{ "name": "Spanish C2 Idioms & Collocations", "front_language": "Spanish", "back_language": "English", "cards": [ { "front": "a buenas horas, mangas verdes", "back": "too little, too late", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "¿Ahora te disculpas? A buenas horas, mangas verdes.", "example_back": "You're apologizing now? Too little, too late." }, { "front": "estar al cabo de la calle", "back": "to be fully in the know", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "No hace falta explicárselo: está al cabo de la calle.", "example_back": "No need to explain it to him: he's fully in the know." }, { "front": "rasgarse las vestiduras", "back": "to throw up one's hands in horror (hypocritically)", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Ahora todos se rasgan las vestiduras, pero lo sabían.", "example_back": "Now they're all feigning outrage, but they knew." }, { "front": "ser de armas tomar", "back": "to be a force to be reckoned with", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Cuidado con la directora: es de armas tomar.", "example_back": "Careful with the director: she's a force to be reckoned with." }, { "front": "tirar de la manta", "back": "to blow the whistle / to spill the beans", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Un exempleado tiró de la manta.", "example_back": "A former employee blew the whistle." }, { "front": "hacer su santa voluntad", "back": "to do exactly as one pleases", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El alcalde hace su santa voluntad.", "example_back": "The mayor does exactly as he pleases." }, { "front": "no dar abasto", "back": "to be unable to cope / to be swamped", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Con tantos pedidos, no damos abasto.", "example_back": "With so many orders, we can't keep up." }, { "front": "ir de punta en blanco", "back": "to be dressed to the nines", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Llegó a la gala de punta en blanco.", "example_back": "He arrived at the gala dressed to the nines." }, { "front": "pagar el pato", "back": "to take the blame / to carry the can", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Siempre paga el pato el más débil.", "example_back": "The weakest always takes the blame." }, { "front": "rizar el rizo", "back": "to overcomplicate things", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "No rices el rizo: la solución es sencilla.", "example_back": "Don't overcomplicate it: the solution is simple." }, { "front": "ser un brindis al sol", "back": "to be an empty gesture", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "La promesa electoral fue un brindis al sol.", "example_back": "The campaign promise was an empty gesture." }, { "front": "cortar el bacalao", "back": "to call the shots", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "En esta empresa es él quien corta el bacalao.", "example_back": "In this company he's the one who calls the shots." }, { "front": "dar palos de ciego", "back": "to grope in the dark / to flail", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Sin datos, el Gobierno da palos de ciego.", "example_back": "Without data, the government is flailing." }, { "front": "hacer luz de gas", "back": "to gaslight", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Le hacía luz de gas para que dudara de sí misma.", "example_back": "He gaslit her so she'd doubt herself." }, { "front": "salir por la puerta grande", "back": "to leave in triumph", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El entrenador salió por la puerta grande.", "example_back": "The coach left in triumph." }, { "front": "salir por la puerta de atrás", "back": "to leave in disgrace", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El ministro salió por la puerta de atrás.", "example_back": "The minister left in disgrace." }, { "front": "la espada de Damocles", "back": "the sword of Damocles", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "La deuda pende como una espada de Damocles.", "example_back": "The debt hangs like the sword of Damocles." }, { "front": "cruzar el Rubicón", "back": "to cross the Rubicon", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "Con esa decisión cruzó el Rubicón.", "example_back": "With that decision he crossed the Rubicon." }, { "front": "el talón de Aquiles", "back": "Achilles' heel", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "La logística es su talón de Aquiles.", "example_back": "Logistics is their Achilles' heel." }, { "front": "una victoria pírrica", "back": "a Pyrrhic victory", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "Ganaron el juicio, pero fue una victoria pírrica.", "example_back": "They won the case, but it was a Pyrrhic victory." }, { "front": "la caja de Pandora", "back": "Pandora's box", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "La reforma abrió la caja de Pandora.", "example_back": "The reform opened Pandora's box." }, { "front": "luchar contra molinos de viento", "back": "to tilt at windmills", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "Denunciar al sistema es luchar contra molinos de viento.", "example_back": "Taking on the system is tilting at windmills." }, { "front": "el parto de los montes", "back": "much ado about nothing", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "literary" ], "example_front": "El gran anuncio fue el parto de los montes.", "example_back": "The big announcement was much ado about nothing." }, { "front": "ser el chivo expiatorio", "back": "to be the scapegoat", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El becario fue el chivo expiatorio.", "example_back": "The intern was the scapegoat." }, { "front": "a la chita callando", "back": "on the quiet", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Se llevaron el dinero a la chita callando.", "example_back": "They took the money on the quiet." }, { "front": "dar la campanada", "back": "to cause a sensation", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "La película dio la campanada en Cannes.", "example_back": "The film caused a sensation at Cannes." }, { "front": "estar a partir un piñón", "back": "to be thick as thieves", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Los dos socios están a partir un piñón.", "example_back": "The two partners are thick as thieves." }, { "front": "ser agua pasada", "back": "to be water under the bridge", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Aquella pelea ya es agua pasada.", "example_back": "That fight is water under the bridge." }, { "front": "tener tela marinera", "back": "to be a real handful / quite something", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El asunto tiene tela marinera.", "example_back": "The matter is quite something." }, { "front": "importar un bledo", "back": "to not give a damn", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Le importa un bledo lo que piensen.", "example_back": "He doesn't give a damn what they think." }, { "front": "hacer el paripé", "back": "to put on an act / to go through the motions", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "La reunión fue solo para hacer el paripé.", "example_back": "The meeting was just for show." }, { "front": "echar balones fuera", "back": "to dodge the issue", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "El portavoz se limitó a echar balones fuera.", "example_back": "The spokesman just dodged the issue." }, { "front": "llevar el agua a su molino", "back": "to turn things to one's advantage", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "Cada partido lleva el agua a su molino.", "example_back": "Each party turns things to its own advantage." }, { "front": "poner en tela de juicio", "back": "to call into question", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Pusieron en tela de juicio su honestidad.", "example_back": "They called his honesty into question." }, { "front": "dar pábulo a", "back": "to fuel (rumors)", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Sus silencios dan pábulo a los rumores.", "example_back": "His silences fuel the rumors." }, { "front": "salir a colación", "back": "to come up (in conversation)", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Su nombre salió a colación en la reunión.", "example_back": "His name came up in the meeting." }, { "front": "traer a colación", "back": "to bring up / to mention", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "No viene a cuento traer eso a colación.", "example_back": "There's no point bringing that up." }, { "front": "hacer acto de presencia", "back": "to put in an appearance", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "El ministro hizo acto de presencia en la gala.", "example_back": "The minister put in an appearance at the gala." }, { "front": "sentar cátedra", "back": "to pontificate / to set the standard", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Le encanta sentar cátedra sobre cualquier tema.", "example_back": "He loves to pontificate on any subject." }, { "front": "a renglón seguido", "back": "immediately afterwards", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Negó los hechos y, a renglón seguido, pidió perdón.", "example_back": "He denied it and, immediately afterwards, apologized." }, { "front": "a todas luces", "back": "clearly / by any measure", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Es, a todas luces, una injusticia.", "example_back": "It's clearly an injustice." }, { "front": "en tiempo y forma", "back": "duly and on time", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "Presentó la solicitud en tiempo y forma.", "example_back": "He submitted the application duly and on time." }, { "front": "de buenas a primeras", "back": "out of the blue / straight off", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "De buenas a primeras, dimitió.", "example_back": "Out of the blue, he resigned." }, { "front": "ni por asomo", "back": "not by a long shot", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "No es, ni por asomo, el mejor candidato.", "example_back": "He's not the best candidate by a long shot." }, { "front": "a la postre", "back": "in the end / ultimately", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "collocations" ], "example_front": "La decisión resultó, a la postre, acertada.", "example_back": "The decision ultimately proved right." }, { "front": "cada loco con su tema", "back": "to each their own obsession", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Él con sus trenes, ella con sus plantas: cada loco con su tema.", "example_back": "Him with his trains, her with her plants: to each their own." }, { "front": "a río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores", "back": "some profit from others' troubles", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "La crisis enriqueció a unos pocos: a río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores.", "example_back": "The crisis made a few rich: some profit from chaos." }, { "front": "no hay mal que por bien no venga", "back": "every cloud has a silver lining", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Perdí el tren, pero conocí a mi socio: no hay mal que por bien no venga.", "example_back": "I missed the train but met my partner: every cloud has a silver lining." }, { "front": "quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades", "back": "you reap what you sow", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Promovió el odio: quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades.", "example_back": "He stirred up hatred: you reap what you sow." }, { "front": "dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres", "back": "you are known by the company you keep", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Mira sus amistades: dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.", "example_back": "Look at his friends: you're known by the company you keep." }, { "front": "a caballo regalado no le mires el diente", "back": "don't look a gift horse in the mouth", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Es gratis: a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.", "example_back": "It's free: don't look a gift horse in the mouth." }, { "front": "donde dije digo, digo Diego", "back": "to go back on one's word", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "El político hizo un \"donde dije digo, digo Diego\".", "example_back": "The politician went back on his word." }, { "front": "el hábito no hace al monje", "back": "clothes don't make the man", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Lleva traje, pero el hábito no hace al monje.", "example_back": "He wears a suit, but clothes don't make the man." }, { "front": "en casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo", "back": "the shoemaker's children go barefoot", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Es informático y su ordenador no funciona: en casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.", "example_back": "He's an IT guy whose computer is broken: the shoemaker's children go barefoot." }, { "front": "más vale maña que fuerza", "back": "brains over brawn", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Lo abrió con un truco: más vale maña que fuerza.", "example_back": "He opened it with a trick: brains over brawn." }, { "front": "no por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano", "back": "you can't hurry nature", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Ten paciencia: no por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano.", "example_back": "Be patient: you can't rush things." }, { "front": "a otro perro con ese hueso", "back": "tell that to the marines", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms" ], "example_front": "¿Que estabas enfermo? A otro perro con ese hueso.", "example_back": "You were sick? Tell that to the marines." }, { "front": "ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente", "back": "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "No se lo cuentes: ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.", "example_back": "Don't tell her: what she doesn't know won't hurt her." }, { "front": "genio y figura hasta la sepultura", "back": "a leopard never changes its spots", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Sigue igual de terco: genio y figura hasta la sepultura.", "example_back": "Still as stubborn as ever: a leopard never changes its spots." }, { "front": "camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente", "back": "you snooze, you lose", "level": "C2", "tags": [ "idioms", "proverbs" ], "example_front": "Decídete ya: camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.", "example_back": "Decide now: you snooze, you lose." } ] }