Nuevo diccionario de expresiones idiomáticas inglés-español

Primera edición, 2008

Segunda edición, 2017

Edición ebook: Aldo R. Gutiérrez Rivera

Edición: Gilma Toste Rodríguez

Diseño de cubierta e interior: Alejandro Jiménez Pérez

Composición digital: Irina Borrero Kindelán

Composición ebook: Anier O. Cuellar Ponce

© Jorge I. Coromina Sánchez, 2008

© Sobre la presente edición:

Editorial Científico-Técnica, 2018

ISBN 978-959-05-1062-5

INSTITUTO CUBANO DEL LIBRO

Editorial Científico-Técnica

Calle 14, no. 4104 e/ 41 y 43, Playa, La Habana, Cuba

editorialmil@cubarte.cult.cu

Índice de contenido

Nota a la presente edición

Nota a la primera edición

Abreviaturas empleadas

Prólogo

Aa

a babe in the woods

a beanbag

a bitter pill to swallow

a blip in the graph

a bolt from the blue

a cakewalk

a [cherry] pie in the sky

a chink in one’s armor

a craps shoot

a different ballgame

a different story

a dime a dozen

a dog’s breakfast

a dog’s dinner

a drop in the bucket

a drop in the ocean

a duck soup

a far cry from

a flash in the can

a flash in the pan

a glut in the market

a hard nut to crack

a horse of another color

a lick and a promise

a lowman in the totem pole

a pain in the ass

a pain in the neck

a picnic

a piece of cake

a piece of pie

a red rag to a bull

a shot across the bows

a shot in the dark

a slam dunk

a square peg in a round hole

a teaspoon in the ocean

a thorn in the flesh

a thorn in the side

a walk in the sun

a walkaway

about done

about gone

about right

above and beyond

according to hoyle

acquire a taste for

across the board

act off one’s own bat

act one’s age

act the fool

act the goat

add fuel to the flame

add insult to injury

add two cents of one’s own

addle the wits

afraid of one’s own shadow

after a fashion

agree like cats and dogs

ahead of the game

aim high

air one’s belly

air one’s dirty laundry

air one’s grievances

alive and kicking

all abroad

all along the line

all beer and skittles

all dressed up and nowhere to go

all ears

all eyes

all hell broke loose

all hot and bothered

all in all

all in one piece

all in

all mops and broom

all one’s geese are swans

all over but the shouting

all peaches and cream

all shook up

all shot to hell

all spilled milk

all the go

all the rage

all the world and his wife

all there

all thumps

all to cock

all to pieces

all wet

all wool and a yard wide

an apple pie

an arm and a leg

and then some

answer nature’s call

answer the final summons

armed to the teeth

around the bend

around the clock

around the corner

as bald as a coot

as bald as a doorknob

as big as a barn door

as bitter as gall

as black as the ace of spades

as bold as brass

as broad as it is long

as busy as a bee

as comfortable as an old shoe

as cool as a cucumber

as cunning as a fox

as dead as a doornail

as dead as mutton

as deaf as a post

as different as chalk and cheese

as drunken as a lord

as dull as ditchwater

as easy as falling off a horse

as far as one is concerned

as fit as a fiddle

as free as the air

as full as an egg

as good as one’s words

as green as grass

as green as one is cabbage looking, [not to be]

as happy as a lark

as hard as nails

as high as a kite

as large as life

as like as two peas

as mad as a wet hen

as meek as a lamb

as merry as a cricket

as old as the hills

as poor as a church mouse

as quick as a wink

as quiet as a mouse

as red as a beetroot

as smart as a whistle

as snug as a bug in a rug

as sound as a bell

as stiff as a plank

as stubborn as a mule

as sure as eggs is eggs

as sure as God made little apples

as sweet as honey

as the crow flies

as thick thieves

as thin as a rake

as weak as a kitten

as white as a sheet

ask for the moon

asleep at the switch

at a blow

at a breakneck pace

at a premium

at a snail’s pace

at a stroke

at all costs

at all hazards

at any cost

at any rate

at arm’s length

at first blush

at full throttle

at heart

at home

at large

at leisure

at loose ends

at odds

at one fell swoop

at one go

at one’s beck and call

at one’s door

at one’s ease

at one’s elbow

at one’s fingertips

at one’s heels

at one’s wits’ ends

at sea

at stake

at sword’s points

at the bat

at the bottom of the ladder

at the cutting edge

at the drop of a hat

at the heart of

at the helm

at the outset

at this point

at white heat

Bb

back the wrong horse

back to square one

back to the drawing board

back to the salt mines

bag it up

balance the accounts

balance the books

ball the jack

bang a reefer

bark up the wrong tree

bat an eye

bat an eyelash

bat the breeze

batten down the hatches

be a shadow of one’s old self

be all Greek to

be all there

be away

be bent out of shape

be better than good

be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth

be but a shadow of one’s former self

be close to home

be curtains for

be double Dutch to

be down on one

be dying for

be friends with

be from Missouri

be going on with

be gone on one

be hard up

be he-ing and she-ing

be hep to

be here to stay

be in business

be in there

be inside

be itching for

be mad at

be nuts about one

be one’s baby

be one’s bag

be one’s funeral

be one’s show

be one’s trump card

be peeling pink

be pitch dark

be quits

be rolling in dough

be shy of

be sitting pretty

be snowed under

be soft upstairs

be spoony on one

be stuck on one

be sweet on one

be that as it may

be that way about one

be there

be underfoot

be up with the larks

be wild about one

be wise to

be with it

bear a grudge

bear in mind

bear one’s age well

bear the brunt

beard the lion in his den

bear watching

beat a path to one’s door

beat a retreat

beat all hollow

beat all

beat around the bush

beat down the door

beat it

beat one’s brains out

beat one’s breast

beat one’s chops

beat one’s gums

beat one’s way

beat [something] into one’s head

beat the air

beat the band

beat the bishop

beat the breeze

beat the bushes

beat the crap out of

beat the daylights out of

beat the devil around the stump

beat the drum

beat the dummy

beat the meat

beat the pants off

beat the pup

beat the rap

beat the shit out of

beat the tar out of

beat to a draw

beat to A frazzle

beat to jelly

been in the [midday] sun too long

before you can say crazy Eddie

before you can say Jack Robinson

behind bars

behind one’s back

behind the cork

behind the eight-ball

behind the scenes

behind the times

believe one’s ears

believe one’s eyes

bell the cat

below par

belt the grapes

bend one’s knees

bend over backward

beside oneself

beside the point

bet one’s boots

bet one’s dime

bet one’s life

bet one’s shirt

bet the family farm

bet the wrong horse

between a rock and a hard place

between life and death

between the devil and the deep blue sea

beyond the pale

bide one’s time

bill and coo

bite off more than one can chew

bite one’s head off

bite one’s tongue off

bite the bullet

bite the carpet

bite the dust

blaze one’s trail

bleed one white

bloody but unbowed

blow a fuse

blow beets

blow bubbles in the air

blow hot and cold

blow off steam

blow one’s cool

blow one’s lines

blow one’s lunch

blow one’s mind

blow one’s own horn

blow one’s own trumpet

blow one’s roof

blow one’s stack

blow one’s top

blow smoke in one’s face

blow the cobwebs away

blow the gaff

blow the lid off

blow the whistle

blow things on

boiled as an ox

bored out of one’s mind

bored out of one’s wits

borrow trouble

boss the show

both sheets to the wind

bowl over like nine pins

brace oneself

brazen it out

break into one’s nest egg

break no squares

break one’s back

break one’s balls

break one’s heart

break one’s neck

break one’s word

break out in a cold sweat

break the bank

break the ice

breathe a word to

breathe down one’s neck

breathe one’s last

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

bring down the house

bring home the bacon

bring something home

bring to a head

bring to bear

bring to one’s feet

bring to one’s knees

bring to pass

bring up short

bring up the rear

build castles in Spain

build castles in the sky

built like a brick shit house

burn a fuse

burn one over

burn one’s fingers

burn slow

burn the candle at both ends

burn the midnight oil

burn the pancakes

burn up the road

burn with a low blue flame

burst at the seams

burst one’s bubble

burst onto the scene

bury one’s head in the sand

bury the hatchet

bust a gut

bust one’s ass

button up one’s lips

buy the farm

buzz around the barrel

by a hairbreath

by a long shot

by a whisker

by all odds

by and large

by fits and starts

by hook of by crook

by leaps and bounds

by [long] odds

by no means

by the lurch

by the seat of one’s pants

by the skin of one’s teeth

by the sweat of one’s brow

by the tail

Cc

call a halt

call in doubt

call in question

call it quits

call names

call on the carpet

call one’s shot

call the bluff

call the shots

call the terms

call the tune

call the turn

call to account

cap it all

capture the limelight

carry a chip on one’s shoulder

carry a heavy load

carry coals to Newcastle

carry off the palm

carry one’s point

carry one’s weight

carry oneself with an air

carry something heavy

carry the ball

carry the banner

carry the can

carry the day

carry the difference

carry the flag

carry the load

carry the torch

carry weight

case in point

cash in one’s chips

cast a cloud over

cast in one’s lot with

cast in one’s teeth

cast in the same mould

cast one’s pearls before swine

cast up one’s accounts

catch a tartar

catch bending

catch cold

catch dead

catch fire

catch flat-footed

catch flies

catch forty winks

catch in the act

catch it in the neck

catch napping

catch off guard

catch on the top

catch one’s death of

catch one’s eye

catch red-handed

catch some rays

catch some z’s

catch tripping

catch with the hand in the cookie jar

catch with the pants down

champ at the bit

chance one’s neck

change color

change hands

change like a weathercock

change one’s mind

change one’s tune

change the channel

chatter like a magpie

cheek and jowl

cheek by jaw

chew the fat

chew the rag

choke the chicken

choose up sides

clear the air

clear the decks

click a shutter in one’s brain

climb the golden staircase

cling to one’s mother’s apron strings

clip one’s wings

close one’s eyes

close the book on

close up shop

clutch the dummy

cold enough to breeze the balls of a brass monkey

come a cropper

come a day late

come a long way

come apart at the seams

come away empty-handed

come back to earth

come bad

come down hard on

come down in the world

come down the pike

come down to earth

come down to the point

come hell or high water

come in a body

come in handy

come into one’s own

come of age

come off it

come off one’s perch

come on strong

come on the scene

come one’s way

come out in the wash

come out of left field

come out of the box

come out of the closet

come out of the gate

come out swinging

come to a head

come to a pretty pass

come to blows

come to grips with

come to light

come to naught

come to nothing

come to one’s senses

come to pass

come to terms [with]

come to think of it

come under fire

come unglued

come unstuck

come up in the world

come up roses

come up smelling like roses

come up to scratch

control the purse strings

cook one’s goose

cook the book on

cool one’s heels

cop a buzz

cop the needle

copper a tip

cost a jew’s eye

cost a mint

cost a pretty penny

count one’s thumbs

cover the waterfront

cover [up] one’s tracks

crack one’s jaws

crack the whip

cramp one’s style

crash the gate

cross one’s mind

cross one’s palm [with silver]

cross swords with

cross the great divide

cross the picket lines

cross the wire

crumb the deal

cry before one is hurt

cry for the moon

cry one’s hearts out

cry wolf

curl the lip

curry below the knee

curry favor with

cut a dash

cut a poor figure

cut a swathe

cut and run

cut ass

cut both ways

cut corners

cut from the same cloth

cut loose

cut no ice

cut of one’s jib

cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face

cut off without a penny

cut one’s leg

cut one’s throat

cut out the deadwood

cut somebody down to size

cut teeth

cut the custard

cut the ground from under

cut the mustard

cut to the bone

cut to the chase

cut to the quick

Dd

dance on air

dance one’s bones out

dance to another tune

darken one’s doors

day in and day out

day in, day out

dead in the water

dead on one’s feet

dead tired

dead to the world

deliver the goods

die in one’s boots

die on the vine

die with one’s boots on

dig in one’s heels

dig oneself a nod

dig up the hatchet

dip into one’s pocket

dip one’s toes

dip one’s wick

dip the beak

dip the bill

dish the dirt

dizzy as a goose

do a dirt

do a double take

do a flop

do a good turn

do a job on

do a number on

do a shit

do a snow job on

do one’s bit

do one’s footstep

do one’s heart good

do one’s own thing

do someone’s bidding

do the bump with

do the chores

do the do

do the grand

do the job on

do the order

do the story with

do the trick

do up brown

dog one’s footsteps

dot one’s i’s and cross one’s t’s

double in brass

down in the dumps

down in the mouth

down on one’s luck

down one’s alley

down one’s street

down the stretch

drag by the head

drag by the scalp

drag by the shoulders

drag one’s feet

drag one’s freight

drag one’s tail

drain one’s crankcase

drain one’s lizard

drain one’s radiator

drain the suds

draw a bead on

draw a blank

draw a long bow

draw a veil over

draw fire

draw one’s fangs

draw one’s screw

draw the line

draw to a close

dressed to the nines

drift off to slumberland

drink one’s beer

drive a nail into one’s coffin

drive a wedge [between/in]

drive nuts

drive one up to the wall

drive the pigs to market

drop a brick

drop a clanger

drop a dime on

drop a line

drop hairspins

drop one’s beads

drop the ball

drop to the depths

drunk as a bastard

drunk as a boiled owl

drunk as a coot

drunk as a fiddler

drunk as a skunk

drunk as a tick

drunk as a top

drunk as a wheelbarrow

dry behind the ears

Ee

easy as pie

easy on one’s mind

eat crow

eat dirt

eat high on the hog

eat humble pie

eat like a bird

eat like a horse

eat one’s cake and have it too

eat one’s fill

eat one’s guts out

eat one’s hat

eat one’s head off

eat one’s heart out

eat one’s leek

eat one’s salt

eat one’s words

eat out of one’s hand

eat stick

eat the air

eat the seedcorn

elbow one’s way [to/into]

enter one’s mind

every last man

every one and their mother

everything but the kitchen sink

Ff

face the music

fair and square

fall all over one

fall all over oneself

fall between two stools

fall by the wayside

fall down on the job

fall flat

fall foul

fall from grace

fall ill

fall into a rut

fall into line

fall like a bombshell

fall off the roof

fall off the wagon

fall on one’s face

fall over backward

fall over oneself

fall to loggerheads

fall to the ground

fan the breeze

fan the flames

far and near

far and wide

feast one’s eyes on

feather one’s nest

fed to the gills

fed to the teeth

feed the bears

feed the kitty

feel a draft

feel good

feel in one’s bones

feel like a million [dollars]

feel no pain

feel one’s collar

feel one’s oats

feel one’s way

feel strongly about

feel the pinch

few and far between

fight with bare fits

fight with gloves off

fill one’s coffer

fill one’s pocket

fill one’s shoes

fill the bill

fill the seat

find favor in one’s eyes

find it in one’s heart, [not to]

find one’s feet

find one’s hand

find one’s tongue, [not to]

first thing I know

fish or cut bait

fishy about the gills

fit like a glove

fit the bill

fit to be tied

fix one’s little red wagon

fix one’s wagon

flash one’s stuff

flash the hash

flat on the deck

flatter oneself

flaunt one’s roots

flex one’s muscles

fling oneself at one’s head

flip one’s top

flog a dead dog

flog a dead horse

flop in the hay

fly at one’s throat

fly in the face of

fly in the teeth of

fly off the handle

fly out of one’s shoes

fly out the door

fly the coop

fly the flag

foam at the mouth

follow in one’s footsteps

follow in one’s tracks

follow on one’s heels

follow one’s nose

follow suit

foot the bill

for a song and a dance

for a song

for all one is worth

for crying out loud!

for good and all

for good

for keeps

for kicks

for one’s part

for one’s share

for the better

for the birds

for the most part

for the record

for the time being

for the world, [not]

force one’s hand

forever and a day

foul one’s own nest

four sheets in the wind

freeze one’s blood

freeze one’s veins

freeze the blood in one’s veins

fried to the gills

from A to Z

from bad to worse

from hand to hand

from head to toe

from pillar to post

from stem to stem

from the bottom of one’s heart

from the bottom up

from the ground up

from the word go

from time to time

from top to bottom

from top to toe

from way back

full of beans

full of shit

full one’s prunes

full steam ahead

Gg

gather dust on a shelf

get a bang out of

get a crack at

get a grip on

get a handle on

get a jump on

get a kick out of

get a life

get a load of

get a lot of mileage out of

get a move on

get a piece of it