you can't begin to imagine what it was like

i'mæ‹in - imagination
- imaginative
ɪ'mædʒən, ɪ'mædʒɪn VT [ɪ'mædʒən, ɪ'mædʒɪn]

[i'dɛa]

- {you're} = Sie selbst {yourself}+ = das geht Sie an {this concerns you}+ = erlauben Sie {by your leave; let me see}+ = frieren Sie? {do you feel cold?}+ = Sie heben ab (Kartenspiel) {it's your cut}+ = Sie sind dran {it's your turn}+ = gestatten Sie? {excuse me}+ = hören Sie mal! {I say!}+ = wie Sie wollen {as you will}+ = Verzeihen Sie! {I beg your pardon!}+ = Sind Sie satt? {Are you full?}+ = wie heißen Sie? {what is your name?}+ = er holt Sie ein {he'll catch up with you}+ = treten Sie ein! {walk in!}+ = sind Sie fertig? {have you finished?}+ = Sie dreht durch. {She's cracking up.}+ = seien Sie so gut {do me the kindness}+ = wie Sie wünschen {as you please}+ = woher kommen Sie? {where do you come from?}+ = Sie sind gemeint. {This means you.}+ = Das betrifft Sie. {This concerns you.}+ = Erheben Sie sich! {All Rise!}+ = was wünschen Sie? {what can I do for you?; what do you wish?}+ = da irren Sie sich {there you are mistaken}+ = versuchen Sie es! {have a try at it!}+ = wohin fahren Sie? {where are you bound for?}+ = Sie ist verreist. {She is out of town.}+ = Sie ist nicht da. {She's not in.}+ = treten Sie näher! {come closer!}+ = wollen Sie zu mir? {do you want to see me?}+ = seien Sie sachlich {stick to facts}+ = bleiben Sie sitzen {keep your seats!}+ = Sie sehen gut aus. {You look well.}+ = Rufen Sie mich an! {Give me a call!}+ = Sie verstehen ihn. {they sympathize with him.}+ = Sehen Sie sich um! {Look behind you!}+ = Wie groß sind Sie? {What's your height?}+ = Benehmen Sie sich! {Behave yourself!}+ = Sie wohnt bei mir. {She's staying with me.}+ = Sie war beleidigt. {She was offended.}+ = Sie werden gebeten {you are requested}+ = Meckern Sie nicht! {Don't be so fussy!}+ = das geht Sie nichts an {that doesn't regard you; that's none of your business; that's nothing to you}+ = ich rechne auf Sie [wegen] {I look to you [for]}+ = wie nennen Sie das? {what do you call that?}+ = Verstehen Sie mich? {Do you take me?}+ = Sie kam als letzte. {She came last.}+ = Passen Sie gut auf! {Pay close attention!}+ = Sie ist von gestern. {She's quite a back number.}+ = wo sind Sie geboren? {where were you born?}+ = Was Sie nicht sagen! {You don't say so!}+ = Sie ist fantasielos. {She has no imagination.}+ = Sie ist unglaublich. {She's the limit.}+ = Jetzt sind Sie dran. {the ball's in your court.}+ = wie kommen Sie dazu? {how dare you?}+ = Das wissen Sie doch! {But you know that!}+ = denken Sie sich nur! {just imagine!}+ = Seien Sie anständig! {Behave yourself!}+ = wie fühlen Sie sich? {how do you feel?}+ = Ganz wie Sie wollen. {Just as you like.}+ = Wem erzählen Sie das! {You are telling me!}+ = Halten Sie es geheim! {Keep it dark!}+ = Was halten Sie davon? {How does it strike you?}+ = fahren Sie langsamer! {slow down!}+ = was halten Sie davon? {what do you make of it?}+ = Sie ist schlagfertig. {She's quick at repartee.}+ = Sie leugnete rundweg. {She flatly denied.}+ = Sie kann gut rechnen. {She's good at sums.}+ = Bleiben Sie sachlich! {Stick to facts!}+ = Fahren Sie nach links! {Make a left turn!}+ = halten Sie sich rechts {keep to your right}+ = er möchte Sie sprechen {he wishes to see you}+ = Sie lügt wie gedruckt. {She's a lying so-and-so.}+ = Das gilt auch für Sie. {that applies to you too.}+ = Bitten Sie sie herein. {Ask her in.}+ = überlassen Sie es mir! {leave it to me!}+ = Entschuldigen Sie mich {pardon me}+ = was erlauben Sie sich? {how dare you?}+ = Fangen Sie an zu lesen! {Begin reading!}+ = nach dem, was Sie sagen {from what you say}+ = was wollen Sie von ihm? {what do you want with him?}+ = Sie durfte nicht gehen. {She wasn't allowed to go.}+ = Welche Größe haben Sie? {What size do you take?}+ = bitte, fahren Sie fort! {go on, please!}+ = Sie können mir glauben. {You can take it from me.}+ = bitte bedienen Sie sich {please help yourself}+ = können Sie das belegen? {can you furnish proof of that?}+ = bemühen Sie sich nicht! {don't bother!}+ = werden Sie daraus klug? {does it make sense to you?}+ = Seien Sie offen zu mir! {Be frank with me!}+ = deswegen sind Sie hier. {that's why you're here.}+ = Sie schritt auf und ab. {She paved up and down.}+ = tun Sie, was Sie wollen {do as you please}+ = nehmen Sie es nicht übel {don't take it amiss}+ = haben Sie schon gewählt? {have you made your choice?}+ = Sie hörte schweigend zu. {She listened in silence.}+ = besuchen Sie mich einmal {come to see me some time}+ = Bitte bedenken Sie doch! {Pray, consider!}+ = Sie ist sehr wählerisch. {She's very particular.}+ = wie können Sie es wagen? {how dare you?}+ = wollen Sie es probieren? {would you care to try it?}+ = Sie ist wieder die alte. {She's herself again.}+ = Sie fühlt sich gekränkt. {She feels hurt.}+ = wo sind Sie beschäftigt? {where do you work?}+ = wünschen Sie noch etwas? {would you like anything else?}+ = Entschuldigen Sie bitte. {You've my apologies.}+ = Entschuldigen Sie bitte! {I beg your pardon!; excuse me, please!}+ = kommen Sie morgen zu mir {see me tomorrow}+ = das dürfen Sie nie vergessen {you must never forget that}+ = Sie hat nichts zu melden. {She's a nobody.}+ = Sie wird leicht seekrank. {She's a bad sailor.}+ = welche Farbe möchten Sie? {what colour do you want?}+ = machen Sie es sich bequem {make yourself at home; make yourself comfortable}+ = worauf wollen Sie hinaus? {what are you driving at?}+ = Sie sollten sich schämen. {You ought to be ashamed of yourself.}+ = Das werden Sie mir büßen! {You'll hear of this!}+ = jetzt, da Sie es erwähnen {now you mention it}+ = Nehmen Sie es nicht übel. {Don't take it amiss.}+ = langen Sie ordentlich zu! (beim Essen) {cut and come again!}+ = er behauptet Sie zu kennen {he claims to know you}+ = Ich verlasse mich auf Sie. {I count on you.}+ = Rechnen Sie nicht mit mir! {You can count me out!}+ = er wünscht Sie zu sprechen {he wishes to see you}+ = Können Sie das beschwören? {Can you swear to that?}+ = Bitte seien Sie pünktlich. {Please be on time.}+ = würden Sie mir bitte sagen {would you kindly tell me}+ = Glauben Sie es bloß nicht. {Don't run away with the idea.}+ = Erinnern Sie sich an mich? {Do you remember me?}+ = Und was wünschen Sie noch? {And what more do you want?}+ = Sie haben nichts gegessen. {they feel empty.}+ = ich habe eine Bitte an Sie {may I ask you a favour}+ = können Sie mir herausgeben? {can you give me change?}+ = Sie ist piekfein gekleidet. {She's dressed up to the nines.}+ = Sie haben uns sehr gefehlt. {We've missed you badly.}+ = wären Sie so freundlich und {would you be kind enough to}+ = Sie braucht nicht zu gehen. {She hasn't got to go.}+ = Sie war tief eingeschlafen. {She was fast asleep.}+ = Gehen Sie sparsam damit um! {Use it sparingly!}+ = Sie ist sein ein und alles. {She's all the world to him.}+ = Sie werden bald gesund sein {you'll soon get well}+ = was wollen Sie damit sagen? {what do you mean by that?}+ = Bekennen Sie sich schuldig? {Do you plead guilty?}+ = Sie können mich gern haben. {I'll see you further first.}+ = wieviel verlangen Sie dafür? {what are you asking for that?}+ = Sie müssen sich entscheiden. {You have to make up your mind.}+ = Sie ist sehr mager geworden. {She's grown very thin.}+ = Mit wem sind Sie verabredet? {Who is your date?}+ = Sie amüsierte sich köstlich. {She had a ripping good time.}+ = grüßen Sie ihn schön von mir {give him my best regards}+ = in welcher Branche sind Sie? {what line are you in?}+ = unterbrechen Sie mich nicht! {don't interrupt me!}+ = ich hoffe daß Sie gesund sind {I trust that you are well}+ = Wie sind Sie darauf gekommen? {How did you hit on that?}+ = Wie Sie es auch immer machen. {However you do it.}+ = Sie können es ruhig gestehen. {You may as well own up.}+ = Kümmern Sie sich nicht darum. {Don't bother about it.}+ = lassen Sie es mich versuchen! {let me have a try at it!}+ = haben Sie etwas zu verzollen? {do you have anything to declare?}+ = wenn Sie nichts dagegen haben {if you don't object}+ = Machen Sie es wie Sie wollen! {Do your best or your worst!}+ = versäumen Sie nicht hinzugehen {don't fail to go there}+ = lassen Sie sich nicht nötigen! {don't wait to be asked!}+ = ich bin zweimal so alt wie Sie {I'm double your age}+ = lassen Sie sich nicht täuschen {don't let yourself be fooled}+ = Sie fragten mich geradeheraus. {they asked me point-black.}+ = Sie haben es heraufbeschworen. {You've asked for it.}+ = Sie ist entschlossen zu gehen. {She's bent on going.}+ = Warten Sie, bis Sie dran sind! {wait your turn!}+ = das können Sie uns nicht erzählen! {tell us another!}+ = Haben Sie sich gut unterhalten? {Did you have a nice time?}+ = Sie müssen mich einmal besuchen {you must come and see me some day}+ = Wahrscheinlich haben Sie recht. {I dare say you're right.}+ = erlauben Sie mir, das zu machen {let me do that}+ = Sie haben sich nicht verstanden. {they didn't get on well together.}+ = ich freue mich, Sie wiederzusehen {I'm looking forward to seeing you again}+ = würden Sie so freundlich sein und {would you be so kind as}+ = verstehen Sie, worauf es ankommt? {do you see the point?}+ = entschuldigen Sie, wenn ich störe {excuse my interrupting you}+ = Sie können sich darauf verlassen. {You can count on that.}+ = halten Sie es für wahrscheinlich? {do you think it probable?}+ = Lassen Sie sich nicht entmutigen. {Don't get discouraged.}+ = ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen {nice to meet you}+ = Sie ist gut bei ihm angeschrieben. {She's in his good books.}+ = ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen. {I'm glad to meet you.}+ = kann ich Sie telefonisch erreichen? {are you on the phone?}+ = Sie ist gar nicht so unmusikalisch. {She's not at all musical.}+ = Sie haben nichts füreinander übrig. {there's no love lost between them.}+ = Sie macht sich nur über Sie lustig. {She's only trying to poke fun at you.}+ = Ich begreife nicht, was Sie meinen. {I fail to see what you mean.}+ = Sie wollte es einfach nicht glauben. {She refused to believe it.}+ = Sie passen überhaupt nicht zusammen. {they're a bad match.}+ = Sie äußerte sich sehr offen darüber. {She was very outspoken about it.}+ = entschuldigen Sie, daß ich Sie störe {sorry to trouble you}+ = damit können Sie bei mir nicht landen {that cuts no ice with me}+ = es wäre besser, wenn Sie jetzt gingen {you had better go now}+ = entschuldigen Sie, daß ich unterbreche {excuse my interrupting}+ = entschuldigen Sie, daß ich zu spät komme {excuse me for being late}+ = haben Sie etwas dagegen, wenn ich rauche {do you mind if I smoke}+ = haben Sie etwas dagegen, wenn ich rauche? {do you mind my smoking?}+ = Sie brauchen sich nicht zu rechtfertigen. {You needn't justify yourself.}+ = lassen Sie sich durch mich nicht abhalten {don't let me hinder you}+ = bitte sorgen Sie dafür, während ich fort bin {please see to this while I'm away}+ = ich danke Ihnen dafür, daß Sie mir geholfen haben {thank you for helping me}+

1. 2. 1. 2.

Ex: Do not use your first name, last name, or initials as a password, since this information is easily guessed by an unauthorized person.

Ex: I do not imagine, as a result, that public libraries will, for instance, begin establishing inappropriate and complex transliterated forms of names.

Ex: Coates believed that in order to conceptualise an action it is necessary to visualise the thing on which the action is being performed.

Ex: This has brought us nearer to UBC than anyone would have dreamed possible thirty years ago.

Ex: His cognitive abilities were severely compromised, and he confabulated continuously and bizarrely.

* hacer imaginar = conjure up + a vision of, conjure up + an image of.

* imaginarse = picture.

 

imaginar ( conjugate imaginar) verbo transitivo



imaginarse verbo pronominal
to imagine;

no te puedes imaginar lo mal que nos trató you've no idea how badly she treated us;
¿quedó contento? — ¡imagínate! was he pleased? — what do you think!;
me imagino que sí I suppose so;
me lo imaginaba más alto I imagined he'd be taller
imaginar verbo transitivo
1 to imagine: intenté imaginar algo agradable, I tried to think of something pleasant
2 (creer, suponer) to expect, assume: imagino que vendrán enseguida, I expect they'll be here soon

' imaginar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
poner
- saber
- soñar
- suponer
- calcular
- concebir
- dónde
English:
see
- think up
- visualize
- conceive
- guess

DECIR ¿"Say" o "tell"? Decir se puede traducir por say o por tell. Por regla general, say simplemente {dice} y tell {informa} u {ordena hacer algo}. ► Decir generalmente se traduce por say en estilo directo. Normalmente no lleva un complemento de persona pero si se menciona a quién se está dirigiendo el hablante, el complemento de persona tiene que ir precedido por la preposición to: "Ya son las tres", dije "It's already three o'clock," I said "¡Qué tiempo más malo!" Eso fue lo único que me dijo "What awful weather!" That's all he said to me ► En estilo indirecto, decir se puede traducir por say cuando simplemente se cuenta lo que alguien ha dicho. Si say lleva complemento de persona, este se coloca después del complemento directo: Dijo que se tenía que marchar He said he had to leave Me dijo algo que no entendí He said something to me that I didn't understand ► Decir se traduce por tell cuando se {informa} o se {ordena hacer algo}. Suele llevar un objeto de persona sin la preposición to: Me dijo que tenía una entrevista de trabajo He told me he had a job interview ¡Te he dicho que no lo toques! I told you not to touch it! ► Hay algunos usos idiomáticos en los que decir se traduce por tell aunque no lleva complemento de persona. Por ejemplo: to tell the truth (decir la verdad) y to tell a lie (decir una mentira). Otros verbos ► Si decir va acompañado de un calificativo en español, a menudo se puede traducir al inglés por otros verbos que no sean say o tell: "Lo he perdido todo", dijo entre sollozos "I've lost everything," she sobbed Dijo con voz ronca algo sobre necesitar un médico He croaked something about needing a doctor Para otros usos y ejemplos ver la entrada Para otras expresiones con el participio, ver dicho. decir que to say (that) adiós 2. decir a algn que ({+ indic}) to tell sb (that) decir a algn que ({+ subjun}) (=ordenar) to tell sb to ({+ infin}); (=pedir) to ask sb to ({+ infin}) verdad 1) I II 1. 2. 3. I II 1. 2. 3.

Ex: As one respondent from this end of the information spectrum put it, 'Context is all in the information world'.

Ex: This error message is displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and reads: DAWT008, 107, DFCR....

Ex: In conclusion, it should not be necessary to say that instructions and guiding must be as brief as possible.

Ex: Short abstracts are generally preferred, but there are instances where the most effective approach is to cite the original unamended, and to state that this is what has been done.

Ex: Program function key 1 (FP1) tells DOBIS/LIBIS to stop whatever it is doing and go back to the function selection screen.

Ex: 'Anything wrong?' 'Oh, I'm okay, I guess,' volunteered Datto cautiously.

Ex: However, they do make the very important point that the notation is not an essential part of the scheme.

Ex: Then the secretary, having rallied herself, said forlornly 'I'll let him know you're here in a minute'.

Ex: It can certainly be status-conferring to let it be known in social conversation that one has read the latest Fay Weldon book, but if the group one is in never reads Fay Weldon anyway and could not care less what she has written then the victory is a somewhat hollow one.

Ex: 'All this is not very likely,' she observed at last, 'not only because of the strength of the selection process -- its imperviousness to proof before an arbitrator'.

Ex: 'Sit down please,' he bade her.

Ex: 'Now, you know, I could merely turn this over to the two division or all the department heads and let them decide,' reflected Bough.

Ex: The ideal was forever etched in his consciousness from the day Crane uttered it: a good librarian working anywhere is a credit and benefit to libraries everywhere.

Ex: 'Well,' Stanton tendered, 'one candidate clearly has the superior experience -- Kass'.

Ex: He was aghast after having been hipped to the fact there are hookers on the Internet.

Ex: As long as we allow other people to pay the piper, they will continue calling the tune in Africa.

* ¡eso se dice pronto! = easier said than done.

* ¿lo dices en broma? = you must be kidding!.

* a decir de todos = by all accounts.

* a decir verdad = to tell the truth, if the truth be known, if the truth be told, in all truth, in truth, fact is, the fact is (that), to be fair.

* a decir verdad... = the fact of the matter is that....

* arriesgarse a decir = hazard.

* atreverse a decir = go + (as/so) far as to say.

* aunque a decir verdad = Mind you.

* aventurarse a decir = venture.

* baste decir que = suffice (it) to say.

* como dice el dicho = as the saying goes, so the saying goes.

* como dice el refrán = as the saying goes, so the saying goes.

* continuar diciendo = go on.

* cumplir lo que se dice = live up to + Posesivo + claim.

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

* decir adiós = bid + Nombre + goodbye, bid + adieu, kiss + Nombre + goodbye, bid + farewell, wave + a bye.

* decir adiós (a) = say + goodbye (to).

* decir adiós al pasado = bid + farewell + to the past.

* decir adiós con la mano = wave + goodbye.

* decir adiós con un gesto = signal + goodbye.

* decir a favor de = say in + favour of.

* decir Algo = break + the news.

* decir Algo a Alguien = let + Nombre + in on.

* decir Algo de un modo colérico = flame out.

* decir Algo que es obvio por sí mismo = state + the obvious.

* decir balbuceando = splutter, sputter.

* decir bolas = fib.

* decir bromeando = quip.

* decir chorradas = bullshit.

* decir con desdén = sneer.

* decir con desprecio = sneer.

* decir con la boca llena = say in + full confidence.

* decir con mal humor = spit out.

* decir con toda confianza = say in + full confidence.

* decir con voz + Adjetivo = say in + a + Adjetivo + voice.

* decir de un modo enfadado = spit out.

* decir disparates = shoot off + at the mouth, talk + rubbish, talk + nonsense, talk through + Posesivo + hat.

* decir en confianza = confide.

* decir en defensa de = say in + defence of.

* decir entrecordamente = splurt out.

* decir en voz alta = say + out loud, say in + a loud voice.

* decir en voz baja = say under + Posesivo + breath, say in + a low voice, say in + a quiet voice.

* decir + esperar = express + hope.

* decir estupideces = talk + rubbish, talk + nonsense, talk through + Posesivo + hat.

* decir gilipolleces = talk + nonsense, talk + rubbish, bullshit, talk through + Posesivo + hat.

* decir humorísticamente = quip.

* decir inesperadamente = blurt out, pipe.

* decir la última palabra = hear + the final word, outface.

* decir la verdad = tell + the truth, speak + the truth, come + clean.

* decir la verdad sobre = give + Nombre + the lowdown on.

* decir la verdad, toda la verdad y nada más que la verdad = to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

* decirlo = come out with + it.

* decir lo que Uno piensa = speak up, speak out.

* decir mentirijillas = fib.

* decir mentirillas = fib.

* decir mucho de Algo = speak + volumes.

* decir pamplinas = bullshit.

* decir + poseer = claim.

* decir que Uno se siente cómodo con Algo = express + comfort with.

* decir que Uno se siente confortable con Algo = express + comfort with.

* decir que Uno siente lo que le ha pasado a Otra Persona = express + sympathy for.

* decir rápidamente sin parar = rattle off.

* decir resoplando = snort.

* decir sandeces = talk + rubbish, talk + nonsense, bullshit, talk through + Posesivo + hat.

* decirse = grapevine + carry + the story, make out to be, word + go (a)round.

* decirse que = be reputed to.

* decir suspirando = sigh.

* decir tonterías = talk + rubbish, talk + nonsense, talk through + Posesivo + hat.

* decir una grosería = make + rude remark.

* demostrar lo que Uno dice = make + good + Posesivo + claim.

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

* digamos por ejemplo = let us say, say.

* dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = you are known by the company you keep.

* dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres = you are known by the company you keep.

* el tiempo dirá = time will tell.

* el tiempo lo dirá = only time will tell.

* enterarse de lo que Uno quiere decir = catch + Posesivo + drift, get + Posesivo + drift.

* es decir = i.e. (latín - id est), in other words, that is, that is to say, which is to say.

* es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo = easier said than done.

* estar a punto de decir = be on the tip of + Posesivo + tongue to say.

* esto no quiere decir que = this is not to say that.

* expresar lo que Uno quiere decir = make + Posesivo + point.

* hablar sin decir nada = waffle.

* hacer lo que uno dice que es capaz de hacer = live up to + Posesivo + claim.

* huelga decir = needless to say.

* la gente dice que = rumour has it that.

* ¿lo dices en broma? = you must be joking!.

* me atrevo a decir = may I say.

* ni que decir tiene que = it goes without saying that, needless to say.

* no decir a Alguien lo que está ocurriendo = leave + Nombre + in the dark.

* no decir nada = keep + quiet.

* no decir nada a nadie = lips + seal.

* no decir palabrotas = watch + Posesivo + mouth.

* ¡no digas palabrotas! = watch your language!.

* no hace falta decir que = it goes without saying that, needless to say.

* no preguntes porque no te puedo decir la verdad = ask no questions and hear no lies.

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

* no ser tan bueno como se dice = not + it's cracked up to be.

* para comenzar diremos que = to begin with.

* para decir la verdad = to be honest.

* por decirlo así = so to speak, in a manner of speaking.

* por decirlo de alguna manera = so to speak.

* por decirlo de algún modo = in a manner of speaking, so to speak.

* por lo que dicen todos = by all accounts.

* por no decir algo peor = to put it mildly.

* por no decir nada de = to say nothing of.

* por no decir nunca = if ever.

* por no decir otra cosa peor = to say the least.

* predecible en cuanto a lo que dice = platitudinous.

* probar lo que Uno dice = make + good + Posesivo + claim.

* qué me dices de... = what about....

* querer decir = mean.

* quién iba a decir entonces que... = little did + Verbo + then that....

* quién + Pronombre + iba a decir que... = little did + Pronombre + know that....

* recalcar lo que Uno quiere decir = drive + home + Posesivo + point.

* resaltar lo que Uno quiere decir = drive + home + Posesivo + point.

* se decía que = rumour had it that.

* se dice = so the story goes.

* se dice pronto, pero no es tan fácil = easier said than done.

* se dice que = rumour has it that, the saying + be + that.

* según se dice = reportedly, so the argument goes, reputedly.

* sin decir nada = dumbly.

* sin decir ni mú = as quiet as a mouse.

* sin decir ni pío = as quiet as a mouse.

* sin decir una palabra = without saying a word.

* sin saber qué decir = nonplussed [nonplused].

* tener cuidado con lo que se dice = say + the right thing.

* tener cuidado con lo que Uno dice = watch + Posesivo + mouth, watch what + say.

 

decir 1 sustantivo masculino:

decir 2 ( conjugate decir) verbo transitivo
1

‹mentira/verdad› to tell;
para ejemplos con complemento indirecto ver división 2

¿eso lo dices por mí? are you referring to me?;
¡no lo dirás en serio! you can't be serious!;
dijo que sí con la cabeza he nodded;
no se dice `andé', se dice `anduve' it isn't `andé', it's `anduve';
¡eso no se dice! you mustn't say that!;
¿cómo se dice `amor' en ruso? how do you say `love' in Russian?;
¿lo encontró? — dice que sí/no did he find it? — he says he did/he didn't


2 decirle algo a algn to tell sb sth;

¡ya te lo decía yo! I told you so!
3


harás lo que yo diga you'll do as I say;
dice que llames cuando llegues she says (you are) to phone when you get there;
dijo que tuviéramos cuidado she said to be careful;
diles que empiecen tell them to start;
le dije que no lo hiciera I told him not to do it


4


¡quién lo hubiera dicho! who would have thought o believed it?;
es muy fácil — si tú lo dices … it's very easy — if you say so …


¿te dice algo ese nombre? does that name mean anything to you?
5

¿qué quieres decir con eso? what do you mean by that?
6 ( en locs)

como quien dice so to speak;
es decir that is;
¡he dicho! that's that o final!;
ni que decir tiene que … it goes without saying that …;
¡no me digas! no!, you're kidding o joking! (colloq);
por así decirlo so to speak;
el qué dirán (fam) what other people (might) think;
ver tb dicho 1
verbo intransitivo


quería pedirle un favor — usted dirá I wanted to ask you a favor — certainly, go ahead

decirse verbo pronominal



decir
I m (dicho, sentencia) saying: es sólo un decir, it's just a manner of speaking
II verbo transitivo
1 to say: está diciendo una mentira/la verdad, she's telling a lie/the truth
no dijo nada, he said nothing
2 (con complemento indirecto) to tell: no le dije mi opinión, I didn't tell him my opinion
les dijo que esperaran un rato, she told them to wait for a while
3 (opinar, afirmar, proponer) ¿qué me dices de mi nuevo corte de pelo?, what do you think of my new haircut?, te digo que es una extravagancia, I think it's quite weird
yo digo que vayamos a Cuenca, I suggest going to Cuenca
4 (suscitar interés, una idea) to mean, appeal: ese libro no me dice nada, that book doesn't appeal to me
¿le dice algo esta cara?, does this face mean anything to you?
5 (mostrar, indicar) to say, show: lo que hizo dice mucho en su favor, what he did says a lot for him
su cara de decepción lo dice todo, his long face says it all
♦ Locuciones: Tel Esp diga o dígame, hello?
digamos, let's say
digo yo, in my opinion
el qué dirán, what people will say
es decir, that is (to say)
ni que decir tiene, needless to say
no decir esta boca es mía, not to say a word
¡no me digas!, really!
por así decirlo, as it were o so to speak
querer decir, to mean
¡y que lo digas!, you bet! ➣ Ver nota en mean
¿To tell o to say?
Observa que to tell menciona a la persona a la cual va dirigida una frase: Dime tu nombre. Tell me your name. Les dijo que se fueran. He told them to go away.
Por el contrario, to say se centra en el contenido del mensaje, sin importarnos a quién va dirigido: ¿Qué has dicho? What did you say? Dijo que sí. He said yes. ➣ Ver nota en tell.
' decir' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
A
- amén
- amohinarse
- año
- apéndice
- atinar
- bala
- barbaridad
- bastante
- burrada
- callar
- chorrada
- colmo
- comenzar
- confiar
- cosa
- declarar
- delirar
- descargo
- despedirse
- dilucidar
- disparate
- entender
- excusada
- excusado
- flexible
- fluir
- ir
- haber
- hablar
- holgar
- honestamente
- hoy
- lengua
- maravilla
- mu
- nada
- obviedad
- pelagatos
- pío
- precisamente
- puño
- querer
- rezar
- restar
- rey
- saciedad
- señor
- significar
- soltar
English:
ablaze
- abuse
- afraid
- anything
- bid
- bite back
- blurt out
- buzz off
- caller
- clear off
- dash off
- devil
- dinner
- distinctly
- drone
- enjoy
- eventual
- ever
- few
- flatter
- flounder
- fortune
- gasp out
- get
- get at
- go
- go on
- hand
- heart
- hotly
- i.e.
- keep in
- know
- lip
- loss
- mean
- mention
- mildly
- mind
- miserably
- mouth
- move
- need
- needless
- neither
- no
- nonsense
- O
- occasion
- oops!
[leyendo] to read RP Fam Esp Esp Fam [¡madre mía!] I say!; TELEC hello

1. adv. - 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