Cable Girls S04E04: Spanish study pack

Show 7 more expressions

paripéperformance / put-on / pretence

colloquial

Refers to a deliberate act of putting on a show to deceive someone. Often used with hacer (hacer el paripé). Tone is slightly mocking or accusatory.

Todo el mundo sabía que sus disculpas eran un paripé.Everyone knew his apologies were just a performance.

quedarse mudo/ato be left speechless / to go completely silent

colloquial

Describes a sudden, total loss of words, usually due to shock, awkwardness, or being caught off guard. Very natural in everyday conversation.

Cuando le dieron la noticia, se quedó completamente muda.When they gave her the news, she was left completely speechless.

pisarle los talonesto be hot on someone's heels / to be closely following someone

colloquial

Literally 'stepping on someone's heels'. Used both literally (physical pursuit) and figuratively (competitive or investigative contexts). Very vivid and common.

La periodista sospechaba que alguien le pisaba los talones desde hacía días.The journalist suspected that someone had been hot on her heels for days.

quitarse de en medioto get out of the way / to remove oneself from a situation

colloquial

Can mean physically stepping aside or strategically withdrawing from a situation to avoid causing problems or being a target. Context determines which sense applies.

Decidió quitarse de en medio para no complicar las cosas a sus socios.She decided to remove herself from the situation so as not to complicate things for her partners.

levantar (a alguien)to steal someone away / to pull someone (romantically)

colloquial

In a romantic or social context, levantársela/levantárselo means to steal a romantic interest from under someone's nose. Familiar and slightly provocative in tone.

Sus amigos bromeaban diciendo que le estaba levantando a la novia.His friends joked that he was stealing his girlfriend away from him.

a primera horafirst thing in the morning / at the earliest opportunity

A very high-frequency time expression. Means at the start of the working day or as soon as possible in the morning. Appears across all registers.

La reunión está convocada a primera hora del lunes.The meeting has been called for first thing on Monday.

a última horaat the last minute / late in the day

Can mean either very late in the evening or at the last possible moment before a deadline. Frequent in both spoken and written language.

Siempre deja los informes para última hora y luego va con prisas.She always leaves the reports to the last minute and then rushes.

Chapter 28: Fear

Expressions to listen for

Key vocabulary