by Peter Weibel
de siete suelas (fig., fam.) Es un estafador de siete suelas. He’s an out-and-out con man. (fam.) He’s a real con man. (fam.) Es una mentirosa de siete suelas. She’s an out-andout liar. She’s a real or downright or chronic liar. Es un cobarde de siete suelas. He’s a real/stinking (fam.) coward.
el suelo ground, floor
arrastrar/poner algo o a alg. por los suelos (fig., fam.) to speak ill of s.th./s.o., to run s.th./s.o. down (fam.), to slander s.o.
echar algo al o por el suelo (fig., fam.) to put paid to s.th. (Br.E.), to ruin s.th., to shatter s.th. (fig.), to knock s.th. on the head (fam.), to knock s.th. for six (fam., Br.E.) Echaron el plan al suelo. They ruined the plan. They knocked the plan on the head. Eso echó nuestras esperanzas por el suelo. That shattered our hopes.
venirse al suelo (fig.) to fail, to be ruined
echarse por los suelos (fig., fam.) to grovel (fig., Br.E.)
estar por los suelos (fig., fam.) (a) to be dirt cheap (fam.), to be a dime a dozen, to be at rock bottom (price) (fig., fam.) (b) to be having or going through a real low (fig.), to be at or reach rock bottom (one’s morale/spirits) (fig., fam.) Los géneros estuvieron por los suelos. The goods were dirt cheap. Por el momento los precios están por los suelos. Prices are at rock bottom at the moment. Tenía la moral por los suelos. His morale reached rock bottom. He was having a real low.
suelo (dar con la carga en el ~)
suelo (dar con los/sus huesos en el santo ~)
suelo (herir el ~ con el pie)
sueñecito (descabezar un ~)
sueño (caerse de ~)
sueño (defraudar el ~)
la suerte luck, destiny, lottery ticket
¡Buena suerte! Good luck! Break a leg! (fam., hum.)
La suerte está echada. (fig.) The die is cast. (fig.)
suerte (sonreírle a alg. la ~)
el surco furrow
echarse al o en el surco (fig., fam.) (a) to knock off [work] (fam.), to think one has done enough (b) to give up Ya se echó en el surco a las tres de la tarde. He already knocked off work at three in the afternoon.
el suspiro sigh
recoger el postrer suspiro de alg. (fig.) to comfort s.o. or be at s.o.’s side at the hour of death
suspiro (lo que no va en lágrimas, va en ~s)
sustentarse to sustain o.s.
sustentarse del aire (fig.) to live on air (fig.)
el susto fright
dar un susto de muerte a alg. to scare the living daylights out of s.o. (fam.), to scare the pants off s.o. (fam.), to scare s.o. silly (fam.)
dar un susto al miedo (fig., fam.) to be as ugly as sin/hell (fam.), to be incredibly ugly
no ganar para sustos (fam.) to have nothing but trouble Este año no hemos ganado para sustos. We’ve had nothing but trouble this year.
susto (morirse del ~)
susto (ser más feo que un ~ a medianoche)
susto (un ~ padre)
suyo, suya his, hers
aguantar lo suyo to put up with a lot
pesar algo lo suyo s.th.: to weigh a ton (fam.)
cada uno/cual tiene lo suyo (fig., fam.) nobody’s perfect, we all have our little failings
cada uno/cual a lo suyo it’s best to mind one’s own business, each to his own
a cada uno/cual, lo suyo to each his own, horses for courses (fam., Br.E.)
ir a lo suyo o a la suya to think only of o.s., to look after Number One (fam.)
hacer de las suyas (fig., fam.) to be/get up to one’s old or one’s usual tricks, to be up to no good Hizo una de las suyas. She was up to one of her old tricks. That was just like her. Han vuelto a hacer de las suyas. They’re up to their old tricks again. They’re up to no good again.
salirse con la suya (fam.) to get/have one’s [own] way
T
tabaco (quitarse del ~)
el tabanque treadle of the potter’s wheel
levantar el tabanque (fig., fam.) to pack one’s bags/things [and go] (fam.)
la tabarra (fam.)
dar la tabarra a alg. to get on s.o.’s nerves (fam.), to get on s.o.’s wick (fam., Br.E.), to annoy s.o., to bug s.o. (fam., Am.E.)
el tabique partition wall
vivir tabique por medio (fam.) to live next door
la tabla board, plank
hacer tabla rasa [de algo] (fig.) to wipe the slate clean (fig.), to make a clean sweep of s.th. (fig.)
salvarse en una tabla (fig.) to escape by a hair’s breadth, to have a narrow escape, to have a close shave (fig., fam.)
la tacita small cup
la Tacita de Plata affectionate name for Cádiz
como una tacita de plata (fig., fam.) spick-and-span (fam.), squeaky clean (fam.), as bright/clean as a new pin (fig.), like a new pin (fig.), spotless Le gusta tener la casa como una tacita de plata. She likes to keep her house spick-and-span. Tiene su coche como una tacita de plata. He keeps his car spotless or as bright as a new pin.
el taco (Esp.) swearword
soltar tacos (fig., fam.) to use coarse (fig.) language, to swear
el tafanario (fam.) posterior (euph.), behind (fam., euph.), backside (fam.), bottom (fam.), butt (fam., Am.E.), bum (fam., Br.E.)
la tagarnina golden thistle
la tagarnina (fig., fam.) (a) cheap/bad cigar, stinker (fam.) (b) cheap/bad tobacco, weed (sl.)
la tajada slice
la tajada del león (fig.) lion’s share
sacar tajada (fig., fam.) to get a rake-off (fam.), to make a haul/killing (fam.), to get s.th. out of it, to take one’s cut (fam.)
el tal, la tal this man/woman (s.o. mentioned/etc.)
una tal (fig., euph.) a woman of that sort (prostitute) (euph.)
ser tal para cual (fam.) to be two of a kind Ambos/ambas son tal para cual. They [both] are two of a kind. Los dos hermanos son tal para cual. Both brothers are as bad as each other.
taladrar to drill, to pierce
ser un ruido que taladra los oídos (fig.) to be an ear-piercing or ear-splitting noise
ser un ruido que taladra (fig.) to be a shattering noise (fig.)
la taleguilla small bag
la taleguilla de la sal (fig., fam.) money for the daily expenses
el talón heel
mostrar/levantar los talones (fig., fam.) to show a clean pair of heels (fam.), to take to one’s heels
pisar los talones a alg. (fig., fam.) to be [hot/hard] on s.o.’s heels (fam.), to dog s.o.’s heels
pegarse a los talones de alg. (fig., fam.) to stick [hard] on s.o.’s heels (fam.)
tener el juicio en los talones (fig., fam.) not to be exactly an Einstein (fam.), s.o. must have been at the back of the queue when they were handing brains out (hum.)
talón (bajársele a alg. la sangre a los talones)
el tambor drum
salir a tambor batiente (fig.) to come out/off with flying colors
estar tocando el tambor (fig.) to dawdle away one’s time, to waste one’s time, not to get anywhere, to get nowhere
el tamboril tambourine
tamboril por gaita (fig., fam.) six of one and half a dozen of the other (fam.) ¿Lo haremos ahora o más tarde? Da tamboril por gaita. Shall we do it now or later? It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.
el tamborilero drummer
En casa del tamborilero todos son dan-zantes. (prov.) The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. (prov.) Like father like son. (prov.) Like mother like daughter. (prov.)
la tanda (work): shift, turn
estar de tanda (fig., fam.) to be one’s turn Ahora estamos de tanda. Now it’s our turn.
la tangente tangent
salir[se]/escapar[se]/irse por la tangente (fig., fam.) (a) to go off at a tangent (fig.) (b) to evade/dodge the issue, to give an evasive answer, to beat about/around the bush (fig.), to talk round the subject
el tanto goal (football/soccer)
apuntarse un tanto (fig.) to notch up a [plus] point (fig., fam.)
la tapa lid
levantarse la
tapa de los sesos (fig., fam.) to blow one’s brains out (fam.), to blow one’s head off (fam.), to put a bullet through one’s head
levantarle a alg. la tapa de los sesos (fig., fam.) to blow s.o.’s brains out (fam.), to blow s.o.’s head off (fam.), to put a bullet through s.o.’s head
[el]/la tapaboca[s] (fig., pop.) slap [on the mouth]
el tapadillo veiling (women)
de tapadillo (fig., fam.) on the quiet (fam.), stealthily, secretly Salió de tapadillo. He left on the quiet.
pasar algo de tapadillo (fig., fam.) to smuggle s.th. through
andar con tapadillos (fig., fam.) to have secrets
tapar to cover [up], to plug up
tapar a una mujer (fig., pop.) to screw a woman (vulg.) calzar[se] a alg.
tapar la boca a alg. (fig.) to shut s.o. up (fam.), to silence s.o.
tapar la caca
el tapete table cover/cloth
estar sobre el tapete (fig.) to be under discussion, to be up for discussion
poner algo sobre el tapete (fig.) to put/bring s.th. up for discussion Pusimos ese asunto sobre el tapete. We put that matter up for discussion.
quedar sobre el tapete (fig.) not to be brought/put up for discussion, not to be brought up Eso quedó sobre el tapete. That wasn’t brought up.
la tapia mud wall
ser más sordo que una tapia (fig., fam.) to be stone-deaf (fam.), to be as deaf as a post (fam.)
el tapón stopper, plug
el tapón (fig., fam.) short, chubby person
Al primer tapón, zurrapa[s]. (prov.) Every-one has to learn. Well, the first shot was a failure. (fig.)
el tapujo cover[ing]
la pensión de tapujo (fig., fam.) short-time hotel/motel (fam.)
andar con tapujos (fig.) to be very secretive, to be involved in some shady (fam.) or du-bious business
sin tapujos (fig.) unvarnished (fig.), plain, aboveboard, openly, honestly Me dijo la verdad sin tapujos. He told me the plain/unvarnished truth. Me lo echaron en cara sin tapujos. They said it openly to my face.
la tarántula tarantula
estar picado de la tarántula (fig., fam.) to have VD (venereal disease)
la tarasca carnival dragon
la tarasca (fig., fam.) (woman): battleax[e] (fam.), shrew, virago, termagant, old bag (fam., pej.), old hag (pej.)
tarde late
Más vale tarde que nunca. (prov.) Better late than never. (prov.)
tarde ( nacer: nació alg. ~)
tarde (nunca es ~ si la dicha es buena)
la tarja tally
beber sobre tarja (fig.) to drink on credit, to drink on tick (fam., Br.E.)
el tarugo (fig., fam.) backhander (fam.)
el tate (fam.) (marijuana): hash/pot (fam.), grass/shit/weed (sl.), tea (sl., Am.E.)
el taxi taxi
el taxi (fig., pop.) prostitute, streetwalker, hooker (sl., Am.E.), tart (sl.)
el taxista taxidriver
el taxista (pop.) pimp (fam.)
el tebeo comic (for children)
ser más conocido que el tebeo (fig., fam.) everybody knows him/etc., to be known everywhere
la tecla key
dar en la tecla (fig., fam.) to hit the nail on the head (fig.)
dar en la tecla de + infinitivo (fig., fam.) to fall into the habit of + gerund Dio en la tecla de levantarse muy temprano. He fell into the habit of getting up very early. He has/had a thing about getting up very early.
tocar todas las teclas (fig., fam.) to pull out all the stops (fig.), to leave no stone unturned (fig.)
no quedarle a alg. ninguna tecla por tocar (fig., fam.) there’s nothing else left for s.o. to try, to have tried every avenue (fig.) or approach
teclear algo (fam.) to manage s.th., to wangle s.th. (fam.); (problem): to approach from various angles (fig.)
la teja [roofing] tile
pagar a toca teja (fig., Esp.) to pay on the nail (fam.), to pay cash
tejado (la pelota está/sigue en el ~)
tejado (tirar piedras a su o sobre el propio ~)
la tela fabric
la tela (pop.) (money): dough (sl., Am.E.), bread (sl.), sugar (sl.), brass/dosh/lolly (sl., Br.E.), wampum (sl., Am.E.)
sacudir/soltar la tela to cough up (fam.), to fork out (fam.), to stump up (fam., Br.E.)
poner algo en tela de juicio (fig.) to question s.th., to call s.th. into question, to cast doubt on s.th.
estar en tela de juicio (fig.) (success; s.th. to be the case or to be true): to be uncertain
haber tela que cortar (fam.), haber tela para rato (fam.) to be a long job, to have a lot of work on one’s hands, there’s plenty of material (fig.), to be broad or endless (sub-ject/topic/etc.), to be lots to talk about Hay tela que cortar. There’s still lots to talk about. Voy a tener tela para rato. It’s going to be a long job. I’m going to have a lot of work on my hands.
llegarle a alg. a las telas del corazón (fig., fam.) to hurt/wound s.o. deeply (fig.)
tela (tejer la ~ de Penélope)
la telaraña cobweb
mirar las telarañas (fig., fam.) to have one’s head in the clouds
tener telarañas en los ojos (fig., fam.) to be blind (fig.), not to have [got] eyes in one’s head (fig.)
sacudirse las telarañas (fig., fam.) to blow the cobwebs away (fig.), to clear one’s mind
temblar to tremble, to shake
temblar como una hoja o como un azogado o como un flan (fig.) to shake like a leaf/jelly (fig.), to tremble all over
dejar un vaso o una botella temblando (fig., fam.) to almost empty a glass/bottle, to use most of a bottle Dejó la botella temblando. He almost emptied the bottle.
Un vaso o una botella está temblando. (fig., fam.) A glass/bottle is almost empty (after a swig or after pouring wine/etc.). La botella está temblando. The bottle is almost empty.
temblarle a alg. las carnes
el tembleque (fam.) shaking
tener un tembleque to have the shakes (fam.), to have the heebie-jeebies (fam.)
entrarle a alg. tembleques o un tembleque to start shaking/trembling, to begin to shake/tremble, to get the shakes (fam.)
tempestad (quien siembra vientos recoge ~es)
témpora (tomar/confundir el culo por las ~s)
ten (fam.)
ir con mucho ten con ten to go about it very/extremely carefully
las tenazas pliers
no poder coger algo o a alg. ni con tenazas (fig., fam.) s.o. wouldn’t touch s.th./s.o. with a bargepole or ten-foot pole (fig.) Ese novelón no puedo coger ni con tenazas. I wouldn’t touch that pulp novel with a bargepole.
tentar to tempt
tentar a Dios o al diablo to tempt fate/providence
tentar la paciencia a alg. (fig., fam.) to get on s.o.’s nerves (fam.), to get on s.o.’s wick (fam., Br.E.)
la teología theology
no meterse en teologías (fig., fam.) not to talk about things one doesn’t know anything about No te metas en teologías. Don’t talk about things you don’t know anything about.
terco (ser ~ a más no poder)
ternura (rebosar de ~)
el terreno ground, terrain
pisar el terreno de alg. (fig.) to get under s.o.’s feet (fig., fam.)
ganar terreno (fig.) to gain ground (fig.) Están ganando terreno en su lucha por conseguir mejores condiciones laborales. They’re gaining ground in their struggle for better working conditions.
perder terreno (fig.) to lose ground (fig.), to fall behind
comerle el terreno a alg. (fig.) to surpass s.o., to outstrip s.o. (fig.)
tantear/medir el terreno (fig.) to see how the land lies (fig.) Su negocio no prospera allí. Debiera haber tanteado el terreno antes de abrirlo. His business doesn’t prosper there. He should have seen how the land lies before he opened it.
minar el terreno a alg. (fig.) to undermine s.o.’s position (fig.), to cut the ground from under s.o.’s feet Esperamos que no destroce otra vez la base de nuestro proyecto. Ya nos ha
minado el terreno dos veces. We hope that he won’t destroy the foundation of our plan again. He’s already cut the ground from under our feet two times.
preparar el terreno a alg./algo (fig.) to pave the way for s.o./s.th. (fig.), to prepare the ground for s.th. (fig.)
el terrón clod/lump [of earth]
destripar terrones (fig., pop.) to slog away (fam., Br.E.) echar/sudar la hiel
la tetorra (pop.) big breasts, big boobs (fam.), big tits (fam.), bazookas (sl., hum., Am.E.)
la tía aunt
¡No hay tu tía! (fig.) No chance! (fam.) No way! (fam.) Nothing doing! (fam.)
quedar[se] para tía (fig., fam.) to be an old maid (fam.)
tiempo (~[s] de Maricastaña)
tiempo (en ~s del rey que rabió/del rey Wamba)
tiempo (en [los] ~s de ñangué)
tiempo (hacer un ~ de perros)
tiempo (no tener ~ ni para rascarse)
tiempo (tirarse ~ haciendo algo)
la tierra earth
besar la tierra (fig., fam.) to fall flat/head-long
en toda/cualquier tierra de garbanzos (fig., fam.) everywhere, all over
estar comiendo tierra (fig., fam.) to be pushing up [the] daisies (fam., hum.), to have bitten the dust (fam.)
echar tierra sobre/a algo (fig.) (a) to cover s.th. up (fig.), to hush s.th. up (b) to forget about s.th., to put s.th. behind one, to let the dust settle on s.th. (fig.)
echar tierra a los ojos de alg. (fig., fam.) to throw dust in s.o.’s eyes (fig.) Me echó tierra a los ojos y acabó vendiéndome el reloj más caro. He threw dust in my eyes and I ended up buying the most expensive watch.
echarse tierra a los ojos (fig., fam.) to cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face
poner tierra por medio (fig., fam.) to make a quick getaway (fam.), to clear off/out (fam.)
tragarse la tierra a alg. (fig.) to disappear from or vanish off the face of the earth Parecía que se los hubiera tragado la tierra. It was as if they’d vanished off the face of the earth or as if the earth had swallowed them up.
sacar algo de debajo de la tierra (fig., fam.) to go to great trouble to get s.th.
tierra (aunque se junten el cielo y la ~)
tierra (dar con la carga en ~)
tierra ([re]mover cielo y ~)
