Lista de expresiones - Letra A
List of idioms - Letter A
| a babe in arms |
un nene de pecho |
| a bare-faced lie |
una mentira descarada |
| a basket case/goner |
un caso perdido |
| a bed of roses |
un lecho de rosas |
| a big shot/wheel/wig |
un pez gordo |
| a bit at sea |
un poco perdido |
- My grandmother was a babe in arms when she married. She was 14!
- You told Joe we were married? How can you tell such a bare-faced lie?
- My mom is crazy. She wants to go dancing with me! She's a real basket case!
- My life's never been a bed of roses. I've always had lots of problems.
- The police are about to get one of the maffia big shots.
- I'm a bit at sea with Trigonometry so Kim is going to help me study.
| a blank look |
una mirada inexpresiva |
| a blessing in disguise |
no hay mal que por bien no venga |
| a budding genius |
un genio en ciernes |
| a chip off the old block |
de tal palo, tal astilla |
| a close call |
un escape por los pelos |
| a cog in the machine/wheel |
una pieza más de la organización |
- When I told my parents I was pregnant, they just gave me a blank look.
- Since I was fired I started spending more time with my son. It was a blessing in disguise.
- At the age of 3, Mark showed he was a budding genius: he could read and write!
- He leaves all the lights on like his father when he leaves a room. A chip off the old block!
- I almost got run over by a car today, thank God it was just close call.
- What makes you think you can't be fired? You're just a cog in the machine!
| a crash course |
un curso intensivo |
| a dead giveaway |
una señal clara |
| a dime a dozen |
del montón |
| a false move |
un paso en falso |
| a far cry |
Muy diferente |
| a fat cat |
un pez gordo |
- I'm moving to Berlin in a month so I'm taking a crash course in German.
- John said he was alone but the two extra plates on the table were a dead give-away.
- These reality TV shows are a dime a dozen nowadays.
- I think telling our secret to Jack would be a false move. He'd tell everyone about it.
- Our holidays in Greece this Summer were a far cry from the ones we had in Sweden.
- The fat cats of the company are thinking about selling it to the Japanese.
| a feather in one's cap |
un triunfo |
| a fly in the ointment |
el único problema |
| a fly on the wall |
Ser mosca para escuchar una conversación |
| a fool's errand |
algo completamente inútil |
| a foregone conclusion |
un resultado obvio |
| a glutton for punishment |
masoquista |
- Winning an Olympic gold medal has been a feather in your cap.
- My sister followed me everywhere I went when we were kids. She was a fly in the ointment.
- George's going to ask Sarah to marry him tonight! If only I were a fly on the wall...
- Many people think that demonstrating against the war is a fool's errand.
- It's obvious that Manchester United will win the cup. It's a foregone conclusion.
- You take too many extra-curricular activities at school. You're a glutton for punishment.
| a go-getter |
una persona emprendedora |
| a good Samaritan |
un buen samaritano |
| a hard nut to crack |
un hueso duro de roer |
| a head start |
una ventaja |
| a je ne sais quoi |
un no sé qué |
| a lady-killer |
un donjuán |
- Ann's a real go-getter. She's got lots of projects and works hard to carry them out.
- Pam's a good Samaritan. She'll help you whenever you're in need.
- When I married Paul, his son didn't like me. He was a hard nut to crack.
- The Conservatives have a head start in the election thanks to their anti-abortion campaign.
- Owen isn't exactly handsome, but he has a je ne sais quoi that makes him very attractive.
- Adam's getting married! Will it be the end of his days as a lady-killer?
| a long shot |
una posibilidad remota |
| a losing/lucky streak |
una racha de mala/buena suerte |
| a matter of life and death |
un asunto de vida o muerte |
| a pack of lies |
una sarta de mentiras |
| a pain in the ass/neck |
un plomazo |
| a pick-me-up |
un estimulante |
- I know it's a long shot, but maybe if you talk to Josh he'll understand.
- We've won six games in a row. We're on a lucky streak!
- I must hand in the report by 4 o'clock! It's a matter of life and death!
- Bob told you that? Don't believe him. It's nothing but a pack of lies!
- I can't stand Louis. He's a real pain in the neck.
- I always drink coffee as a pick-me-up during exam season.
| a piece of cake |
pan comido |
| a pig in a poke |
gato por liebre |
| a play on words |
un juego de palabras |
| a poker face |
cara de póker |
| a red-letter day |
un día memorable |
| a safe/sure bet |
algo casi seguro |
- The exercise was a piece of cake. I finished it in two minutes.
- I'm not keen on buying things on the web. They might sell you a pig in a poke.
- 'Lolita', by Vladimir Nabokov, is full of plays on words. It's fantastic!
- Dave always wears a poker face. You can never tell what he's thinking or feeling.
- Oh, my God! My son's tidied up his room! It's a red-letter day!
- Ben won't remember to bring the cake. It's a safe bet.
| a shot in the arm |
un estímulo |
| a sight for sore eyes |
dichosos los ojos que te ven |
| a sitting duck |
un blanco fácil |
| a slice of the cake |
una tajada |
| a slip of the tongue |
un lapsus |
| a smart alec |
un sabelotodo |
- These new computers were a shot in the arm for the students. Now they are really learning.
- Danny! You're a sight for sore eyes! I don't know anyone in here!
- If we don't defend the goal, it'll be a sitting duck for the other team.
- The thieves had stolen two million dollars and each of them wanted a slice of the cake.
- The candidate said that justice was not part of the agenda. Quite a slip of the tongue...
- Doug is such a smart-alec. He thinks he knows everything!
| a snake in the grass |
un traidor |
| a wet blanket |
un aguafiestas |
| a wild-goose chase |
un intento totalmente inútil |
| a wolf in sheep's clothing |
un lobo disfrazado de cordero |
| acid test |
prueba de fuego |
| airy-fairy |
fantasioso |
| alive and kicking |
vivito y coleando |
- Eva told the teacher I cheated on the test. She's a snake in the grass!
- My neighbour is such a wet blanket. They always call the police when we have a party.
- He didn't need a new brush. He sent me on a wild-goose chase so I would leave him alone.
- At first he was sweet and kind but in the end he turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
- John's new job as a manager will be a real acid test for him.
- Ted wants to buy a castle and live there. I think it's quite airy-fairy.
- Everyone thought Tiffany was dead, but she was alive and kicking!
| all in all |
en conjunto |
| all things being equal |
si todo va de acuerdo a mis planes |
| all thumbs |
torpe |
| an old flame |
un viejo amor |
| an old wives' tale |
un cuento de viejas |
| an ugly duckling |
un patito feo |
| any Tom, Dick or Harry |
cualquier hijo de vecino |
- I've had my problems this year, but all in all, it wasn't so bad.
- Everything's ready for the trip. All things being equal, we'll be there by noon.
- Pete is always dropping things. He's all thumbs.
- Lucy is not just a friend to Jim. She's an old flame. They were together once.
- Is it true that if you go swimming after eating you die or is it an old wives' tale?
- Sue was the ugly duckling of the class, but now she's one of the prettiest girls in school.
- Lisa's very picky when it comes to men. She won't date any Tom, Dick or Harry.
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¿Quieres otra forma de aprender inglés?
Ingresa a nueva Comunidad de Sherton English >> Aquí podrás:Aprender y enseñar / Conocer gente / Crear grupos / Participar en foros / Subir tus fotos y videos / Escribir tu propio blog / Trabajar en forma colaborativa / Conversar con otros miembros / y mucho más!