off+gradually

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

1. 2. 1. 2.

Ex: If you press the shift key again to return the keyboard to the unshifted (lowercase) condition, the lock is then released.

Ex: The ribbon must be disengaged so that the metal typefaces strike the wax sheet directly.

Ex: Reader use, exhibitions and reproductions, age, pigment damages, and the dry air caused by the radiators, often cause the layer of pigment in the miniatures of old manuscripts to loosen or flake off.

Ex: Suddenly she piped triumphantly, almost getting to her feet: 'We could let the student assistants go!'.

Ex: The implication is that these are books to be picked up, looked at, leafed through and put down again.

Ex: That they received regular visits from people who dropped off packages on a regular basis along with money.

Ex: For one, large areas of city were in the hands of the Mafia, who was not eager to let got of their vested interests.

Ex: Bridling a horse safely starts with untying the horse.

* no soltar = keep + a tight hold on.

* soltar amarras = set + sail, cast off.

* soltar la guita = cough up + money, cough up + cash.

* soltar la pasta = pony up, cough up + money, cough up + cash.

* soltar pasta = shell out + money, shell out.

* soltarse = work + loose, come + loose, come off.

* soltarse de = break + loose from.

* soltarse la melena = let + Posesivo + hair down.

* soltarse la melena cuando joven = sow + Posesivo + wild oats.

Ex: The weather cleared enough that we could get in to the volcanic islands (still spouting plumes of smoke) by copter in safety.

* soltar chispas = emit + sparks.

* soltar una carcajada = emit + laugh, let out + a laugh.

* soltar una lágrima = shed + tears.

Ex: He stared coldly at her for a moment, then spat out: 'Bah! You're in charge'.

Ex: Incredible though it may seem, the youngster didn't fire off a volley of cheerful curses, but silently obeyed.

* soltársele a Uno la lengua = tongue + be unloosed.

 

soltar ( conjugate soltar) verbo transitivo
1 ( dejar ir) ‹ persona› to release, to let … go;

2 ( dejar de tener agarrado) to let go of;

soltó el dinero y huyó he dropped/let go of the money and ran;
¡suelta la pistola! drop the gun!
3





‹ embrague› to let out

‹ tuerca› to undo, get … undone
4 ( desprender) ‹calor/vapor› to give off;
‹ pelo› to shed
5 ‹ carcajada› to let out;
‹palabrotas/disparates› to come out with;
‹ grito› to let out
soltarse verbo pronominal
1 ( refl) [ perro] to get loose;

2 ( desatarse) [ nudo] to come undone, come loose;
( aflojarse) [ nudo] to loosen, come loose;
[ tornillo] to come loose
soltar verbo transitivo
1 (dejar en libertad) to release
2 (desasir) to let go off: soltó el perro por la finca, he let the dog run loose around the estate
¡suéltale!, let him go!, suelta esa cuerda, undo that rope
3 (despedir) to give off: suelta un olor pestilente, it stinks
(un líquido) to ooze
4 (decir inopinadamente) me soltó una fresca, he answered me back
soltó una tontería, he made a silly remark
5 (dar de pronto) to give: me soltó una patada, he gave me a kick
(una carcajada, un estornudo) to let out
' soltar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
aflojar
- amarra
- carcajada
- escurrirse
- prenda
- rollo
- desprender
- indirecta
- largar
- suelta
- taco
English:
cast off
- cough up
- disengage
- drop
- free
- give
- go
- hint
- let out
- loose
- release
- shell out
- spout
- swear
- unclench
- cast
- cough
- crack
- drag
- laugh
- let
- loosen
- scream
- unleash
- untie
[freno] to release; [acelerador] to take one's foot off; Fam Fam [enganche] to unhook; [nudo, cuerda] to untie; [hebilla, cordones] to undo; [tornillo, tuerca] to unscrew [risotada, grito, suspiro] to give, to let out; Fam Fam

- ir a pie
- irse Para las expresiones ir de vacaciones, ir de veras, ir dado, irse de la lengua, ver la otra entrada. etiqueta 2) ir con (=acompañar, combinar) to go with ir de ir para ir por [indicando intención] ir tras to go after lejos 1., 1) ¡vaya! [indicando sorpresa] well!; [indicando enfado] damn! ¡vamos! [dando ánimos] come on!; [para ponerse en marcha] let's go! ¡qué va! ir a ({+ infin}) to go ir ({+ gerund}) ir ({+ participio}) 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3.

Ex: It was 'exceedingly inconvenient' because the books were entered in it 'where no person who goes to consult the catalogue would expect to find them'.

Ex: Arabic numerals are used to denote further divisions, in an integral manner, running from 1 to 9999, as necessary.

Ex: Compassion shadowed the trustee's face -- she could see he was desperate -- and compassion was in her voice as she answered: 'All right, I'll go over this afternoon'.

Ex: She sauntered back to her desk, intending to work, and was a little perturbed to find that she could not work.

Ex: This article urges children's librarians to attack 'aliteracy' (lack of a desire to read) as well as illiteracy by taking programmes, e.g. story hours, to children who do not come to libraries.

Ex: Finally six men agreed to go forth in their underclothes and nooses around their necks in hopeful expectation that their sacrifice would satisfy the king's bloodlust and he would spare the rest of the citizens.

* algo va mal = something is amiss.

* ¡allá voy! = here I come!.

* a punto de irse a pique = on the rocks.

* cosas + ir bien = things + go well.

* descanso para ir al baño = bathroom break.

* despedirse de Alguien deseándole que todo vaya bien = wish + well.

* donde fueres haz lo que vieres = when in Rome (do as the Romans do).

* el no va más = the be all and end all.

* empezar a ir bien = fall into + place.

* empezar a irse al garete = be on the skids.

* empezar a irse al garete, empezar a empeorar = hit + the skids.

* grupo de usuarios al que va dirigido = target user group.

* ir a = get to, turn to, refer to, be out to, head for, come to, take + a trip to, go to.

* ir a casa de = make + house calls.

* ir acompañado de = come with.

* ir a continuación de = follow in + the footsteps of.

* ir a contra reloj = race against + time, race against + the clock.

* ir a cuestas de = piggyback [piggy-back].

* ir a dar un paseo = go for + a stroll.

* ir a + Infinitivo = be to + Infinitivo.

* ir a jucio = stand + trial, stand for + trial.

* ir a jucio, ser juzgado, ser procesado = stand for + trial.

* ir a la baja = be down.

* ir a la bancarrota = go + belly up.

* ir a la cárcel = serve + time.

* ir a la escuela = go to + school.

* ir a la guerra = go to + war.

* ir a la par = proceed + in parallel.

* ir a la par con = go + hand in hand (with), go + hand in glove with.

* ir a las mil maravillas = go + great guns, go from + strength to strength, grow from + strength to strength, be fine and dandy.

* ir a la zaga = trail, trail behind, lag + behind.

* ir al centro = go + downtown.

* ir al cine = go to + the cinema, movie-going.

* ir al grano = cut to + the chase.

* ir a lo seguro = play it + safe.

* ir al pub = go to + the pub.

* ir al teatro = go to + the theatre, theatre-going.

* ir a + Lugar = trot off + Lugar.

* ir al unísono = be hand in hand.

* ir al unísono con = go + hand in hand (with), go + hand in glove with.

* ir a otro sitio = go + elsewhere.

* ir a pie = leg it.

* ir a por = go for.

* ir a por todas = go for + broke, shoot (for) + the moon.

* ir a tientas y a ciegas = bump around + in the dark, fumble.

* ir a toda velocidad = hurtle.

* ir a un Lugar en coche = drive out to.

* ir aun más lejos = go + a/one step further.

* ir a un Sitio sin prisa = mosey.

* ir a ver = drop in on, check out.

* ir a ver a Alguien = say + hi.

* ir a ver a Alguien a su casa = home-visiting.

* ir bien = go + well, do + well, go + strong.

* ir bien encaminado = be on the right track.

* ir cada vez mejor = go from + strength to strength, grow from + strength to strength, go + great guns.

* ir con = go with, come with.

* ir con la corriente = go with + the flow, go along with + the flow.

* ir con la nueva ola = ride + wave.

* ir con mucho ojo = keep + Posesivo + eyes peeled, keep + Posesivo + eyes skinned, keep + Posesivo + eyes (wide) open.

* ir con retraso con respecto a = lag + behind.

* ir contracorriente = go against + the flow.

* ir corriendo = hot-foot it to.

* ir corriendo a = dash off to, run off to.

* ir cuesta abajo = go + downhill.

* ir de... a... = proceed from... to....

* ir de... a = make + transition from... to..., range from... to..., go from... to..., work from... to, stretch from... to..., ricochet from... to.

* ir de acampada = camp.

* ir de aquí a allá = go out and about.

* ir de aquí para allá = ply, bustle, jump, live out of + a suitcase, run + here and there.

* ir de aquí para allá sin rumbo fijo = freewheel.

* ir de compras = go + shopping.

* ir de copas = go for + a drink.

* ir de + Dirección = work from + Dirección.

* ir de excursión = hike.

* ir de excursión por la montaña = go + tracking.

* ir de la mano = go + hand in hand (with), be hand in hand.

* ir delante = lead + the way.

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

* ir demasiado lejos = overstate + case, go + too far.

* ir de paquete = pillion riding, ride + pillion.

* ir de perlas = come up + a treat, work + a treat, go down + a treat.

* ir de putas = whoring.

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

* ir de tranqui = play it + cool.

* ir detrás de = chase after, lag + behind.

* ir de un sitio a otro = shunt between.

* ir de un sitio para otro = run around.

* ir de vacaciones = go on + vacation, go on + holidays.

* ir de viaje de novios = honeymoon.

* ir dirigido a = be geared to, target, aim at.

* ir en = ride.

* ir en aumento = be on the increase.

* ir en bici = bike.

* ir en bicicleta = cycle.

* ir encaminado hacia = be on + Posesivo + way to.

* ir en caravana = go in + (a) convoy, drive in + (a) convoy.

* ir en contra de = contravene, fly in + the face of, go against, militate against, stand in + contrast to, tell against, be at odds with, work at + cross purposes, be at cross purposes, turn against, play against, be contrary to, run up against, work against, set against, run + counter to, run + contrary to, be at loggerheads with, argue against, stand in + sharp contrast to, speak against, run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* ir en contra de la corriente = go against + the flow.

* ir en contra de la ley = be against the law.

* ir en contra del reloj = race against + time, race against + the clock.

* ir en contra del sentido común = violate + common sense.

* ir en contra del sistema = buck + the system.

* ir en contra del tiempo = race against + time, race against + the clock.

* ir en contra de todos + Posesivo + principios = violate + principle.

* ir en detrimento de los intereses = prejudice + interests.

* ir en el asiento trasero = pillion riding, ride + pillion.

* ir en moto = bike.

* ir en paralelo con = run + parallel to.

* ir entre = go between.

* ir hacia = head for.

* ir hacia atrás = page + backward.

* ir hacia delante = page + forward.

* ir hecho un desastre = look like + drag + through a hedge backwards, look like + the wreck of the Hesperus.

* irle Algo a Alguien = fare.

* irle a Uno = make out.

* ir mal = go + wrong.

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

* ir marcha atrás = back up.

* ir más allá = go + one stage further.

* ir más allá de = go beyond, go + deeper than, transcend, get beyond, go far beyond, move + beyond, take + Nombre + a/one step further/farther, go + past.

* ir más allá de las posibilidades de Alguien = be beyond + Posesivo + capabilities.

* ir más despacio = slow down, slow up.

* ir más lejos = go + one stage further.

* ir montado en + Vehículo = ride + Vehículo.

* ir muy atrasado = be way behind schedule.

* ir muy por detrás de = be far behind.

* ir pegado a = hug.

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

* ir por ahí = go + (a)round, be out and about, get out and about.

* ir por buen camino = be on the right track.

* ir por detrás = be behind, trail, trail behind, lag.

* ir por detrás de = lag + behind.

* ir por el buen camino = be right on track.

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

* ir primero = lead + the way.

* ir rápido = fly.

* ir retrasado con el trabajo = be behind in + Posesivo + work.

* ir rumbo a = be on the road to.

* irse = depart, make + departure, quit + Lugar, take + departure, go off, wend + Posesivo + way, leave, go away, take + Posesivo + leave, be gone, head off, walk out, make + a quick getaway.

* irse a casa = go + home.

* irse a freír espárragos = naff off.

* irse a la cama = retire + at night.

* irse a la mierda = naff off.

* irse a la porra = go + pear-shaped, go down + the tube, go down + the drain.

* irse al carajo = go + pear-shaped, go to + shit.

* irse al cuerno = naff off.

* irse al diablo = naff off.

* irse al garete = go + kaput, be kaput, be up the spout.

* irse al traste = come + unstuck, go + kaput, be kaput, go down + the tube, go down + the drain, go to + shit, be up the spout.

* irse al trasto = go + pear-shaped.

* irse a paseo = naff off.

* irse a pique = founder, bite + the dust, give up + the ghost, come + unstuck, go + pear-shaped, go + kaput, be kaput, go + haywire, go down + the tube, go down + the drain, be up the spout.

* irse a tomar por culo = naff off.

* irse corriendo = dash off, shoot off.

* irse de casa = leave + home.

* irse de jarana = paint + the town red, go out on + the town.

* irse de juerga = paint + the town red, go out on + the town.

* irse de la lengua = spill + the beans, shoot + Posesivo + mouth off, let + the cat out of the bag, blow + the gaff.

* irse de marcha = paint + the town red, go out on + the town.

* irse de parranda = paint + the town red, go out on + the town.

* irse de picos pardos = paint + the town red, go out on + the town.

* irse derecho a = make + a beeline for.

* irse de vacaciones = vacation.

* irse enojado dando zapatazos = stomp away.

* irse inadvertidamente = slip away.

* irse la cabeza = go + bananas.

* írsele a Uno Algo de las manos = get out of + hand.

* írsele a Uno el santo al cielo = lose + track of time, it + go + right/straight out of + Posesivo + mind.

* írsele la cabeza = go off + Posesivo + head.

* írsele la mano a Uno = overplay + Posesivo + hand.

* irse para siempre = go + forever.

* irse por las ramas = go off + the track, get off + the track, go off on + another track, fly off on + a tangent, go off on + a tangent, wander off + track, wander off + topic, go off at + a tangent.

* irse por la tangente = wander off + track, wander off + topic, go off on + a tangent, go off at + a tangent, go off + the track, get off + the track, fly off on + a tangent.

* ir sobre ruedas = go off without + a hitch.

* ir sobre seguro = be on secure ground, play it + safe.

* ir tirando = get along + in the world, shuffle along, tick over, muddle along, keep + the wolves from the door.

* ir todavía más lejos = go + a/one step further.

* ir todo bien = be fine.

* ir todo de maravilla = come up + roses.

* ir unido a = go with + the territory (of), come with + the territory (of).

* ir viento en popa = go from + strength to strength, grow from + strength to strength, go + great guns.

* ir volando = hurtle, hot-foot it to.

* ir y venir = come and go.

* ir zumbando = whiz.

* no tener que ir muy lejos = not have to look far.

* no voy a aguantarlo más = not going to take it any more.

* para que vayamos pensando = food for thought.

* partido de ida = away game.

* pendiente de ir a la última moda = fashion-conscious.

* persona que va al cine = moviegoer [movie-goer].

* público al que va dirigido = intended audience, subject audience, target audience, targeted audience.

* que van dirigidos hacia el exterior = outbound.

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

* ser hora de irse = be time to go.

* ser lo que a Uno le va = be (right) up + Posesivo + alley.

* situación + irse de las manos = things + get out of hand.

* si vamos a eso = for that matter.

* todo ir bien = all + be + well with the world.

* va a = gonna [going to].

* vete a la mierda = fuck off.

* véte al carajo = drop dead!.

* véte al cuerno = drop dead!.

* vete a tomar por culo = fuck off.

 

ir ( conjugate ir) verbo intransitivo
1


iban a caballo/a pie they were on horseback/on foot;
ir por mar to go by sea;
¡Fernando! — ¡voy! Fernando! — (just) coming! o I'll be right there!;
el ir y venir de los invitados the coming and going of the guests;
vamos a casa let's go home;
¿adónde va este tren? where's this train going (to)?;
ir de compras/de caza to go shopping/hunting;
ya vamos para allá we're on our way;
¿por dónde se va a …? how do you get to …?;
ir por or (Esp) a por algo/algn to go to get sth/sb;
voy (a) por pan I'm going to get some bread


ya va al colegio she's already at school
2 ( expresando propósito) ir a + inf:

ve a ayudarla go and help her;
ver tb ir v aux 1
3 (al arrojar algo, arrojarse):

tírate del trampolín — ¡allá voy! jump off the board! — here I go/come!
4 [ comentario]:

eso va por ti también that goes for you too, and the same goes for you
1 (+ compl) ( sin énfasis en el movimiento):

¿van cómodos? are you comfortable?;
íbamos sentados we were sitting down;
vas muy cargada you have a lot to carry;
yo iba a la cabeza I was in the lead
2 ( refiriéndose al atuendo):

voy a ir de Drácula I'm going to go as Dracula;
iba de verde she was dressed in green
3 ( en calidad de) ir de algo to go (along) as sth;

1 [camino/sendero] ( llevar) ir a algo to lead to sth, to go to sth
2 (extenderse, abarcar):

el período que va desde … hasta … the period from … to …
1 (marchar, desarrollarse):

va de mal en peor it's going from bad to worse;
¿cómo te va? how's it going?, how are things? (colloq), what's up? (AmE colloq);
¿cómo les fue en Italia? how was Italy?, how did you get on in Italy?;
me fue mal/bien en el examen I did badly/well in the exam;
¡que te vaya bien! all the best!, take care!;
¡que te vaya bien (en) el examen! good luck in the exam
2 ( en competiciones):

voy ganando yo I'm ahead, I'm winning
3 ( en el desarrollo de algo):

¿todavía vas por la página 20? are you still on page 20?
4 ( estar en camino):

va para los cincuenta she's going on fifty;
ya va para dos años que … it's getting on for two years since …
5 (sumar, hacer):

con este van seis six, counting this one
6 ( haber transcurrido): en lo que va del or (Esp) de año/mes so far this year/month
1 ( deber colocarse) to go;

¡qué va! (fam): ¿has terminado? — ¡qué va! have you finished? — you must be joking!;
¿se disgustó? — ¡qué va! did she get upset? — not at all!;
vamos a perder el avión — ¡qué va! we're going to miss the plane — no way!
2



te irá bien un descanso a rest will do you good
3 (Méx) (tomar partido por, apoyar) irle a algo/algn to support sth/sb;

1





¡vamos, date prisa! come on, hurry up!


vamos, que no es una persona de fiar basically, he's not very trustworthy;
es mejor que el otro, vamos it's better than the other one, anyway
2



¡vaya! ¡se ha vuelto a caer! oh no o (colloq) damn! it's fallen over again!


ir v aux ir a + inf:
1


va a hacer dos años que … it's getting on for two years since …


bueno, vamos a trabajar all right, let's get to work
2 (al prevenir, hacer recomendaciones):

cuidado, no te vayas a caer mind you don't fall (colloq);
lleva el paraguas, no vaya a ser que llueva take the umbrella, in case it rains
3 ( expresando un proceso paulatino):

ya puedes ir haciéndote a la idea you'd better get used to the idea;
la situación ha ido empeorando the situation has been getting worse and worse
irse verbo pronominal
1 ( marcharse) to leave;

vámonos let's go;
bueno, me voy right then, I'm taking off (AmE) o (BrE) I'm off;
no te vayas don't go;
vete a la cama go to bed;
se fue de casa/de la empresa she left home/the company;
vete de aquí get out of here;
se han ido de viaje they're away, they've gone away
2 (consumirse, gastarse):

se me va medio sueldo en el alquiler half my salary goes on the rent
3 ( desaparecer) [mancha/dolor] to go;


(+ me/te/le etc)

4 (salirse, escaparse) [líquido/gas] to escape;

5 (caerse, perder el equilibrio) (+ compl):

me iba para atrás I was falling backwards;
frenó y nos fuimos todos para adelante he braked and we all went flying forwards
ir
I verbo intransitivo
1 (dirigirse a un lugar) to go: ¡vamos!, let's go!
voy a París, I'm going to Paris ➣ Ver nota en go
2 (acudir regularmente) to go: va al colegio, he goes to school
van a misa, they go to church
3 (conducir a) to lead, go to: el sendero va a la mina, the path goes to the mine
esta carretera va a Londres, this road leads to London
4 (abarcar) to cover: la finca va desde la alambrada al camino, the estate extends from the wire fence to the path
las lecciones que van desde la página 1 a la 53, the lessons on pages 1 to 53
5 (guardarse habitualmente) va al lado de éste, it goes beside this one
6 (mantener una posición) to be: va el primero, he's in first place
7 (tener un estado de ánimo, una apariencia) to be: iba furioso/radiante, he was furious/radiant
vas muy guapa, you look very smart o pretty
8 (desenvolverse) ¿cómo te va?, how are things? o how are you doing?
¿cómo te va en el nuevo trabajo?, how are you getting on in your new job?
9 (funcionar) to work (properly): el reloj no va, the clock doesn't go o work
10 (sentar bien) to suit: ese corte de pelo no te va nada, that haircut doesn't suit you at all
11 (combinar) to match, go: el rojo no va con el celeste, red doesn't go with pale blue
12 (vestir) to wear
ir con abrigo, to wear a coat
ir de negro/de uniforme, to be dressed in black/in uniform
la niña irá de enfermera, the little girl will dress up as a nurse
13 fam (importar, concernir) to concern: eso va por ti también, and the same goes for you
ni me va ni me viene, I don't care one way or the other
14 (apostar) to bet: va un café a que no viene, I bet a coffee that he won't come
15 (ir + de) fam (comportarse de cierto modo) to act
ir de listo por la vida, to be a smart ass
(tratar) to be about: ¿de qué va la película?, what's the film about?
16 (ir + detrás de) to be looking for: hace tiempo que voy detrás de un facsímil de esa edición, I've been after a facsimile of that edition for a long time
17 (ir + por) ir por la derecha, to keep (to the) right
(ir a buscar) ve por agua, go and fetch some water
(haber llegado) voy por la página noventa, I've got as far as page ninety
18 (ir + para) (tener casi, estar cercano a) va para los cuarenta, she's getting on for forty
ya voy para viejo, I'm getting old
(encaminarse a) iba para ingeniero, she was studying to be an engineer
este niño va para médico, this boy's going to become a doctor
II verbo auxiliar
1 (ir + gerundio) va mejorando, he's improving
ir caminando, to go on foot
2 (ir + pp) ya van estrenadas tres películas de Almodóvar, three films by Almodovar have already been released
3 ( ir a + infinitivo) iba a decir que, I was going to say that
va a esquiar, she goes skiing
va a nevar, it's going to snow
vas a caerte, you'll fall
♦ Locuciones: a eso iba, I was coming to that
¡ahí va!, catch!
en lo que va de año, so far this year
¡qué va!, of course not! o nothing of the sort!
¡vamos a ver!, let's see!
van a lo suyo, they look after their own interests
¡vaya!, fancy that
¡vaya cochazo!, what a car!
ir a parar, to end up
'ir' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
A
- acudir
- andurriales
- ánimo
- antojarse
- avión
- avivar
- bajar
- bordear
- brazo
- busca
- caer
- calcular
- camino
- caza
- cien
- cine
- coche
- compra
- comprensible
- convenir
- correr
- corriente
- danzar
- deformación
- deriva
- descaminada
- descaminado
- descender
- desgracia
- deteriorarse
- disposición
- empecinada
- empecinado
- encaminada
- encaminado
- entrar
- excursión
- flojear
- funesta
- funesto
- gaita
- gatas
- grano
- gratis
- gustar
- haber
- huevo
- idea
- ilusión
English:
afford
- after
- ahead
- appealing
- back
- back up
- be
- beeline
- bluster
- bristle
- camping
- canter
- career
- catch
- charge off
- chase
- check off
- clean up after
- cling
- coast
- collapse
- come
- come to
- commute
- consider
- court
- cross
- cross-country
- crowd
- cycle
- cycling
- defensive
- delay
- dentist
- deserve
- detest
- die off
- dismiss
- do
- down
- downhill
- drag
- drift
- ease off
- ease up
- either
- even
- excursion
- exercise
- face
Anticuado Fam Fig Fam Fig [en carrera, juego] who's winning?; CSur Esp Esp Fam Fam Fam [me temo que no] I'm afraid not; [no digas tonterías] don't be ridiculous!; Esp RP Fam Fam [en un futuro próximo] I'm going to visit him; Méx