglo XIX, la frase comenzó a

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utilizarse figuradamente para referirse al momento en que una persona se cansa y no puede continuar realizando una actividad.

To take something with a grain/pinch of salt

This expression means "to accept something but to not completely believe it". It originates from the idea that adding salt to food helps to swallow it more easily. In the 17th century this concept was applied in a figurative sense, meaning that adding a grain/pinch of salt makes it easier to accept what someone says.

Esta expresión significa "aceptar algo pero no creer completamente en ello". Se origina a partir de la idea de que agregar sal a la comida ayuda a tragarla más fácilmente. En el siglo XVII este concepto se aplicó con sentido figurado, para indicar que agregar un grano/una pizca de sal hace que sea más fácil aceptar lo que alguien dijo.

To talk/speak of the devil

The original form of the proverb was 'talk of the devil and he's sure to appear', which was already used in the 17th century. Today, only the first part of the phrase remains and is used to refer to someone who unexpectedly appears when you have just been talking about him.

La forma original de este proverbio era "habla del diablo y seguro aparece", que ya se usaba en el siglo XVII. Actualmente, sólo la primera parte se usa para referirse a alguien que aparece inesperadamente justo en el momento en que se estaba hablando de él.

To throw in the towel

This expression means "to admit defeat, to give up". It comes from boxing. When a boxer is suffering a beating, his trainer throws a towel into the ring to stop the fight and to indicate that they give up. Around 1920 the

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phrase began to be used in other contexts, with the meaning of "to give up, surrender, specially when you realise that you won't succeed".

Esta expresión significa "admitir una derrota, darse por vencido". Proviene del boxeo. Cuando un boxeador está sufriendo una paliza, su entrenador arroja una toalla dentro del ring para detener la pelea e indicar que abandonan. Alrededor de 1920 la frase se comenzó a utilizar en otros contextos, con el significado de "darse por vencido, rendirse, especialmente al darse cuenta de que no se tendrá éxito".

To upset the apple cart

This old expression probably derives from the way that apples were taken to market. The roads were rocky so if the wheel stuck, the whole load of apples would tumble. Nowadays, the meaning of this expression is to disrupt a plan or arrangement.

Esta vieja frase proviene de la forma en que se transportaban las manzanas al mercado. Los caminos eran de roca y si la rueda se trababa, todas las manzanas se caían. Hoy en día, el significado de este modismo es interrumpir un plan o acuerdo. Sería el equivalente a la expresión echar por tierra.

To win hands down

This expression means "to win something easily, with little effort". It comes from horse racing and it originated in the mid-19th century. A jockey who was well ahead and sure to win could drop his hands and loose the reins. By the end of the 19th century, the phrase began to be used figuratively in other contexts, with the meaning we know

today.

Esta expresión significa "ganar algo fácilmente, con poco esfuerzo". Proviene de las carreras de caballos y se originó a mediados del siglo XIX. Un jockey que estaba bastante adelante y seguro de ganar podía bajar sus manos y soltar las riendas. Hacia finales del siglo XIX, la frase

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comenzó a utilizarse figuradamente en otros contextos, con el significado que conocemos hoy.

Top drawer

This expression means "of the highest quality, category or importance". It comes from the allusion to the top

drawer in a chest of drawers, in which the most valuable objects are usually kept. Around 1900 the phrase began

to be used to refer to the upper class, and later, to any object or person of the highest quality.

Esta expresión significa "de la más alta calidad, categoría o importancia". Proviene de la alusión al cajón superior (top drawer) de una cómoda, en el cual se guardan normalmente los objetos más valiosos. Alrededor del 1900 la frase se comenzó a utilizar para referirse a la clase alta, y más tarde, a cualquier objeto o persona de la más alta calidad.

Vis-à-vis

The expression vis-à-vis means "in relation to". It comes from the French word that was used in the 18th century to refer to a carriage in which the passengers would sit face-to-face. It was later used to refer to any situation in which two or more people were opposite each other. Nowadays, it's used to describe things that are in direct relation to one another.

La expresión vis-à-vis significa "en relación a". Proviene de la palabra francesa que se usaba en el siglo XVIII para referirse a un carruaje en el cual los pasajeros se sentaban cara a cara. Más tarde fue utilizada para referirse a cualquier situación en que dos o más personas estaban una frente a otra. Hoy en día se usa para describir cosas que están en directa relación una con otra.

THE STORY BEHIND THE WORDS

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Abacus

This word comes from the Greek abax, which means "sand used as a writing surface". In the past, people used

to count using columns of pebbles laid out on the sand. Some time later, the abacus was invented using a similar system of beads sliding on rods. The word was introduced

into English in 1387 to refer to the abacus used by the Arabs.

Esta palabra proviene del griego abax, que significa "arena usada como una superficie para escribir". En el pasado, la gente solía contar usando columnas de piedritas sobre la arena. Un tiempo después, se inventó el ábaco usando un sistema similar de cuentas que se deslizaban sobre varas. La palabra fue introducida al inglés en 1387 para referirse al ábaco usado por los árabes.

Acrobat

This word comes from the Greek word akrobatos, where akros means high and batmeans to go. Therefore, it refers to a person who goes high or climbs up high. Nowadays, the word is used to describe

someone who entertains people by walking on his hands, balancing on a high rope or doing difficult physical actions, especially at a circus.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra griega akrobatos, donde akros significa alto y bat significa ir. Por lo tanto, se refiere a una persona que va alto o que trepa alto. En la actualidad, la palabra se usa para describir a alguien que entretiene a la gente caminando sobre sus manos, balanceándose en una cuerda floja o realizando acciones físicas difíciles, especialmente en un circo.

Angel

This word comes from the Greek word angelos, which means messenger. It was originally used to translate

the Hebrew word mal'ak into Greek, when the Hebrew Scriptures were translated. Then, the word was introduced into Latin as angelus and it was later picked up by Germanic languages like English,

where it first appeared around the year 900.

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Esta palabra proviene de la palabra griega angelos, que significa mensajero. Originalmente fue usada para traducir la palabra hebrea mal'ak al griego, cuando se tradujeron las Escrituras Hebreas. Luego, la palabra se introdujo en el latín con la forma angelus y más tarde fue tomada por las lenguas germánicas como el inglés, donde apareció por primera vez alrededor del año 900.

Atlas

This word comes from Greek mythology. Atlas was punished for revolting against the king of Gods, Zeus. As part of the punishment, he was condemned to hold the world on his shoulders. A drawing of him appeared in 1595 on a collection of maps published by the editorial Mercator. With time, the word atlas began to be used to refer to any book

that contains a collection of maps.

Esta palabra surge de la mitología griega. Atlas fue castigado por rebelarse contra el rey de los Dioses, Zeus. Como parte del castigo, fue condenado a sostener el mundo sobre sus hombros. Un dibujo de él apareció en 1595 en una colección de mapas publicada por la editorial Mercator. Con el tiempo, la palabra atlas comenzó a utilizarse para hacer referencia a cualquier libro que contiene una colección de mapas.

Bagel

A bagel is a Jewish bread in the shape of a ring, which has become popular in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. This

word obviously derives from the Yiddish word beygal, which comes from the German word Bügel, meaning stirrup. According to legends, the bagel originated in Vienna in 1683, when bakers invented this bread in the form of a stirrup, inspired by the victory obtained by King John III

Sobieski of Poland, who led the cavalry attack against the Turks in the Battle of Vienna.

Un bagel es un pan de origen judío con forma de anillo, que se ha vuelto popular en los Estados Unidos, Canadá y el Reino Unido. Esta palabra obviamente proviene de la palabra yidishbeygal, que procede de la palabra alemana Bügel, que significa estribo. Según las leyendas, el bagel se originó en Viena en 1683, cuando los panaderos inventaron este pan con forma de estribo, inspirados en la victoria obtenida por el Rey John III Sobieski de Polonia, quien lideró el ataque de caballería contra los turcos en la Batalla de Vienna.

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Bankrupt

This word refers to someone who has officially said that they cannot pay their debts. It originated in the 16th century and it derives from the Old Italian word 'bancarotta', which is the union of the words 'banca' (meaning bank) and 'rotta' (meaning broken).

Esta palabra denomina a alguien que ha declarado oficialmente que no puede pagar sus deudas. Se originó en el siglo XVI y proviene de la palabra del italiano antiguo 'bancarotta', que es la unión de las palabras 'banca' (que significa banco) y 'rotta' (que significa roto).

Barbecue

This word originated in the Caribbean, and it comes from the Spanish word 'barbacoa'. The original sense of this term refers to the raised framework used to cure meat. In English, it refers to the metal frame used for cooking outdoors, and also to the meal or party during which food is cooked (and usually eaten) outdoors. In American English, it's spelled barbeque.

Esta palabra tuvo origen en el Caribe, y proviene del español 'barbacoa'. El sentido original de este término se refiere al armazón elevado usado para curar (conservar) la carne. En inglés, se refiere a la estructura metálica usada para cocinar afuera, y también a la comida o fiesta durante la cual la comida se cocina (y usualmente se come) afuera. En inglés americano, se escibe barbeque.

Beefeater

This term originated in 1610, meaning a well-fed servant. Around the year 1700 it began to be used to refer to the traditional guards at the Tower of London. The meaning is

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quite clear as it's a reference to a servant spoiled by his master, in contrast to a "loaf eater" (a servant that eats only bread).

Este término se originó en 1610, con el significado de un sirviente bien alimentado. Alrededor del año 1700 se comenzó a utilizar para referirse a los guardias tradicionales de la Torre de Londres. El significado es bastante claro ya que es una referencia a un sirviente mimado por su amo, en contraste con un "loaf eater" (un sirviente que come solamente pan).

Bikini

This two-piece swimsuit for women was invented in France in 1947. The name was taken from Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where in 1946, the United States had tested atomic bombs. The

sensation caused by the bikini was compared to the power of these weapons, and therefore, the name was associated to that atoll.

Este traje de baño de dos piezas fue creado en Francia en 1947. El nombre fue tomado del atolón de Bikini en las islas Marshall, donde en 1946 Estados Unidos realizó pruebas con bombas atómicas. La sensación causada por el bikini fue comparada con el poder de estas armas, y por lo tanto, la palabra fue asociada con ese atolón.

Biscuit

This word, which denominates a small thin dry cake made for one person, has its origins around 1400. It comes from the Old French word 'bescuit', which derives from the Latin

words 'bis' (meaning twice) and 'coctus' (meaning cooked).

Esta palabra, que denomina una pequeña torta fina y seca hecha para una persona, tiene sus orígenes alrededor del año 1400. Proviene de la palabra del francés antiguo 'bescuit', que a su vez deriva de las palabras latinas 'bis' (que significa dos veces) y 'coctus' (que significa cocinado).

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Black box

This word refers to the device that records data about a flight and is used when an airplane crashes to investigate the

causes of the accident. The term was invented during World War II to refer to an instrument that enabled bombers to see through the dark. It was also used to refer

to a radar and later it was adopted to name the first flight recorders (which were originally black). Nowadays, the black box is not black but orange, so that it can be easily found at the crash site.

Esta palabra se refiere al dispositivo que graba información sobre un vuelo y se utiliza cuando cae un avión para investigar las causas del accidente. El término fue inventado durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial para referirse a un instrumento que permitía a los bombarderos ver a través de la oscuridad. También se usaba para hacer referencia a un radar y más tarde se adoptó para nombrar a las primeras grabadoras de vuelo (que eran originalmente negras). En la actualidad, la caja negra no es negra sino naranja, de forma que pueda ser encontrada fácilmente en el lugar del accidente.

Bobby

This word is used informally to refer to a British policeman. It derives from the diminutive name of a British politician and statesman called Sir Robert Peel, who created in 1829 the Metropolitan Police. Its members were much better than the previous ones. At first they were called peelers and later, bobbies in honour to that politician, who also abolished capital punishment for minor crimes and allowed Catholics to

be part of British Parliament.

Esta palabra se usa de manera informal para referirse a un policía británico. Proviene del diminutivo del nombre de un político y estadista británico llamado Sir Robert Peel, quien creó en 1829 la Policía Metropolitana. Sus miembros eran mucho mejores que los anteriores. Al principio eran llamados peelers y luego, bobbies en honor a dicho político,quien también abolió la pena de muerte para crímenes menores y permitió que los católicos formen parte del Parlamento Británico.

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Buck

This word is a shortened form of buckskin, the unit of trading that was used by the Indians in America. It first appeared in writing in the early 19th century and today it's used as the slang term for a dollar.

Esta palabra es una forma abreviada de buckskin (piel de ciervo), la unidad de comercio que usaban los indios en Norteamérica. Apareció escrita por primera vez a principios del siglo XIX y hoy en día se utiliza como el término informal para nombrar un dólar.

Bug

The word bug is used nowadays to refer to an error or defect that prevents a computer from working correctly. It is believed that Thomas Edison was the first to use it with this meaning, but there is also a more recent story. In 1945, Grace Hopper, a computer pioneer at the Naval Warfare

Center in Dahlgreen, Virginia, found an insect inside a malfunctioning machine. She didn't invent the term, but she used it in the logbooks, stating that a bug had been found.

La palabra bug se utiliza hoy en día para referirse a un error o defecto que impide que una computadora funcione correctamente. Se cree que Thomas Edison fue el primero en usarla con este significado, pero también hay una historia más reciente. En 1945, Grace Hopper, una pionera en computadoras del Naval Warfare Center en Dahlgreen, Virginia, encontró un insecto dentro de una máquina que funcionaba mal. No fue ella quien inventó el término, pero lo utilizó en los registros, declarando que un "bug" había sido encontrado.

Calendar

This word comes from the Latin word calendarium, which was an account book where money lenders used to write the debts due to them. The interest had to be paid on the first day of each month and that day was called calend in Latin, giving then origin to the name to the book.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del latín calendarium, que era un libro de contabilidad donde los prestamistas solían escribir las deudas pendientes por cobrar. El interés debía pagarse el primer día de cada

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mes y ese día se llamaba calend en latín, dando luego origen al nombre del libro.

Candidate

This word comes from the Latin word candidatus, which in turn derives fromcandidus, meaning white. In Ancient Rome, the colour white was considered a symbol of purity, and people running for public office wore white togas to show that they had moral purity and good intentions. Then, the word candidate was introduced into the English language

in the 17th century.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del latín candidatus, que a su vez deriva de candidus, que significa blanco. En la Antigua Roma, el color blanco era considerado un símbolo de pureza, y las personas que se postulaban para ejercer un cargo público estaban vestidos con togas blancas para mostrar que tenían pureza moral y buenas intenciones. Luego, la palabracandidate se introdujo en la lengua inglesa en el siglo XVII.

Cardigan

This word meaning a knitted jacket fastened with buttons, was named after James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan. This piece of garment was first worn by British soldiers during the cold winter of Crimea, where the Earl led the Light Brigade in the Crimea War in 1854.

Esta palabra que se usa para nombrar un suéter tejido, con botones al frente, proviene de James Thomas Brudenell, séptimo conde de Cardigan. Soldados británicos usaron esta prenda por primera vez durante el frío invierno de Crimea. En esa oportunidad, el conde lideraba la brigada llamada Light Brigade en la guerra de Crimea en 1854.

Carnival

The origin of this word is unclear. However, the most widespread theory is that it comes from the Italian

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word "carnevale", which derives from the Latin words "carne" (meat) and "levare" (to remove), meaning "to remove the meat", i.e. "to stop eating meat". Today it refers to the three-week period before Ash Wednesday, during which a public celebration or parade is held and people usually wear costumes.

El origen de esta palabra es incierto. Sin embargo, la teoría más generalizada es que proviene de la palabra italiana "carnevale", la cual deriva de las palabras del latín "carne" (carne) y "levare" (quitar), que significan "quitar la carne", o sea, "dejar de comer carne". En la actualidad se refiere al período de tres semanas antes del Miércoles de Ceniza, durante las cuales se organiza una celebración pública o desfile y la gente usualmente se disfraza.

Christmas

The word Christmas comes from the Old English words "Cristes maesse", which mean "the mass of Christ". That phrase was first used in 1038. The first festival recorded on December 25th was held by Romans in the fourth century. The celebration was later spread to other

societies and cultures, giving origin to modern Christmas.

La palabra Christmas (Navidad) proviene de las palabras del inglés antiguo "Cristes maesse", que significan "la misa de Cristo". Esa frase fue utilizada por primera vez en 1038. El primer festival registrado un 25 de diciembre fue organizado en Roma en el siglo IV. Más tarde, la celebración fue extendida a otras sociedades y culturas, dando origen a la Navidad de hoy en día.

Clock

The word "clock" derives from the Dutch "clocke", which comes itself from the French "cloche", meaning a bell. Initially the word was used to describe the sound made by the bells in the church tower, every fifteen minutes. When clocks were invented, they were built in the same

tower and bells were still used. Some years later, clocks were imported into England and they used the word clock to name these objects.

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La palabra "clock" (reloj) proviene del holandés "clocke", que a su vez procede del francés "cloche", que significa una campana. Inicialmente la palabra era usada para describir el sonido que hacían las campanas en las torres de las iglesias, cada quince minutos. Cuando los relojes fueron inventados, se construyeron en las mismas torres y las campanas siguieron utilizándose. Algunos años más tarde, se importaron los relojes a Inglaterra y usaron la palabra "reloj" para nombrar estos objetos.

Coin

This word comes from the Latin cuneus, which meant wedge. It was introduced into Old French as coing, and later into Old English as coin, to refer to a corner. As the metal press that was used for making money during the 14th century was wedged-shaped, it was called a coin.

Soon after that, the word began to be used to refer to the pieces of money made with that press.

Esta palabra proviene del latín cuneus, que significaba "cuña". Fue introducida al francés antiguo como coing, y más tarde al inglés antiguo como coin, para hacer referencia a una esquina o curva. Como la prensa metálica que se usaba para fabricar dinero durante el siglo XIV tenía forma de cuña, se la llamó coin. Al poco tiempo, la palabra comenzó a utilizarse para referirse a las piezas de dinero fabricadas con dicha prensa.

Colonel

This word comes from the Italian colonello, meaning "the commander of a column of soldiers". The French introduced this word into French as coronel. In the 16th century, the English adopted the French word and changed it intocoronell. By the mid-17th century, however, the spelling was changed tocolonel, but the

"r" pronunciation remained.

Esta palabra proviene del italiano colonello, que significa "el comandante de una columna de soldados". Los franceses introdujeron esta palabra al francés como coronel. En el siglo XVI, los ingleses adoptaron la palabra francesa y la cambiaron por coronell. A mediados del siglo XVII, sin embargo, la escritura fue cambiada por colonel, pero se mantuvo la pronunciación de la "r".

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Cop

The word cop is a slang word for a policeman. It probably comes from the Old French word caper, which meant to seize, to capture. In the late 16th century, it was introduced into the English language as the verb to cap, which was later changed into to cop. In the 19th century the word began to be used as a noun to refer

to the person who captures somebody.

La palabra cop es una palabra informal para nombrar a un policía. Probablemente proviene de la palabra del francés antiguo caper, que significaba agarrar, capturar. A fines del siglo XVI, se introdujo en la lengua inglesa como el verbo to cap, que más tarde fue cambiado a to cop. En el siglo XIX la palabra comenzó a utilizarse como sustantivo para referirse a la persona que captura a alguien.

Daisy

This word comes from the Old English dægesege, which means "day's eye". There used to be a species of daisies

in England that would open during the day and fold its petals at night. Therefore, it was like an eye that was opened during the day. It was called "day's eye", which

later became "daisy".

Esta palabra proviene del inglés antiguo dægesege, que significa "ojo del día". Solía existir en Inglaterra una especie de margaritas que se abría durante el día y cerraba sus pétalos por la noche. Por lo tanto, era como un ojo que se abría durante el día. Se la llamaba "day's eye" (ojo del día), que más tarde se convirtió en "daisy".

Deadline

This word means the time when something should be already finished. It first appeared in 1920 and it comes from the newspaper jargon. After the time indicated as deadline, there's no point in continuing writing a story because it's considered moot or dead as it wouldn't be published. The word was also used in printing, meaning a line that marked the limit of a page, anything outside it wouldn't be printed.

Esta palabra significa el momento en que algo debería estar terminado. Apareció por primera vez en 1920 y proviene de la jerga del periódico.

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Después del tiempo indicado como deadline, no tiene sentido continuar escribiendo una historia porque se la considera dudosa o muerta ya que no sería publicada. La palabra también era usada en la imprenta, y era una línea que marcaba el límite de una página, cualquier cosa fuera de ella no se imprimiría.

Digit

This word comes from the Latin word digitus, meaning finger. It refers to any number from zero to nine. It's called like this because of the habit of counting up to ten using the fingers of the hands.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del latín digitus, que significa dedo. Se refiere a cualquier número de cero a nueve. Se lo llama de esta manera debido a la costumbre de contar hasta diez usando los dedos de las manos.

Dollar

The name of the US currency comes from the early 16th century. In those times, silver coins were minted from metal obtained from St Joachimsthal, in Bohemia. They were first named joachimsthalers, which was then shortened

to thalers. With the passing of time, it became known as taler and daler through Europe. Finally, in America it was translated as dollar at the end of the 18th century, when it became the official currency of this country.

La palabra usada para denominar a la moneda norteamericana proviene del siglo XVI. En aquellos tiempos, las monedas de plata se acuñaban con un metal obtenido de St Joachimsthal, en Bohemia. Al principio, eran llamadas joachimsthalers, que luego fue acortado a thalers. Con el transcurso del tiempo, se pasó a llamar taler y daler en Europa. Finalmente, en Estados Unidos se tradujo como dollar al comienzos del siglo XVIII, cuando pasó a ser la moneda oficial de dicho país.

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Dungarees

This word refers to a one-piece garment, often of trousers and bib front used to work. It derives from the cloth this

garment was made from in the 17th century. This word derives from "dungri", the name of the district in

Bombay where that cloth was sold.

Esta palabra denomina a una prenda de una sola pieza, consistente en pantalones con una pechera, que normalmente se usa para trabajar. Proviene del nombre de la tela con la cual se fabricaba esta prenda en el siglo XVII. La palabra deriva de "dungri", el nombre del distrito de Bombay donde se vendía esta tela.

Easter

The word Easter probably derives from Eostre, the name of the Teutonic goddess of Spring and fertility. The

Christians decided to use this word for the period when they remember the death of Christ and his return to life. According to some historians, the

English Church used to take already existing words to express ecclesiastical terms. However, the word chosen is somewhat controversial and in some Protestant groups in the US, they prefer to call it 'Resurrection Day'.

La palabra Easter (Pascua) probablemente deriva de Eostre, el nombre de la diosa teutónica de la primavera y la fertilidad. Los cristianos decidieron utilizar esta palabra para el período cuando recuerdan la muerte de Jesucristo y su regreso a la vida. De acuerdo a algunos historiadores, la Iglesia Inglesa solía tomar palabras ya existentes para expresar términos eclesiásticos. Sin embargo, la palabra elegida es algo controversial y en algunos grupos protestantes de Estados Unidos, prefieren llamarlo 'Día de Resurrección'.

Fortnight

This word derives from the Old English word féowertyneniht, which means fourteen nights. In the 13th century it entered the modern English language as fortnight. In fact, there was also a word for seven nights in Old English:seofonnihta, introduced into

modern English as sennight. However, this word was discarded in the 19th century.

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Esta palabra deriva de la palabra del inglés antiguo féowertyneniht, que significa catorce noches. En el siglo XIII ingresó al inglés moderno como fortnight. De hecho, había también una palabra para siete noches en el inglés antiguo: seofonnihta, introducida en el inglés moderno como sennight. Sin embargo, esta palabra fue descartada en el siglo XIX.

Ghost

This word derives from the Old English "gast", meaning soul, spirit, life. The original sense was a supernatural being. Today it's used with this meaning in the religious term Holy Ghost. Around 1385 it began to be used to refer to the spirit of a dead person. The gh- spelling appeared in English in 1500.

Esta palabra deriva del inglés antiguo "gast", que significaba alma, espíritu, vida. El sentido original era un ser superior. Hoy se utiliza con este significado en el término religioso Holy Ghost (Espíritu Santo). Alrededor de 1385 comenzó a usarse para referirse al espíritu de una persona muerta. La escritura con gh- apareció en el inglés en 1500.

Gossip

This word derives from the Old English term "godsibb", which meant "godfather" ("sibb" meant "kin"). The term was then started to be used to refer to any women friends who attended the mother at the time

of the birth of her child. But in the late 16th century, gossip became to be used to describe the iddle chatter with friends or acquaintances, maybe like the one those women used to have.

Esta palabra proviene de "godsibb", vocablo del inglés antiguo que significaba "godfather" (padrino), "sib" significaba "pariente". El término se comenzó a usar para referirse a las amigas que acmpañaban a una madre en el momento de dar a luz. Pero a finales del siglo XVI, gossip se empezó a utilizar para describir las charlas

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informales con amigos o conocidos, probablemente tal como las que tenían aquellas amigas.

Granny Smith

This word refers to a variety of green apples. The name was taken from the Australian gardener Maria Ann Smith, also known as Granny Smith. She was the one who first grew this kind of apple in Sydney in the 1860s.

Esta palabra denomina una variedad de manzanas verdes. El nombre proviene de la jardinera australiana Maria Ann Smith, también conocida como Granny Smith. Fue ella la primera que logró hacer crecer este tipo de manzana en Sidney en la década de 1860.

Handicap

This term refers to the advantage given by the most qualified players to others that are inferior in order to balance competition. It derives from the English expression "hand in cap" and it's related to a common game in the XVII century in which a cap or hat was used to hold the money for bets.

Este término se refiere a la ventaja dada por los jugadores o equipos más calificados a otros que son inferiores, a efectos de equilibrar la competencia. Proviene de la expresión inglesa "hand in cap" (mano en gorra) y se refiere a un juego usual en el siglo XVII en la cual se usaba una gorra o sombrero para sostener el dinero de las apuestas.

Hazard

This word comes from the Arabic words al zahr, which mean 'the dice'. In the era of the Crusades, Western Europeans learned how to play some games with dice during their stay in the Holy Land. They picked up the word there. But later the meaning of danger was

associated to it, because this kind of games was risky since there were many con men involved.

Esta palabra proviene de las palabras árabe al zahr, que significan "los dados". En la era de las Cruzadas, los europeos occidentales

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aprendieron a jugar algunos juegos con dados durante su estadía en Tierra Santa. De allí tomaron la palabra. Pero más tarde se le asoció el significado de peligro, porque este tipo de juegos era riesgoso dado que había muchos estafadores involucrados.

Hermetic

This word is used to mean that something is tightly closed so that air cannot get in. It derives from Hermes Trismegistus, a Greek god creator of alchemy. In fact, he's the association of the Greek god Hermes and of Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing and science. He was able to magically seal a treasure box in a way that it could never be opened. Much later, in the 17th century, the

word hermetic began to be used in English to refer to secrets or things that were sealed. After that, the term 'hermetically sealed' appeared as we know it today.

Esta palabra se usa para indicar que algo está fuertemente cerrado de forma que no pueda entrar aire. Proviene de Hermes Trismegistus, un dios griego creador de la alquimia. De hecho, es la unión del dios griego Hermes y de Thoth, el dios egipcio de la escritura y la ciencia. Era capaz de sellar mágicamente un tesoro de forma que nunca se pudiera abrir. Mucho más tarde, en el siglo XVII, la palabra hermetic comenzó a utilizarse en inglés para referirse a los secretos o cosas que estaban selladas. Luego, apareció el término 'hermetically sealed' (sellado herméticamente) tal como lo conocemos hoy.

Hippopotamus

The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek words hippos (horse) potamus(river), so that it means 'horse of the river'. The plural form of hippopotamus is hippopotamuses, although the form hippopotami is also accepted. There's a good word for playing

hangman!

La palabra hippopotamus proviene de las palabras griegas hippos (caballo) y potamus (río), por lo tanto significa 'caballo de río'. La forma plural de hippopotamus es hippopotamuses, aunque también se acepta la forma hippopotami. Esa es una buena palabra para jugar al ahorcado!

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Honeymoon

This word first appeared in 1546 according to the Webster dictionary. Honey is a clear reference to the sweetest stage of a marriage, free of the usual problems that later appear in every marriage. The moon is not a reference to the lunar cycle but to the period of that

sweetness. It's very probable that it will fade, just in the same way as the moon wanes and becomes smaller.

Esta palabra apareció por primera vez en 1546, según el diccionario Webster. La miel es una clara referencia a la etapa más dulce del matrimonio, libre de los problemas habituales que más tarde aparecen en todos los matrimonios. La luna no es una referencia al ciclo lunar sino al período de esa dulzura. Es muy probable que la misma disminuya progresivamente, de la misma forma en que la luna mengua y se achica.

Hooligan

This word refers to a noisy violent person who causes trouble by fighting other people, usually in football stadiums. It comes from the name Patrick Hooligan, a famous Irish criminal from the XIX century who was often hired by certain restaurants, pubs and public centres to take care of unwanted customers. There is also a theory that associates the term with the Hooley gang that terrorised London in the 1890s.

Esta palabra hace referencia a una persona violenta y ruidosa que genera problemas peleándose con otras personas, usualmente en estadios de fútbol. Proviene del nombre Patrick Hooligan, un famoso criminal irlandés del siglo XIX que era contratado usualmente por algunos restaurantes, pubs y centros públicos para hacerse cargo de los clientes indeseables. Existe también una teoría que asocia este término con la banda Hooley que aterrorizó Londres en los años 1890.

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Hot dog

The use of this word to mean sausage comes from the XIX century. Hot referred to the temperature of the sausage, of course. And dog may have been a reference to the alleged contents of the sausage. In 1845 there were many accusations against sausage makers of using dog meat

to make the sausage (which was not true). The term became popular and was often used in newspapers, making it as common as it is today.

El uso de esta palabra para significar salchicha proviene del siglo XIX. Hot se refería obviamente a la temperatura de la salchicha. Y dog sería una referencia al presunto contenido de la salchicha. En 1845 hubo muchas acusaciones contra los fabricantes de estos embutidos de utilizar carne de perro para fabricar la salchicha (lo cual no era verdad). El término se hizo popular y era utilizado comúnmente en los periódicos, haciendo que sea tan común como lo es hoy .

Husband

The word husband comes from the Old English words hus (meaning house) andbónda (meaning peasant or yeoman) which in turn derives from bua (meaning to dwell). Therefore, husband means 'a peasant or yeoman who lives in a house'.

During the 13th century the word began to be used in the sense of a man married to a woman, as it is used nowadays.

La palabra husband (marido) proviene de las palabras del inglés antiguo hus (que significa casa) y bónda (que significa campesino o granjero) que a su vez deriva de bua (que signica vivir, morar). Por lo tanto, husband significa 'un campesino o granjero que vive en una casa'. Durante el siglo XIII la palabra comenzó a utilizarse con el sentido de un hombre casado con una mujer, como se lo usa en la actualidad.

Iceberg

This word refers to a large mass of ice floating in the sea, most of which is underwater. The word appeared in English in

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1774, and it comes from the Dutchijsberg (ijs=ice, berg=mountain) literally meaning "ice mountain".

Esta palabra se refiere a una gran masa de hielo que flota en el mar, cuya mayor parte se encuentra bajo el agua. La palabra apareció en el inglés en 1774, y proviene del holandésijsberg (ijs=hielo, berg=montaña) que significa literalmente "montaña de hielo".

Jaywalker

The word jaywalker appeared in 1917 in the United States. It makes reference to jay, a slang word meaning 'a stupid person' or 'dumb, inferior'. Therefore, somebody who stupidly ignored traffic regulations was called a jaywalker. Nowadays, it is used to refer to a person who walks across a road at a place where it is forbidden or

dangerous to cross. The verb is to jaywalk.

La palabra jaywalker apareció en 1917 en los Estados Unidos. Hace referencia a jay, una palabra del slang que significa 'una persona estúpida' o 'lerdo, inferior'. Por lo tanto, alguien que estúpidamente ignoraba las normas de tránsito era llamado un jaywalker. Hoy en día, se utiliza para referirse a una persona que cruza un camino por un lugar donde está prohibido o donde es peligroso cruzar. El verbo es to jaywalk.

Jeans

The word jeans come from gene fustian. Fustian was the name of the cotton cloth that was used for making jeans, and gene was an adjective in old English meaning that comes from Genoa, the

Italian city where the fustian was made. In time the spelling became jeans and they became very popular around 1960.

La palabra jeans proviene de gene fustian. Fustian era el nombre de la tela de algodón que se utilizaba para fabricar los jeans, y gene era un adjetivo en inglés antiguo que significa que proviene de Génova, la ciudad italiana donde se fabricaba la tela fustian. Con el tiempo la escritura pasó a ser jeans y se volvieron muy populares hacia 1960.

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Jeep

This word refers to the general-purpose means of transport that was used by the Allied Forces during World War II, and today it refers to a sport utility vehicle. The word comes from the character's name

"Eugene the Jeep", representing a pet, which appeared in the 1930s in the comic strip 'Thimble Theater'. In 1938 the word was adopted by the military to refer to a tank and later to a small truck.

Esta palabra se refiere al medio de transporte general que era usado por las Fuerzas Aliadas durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y hoy se refiere a un vehículo utilitario deportivo. La palabra proviene del nombre del personaje "Eugene the Jeep", representando una mascota, que apareció en los años 30 en la tira cómica 'Thimble Theater'. En 1938 la palabra fue adpotada por los militares para referirse a un tanque y más tarde a un camión pequeño.

Kangaroo

This word appeared in English around 1770, when Captain Cook and his botanist recorded it as the Aboriginal name for this animal. According to a traditional story, when these British explorers asked about the name of the animal, the Aborigines replied "kangaroo" (which meant "I don't understand"). But this story has no evidence. Instead, the word may come from "ganjurru", a word in one of the many Aboriginal languages used at that time to name a specific species of kangaroo.

Esta palabra apareció en el inglés alrededor de 1770, cuando el Capitán Cook y su botánico lo registraron como el nombre aborigen de este animal. Según una historia tradicional, cuando estos exploradores británicos preguntaron el nombre del animal, los aborígenes respondieron "kangaroo" (que significaba "No entiendo"). Pero esta historia no tiene ninguna evidencia. En cambio, la palabra podría venir de "ganjurru", un término en una de las tantas lenguas aborígenes de la época para nombrar una especie determinada de canguro.

Khaki

This word comes from the Urdu word khaki, which means dusty. (Urdu is the language spoken in Pakistan and India). It was

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introduced into English during the colonization of India in the 18th century. At first, it was used to refer to the colour of army uniforms. But at the beginning of the 20th century, it was used to name a kind of cloth of the same colour from which those uniforms were made. Today it refers to both the yellow-brown colour and the cloth of this colour. When referring to the trousers of this colour, it's common to say a pair of khakis.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del urdu khaki, que significa cubierto de polvo. (El urdu es el idioma hablado en Pakistán e India). Fue introducida al inglés durante la colonización de India en el siglo XVIII. Al principio, se usaba para referirse al color de los uniformes del ejército. Pero a comienzos del siglo XX, se utilizaba para nombrar un tipo de tela del mismo color con el que se fabricaban esos uniformes. Hoy en día se refiere tanto al color marrón amarillento y a la tela de este color. Al hacer referencia a los pantalones de este color, es común decir a pair of khakis.

Knight

This word refers to a high-rank man who fights while riding a horse. It comes from the Dutch word "Knecht", meaning a slave or servitude. In the 13th century this sense was discarded and it began to be used in reference to a member of the nobility, as in fact, the knight was a servant of the king.

Esta palabra hace referencia a un hombre de alto rango que pelea montado a caballo (caballero). Proviene de la palabra holandesa "Knecht", que significa esclavo o servidumbre. En el siglo XIII esta acepción fue descartada y comenzó a utilizarse en referencia a un miembro de la nobleza, ya que en realidad, el caballero era un sirviente del rey.

Lent

This word comes from the Old English word lencten, which was the name of the season equivalent to our Spring. It was later introduced into modern English as Lent to refer to the name of the religious period of

fasting before Easter.

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Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del inglés antiguo lencten, que era el nombre de la estación equivalente a nuestra primavera. Más tarde se introdujo en el inglés moderno como Lent (Cuaresma) para referirse al nombre del período religioso de ayuno antes de la Pascua.

Magazine

This word comes from the Arabic makhzan, which means "storehouse". It was picked up by the Old French

as magasin and from there it was transferred to the English language. Nowadays, it refers to a periodical publication. Apparently, the first magazine ever printed, in 1731, called "Gentleman's Magazine", promoted itself as a

"monthly collection to treasure up as in a magazine".

Esta palabra proviene del árabe makhzan, que significa "depósito o almacén". Fue tomada por el francés antiguo como magasin y de allí se transfirió al idioma inglés. Hoy en día, se refiere a una publicación periódica. Aparentemente, la primera revista publicada en la historia, en 1731, llamada "Gentleman's Magazine", se promocionaba a sí misma como una "colección mensual para atesorar como en un almacén".

Marathon

This word is used to refer to a running race of 42km 195m (26 miles and 385 yards). It has been used since the late 19th century and comes from Marathon

in Greece, the place where the Greeks won a battle against the Persians. A messenger ran from that place

to Athens to spread the news of the victory, hence the word was used to name this kind of race.

Esta palabra se utiliza para hacer referencia a una carrera de 42km 195m (26 millas y 385 yardas). Se ha usado desde fines del siglo XIX y proviene de Marathon, Grecia, el lugar donde los griegos ganaron la batalla contra los persas. Un mensajero corrió desde ese lugar hasta Atenas para llevar la noticia de la victoria, dando origen a este tipo de carrera.

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Marionette

This word comes from the French marionette, which is the diminutive form of Marion, which in turn is the diminutive form of Marie. Therefore, the literal translation would be "little little Mary". In the 15th century the word was applied to the puppets worked by strings, something that was common in Europe during that time. It is supposed that the origin of the word may be a French reference to the Virgin Mary, which often was the main character in those puppet plays.

Esta palabra proviene del francés marionette, que es el diminutivo de Marion, que a su vez es el diminutivo de Marie. Por lo tanto, la traducción literal sería "pequeña pequeña María". En el siglo XV la palabra era aplicada a los títeres manejados con cuerdas, algo que era común en Europa durante esa época. Se supone que el origen de la palabra podría ser una referencia francesa a la Virgen María, que frecuentemente era el personaje principal de aquellas obras de títeres.

Money

The word money comes from the Latin word moneta, which was the surname of Juno, the Roman Goddess and protector of the Roman State. In Rome there was a temple built in her honor, and it was there that the first

coins were minted. She was considered to be guardian of the finances of the Empire. The word moneta gave then origin to the English words monetary and money.

La palabra money proviene de la palabra latina moneta, que era el sobrenombre de Juno, la Diosa Romana y protectora del Estado Romano. En Roma existía un templo construído en su honor, y fue allí que se acuñaron las primeras monedas. Se la consideraba guardiana de las finanzas del Impero. La palabra moneta dio entonces origen a las palabras inglesas monetary ymoney.

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Mortgage

The word mortgage comes from the Latin words mort (meaning death) and gage(meaning pledge). It appeared in Old French as mortgage and was introduced into Old English in the 13th century. The

meaning was that the property was forfeit or taken from the person who didn't pay the loan, and also the pledge of paying would be 'dead' if the loan was completely paid.

La palabra mortgage (hipoteca) proviene de las palabras del latín mort (que significa muerte) ygage (que significa promesa). Apareció en el francés antiguo como mortgage y fue introducida al inglés antiguo durante el siglo XIII. El significado consistía en que la propiedad era perdida o quitada de la persona que no pagaba el préstamo, y a su vez, la promesa de pagar quedaría 'muerta' si el préstamo era pagado completamente.

Nickel

This word comes from the German Kupfernickel, meaning "false copper", which was the name that German miners used to give to the material they worked with. It was called like that because it looked like copper but it contained none. In 1754, the element was

successfully isolated and began to be called nickel. In 1755 the word was introduced into the English language, and in he 1880s it started to be used to name the US five-cent coin, which was made partly of this metal.

Esta palabra proviene del alemán Kupfernickel, que significa "falso cobre", y era el nombre que solían dar los mineros alemanes al material con el que trabajaban. Se llamaba así porque parecía cobre pero no contenía nada de él. En 1754, el elemento pudo ser aislado con éxito y comenzó a llamarse nickel. En 1755 la palabra fue introducida al idioma inglés, y en los años 1880 comenzó a utilizarse para nombrar la moneda estadounidense de cinco centavos, que en parte estaba hecha con este metal.

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Nightmare

This word comes from the Old English "nigtmaere". The first part obviously refers to "night". The second part should not

be confused with mare (a female horse). In fact, it refers to a demon or evil spirit believed to suffocate people

during their sleep. So this word was used to make reference to a bad dream caused by this demon. With

time, the term has changed its meaning to describe any frightening dream in general.

Esta palabra proviene del inglés antiguo "nigtmaere". La primera parte obviamente se refiere a "night" (noche). La segunda parte no debe confundirse con "mare" (yegua). En realidad, se refiere a un demonio o espíritu maligno que se creía que sofocaba a las personas mientras dormían. Por lo tanto esta palabra se usaba para hacer referencia a un mal sueño causado por este demonio. Con el tiempo, el término ha cambiado su significado para describir cualquier sueño espantoso en general.

OK

There are several supposed origins to this word. The earliest recorded use of this expression has been traced to the Boston Morning Post edition of 23rd March 1839. It seems to have been an example of a wrong abbreviation, and supposedly stood for "oll korrect", meaning "all correct".Another story says that in 1840, the Democrats in New York created a body called the Democratic OK Club to support their candidate Martin Van Buren. "OK" here actually stood for "Old Kinderhook", his birthplace in the state of New York.But the most common and accepted origin is attributed to a spelling mistake made by Andrew Jackson during the presidential campaign in 1828. He wrote "ole korrek" on a document which contained the acquittal of a condemned man.In 1932 it was officially included among the international terms for radio broadcasting. Later, during the Second World War, the American army used "O Killed" to refer to "zero killed".

Existen varias versiones sobre el origen de esta palabra. El primer uso de esta expresión ha sido localizado en la edición del periódico Boston Morning Post del 23 de marzo de 1839. Aparentemente era un ejemplo de una abreviatura incorrecta, supuestamente de "oll korrect", que significaba "todo correcto".

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Otra historia cuenta que en 1840, los demócratas de Nueva York crearon un grupo llamado Democratic OK Club para apoyar a su candidato Martin Van Buren. "OK" significaba "Old Kinderhook", que era su lugar de nacimiento en el estado de Nueva York.Pero la teoría más común y aceptada atribuye el origen a un error cometido por Andrew Jackson durante la campaña presidencial de 1828. Escribió "ole korrek" en un documento por el cual se liberaba a un condenado.En 1932 esta palabra fue incluida oficialmente entre los términos internacionales para transmisión radial. Más tarde, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, los soldados americanos usaban "O Killed" para referirse a "cero muertos".

Orange

The word orange comes from the Middle French word orenge, which in turn derives from the Italian arancia. It is believed that Italians borrowed the

word and the fruit from Arab traders, who called it naranj in their language. In the 13th century the word began to be used in English to refer to both the fruit and the colour.

La palabra orange (naranja) proviene de la palabra del francés medieval orenge, que a su vez deriva de la palabra italiana arancia. Se cree que los italianos tomaron la palabra y la fruta de comerciantes árabes, quienes la llamaban naranj en su idioma. En el siglo XIII la palabra comenzó a utilizarse en inglés para referirse tanto a la fruta como al color.

Orangutan

This word comes from the Malay words orang hutan, which mean "man of the forest"

(or ang=man, hutan=forest). In the 17th century this word was used locally to refer to a savage tribe that lived on the Sunda Islands. When Europeans explorers arrived, they thought that the inhabitants were refering to the animal instead of that specific group of people.

Therefore, the word was introduced into English with the meaning we know today.

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Esta palabra proviene de las palabras malayas orang hutan, que significan "hombre del bosque" (orang=hombre, hutan=bosque). En el siglo XVII esta palabra era usada localmente para referirse a una tribu salvaje que habitaba en las islas de la Sonda. Cuando los exploradores europeos llegaron, creyeron que los habitantes se referían al animal en lugar de a ese grupo específico de personas. Por lo tanto, la palabra se introdujo al inglés con el significado que conocemos hoy en día.

Oscar

This is the name of the gold statuettes that are awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the USA for outstanding achievements in the cinema. But they were not called like this until 1931, two years after the first ones had already been awarded. It is said that the Academy's librarian, Margaret Herrick, remarked that the statuette reminded her of her uncle Oscar. Apparently, a newspaper reporter who was listening included this fact on his article and since then the word was associated to the award.

Este es el nombre de las estatuillas doradas que entrega la Academia de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas en Estados Unidos por logros sobresalientes en el cine. Pero sólo fueron llamadas asó desde 1931, dos años más tarde de la primera entrega. Se dice que la bibliotecaria de la academia, Margaret Herrick, hizo notar que la estatuilla le recordaba a su tío Oscar. Aparentemente, un periodista que escuchó esto lo incluyó en su artículo en el periódico y desde entonces, la palabra fue asociada al premio.

Pedigree

This word comes from the French ped de gru, which means "crane's foot", a symbol that looks just like the footprint of a bird or an inverted fork, and it's used on genealogical trees to mark the line of descent. The word was introduced into English in the 15th century to mean "ancestral line". Beginning in the 16th century, it has also been applied to talk about the lineage of animals.

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Esta palabra proviene del francés ped de gru, que significa "pie de una grulla", un símbolo que justamente se parece a la huella de un ave o a un tenedor invertido, y es usado en árboles genealógicos para marcar la línea de descendencia. La palabra fue introducida al inglés en el siglo XV con el significado de "línea ancestral". A partir del siglo XVI, también fue aplicada para hablar sobre el linaje de los animales.

Picnic

This word comes from the French word pique-nique, which first appeared by the end of the XVII century. It referred to a type of social entertainment in which each person who attended brought a share of the food. It was around the middle of the XIX century that this word started to

be used in English to mean an outdoor meal.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra francesa pique-nique, que apareció originalmente a finales del siglo XVII. Se refería a una especie de entretenimiento social en el que cada persona que asistía llevaba una parte de la comida, para compartir. Recién hacia la mitad del siglo XIX esta palabra comenzó a utilizarse en inglés para referirse a una comida al aire libre.

Poker

The word poker comes from the French word poque, which names a card game invented in the 18th century. In turn, that word was a variation of the original German word, Pochen. In English, the -er ending was added to make reference to the French verb poquer (which would mean

to make a bet in this game) and the spelling was changed to poker.

La palabra poker proviene de la palabra francesa poque, que describe a un juego de cartas inventado en el siglo XVIII. A su vez, esa palabra era una variación de la palabra original alemana, Pochen. En inglés, se agregó la terminación -er para hacer referencia al verbo francés poquer (que significaría hacer una apuesta en este juego) y la escritura fue cambiada a poker.

Pound / lb

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The origin of the lb. abbreviation for pound is in the Latin word "libra", which means both balance scales and also a pound weight. In this case, the full expression was "libra pondo". The second word of that expression gave origin to the word pound.

El origen de la abreviatura lb. (que significa pound) reside en la palabra latina "libra", que significa balanza pero también, peso de una libra. En este último caso, la expresión completa era "libra pondo". La segunda palabra de dicha expresión dio origen a la palabra pound.

Pumpkin

The word "pumpkin" comes from the Latin word "peponem", which comes itself from the Greek "pepon", meaning a large melon. The word was initially introduced

in English as "pompeon", which was later changed to "pumpkin". Nowadays, it is associated to Halloween

celebrations.

La palabra "pumpkin" (calabaza) proviene de la palabra latina "peponem", que a su vez procede del griego "pepon", que significa un melón grande. La palabra fue introducida inicialmente en el inglés como "pompeon", que luego fue cambiada a "pumpkin". Hoy en día, se la asocia con las celebraciones de Noche de Brujas.

Racquet

This word comes from the French requette, which means "palm of the hand". The French took this word from the Arabic term ra hat, which has the same meaning. The word was

introduced into the English language around the year 1500, when a sport similar to tennis was played using the open hand. Much later, a device was created to play this kind of sports, and it was called "racquet". Nowadays, it is used in tennis, squash, racquetball and badminton, which are all called "racquet sports".

Esta palabra proviene del francés requette, que significa "palma de la mano". El francés tomó esta palabra del término árabe rahat, que tiene el mismo significado. La palabra fue introducida al idioma inglés alrededor del año 1500, cuando se jugaba un deporte similar al tenis usando la mano abierta. Mucho después, se creó un dispositivo para jugar este tipo de deportes, y se lo llamó "racquet" (raqueta). En la

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actualidad, se utiliza en tenis, squash, racquetball y badminton, los cuales son llamados "racquet sports".

Referee

The word "referee" was originally used in 1621 to refer to someone appointed by the British Parliament to

examine patent applications. It is formed from the verb "to refer" followed by the suffix -ee. In 1690 the word was used to make reference to an arbitrator in a dispute. Much later, by 1840 it started to be used in sports to refer to the judge of play, as it is used nowadays.

La palabra "referee" fue originalmente utilizada en 1621 para referirse a alguien elegido por el Parlamento Británico para examinar aplicaciones de patentes. Se forma a partir del verbo "to refer" seguido del sufijo -ee. En 1690 la palabra se usaba para hacer referencia a un árbitro en una disputa. Mucho más tarde, hacia 1840 comenzó a ser usada en deportes para referirse al juez del juego, como se la usa hoy en día.

Robot

It comes from the Czech word "robota", which means work. In 1920, the Czech playwright Karel Capek used it as part of

the title of one of his plays: R.U.R. Rossum's Universal Robots. This play was performed in English in London in 1923. Since then, the word was introduced into the English language with the meaning we know.

Proviene de la palabra checa "robota", que significa trabajo. En 1920, el dramaturgo checo Karel Capek la usó en el título de una de sus obras: R.U.R. Rossum's Universal Robots. Esta obra fue presentada en inglés en Londres en 1923. Desde ese momento, la palabra fue introducida en el lenguaje inglés con el significado actual.

Sandwich

This word comes from the English diplomat John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. It was said that he was a compulsive gambler and to avoid stopping the game to eat, he would order that his food was brought to his table. The valet would

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bring him cold beef between two slices of bread. Later the snack became known as sandwich.

Esta palabra proviene del diplomático inglés John Montagu, cuarto conde de Sandwich. Aparentemente, era un jugador compulsivo y para evitar tener que detener el juego para comer, ordenaba que le trajeran su comida a la mesa. Sus sirvientes normalmente le traían fiambre entre dos rebanadas de pan. Más tarde, este tipo de comida se conoció como sandwich.

Scapegoat

This word is a mistranslation of the Hebrew word Azazel. As part of the Jewish ceremonies of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) during the times of the Temple of Jerusalem, a goat was set free into the wilderness for Azazel (the devil). This goat carried the sins of the people. In 1530 when the Bible was translated, William Tyndale interpreted Azazel as ez ozel (goat that departs), translating it into English as scapegoat. Then this

word has come to mean a person who is blamed for the faults of others, as a way of distracting attention from the real causes.

Esta palabra es una traducción errónea de la palabra hebrea Azazel. Como parte de las ceremonias judías del Día de la Expiación (Yom Kippur) durante los tiempos del Templo de Jerusalén, una cabra era liberada hacia el desierto para Azazel (el diablo). Esta cabra llevaba los pecados de la gente. En 1530 cuando se tradujo la Biblia, William Tyndale interpretó Azazelcomo ez ozel (cabra que se marcha), traduciéndolo al inglés como scapegoat. Luego esta palabra ha pasado a significar una persona que es acusada de las faltas de otros, como forma de distraer la atención de las causas verdaderas (chivo expiatorio).

Secretary

This word comes from the Latin "secretarius", meaning someone employed to take care of confidential business. By 1600 it was used to refer to somebody authorized to act in the name of the principal. This is the meaning used nowadays to refer to an assistant in an office and it is also

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used to refer to the cabinet members in the USA, who act in the name of the president.

Esta palabra proviene del latin "secretarius", que significa alguien empleado para ocuparse de negocios confidenciales. Hacia 1600 se utilizaba para referirse a alguien autorizado a actuar en nombre del director. Este es el significado usado en la actualidad para hacer referencia a un asistente en una oficina y es también usado para referirse a los miembros del gabinete en los Estados Unidos, quienes actúan en nombre del presidente.

Shark

This word was coined by sailors on John Hawkins's expedition to the Caribbean in 1568. On this trip, they caught this kind of fish and took it to London. It is believed that the word derives from the Mayan word "xoc", pronounced showk, which means fish. The sailors adopted the local Indian word to name the fish they had found.

Esta palabra fue creada por los marineros de la expedición de John Hawkings al Caribe en 1568. En este viaje, cazaron este tipo de pescado y lo llevaron a Londres. Se cree que el término deriva de la palabra maya "xoc", que se pronuncia showk y que significa pescado. Los marineros adoptaron la palabra local indígena para nombrar el pescado que habían encontrado.

Sideburns

This word comes from the name of the General Ambrose Everett Burnside, who participated in the US Civil War.

He was famous for the hair grown on the sides of his face. With time, the order of the syllables was reversed, giving the word sideburns. It refers to the hair that grows on the sides of a man's face, in front of his ears. It's always used in the plural form.

Esta palabra proviene del nombre del General Ambrose Everett Burnside, quien participó de la Guerra Civil en Estados Unidos. Fue famoso por el cabello dejado crecer a los costados de su cara. Con el tiempo, el orden de las sílabas fue invertido, dando la palabra sideburns. Se refiere al cabello que crece a los lados de la cara de un hombre, delante de sus orejas (patillas). Siempre se usa en forma plural.

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Soap opera

This word refers to melodramatic TV series or radio stories about the daily lives and relationships of a group of people. The word originated in 1939 and they are called like that because the sponsors were soap companies, like Procter and Gamble. As most of these series were broadcast during the day, the

audience was composed mainly of housewives. That's why soap companies were interested in sponsoring them.

Esta palabra se refiere a las series televisivas melodramáticas o historias radiales sobre la vida diaria y las relaciones de un grupo de personas. La palabra tuvo origen en 1939 y se llamaban así porque los auspiciantes eran fabricantes de jabón, como Procter & Gamble. Como la mayoría de estas series se transmitían durante el día, la audiencia estaba compuesta principalmente por amas de casa. Por eso, las compañías fabricantes de jabón estaban interesadas en auspiciarlas.

Soccer

This word is used in American English to mean "football". It derives from the abbreviation for the Association Football, which was formed in 1863 when representatives of different clubs met in London to define and standarize the rules of this sport. According to these rules, the ball could not be carried by the hand, which made the rugby clubs to leave the association. The tendency was to add "er" to the end of some

words. Association Football was called then "assoccer", which was changed into soccer by 1895.

Esta palabra se utiliza en inglés americano para significar "fútbol". Proviene de la abreviatura de Association Football, que fue formada en 1863 cuando representantes de diferentes clubes se reunieron en Londres para definir y estandarizar las reglas de este deporte. Según estas reglas, la pelota no podía llevarse con la mano, lo que hizo que los clubes de rugby dejaran la asociación. La tendencia era agregar "er" al final de algunas palabras. Association Football era llamado entonces "assoccer", que fue cambiado a soccer hacia 1895.

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Tabloid

The word tabloid appeared around 1840, when it was used to refer to a small medicinal tablet introduced to help

people to swallow medicines in an easier way. By the 18th century, the word began to be used to name other reduced products, like newspapers printed on smaller pages containing abbreviated news in an easy-

to-read format, as opposed to broadsheet papers, which had the traditional size. The word tabloid has kept this meaning and nowadays, it also refers to a sensational newspaper.

La palabra tabloid (tabloide) apareció alrededor de 1840, cuando se usaba para referirse a una pequeña tableta medicinal introducida para ayudar a la gente a tragar las medicinas de forma más fácil. Hacia el siglo XVIII, la palabra comenzó a utilizarse para nombrar otros productos reducidos, como periódicos impresos en hojas más pequeñas que contenían noticias abreviadas en un formato fácil de leer, en oposición a los broadsheet papers (periódicos de gran formato), que tenían el tamaño tradicional. La palabra tabloid ha mantenido este significado y en la actualidad, también hace referencia a un periódico sensacionalista.

Teddy Bear

This word referes to a soft stuffed toy bear. It was named after the American president Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was Teddy. Among his hobbies, he liked hunting bears. It is said that he saved

the life of a brown bear cub. Then, this story appeared in a cartoon in the Washington Post. After that, stuffed bears

were called teddy bears.

Esta palabra se utiliza para nombrar a un oso de peluche relleno. Se lo llama así en honor al presidente norteamericano Theodore Roosevelt, cuyo apodo era Teddy. Entre sus actividades favoritas, le gustaba cazar osos. Se dice que le salvó la vida a un pequeño oso de color marrón. Luego, esta historia apareció en una historiera del periódico Washington Post. Desde ese momento, los osos rellenos de juguete pasaron a llamarse teddy bears.

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Tennis

This word comes from the Old French tenez!, which means "take! hold!" and is the imperative form of the verb tenir (to hold). During the 14th century, the players would say "tenez!" to the opponent when hitting the ball. At that time, the players would strike the ball with the palm of their hands, and in fact the name of the game was la paulme (the palm). However, it was commonly

called tenez, which was later introduced into English as tennis.

Esta palabra proviene del francés antiguo tenez!, que significa "¡toma! ¡ten!" y es la forma imperativa del verbo tenir (tener). Durante el siglo XIV, los jugadores decían "tenez!" al oponente cuando golpeaban la pelota. En ese tiempo, los jugadores le pegaban a la pelota con la palma de la mano, y en realidad el nombre del juego era la paulme (la palma). Sin embargo, era comúnmente llamado tenez, que más tarde fue introducido al inglés como tennis.

Toast

The word toast refers to the action of drinking in honour to somebody or something. In the 12th century people would dip pieces of spiced toast into their wine so that it tasted better. The

tradition continued and in the 17th century people became to offer salutations to an honourable person.

The idea was that naming that person would also give a better flavour to the drink, in the same way that a toast would. Nowadays, the word is used as a noun (to drink a

toast to somebody) or as a verb (to toast somebody).

La palabra toast (brindis) se refiere a la acción de tomar en honor a alguien o algo. En el siglo XII la gente mojaba trozos de pan tostado picante en el vino para que tenga mejor sabor. La tradición continuó y en el siglo XVII la gente comenzó a ofrecer saludos a una persona de honor. La idea era que el hecho de nombrar a esa persona daría un mejor sabor a la bebida, de la misma manera que el pan tostado lo haría. Actualmente, la palabra se usa como sustantivo (to drink a toast to somebody) o como verbo (to toast somebody).

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Trailer

This word is used to refer to coming attractions in the cinema. Even though now they are presented before the beginning of a film, in the past they used to be shown at the end of it. In the 19th century, movies were played in a loop and people could come in, watch the film and stay for the next showing. When the film finished, the coming attractions were presented and then the same film or

another one would start. Therefore, by the 1920s the coming attractions reel was called trailer because it was technically played at the end of a film.

Esta palabra se utiliza para referirse a los próximos estrenos en el cine. Aunque en la actualidad son presentados antes del comienzo de una película, en el pasado se los solía mostrar al final de la misma. En el siglo XIX, se pasaban las películas continuamente una detrás de otra y la gente podía entrar, mirar el filme y quedarse para la próxima función. Cuando la película terminaba, se presentaban los próximos estrenos y luego el mismo filme u otro comenzaba. Por lo tanto, hacia los años 1920 el reel de los próximos estrenos era llamado trailer porque técnicamente se proyectaba al final de una película.

Trivia

This word comes from the Latin tri via, meaning three streets. In ancient Rome, there used to be a kiosk at the intersection of three streets, which listed different bits of information. With time, the word came to mean 'different facts about a subject', but also 'unimportant details about something'.

Esta palabra proviene del latín tri via, que significa tres calles. En la antigua Roma, solía haber un puesto en la intersección de tres calles, que listaba diversos datos. Con el tiempo, la palabra pasó a significar 'diversos hechos acerca de un tema', pero también 'detalles sin importancia sobre algo'.

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Tycoon

This word is used in English to make reference to a powerful and wealthy business executive. It comes from the Japanese word taikun, which means 'great prince'. This was the title that had to be used by foreigners to refer to the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Army, although Japanese people called him shogun, meaning 'general'. He

was in charge of making decisions in the name of the emperor. The word was adopted into American English around 1860. Abraham Lincoln's cabinet members used tycoon as a nickname for the president. It was later used to refer to big businessmen and leaders, as it is today.

Esta palabra se utiliza en inglés para hacer referencia a un ejecutivo de negocios poderoso y adinerado. Proviene de la palabra japonesa taikun, que significa 'gran príncipe'. Este era el título que debían usar los extranjeros para referirse al comandante en jefe del ejército japonés, aunque los japoneses lo llamaban shogun, que significa 'general'. El estaba a cargo de tomar decisiones, actuando en nombre del emperador. La palabra fue incorporada al inglés americano alrededor de 1860. Los miembros del gabinete de Abraham Lincoln usaban tycooncomo un apodo del presidente. Más tarde fue utilizada para referirse a grandes hombres de negocios y líderes, como hoy en día.

Umpire

This word comes from the Middle English word noumpere, which derives from the Old French nomper, that meant 'different, odd'. The idea was that the umpire was at a different level and he was an impartial authority in legal disputes (nowadays, the legal term arbitrator is used with this meaning.) The word umpire was later associated to the

person who controls that the rules of a sport are followed correctly. He has the same functions as a referee, but he's called umpire in badminton, baseball, cricket and tennis.

Esta palabra proviene de la palabra del inglés medio noumpere, que deriva del francés antiguonomper, que significaba 'diferente, desparejo'. La idea era que el umpire se encontraba a un nivel distinto y era una autoridad imparcial en disputas legales (hoy en día, el término legal arbitrator se usa con este significado). La palabra umpire

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fue luego asociada a la persona que controla que se apliquen correctamente las reglas de un deporte. Tiene las mismas funciones que un referee, pero se lo llama umpire en badminton, baseball, cricket y tennis.

Wellington

This word is used to refer to a waterproof rubber boot that covers the knee. It was named after the First Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, also known as "The Iron Duke". He was the one who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Esta palabra se usa para referirse a una bota de goma resistente al agua y que cubre la pierna hasta la rodilla. Fue denominada así en honor al primer duque de Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, que también era conocido como "The Iron Duke" (el Duque de Hierro). Fue él quien derrotó a Napoleon en la batalla de Waterloo.

Xmas

The abbreviation Xmas for Christmas dates from the 16th century. The X represents the Greek letter "chi", which is also the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (meaning Christ). The word Xmas was used in religious writing for many years. But it is now offensive to some people because it is considered a commercial strategy to omit

Christ from Christmas. Nowadays, it is used only in informal writing and on advertisements.

La abreviatura Xmas por Christmas (Navidad) se remonta al siglo XVI. La X representa la letra griega "chi", que también es la primera letra de la palabra griega Χριστός (que significa Cristo). La palabra Xmas fue utilizada en escrituras religiosas por muchos años. Pero ahora es ofensiva para algunas personas, por considerarla una estrategia comercial para omitir "Christ" (Cristo) de "Christmas" (Navidad). Hoy en día, se usa únicamente en la escritura informal y en publicidades.

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Yankee

This word probably comes from the Dutch name Jan Kaas, a nickname used to refer to a Hollander, which means "John Cheese". It was then used by the British to refer to someone from the United States. But in American English it refers to someone from the northern USA, especially New England.

Probablemente, esta palabra proviene del nombre holandés Jan Kaas, un apodo utilizado para referirse a un holandés, algo así como "Juan Queso". Luego fue usado por los británicos para referirse a alguien de los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, en inglés americano, denomina a alguien del norte de Estados Unidos, especialmente del estado de New England.

Vocabulary

PHRASAL VERBS

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition/adverb that has a meaning different from the original verb.

give (verb)give (verb) + up (preposition) = surrender

If the phrasal verb is followed by an object, it's transitive.

give up something = stop doing something

If the phrasal verb is not followed by an object, it's intransitive.

give up = surrender

Some transitive verbs are separable. This means that the object can be placed between the verb and the preposition/adverb, or after the preposition/adverb.

give something up = give up something = stop doing something

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Common English Phrasal Verbs

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "BREAK"

break away from somebody = leave somebody who is holding you.She broke away from her father and now lives by herself.

break down = stop working.Oh, no! The computer broke down again!

break down = be unable to stop yourself crying.She broke down and started crying.

break something down = break down something = remove something.Police had to break down the door to enter the building.

break something down = break down something = separate something into smaller parts so that it is easier to do.The teacher broke down the lesson to help us understand it.

break in = break into = enter a building by using force, to steal something.The thief broke in and stole the new TV.

break off = suddenly stop talking.He started to speak but then broke off to answer the phone.

break something off = break off something = end a relationship.They broke off their engagement after four years.

break out = start.I was in Berlin when the war broke out.

break out of something = escape from a place.Two prisoners have managed to break out of the jail.

break up = break into a lot of small pieces.The plane broke up in the air.

break something up = break up something = separate something into smaller parts.They want to break the company up into smaller companies.

break something up = break up something = make people leave a place where they have been meeting.Police arrived and they broke up the demonstration.

break up with somebody = separate, not live with somebody any more.Lisa broke up with Thomas last month.


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1. Our country has broken diplomatic relations with

them.

2. Her car last week and she had to take the bus.

3. His house was broken last month.

4. Sarah has decided to break with his boyfriend.

5. The fire broke and she didn't know what to do.

6. She broke from him and ran to the door.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "GIVE"

give something away = give away something = give something because you do not want or need it.She gave her old clothes away when she moved.

give something away = give away something = tell something secret.He doesn't want to give away how the system works.

give somebody away = show where somebody is or what they are doing, when they are trying to keep this a secret.Peter looked down, but his voice gave him away.

give in = accept that you are defeated, surrender.The enemy was forced to give in.

give something in = give in something = give something to someone in authority = hand in.Students must give in their assignments next week.

give off something = produce a smell, heat, sound, etc.The walls gave off a smell of paint for a week.

give onto something = lead to a place.The balcony gives onto the swimming pool.

give out = stop working properly, become weaker.After running for one hour, her legs finally gave out.

give something out = give out something = give something to each person in a group = hand out.Please give the copies out.

give out something = produce a light, heat or a signal, emit.The lamp gave out a yellowish light.

Pag. 137

give over = stop doing something that is annoying other people.Come on, give over complaining!

give something over to somebody = give responsibility for something to somebody.The organisation of the meeting was given over to the secretary.

give up = stop trying to do something, surrender.I give up. What's the answer?

give up something = give something up = stop doing something.Laura has decided to give up her piano lessons.

give up something = give something up = give something that is yours to somebody else.The kid gave up his seat to the old lady.

give somebody up = allow somebody to be caught by the police.As he noticed that he was surrounded, he thief gave himself up.

give somebody up = give up somebody = end a romantic relationship with somebody.After five years together, she eventually gave him up.


1. After typing all day, my fingers gave .

2. You shouldn't so easily.

3. The old TV is giving a bad smell.

4. The teacher the exams.

5. When he finished school, he gave all his books.

6. I knew that if I moved I would give myself .

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "MAKE"

make for something = go towards a place = head for.We made for home after dinner.

Pag. 138

make something/somebody into something = change something's purpose or somebody's character.That film made him into a Hollywood star.

make off = leave quickly, escape.The thief made off as the police arrived.

make off with something = steal something.The thief made off with her bag.

make something out = make out something = be able to see or hear something.She could just make out a shape approaching in the dark.

make something out = make out something = understand something.She couldn't make out what had happened.

make somebody out = make out somebody = understand somebody's character.She's a strange girl, nobody can make her out.

make something out of somebody/something = change a person or thing into something else.The World Cup can make heroes out of unknown players.

make towards something = start moving towards something.He made towards the door.

make something up = make up something = invent something.Our teacher made up a story about a prince.

make something up = make up something = prepare something by putting things together.She made up a cake for her birthday.

make somebody up = make up somebody = put make-up on somebody's face.They made her up as an old lady for the film.

make up for something = compensate.We will have two more classes to make up for the public holidays.


1. Come on, it's time to the office!

2. I don't believe you! You're making this !

3. Can you help me with this? I can't .

Pag. 139

4. I don't eat much for lunch, but I it at dinner.

5. As I was talking, she the exit so I wasn't able to

finish.

6. Sarah is always complaining, I can't really make her

.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "RUN"

run across somebody/something = meet somebody or find something by chance.While I was jogging I ran across my boss.

run after somebody/something = chase somebody/something.He ran after the girl, calling her name.

run around = run in an area while playing.The kids were running around in the garden.

run away = leave a place secretly, escape.The thief closed the door and ran away.

run somebody/something down = run down somebody/something = drive into somebody/something.The dog was run down by a truck.

run into somebody/something = start to experience a difficult situation.The company ran into financial problems after the first year.

run into somebody/something = hit somebody/something with a vehicle.She ran into the back of another car.

run into somebody = meet somebody by chance = run across somebody.I ran into my nephew at the dentist's.

run something off = run off something = quickly print some copies of something.Please run off a few more copies before the meeting.

run something off = run off something = write a poem, speech, etc. quickly and easily.She could run off an essay in less than an hour.

Pag. 140

run somebody off something = force somebody to leave a place.She ran the dog off her house with a stick.

run off with somebody = secretly go away with somebody to marry him/her or live with him/her.She decided to run off with a married man.

run out of something = use all of something.Dear, we have run out of sugar!

run somebody/something over = run over somebody/something = hit somebody/something with a vehicle and drive over them.She was run over by a bus outside the school.

run over something = explain or practise something quickly.Let me run over the main ideas again.

run through something = repeat something to practise it or make sure it is correct.Let's run through the first scene again.

run through something = read or explain something quickly.She ran through the details of the events.

run to something = reach a particular amount.The repair costs will run to $5,000.

run to somebody = ask somebody to help you.He's always running to his parents when he has problem.

run with something = be covered with a liquid that is flowing down.Her face was running with sweat.


1. We ran of gas and had to walk back home.

2. The dog took the meat off the bag and ran .

3. This morning I an old friend.

4. The teacher the photocopies for each student.

5. We should run the sales figures before the manager

comes. Pag. 141

6. Last month sales $1 million.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "TAKE"

take after somebody = look or behave like somebody.He really takes after his father.

take something apart = separate something into its different parts.He's always taking things apart.

take something apart = search a place thoroughly.The police took the house apart looking for clues.

take somebody/something away = take away somebody/something = remove somebody/something.The waiter took away the plates before we had finished.

take something back = take back something = admit that you were wrong to say something.I'm sorry, I should take back that remark.

take something down = take down something = write down quickly.Can you take some details down?

take something in = take in something = understand, absorb something new.I'm reading this essay but I can't take it in.

take somebody in = take in somebody = deceive somebody.Don't be taken in by street vendors.

take somebody in = take in somebody = let somebody stay in your house.She's always taking in stray cats.

take off = (aircrafts) rise into the air.The plane took off on time.

take off = start being successful.Helen's career took off when she began working in tourism.

take something off = take off something = remove a piece of clothing.He took off his shoes before entering the house.

take somebody off = take off somebody = imitate somebody.She took off the teacher and everyone laughed.

take somebody on = take on somebody = hire somebody.We need to take on more employees.

take something on = take on something = be responsible for something.He took on too much work and now he has little free time.

Pag. 142

take something over = take over something = take control of something.His real intention was to take over the company.

take to somebody/something = start to like somebody/something, develop something as a habit.As soon as he met her, he took to her.

take something up = take up something = become interested in a new activity.When he was on holidays, he took up a new hobby.

take something up = take up something = accept an idea or suggestion.They took up the invitation and will come for dinner tomorrow.

take something up = take up something = continue something.Please take up the story where you left off.


1. I don't believe you, you're taking me !

2. He insulted her, but then he took it .

3. John is very intelligent. He his father.

4. She decided to the challenge and run the next

marathon.

5. my e-mail address so you can write to me.

6. Paul smoking when he was young.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "AWAY"

break away from somebody = leave somebody who is holding you.She broke away from her father and now lives by herself.

come away = become separated from the main part.I turned some of the pages and they came away in my hand.

Pag. 143

get away = leave a place.The meeting continued up to 8 o'clock but I was able to get away at 7.30.

get away with something = leave a place with something.The thieves got away with all the money.

get away with something = not be caught or punished for something wrong.The boy never does his homework but he always gets away with it.

give something away = give away something = give something because you do not want or need it.She gave her old clothes away when she moved.

give something away = give away something = tell something secret.He doesn't want to give away how the system works.

give somebody away = show where somebody is or what they are doing, when they are trying to keep this a secret.Peter looked down, but his voice gave him away.

pass away = die.She's very sad because her grandfather has passed away.

run away = leave a place secretly, escape.The thief closed the door and ran away.

take somebody/something away = take away somebody/something = remove somebody/something.The waiter took away the plates before we had finished.

walk away = leave a bad situation instead of trying to make it better.We've been married for ten years, you can't just walk away!

walk away with something = win something easily.The lucky winner will walk away with $10,000.


1. Before he moved, he all his books to the local

library.

2. The thieves with two paintings.

3. The kid from home and has been missing for two

weeks.

Pag. 144

4. The button of the DVD player in my hands.

5. When the company started to have problems, he decided

to .

6. He felt he needed to from home.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "IN"

break in = break into = enter a building by using force, to steal something.The thief broke in and stole the new TV.

bring something in = bring in something = introduce something.The Congress brought in a new law on foreign trade.

bring something in = bring in something = earn a particular amount of money.The sale of the car brought in about $10,000.

fill something in = fill in something = write all the necessary information on a form, document, etc.Please fill in the application form.

fill somebody in = fill in somebody = tell somebody about recent events.You have to fill me in about what's been happening at the office.

fill in for somebody = do somebody's job because he's not there.You will have to fill in for Paul while he's on holiday.

get in = enter a place, especially when this is difficult.He managed to get in through a window.

give in = accept that you are defeated, surrender.The enemy was forced to give in.

give something in = give in something = give something to someone in authority = hand in.Students must give in their assignments next week.

kick in = begin to have an effect.The painkiller kicked in and she began to feel better.

take something in = take in something = understand, absorb something new.I'm reading this essay but I can't take it in.

Pag. 145

take somebody in = take in somebody = deceive somebody.Don't be taken in by street vendors.

take somebody in = take in somebody = let somebody stay in your house.She's always taking in stray cats.


1. The director has new marketing strategies to the

company.

2. The storm is expected to tonight.

3. Sue will on the new office procedure.

4. She the situation in a glance.

5. The child insisted until his parents .

6. They used to tourists into their home for a fee.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OFF"

break off = suddenly stop talking.He started to speak but then broke off to answer the phone.

break something off = break off something = end a relationship.They broke off their engagement after four years.

get off = leave a place.I will try to get off after lunch.

get off = not be punished for something.In the end she got off because there wasn't enough evidence against her.

give off something = produce a smell, heat, sound, etc.The walls gave off a smell of paint for a week.

make off = leave quickly, escape.The thief made off as the police arrived.

Pag. 146

make off with something = steal something.The thief made off with her bag.

run something off = run off something = quickly print some copies of something.Please run off a few more copies before the meeting.

run something off = run off something = write a poem, speech, etc. quickly and easily.She could run off an essay in less than an hour.

run somebody off something = force somebody to leave a place.She ran the dog off her house with a stick.

run off with somebody = secretly go away with somebody to marry him/her or live with him/her.She decided to run off with a married man.

take off = (aircrafts) rise into the air.The plane took off on time.

take off = start being successful.Helen's career took off when she began working in tourism.

take something off = take off something = remove a piece of clothing.He took off his shoes before entering the house.

take somebody off = take off somebody = imitate somebody.She took off the teacher and everyone laughed.


1. The thieves her laptop computer.

2. She was telling us the story but suddenly she .

3. John, stop your sister or you won't have any

dessert!

4. He was really very smart, he would a speech in a

few minutes.

5. The new wood floors a strange smell.

Pag. 147

6. The couple and now they aren't living together

anymore.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OUT"

break out = start.I was in Berlin when the war broke out.

break out of something = escape from a place.Two prisoners have managed to break out of the jail.

get out = leave a room or building.She usually gets out by 6 o'clock.

get out of = leave a place or escape from a place.Some birds managed to get out of the cage.

get out of something = avoid doing something that you have promised to do.Kids always try to get out of tidying their room.

give out = stop working properly, become weaker.After running for one hour, her legs finally gave out.

give something out = give out something = give something to each person in a group = hand out.Please give the copies out.

give out something = produce a light, heat or a signal, emit.The lamp gave out a yellowish light.

make something out = make out something = be able to see or hear something.She could just make out a shape approaching in the dark.

make something out = make out something = understand something.She couldn't make out what had happened.

make somebody out = make out somebody = understand somebody's character.She's a strange girl, nobody can make her out.

make something out of somebody/something = change a person or thing into something else.The World Cup can make heroes out of unknown players.

run out of something = use all of something.Dear, we have run out of sugar!


1. Before the conference, his secretary copies of the

documents to the public. Pag. 148

2. Suddenly the lights went out, and she wasn't able to

where the exit was.

3. That new job has really a responsible person out of a

lazy old man.

4. Do you know what to do if a fire ?

5. What time do you of work?

6. The couple and now they aren't living together

anymore.

PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OVER"

get over something = become well again after an illness.She got over the flu in one week.

get over something = successfully deal with a problem.I don't know how we're going to get over this problem.

get something over = get over something = succeed in communicating something to other people.We must get this warning over to our employees.

get something over (with) = finish something difficult.I can't wait to get the interview over with.

give over = stop doing something that is annoying other people.Come on, give over complaining!

give something over to somebody = give responsibility for something to somebody.The organisation of the meeting was given over to the secretary.

hand something over = hand over something = give something to somebody with your hands.The captured thief was ordered to hand over his gun.

hand something over to somebody = hand over something to somebody = give somebody power over something that you used to be in charge of.When he retired, he handed the company over to his son.

pull over = drive to the side of the road and stop your car.When she noticed the police car behind her, she pulled over.

Pag. 149

run somebody/something over = run over somebody/something = hit somebody/something with a vehicle and drive over them.She was run over by a bus outside the school.

run over something = explain or practise something quickly.Let me run over the main ideas again.

sleep over = sleep at somebody's house for a night.The children visited their grandmother and wanted to sleep over.

take something over = take over something = take control of something.His real intention was to take over the company.


1. When her father resigned, she the business.

2. She finally the divorce.

3. The policeman signalled to him to .

4. Oh, no! You've the cat!

5. The president the speech before the press

conference.

6. I tried to my point over but he didn't understand.

Pag. 150

INDICEENGLISH IDIOMS......................................................................................1

IDIOMS WITH ANIMALS.....................................................................1BIRD.....................................................................................................1BULL....................................................................................................2CAT......................................................................................................3CHICKEN - HEN - STAG - COCK.....................................................4DOG......................................................................................................6DUCK...................................................................................................7FISH......................................................................................................8GOOSE.................................................................................................9HORSE...............................................................................................10PIG......................................................................................................12RAT....................................................................................................13SHEEP - LAMB - MUTTON.............................................................14OTHERS.............................................................................................15

Idioms with parts of the body.................................................................17ARM...................................................................................................17BACK.................................................................................................18BRAIN................................................................................................19EAR....................................................................................................20EYE.....................................................................................................21FINGER..............................................................................................23FOOT..................................................................................................24HAND.................................................................................................26HEAD.................................................................................................27HEART...............................................................................................28LEG.....................................................................................................30TONGUE............................................................................................31TOOTH...............................................................................................32

Idioms with colours................................................................................33BLACK...............................................................................................33BLUE..................................................................................................34RED....................................................................................................35WHITE...............................................................................................37BROWN.............................................................................................37GREEN...............................................................................................38

Pag. 151

GREY.................................................................................................38YELLOW...........................................................................................38

Idiomatic Pairs........................................................................................39IDIOMATIC PAIRS PART 1............................................................39IDIOMATIC PAIRS PART 2............................................................41IDIOMATIC PAIRS PART 3............................................................43IDIOMATIC PAIRS PART 4............................................................44

More idioms............................................................................................46IDIOMS WITH FOOD.......................................................................46IDIOMS WITH FOOD.......................................................................48IDIOMS WITH FOOD.......................................................................49IDIOMS WITH FRUIT......................................................................51IDIOMS WITH WATER...................................................................53IDIOMS WITH BELLS.....................................................................55IDIOMS WITH PARTS OF THE HOUSE........................................56DIOMS WITH MEANS OF TRANSPORT.......................................58IDIOMS RELATED TO MUSIC.......................................................59DIOMS RELATED TO SPORTS......................................................61IDIOMS TO DO WITH EMOTIONS................................................62IDIOMS WITH WEATHER..............................................................64

NGLISH PROVERBS................................................................................66THE STORY BEHIND THE IDIOMS......................................................70

A cock and bull story..............................................................................70A dark horse............................................................................................71A white elephant.....................................................................................71As easy as pie..........................................................................................72As mad as a March hare..........................................................................72As old as the hills....................................................................................73At sixes and sevens.................................................................................73Bag and baggage.....................................................................................74Baker's dozen..........................................................................................74Black Friday............................................................................................75Can't hold a candle..................................................................................75Cloud nine...............................................................................................76Crocodile tears........................................................................................76Dressed to the nines................................................................................76Fast asleep...............................................................................................77High and dry...........................................................................................77

Pag. 152

In the limelight........................................................................................77It's raining cats and dogs.........................................................................78Like a red rag to a bull............................................................................78Never look a gift-horse in the mouth......................................................79Once in a blue moon...............................................................................79Red-letter day..........................................................................................80Red tape..................................................................................................80Shopping days until Christmas...............................................................80Tell it to the marines...............................................................................81The black sheep......................................................................................82To bark up the wrong tree.......................................................................82To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.......................................82To be long in the tooth............................................................................83To be on the pig's back...........................................................................83To break the ice......................................................................................83To bury the hatchet.................................................................................84To catch someone red-handed................................................................84To cut the mustard..................................................................................84To cut to the chase..................................................................................85To fly off the handle...............................................................................85To get/jump on the bandwagon..............................................................85To have bats in the belfry.......................................................................86To have seen the elephant.......................................................................86To have seen the lions.............................................................................87To have somebody over a barrel.............................................................87To jump the gun......................................................................................88To keep up with the Joneses...................................................................88To learn the ropes...................................................................................88To let off some steam.............................................................................89To let the cat out of the bag....................................................................89To play ducks and drakes.......................................................................90To push the envelope..............................................................................90To push the boat out...............................................................................90To run out of steam.................................................................................91To take something with a grain/pinch of salt..........................................91To talk/speak of the devil.......................................................................92To throw in the towel..............................................................................92To upset the apple cart............................................................................92

Pag. 153

To win hands down.................................................................................93Top drawer..............................................................................................93Vis-à-vis..................................................................................................94

THE STORY BEHIND THE WORDS......................................................94Abacus....................................................................................................94Acrobat...................................................................................................94Angel.......................................................................................................95Atlas........................................................................................................95Bagel.......................................................................................................96Bankrupt.................................................................................................96Barbecue.................................................................................................96Beefeater.................................................................................................97Bikini......................................................................................................97Biscuit.....................................................................................................98Black box................................................................................................98Bobby......................................................................................................98Buck........................................................................................................99Bug..........................................................................................................99Calendar................................................................................................100Candidate..............................................................................................100Cardigan................................................................................................100Carnival.................................................................................................101Christmas..............................................................................................101Clock.....................................................................................................101Coin.......................................................................................................102Colonel..................................................................................................102Cop........................................................................................................103Daisy.....................................................................................................103Deadline................................................................................................104Digit......................................................................................................104Dollar....................................................................................................104Dungarees.............................................................................................105Easter....................................................................................................105Fortnight...............................................................................................106Ghost.....................................................................................................106Gossip...................................................................................................106Granny Smith........................................................................................107Handicap...............................................................................................107

Pag. 154

Hazard...................................................................................................107Hermetic...............................................................................................108Hippopotamus.......................................................................................108Honeymoon...........................................................................................109Hooligan...............................................................................................109Hot dog.................................................................................................110Husband................................................................................................110Iceberg..................................................................................................110Jaywalker..............................................................................................111Jeans......................................................................................................111Jeep.......................................................................................................112Kangaroo...............................................................................................112Khaki.....................................................................................................112Knight...................................................................................................113 Lent......................................................................................................113Magazine...............................................................................................114Marathon...............................................................................................114Marionette.............................................................................................115Money...................................................................................................115Mortgage...............................................................................................116Nickel....................................................................................................116Nightmare.............................................................................................116OK.........................................................................................................117Orange...................................................................................................118Orangutan.............................................................................................118Oscar.....................................................................................................119Pedigree................................................................................................119Picnic....................................................................................................120Poker.....................................................................................................120Pound....................................................................................................120Pumpkin................................................................................................121Racquet.................................................................................................121Referee..................................................................................................121 Robot....................................................................................................122Sandwich...............................................................................................122Scapegoat..............................................................................................123Secretary...............................................................................................123Shark.....................................................................................................124

Pag. 155

Sideburns.............................................................................................124Soap opera............................................................................................124Soccer...................................................................................................125Tabloid..................................................................................................125Teddy Bear............................................................................................126Tennis...................................................................................................126Toast.....................................................................................................127Trailer...................................................................................................127Trivia.....................................................................................................128Tycoon..................................................................................................128Umpire..................................................................................................129Wellington............................................................................................129Xmas.....................................................................................................130Yankee..................................................................................................130

PHRASAL VERBS..................................................................................131PHRASAL VERBS WITH "BREAK".................................................131PHRASAL VERBS WITH "GIVE".....................................................133PHRASAL VERBS WITH "MAKE"...................................................134PHRASAL VERBS WITH "RUN"......................................................136PHRASAL VERBS WITH "TAKE"....................................................137PHRASAL VERBS WITH "AWAY"..................................................139PHRASAL VERBS WITH "IN"..........................................................140PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OFF".......................................................142PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OUT"......................................................143PHRASAL VERBS WITH "OVER"....................................................145

INDICE.....................................................................................................147

Pag. 156

vocabulary a5

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