Different ways of looking

To look (at) is the basic verb used in English with the meaning of 'mirar' in Spanish, but there are other related verbs which also mean 'mirar', but in a specific way. These verbs, like to stare, to gaze or to glare, each has a distinctive semantic feature ('rasgo semántico diferencial') which allows it to be used to express 'looking' in a different way. Here are the main ones:

- to stare (at) - to look fixedly (mirar fijamente)
- to gaze (at) - to look intently, as in wonder, delight or interest, at a work of art, a beautiful landscape, etc. (mirar con atención, con la mirada perdida, embobado, etc., contemplar una obra de arte, un hermoso paisaje, etc.)
- to glance (at) - to look quickly, momentarily, superficially (mirar rápido, echar una ojeada)
- to glare(at) - to look angrily (mirar con enfado/furia, airadamente)
- to scowl (at) - to look angrily, annoyed, bad-tempered, with strong disapproval (mirar enfadado, molesto, de mal humor, con desaprobación)
- to gape (at) - to look with your mouth wide open, as in wonder or curiosity (mirar embobado, boquiabierto, con admiración, curiosidad, etc)
- to peer (at) - to look closely, with difficulty (mirar de cerca, con dificultad, con ojos de miope)
- to peep/peek (at) - to look slyly, with curiosity, secretively, through a small opening or behind something (mirar furtivamente, mirar por una rendija/un agujero, etc., espiar)
- to glimpse - to look momentarily, so that the object is hardly perceived (entrever, vislumbrar)
- to ogle - to look with lust (mirar con lascivia)
- to leer (at) - to look in an unpleasant, malign or lascivious way (mirar de modo desagradable, con malevolencia o lascivia)
- to gawk/gawp (at) - to look stupidly (quedarse mirando a alguien como tonto, embobado)
- to goggle (at) - to look at something with wide open eyes as in amazement or wonder (mirar con los ojos abiertos de par en par, como maravillado o sorprendido)
- to squint (at) - (a) to look with one or both eyes partly closed trying to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light (entornar los ojos para ver mejor o por culpa de una luz muy fuerte); (b) to have eyes that look in different directions (ser bizco, bizquear)

EXERCISE

Replace the words in italics by the appropriate verb from the lexical field of looking:

1.- Whenever I arrived late, my grandma used to look angrily at me.
2.- She heard a shout and looked quickly over her shoulder.
3.- The children were looking open-mouthed at the clowns' performance.
4.- The little boy crept up and looked curiously through a tiny hole in the fence.
5.- The man standing next to her on the bus kept looking lustily at her.
6.- They all looked fixedly at me when I came into the room.
7.- He used to sit for hours admiring the beautiful scenery.
8.- "It's the third time this week that you're late", the boss said looking at her with strong disapproval.
9.- The judge took off his glasses and looked closely at the document.
10.- She perceived briefly a figure at the window.

KEY

1.- glare; 2.- glanced; 3.- gaping; 4.- peeped/peeked; 5.- ogling/leering; 6.- stared; 7.- gazing at; 8.- scowling; 9.- peered; 10.- glimpsed.

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The Spider's Web

I share with you today this unpublished story of mine, an attempt at stream of conciousness (monólogo interior), a literary style in which a character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow as they come to the person's mind, uninterrupted by conventional punctuation marks. This technique can be found, for example, in some pages of James Joyce's Ulysses.

THE SPIDER’S WEB

What awful weather tonight my friend so windy and cold outside but how nice and cosy it is to sit here with you near the fire what were you saying dear yes you said its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all oh come on thats Tennyson cant you think of anyone better well hes not bad but give me Shakespeare any day my only love sprung from my only hate aha Romeo and Juliet thats more like it though it all seems so faraway so distant now but yes it might fit me perhaps because with him you never knew if it was love or hate anyway in my case I suppose it wasnt love its hate now certainly hes so highbrow so supercilious those airs of superiority it makes me sick sometimes I feel I could hit his face wipe that stupid grin off his mouth...thank you dear I could do with a nice hot cup of coffee too Im so at ease with you no I dont mind talking about my private life with you honest with him it wasnt the same hes so complicated such a crooked mind and to think that I gave him my most precious flower okay okay dont laugh I know virginity is just a nuisance to get rid of as soon as possible and yes I wanted to get rid of mine enough of that then worms shall try that long preserved virginity stuff Im glad I lost it and Im convinced my choice of man was right too a mature chap with plenty of experience somebody who was in a position to help me with my career too you smile well one must keep ones feet on the ground in any situation dont you agree anyway a passable lover at worst he was and imagination could do the rest besides I could always have as many young men as I liked after him...mm very nice coffee you make my dear and that Roxettes song so melodic it mustve been love but its over now very appropriate where was I ah yes I could have as many young lovers as I pleased later and indeed after the accident when he wouldnt have anything to do with me I did try some powerful studs that pierced my flesh stallions that rammed into me but I wasnt satisfied how stupid and blind can men be they think its their virility that turns our heads they dont realize the fools it doesnt work like that for us its something much more subtle anyhow with him I have to admit it wasnt too bad he knew the bastard how to arouse my senses in that respect he was an expert oh there were times when he drove me crazy when I rode the runaway horse of passion in his arms of course Im no fool I knew there was no future hed always go back to his wife and children but who cared no place in my heart for the greeneyd monster besides Ive long known that the joys of married life are not for me no Ill never be a mother and Im not made to be a wife either no way to kill a wife with kindness for me no taming of the shrew...a little drink now yes why not I feel good tonight its so pleasant to be here with you so peaceful and I trust you Im telling you things I never told anybody before Im sure you understand me well we women understand each other better to tell you the truth it was never a rose garden at his side the arguments the rows the sordid clandestineness his obsessive fear of being discovered there were times when I felt like a whore I confess naughty wicked even but I couldnt help it I liked the look in his eyes that proclaimed his desire for my young body my tender but firm flesh he knew it was his last opportunity and he couldnt afford to let it pass I also knew it no silly that it was his last chance to feel young I mean not mine but I enjoyed myself too as Ive already said he was a passable lover but a friend he never was I have no use for him as a friend but now I have you...yes go on dear dont hold back the sweetness of a tender kiss the promise of a white breast the smooth velvety skin oh God at times like this I wouldnt mind being a man and get up a lovely woman oh dont stop now I feel different tonight relaxed I close my eyes and I imagine Im running along a deserted beach naked my hair to the wind my lips salty with the foam from the sea then I lie on the sand and abandon myself to the gentle caress of the waves lapping at the inside of my thighs oh how pleasurable it feels a silken touch to kindle the fire beneath the cool of my skin ooh darling...

GLOSSARY

'Tis better to have loved and lost/Than never to have loved at all - es mejor haber amado y perdido/que nunca haber amado [from In Memorian by Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)] 
give me Shakespeare any day - prefiero a Shakespeare mil veces
my only love sprung from my only hate - mi único amor nacido de mi único odio (from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet)
that's more like it - eso está mejor
so faraway - tan lejano
it might fit me - podría venirme bien
highbrow - intelectual
supercilious - arrogante
to wipe that stupid grin off his mouth - borrar esa estúpida sonrisa de su boca
I could do with... - me vendría bien...
to be at ease - estar a gusto
honest - de verdad, te lo juro
crooked - retorcido,-a
a nuisance - un estorbo
to get rid of sth - librarse de algo
enough of that 'then worms shall try that long preserved virginity' stuff - ya está bien de todo eso de 'entonces gusanos probarán esa virginidad tanto tiempo preservada' [from To His Coy Mistress, perhaps the best known carpe diem poem in English, by the metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)] 
mature - maduro,-a
to keep one's feet on the ground - tener los pies en la tierra
at worst - en el peor de los casos
'it must've been love, but it's over now' - 'debe de haber sido amor, pero ahora se acabó' (from a song by Roxette, a Swedish pop rock duo, formed in 1986, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle)
not have anything to do with sb - no querer saber nada de alguien
stud - semental
who pierced my flesh  - que traspasaron mi carne
stallion - caballo semental
to ram into sb - penetrar a alguien con fuerza
to turn sb's head - hacer perder la cabeza a alguien
it doesn't work like that for us - no funciona así con nosotras
subtle - sutil
bastard - cabrón
to arouse sb's senses - despertar los sentidos a alguien
to drive sb crazy - volver loco,-a a alguien
a runaway horse - un caballo desbocado
the green-ey'd monster - el monstruo de los celos (from Shakespeare's Othello)
to kill a wife with kindness - 'matar'/abrumar a una esposa con atenciones (from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew) 
no taming of the shrew - nada de fierecilla domada (The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's plays)
row - riña, pelea
whore - prostituta
naughty - travieso,-a, malo,-a
wicked - perverso,-a
to have no use for sb - no servirle una persona a alguien para nada
to hold back - refrenarse
smooth velvety skin - piel suave y aterciopelada
salty - salado,-a
foam - espuma
waves - olas
to lap - lamer
thighs - muslos
silken touch - tacto suave como la seda
to kindle the fire of passion - encender el fuego de la pasión
beneath the cool of my skin - bajo el frescor de mi piel

EXERCISE 

Re-write the story, adding the punctuation marks.

KEY

"What awful weather tonight,  my friend! So windy and cold outside! But how nice and cosy it is to sit here with you near the fire!  What were you saying, dear?  Yes, you said 'it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all'. Oh, come on, that’s Tennyson. Can’t you think of anyone better? Well, he’s not bad, but give me Shakespeare any day: 'my only love sprung from my only hate'. Aha!, Romeo and Juliet, that’s more like it, though it all seems so faraway, so distant now. But yes, it might fit me perhaps, because with him you never knew if it was love or hate. Anyway, in my case, I suppose it wasn’t love. It’s hate now, certainly. He’s so highbrow, so supercilious. Those airs of superiority..., it makes me sick. Sometimes I feel I could hit his face, wipe that stupid grin off his mouth...Thank you, dear, I could do with a nice hot cup of coffee, too. I’m so at ease with you! No, I don’t mind talking about my private life with you, honest. With him, it wasn’t the same. He’s so complicated; such a crooked mind. And to think that I gave him my most precious flower. Okay, okay, don’t laugh. I know virginity is just a nuisance to get rid of as soon as possible. And yes, I wanted to get rid of mine. Enough of that 'then worms shall try that long preserved virginity' stuff. I’m glad I lost it, and I’m convinced my choice of man was right, too. A mature chap with plenty of experience, somebody who was in a position to help me with my career, too. You smile. Well, one must keep one’s feet on the ground in any situation, don’t you agree? Anyway, a passable lover at worst he was, and imagination could do the rest. Besides, I could always have as many young men as I liked after him...Mm, very nice coffee you make, my dear. And that Roxette’s song, so melodic: 'it must’ve been love but it’s over now'. Very appropriate. Where was I? Ah, yes, I could have as many young lovers as I pleased later. And indeed, after the accident, when he wouldn’t have anything to do with me, I did try some powerful studs that pierced my flesh; stallions that rammed into me. But I wasn’t satisfied. How stupid and blind can men be! They think it’s their virility that turns our heads. They don’t realize, the fools, it doesn’t work like that for us. It’s something much more subtle. Anyhow, with him, I have to admit it wasn’t too bad. He knew, the bastard, how to arouse my senses. In that respect, he was an expert. Oh, there were times when he drove me crazy, when I rode the runaway horse of passion in his arms. Of course, I’m no fool. I knew there was no future. He’d always go back to his wife and children. But who cared? No place in my heart for 'the green-ey'd monster'. Besides, I’ve long known that the joys of married life are not for me. No, I’ll never be a mother, and I’m not made to be a wife either. No way 'to kill a wife with kindness' for me, no 'taming of the shrew'...A little drink now? Yes, why not? I feel good tonight. It’s so pleasant to be here with you, so peaceful! And I trust you. I’m telling you things I never told anybody before. I’m sure you understand me. Well, we women understand each other better. To tell you the truth, it was never a rose garden at his side. The arguments, the rows, the sordid clandestineness, his obsessive fear of being discovered. There were times when I felt like a whore, I confess. Naughty, wicked even, but I couldn’t help it. I liked the look in his eyes that proclaimed his desire for my young body, my tender but firm flesh. He knew it was his last opportunity, and he couldn’t afford to let it pass. I also knew it. No, silly. That it was his last chance to feel young, I mean, not mine. But I enjoyed myself, too. As I’ve already said, he was a passable lover, but a friend he never was. I have no use for him as a friend. But now I have you...Yes, go on, dear, don’t hold back! The sweetness of a tender kiss, the promise of a white breast, the smooth velvety skin. Oh, God! at times like this, I wouldn’t mind being a man and get up a lovely woman. Oh, don’t stop now! I feel different tonight, relaxed. I close my eyes, and I imagine I’m running along a deserted beach, naked, my hair to the wind, my lips salty with the foam from the sea. Then I lie on the sand and abandon myself to the gentle caress of the waves lapping at the inside of my thighs. Oh, how pleasurable it feels! A silken touch to kindle the fire beneath the cool of my skin. Ooh!!, darling..."

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Pinceladas gramaticales: At/in/on

At/in/on

Estas tres preposiciones se usan en inglés para indicar un lugar o tiempo determinado, por lo que, en la mayoría de los casos, equivalen a 'en' en español. Con objeto de evitar en lo posible confusiones en su uso, vamos a repasar a continuación los significados básicos de cada una de ellas:

Para indicar lugar, se usa:

at - para indicar posición en un punto determinado:

at the bus stop - en la parada del autobús
at the dentist's - en el dentista
at the top of the stairs - en lo alto de la escalera
at the traffic lights - en el semáforo
at a party - en una fiesta

in - para indicar dentro de algún lugar determinado:

in the drawer - en el cajón
in my pocket - en mi bolsillo
in the kitchen - en la cocina
in her bedroom - en su dormitorio
in Spain - en España

on - para indicar sobre, encima de algo:

on the table- encima de la mesa
on the floor - en el suelo
on the wall - en la pared
on the roof - en el tejado
on the grass - en la yerba

Para indicar tiempo se usa:

at - para indicar horas, momentos de tiempo:

at five o'clock - a las cinco
at half past two - a las dos y media
at Christmas/Easter  - en Navidad/Semana Santa

in - para indicar años, meses, siglos, estaciones, épocas, partes del día, períodos de tiempo:

in 2014 - en 2014
in April - en abril
in summer - en verano
in the morning/afternoon/evening - por la mañana/tarde/tarde-noche (pero generalmente at night - por la noche)

in - también se usa para indicar 'dentro de' un cierto período de tiempo:

in ten minutes - dentro de diez minutos
in two weeks - dentro de dos semanas

on - para indicar día de la semana, fechas:

on Sunday - el domingo
on June 5th/on 5 June - el 5 de junio


Otros significados corrientes de at/in/on:

at

- ocupado, haciendo algo: 

at work - en el trabajo
at lunch - almorzando

- habilidad o no para hacer algo:

good at sport - bueno para el deporte
bad at languages - malo para los idiomas

- nivel, temperatura, edad, distancia:

at the age of eighty - a la edad de ochenta años
at four degrees centigrade - a cuatro grados centígrados

- estado:

at war - en guerra
at peace - en paz

- valor, precio:

at 40p each - a cuarenta peniques cada uno

- causa:

impatient at the delay - impaciente por el retraso
surprised at the news - sorprendido por la noticia

- dirección (denotando por regla general objetivo, intención o agresividad):

to aim at - apuntar a
to shoot at - disparar a
to shout at - gritar a

in

- estado, condición, manera:

in public - en público
in English - en inglés
in a good/bad mood - de buen/mal humor

- vestido de:

in black/white - de negro/blanco
in uniform - de uniforme
in a grey suit  - con un traje gris

- actividad, profesión:

in business - en los negocios
in teaching - en la enseñanza

- hecho de un material:

in gold - de oro
in leather - de cuero

on

- sobre, acerca de:

a lecture on Shakespeare - una conferencia sobre Shakespeare

- estado actual, actividad/condición temporales o accidentales:

on fire - en llamas
on strike - de huelga
on holiday(s) - de vacaciones

- a base de:

to feed on roots - alimentarse de raíces
to run on petrol - andar con gasolina

Expresiones idiomáticas frecuentes con at/in/on:

at

at all - en absoluto
at best/worst - en el mejor/peor de los casos
at dawn/daybreak - al amanecer
at dusk - al atardecer
at ease - cómodo, relajado, a gusto
at first - al principio
at last - por fin
at least - por lo menos
at a loss - perplejo, indeciso, sin saber qué hacer
at once - enseguida; a la vez
at present - actualmente
at random - al azar

in

in a hurry - deprisa, con prisa
in a way - en cierto modo
in advance - por anticipado
in case - por si, en caso de
in fact - de hecho
in love - enamorado,-a
in short - en resumen
in the meantime - mientras tanto
in principle - en principio
in the sun/shade - al sol/a la sombra
in the way - en medio, estorbando
in time - a tiempo

on

on board - a bordo
on the contrary - por el contrario
on duty - de servicio
on foot - a pie
on hand - a mano (también at hand, pero in hand - bajo control)
on leave - de permiso
on offer - en oferta
on principle - por principio
on purpose - a propósito, a caso hecho
on sick leave - de baja por enfermedad
on time - puntual
on one's way - de camino

EXERCISES

Rellena los huecos con la preposición adecuada:

Exercise 1 (nivel principiante)

1.- I'll see you ......Easter.
2.- I heard a noise ..........the kitchen ......night.
3.- I usually get up .......about half past seven.
4.- My birthday is ......March 5th.
5.- It's usually very hot ........August.
6.- Don't leave it .....the table, put it .....the drawer.
7.- How long have you been living .......London?
8.- Our wedding anniversay is ..........September 14th, but my parents' is ..........April.
9.- The neighbours are .........holiday ......Greece.
10.- There's a saucepan .....the top shelf ....the kitchen cupboard.

Exercise 2 (nivel intermedio)

1.- He tends to visit her.....Monday afternoons.
2.- He's .....school. Ring back .....half an hour.
3.- Don't worry, I'll be .....the station when the train gets in.
4.- You're just .....time to help us.
5.- I'll be with you .....a minute. I'm attending to someone else ......the moment.
6.- ....Sundays, she stayed .....home all day just .....case he came.
7.- He chose one .....random.
8.- I was asked to pay ....advance.
9.- That jacket is .....offer.
10.- I don't like it .....all.

Exercise 3 (nivel intermedio/avanzado)

1.- They were sitting .....the table waiting for the first course to be served.
2.- Would you mind picking up the newspaper for me .....your way home?
3.- He got there early so that he could be..... the head of the queue.
4.- You've seen that film ....least half a dozen times.
5.- Do you know the man .....the brown suit?
6.- Let's sit .....the shade, it's too hot to sit .....the sun.
7.- I think she did it ........purpose.
8.- He was ....a loss for words.
9.- He isn't here today; he's .....sick leave.
10.- Are you .......duty tomorrow?

KEY

Exercise 1

1.- at; 2.- in, at; 3.- at; 4.- on; 5.- in; 6.- on; 7.- in; 8.- on; 9.- on, in; 10.- on, in.

Exercise 2

1.- on; 2.- at, in; 3.- at; 4.- in; 5.- in, at; 6.- On, at, in; 7.- at; 8.- in; 9.- on; 10.- at.

Exercise 3

1.- at; 2.- on; 3.- at; 4.- at; 5.- in; 6.- in, in; 7.- on; 8.- at; 9.- on; 10.- on.

Para completar la información sobre el tema, ver mi Gramática Inglesa, 9ª ed., pp. 459-460 y 684-685 (at); 461-462 (at/in/on); 471-472 y 687-690 (in); 477-478 y 691-693 (on). 

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Verbos frasales en novelas de Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie usaba con frecuencia verbos frasales en sus obras. Hoy comparto con vosotros varios ejemplos tomados de tres de sus novelas más conocidas: Ten Little Niggers, The Murder at the Vicarage y Crooked House. El ejercicio que os propongo es completar cada verbo frasal con su partícula correspondiente:

Ten Little Niggers

1.- I'll just put things straight in the dining-room and make sure everything's locked up right, and then I'll turn ......
2.- You know, it beats me - why that young fellow wanted to do himself......I've been worrying about it all night.
3.- Vera did not speak. She was fighting .... a rising feeling of panic.
4.- The sea is as high as ever. I shouldn't think any boat could put .....today.
5.- The two names John and Lucy Combes were those of two kids he knocked ..... and killed near Cambridge. Some friends of his gave evidence for him and he was let .......with a fine.

Murder at the Vicarage

6.- The kitchen window gives ......the other side of the house.
7.- I was at least morally responsible. I went and gave myself ......
8.- An old Mrs Archer comes in every morning to 'do .......me' as it is called.
9.- It is so kind of you  to come round so promptly. Always willing to put yourself .........for others.
10.- It must have been a very nasty shock for him to come.......you just then.

Crooked House

11.- The one thing I'm determined not to do is to ask you to marry me now. That wouldn't work ....... anyway. First, you might turn me ....... 
12.- In the end he was behind most of the well-known restaurants in London. Then he went .......the catering business in a big way.
13.- Place is in a mess. I was turning ......Clearing up old papers.
14.- He thought up all sorts of smart ways to get .......all these silly regulations.
15.- I'm going to write ...... everything in a notebook and then, when the police are completely baffled, I shall come ........and say, I can tell you who did it.
16.- Those are - roughly stated - the provisions of the document I drew .......
17.- People who attempt to give false information nearly always slip ........
18.- Just because they have always been rich and - powerful. They looked ........on me.
19.- He lifted the receiver - listened and then said: "put her ......."
20.- How dare grandfather do this to me? How dare he? I was his only grandson. How dare he pass me .......for Sophia?

CLAVE

1.- in - to turn in (acostarse, retirarse a dormir).
2.- in - to do oneself in (suicidarse).
3.- down - to fight something down [contener, reprimir (sentimientos)].
4.- out - to put out (hacerse a la mar una embarcación).
5.- down; off - to knock somebody down (atropellar a alguien con un vehículo); to let somebody off with sth (dejar a alguien ir sin castigo o con un castigo menor del que merece).
6.- on - to give on something [dar (ventana, etc.) a un lugar].
7.- up - to give oneself up (entregarse).
8.- for - to do for somebody (hacer el trabajo de la casa a/servir en casa de alguien).
9.- out - to put oneself out for somebody (tomarse molestias/desvivirse por alguien).
10.- across - to come across somebody (encontrarse/toparse con alguien).
11.- out; down - to work out (funcionar, salir bien); to turn somebody down (dar calabazas a alguien).
12.- into - to go into sth (dedicarse a algo).
13.- out - to turn out (IBr) [vaciar (habitación, cajón, armario, etc), hacer una limpieza a fondo].
14.- round - to get round something [buscar el medio/la manera de burlar (ley, norma, etc)].
15.- down; forward - to write something down (anotar algo); to come forward (presentarse a declarar como testigo, etc.).
16.- up - to draw something up [redactar (documento, contrato, etc.)].
17.- up - to slip up (equivocarse, cometer un error, meter la pata).
18.- down - to look down on somebody (mirar por encima del hombro, despreciar a alguien).
19.- through - to put somebody through (poner en comunicación telefónica, pasar)
20.- over - to pass somebody over for somebody else (postergar, pasar a otra persona por encima de uno).

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Noah Webster

If you had the opportunity to watch the cartoon in my recent post, Symphony in Slang, you may have noticed that Saint Peter asked Noah Webster to help him decipher a newcomer's language which he wasn't able to understand. In case some of my followers do not know much about Lexicography, I have the pleasure to share with them today some brief notes on this great American Lexicographer: 

Noah Webster

 Noah Webster was born on October 16^th, 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut. He worked on his father’s farm until he was fourteen, then he attended local school, and in 1774 he entered Yale, where he learnt Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and graduated when he was 20.

He then went into teaching and to remedy the deficiencies he had noticed in his students he wrote his first work: A Grammatical Institute of the English Language. It consisted of three parts: a spelling book, a grammar and a reader. The spelling book was a great success, and re-titled Elementary Spelling Book, it was adopted as a universal textbook in American schools. Called ‘the blue-backed speller’, it sold more than 30.000.000 copies.

He wanted to reform American spelling, and he’s responsible for the exclusion of some superfluous letters, for instance the ‘u’ in words ending in ‘our’: colour, favour, honour, etc. became in American spelling color, favor, honor, etc.

His first full-scale lexicographic work is Compendious Dictionary of the English Dictionary, published in 1806. It contained 40.600 headwords.

In 1810, Webster announced his project to make an all-American dictionary in his Prospectus of a New and Complete Dictionary of the English Language. The Dictionary, titled American Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1828 in two volumes, with 70.000 headwords. Webster’s Dictionary has been criticized, especially his etymologies. His many errors sprang mainly from his strong religious convictions (he did not question anything the Bible says) and from his ignorance of Anglo-Saxon, the language which really is at the root of so many English words. Fortunately, his etymologies were put right in 1864, thanks to the German scholar C.A.F. Mahn, who had been commissioned by G & C Merriam, Webster’s dictionaries publishing company.

Webster died on May 28^th, 1843, aged 84.

Webster’s Dictionary, duly updated, is still published in America, where the name Webster is synonymous with dictionary.

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Juegos de palabras en Symphony in Slang

Tras escuchar el vídeo Symphony in Slang que subí hace unos días a mi blog, algunos de mis seguidores me han pedido que les explique algo más los juegos de palabras de algunos de los modismos, que no acaban de ver bien. Esto es perfectamente comprensible. Se trata de un cartoon con montones de modismos, la mayoría de carácter muy coloquial, algunos de ellos, como to punch cattle (conducir ganado), inglés americano y otros incluso slang, como pins (piernas). Esto hace que el lenguaje utilizado por el protagonista de la historia no sea entendido por San Pedro, ni siquiera por Noah Webster (1758-1843), el más famoso lexicógrafo norteamericano de todos los tiempos.
Podemos decir que la gracia del cartoon radica en el contraste entre lo representado en el dibujo - la interpretación literal de cada expresión - y su significado figurado, que es lo que constituye el modismo correspondiente. Así, por ejemplo, cuando el protagonista, recién llegado al cielo, comienza el relato de su vida en la tierra, empieza diciendo: I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, que quiere decir que 'nació en una familia rica', pero lo que aparece en el dibujo correspondiente es un bebé con una cuchara de plata atravesada en la boca.  A continuación explico con algo más de detalle el significado literal (lit) y el figurado (fig) de las expresiones que han suscitado las dudas de algunos de mis seguidores:

- at the crack of dawn - (lit) al resquebrajarse el amanecer/(fig) al rayar el alba
- to be short-handed - (lit) ser corto de manos/(fig) andar escaso de personal
- not cut the mustard - (lit) no cortar la mostaza/(fig) no dar la talla
- to give someone the gate - (lit) darle a alguien la verja/(fig) echar/despedir a alguien del trabajo (IAm)
- to punch cattle - (lit) dar puñetazos al ganado/(fig) conducir ganado (IAm)
- to step into the picture - (lit) meterse en el cuadro/(fig) entrar a formar parte importante de la historia
- my breath came up short panted - (lit) mi respiración venía en calzoncillos/(fig) respiraba jadeando, estaba tan excitado que me costaba respirar
- to be all thumbs - (lit) ser todo dedos gordos/pulgares/(fig) ser un manazas, un demañado (IAm)
- to do up one's hair in a bun - (lit) recogerse el pelo en un bollo de pan/(fig) recogerse el pelo en un moño
- pins - (lit) alfileres/(fig) piernas (en slang norteamericano)
- to give someone a date - (lit) darle a alguien un dátil/(fig) concederle a alguien una cita
- white tie and tails - (lit) corbata blanca y colas/(fig) pajarita blanca y frac
- to put on the dog - (lit) ponerse/llevar puesto el perro/(fig) vestirse de manera despampanante (IAm)
- the Stork Club - (lit) el club de las cigüeñas/(fig) nombre de un club famoso por su música jazz
- a Moscow Mule - (lit) una mula moscovita/ (fig) nombre a dado a un cierto cóctel
- to bounce - (lit) rebotar/(fig) (dicho de un cheque) ser devuelto por el banco por no tener fondos
- to be in a pickle - (lit) estar en un pepinillo/(fig) estar en un apuro
- to draw a gun on someone - (lit) dibujar una pistola sobre alguien/(fig) sacarle una pistola a alguien y apuntarle con ella
- to give someone the slip - (lit) darle a alguien la enagua/(fig) darle esquinazo a alguien
- to pump someone - (lit) inflar a alguien con una bomba de inflar/(fig) sonsacar a alguien
- to send someone up the river - (lit) mandar a alguien río arriba/ (fig) mandar a alguien a la cárcel (IAm)
- to do a stretch in the jug - (lit) estirarse en la jarra/(fig) pasar una temporada en la cárcel [in the jug - en el trullo/en la trena/en chirona (sl)]
- to raise a big stink - (lit) levantar un gran tejón asiático (stink es forma abrev. de stink badger - animal maloliente que tiene su hábitat en Asia)/(fig) armar un gran follón/un gran escándalo
- a greyhound - (lit) un galgo/(fig) Greyhound es una conocida compañía de autobuses en Estados Unidos
- to get on one's high horse - (lit) montarse alguien en su gran caballo blanco/(fig) darse aires/mucha importancia
- not touch someone with a ten-foot pole - (lit) no tocar a alguien con con un palo de diez pies (es versión en IAm del IBr not touch someone with a bargepole)/(fig) no querer tener nada que ver con alguien
- to feel a tug at one's elbow - (lit) sentir un remolcador en el codo/ (fig) sentir un tirón del brazo
- to chew the rag - (lit) morder/masticar el trapo/(fig) estar de palique
- to hear from the grapevine - (lit) oír de la parra/ (fig) oír en Radio Macuto/oír un rumor
- an old flame - (lit) una antigua llama/(fig) un antiguo amor
- to burn someone up - (lit) quemar a alguien/(fig) enfadar mucho a alguien (IAm)
- to feed someone a line - (lit) dar de comer a alguien una caña de pescar/(fig) trajinar a alguien
- to chisel in - (lit) golpear con un cincel/(fig) interrumpir para fastidiar (sl)
- to get in someone's hair - (lit) meterse en el pelo de alguien/(fig) sacar a alguien de quicio
- to feel mighty blue - (lit) sentirse muy azul/(fig) sentirse muy triste (mighty es muy en IAm)
- a thousand islands - (lit) mil islas/(fig) nombre de un famoso lugar de vacaciones al norte de Nueva York y al sudeste de Ontario
- a beachcomber - (lit) uno que peina playas/ (fig) un vagabundo que busca cosas de valor en las playas para luego venderlas
- to hotfoot it - (lit) ir con pies ardiendo/(fig) ir corriendo a algún sitio, como las balas
- the groom - (lit) el novio (el día de la boda)/(fig) el marido
- to have one's hands full - tener las manos llenas/(fig) tener mucho trabajo, no dar abasto.


  

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Pinceladas léxicas: to fit/to suit

TO FIT/TO SUIT

Referidos a la ropa, to fit significa que la prenda en cuestión es la

talla adecuada y to suit, que le sienta bien a alguien, que le favorece:

These shoes fit me perfectly – estos zapatos me están perfectamente. (son mi número)

That dress doesn’t suit her – ese vestido no le sienta bien. (no le favorece)

PRÁCTICA

Rellena los huecos con la form apropiada de to fit o to suit:

a.- Red ........................... you. You should wear it more often.

b.- She’s so fat she can’t find clothes to ............................... her.

c.- These trousers don’t ......................... me; have you got a larger size?

d.- I don't like Lavinia’s new blouse. It doesn’t really ........................... her.

e.- The dress ............, but it doesn’t............me.

f.- Monica’s new hairstyle doesn’t really ..............her.

g.- I’ll take the blue jeans. They ...........me like a glove.

CLAVE

a.- suits; b.- fit; c.- fit; d.- suit; e.- fits; suit; f.- suit; g.- fit.

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Symphony in Slang

Symphony in Slang from Lee Presson on Vimeo.

Hoy comparto con vosotros este simpático cartoon con abundantes modismos, que os explico en inglés y traduzco al español:

SCRIPT

Saint Peter- You may enter. Next Please.

Man- Howdy, Dan. What's new? How's tricks? What's cooking?

Saint Peter- What's cooking? How's tricks? Hmm. What a strange language you bring from the earth. I don't seem to follow you. I shall refer you to the master of the dictionary, Noah Webster. Perhaps he can understand you.  Mr. Webster, this newcomer's vocabulary is so unusual that I am unable to record his life on earth. Would you mind seeing if you can comprehend his odd manner of speech? Now, young man, go ahead with the story of your life.

Man- Sure thing, Dad! Well, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth...

Webster- Silver spoon in your mouth ?

Man- Yes, silver spoon in my mouth.

Webster- Mmmm... proceed.

Man- Then I seemed to grow up overnight. One day at the crack of dawn, I got up with the chickens to hunt a job and got a job slinging hash because the proprietor was shorthanded. But I couldn't cut the mustard, so the guy gave me the gate.

So I went back to my little hole in the wall. I was beside myself with anger. Then I decided to get a train ticket to Texas and there made some dough punching cattie. From there I flew to Chicago. There a beautiful girl stepped into the picture.

Our eyes met. My breath came in short pants, and I got goose pimples. I was all thumbs. Mary's clothes fit her like a glove. And she looked mighty pretty with her hair done up in a bun. She had good-looking pins, too. Finally, she gives me a date. I put on my white tie and tails, and, brother, did she put on the dog!

We went around together for some time... painting the town red, going to the Stork Club... and a box at the opera. After the opera, I had a cocktail, and Mary had a Moscow Mule. At dinner, Mary let her hair down and ate like a horse. By then, my money was running out on me, so I write a check. It bounced. Brother, I was really in a pickle. The proprietor drew a gun on me, but I gave him the slip and hid in the foothills. In no time, the law was on my heels.

On the witness stand, the judge tried to pump me, but it seemed that every time I opened my mouth, I put my foot in it. So he sent me up the river to do a stretch in the jug. I was up against it and felt myself going to pot. But I raised the big stink, and they finally let me talk to an undercover man. After going through a lot of red tape, he sprung me. It sure felt good to stretch my legs again, and I went straight to the bus station and caught a Greyhound for New York.

On arriving, I dropped in on Mary and threw myself at her feet. I asked her to marry me, but she turned her back on me and got on her high horse. I couldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole. She wouldn't say a word. Guess the cat had her tongue. So I walked out on her.

After that I went to pieces. Feeling lonely, I went down to Joe's Malt Shop where a bunch of the boys were hanging around. Ah, the music was nice. The guy at the piano played by ear. I felt a tug at my elbow. It was the soda clerk. We sat down and chewed the rag a while.

I heard from the grapevine that Mary was going around with an old flame. That burned me up because I knew he was just feeding her a line. But the guy really spent his money like water. I think he was connected with the railroad. As they danced, I tried to chisel in, but the guy got in my hair, so I left.

Outside it was raining cats and dogs. I was feeling mighty blue, and everything looked black. But I carried on. I went to the Thousand Islands. There I became a beachcomber. But I still thought of Mary, and a tear ran down my cheek.

So I send her a cable. Next day, she sends me back a wire. I rushed back to the US on a cattle boat and hotfooted it over to Mary's apartment. But when I opened the door, I noticed quite a few changes.

Why, Mary, Mary had a bunch of little ones. The groom had his hands full, too. So, all this struck me so funny that I died laughing. And here I am.

Well, what do you think? Did you follow me?

Webster- Well, I... uh..., I, mm, he, well, I... uh...

Man- What's the matter? Can't you talk? Has the cat got your tongue?

Here is a list of the idioms appearing on the video together with an explanation to normal English. I made corrections, modifications and additions but the original list came from the now disappeared EnglishCafe.com

I WILL MARK WITH A CROSS (+) THE MOST COMMON EXPRESSIONS STILL USED TODAY.

 •    +What’s new? How’s tricks? What’s cookin’? ( An informal greeting. Another way of saying, "hello")
 •    I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. ( I was born into a rich family. )  
 •    I seemed to grow up +overnight. ( My time as a child seemed to pass by quickly. [OVERNIGHT= suddenly, very quickly )  
 •    +At the crack of dawn. (In the beginning of a new day)  
 •    +I got up with the chickens. ( Roosters/cocks are known to crow at the sunrise, so this expression is synonymous with rising up early)  
 •    I got a job slinging hash. ( This refers to serving food in a restaurant, especially a cheap establishment)  
 •    The proprietor was +short-handed. ( Being short-handed means not having enough employees to do the necessary work because you need more "hands" to help you, more people)  
 •    I couldn’t cut the mustard. (I was not adequately skilled to do the work that was required)  
 •    He gave me the gate. ( I was fired/dismissed from my job.)  
 •    My little hole in the wall. (A small dingy room)  
 •    I was beside myself with anger. (I was very very upset/crossed/angry)
 •    I made some dough (Made some money) punching cattle. ( Herding cows)  
 •    +I flew to Chicago. (Travelled to Chicago by airplane)  
 •    +A beautiful girl stepped into the picture. (I met an attractive woman and she became significant to me) [if something gets into the picture, or somebody steps into the picture, they become an important part of the story]
 •    +Our eyes met. (We noticed each another)
 •    My breath came up short panted. (I was breathing harder than normal due to my excitement)  
 •    +I got goose pimples. (I got nervous) [GOOSE PIMPLES are those little lumps you get all over your skin when you feel cold, or nervous, or afraid, etc.]  
 •    +All thumbs. (Clumsy, as if all your fingers became thumbs, so you wouldn't be able to do things properly)
 •    +Her clothes fit her like a glove. (Her dress was clung closely to her body, a very tight fit.)  
 •    Her hair done up in a +bun. (She wore her hair pinned up) [a bun may also be a roll of bread]
 •    She had good looking pins too. (She had attractive legs)  
 •    +She gives me a date. (She agrees to spend time with him in a casual setting in order to become better acquainted) [a date, especially in AmE is a romantic appointment]  
 •    I put on my white tie and tails. (I dressed in a formal tuxedo.)  
 •    She put on the dog. (She wore a formal evening gown and looked very attractive in it.)  
 •    +We went around together for some time. (we dated for an extended period of time) 
 •    Painting the town red. ( Enjoying parties all over the city)  
 •    The Stork Club ( The name of a popular Nightclub known for its Jazz music)
 •    +A box at the Opera. (Balcony seats at an Opera performance)  
 •    +A cocktail and a Moscow Mule (Types of alcoholic drinks)
 •    +Let her hair down (Acted in a relaxed manner) and ate like a horse (she ate a real lot)  
 •    My money was running out on me. (I was spending all my money quickly)  
 •    I write a check and it +bounced. (There was not enough money in the back to cover my expenses so they rejected it)  
 •    In a pickle. (In an uncomfortable situation)
 •    The proprietor +drew a gun on me. (Pulled out a pistol and pointed it at him)  
 •    +I gave him the slip. (I managed to escape without incurring any harm)
 •    I hid in the foothills. (I hid among small hills at the base of a mountain)
 •    +In no time (shortly thereafter) the law was on my heels. (The police were very close to catching me.)  
 •    On the witness stand, the judge tried to pump me. (The judge tried to get information out of me and/ or get me to admit wrong doing)
 •    Every time I opened my mouth, +I put my foot into it. (I kept saying the wrong thing.)   [or simply "I put my foot in it"]
 •    He sent me up the river to do a stretch in the jar. (Sent to jail for a long period of time)   
 •    +I was up against it. (Feeling pressure for being in an unfortunate situation) and going to pot. (declining into a bad physical condition)
 •    I raised a big stink. (Protested vigorously)
 •    After going through a lot of red tape. (Bureaucracy and confusing processes)  
 •    He sprung me. (I was released from prison.)
 •    It felt good to +stretch my legs again. (To experience freedom; to have a walk again after being at home/work etc, probably sitting for a long time)
 •    I went to the bus station and caught a greyhound. (Rode a bus back to town) [the Greyhound is the American public coach company])  
 •    I dropped in on Mary. (I made her a surprise visit.)  
 •    +I threw myself at her feet. (Made a request for mercy and grace.)  
 •    +She turned her back on me. (Ignored what I had to say.)  
 •    +She got on her high horse and I could not touch her with a 10-foot pole. (She would not listen to him because she felt that she was better than me)  
 •    +The cat had her tongue. ( She didn't say anything)
 •    +I walked out on her. (Left her presence, especially in a rude manner.)  
 •    +I went to pieces. (I became very upset/sad.)  
 •    …where a bunch of the boys were +hanging around. (...where some guys I new were just spending time doing nothing in particular. A BUNCH is a group, THE BOYS are my friends or mates and to HANG AROUND is to spend time together, doing nothing in particular, just enjoying each other's company)  
 •    The guy at the piano +played by ear. (Without the use of sheet music)
 •    I felt +a tug at my elbow. (Someone was pulling on his arm)  
 •    We chewed the rag awhile. (To make conversation, small talk)
 •    +I heard from the grapevine (I heare a rumour; somebody told me; people were talking about it and I found out) that Mary was going around with an old flame. (Someone she used to date, an old boyfriend)
 •    +That burned me up (I became very angry.) because I knew he was just feeding her a line. (Telling her what she wanted to hear in order to take advantage of her in some way; fooling her into loving him)  
 •    +He spent his money like water. (He was very generous with his money, spent lots of it.)  
 •    +He was connected with the railroad. (He worked for a railroad company)  
 •    As they danced, +I tried to chisel in. (Interrupt their good times, get in the way)  
 •    The guy got in my hair. (He was a constant nuisance.)  
 •    It was raining cats and dogs. (It was raining very hard) [this is an old idiom nobody uses anymore, at least in the UK]
 •    I was feeling mighty +blue (Very sad. MIGHTY= Powerfully=very very) and everything was black. (Looked hopeless)
 •    +I carried on. (Continue to persevere.)  
 •    I went to a thousand islands. (A group of more than 1,800 islands of northern New York and southeast Ontario, Canada, in the St. Lawrence River at the outlet of Lake Ontario. The islands, some of which are privately owned, are a popular resort area.)
 •    I became a beachcomber. (A rover/wanderer/nomadic man who lives on the beach with no home or occupation.)  
 •    +A tear ran down my cheek. (To cry softly)  
 •    So I sent her a cable. (He sent a telegram to Mary.)  Next day she sends me back a wire. (She sent a telegram to him)  
 •    I rush back to the US on a cattleboat. (A cargo ship for the transport of livestock) and hotfooted over to Mary’s apartment. (To run quickly)
 •    +Mary had a bunch of little ones. (Small children)
 •    The groom had his hands full too. (He was very busy. GROOM= bridegroom= the man who marries the bride. This word is only used for the wedding day, but colloquially you can use it afterwards, mainly if you just discovered that they had married)
 •    +I died laughing. (I laughed a real lot, uncontrollably)
 •    +Did you follow me? (Did you understand what I said?)

EXPLICACIÓN DE LOS MODISMOS DENTRO DE CADA FRASE Y SU TRADUCCIÓN AL ESPAÑOL:

•          Howdie, Dan  [hello, Dan (Dan es el nombre de un patriarca bíblico)] – Hola, Dan  

•     What’s new? How’s tricks? What’s cookin’? ( informal greetings. Another way of saying, "hello") - ¿Qué hay de nuevo?, ¿Cómo va la cosa?, ¿Qué se cuece?
 •    I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. ( I was born into a rich family. ) – nací en una familia rica 
 •    I seemed to grow up overnight. ( My time as a child seemed to pass by quickly. [overnight= suddenly, very quickly ) – me hice mayor de la noche a la mañana 
 •    At the crack of dawn. (In the beginning of a new day)   - al rayar el alba/al amanecer
 •    I got up with the chickens. ( Roosters/cocks are known to crow at the sunrise, so this expression is synonymous with rising up early)   - me levanté con el gallo/muy temprano
 •    I got a job slinging hash. ( This refers to serving food in a restaurant, especially a cheap establishment)   - conseguí trabajo sirvienco comidas en un restaurante barato
 •    The proprietor was short-handed. ( Being short-handed means not having enough employees to do the necessary work because you need more "hands" to help you, more people)  - el propietario/dueño estaba escaso de personal
 •    I couldn’t cut the mustard. (I was not adequately skilled to do the work that was required)   - no di la talla
 •    He gave me the gate. ( I was fired/dismissed from my job.)   - me echó
 •    My little hole in the wall. (A small dingy room)   - mi pequeño cuchitril
 •    I was beside myself with anger. (I was very very upset/cross/angry)  - estaba fuera de mí/furioso
 •    I made some dough (Made some money) punching cattle. ( Herding cows) – gané un poco de pasta conduciendo ganado 
 •    I flew to Chicago. (Travelled to Chicago by airplane)   - volé a Chicago
 •    A beautiful girl stepped into the picture. (I met an attractive woman and she became significant to me) [if something gets into the picture, or somebody steps into the picture, they become an important part of the story] – una preciosa joven llegó a mi vida/pasó a formar parte importante de la historia
 •    Our eyes met. (We noticed each other) – nuestras miradas se encontraron
 •    My breath came up short panted. (I was breathing harder than normal due to my excitement)   - estaba tan excitado que me costaba respirar
 •    I got goose pimples. (I got nervous) [goose pimples are those little lumps you get all over your skin when you feel cold, or nervous, or afraid, etc.]  - se me puso carne de gallina por los nervios
 •    to be/get all thumbs. (Clumsy, as if all your fingers became thumbs, so you wouldn't be able to do things properly) – me volví un manazas/un desmañado
 •    Her clothes fit her like a glove. (Her dress was clung closely to her body, a very tight fit.)   - su ropa le estaba ajustada como un guante
 •    Her hair done up in a bun. (She wore her hair pinned up) [a bun may also be a roll of bread] – llevaba el pelo recogido en un moño (juego de palabras: bun significa también un bollo de pan)
 •    She had good looking pins too. (She had attractive legs) - tenía las piernas muy bonitas/atractivas también
 •    She gives me a date. (She agrees to spend time with him in a casual setting in order to become better acquainted) [a date is a romantic appointment]   - me concedió una cita (juego de palabras: date significa también dátil)
 •    I put on my white tie and tails. (I dressed in a formal tuxedo)   - me puse mi pajarita blanca y mi frac
 •    She put on the dog. (She wore a formal evening gown and looked very attractive in it.)   - ella se vistió de manera despampanante
 •    We went around together for some time. (we dated for an extended period of time)  - salimos durante un tiempo
 •    Painting the town red. ( Enjoying parties all over the city) – corriéndonos juergas/yéndonos de parranda 
 •    The Stork Club ( The name of a popular Nightclub known for its Jazz music)
 •    A box at the Opera. (Balcony seats at an Opera performance)   - un palco en la Ópera
 •    A cocktail and a Moscow Mule (Types of alcoholic drinks)
 •    Let her hair down (Acted in a relaxed manner) and ate like a horse (she ate a real lot)   - se soltó el pelo y comió como un caballo/como una lima
 •    My money was running out on me. (I was spending all my money quickly)  - se me estaba acabando el dinero
 •    I write a check and it bounced. (There was not enough money in the bank to cover my expenses so they rejected it)   - escribo un cheque y es rechazado por el banco por no tener fondos
 •    In a pickle. (In an uncomfortable situation)  - en un apuro
 •    The proprietor drew a gun on me. (Pulled out a pistol and pointed it at him)  - el propietario/dueño sacó una pistola y me apuntó con ella
 •    I gave him the slip. (I managed to escape without incurring any harm) – le di esquinazo
 •    I hid in the foothills. (I hid among small hills at the base of a mountain) – me escondí al pie de una montaña
 •    In no time (shortly thereafter) the law was on my heels. (The police were very close to catching me.)  -  en un santiamén, la policía me pisaba los talones
 •    On the witness stand, the judge tried to pump me. (The judge tried to get information out of me and/ or get me to admit wrong doing) – en el estrado/la tribuna de los testigos, el juez intentó sonsacarme
 •    Every time I opened my mouth, I put my foot in it. (I kept saying the wrong thing.)   - cada vez que abría la boca, metía la pata
 •    He sent me up the river to do a stretch in the jug. (Sent to jail for a long period of time)   - me mandó a la cárcel por una temporada
 •    I was up against it. (Feeling pressure for being in an unfortunate situation) and going to pot. (declining into a bad physical condition) – estaba contra las cuerdas y me estaba yendo al garete
 •    I raised a big stink. (Protested vigorously) – armé un follón/escándalo
 •    After going through a lot of red tape. (Bureaucracy and confusing processes)   - tras mucho papeleo
 •    He sprung me. (I was released from prison.) – me soltaron
 •    It felt good to stretch my legs again. (To experience freedom; to have a walk again after being at home/work etc, probably sitting for a long time) – me sentí bien estirando las piernas de nuevo
 •    I went to the bus station and caught a greyhound. (Rode a bus back to town) [the Greyhound is the American public coach company])   - fui a la estación de autobuses y cogí un Greyhound
 •    I dropped in on Mary. (I made her a surprise visit.)   - visité por sorpresa a Mary
 •    I threw myself at her feet. (Made a request for mercy and grace.)   - me tiré a sus pies
 •    She turned her back on me. (Ignored what I had to say.)   - me dio la espalda
 •    She got on her high horse and I could not touch her with a 10-foot pole. (She would not listen to him because she felt that she was better than me)   - se dio aires de importancia y no me hizo el menor caso/no me prestó la menor atención
 •    The cat had her tongue. ( She didn't say anything) – le había comido la lengua el gato
 •    I walked out on her. (Left her presence, especially in a rude manner.)  - me fui y la dejé allí
 •    I went to pieces. (I became very upset/sad.)   - me quedé hecho polvo
 •    …where a bunch of the boys were hanging around. (...where some guys I knew were just spending time doing nothing in particular. A bunch is a group, the boys are my friends or mates and to hang around is to spend time together, doing nothing in particular, just enjoying each other's company)  - ...donde un grupo de muchachos (mis amigos) solían ir a pasar el rato
 •    The guy at the piano played by ear. (Without the use of sheet music) – el tipo al piano tocaba de oído
 •    I felt a tug at my elbow. (Someone was pulling on his arm)  - sentí que me tiraban del brazo (juego de palabras: tug significa también remolcador)
 •    We chewed the rag awhile. (To make conversation, small talk) – echamos un rato de palique
 •    I heard from the grapevine (I heard a rumour; somebody told me; people were talking about it and I found out) that Mary was going around with an old flame. (Someone she used to date, an old boyfriend) – oí por Radio Macuto que Mary estaba saliendo con un antiguo amor
 •    That burned me up (I became very angry.) because I knew he was just feeding her a line. (Telling her what she wanted to hear in order to take advantage of her in some way; fooling her into loving him)   - eso me enfureció, porque yo sabía que sólo se la estaba trajinando
 •   He spent his money like water. (He was very generous with his money, spent lots of it.)  - gastaba el dinero a manos llenas
 •    He was connected with the railroad. (He worked for a railroad company)  - trabajaba para una compañía ferroviaria
 •    As they danced, I tried to chisel in. (Interrupt their good times, get in the way)   - mientras bailaban, intenté interrumpir para fastidiarlos
 •    The guy got in my hair. (He was a constant nuisance.)  - el tipo me sacaba de quicio
 •    It was raining cats and dogs. (It was raining very hard) [this is an old idiom seldom used nowadays] – llovía a cántaros
 •    I was feeling mighty blue (Very sad ) and everything was black. (Looked hopeless) – me sentía triste y lo veía todo negro
 •    I carried on. (Continue to persevere.)   - seguí insistiendo, perseveré
 •    I went to a thousand islands. (A group of more than 1,800 islands of northern New York and southeast Ontario, Canada, in the St. Lawrence River at the outlet of Lake Ontario. The islands, some of which are privately owned, are a popular resort area.) – Fui a A Thousand Islands (famoso lugar de vacaciones)
 •    I became a beachcomber. (A rover/wanderer/nomadic man who lives on the beach with no home or occupation.)   - me volví un vagabundo (juego de palabras con ‘peinar la playa’)
 •    A tear ran down my cheek. (To cry softly)   - una lágrima rodó por mis mejillas
 •    So I sent her a cable. (He sent a telegram to Mary.)  Next day she sends me back a wire. (She sent a telegram to him)   - le mandé un telegrama y al día siguiente me contestó con otro
 •    I rush back to the US on a cattleboat. (A cargo ship for the transport of livestock) and hotfooted over to Mary’s apartment. (To run quickly) – volví corriendo a los Estados Unidos en un barco que transportaba ganado y me dirigí como las balas al apartamento de Mary
 •    Mary had a bunch of little ones. (Small children) – Mary tenía un montón de pequeñajos
 •    The groom had his hands full too. (He was very busy. Groom= bridegroom= the man who marries the bride. This word is only used for the wedding day, but colloquially you can use it afterwards, mainly if you just discovered that they had married) – el marido tampoco daba abasto
 •    I died laughing. (I laughed a real lot, uncontrollably) – me morí de risa
 •    Did you follow me? (Did you understand what I said?) –¿me ha seguido/ ha comprendido lo que le he dicho?

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Sir Francis: The Chastity belt

chastity belt. Cinturón de castidad, artefacto que, según dicen, los Grandes en la Edad Media obligaban a sus esposas a colocarse en sus partes pudendas, cuando ellos tenían que ausentarse por largos periodos de tiempo (Cruzadas, etc.), para asegurarse de que su ‘honor’ quedaba intacto. Esta costumbre, según decía Sir Francis, daba lugar a veces a situaciones altamente embarazosas:

     «I’m back from the wars

     With sad news of disaster

     A terrible mishap

     I have to confide

     As my ship was a-passing

     The straits of Gibraltar.

     I carelessly dropped the key

     Over the side».

    

     «Alas and alack, I am locked up forever».

     Then up stepped the page-boy

     Saying «leave this to me.

     If you will allow me

     To enter your chamber,

     I’ll open it up with

     My duplicate key».

    

     “De la guerra estoy de vuelta

     Con noticias desastrosas.

     Un terrible contratiempo

     Os tengo que confesar:

     Cuando mi barco cruzaba

     El Estrecho de Gibraltar

     Se me cayó la llave

     Por la borda al mar.”

     “Encerrada estoy por siempre, ay de mí!”

     Entonces el paje adelantándose

     Dijo: “Dejadme hacer a mí

     Si habéis de permitirme luego

     Entrar en vuestro aposento

     Lo abriré en un momento

     Con mi llave de repuesto.”

     Para evitar estos contratiempos, se solía dejar la llave a una persona de toda confianza, que no siempre era fácil de encontrar: Un Barón, antes de partir para las Cruzadas, tras sesudas reflexiones, decide dejar la llave del cinturón de castidad de su bellísima esposa al hombre más íntegro del Reino, el Arzobispo de Canterbury. Unos días más tarde, cuando su barco estaba a punto de zarpar, ve llegar en medio de una nube de polvo al Arzobispo que, jadeante, le grita desde su corcel: «Hey! you gave me the wrong key!» «You’re telling me!» said the baron (“Eh! me dio la llave equivocada!” “A mí me lo va a decir”, replica el Barón).

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