a basic point in a text

arrivare al punto in cui — to reach the point o stage where

essere sul punto di fare — to be on the point of doing o (just) about to do o close to doing

a un punto tale che, a tal punto che — to such a degree o an extent that, so much so that

fino a un certo punto — up to a point, to a certain extent o degree

non è questo il punto — that's not the point o issue

punto com — inform. dot com

essere un punto a favore, a sfavore di qcn. — to be a point in sb.'s favour o a plus point for sb., to be a black mark against sb

alle 9 in punto — at 9 o'clock sharp o on the dot

mettere a punto — to develop [sistema, metodo]; to adjust, to fine-tune [macchina, apparecchio]

messa a punto — (di sistema, metodo) development; (di macchina, apparecchio) fine tuning

punto caldo — fig. hot o trouble spot

essere di nuovo punto e a capo — fig. to be back at square one

punto cardinale — fis. geogr. compass o cardinal point

punto critico — critical o crisis point

punto debole — weak point o spot

punto dolente — sore point o spot

punto esclamativo — exclamation mark BE o point AE

punto fermo — fig. anchor

punto di fuga — art. arch. vanishing point

punto G — anat. G spot

punto a giorno — sart. hemstitch

punto d'incontro — meeting point (anche fig.)

punto d'intersezione — mat. point of intersection

punto metallico — (graffetta) staple

punto morto — tecn. dead centre

essere a un punto morto — fig. to be at (a) deadlock o standstill

punto nero — med. blackhead

punto di partenza — starting point (anche fig.)

punto e basta! — that's (the end of) that! that's final! full stop! BE, period! AE

la fecha de caducidad viene en la base del paquete — the use-by date is on the base o the bottom of the pack

• carecer de base — [acusación] to lack foundation, be unfounded; [argumento] to lack justification, be unjustified

• de base — [error, dato] basic, fundamental; [activista, apoyo] grass-roots antes de s

• en base a [uso periodístico] —

• partir de una base, un juez tiene que partir de una base de neutralidad absoluta — a judge must start out from a position of absolute neutrality

• sentar las bases de algo — to lay the foundations of sth

su visita sentó las bases para una futura cooperación — her visit paved the way for o laid the foundations of future cooperation

• sobre la base de algo — on the basis of sth

• a base de algo, una dieta a base de arroz — a rice-based diet, a diet based on rice

• a base de hacer algo — by doing sth

a base de insistir, la convenció para comprar la casa — by o through his insistence, he persuaded her to buy the house

a base de bien Esp * —

hoy hemos trabajado a base de bien — we've done loads of work today *

nos divertimos a base de bien — we had a whale of a time *

base imponible — (Econ) taxable income

han aprobado el texto base para el nuevo convenio — they have approved the provisional o draft text of the new agreement

• alimento base — staple (food)

• color base — base colour o (EEUU) color

a base de: a base de descansar se fue recuperando by resting she gradually recovered; un régimen a base de verdura a vegetable-based diet; vive a base de pastillas he lives on pills; de base <planteamiento/error> fundamental, basic; < militante> rank-and-file (before n), ordinary (before n); < movimiento> grass-roots (before n); en base a (crit) on the basis of; a base de bien (Esp fam): comimos a base de bien — we ate really well