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Expresiones y frases - Letra A
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.