Cable Girls S01E06: Spanish study pack

Show 8 more expressions

darse cuentato realise, to notice

Extremely common everyday phrase. Not slang in tone, but frequently misunderstood by learners who translate it word-for-word as 'to give oneself account'. It simply means to become aware of something.

No me di cuenta de que se había ido hasta que vi que su abrigo no estaba.I didn't realise she had left until I saw that her coat was gone.

comerse un roscoto get nowhere with someone romantically; to strike out

colloquial

Vivid colloquial image: a rosco is a ring-shaped bread roll, and 'not eating one' signals coming away empty-handed in romantic pursuit. Used humorously, never in formal contexts.

Intentó ligar con ella toda la tarde pero se comió un rosco.He tried to chat her up all afternoon but got absolutely nowhere.

dar calabazasto reject someone (romantically), to turn someone down

colloquial

Fixed expression. 'Calabaza' literally means pumpkin/gourd; historically associated with rejection tokens. Still widely used and understood today.

La invité al cine pero me dio calabazas sin dar ninguna explicación.I invited her to the cinema but she turned me down without giving any explanation.

arráncatecome on, spit it out, get on with it

colloquial

From arrancarse, meaning to get started or launch into something. Used to urge someone who is hesitating to speak or act. Informal and direct.

Venga, arrácate ya, que llevamos esperando tu respuesta toda la semana.Come on, spit it out, we've been waiting for your answer all week.

ni munot a word, not a peep, nothing at all

colloquial

Fixed expression. 'Mu' is an onomatopoeic representation of a cow's moo, but in this phrase simply means the smallest possible sound. Used to mean absolute silence or zero communication.

Le pregunté tres veces y no dijo ni mu.I asked him three times and he didn't say a word.

tener ojerizato have it in for someone, to hold a grudge against

colloquial

'Ojeriza' denotes a persistent personal animosity or dislike. Signals an ongoing grudge rather than a momentary annoyance.

Desde aquel malentendido el año pasado, le tiene ojeriza y no pierde ocasión de criticarle.Since that misunderstanding last year, she has it in for him and never misses a chance to criticise him.

hecho/a un mar de lágrimasin floods of tears, absolutely distraught

colloquial

Vivid fixed expression. 'Un mar de lágrimas' (a sea of tears) intensifies the degree of crying beyond ordinary weeping. Very common in spoken narrative.

Cuando le dieron la noticia llegó a casa hecha un mar de lágrimas.When she got the news she came home in floods of tears.

a cal y cantofirmly locked, sealed tight

colloquial

Idiomatic expression from building/masonry: 'cal' (lime) and 'canto' (stone) refer to solid construction. Used figuratively for a door or container that is firmly shut and not easily opened.

Se encerró en su habitación a cal y canto y no quiso hablar con nadie.She locked herself in her room tight and refused to speak to anyone.

Chapter 6: Family

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Key vocabulary