to weed out the bad from the good

abkühlen, sich
(Konjunktur) to cool off.
abmelden, sich
to notify one’s departure.
absprechen, sich
to come to an arrangement, to agree;
• sich mit seinen Mitarbeitern absprechen to consult with one’s fellow workers;
• Schadenersatz absprechen to disallow damages.
abwechseln, sich
to take turns, to alternate;
• jährlich abwechseln (Vorsitz) to rotate every year;
• in Schichten abwechseln to rotate shifts.
aneignen, sich
to acquire, to appropriate, to adopt;
• sich Geld aneignen to embezzle funds, to misappropriate (convert) money;
• sich einen Namen aneignen to adopt a name.
auspendeln, sich
(Zinssätze) to stabilize at a certain level.
auswirken, sich
to bear upon, to take effect;
• sich auf das Betriebsergebnis auswirken to come through into the results;
• sich kostenmäßig auswirken to make a showing on costs;
• sich in einer Preiserhöhung auswirken to result in a price increase;
• sich schnell auswirken (Investitionen) to pick up quickly;
• sich ungünstig auswirken to have an unfavo(u)rable effect;
• sich voll auswirken to be in full swing;
• sich als Vorteil auswirken to turn out to be an advantage.
behaupten, sich
to stand one’s ground, (Kurse) to hold their ground, to keep its head, to keep (remain) steady, to remain firm;
• sich gut behaupten (Wechselkurs) to hold fairly steady;
• weiterhin hohe Kurse behaupten to continue to rule high;
• seine Rechte behaupten to safeguard one’s rights;
• sich am Schluss behaupten oder leicht abschwächen (Börse) to close steady to slightly lower;
• sich in seiner Stellung behaupten to hold one’s position;
• seine Stellung im technologischen Wettbewerb behaupten to keep up in the technology race.
behauptend, sich
(Preis) steady.
behelfen, sich
to make shift, to manage, to resort to expedients;
• sich ohne Sekretärin behelfen to do without the services of a secretary.
belaufen, sich
to come (mount up, run) to, to reach, to rise, to run into, to make;
• sich auf 10.000 Euro belaufen to foot up (figure out) to euro 10,000 debts;
• sich auf das Doppelte des Voranschlags belaufen to come to double the estimate;
• insgesamt belaufen to aggregate, to total;
• sich ungefähr belaufen to come near to.
bereichern, sich
to line one’s pockets, to make one’s pile;
• sich an Kinderarbeit bereichern to exploit child labo(u)r;
• sich öffentlich bereichern to enrich o. s. from public office.
beruhigen, sich
(Börse) to settle down, (politische Lage) to become stable, to ease;
• Gläubiger mit einer Ratenzahlung beruhigen to put off a dun with an instal(l)ment.
bewegen, sich
(Preise) to range (vary) from... to...;
• sich abwärts bewegen to be on the downgrade (skids, US);
• sich fast einheitlich um die 20% bewegen to cluster around the 20 per cent mark;
• sich entsprechend der Preisindexziffern bewegen to move in sympathy with the index figures of prices.
bewerben, sich
to apply for, to stand as a candidate for (Br.), to run, to [run as a] candidate, to seek, to go up (Br.), (um Lieferungen) to make a bid for, to tender, (um einen Preis) to compete for;
• sich um ein Amt bewerben to run (stand) for an office (US);
• sich um einen Auftrag bewerben to make a tender;
• sich persönlich bewerben to make a personal application;
• sich um eine Stelle (Stellung) bewerben to apply (run) for a position, to put in for a post (job, fam.), to compete for a job.
bewähren, sich
(Artikel) to stand the strain (test);
• sich nicht bewähren to prove a failure.
drehen, sich
(Börse) to turn;
• sich um ein Thema drehen to run on a subject.
durchschlagen, sich
to shift for a living;
• kostenmäßig durchschlagen to make a showing on cost;
• auf die Ladenverkaufspreise durchschlagen to work through to prices in the shops;
• direkt auf die Preise durchschlagen to feed straight through into the prices.
eignen, sich
to qualify, to be suitable (qualified);
• sich als Kapitalanlage eignen to be suitable for investment.
einbürgern, sich
to become established;
• teilweise einbürgern to denizen;
• wieder einbürgern to repatriate.
einigen, sich
to agree, to come to terms, to settle an issue (Br.);
• sich über die Bedingungen einigen to agree upon the terms;
• sich mit seinen Gläubigern einigen to compound with one’s creditors;
• sich auf die Gründung einer Gesellschaft einigen to agree to form a company;
• sich gütlich einigen to settle a matter amicably, to come to an amicable arrangement;
• sich auf einen bestimmten Preis einigen to agree on a certain price;
• sich vergleichsweise einigen to reach a settlement.
einmischen, sich
to intervene, to interfere, to meddle, to barge in (fam.);
• sich in die Angelegenheiten eines Nachbarlandes einmischen to intervene in the affairs of a neighbo(u)ring country;
• sich unaufgefordert (ungefragt) einmischen to meddle.
einpendeln, sich
(Kurse) to even out, to settle down.
einschiffen, sich
to embark, to get (go) aboard, to join one’s ship, to go on board, to [take] ship.
einwählen, sich
(Computer) to plug into.
emporarbeiten, sich
to work one’s way up, to win one’s way from poverty.
entschließen, sich
to determine, to decide, to make up one’s mind, to resolve;
• sich zu einem Kauf entschließen to decide on buying.
ereignen, sich
to occur, to happen, to take place.
erholen, sich
to recreate, to convalesce, to recuperate, to pick up, (Industrie) to be reviving, (Kurse) to look (pick, prick) up, to recover, to revive, to rally, to rise, to improve, (Markt) to improve, (sich schadlos halten) to make up for one’s losses, to repay (reimburse, recoup) o. s.;
• sich bei jem. erholen to draw (reimburse o. s.) upon s. o.;
• sich von einem geschäftlichen Fehlschlag erholen to recover from a business setback;
• sich beim Giranten erholen to have recourse to the endorser of a note;
• sich von den Nachwirkungen des Krieges erholen to recover from the effects of the war;
• sich bei den Schlusskursen erholen to be improving at the close;
• sich schnell erholen (Kurse) to brisk up;
• sich wieder erholen (Kurse) to be picking up again, to experience a recovery;
• sich finanziell wieder erholen to recover financially (one’s strength), to recuperate;
• sich für eine Zahlung erholen to cover o. s.
etablieren, sich
to establish o. s., to set up shop for o. s., to start a business.
festigen, sich
to consolidate, (Börse, Kurse, Preise) to [become] firm, to steady, to stiffen, to strengthen, to harden, to stabilize;
• Dollarkurs festigen to strengthen the dollar price;
• seine Stellung festigen to strengthen one’s position, to solidify one’s place;
• Währung festigen to stabilize the currency;
• sich erneut im Vergleich mit anderen harten Währungen festigen to strengthen again against other major currencies;
• Wechselkurse festigen to stabilize exchange rates.
freizeichnen, sich
to contract out, to exempt o. s. from a liability.
gesundschrumpfen, sich
to shrink to profitable size;
• sich gesundstoßen to make a packet (fam.).
heraufarbeiten, sich
to work one’s way (o. s.) up (o. s. into a good position).
herauskristallisieren, sich
to crystallize, to take shape;
• sich herausmachen (Firma) to make good progress;
• sein Kapital herausnehmen to withdraw one’s capital;
• Gehälter aus dem Preisindexsystem herausnehmen to disindex salaries from the price index;
• Geld aus jem. herauspressen to squeeze money out of s. o.;
• weitere Steuern aus dem Volk herauspressen to screw more taxes out of the people;
• Gewinne aus einem fallenden und überbesetzten Markt herausprügeln müssen to be forced to slug it out in a slumping and overcrowded market;
• Geld herausrücken to cough up (US sl.), to fork out (sl.);
• Zahlungen herausschieben to postpone payment;
• herausschinden to eke out;
• Geld aus jem. herausschinden to extract money from s. o.;
• zusätzliche Urlaubswoche herausschinden to wangle an extra week’s holiday;
• Geld aus einer Sache herausschlagen to get one’s money’s worth;
• allerlei Vorteile herausschlagen to gain all kinds of advantages;
• Unfähige herausschmeißen to weed out the incompetents;
• heraussetzen (Mieter) to evict, to eject, to turn out.
herausstellen, sich
to turn out, to prove;
• besonders herausstellen (Presse) to feature (US coll.), to highlight (US);
• sich als Fälschung herausstellen to prove to be a forgery;
• groß herausstellen to give a build-up;
• sich als sehr hoch herausstellen (Kosten) to come rather high;
• sich als missglückt herausstellen (Anlage) to turn sour;
• sich als Vorteil herausstellen to turn out to be an advantage.
hinschleppen, sich
to drag on.
konkretisieren, sich
(Forderung) to crystallize.
konstituieren, sich
(parl.) to assemble;
• Ausschuss konstituieren to appoint a committee;
• sich als eingetragene Gesellschaft konstituieren to form themselves into a registered corporation.
kreuzen, sich
to intersect, (Interessen) to clash, to run counter, (Straße) to cross.
kristallisieren, sich
to crystallize.
kräftigen, sich
(Kurs) to improve, to recover, (Markt) to strengthen;
• Dollarkurs kräftigen to strengthen the dollar price.
lebensversichern, sich
to assure one’s life with a company (Br.);
• sich für 20.000 L lebensversichern to insure (assure, Br.) o. s. for L 20,000;
• sich gegenseitig lebensversichern to insure one’s own life for the benefit of the other;
• seine Schlüsselkräfte lebensversichern to take out life policies on one’s key man.
liieren, sich
(Gesellschafter) to unite, to join, to associate, to become a partner.
massieren, sich
(Aufträge) to pile up.
niederlassen, sich
to set up for o. s., to take up one’s abode (domicile, residence), to locate, (Wohnsitz) to settle down;
• sich als Anwalt niederlassen to settle down in the practice of law;
• sich als Arzt niederlassen to put up (hang out) one’s shingle;
• sich als Buchhändler niederlassen to establish o. s. (set up business) as a bookseller;
• sich für dauernd niederlassen to settle down for good;
• sich geschäftlich niederlassen to establish o. s. as a businessman, to set up for o. s., to set up shop, to set o. s. up in business;
• sich im Hauptgeschäftsviertel niederlassen to fix one’s residence in the city;
• sich widerrechtlich niederlassen to abate.
rentieren, sich
to pay [its way (for costs)], to pay well, to bring a return, (Betrieb) to be profitable, (Ware) to leave a margin;
• sich gut rentieren to yield good profits;
• sich nicht rentieren not to be worthwhile;
• sich noch rentieren to break even;
• sich gerade noch rentieren to wash its face (Br. sl.);
• sich in zehn Jahren rentieren to pay its way in ten years.
stabilisieren, sich
to become stable;
• Preise stabilisieren to stabilize (peg) prices.
treffen, sich
to meet, to gather, to assemble;
• Abkommen treffen to come to an agreement (terms);
• Anordnungen treffen to prescribe;
• Auslese treffen to cull;
• Buchung treffen to pass (effect) an entry;
• Freigabeverfügungen für die Wirtschaftshilfe treffen to loosen its grip on the economic-aid purse strings;
• auf Öl treffen to strike oil;
• Steuerzahler heftig treffen to clobber the taxpayers;
• Übereinkommen treffen to compact;
• Übereinkunft treffen to come to an arrangement;
• Verabredung treffen to make (fix) an appointment;
• Verbraucher unmittelbar treffen to fall directly onto the consumer;
• vorläufige Vereinbarung treffen to make a provisional arrangement;
• Vorbereitungen (Vorkehrungen) treffen to make preparations;
• Vorsichtsmaßregeln treffen to take precautionary measures.
unterordnen, sich
to subordinate o. s.
verausgaben, sich
to spend beyond one’s means, to run short of money.
verbürgen, sich
to [a]vouch, to undertake, to warrant, to guarantee, to stand surety, to bail;
• sich für einen Bericht verbürgen to warrant a report;
• sich für jds. Ehrlichkeit und Zuverlässigkeit verbürgen to warrant s. o. an honest and reliable person;
• sich für eine Schuld verbürgen to answer for a debt;
• sich für jds. Zahlungsfähigkeit verbürgen to vouch for s. one's ability to pay.
verkalkulieren, sich
to miscalculate, to overshoot.
vermehren, sich
to multiply;
• sein Vermögen vermehren to enlarge one’s fortune;
• Zahlungsmittelumlauf vermehren to expand the currency.
verschulden, sich
to run into debt, to take on debts, to involve o. s. (get into) debt, to outrun the constable (Br.), to run up a score (Br.);
• sich kurzfristig erheblich verschulden to borrow heavily on a short-term basis;
• sich erneut verschulden to run into debt again;
• sich total verschulden (Staat) to plunge into debt;
• sich ungewöhnlich verschulden to go into debt at a record chip (US).
verschätzen, sich
to be out in one’s calculation[s] (estimate).
verspekulieren, sich
to lose money by bad investment.
verspäten, sich
(Schiff, Zug) to be overdue (behind schedule, US).
versteifen, sich
(Markt) to tighten [up].
verzweigen, sich
to branch out.
zurückhalten, sich
to keep a low profile, (Börse) to stay on the sidelines, (Verbraucher) to hold back, to resist;
• Aktien in Erwartung von Kurssteigerungen zurückhalten to hold stocks for a rise;
• Informationsmaterial zurückhalten to hold back information;
• Mittel zurückhalten to bottle up funds;
• sich mit der Verwirklichung geplanter Kapazitätsausweitungen zurückhalten to hold back on bringing in planned new capacity;
• restliche Ware zurückhalten to hold over the rest of the goods;
• Waren unberechtigt zurückhalten to wrongfully detain goods.
zurückmelden, sich
to report one’s return;
• sich vom Urlaub zurückmelden to report back from leave (one’s return).
zusammenschließen, sich
to amalgamate, to merge, to combine, to consolidate (US), (pol.) to unite, to fuse;
• Arbeiter in einer Gewerkschaft zusammenschließen to unite workers in a trade union;
• Firmen (Gesellschaften) zusammenschließen to consolidate business companies;
• sich zu einem Kartell zusammenschließen to join a cartel;
• sich in einem großen Unternehmen zusammenschließen to merge into one large organization;
• sich zu einem Verein zusammenschließen to club.
ändern, sich
to vary;
• Eintragung ändern to rectify (alter) an entry;
• nachträglich ändern (Wechsel) to alter materially;
• zweckentsprechend ändern to adapt.
überschneiden, sich
to overlap, to intersect, (Ereignisse) to clash;
• sich mit einem anderen Termin überschneiden to clash with another date.

1. (f. - mala)

noun

villain, bad person

2. (f. - mala)

adj.

1) bad

2) evil

3) harmful

4) ill

5) poor, cheap

6) rotten

* * *

malo, -a

1. ADJ

( antes de sm sing mal)

1) (=perjudicial) bad

es malo para la salud — it's bad for your health

- más vale lo malo conocido que lo bueno por conocer

2) (=imperfecto) bad

esta película es bastante mala — this is a pretty bad film

un chiste malísimo — a really bad joke, a terrible joke

este papel es malo para escribir — this paper is bad for writing

mala calidad — poor quality

es una tela muy mala — it's a very poor-quality material

joyas malas — fake jewels

• ni un(a) mal(a)..., no hay ni un mal bar para tomar algo — there isn't a single little bar where we can get a drink

3) (=adverso) bad

he tenido mala suerte — I've had bad luck, I've been unlucky

eso es una mala señal — that's a bad sign

-es tarde y no ha llamado -¡malo! — "it's late and she hasn't called" - "oh dear!"

malo sería que no ganáramos — it would be a disaster if we didn't win

lo malo es que... — the trouble is (that)...

pata 1., 6)

4) (=desagradable) bad

un mal día — a bad day

el tiempo estuvo muy malo todo el verano — we had really bad weather all summer

un olor muy malo — a bad o nasty smell

5) (=podrido)

esta carne está mala — this meat's off

6) (=reprobable) wrong

¿qué tiene de malo? — what's wrong with that?

¿qué tiene de malo comer helados en invierno? — what's wrong with eating ice cream in winter?

van por mal camino — they'll come to no good if they carry on like this

es una mala persona — he's a bad person

una bruja mala — a wicked witch

arte 2), idea 3), leche 10), lengua 1), manera 2), pasada 5), trato 4), uva 1)

7) (=travieso) naughty

¡no seas malo! — don't be naughty!

8) (=enfermo) ill

mi hija está mala — my daughter's ill

tienes muy mala cara — you look awful o really ill

se puso malo después de comer — he started to feel ill after lunch

me puse malo de reírme — I nearly died laughing

tengo mala la garganta — I've got a sore throat

9) (=inepto) bad

ser malo para algo — to be bad at sth

soy muy mala para la física — I'm very bad at physics

10) (=difícil) hard, difficult

es un animal malo de domesticar — it's a hard o difficult animal to tame

es muy malo de vencer — he's very hard o difficult to beat

11)

- a la mala

- andar a malas con algn

ponerse a malas con algn — to fall out with sb

- estar de malas

- venir de malas

- por las malas

2.

SM / F (=personaje) (Teat) villain; (Cine) baddie *

3.

SM

el malo — (Rel) the Evil One, the Devil

* * *

I

1) - la adjetivo [ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

Sentido I

2) [ser] ( en calidad) < producto> bad, poor; <película/novela> bad

es de mala calidad — it is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía — her spelling is bad o poor

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer — better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3) [ser]

a) ( incompetente) <alumno/actor> bad

soy muy mala para los números — I'm terrible o very bad with figures

b) <padre/marido/amigo> bad

4) [SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

qué mala suerte! — what bad luck!, how unlucky!

lo malo es que... — the thing o trouble is that...

en las malas se conoce a los amigos — a friend in need is a friend indeed

estar de malas — ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood; ( desafortunado) (esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas — unwillingly

5) [ser] (inconveniente, perjudicial) <hábitos/lecturas> bad

las malas compañías — bad company

llegas en mal momento — you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol — it's not good to sunbathe so much

6) [SER] ( sin gracia) < chiste> bad

7) [SER] ( desagradable) <olor/aliento> bad

hace un día muy malo — it's a horrible day

hace tan malo — (Esp) it's such horrible weather

8) [estar] ( en mal estado) < alimento>

el pescado/queso está malo — the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

9)

a) (desmejorado, no saludable)

tienes mala cara/mal aspecto — you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color — he looks terribly pale to me

b) [SER] (serio, grave) serious

no tiene nada malo — it's nothing serious

una mala caída — a bad fall

c) [estar] (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE)

el pobre está malito — the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

d) [ESTAR] (Esp fam & euf) < mujer>

estoy mala — it's that time of the month (colloq & euph)

me he puesto mala — my period's started

10) [ser] ( difícil)

malo de + inf — difficult to + inf

es muy malo de convencer — he's very difficult o hard to persuade

Sentido II

11) [ser] ( en sentido ético) < persona> nasty

qué malo eres con tu hermano! — you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo — don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq)

una mala mujer — a loose woman

una mujer mala — a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala — (Chi fam)

se lo quitaron a la mala — they did him out of it (colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala — she sneaked the camera through (colloq)

Sentido III

12) (Esp) ( uso enfático) (delante del n)

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café — they didn't even offer us a cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse — there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on (colloq)

•

- mala hierba

- mala idea

- mala leche

- mala palabra

- mala pata

- mala sangre

- malas artes

- malas lenguas

- malos pensamientos

- malos tratos

II

- la masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)

* * *

= bad [worse -comp., worst -sup.], poor [poorer -comp., poorest -sup.], wrong, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.], naughty [naughtier -comp., naugtiest -sup.], villain, evil, crummy [crummier -comp., crummiest -sup.], lame.

Ex. I'm not saying that it is bad, but it is a real difference of interest between the needs and purposes of research libraries and the public libraries, and I would also throw in the school and almost certainly junior college libraries.

Ex. Examples are generally poor or obscure (often in Latin or German).

Ex. In a conventional system, the omission of a punctuation mark or an abbreviation will not necessarily cause an entry to be filed in the wrong place, because humans can compensate for variations in spelling and punctuation.

Ex. Wilensky has argued that 'the good, the mediocre and the trashy are becoming fused in one massive middle mush' and that 'intellectuals are increasingly tempted to play to mass audiences'.

Ex. He felt like a naughty school-boy.

Ex. The father, Old Brightwell, curses his daughter, Jane, for preferring the love of the smooth-tongued villain, Grandley, to that of her own parents.

Ex. One teacher I knew used to poke his head round the door just at the end of the day and say something like, 'Tomorrow when we meet I am going to tell you about the evil magician,' and then he would disappear leaving us all agog.

Ex. One librarian bluntly wondered about the ethics of sending ' crummy looking books with information that is incorrect or obsolete to the needy (because) everyone should have access to good material'.

Ex. Democrats are lame, feckless, timid, with no ideas, no vision, no message, and no future.

----

* acabar mal = come to + a bad end.

* algo anda mal = something is amiss.

* algo va mal = something is amiss.

* andar mal = feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* andar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* aplicar mal = misapply.

* a veces las cosas salen mal = shit happens.

* bastante malo = third rate [third-rate].

* bicho malo = nasty piece of work.

* caer mal = rub + Nombre + up the wrong way.

* calcular mal = misjudge.

* chiste malo = shaggy dog story.

* citar mal = misquote.

* comportarse mal = misbehave, act up.

* comportarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* comprender mal = misunderstand.

* concebir mal = misconceive.

* con mala fama = disreputable.

* con mala reputación = disreputable.

* control de las malas hierbas = weed control.

* corregir un mal = correct + a wrong.

* creer que estar mal = feel + wrong.

* dar de mala gana = begrudge, grudge.

* dar mala impresión = look + bad.

* decían las malas lenguas que = rumour had it that.

* decir con mal humor = spit out.

* dejar un mal sabor de boca = leave + a bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* de mala calidad = shabby [shabbier -comp., shabbiest -sup.].

* de mala fama = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mala gana = reluctantly, grudgingly, grudging, begrudgingly, unwillingly.

* de mala leche = like a bear with a sore head, in a foul mood.

* de mala reputación = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mal aspecto = seedy [seedier -comp., seediest -sup.], nasty looking, shanky [shankier -comp., shankiest -sup.].

* de malas pulgas = in a grouch.

* de mala uva = in a foul mood.

* de mal carácter = ill-natured.

* de mal en peor = out of the fire and into the frying pan.

* de mal genio = bad-tempered, grumpy [grumpier -comp., grumpiest -sup.], curmudgeonly, crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], irascible, shrewish, short-tempered, ill-natured.

* de mal gusto = in bad taste, distasteful, tawdry [tawdrier -comp., tawdriest -sup.], unbecoming, tasteless, tacky [tackier -comp., tackiest -sup.], naff, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.].

* de mal humor = crotchety.

* de mal sabor = unbecoming.

* de mal vivir = disreputable.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* diagnosticar mal = misdiagnose.

* día malo = bad hair day.

* dicen las malas lenguas que = rumour has it that.

* el cielo rojo al atardecer augura buen tiempo, el cielo rojo al amanecer aug = red sky at night, (shepherd/sailor)'s delight, red sky in the morning, (shepherd/sailor)'s warning.

* en mala forma = in bad nick.

* en malas condiciones = in poor condition, in bad condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* en mal estado = in bad condition, in poor condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* entender mal = misunderstand, misconceive, mishearing.

* escuchar mal = mishearing.

* estar mal = be wrong, feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* estar mal comunicado con = have + poor connections with.

* estar mal encaminado = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* estar mal preparado = ill-prepared.

* estar mal visto = frown on/upon.

* estar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* funcionar mal = malfunction.

* gestionar mal = mismanage.

* golpe de malasuerte = stroke of misfortune.

* hablar mal de = speak out against, speak + ill of, say + nasty things about, slag + Nombre + off, slate, diss.

* hacer sentir mal = make + Nombre + feel bad.

* ir de mal en peor = go from + bad to worse.

* ir mal = go + wrong.

* ir mal encaminado = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* ir por mal camino = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* juzgar mal = misjudge, misconceive.

* limpieza de malas hierbas = weeding.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* mala administración = mismanagement.

* mala aplicación = misapplication.

* mala calidad = badness.

* mala cizaña = rotten apple.

* mala colocación = misplacement, misfiling.

* mala colocación en los estantes = misshelving.

* mala compañía = bad apple, rotten apple, damaged goods.

* mala conducta = misconduct, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mala conducta científica = scientific misconduct.

* mala decisión = bad judgement.

* mal + Adjetivo = poorly + Adjetivo.

* mala educación = impoliteness.

* mala experiencia = horror story.

* mala fama = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mala fortuna = misfortune.

* mala gestión = mismanagement.

* mala hierba = weed, bad apple, rotten apple.

* mala influencia = bad seed, bad influence.

* mala intención = sinisterness, ill will.

* mala interpretación = misinterpretation.

* mala jugada = dirty trick.

* mala leche = nastiness, bad blood.

* mal aliento = bad breath.

* mala ordenación = misfiling.

* mala palabra = dirty word.

* mala pasada = dirty trick.

* mala persona = rotten apple, a bad lot.

* mala racha económica = economic doldrums.

* mala reputación = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mal armado = ill-armed.

* mala salud = poor health.

* mala semilla = bad seed.

* malas experiencias = awful experience.

* malas pulgas = ornery, grouchiness, grouch.

* mala suerte = misfortune, mischance, bad luck, tough luck, hard luck, losing streak.

* malas vibraciones = bad vibes.

* mal atendido = ill-served.

* mala tierra = poor soil.

* mala vista = poor eyesight.

* mala voluntad = ill will.

* mal batido = badly-beaten.

* mal comportamiento = misconduct, disruptive behaviour, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mal comportamiento científico = scientific misconduct.

* mal concebido = ill-conceived.

* mal configurado = misconfigured.

* mal considerado = poorly-regarded.

* mal cuidado = mishandling.

* mal día = bad hair day.

* mal digerido = ill-digested.

* mal educado = impolite.

* mal emparejado = mismated.

* mal enfocado = ill-adapted.

* mal escrito = mistyped, ill-written, badly written.

* mal estado = disrepair, state of disrepair.

* mal estado de salud = poor health.

* mal estructurado = ill-structured.

* mal expresado = inarticulate.

* mal formado = ill-trained.

* mal formulado = badly formulated.

* mal funcionamiento = malfunction, malfunctioning.

* mal fundido = ill-cast.

* mal genio = bile, short temper.

* mal gusto = bad taste, tawdriness.

* mal hecho para = ill suited to/for.

* mal iluminado = badly-lit.

* mal informado = ill-informed.

* mal juicio = bad judgement.

* mal llamado = ill-named.

* mal menor = lesser evil.

* malo del estómago = upset stomach.

* malo, el = bad guy, the.

* mal oído = poor hearing.

* mal olor = stench.

* mal ordenado en los estantes = misshelved.

* mal ordenado los estantes = misshelved.

* mal organizado = ill-structured.

* malos, los = baddies, the.

* malos tiempos = bad times.

* malos tratos = mistreatment, battery, maltreatment, physical abuse.

* malos tratos a la mujer = wife beating, wife battering, wife abuse.

* mal pagado = low-paid, underpaid.

* mal perdedor = sore loser, bad loser.

* mal planeado = ill-planned.

* mal preparado = ill-prepared, ill-equipped, ill-trained.

* mal presentado = poorly presented.

* mal provisto = poorly stocked.

* mal remunerado = poorly paid, poorly remunerated.

* mal retribuido = underpaid.

* mal rollo = bad vibes.

* mal sabor de boca = bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* mal social = societal ill.

* mal surtido = poorly stocked.

* mal trago = awful experience.

* mal uso = misuse, mishandling.

* mal ventilado = stuffy [stuffier -comp., stuffies -sup.].

* manejar mal = mishandle.

* más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer = better the devil you know (than the devil you don't).

* mirar con malos ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* muy mal tiempo = severe weather.

* no + haber + nada malo en = there + be + nothing wrong in/with.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = to every cloud, there is a silver lining.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = every cloud has a silver lining, be a blessing in disguise.

* no salir mal parado por = be none the worse for (that).

* oír mal = mishearing.

* para bien o para mal = for better or (for) worse, for good or (for) ill, for good or (for) evil.

* para mal = for the worse.

* pasarlo mal = have + a thin time, have + a difficult time, experience + difficult times, pass through + difficult times, face + difficult times.

* pasarlo muy mal = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* persona vaga y mal vestida = slob.

* poner a mal tiempo buena cara = keep + Posesivo + chin up.

* ponerse a malas con = run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* por la mala fortuna = by ill fate.

* por la mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by ill fate.

* por las buenas o por las malas = by hook or by crook.

* por mala fortuna = unfortunately, unhappily, sadly.

* por mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by a stroke of bad luck, by ill fate.

* por mal camino = astray.

* portarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* quedar mal = lose + face.

* que queda mal = ill-fitting.

* quitarse una mala reputación = clean up + bad reputation.

* racha de mala suerte = losing streak.

* recibir mala prensa = acquire + a bad name.

* reformar malos hábitos = reform + bad habits.

* representar mal = misrepresent.

* salir horriblemente mal = go + horribly wrong.

* salir mal = go + wrong, go + awry, misfire, backfire.

* se avecinan malos tiempos = hard times lie ahead.

* sentirse mal = feel + bad, feel under + the weather, be under the weather, feel + wrong.

* sentirse mal con Uno mismo = feel + wrong.

* ser malo = be a joke, spell + bad news, make + poor + Nombre.

* si mal no + Pronombre + acordarse = to the best of + Posesivo + recollection.

* tener mala fama = hold in + disrepute.

* tener mala fama por = be infamous for.

* tener malas conexiones con = have + poor connections with.

* tener malas intenciones = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tener mal ojo para juzgar a la gente = be a bad judge of character.

* tener muy mala cara = look like + death warmed (over/up).

* tener un mal concepto de Alguien = show + low regard for, give + low regard to.

* tener un mal día = have + a bad day.

* terminar mal = come to + a bad end.

* tiempo muy malo = severe weather.

* tierra mala = poor soil.

* traerse algo malo entre manos = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tratar mal = maltreat, manhandle.

* usar mal = abuse, misuse.

* * *

I

1) - la adjetivo [ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

Sentido I

2) [ser] ( en calidad) < producto> bad, poor; <película/novela> bad

es de mala calidad — it is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía — her spelling is bad o poor

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer — better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3) [ser]

a) ( incompetente) <alumno/actor> bad

soy muy mala para los números — I'm terrible o very bad with figures

b) <padre/marido/amigo> bad

4) [SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

qué mala suerte! — what bad luck!, how unlucky!

lo malo es que... — the thing o trouble is that...

en las malas se conoce a los amigos — a friend in need is a friend indeed

estar de malas — ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood; ( desafortunado) (esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas — unwillingly

5) [ser] (inconveniente, perjudicial) <hábitos/lecturas> bad

las malas compañías — bad company

llegas en mal momento — you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol — it's not good to sunbathe so much

6) [SER] ( sin gracia) < chiste> bad

7) [SER] ( desagradable) <olor/aliento> bad

hace un día muy malo — it's a horrible day

hace tan malo — (Esp) it's such horrible weather

8) [estar] ( en mal estado) < alimento>

el pescado/queso está malo — the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

9)

a) (desmejorado, no saludable)

tienes mala cara/mal aspecto — you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color — he looks terribly pale to me

b) [SER] (serio, grave) serious

no tiene nada malo — it's nothing serious

una mala caída — a bad fall

c) [estar] (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE)

el pobre está malito — the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

d) [ESTAR] (Esp fam & euf) < mujer>

estoy mala — it's that time of the month (colloq & euph)

me he puesto mala — my period's started

10) [ser] ( difícil)

malo de + inf — difficult to + inf

es muy malo de convencer — he's very difficult o hard to persuade

Sentido II

11) [ser] ( en sentido ético) < persona> nasty

qué malo eres con tu hermano! — you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo — don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq)

una mala mujer — a loose woman

una mujer mala — a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala — (Chi fam)

se lo quitaron a la mala — they did him out of it (colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala — she sneaked the camera through (colloq)

Sentido III

12) (Esp) ( uso enfático) (delante del n)

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café — they didn't even offer us a cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse — there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on (colloq)

•

- mala hierba

- mala idea

- mala leche

- mala palabra

- mala pata

- mala sangre

- malas artes

- malas lenguas

- malos pensamientos

- malos tratos

II

- la masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)

* * *

el malo

(n.) = bad guy, the

Ex: The author offers an interpretation of why in professional wrestling the bad guy is often victorious, by whatever means necessary including foul play.

= bad [worse -comp., worst -sup.], poor [poorer -comp., poorest -sup.], wrong, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.], naughty [naughtier -comp., naugtiest -sup.], villain, evil, crummy [crummier -comp., crummiest -sup.], lame.

Ex: I'm not saying that it is bad, but it is a real difference of interest between the needs and purposes of research libraries and the public libraries, and I would also throw in the school and almost certainly junior college libraries.

Ex: Examples are generally poor or obscure (often in Latin or German).

Ex: In a conventional system, the omission of a punctuation mark or an abbreviation will not necessarily cause an entry to be filed in the wrong place, because humans can compensate for variations in spelling and punctuation.

Ex: Wilensky has argued that 'the good, the mediocre and the trashy are becoming fused in one massive middle mush' and that 'intellectuals are increasingly tempted to play to mass audiences'.

Ex: He felt like a naughty school-boy.

Ex: The father, Old Brightwell, curses his daughter, Jane, for preferring the love of the smooth-tongued villain, Grandley, to that of her own parents.

Ex: One teacher I knew used to poke his head round the door just at the end of the day and say something like, 'Tomorrow when we meet I am going to tell you about the evil magician,' and then he would disappear leaving us all agog.

Ex: One librarian bluntly wondered about the ethics of sending ' crummy looking books with information that is incorrect or obsolete to the needy (because) everyone should have access to good material'.

Ex: Democrats are lame, feckless, timid, with no ideas, no vision, no message, and no future.

* acabar mal = come to + a bad end.

* algo anda mal = something is amiss.

* algo va mal = something is amiss.

* andar mal = feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* andar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* aplicar mal = misapply.

* a veces las cosas salen mal = shit happens.

* bastante malo = third rate [third-rate].

* bicho malo = nasty piece of work.

* caer mal = rub + Nombre + up the wrong way.

* calcular mal = misjudge.

* chiste malo = shaggy dog story.

* citar mal = misquote.

* comportarse mal = misbehave, act up.

* comportarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* comprender mal = misunderstand.

* concebir mal = misconceive.

* con mala fama = disreputable.

* con mala reputación = disreputable.

* control de las malas hierbas = weed control.

* corregir un mal = correct + a wrong.

* creer que estar mal = feel + wrong.

* dar de mala gana = begrudge, grudge.

* dar mala impresión = look + bad.

* decían las malas lenguas que = rumour had it that.

* decir con mal humor = spit out.

* dejar un mal sabor de boca = leave + a bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* de mala calidad = shabby [shabbier -comp., shabbiest -sup.].

* de mala fama = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mala gana = reluctantly, grudgingly, grudging, begrudgingly, unwillingly.

* de mala leche = like a bear with a sore head, in a foul mood.

* de mala reputación = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mal aspecto = seedy [seedier -comp., seediest -sup.], nasty looking, shanky [shankier -comp., shankiest -sup.].

* de malas pulgas = in a grouch.

* de mala uva = in a foul mood.

* de mal carácter = ill-natured.

* de mal en peor = out of the fire and into the frying pan.

* de mal genio = bad-tempered, grumpy [grumpier -comp., grumpiest -sup.], curmudgeonly, crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], irascible, shrewish, short-tempered, ill-natured.

* de mal gusto = in bad taste, distasteful, tawdry [tawdrier -comp., tawdriest -sup.], unbecoming, tasteless, tacky [tackier -comp., tackiest -sup.], naff, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.].

* de mal humor = crotchety.

* de mal sabor = unbecoming.

* de mal vivir = disreputable.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* diagnosticar mal = misdiagnose.

* día malo = bad hair day.

* dicen las malas lenguas que = rumour has it that.

* el cielo rojo al atardecer augura buen tiempo, el cielo rojo al amanecer aug = red sky at night, (shepherd/sailor)'s delight, red sky in the morning, (shepherd/sailor)'s warning.

* en mala forma = in bad nick.

* en malas condiciones = in poor condition, in bad condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* en mal estado = in bad condition, in poor condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* entender mal = misunderstand, misconceive, mishearing.

* escuchar mal = mishearing.

* estar mal = be wrong, feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* estar mal comunicado con = have + poor connections with.

* estar mal encaminado = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* estar mal preparado = ill-prepared.

* estar mal visto = frown on/upon.

* estar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* funcionar mal = malfunction.

* gestionar mal = mismanage.

* golpe de malasuerte = stroke of misfortune.

* hablar mal de = speak out against, speak + ill of, say + nasty things about, slag + Nombre + off, slate, diss.

* hacer sentir mal = make + Nombre + feel bad.

* ir de mal en peor = go from + bad to worse.

* ir mal = go + wrong.

* ir mal encaminado = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* ir por mal camino = be on the wrong track, be headed down the wrong track.

* juzgar mal = misjudge, misconceive.

* limpieza de malas hierbas = weeding.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* mala administración = mismanagement.

* mala aplicación = misapplication.

* mala calidad = badness.

* mala cizaña = rotten apple.

* mala colocación = misplacement, misfiling.

* mala colocación en los estantes = misshelving.

* mala compañía = bad apple, rotten apple, damaged goods.

* mala conducta = misconduct, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mala conducta científica = scientific misconduct.

* mala decisión = bad judgement.

* mal + Adjetivo = poorly + Adjetivo.

* mala educación = impoliteness.

* mala experiencia = horror story.

* mala fama = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mala fortuna = misfortune.

* mala gestión = mismanagement.

* mala hierba = weed, bad apple, rotten apple.

* mala influencia = bad seed, bad influence.

* mala intención = sinisterness, ill will.

* mala interpretación = misinterpretation.

* mala jugada = dirty trick.

* mala leche = nastiness, bad blood.

* mal aliento = bad breath.

* mala ordenación = misfiling.

* mala palabra = dirty word.

* mala pasada = dirty trick.

* mala persona = rotten apple, a bad lot.

* mala racha económica = economic doldrums.

* mala reputación = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mal armado = ill-armed.

* mala salud = poor health.

* mala semilla = bad seed.

* malas experiencias = awful experience.

* malas pulgas = ornery, grouchiness, grouch.

* mala suerte = misfortune, mischance, bad luck, tough luck, hard luck, losing streak.

* malas vibraciones = bad vibes.

* mal atendido = ill-served.

* mala tierra = poor soil.

* mala vista = poor eyesight.

* mala voluntad = ill will.

* mal batido = badly-beaten.

* mal comportamiento = misconduct, disruptive behaviour, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mal comportamiento científico = scientific misconduct.

* mal concebido = ill-conceived.

* mal configurado = misconfigured.

* mal considerado = poorly-regarded.

* mal cuidado = mishandling.

* mal día = bad hair day.

* mal digerido = ill-digested.

* mal educado = impolite.

* mal emparejado = mismated.

* mal enfocado = ill-adapted.

* mal escrito = mistyped, ill-written, badly written.

* mal estado = disrepair, state of disrepair.

* mal estado de salud = poor health.

* mal estructurado = ill-structured.

* mal expresado = inarticulate.

* mal formado = ill-trained.

* mal formulado = badly formulated.

* mal funcionamiento = malfunction, malfunctioning.

* mal fundido = ill-cast.

* mal genio = bile, short temper.

* mal gusto = bad taste, tawdriness.

* mal hecho para = ill suited to/for.

* mal iluminado = badly-lit.

* mal informado = ill-informed.

* mal juicio = bad judgement.

* mal llamado = ill-named.

* mal menor = lesser evil.

* malo del estómago = upset stomach.

* malo, el = bad guy, the.

* mal oído = poor hearing.

* mal olor = stench.

* mal ordenado en los estantes = misshelved.

* mal ordenado los estantes = misshelved.

* mal organizado = ill-structured.

* malos, los = baddies, the.

* malos tiempos = bad times.

* malos tratos = mistreatment, battery, maltreatment, physical abuse.

* malos tratos a la mujer = wife beating, wife battering, wife abuse.

* mal pagado = low-paid, underpaid.

* mal perdedor = sore loser, bad loser.

* mal planeado = ill-planned.

* mal preparado = ill-prepared, ill-equipped, ill-trained.

* mal presentado = poorly presented.

* mal provisto = poorly stocked.

* mal remunerado = poorly paid, poorly remunerated.

* mal retribuido = underpaid.

* mal rollo = bad vibes.

* mal sabor de boca = bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* mal social = societal ill.

* mal surtido = poorly stocked.

* mal trago = awful experience.

* mal uso = misuse, mishandling.

* mal ventilado = stuffy [stuffier -comp., stuffies -sup.].

* manejar mal = mishandle.

* más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer = better the devil you know (than the devil you don't).

* mirar con malos ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* muy mal tiempo = severe weather.

* no + haber + nada malo en = there + be + nothing wrong in/with.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = to every cloud, there is a silver lining.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = every cloud has a silver lining, be a blessing in disguise.

* no salir mal parado por = be none the worse for (that).

* oír mal = mishearing.

* para bien o para mal = for better or (for) worse, for good or (for) ill, for good or (for) evil.

* para mal = for the worse.

* pasarlo mal = have + a thin time, have + a difficult time, experience + difficult times, pass through + difficult times, face + difficult times.

* pasarlo muy mal = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* persona vaga y mal vestida = slob.

* poner a mal tiempo buena cara = keep + Posesivo + chin up.

* ponerse a malas con = run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* por la mala fortuna = by ill fate.

* por la mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by ill fate.

* por las buenas o por las malas = by hook or by crook.

* por mala fortuna = unfortunately, unhappily, sadly.

* por mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by a stroke of bad luck, by ill fate.

* por mal camino = astray.

* portarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* quedar mal = lose + face.

* que queda mal = ill-fitting.

* quitarse una mala reputación = clean up + bad reputation.

* racha de mala suerte = losing streak.

* recibir mala prensa = acquire + a bad name.

* reformar malos hábitos = reform + bad habits.

* representar mal = misrepresent.

* salir horriblemente mal = go + horribly wrong.

* salir mal = go + wrong, go + awry, misfire, backfire.

* se avecinan malos tiempos = hard times lie ahead.

* sentirse mal = feel + bad, feel under + the weather, be under the weather, feel + wrong.

* sentirse mal con Uno mismo = feel + wrong.

* ser malo = be a joke, spell + bad news, make + poor + Nombre.

* si mal no + Pronombre + acordarse = to the best of + Posesivo + recollection.

* tener mala fama = hold in + disrepute.

* tener mala fama por = be infamous for.

* tener malas conexiones con = have + poor connections with.

* tener malas intenciones = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tener mal ojo para juzgar a la gente = be a bad judge of character.

* tener muy mala cara = look like + death warmed (over/up).

* tener un mal concepto de Alguien = show + low regard for, give + low regard to.

* tener un mal día = have + a bad day.

* terminar mal = come to + a bad end.

* tiempo muy malo = severe weather.

* tierra mala = poor soil.

* traerse algo malo entre manos = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tratar mal = maltreat, manhandle.

* usar mal = abuse, misuse.

* * *

malo¹ -la

adjective

[ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns. mal² (↑ mal (2)) ]

Sentido I

A [ SER] (en calidad) ‹producto› bad, poor; ‹película/novela› bad

la tela es de mala calidad the material is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía her spelling is bad o poor, she's a bad o poor speller

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

B [ SER]

1 (incompetente) ‹alumno/actor› bad

soy muy mala para los números I'm terrible o very bad with figures

2 ‹padre/marido/amigo› bad

C [ SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

¡qué mala suerte! what bad luck!, how unlucky!

la obra tuvo mala crítica the play got bad reviews

están en mala situación económica they're going through hard times

lo malo es que va a haber mucho tráfico the only thing o trouble o problem is that there'll be a lot of traffic

en las malas ( AmS): un amigo no te abandona en las malas a friend doesn't abandon you when things are tough o when times are bad

estar de malas (de mal humor) ( fam) to be in a bad mood; (desafortunado) ( esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas unwillingly

vas a tener que hacerlo, ya sea por las buenas o por las malas you'll have to do it whether you like it or not

D [ SER] (inconveniente, perjudicial) ‹hábitos/lecturas› bad

las malas compañías bad company

llegas en mal momento you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol it's not good to sunbathe so much

E [ SER] (sin gracia) ‹chiste› bad

F [ SER]

1 (desagradable) ‹olor/aliento› bad

hace un día muy malo it's a horrible day

nos hizo mal tiempo we had bad weather

hace tan malo ( Esp); it's such horrible weather, the weather's so horrible

2 ( Chi fam) (feo) ugly

G [ ESTAR] (en mal estado) ‹alimento›

ese pescado/queso está malo that fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off ( BrE)

H

1

(desmejorado, no saludable): tienes mal aspecto you don't look very well

tienes mala cara you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color he looks terribly pale to me

2 [ SER] (serio, grave) serious

fue una mala caída it was a bad fall

no tiene nada malo it's nothing serious

3 [ ESTAR] (Esp, Méx fam) (enfermo) sick ( AmE), ill ( BrE)

el pobre está malito the poor thing's not very well ( colloq)

4 [ ESTAR]

( Esp fam euf) ‹mujer› estoy mala I've got my period, it's the time of the month ( colloq euph)

me he puesto mala my period's started

I [ SER] (difícil) malo DE + INF difficult to + INF

esta tela es mala de planchar this material is difficult to iron

es muy malo de convencer he's very difficult o hard to persuade, it's very difficult o hard to persuade him

Sentido II [ SER] (en sentido ético) ‹persona›

¡qué malo eres con tu hermano! you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me ( colloq)

una mala mujer a loose woman

es una mujer muy mala she's a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala ( Chi fam): se lo quitaron a la mala they did him out of it ( colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala she sneaked the camera through ( colloq)

un ataque a la mala a sneak attack

Sentido III (uso enfático) ( delante del n):

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café they didn't even offer us a (lousy) cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on ( colloq)

Compuestos:

● mala hierba

feminine weed

● mala idea

feminine

( Esp): tiene muy maloa idea she's a nasty character o a nasty piece of work ( colloq)

lo hizo a or con maloa idea he did it deliberately o to be nasty, he did it knowing it would hurt ( o cause trouble etc)

● mala leche

feminine ( fam):

lo hizo con maloa leche (Esp, Méx, Ven); he did it deliberately o to be nasty, he did it knowing it would hurt ( o cause trouble etc)

está de maloa leche ( Esp); she's in a foul mood ( colloq)

¡qué maloa leche, se ha puesto a llover! ( Esp); what a drag! it's started raining ( colloq)

● mala palabra

feminine ( esp AmL) rude o dirty word

● mala pasada

feminine dirty trick

me hizo or jugó una maloa pasada she played a dirty trick on me

los nervios me jugaron una maloa pasada my nerves got the better of me

● mala pata

feminine ( fam); bad luck

● mala sangre

feminine:

hacerse maloa sangre to get worked up ( colloq), to get into a state ( colloq)

● malas artes

fpl guile, cunning

todo lo ha conseguido con maloas artes she's got everything she has by guile o through cunning

● malas lenguas

fpl ( fam):

dicen las maloas lenguas que … rumor* has it that …, there's a rumor* o there are rumors* going around that …, people are saying that …

● mala uva

feminine ( Esp) mala leche

● malos pensamientos

mpl bad o impure thoughts (pl)

● malos tratos

mpl (a persona, animal) maltreatment, ill-treatment; (a un niño, mujer) physical abuse, battery

malos tratos a menores or a la infancia child abuse

malo² -la

masculine, feminine

( leng infantil or hum); baddy ( colloq)

uno de los malos one of the baddies o bad guys

* * *

 

malo

◊ -la adjetivo [The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

1

a) [ser] ( en general) bad;

◊ una novela mala a bad novel;

un mal amigo a bad friend;
una mala caída a bad fall;
soy muy malo para los números I'm very bad with figures;
¡qué mala suerte or (fam) pata! what bad luck!, how unlucky!;
lo malo es que … the thing o trouble is that …;
las malas compañías bad company;
mala hierba weed;
malos tratos ill-treatment;
es malo tomar tanto sol it's not good to sunbathe so much;
tienes mala cara or mal aspecto you don't look well

b) ‹calidad/visibilidad› poor;

◊ tiene mala ortografía her spelling is poor;

estar de malas ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood;

( con mala suerte) (esp AmL) to be unlucky;

◊ más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

2 [ser] ‹ persona› ( en sentido ético) nasty;
( travieso) naughty;

◊ ¡qué malo eres con tu hermano! you're really horrible o nasty to your brother;

no seas mala, préstamelo don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq);
una mala mujer a loose woman;
una mujer mala a wicked o an evil woman;
lo hizo a or con mala idea he did it deliberately o to be nasty;
mala palabra (esp AmL) rude o dirty word;
dicen las malas lenguas que … (fam) there's a rumor going around that …, people are saying that …;
hacerse mala sangre to get upset;
ver tb leche 3
3 [estar]

a) ( en mal estado) ‹ alimento›:

◊ el pescado/queso está malo the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

b) (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE);

◊ el pobre está malito the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

■ sustantivo masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)
malo,-a
I adjetivo ➣ mal
1 bad: he tenido un día muy malo, I've had a bad day
2 (perverso) wicked, bad
(desobediente, travieso) naughty: es una mala persona, he's wicked
préstame el coche, no seas malo, lend me your car, don't be so mean
3 (espectáculo, libro, etc) bad, poor: es un argumento muy malo, it's a feeble argument
4 (dañino) harmful: es malo para ti que él lo sepa, it's bad for you that he knows it
tenemos que arrancar las malas hierbas, we'll have to pull out the weeds
5 (enfermo) ill, sick
6 (alimentos) rotten: se puso mala la carne, the meat went bad
II m,f fam el malo, the baddy o villain
♦ Locuciones: estar de malas, to be in a bad mood
por las malas, by force
' malo' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abominable
- ínfima
- ínfimo
- mal
- mala
- peor
- quina
- redundar
- santita
- santito
- antología
- chimbo
- en
- endiablado
- fatal
- fondo
- igualmente
- pata
- pichanga
- sangre
English:
abominable
- abysmal
- bad
- baddy
- devil
- evil
- good
- half
- ill
- lean
- low
- mean
- nasty
- off
- poor
- rotten
- shocking
- spiteful
- thick
- up
- villain
- wicked
- wrong
- your
- corny
- crummy
- indulgence
- lame
- naughty
- paltry
- ropey
- severe
- trashy
- unkind

* * *

malo, -a Mal is used instead of malo before singular masculine nouns (e.g. un mal ejemplo a bad example). The comparative form of malo (= worse) is peor, the superlative forms (= the worst) are el peor (masculine) and la peor (feminine).

♦ adj

1. [perjudicial, grave] bad;

traigo malas noticias I have some bad news;

es malo para el hígado it's bad for your liver;

¿es algo malo, doctor? is it serious, doctor?;

una mala caída a nasty fall

2. [sin calidad, sin aptitudes] poor, bad;

una mala novela/actriz a bad novel/actress;

tiene muy malas notas her Br marks o US grades are very poor o bad;

ser de mala calidad to be poor quality;

este material/producto es muy malo this material/product is very poor quality;

soy muy malo para la música I'm no good at o very bad at music;

Comp

Hum

es más malo que hecho de encargo [producto, jugador] he's/it's truly awful o as bad as they come;

Prov

más vale lo malo conocido que lo bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3. [inapropiado, adverso] bad;

fue una mala decisión it was a bad decision;

he dormido en mala postura I slept in a funny position;

es mala señal it's a bad sign;

lo malo es que… the problem is (that)…;

disparó con la pierna mala y metió gol he shot with his weaker foot and scored;

tener mala suerte to be unlucky;

¡qué mala suerte! how unlucky!

Comp

Am mala palabra swearword

4. [malvado] wicked, evil;

es muy mala persona she's a really nasty person;

tiene muy mala intención he's very spiteful;

eso sólo lo haría un mal amigo it's a poor friend who would do a thing like that;

¡mira que eres malo, criticarla así! it's not very nice of you to criticize her like that!;

anda, no seas malo y déjame que vaya go on, don't be mean, let me go

5. [travieso] naughty;

¡no seas malo y obedece! be good and do as I say!;

el crío está muy malo últimamente the child has been very naughty recently

6. [enfermo] ill, sick;

estar/ponerse malo to be/fall ill;

tiene a su padre malo her father's ill;

Comp

poner malo a alguien to drive sb mad;

me pongo mala cada vez que la veo I get mad every time I see her

7. [desagradable] bad;

esta herida tiene mal aspecto this wound looks nasty;

mal tiempo bad weather;

hace mal tiempo the weather's bad;

Esp

está muy malo el día it's a horrible day, it's not a very nice day

8. [podrido, pasado] bad, off, spoiled;

la fruta está mala the fruit is bad o spoiled;

la fruta se ha puesto mala the fruit has gone bad o Br gone off

9. [uso enfático]

ni un mal trozo de pan not even a crust of bread;

no había ni un mal supermercado en el pueblo there wasn't a single supermarket to be found in the village

10. [difícil]

el asunto es malo de entender the matter is hard o difficult to understand;

una lesión muy mala de curar an injury that won't heal easily

11. Esp Fam Euf [con la menstruación]

estar/ponerse mala to be on/start one's period

♦ nm,f

el malo, la mala [en cine] the villain, the baddy

♦ interj

cuando nadie se queja, ¡malo! it's a bad sign when nobody complains

♦ malas nfpl

está o [m5] se ha puesto a malas con él she's fallen out with him;

estar de malas to be in a bad mood;

por las malas [a la fuerza] by force;

lo vas a hacer, aunque tenga que ser por las malas you're going to do it, whether you like it or not;

por las malas es de temer she's a fearful sight when she's angry;

Comp

Am

estar o [m5] andar de malas to be having a hard time;

Comp

Andes, CSur

en las malas [de mal humor] in a bad mood;

los amigos no te abandonan en las malas friends don't let you down when things get bad

* * *

malo

I adj

1 bad

2 calidad poor

3 ( enfermo) sick, ill;

ponerse malo get sick, fall ill

4

:

por las buenas o por las malas whether he/she etc likes it or not;

estar de malas be in a bad mood;

por las malas by force;

andar a malas con alguien be on bad terms with s.o.;

lo malo es que unfortunately

II m hum

bad guy, baddy

* * *

malo, -la adj, ( mal before masculine singular nouns)

1) : bad

mala suerte: bad luck

2) : wicked, naughty

3) : cheap, poor (quality)

4) : harmful

malo para la salud: bad for one's health

5) (using the form mal) : unwell

estar mal del corazón: to have heart trouble

6)

estar de malas : to be in a bad mood

malo, -la n

: villain, bad guy (in novels, movies, etc.)

* * *

malo¹ adj

1. (en general) bad [comp. worse; superl. worst]

un cantante malo a bad singer

hace un día malo the weather's bad

2. (travieso) naughty [comp. naughtier; superl. naughtiest]

es un niño muy malo he's a very naughty boy

3. (enfermo) ill [comp. worse; superl. worst]

ayer estuve malo I was ill yesterday

4. (pasado) off

creo que este yogur está malo I think this yoghurt is off

5. (malvado) evil

tiene cara de ser malo he looks evil

estar de malas to be in a bad mood

ser malo en/para algo to be bad at something

mala hierba weed

malo² n villain