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his story is a little too pat

Толкование Перевод

1 pat

pat [pæt] (pt & pp patted, cont patting)

1 transitive verb

tapoter; (animal) caresser, flatter (de la main);

∎ "sit here", she said, patting the place beside her "assieds-toi ici", dit-elle, désignant la place à côté d'elle;

∎ pat the fish/vegetables dry séchez le poisson/les légumes avec de l'essuie-tout;

∎ she patted her hair elle se tapota les cheveux;

∎ to pat sb on the back donner une tape dans le dos à qn; figurative (congratulate) féliciter qn;

∎ figurative to pat oneself on the back se féliciter

2 noun

(a) (tap) (légère) tape f;

∎ he gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder il m'a donné une tape amicale sur l'épaule;

∎ to give sb a pat on the back donner une tape dans le dos à qn; figurative (congratulate) féliciter qn;

∎ figurative to give oneself a pat on the back se féliciter

(b) (lump)

∎ a pat of butter une noix de beurre

3 adjective

(a) (glib → remark) tout fait; (→ answer) tout prêt;

∎ his story is a little too pat son histoire colle un peu trop bien

(b) (in poker)

∎ a pat hand une main servie

4 adverb

(a) (exactly) parfaitement, avec facilité;

∎ to know or have sth off pat savoir qch par cœur;

∎ he had his explanation off pat il avait une explication toute prête

(b) American

∎ to stand pat (on decision) rester intraitable;

∎ dealer stands pat (in poker) pas de cartes pour le donneur, donneur servi

➲ pat down separable transitive verb

(soil, sand etc) tasser (doucement)

Un panorama unique de l'anglais et du français > pat
2 poco

adj.

not much, a small amount of, a small quantity of, little.

adv.

little, not very, not much.

m.

little.

* * *

poco

► adjetivo

1 little (plural) few, not many

■ hago muy poco ejercicio últimamente I do very little exercise these days

■ somos pocos para tanto trabajo there are too few of us for so much work

■ pocas Navidades salimos de viaje we don't often travel at Christmas

► pronombre poco

1 little (en plural) not many

■ lo poco que aprendí se me ha olvidado what little I learned I've forgotten

■ pocos conocen la importancia del descubrimiento not many people realize the importance of the discovery

► adverbio

1 little, not much

■ voy poco por allí I rarely go there, I go there very little

■ bebí muy poco I didn't drink much

► nombre masculino un poco

1 a little, a bit

■ ¿me das un poco? could you give me a little?

■ échale un poco de sal add a bit of salt

■ espera un poco wait a bit

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

a poco de shortly after

dentro de poco soon, presently

hace poco not long ago

pocas veces rarely, not often, seldom

poco a poco slowly, gradually, bit by bit

poco antes shortly before

poco después shortly afterwards

poco después de shortly after

poco más o menos more or less

poco menos que almost, nearly

por poco nearly

por si fuera poco as if that weren't enough, to top it all, on top of everything

————————

poco

► pronombre

1 little (en plural) not many

■ lo poco que aprendí se me ha olvidado what little I learned I've forgotten

■ pocos conocen la importancia del descubrimiento not many people realize the importance of the discovery

► adverbio

1 little, not much

■ voy poco por allí I rarely go there, I go there very little

■ bebí muy poco I didn't drink much

► nombre masculino

* * *
1. adv.
little, few

- poco a poco
- por poco 2. (f. - poca)
pron.

little, few
3. (f. - poca)
adj.

little, few, not much

* * *

1. ADJ

1) [en singular] little, not much

tenemos poco tiempo — we have little time, we don't have much time

hay muy poco queso — there's very little cheese, there's hardly any cheese

de poco interés — of little interest

con poco respeto — with little respect, with scant respect

el provecho es poco — the gain is small, there isn't much to gain

• poca cosa, no te preocupes por tan poca cosa — don't worry about such a little thing

poca cosa se podría haber hecho — there wasn't much we could have done

comemos, jugamos a cartas, leemos y poca cosa más — we eat, play cards, read and do little else o and that's about it

es poca cosa — (=no mucho) it's not much; (=no importante) it's nothing much

somos tan poca cosa — we're so insignificant

es muy guapa pero poca cosa — she's very pretty, but there isn't much to her

• y por si fuera poco — and as if that weren't enough, and to cap it all

2) [en plural] few, not many

pocos niños saben que... — few o not many children know that...

tiene pocos amigos — he has few friends, he hasn't got many friends

pocos días después — a few days later

compré unos pocos libros — I bought a few books

me quedan pocas probabilidades — I don't have much chance

todas las medidas son pocas — no measure will be enough

2. PRON

1) [en singular]

a) (=poca cosa)

la reforma servirá para poco — the reform won't do much good o won't be much use

una hora da para poco — you can't get much done in an hour

con lo poco que me quedaba — with what little I had left

ya sabes lo poco que me interesa — you know how little it interests me

b)

• un poco — a bit, a little

-¿tienes frío? -un poco — "are you cold?" - "a bit o a little"

he bebido un poco, pero no estoy borracho — I've had a bit to drink, but I'm not drunk

voy a dormir un poco — I am going to have a little sleep

le conocía un poco — I knew him a bit o slightly

necesito descansar un poco — I need to rest for a while

espera un poco — wait a minute o moment

estoy un poco triste — I am rather o a little sad

es un poco lo que yo comentaba — that's more or less what I was saying

• un poco como, es un poco como su padre — he's rather o a bit like his father

lo hice un poco como protesta — I did it partly as a protest

• un poco de, un poco de dinero — a little money

dame un poco de vino — can I have some wine?

¡un poco de silencio! — let's have some quiet here!

c) [referido a tiempo] not long

tardaron poco en hacerlo — it didn't take them long to do it, they didn't take long to do it

lleva poco trabajando aquí — he hasn't been working here long

• a poco de — shortly after

a poco de haberlo firmado — shortly after signing it

• cada poco — every so often

• dentro de poco — shortly, soon

• poco después — shortly after

• hace poco — not long ago

fuimos a verla hace poco — we visited her not long ago, we visited her quite recently

tu hermana ha llamado hace poco — your sister called a short while ago

la conozco desde hace poco — I haven't known her long, I've only known her for a short while

hasta hace poco — until recently

2) [en plural] few

pocos son los que... — there are few who...

ya somos pocos los que nos sentimos así — there are now very few of us who feel this way

pocos de entre ellos — few of them

como hay pocos —

es tonto como hay pocos — he's as stupid as they come

3. ADV

1) [con verbos] not much, little

cuesta poco — it doesn't cost much, it costs very little

habla poco — he doesn't say much

ahora trabaja poco — he doesn't work much now

vamos poco a Madrid — we don't go to Madrid much, we hardly ever go to Madrid

lo estiman poco — they hardly value it at all, they value it very little

2) [con adjetivos: se traduce a menudo por medio de un prefijo]

poco dispuesto a ayudar — disinclined to help

poco amable — unkind

poco probable — unlikely

poco inteligente — unintelligent, not very intelligent

sus libros son poco conocidos aquí — his books are not very well known here

3) [otras locuciones]

poco a poco — little by little

¡poco a poco! — steady on!, easy does it!

a poco Méx —
*
¿a poco? — never!, you don't say!

¡a poco no! — not much! *

¿a poco no? — (well) isn't it?

¿a poco crees que...? — do you really imagine that...?

• de a poco — LAm gradually

• tener en poco, tiene en poco a su jefe — she doesn't think much of her boss

tiene la vida en poco — he doesn't value his life

• poco más o menos — more or less

• por poco — almost, nearly

por poco me ahogo — I almost o nearly drowned

• a poco que, a poco que pueda — if at all possible

a poco que corras, lo alcanzas — if you run now you'll catch it

* * *
I
adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)
II
- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied
III
- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex. Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex. Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex. Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex. She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex. Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex. Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

----

* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex. When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

----

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

* de poco impacto = low impact [low-impact].

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

* ir poco más allá de + Infinitivo = go little further than + Gerundio.

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

* parece tener poco sentido que = there + seem + little point in.

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *
I
adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)
II
- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied
III
- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex: Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex: Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex: Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex: She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex: Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex: Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex: When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

* de poco impacto = low impact [low-impact].

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

* ir poco más allá de + Infinitivo = go little further than + Gerundio.

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

* parece tener poco sentido que = there + seem + little point in.

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *

poco¹

adverb

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful, he isn't at all grateful

es un autor muy poco conocido he is a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante I didn't find it very interesting, I found it rather uninteresting

habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot

duerme poquísimo she sleeps very little, she doesn't sleep very much

viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around

poco y nada me ayudaron they hardly helped me at all

… con lo poco que le gusta el arroz … and he doesn't even like rice

para locs ver poco³ pron D. (↑ poco (3))

poco² -ca

adjective

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (con sustantivos no numerables) little; (en plural) few

muy poco vino very little wine

muy pocos niños very few children

hemos tenido muy poca suerte we've been very unlucky, we've had very little luck

¡qué poco sentido común tienes! you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa I have hardly any clothes, I have very few clothes

a poca gente se le presenta esa oportunidad not many people get that opportunity

hay muy pocas mujeres en el gremio there are very few women in the trade

éramos demasiado pocos there were too few of us, there weren't enough of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco it was amazing, I can't begin to tell you

a esta mujer todo le parece poco this woman is never satisfied

me he olvidado del poco francés/de las pocas palabras que sabía I've forgotten the little French/the few words I knew

le dio unos pocos pesos she gave him a few pesos

poco³ -ca

pronoun

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

A

(poca cantidad, poca cosa): le serví sopa pero comió poca I gave her some soup but she only ate a little o she didn't eat much

sírvele poco, desayunó muy tarde don't give him (too) much, he had a late breakfast

por poco que gane, siempre es otro sueldo no matter how little o however little she earns o even if she doesn't earn much, it's still another salary coming in

se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara he nearly hit me

poco y nada saqué en limpio de lo que dijo what he said made little or no sense to me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left o we have very few left

es un profesor como pocos there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that

B

poco (refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long, she's only known him a little while

tardó poco en pintar la cocina it didn't take him long to paint the kitchen

falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas, Christmas isn't far off

a poco de terminar el bombardeo soon o shortly after the bombing stopped

dentro de poco sale otro tren there'll be another train soon o shortly

poco antes de que ella se fuera a short while o shortly before she left

C

un poco

1 (refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; (refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

¿te sirvo un poco? would you like a little o some?

descansemos un poco let's rest for a while, let's have a little rest

espera un poquito wait a little while

todavía le duele un poquitín or poquitito it still hurts him a little

2

un poco de: ponle un poco de pimienta/vino add a little (bit of) pepper/wine

tiene un poco de fiebre he has a slight fever, he has a bit of a temperature o a slight temperature ( BrE)

come un poco de jamón have a bit of o some o a little ham

3

un poco (hasta cierto punto): es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima partly because I felt sorry for him

4 un poco + ADJ/ADV:

un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

me queda un poco corto it's a bit short o a little short o slightly too short (for me)

habla un poco más fuerte speak up a bit o a little

D ( en locs):

a poco ( Méx): ¿a poco no lees los periódicos? don't you read the newspapers?

¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!

nos sacamos el gordo de la lotería — ¡a poco ! we won the big lottery prize — you didn't!

de a poco ( AmL); gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo little by little o slowly she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que nos ganaran they came very close to beating us, they very nearly beat us

en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come

tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives

me tienes bien en poco si me crees capaz de eso you can't think very highly o much of me if you think I could do such a thing

poco a poco or ( Méx) a poquito gradually

poco a poco la fueron arreglando they gradually fixed it up, they fixed it up little by little

poco más o menos approximately, roughly

habrán gastado unos dos millones, poco más o menos they must have spent in the neighborhood o ( BrE) region of two million

poco menos que nearly

es poco menos que imposible it's well-nigh o almost o very nearly impossible

le pegó una paliza que poco menos que la mata ( fam); he gave her such a beating he almost o nearly killed her

poco menos que los echan a patadas ( fam); they practically kicked them out

por poco nearly

por poco nos descubren we were nearly found out

* * *

poco 1 adverbio:
◊ habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot;

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful;
un autor muy poco conocido a very little-known author;
viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around;
para locs ver poco 2 4
poco 2 -ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little;

( en plural) few;
◊ muy poco vino very little wine;

muy pocos niños very few children;
había poquísimos coches there were hardly any cars
■ pronombre
1 (poca cantidad, poca cosa):
◊ había poco que hacer there was little to do;

por poco que gane … no matter how little o however little she earns …;
se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied;
todo le parece poco she is never satisfied;
pocos quisieron ayudar few were willing to help;
pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that
2
◊ poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago;

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long;
tardó poco en hacerlo it didn't take him long to do it;
falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas;
a poco de venir él soon o shortly after he came;
dentro de poco soon;
poco antes de que … a short while o shortly before …
3
◊ un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little;

( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while;
◊ dame un poco I'll have some o a little;

espera un poco wait a while
b)

◊ un poco de a little, a bit of

c) un poco + adj/adv:

◊ un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

4 ( en locs)
◊ a poco (Méx): ¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!;

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!;
de a poco (AmL) gradually, little by little;
poco a poco gradually;
poco más o menos approximately, roughly;
por poco nearly
poco,-a
I adjetivo
1 (con el sustantivo en singular) not much, little: tengo poco apetito, I haven't got much appetite
2 (con el sustantivo en plural) not many, few: conozco pocos lugares de Italia, I don't know many places in Italy
II pron (singular) little, not much
(plural) (objetos) few, not many
(personas) few people, not many people ➣ Ver nota en few
III adverbio
1 (con verbo) not (very) much, little: entiendo poco del tema, I don't understand much about the issue
2 (con adjetivo) not very: está poco claro, it's not very clear
3 (de tiempo) hace poco que nos conocemos, we met a short time ago
IV sustantivo masculino
1 (acompañado de adjetivo o adverbio) lo noté un poco molesto, I thought he was a bit annoyed
tendré que hacerlo un poco después, I'll have to do it a little later
2 (acompañando a un sustantivo) dame un poco de agua, give me a little water ➣ Ver nota en little
♦ Locuciones: a poco de, shortly after
dentro de poco, soon
poco a poco, little by little, gradually
poco antes/después, shortly before/afterwards
por poco, almost
' poco' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abreviar
- aclimatarse
- adelgazar
- aguantar
- ahora
- alcornoque
- alentador
- alentadora
- algo
- antes
- apercibirse
- bagatela
- baja
- bajo
- brusca
- brusco
- bruta
- bruto
- buscar
- calentar
- cargada
- cargado
- cascada
- cascado
- cerebral
- chapucera
- chapucero
- chispa
- clara
- claro
- común
- cruda
- crudo
- cualquiera
- de
- dentro
- descuidada
- descuidado
- descuidarse
- desigual
- desmoronada
- desmoronado
- despatarrarse
- despistada
- despistado
- despreciable
- después
- desvaído
- disipar
- dudosa
English:
accomplice
- add to
- adjust
- aerial
- after
- afterwards
- along
- aloof
- amateurish
- balding
- bark
- belly
- bit
- black
- blind
- blow up
- boot
- by
- can
- careless
- chat
- comedown
- confusing
- cowboy
- degree
- derivative
- desultory
- disagreement
- disingenuous
- diving
- do
- dodgy
- doubtful
- dowdy
- earthy
- easy-going
- edge
- effect
- element
- evasion
- exist
- expect
- fall apart
- far-fetched
- fine
- flippant
- forge
- furnish
- fuzzy
- gradually

* * *

poco, -a

♦ adj
(singular) little, not much; (plural) few, not many;
de poca importancia of little importance;

poca agua not much water;

pocas personas lo saben few o not many people know it;

hay pocos árboles there aren't many trees;

tenemos poco tiempo we don't have much time;

hace poco tiempo not long ago;

dame unos pocos días give me a few days;

esto ocurre pocas veces this rarely happens, this doesn't happen often;

tengo pocas ganas de ir I don't really o much feel like going;

poca sal me parece que le estás echando I don't think you're putting enough salt in, I think you're putting too little salt in;

con lo poco que le gusta la ópera, y la han invitado a La Traviata it's ironic, considering how she dislikes opera, that they should have invited her to see La Traviata

♦ pron

1. [escasa cantidad] (singular) little, not much;

* * *

poco

I adj sg little, not much; pl few, not many;

un poco de a little;

unos pocos a few

II adv little;

trabaja poco he doesn’t work much;

ahora se ve muy poco it’s seldom seen now;

estuvo poco por aquí he wasn’t around much;

poco conocido little known;

poco a poco little by little;

dentro de poco soon, shortly;

hace poco a short time ago, not long ago;

desde hace poco (for) a short while;

por poco nearly, almost;

¡a poco no lo hacemos! Méx don’t tell me we’re not doing it;

de a poco me fui tranquilizando Rpl little by little I calmed down;

por si fuera poco as if that weren’t o wasn’t enough

III m

:

un poco a little, a bit

* * *

poco adv

1) : little, not much

poco probable: not very likely

come poco: he doesn't eat much

2) : a short time, a while

tardaremos poco: we won't be very long

3)

poco antes : shortly before

4)

poco después : shortly after

poco, -ca adj

1) : little, not much, (a) few

tengo poco dinero: I don't have much money

en no pocas ocasiones: on more than a few occasions

poca gente: few people

2)

pocas veces : rarely

poco, -ca pron

1) : little, few

le falta poco para terminar: he's almost finished

uno de los pocos que quedan: one of the remaining few

2)

un poco : a little, a bit

un poco de vino: a little wine

un poco extraño: a bit strange

3)

a poco Mex (used to express disbelief)

¿a poco no se te hizo difícil?: you mean you didn't find it difficult?

4)

de a poco : little by little

5)

hace poco : not long ago

6)

poco a poco : little by little

7)

dentro de poco : shortly, in a little while

8)

por poco : nearly, almost

* * *

poco¹ adj

1. (singular) not much

hay poco café there's not much coffee

has comido poco arroz you haven't eaten much rice

2. (plural) few / not many

tiene pocos amigos he has few friends / he hasn't got many friends

muy poco very little

hay muy poco té there's very little tea

poco² adv

1. (con verbos) not much

trabaja poco he doesn't work much

2. (no mucho tiempo) not long

estuve con él hace poco I was with him not long ago

llegó poco después she arrived not long after

3. (con adjetivos) not very

es poco simpática she's not very friendly

poco a poco little by little

por poco nearly

por poco se cae he nearly fell

por poco pierdo el tren I nearly missed the train

poco³ n a little / a bit

un poco de pan a bit of bread

un poco de agua a little water

tengo de sobra, toma un poco I've got plenty, take a little

poco⁴ pron

1. (singular) not much

compra café, que queda muy poco buy some coffee, there's not much left

2. (plural) few / not many

¿cuántos vinieron? pocos how many came? not many

Spanish-English dictionary > poco
3 saber

m.

knowledge.

el saber no ocupa lugar (Prov) you can never know too much

El saber es un tesoro Knowledge is priceless.

v.

1 to know.

ya lo sé I know

de haberlo sabido (antes) o si lo llego a saber, me quedo en casa if I'd known, I'd have stayed at home

hacer saber algo a alguien to inform somebody of something, to tell somebody something

para que lo sepas, somos amigos we're friends, for your information

Ellos saben de eso They know about that.

Ellos saben la información They know the information.

2 to learn, to find out (enterarse de).

lo supe ayer I found out yesterday

¿sabes algo de Juan?, ¿qué sabes de Juan? have you had any news from o heard from Juan?

3 to know about (entender de).

sabe mucha física he knows a lot about physics

4 to taste.

saber bien/mal to taste good/bad

saber a cuernos o rayos (informal figurative) to taste disgusting o revolting

le supo mal (figurative) it upset o annoyed him (le enfadó)

me sabe mal mentirle (figurative) I feel bad about lying to him

Esto sabe bien This tastes good.

5 to know how to, to know, to know to.

Ellos saben pintar They know how to paint.

* * *

SABER

CONJUGACIÓN

Present Indicative

sé, sabes, sabe, sabemos, sabéis, saben.

Past Indicative

supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supisteis, supieron.

Future Indicative

sabré, sabrás, sabrá, sabremos, sabréis, sabrán.

Conditional

sabría, sabrías, sabría, sabríamos, sabríais, sabrían.

Present Subjunctive

sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan.

Imperfect Subjunctive

supiera, supieras, supiera, supiéramos, supierais, supieran;

supiese, supieses, supiese, supiésemos, supieseis, supiesen.

Future Subjunctive

supiere, supieres, supiere, supiéremos, supiereis, supieren.

Imperative

sabe (tú), sepa (él/Vd.), sepamos (nos.), sabed (vos.), sepan (ellos/Vds.).

* * *
1. verb
1) to know

2) can

3) learn

•

- a saber
- saber a 2. noun m.
knowledge

* * *

1. VT

1) (=tener conocimiento de)

a) [+ dato, información] to know

no sabía que era tu cumpleaños — I didn't know it was your birthday

sé que me has mentido — I know you've lied to me

lo sé — I know

sin saberlo yo — without my knowledge, without me knowing

• hacer saber algo a algn — to inform sb of sth, let sb know about sth

quiero hacerle saber que... — I would like to inform o advise you that...

el motivo de esta carta es hacerle saber que... — I am writing to inform o advise you that...

b) [locuciones]

• a saber — namely

dos planetas, a saber, Venus y la Tierra — two planets, namely Venus and Earth

a saber si realmente lo compró — I wonder whether he really did buy it

a saber dónde lo tiene guardado — I wonder where he has it hidden away

• ¡ anda a saber! — LAm God knows!

• demasiado bien sé que... — I know only too well that...

¡no lo sabes bien! — * not half! *

• cualquiera sabe si... — it's anybody's guess whether...

• ¡de haberlo sabido! — if only I'd known!

• lo dudo, pero nunca se sabe — I doubt it, but you never know

• para que lo sepas — let me tell you, for your information

• que yo sepa — as far as I know

que sepamos — as far as we know

• un no sé qué — a certain something

un no sé qué de afectado — a certain (element of) affectation

• ¡ quién sabe! — who knows!

¿quién sabe? — who knows?, who can tell?, who's to say?

• ¡si lo sabré yo! — I should know!

• tú sabrás (lo que haces) — I suppose you know (what you're doing)

¿tú qué sabes? — what do you know about it?

• ¡ vete a saber! — God knows!

¡vete a saber de dónde ha venido! — goodness only knows where he came from!

vete tú a saber — your guess is as good as mine

• ya lo sabía yo — I thought as much

• ¡yo qué sé!, ¡qué sé yo! — how should I know!, search me! *

- cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato

- no sabía dónde meterse

- no saber ni papa
Briján
2) (=enterarse de) to find out

en cuanto lo supimos fuimos a ayudarle — as soon as we found out, we went to help him

cuando lo supe — when I heard o found out about it

lograron saber el secreto — they managed to learn the secret

3) (=tener noticias) to hear

desde hace seis meses no sabemos nada de él — we haven't heard from him for six months

4) (=tener destreza en)

¿sabes ruso? — do you speak Russian?, can you speak Russian?

no sé nada de cocina — I don't know anything about cookery, I know nothing about cookery

• saber hacer algo, sabe cuidar de sí mismo — he can take care of himself, he knows how to take care of himself

¿sabes nadar? — can you swim?

saben tratar muy bien al forastero — they know how to look after visitors

¿sabes ir? — do you know the way?

todavía no sabe orientarse por la ciudad — he still doesn't know his way around town

pocos campeones saben perder — few champions are good losers

es una persona que sabe escuchar — she's a good listener

5) LAm

saber hacer — to be in the habit of doing

no sabe venir por aquí — he doesn't usually come this way, he's not in the habit of coming along here

2. VI

1) (=tener conocimiento)

• saber de algo — to know of sth

sabe mucho de ordenadores — he knows a lot about computers

sé de un sitio muy bueno — I know of a very good place

hace mucho que no sabemos de ella — it's quite a while since we heard from her, we haven't had any news from her for quite a while

2) (=estar enterado) to know

costó muy caro, ¿sabe usted? — it was very expensive, you know

un 5% no sabe, no contesta — there were 5% "don't knows"

3) (=tener sabor) to taste

no sabe demasiado bien — it doesn't taste too good

sabe un poco amargo — it tastes rather bitter

• saber a — to taste of

esto sabe a queso — this tastes of cheese

esto sabe a demonio(s) — this tastes awful

saberle mal a algn —

me supo muy mal lo que hicieron — I didn't like what they did, I wasn't pleased o didn't feel good about what they did

no me sabe mal que un amigo me gaste bromas — I don't mind a friend playing jokes on me, it doesn't bother me having a friend play jokes on me

3.

See:

saberse
SABER Por regla general, si saber va seguido de un infinitivo, se traduce por can cuando indica una habilidad permanente y por know how cuando se trata de la capacidad de resolver un problema concreto. La construcción correspondiente habrá de ser can + ((INFINITIVO)) {sin} to {o} know how + ((INFINITIVO)) {con} to: Jaime sabe tocar el piano Jaime can play the piano ¿Sabes cambiar una rueda? Do you know how to change a wheel? Hay que tener en cuenta que know (sin how) nunca puede ir seguido directamente de un infinitivo en inglés. Para otros usos y ejemplos ver la entrada
* * *
I
masculino knowledge

una persona de gran saber — a person of great learning

el saber no ocupa lugar — one can never know too much
II 1.
verbo transitivo

1)

a) <nombre/dirección/canción> to know

ya lo sé — I know

no lo sé — I don't know

no sé cómo se llama — I don't know his name

así que or conque ya lo sabes — so now you know

no sabía que tenía hijos — I didn't know he had (any) children

para que lo sepas, yo no miento — (fam) for your information, I don't tell lies

si lo sabré yo! — don't I know it!

cállate ¿tú qué sabes? — shut up! what do you know about it?

yo qué sé dónde está! — how (on earth) should I know where he/it is! (colloq)

no se sabe si... — they don't know if...

no sé qué decirte — I really don't know what to say

¿a que no sabes qué? — (fam) you'll never guess what

tiene un no sé qué — she has a certain something

me da no sé qué decirte esto — I feel very awkward saying this to you

que yo sepa — as far as I know

saber algo de algo — to know something about something

sé muy poco de ese tema — I know very little about the subject

hacerle saber algo a alguien — (frml) to inform somebody of something

nos hizo saber su decisión — he informed us of his decision

b) ( darse cuenta de) to know

no sabe lo que dice — he doesn't know what he's talking about

tú no sabes lo que es esto! — you can't imagine what it's like!

2) ( ser capaz de)

saber + inf — to know how to + inf

¿sabes nadar/escribir a máquina? — can you swim/type?, do you know how to swim/type?

ya sabe leer y escribir — she can already read and write

sabe escuchar — she's a good listener

sabe hablar varios idiomas — she can speak several languages

no saben perder — they're bad losers

sabe defenderse — she knows how to o she can look after herself

3) ( enterarse) to find out

lo supe por mi hermana — I found out about it through my sister

si es así, pronto se va a saber — if that's the case, we'll know o find out soon enough

sin que lo supiéramos — without our knowing

si yo lo hubiera sabido antes! — if I had only known before!

cómo iba yo a saber que...! — how was I to know that...!

¿se puede saber por qué? — may I ask why?

¿y tú dónde estabas, si se puede saber? — and where were you, I'd like to know?

4)

a saber — (frml) namely
2.
saber vi

Sentido I

1)

a) ( tener conocimiento) to know

vete tú/vaya usted a saber — but who knows

¿quién sabe? — who knows?

saber de algo/alguien — to know of something/somebody

yo sé de un sitio donde te lo pueden arreglar — I know of a place where you can get it fixed

b) (tener noticias, enterarse)

saber de alguien/algo: no sé nada de ella desde hace más de un mes I haven't heard from her for over a month; yo supe del accidente por la radio I heard about the accident on the radio; no quiero saber de él — I want nothing to do with him

Sentido II

2)

a) ( tener sabor) (+ compl) to taste

sabe dulce/bien/amargo — it tastes sweet/nice/bitter

saber a algo — to taste of something

sabe a ajo — it tastes of garlic

no sabe a nada — it has no taste to it

sabe a podrido — it tastes rotten

b) ( causar cierta impresión)

saberle mal/bien a alguien: no le supo nada bien que ella bailara con otro he wasn't at all pleased that she danced with someone else; me sabe mal tener que decírselo — I don't like having to tell him
3.
saberse v pron (enf) <lección/poema> to know

se sabe todo el cuento de memoria — he knows the whole story off by heart

sabérselas todas — (fam) to know every trick in the book (colloq)

* * *
I
masculino knowledge

una persona de gran saber — a person of great learning

el saber no ocupa lugar — one can never know too much
II 1.
verbo transitivo

1)

a) <nombre/dirección/canción> to know

ya lo sé — I know

no lo sé — I don't know

no sé cómo se llama — I don't know his name

así que or conque ya lo sabes — so now you know

no sabía que tenía hijos — I didn't know he had (any) children

para que lo sepas, yo no miento — (fam) for your information, I don't tell lies

si lo sabré yo! — don't I know it!

cállate ¿tú qué sabes? — shut up! what do you know about it?

yo qué sé dónde está! — how (on earth) should I know where he/it is! (colloq)

no se sabe si... — they don't know if...

no sé qué decirte — I really don't know what to say

¿a que no sabes qué? — (fam) you'll never guess what

tiene un no sé qué — she has a certain something

me da no sé qué decirte esto — I feel very awkward saying this to you

que yo sepa — as far as I know

saber algo de algo — to know something about something

sé muy poco de ese tema — I know very little about the subject

hacerle saber algo a alguien — (frml) to inform somebody of something

nos hizo saber su decisión — he informed us of his decision

b) ( darse cuenta de) to know

no sabe lo que dice — he doesn't know what he's talking about

tú no sabes lo que es esto! — you can't imagine what it's like!

2) ( ser capaz de)

saber + inf — to know how to + inf

¿sabes nadar/escribir a máquina? — can you swim/type?, do you know how to swim/type?

ya sabe leer y escribir — she can already read and write

sabe escuchar — she's a good listener

sabe hablar varios idiomas — she can speak several languages

no saben perder — they're bad losers

sabe defenderse — she knows how to o she can look after herself

3) ( enterarse) to find out

lo supe por mi hermana — I found out about it through my sister

si es así, pronto se va a saber — if that's the case, we'll know o find out soon enough

sin que lo supiéramos — without our knowing

si yo lo hubiera sabido antes! — if I had only known before!

cómo iba yo a saber que...! — how was I to know that...!

¿se puede saber por qué? — may I ask why?

¿y tú dónde estabas, si se puede saber? — and where were you, I'd like to know?

4)

a saber — (frml) namely
2.
saber vi

Sentido I

1)

a) ( tener conocimiento) to know

vete tú/vaya usted a saber — but who knows

¿quién sabe? — who knows?

saber de algo/alguien — to know of something/somebody

yo sé de un sitio donde te lo pueden arreglar — I know of a place where you can get it fixed

b) (tener noticias, enterarse)

saber de alguien/algo: no sé nada de ella desde hace más de un mes I haven't heard from her for over a month; yo supe del accidente por la radio I heard about the accident on the radio; no quiero saber de él — I want nothing to do with him

Sentido II

2)

a) ( tener sabor) (+ compl) to taste

sabe dulce/bien/amargo — it tastes sweet/nice/bitter

saber a algo — to taste of something

sabe a ajo — it tastes of garlic

no sabe a nada — it has no taste to it

sabe a podrido — it tastes rotten

b) ( causar cierta impresión)

saberle mal/bien a alguien: no le supo nada bien que ella bailara con otro he wasn't at all pleased that she danced with someone else; me sabe mal tener que decírselo — I don't like having to tell him
3.
saberse v pron (enf) <lección/poema> to know

se sabe todo el cuento de memoria — he knows the whole story off by heart

sabérselas todas — (fam) to know every trick in the book (colloq)

* * *

saber¹

¹ = learning.

Ex: It is the responsibility of educators to stretch their student's intellects, hone their skills of intuitive judgment and synthesis, and build a love of learning that will sustain them beyond the level of formal education.

* ansia de saber = thirst for knowledge.

* a + Posesivo + saber = to the best of + Posesivo + knowledge.

* a + Posesivo + saber y entender = to the best of + Posesivo + knowledge and belief.

* cúmulo de saber = knowledge repository, repository of knowledge.

* hasta donde + Pronombre + saber = to the best of + Posesivo + knowledge.

* institución del saber = institution of learning.

* no querer saber más nada de = drop + Nombre + like a hot potato.

* por el bien del saber = for knowledge's sake.

* por el mero hecho de saber = for knowledge's sake.

* rama del saber = branch of learning.

* saber escuchar = listening capacity.

saber²

² = know, learn, find out.

Ex: However, in general, it is unreasonable to expect a user to know the ISBN of a book.

Ex: 'I'd be disappointed to learn that my boss or subordinates -- or peers for that matter -- told tales out of school about me to others'.

Ex: For example, a person can consult the system holdings files to find out whether a library in the network owns a copy of the document.

* a saber = namely, viz, to wit.

* capacidad de saber leer y escribir = literacy skills.

* curioso por saber = interrogator.

* de quién sabe dónde = out of the woodwork.

* hacer saber = let + Nombre + know, let + it be known.

* hacer saber la intención de uno = announce + intention.

* nada sabe mejor que sentirse delgado = nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

* no querer saber más nada de = drop + Nombre + like a hot brick.

* no querer saber nada de = want + nothing to do with.

* no saber cómo explicarlo = be at a loss to explain it.

* no saber cómo seguir = be stuck, get + stuck.

* no saber de = have + no understanding of.

* no saber dónde meterse de vergüenza = squirm with + embarrassment.

* no saber expresarse bien = inarticulateness.

* no saber más por ello = be none the wiser.

* no saber qué contestar = stump.

* no saber qué decir = be at a loss for words, be lost for words.

* no saber qué hacer = be at a loss, get out of + Posesivo + depth, be on the horns of a dilemma, be at a nonplus.

* no saber qué hacer a continuación = draw + a blank, be stuck, get + stuck.

* no saber qué hacer con = be at sixes and sevens with.

* no saber qué más hacer = be at + Posesivo + wit's end.

* no saberse cuándo = there + be + no telling when.

* no se sabe todavía = the jury is still out (on).

* nunca se sabe... = one never knows....

* persona que sabe contar anécdotas = raconteur.

* por lo que yo sé = to the best of my knowledge.

* quedar mucho por saber = there + be + a great deal yet to be learned, there + be + still a great deal to be learned.

* que sabe lo que = who knows what.

* ¿quién sabe? = who knows?.

* quién sabe lo que = who knows what.

* quién sabe qué = who knows what.

* saber a ciencia cierta = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.

* saber a ciencia cierta que = know + for a fact that.

* saber argumentar Algo convincentemente = make + a business case.

* saber buscar con inteligencia = be search-savvy.

* saber con certeza = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.

* saber contestar muy bien = be not at a loss for words.

* saber cúal es la verdad = discern + the truth.

* saber de algún modo = know + on some grounds.

* saber de buena boca = have + it on good word.

* saber de buena tinta = have + it on good word.

* saber defenderse = hold + Posesivo + own.

* saber de lo que Uno estar hablando = know + Posesivo + stuff.

* saber de seguro = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.

* saber escuchar = listening skills.

* saber hacer = savoir faire.

* saber hacer cuentas = be numerate.

* saber interiormente = know + underneath.

* saber leer y escribir = be literate.

* saberlo todo = be omniscient.

* saberse Algo al dedillo = know + Nombre + inside-out, learn + Nombre + inside-out.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sabiendo diferenciar entre lo que vale y lo que no = discriminatingly.

* sabiendo que = on the understanding that.

* salir de quién sabe dónde = come out of + the woodwork.

* ser una incógnita = be anyone's guess.

* sin saberlo = unbeknown to, unbeknownst to.

* sin saber qué decir = nonplussed [nonplused].

* un no sé qué = a je ne sais quoi.

* y Dios sabe qué más = and Heaven knows what else.

saber³

³ = taste.

Ex: Professional skills are enhanced by the opportunity which IFLA provides to taste the cultures of other countries in a very accessible (dare I say privileged?) way.

* saber a = reek of.

* * *

saber¹

masculine

knowledge

un compendio del saber humano a compendium of human knowledge

una persona de gran saber a person of great learning

el saber no ocupa lugar one can never know too much

saber² [ E25 ]

vt

A

1 ‹nombre/dirección/chiste/canción› to know

(ya) lo sé, pero aun así … I know, but even so …

quizás sea así, no lo sé that might be the case, I don't know

así que or conque ya lo sabes so now you know

¡no le habrás dicho nada de aquello que tú sabes! you didn't tell him anything about you know what, did you?

no sabía que tenía or tuviera hijos I didn't know he had (any) children

¿sabes lo que me dijo? do you know what he said to me?

¿sabes lo que te digo? ¡que me tienes harta! you know something? I'm fed up with you!

para que lo sepas, yo no miento ( fam); for your information, I don't tell lies

es tan latoso … — ¡si lo sabré yo! he's such a nuisance — don't I know it!

cállate ¿tú qué sabes? shut up! what do you know about it?

¡yo qué sé dónde está tu diccionario! how (on earth) should I know where your dictionary is! ( colloq)

no se sabe si se salvará they don't know if he'll pull through

no sabía dónde meterme I didn't know where to put myself

no supe qué decir I didn't know what to say

mira, no sé qué decirte look, I really don't know what to say

no lo saben a ciencia cierta they don't know for certain

¿a que no sabes a quién vi? ( fam); I bet you don't know who I saw ( colloq), you'll never guess who I saw

quién or cualquiera sabe dónde estará goodness only knows where it is

un tal Ricardo no sé cuántos ( fam); Ricardo something-or-other ( colloq)

le salió con no sé qué historias ( fam); he came out with some story or other

tiene un no sé qué que la hace muy atractiva she has a certain something that makes her very attractive

ese hombre tiene un no sé qué que me cae mal there's something about that man I don't like

me da no sé qué tener que decirte esto I feel very awkward about having to say this to you

ya no viven allí, que yo sepa as far as I know, they don't live there anymore

¿tiene antecedentes? — que yo sepa no does she have any previous convictions? — not that I know of

—¿quién es ése? —quiso saber who's that? he wanted to know

sé muy poco de ese tema I know very little about the subject

sabe mucho sobre la segunda guerra mundial he knows a lot about the Second World War

2

hacerle saber algo a algn ( frml): nos hizo saber su decisión he informed us of his decision

por la presente deseo hacerle saber que … ( Corresp) I am pleased to advise you o to be able to inform you that …

la directiva hace saber a los señores socios que … the board wishes to inform members o advises members that …

3 (darse cuenta) to know

¡tú no sabes lo que es esto! you can't imagine what it's like!

está furiosa, no sabes lo que te espera she's furious, you don't know what you're in for

perdónalos Señor, porque no saben lo que hacen ( Bib) forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do

B (ser capaz de) saber + INF:

¿sabes nadar/cocinar/escribir a máquina? can you swim/cook/type?

ya sabe leer y escribir she can already read and write

sabe escuchar she's a good listener

no saben perder they're bad losers

no sabe tratar con la gente he doesn't know how to deal with people

no te preocupes, ella sabe defenderse don't worry, she knows how to o she can look after herself

este niño no sabe estarse quieto this child is incapable of keeping still o just can't keep still

C

a saber ( frml); namely

lo forman cuatro países, a saber: Suecia, Noruega, Dinamarca y Finlandia it is made up of four countries, namely Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland

D (enterarse) to find out

no lo supimos hasta ayer we didn't find out until yesterday

lo supe por mi hermana I found out about it through my sister, I heard about it o ( frml) learned of it through my sister

si es así, pronto se va a saber if that's the case, we'll know soon enough

¡si yo lo hubiera sabido antes! if I had only known before!

¿que qué me dijo de ti? ¡no quieras saberlo! what did she say about you? don't ask! o you wouldn't want to know!

¿se puede saber qué estabas haciendo allí? would you mind telling me what you were doing there?

¿y tú dónde estabas, si se puede saber? and where were you, I'd like to know?

■ saber

vi

Sentido I

A

1 to know

¿crees que vendrá? — supongo que sí, aunque con ella nunca se sabe do you think she'll come? — I suppose so, although you never know o you can never tell with her

dice que ella se lo dio, vete tú/vaya usted a saber he says she gave it to him, but who knows

no puede ser verdad — ¿quién sabe? a lo mejor sí it can't be true — who knows, it could be

parece incapaz de eso, pero nunca se sabe or cualquiera sabe he doesn't seem capable of such a thing, but you never know

él que sabe, sabe ( fr hecha); it's easy when you know how

2 saber DE algo/algn to know (of) sth/sb

yo sé de un sitio donde te lo pueden arreglar I know (of) a place where you can get it fixed

¿sabes de alguien que haya estado allí? do you know (of) anyone who's been there?

3 (tener noticias) saber DE algn:

no sé nada de ella desde hace más de un mes I haven't heard from her for over a month

no quiero saber nada más de él I want nothing more to do with him

B (enterarse) saber DE algo:

yo supe del accidente por la radio I heard about the accident on the radio

si llegas a saber de una cámara barata, avísame if you hear of a cheap camera, let me know

Sentido II

A (tener sabor) (+ compl) to taste

sabe muy dulce/bien/amargo it tastes very sweet/nice/bitter

saber A algo to taste OF sth

sabe a ajo/almendra it tastes of garlic/almonds, it has a garlicky/almondy taste

esta sopa no sabe a nada this soup doesn't taste of anything o has no taste to it

sabe a quemado/podrido it tastes burnt/rotten

tenía tanta hambre que el arroz me supo a gloria I was so hungry the rice tasted delicious

B

(causar cierta impresión): saberle mal/bien a algn: no le supo nada bien que ella bailara con otro he wasn't at all pleased that she danced with someone else

me sabe mal tener que decirle que no otra vez I don't like having to say no to him again, I feel bad having to say no to him again

■ saberse

v pron

A ( enf) ( fam) (conocer) ‹lección/poema› to know

se sabe todo el cuento de memoria he knows the whole story off by heart

se sabe los nombres de todos los jugadores del equipo he knows the names of every player in the team

sabérselas todas ( fam): este niño se las sabe todas this child knows every trick in the book ( colloq)

se cree que se las sabe todas she thinks she has all the answers

B ( refl) (saber que se es) (+ compl):

se sabe atractiva she knows she's attractive

* * *

saber 1 sustantivo masculino
knowledge;
◊ una persona de gran saber a person of great learning

saber 2 ( conjugate saber) verbo transitivo
1
a) ‹nombre/dirección/canción› to know;

◊ ya lo sé I know;

no lo sé I don't know;
no sé cómo se llama I don't know his name;
¡yo qué sé! how (on earth) should I know! (colloq);
que yo sepa as far as I know;
saber algo de algo to know sth about sth;
sé muy poco de ese tema I know very little about the subject;
no sabe lo que dice he doesn't know what he's talking about
b) ( enterarse) to find out;

◊ lo supe por mi hermana I found out about it through my sister;

sin que lo supiéramos without our knowing;
¡si yo lo hubiera sabido antes! if I had only known before!;
¡cómo iba yo a saber que …! how was I to know that …!
2 ( ser capaz de):
◊ saber hacer algo to know how to do sth;

¿sabes nadar? can you swim?, do you know how to swim?;
sabe escuchar she's a good listener;
sabe hablar varios idiomas she can speak several languages
verbo intransitivo
a) ( tener conocimiento) to know;

◊ ¿quién sabe? who knows?;

saber de algo/algn to know of sth/sb;
yo sé de un lugar donde te lo pueden arreglar I know of a place where you can get it fixed
b) (tener noticias, enterarse):

◊ no sé nada de ella desde hace más de un mes I haven't heard from her for over a month;

yo supe del accidente por la radio I heard about the accident on the radio
a) ( tener sabor) (+ compl) to taste;

◊ sabe dulce/bien it tastes sweet/nice;

saber a algo to taste of sth;
no sabe a nada it doesn't taste of anything;
sabe a podrido it tastes rotten
b) ( causar cierta impresión): me sabe mal or no me sabe bien tener que decírselo I don't like having to tell him

saberse verbo pronominal ( enf) ‹lección/poema› to know
saber sustantivo masculino knowledge, learning, information
saber
I verbo transitivo
1 (una cosa) to know: no sé su dirección, I don't know her address
para que lo sepas, for your information
que yo sepa, as far as I know
2 (hacer algo) to know how to: no sabe nadar, he can't swim
3 (capacidad, destreza) sabe dibujar muy bien, he knows how to draw really well
4 (comportarse, reaccionar) can: no sabe aguantar una broma, she can't take a joke
no sabe perder, he's a bad loser
5 (tener conocimientos elevados sobre una materia) sabe mucho de música, she knows a lot about music
6 (enterarse) to learn, find out: lo llamé en cuanto lo supe, I called him as soon as I heard about it
7 (estar informado) sabía que te ibas a retrasar, he knew that you were going to be late
8 (imaginar) no sabes qué frío hacía, you can't imagine how cold it was
II verbo intransitivo
1 (sobre una materia) to know [de, of]: sé de un restaurante buenísimo, I know of a very good restaurant
2 (tener noticias) (de alguien por él mismo) to hear from sb
(de alguien por otros) to have news of sb
(de un asunto) to hear about sthg
3 (tener sabor) to taste [a, of]: este guiso sabe a quemado, this stew tastes burnt
4 (producir agrado o desagrado) to like, please: me supo mal que no viniera, it upset me that he didn't come
♦ Locuciones: el saber no ocupa lugar, you can never learn too much
me ha sabido a poco, I couldn't get enough of it
quién sabe, who knows
vas a saber lo que es bueno, I'll show you what's what
vete a saber, God knows
a saber, namely
' saber' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
atenerse
- ávida
- ávido
- básica
- básico
- carta
- cojear
- combinar
- comparecencia
- conjugar
- consuelo
- convenir
- cuerno
- dedillo
- demonio
- desconocer
- diferenciar
- economía
- entender
- estimable
- estribar
- eufórica
- eufórico
- gloria
- impresión
- latín
- morbosa
- morboso
- puesta
- puesto
- relacionarse
- sable
- si
- terrena
- terreno
- tinta
- bien
- ciencia
- conocer
- conocimiento
- deber
- derecho
- experiencia
- feo
- hallar
- llegar
- lo
- mal
- memoria
- porqué
English:
acquaint
- aware
- can
- certain
- curious
- flounder
- fortuneteller
- guess
- hand
- hear
- horrify
- know
- learning
- namely
- nice
- pat
- pride
- should
- taste
- tell
- truck
- understand
- unknowingly
- wisdom
- able
- appreciation
- authority
- claim
- copy
- early
- funny
- heart
- knowledge
- let
- priority
- realize
- reassuring
- right
- saber
- sabre
- score
- skill
- stump
- suppose
- viz
- way

* * *

saber

♦ nm

knowledge;
Formal
según mi/nuestro/ etc[m5]. leal saber y entender to the best of my/our/ etc knowledge;

Prov

el saber no ocupa lugar you can never know too much

♦ vt

1. [conocer] to know;

ya lo sé I know;

no lo sé I don't know;

yo no sabía nada de eso I didn't know anything about that;

no sabía que eras médico I didn't know you were a doctor;

ya sé lo que vas a decir I know what you're going to say;

de haberlo sabido (antes) o [m5]si lo llego a saber, me quedo en casa if I'd known, I'd have stayed at home;

es de o [m5]por todos sabido que… it's common knowledge that…, everyone knows that…;

hacer saber algo a alguien to inform sb of sth, to tell sb sth;

para que lo sepas, somos amigos we're friends, for your information;

¿sabes qué (te digo)?, que no me arrepiento you know what, I don't regret it;

si lo sabré yo, que tengo cuatro hijos you're telling me! I've got four children!;

sin yo saberlo, sin saberlo yo without my knowledge;
Fig
no sabía dónde meterme I didn't know where to put myself, I wanted to crawl under a rock;

no sabe lo que (se) hace she doesn't know what she's doing;

no sabe lo que tiene he doesn't realize just how lucky he is;
Fam
te ha llamado un tal Antonio no sé cuántos there was a call for you from Antonio something or other;

no sé qué decir I don't know what to say;

¡qué sé yo!, ¡y yo qué sé! how should I know!;

¡qué sé yo la de veces que me caí de la bici! heaven knows how many times I fell off my bike!;
Irónico
como te pille vas a saber lo que es bueno just wait till I get my hands on you!;
Irónico
cuando hagas la mili sabrás lo que es bueno you'll be in for a nasty surprise when you do your military service;

tener un no sé qué to have a certain something;
Fam
y no sé qué y no sé cuántos and so on and so forth

2. [ser capaz de]
saber hacer algo to be able to do sth, to know how to do sth;

¿sabes cocinar? can you cook?;

no sé nadar I can't swim, I don't know how to swim;

sabe hablar inglés/montar en bici she can speak English/ride a bike;

sabe perder he's a good loser;

su problema es que no saben beber [beben demasiado] their problem is they don't know when to stop drinking

3. [enterarse de] to learn, to find out;

lo supe ayer/por los periódicos I found (it) out yesterday/in the papers;

supe la noticia demasiado tarde I only heard the news when it was too late;

¿sabes algo de Juan?, ¿qué sabes de Juan? have you had any news from o heard from Juan?;

¿sabes algo de cuándo será el examen? have you heard anything about when the exam's going to be?

4. [entender de] to know about;

sabe mucha física he knows a lot about physics

♦ vi

1. [tener sabor] to taste (a of);
a mí me sabe a fresa it tastes of strawberries to me;

sabe mucho a cebolla it has a very strong taste of onions, it tastes very strongly of onions;

esto no sabe a nada this has no taste to it, this doesn't taste of anything;

saber bien/mal to taste good/bad;

¡qué bien sabe este pan! this bread's really tasty!, this bread tastes really good!;

esta agua sabe this water has a funny taste;

Comp
Fam
saber a cuerno quemado o [m5] a rayos to taste disgusting o revolting

2. [sentar]
le supo mal [le enfadó] it upset o annoyed him;

me sabe mal mentirle I feel bad about lying to him;

Comp
Fam
saber a cuerno quemado o [m5]a rayos: sus comentarios me supieron a cuerno quemado o [m5] a rayos I thought his comments were really off

3. [tener conocimiento] to know;

no sé de qué me hablas I don't know what you're talking about;

sé de una tienda que vende discos de vinilo I know of a shop that sells vinyl records;

que yo sepa as far as I know;

¡quién sabe!, ¡vete (tú) a saber!, ¡vaya usted a saber! who knows!;

pues, sabes, a mí no me importaría I wouldn't mind, you know;

es vecino mío, ¿sabes? he's my neighbour, you know;

Comp
Méx Fam
¡sepa Pancha!, ¡sepa la bola! who knows?

4. [entender]
saber de algo to know about sth;

¿tú sabes de mecánica? do you know (anything) about mechanics?;

ése sí que sabe he's a canny one

5. [tener noticia]
saber de alguien to hear from sb;

no sé de él desde hace meses I haven't heard (anything) from him for months;

saber de algo to learn of sth;

supe de su muerte por los periódicos I learnt of her death in the papers;

no quiero saber (nada) de ti I don't want to have anything to do with you

6. [parecer]
eso me sabe a disculpa that sounds like an excuse to me;

este postre me ha sabido a poco I could have done with the dessert being a bit bigger;

las vacaciones me han sabido a muy poco my holidays weren't nearly long enough, I could have done with my holidays being a lot longer

7. Am [soler]
saber hacer algo to be in the habit of doing sth

♦ See also the pronominal verb saberse

* * *

saber

I v/t

1 know;

hacer saber algo a alguien let s.o. know sth;

¿cómo lo sabes? how do you know?;

¡si lo sabré yo! don’t I know it!;

¡para que lo sepas! so there!;

sabérselas todas fam know every trick in the book

2 ( ser capaz de)

:

saber hacer algo know how to do sth, be able to do sth;

sé nadar/leer I can swim/read;

saber alemán know German

3 ( enterarse) find out;

lo supe ayer I found out yesterday

II v/i

1 know (de about);

¡vete a saber!, ¡vaya usted a saber! heaven knows;

¡quién sabe! who knows!;

¡qué sé yo! who knows?;

que yo sepa as far as I know;

no que yo sepa not as far as I know;

hace mucho que no sé de ella I haven’t heard from her for a long time

2 ( tener sabor) taste (a of);

me sabe a quemado it tastes burnt to me;

las vacaciones me han sabido a poco my vacation went much too quickly;

me sabe mal fig it upsets me

III m knowledge, learning

IV

:

a saber namely

* * *

saber {71} vt

1) : to know

2) : to know how to, to be able to

sabe tocar el violín: she can play the violin

3) : to learn, to find out

4)

a saber : to wit, namely

saber vi

1) : to know, to suppose

2) : to be informed

supimos del desastre: we heard about the disaster

3) : to taste

esto no sabe bien: this doesn't taste right

4)

saber a : to taste like

sabe a naranja: it tastes like orange

♦ See also the reflexive verb saberse

* * *

saber vb

1. (en general) to know [pt. knew; pp. known]

sabe mucho de política he knows a lot about politics

¿alguien sabe lo que ha pasado? does anyone know what happened?

sé llegar al parque I know how to get to the park

no sé dónde está el coche I don't know where the car is

2. (tener capacidad, habilidad) can [pt. could]

sabe tocar el piano she can play the piano

¿sabes cocinar? can you cook?

3. (hablar) to speak [pt. spoke; pp. spoken]

sabe inglés y francés she speaks English and French

4. (tener noticias) to hear [pt. & pp. heard]

hace mucho tiempo que no sé nada de ellos I haven't heard anything from them for ages

5. (enterarse) to find out [pt. & pp. found]

cuando supe que era su cumpleaños... when I found out it was her birthday...

6. (tener sabor) to taste

este helado sabe a avellana this ice cream tastes of hazelnuts

este potaje no sabe a nada this stew has no taste

saber mal una cosa a alguien (disgustar, enfadar) to be upset / not to like

le supo mal que se fueran sin ella she was upset that they went without her

me sabe mal no acompañarte hasta tu casa I don't like not walking you home

que yo sepa as far as I know

vete a saber goodness knows / it's anyone's guess

vete a saber dónde estarán las llaves it's anyone's guess where the keys are

¡yo qué sé! how should I know?

Spanish-English dictionary > saber
4 short

ʃo:t
1. adjective
1) (not long: You look nice with your hair short; Do you think my dress is too short?) corto

2) (not tall; smaller than usual: a short man.) bajo

3) (not lasting long; brief: a short film; in a very short time; I've a very short memory for details.) breve, corto

4) (not as much as it should be: When I checked my change, I found it was 20 cents short.) de menos

5) ((with of) not having enough (money etc): Most of us are short of money these days.) corto de

6) ((of pastry) made so that it is crisp and crumbles easily.) quebradizo

2. adverb
1) (suddenly; abruptly: He stopped short when he saw me.) bruscamente, en seco

2) (not as far as intended: The shot fell short.) sin alcanzar

•

- shortness
- shortage
- shorten
- shortening
- shortly
- shorts
- shortbread
- short-change
- short circuit
- shortcoming
- shortcut
- shorthand
- short-handed
- short-list
3. verb
(to put on a short-list: We've short-listed three of the twenty applicants.) seleccionar

- short-lived
- short-range
- short-sighted
- short-sightedly
- short-sightedness
- short-tempered
- short-term
- by a short head
- for short
- go short
- in short
- in short supply
- make short work of
- run short
- short and sweet
- short for
- short of

short adj

1. corto

short sleeves mangas cortas

a short film una película corta

a short while ago hace un ratito

2. bajo

he's short for a goalkeeper es bajo para ser portero

for short para abreviar

we call him Matt for short lo llamamos Matt para abreviar

in short en resumen

to be short of something tener poco de algo / andar escaso de algo

we're short of time andamos mal de tiempo

short m Tex (pantalón corto) shorts ' short' also found in these entries: Spanish: abreviar - antes - apremiar - aprovechar - atar - baja - bajo - chaquetón - china - chupa - corta - cortar - corto - cortocircuito - cortometraje - cuadro - cuenta - cuento - cursillo - definitiva - definitivo - dinero - entremés - escapada - escasa - escaso - exposición - flor - focal - gargantilla - guayabera - historieta - inspector - inspectora - irascible - manga - miope - miopía - onda - pantalón - pasada - pasado - pequeña - pequeño - poca - poco - rapar - ras - repecho - resumen English: circuit - compare - cord - cut - forge - in - intro - notice - run - short - short-change - short-circuit - short-haired - short-list - short-lived - short-range - short-sighted - short-sightedness - short-sleeved - short-staffed - short-stay - short-tempered - short-term - short-winded - shorts - shrift - story - straw - supply - term - thick - time - anyway - be - boot - break - closely - curtail - fit - fuse - instant - low - minute - pack - premium - side - sprint - tract - verse - way

short

tr[ʃɔːt]

adjective

1 (not long) corto,-a; (not tall) bajo,-a

■ we'll take the shortest route iremos por el camino más corto

■ it's only a short journey es sólo un viajecito

■ he's got short hair lleva el pelo corto

■ you're shorter than me eres más bajito que yo

■ Jo is short for Joanne Jo es el diminutivo de Joanne

2 (brief - of time) breve, corto,-a

■ the days are shorter in winter los días son más cortos en invierno

■ it was a very short interview fue una entrevista muy breve

■ a short time ago hace poco (tiempo)

■ in a short while dentro de un ratito

■ you've got a short memory tienes mala memoria

3 (deficient) escaso,-a

■ water was short escaseaba el agua

■ we're still £50 short todavía nos faltan £50

■ he collapsed two miles short of the finishing line sufrió un colapso cuando faltaban dos millas para llegar a la meta

4 (curt) seco,-a, brusco,-a, cortante

■ I was very short with her fui muy brusco con ella

■ he's got a short temper tiene mal genio

5 SMALLCOOKERY/SMALL (pastry) quebradizo,-a

6 SMALLFINANCE/SMALL (bill, exchange) a corto plazo

7 SMALLLINGUISTICS/SMALL breve

adverb

1 (abruptly) bruscamente

■ the car stopped short el coche se paró bruscamente

noun

1 (drink) copa, chupito

2 SMALLCINEMA/SMALL cortometraje nombre masculino, corto

3 SMALLELECTRICITY/SMALL cortocircuito

transitive verb

1 SMALLELECTRICITY/SMALL familiar provocar un cortocircuito

intransitive verb

1 SMALLELECTRICITY/SMALL familiar tener un cortocircuito

\

SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALL

at short notice con poca antelación

for short para abreviar

in short en pocas palabras

in the short term a corto plazo

short and sweet cortito,-a

short of a menos que, salvo que

■ short of calling a strike... a menos que convoquemos una huelga...

to be caught short / be taken short entrarle ganas a alguien de ir al lavabo

to be in short supply haber escasez de, escasear

to be short of something andar escaso,-a de algo, estar falto,-a de algo

■ I'm a bit short of money ando algo escaso de dinero, tengo poco dinero

■ he was short of breath le faltaba la respiración, le faltaba el aliento

to be short on something tener poco,-a de algo

■ he's short on tact tiene poco tacto, le falta tacto

to cut somebody short interrumpir a alguien

to cut something short acortar algo, abreviar algo

■ she had to cut her holiday short tuvo que acortar sus vacaciones

to fall short of something no alcanzar algo, estar por debajo de algo

■ the number of jobs created falls short of the government's target el número de puestos de trabajo creados está por debajo del objetivo del gobierno

to get somebody by the short hairs/short and curlies pillar a alguien

to have somebody by the short hairs/short and curlies tener a alguien bien agarrado

to give somebody short measure/weight no dar el peso exacto

to go short (of something) pasarse sin (algo), faltarle a uno (algo)

■ we were poor, but we never went short of food éramos pobres, pero nunca nos faltó comida

to run short of something acabarse algo

■ we're running short of coffee se nos está acabando el café

short circuit cortocircuito

short cut (route) atajo 2 (method) método fácil, fórmula mágica

short list lista de preseleccionados

short order SMALLAMERICAN ENGLISH/SMALL comida rápida

short story cuento

short subject SMALLAMERICAN ENGLISH/SMALL cortometraje nombre masculino

short time jornada reducida

short wave onda corta

short ['ʃɔrt] adv

1) abruptly: repentinamente, súbitamente

the car stopped short: el carro se paró en seco

2)

to fall short : no alcanzar, quedarse corto

short adj

1) : corto (de medida), bajo (de estatura)

2) brief: corto

short and sweet: corto y bueno

a short time ago: hace poco

3) curt: brusco, cortante, seco

4) : corto (de tiempo, de dinero)

I'm one dollar short: me falta un dólar

short n

1) shorts npl

: shorts mpl, pantalones mpl cortos

2) short circuit

short (Electronics)

n.

• cortocircuito s.m. (Film)

n.

• cortometraje s.m.

adj.

• bajo, -a adj.

• breve adj.

• conciso, -a adj.

• corto (Electricidad) adj.

• falto, -a adj.

• pequeño, -a adj.

adv.

• brevemente adv.

• de menos adv.

n.

• chaparro s.m.

• cruce s.m.

• pantalones cortos s.m.pl.

ʃɔːrt, ʃɔːt
I

adjective -er, -est

1) (of length, height, distance) <hair/skirt/grass> corto; < person> bajo

they only live a short way off o away — viven muy cerca

we've only got a short way to go — ya nos falta poco (para llegar)

2)

a) ( brief) <visit/vacationip> corto

the days are getting shorter — los días van acortándose

a short time ago — hace poco (tiempo)

a short while ago — hace poco rato, hace un ratito (fam)

in just a few short years — en pocos años

to have a short memory — tener* mala memoria

the short answer to that is no — en una palabra: no

Liz is short for Elizabeth — Liz es el diminutivo de Elizabeth

we call him Rob for short — lo llamamos Rob para abreviar

short and sweet — (set phrase)

her visit was short and sweet — su visita fue corta: lo bueno si breve dos veces bueno

b) ( Ling) <vowel/syllable> breve

c)

in short — ( briefly) (as linker) en resumen, resumiendo

3) (brusque, impatient) < manner> brusco, cortante

she has a short temper — tiene muy mal genio

4) (inadequate, deficient) escaso

to be in short supply — escasear

time is getting short — queda poco tiempo, se está acabando el tiempo

we're/they're still short six people (AmE) o (BrE) six people short — todavía nos/les faltan seis personas

(to be) short OF something/somebody: we're very short of time estamos muy cortos or escasos de tiempo; they were short of staff no tenían suficiente personal; do you get short of breath? ¿se queda sin aliento?; we're still a long way short of our target estamos todavía muy lejos de nuestro objetivo; he's just short of six feet tall mide poco menos de seis pies; nothing short of a miracle can save us now — sólo un milagro nos puede salvar

II

adverb

1) (suddenly, abruptly)

he cut short his vacation — interrumpió sus vacaciones

he stopped short when he saw me — se paró en seco cuando me vio

they stopped short of firing him — les faltó poco para echarlo

he was brought up short by what she said — lo que ella dijo lo dejó helado

to be caught short — ( need toilet) (colloq)

I was caught short at the station — me entraron unas ganas terribles de ir al baño or al servicio en la estación

2) (below target, requirement)

to fall short — \<\<shell/arrow\>\> quedarse corto

to fall short OF something: we fell short of our target no alcanzamos nuestro objetivo; to fall... short OF something: the arrow fell several meters short of its target la flecha cayó a varios metros del blanco; to go short (OF something): we never went short of food nunca nos faltó la comida; my patience is running short — se me está acabando or agotando la paciencia

III

noun

1) ( Elec) cortocircuito m, corto m

2) ( Cin) cortometraje m, corto m

3) ( drink) (BrE) copa de bebida alcohólica de las que se sirven en pequeñas cantidades, como el whisky o el coñac

4) shorts pl

a) ( short trousers) shorts mpl, pantalones mpl cortos

a pair of shorts — unos shorts

bathing shorts — traje m de baño, bañador m (Esp)

b) ( men's underwear) (AmE) calzoncillos mpl

IV
1.

intransitive verb ( Elec) hacer* un cortocircuito

2.

vt provocar* un cortocircuito en

Phrasal Verbs:

- short out

[ʃɔːt]
1. ADJ
(compar shorter) (superl shortest)
1) (in length, distance, duration) [message, journey, hair, skirt] corto; [person] bajo, chaparro (CAm, Mex); [vowel, syllable] breve; [memory] malo, flaco

the shortest route — la ruta más corta

February is a short month — febrero es un mes corto

it was a great holiday, but too short — fueron unas vacaciones estupendas, pero demasiado cortas

she's quite short — es bastante baja

• the short answer is that... — en pocas palabras la razón es que...

• to have a short back and sides — llevar el pelo corto por detrás y por los lados

• a short break — un pequeño descanso

• the days are getting shorter — los días se vuelven más cortos

time is getting shorter — nos queda poco tiempo

• to win by a short head — (Racing) ganar por una cabeza escasa

• to be short in the leg — [person] tener las piernas cortas

these trousers are a bit short in the leg — estos pantalones tienen la pierna algo pequeña

• at short notice — con poco tiempo de antelación

• in short order — en breve, en seguida

• to take short steps — dar pequeños pasos

• in the short term — a corto plazo

• a short time ago — hace poco

to work short time, be on short time — (Ind) trabajar una jornada reducida

• to take a short walk — dar un paseo corto

• a short way off — a poca distancia, no muy lejos

• a few short words — algunas palabritas

- that was short and sweet

- make short work of sth

2) (=insufficient) escaso

I'm £3 short — me faltan 3 libras

it's two kilos short — faltan dos kilos

bananas are very short — escasean los plátanos, casi no hay plátanos

I'm a bit short at the moment * — en este momento ando un poco corto or escaso de dinero

to be short of sth — andar falto or escaso de algo

we're short of petrol — andamos escasos de gasolina

we're not short of volunteers — se han ofrecido muchos voluntarios, no andamos escasos de voluntarios

• to be short of breath — estar sin aliento

• to give sb short change — no darle el cambio completo a algn

• to give short measure to sb — dar de menos a algn

• gold is in short supply — escasea el oro, hay escasez de oro

• short ton — (US) (= 2,000lb) tonelada f corta

• to give short weight to sb — dar de menos a algn; see supply

3)

• short of (=less than) —

short of blowing it up — a menos que lo volemos, a no ser que lo volemos

short of murder I'll do anything — lo haré todo menos matar

not far short of £100 — poco menos de 100 libras

it's little short of madness — dista poco de la locura

nothing short of total surrender — nada menos que la rendición incondicional

it's nothing short of robbery — es nada menos que un robo

nothing short of a bomb would stop him — fuera de una bomba nada le impediría

nothing short of a miracle can save him — solo un milagro le puede salvar, se necesitaría un milagro para salvarle

4) (=concise) corto, breve

short and to the point — corto y bueno

• "Pat" is short for "Patricia" — "Patricia" se abrevia en "Pat"

Rosemary is called "Rose" for short — a Rosemary le dicen "Rose" para abreviar

"TV" is short for "television" — "TV" es abreviatura de "televisión"

• in short — en pocas palabras, en resumen

in short, the answer is no — en una palabra, la respuesta es no
long I, 3., 1)
5) (=curt) [reply, manner] brusco, seco

• to have a short temper — ser de mal genio, tener mal genio or mal carácter or corto de genio

• to be short with sb — tratar a algn con sequedad

6) [pastry] quebradizo

2. ADV

1) (=suddenly, abruptly) en seco

to stop short, pull up short — pararse en seco

2) (insufficiency)

• to come short of — no alcanzar

• to cut sth short — suspender algo

they had to cut short their holiday — tuvieron que interrumpir sus vacaciones

• to fall short of — no alcanzar

to fall short of the target — no alcanzar el blanco, no llegar al blanco

to fall short of expectations — no cumplir las esperanzas

it falls far short of what we require — dista mucho de satisfacer nuestras exigencias

production has fallen short by 100 tons — la producción arroja un déficit de 100 toneladas

• to go short of — pasarse sin

no one goes short in this house — en esta casa nadie padece hambre

we never went short (of anything) as children — no nos faltó nada de niños

• we're running short of bread — tenemos poco pan, se nos acaba el pan (LAm)

we ran short of petrol — se nos acabó la gasolina, quedamos sin gasolina

• to sell short — vender al descubierto

to sell sb short — (lit) engañar a algn en un negocio; (fig) menospreciar a algn

• to stop short of — (lit) detenerse antes de llegar a

I'd stop short of murder — (fig) menos matar, haría lo que fuera

• to be taken short — necesitar urgentemente ir al wáter

3) (=except)

short of apologizing... — fuera de pedirle perdón...

3. N

1) (Elec) = short-circuit 1.

2) (Brit) * (=drink) bebida f corta

3) (Cine) cortometraje m ; shorts

4.

VT, VI
(Elec) = short-circuit 2.
5.

CPD

short cut N — atajo m

short list N — lista f de candidatos preseleccionados

short message service N, short message system N — SMS m

short sight N — miopía f

to have short sight — ser miope, ser corto de vista

short story N — cuento m

short story writer — escritor(a) m / f de cuentos

short wave N — (Rad) onda f corta

* * *
[ʃɔːrt, ʃɔːt]
I

adjective -er, -est

1) (of length, height, distance) <hair/skirt/grass> corto; < person> bajo

they only live a short way off o away — viven muy cerca

we've only got a short way to go — ya nos falta poco (para llegar)

2)

a) ( brief) <visit/vacation/trip> corto

the days are getting shorter — los días van acortándose

a short time ago — hace poco (tiempo)

a short while ago — hace poco rato, hace un ratito (fam)

in just a few short years — en pocos años

to have a short memory — tener* mala memoria

the short answer to that is no — en una palabra: no

Liz is short for Elizabeth — Liz es el diminutivo de Elizabeth

we call him Rob for short — lo llamamos Rob para abreviar

short and sweet — (set phrase)

her visit was short and sweet — su visita fue corta: lo bueno si breve dos veces bueno

b) ( Ling) <vowel/syllable> breve

c)

in short — ( briefly) (as linker) en resumen, resumiendo

3) (brusque, impatient) < manner> brusco, cortante

she has a short temper — tiene muy mal genio

4) (inadequate, deficient) escaso

to be in short supply — escasear

time is getting short — queda poco tiempo, se está acabando el tiempo

we're/they're still short six people (AmE) o (BrE) six people short — todavía nos/les faltan seis personas

(to be) short OF something/somebody: we're very short of time estamos muy cortos or escasos de tiempo; they were short of staff no tenían suficiente personal; do you get short of breath? ¿se queda sin aliento?; we're still a long way short of our target estamos todavía muy lejos de nuestro objetivo; he's just short of six feet tall mide poco menos de seis pies; nothing short of a miracle can save us now — sólo un milagro nos puede salvar

II

adverb

1) (suddenly, abruptly)

he cut short his vacation — interrumpió sus vacaciones

he stopped short when he saw me — se paró en seco cuando me vio

they stopped short of firing him — les faltó poco para echarlo

he was brought up short by what she said — lo que ella dijo lo dejó helado

to be caught short — ( need toilet) (colloq)

I was caught short at the station — me entraron unas ganas terribles de ir al baño or al servicio en la estación

2) (below target, requirement)

to fall short — \<\<shell/arrow\>\> quedarse corto

to fall short OF something: we fell short of our target no alcanzamos nuestro objetivo; to fall... short OF something: the arrow fell several meters short of its target la flecha cayó a varios metros del blanco; to go short (OF something): we never went short of food nunca nos faltó la comida; my patience is running short — se me está acabando or agotando la paciencia

III

noun

1) ( Elec) cortocircuito m, corto m

2) ( Cin) cortometraje m, corto m

3) ( drink) (BrE) copa de bebida alcohólica de las que se sirven en pequeñas cantidades, como el whisky o el coñac

4) shorts pl

a) ( short trousers) shorts mpl, pantalones mpl cortos

a pair of shorts — unos shorts

bathing shorts — traje m de baño, bañador m (Esp)

b) ( men's underwear) (AmE) calzoncillos mpl

IV
1.

intransitive verb ( Elec) hacer* un cortocircuito

2.

vt provocar* un cortocircuito en

Phrasal Verbs:

- short out

English-spanish dictionary > short

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Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

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his story is a little too pat

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