quick acting

Ex: From mainframe and mini-computers in the 60s and 70s the trend of the 80s is towards micro-based, self-contained personal computers on the one hand, and superfast, high-performance computers on the other.

actuar en una película — to act o be in a film

actúa como o de mediador en el conflicto — he's acting as a mediator in the conflict

actúa de manera rara — he's acting o behaving strangely

Ex: AACR2 defines a corporate body thus: 'a corporate body is an organisation or group of persons that is identified by a particular name and that acts, or may act, as an entity'.

la actuación de la policía en la manifestación — the behaviour o conduct of the police at the demonstration

Ex: Americans, convinced that education could be the panacea for all their ills, answered with vigorous action.

no puedo cerrar esta maleta — I can't close o shut this suitcase

cierra los ojos — close o shut your eyes

cerró el libro de golpe — she banged o slammed the book shut

• cerré la puerta con llave — I locked the door

• cierra el pico — * shut your trap **

• cerrar el puño — to clench one's fist

• cerrar el paso a algn — to block sb's way

trató de entrar, pero le cerraron el paso — he tried to get in, but they blocked o barred his way

cerrar el sistema — (Inform) to shut down the system

los manifestantes que cerraban la marcha — the demonstrators bringing up the rear o at the rear

la puerta cierra mal — the door won't close o shut properly

cierra, que se va a escapar el gato — close o shut the door or the cat will get out

¿a qué hora cierran las tiendas el sábado? — what time do the shops close o shut on Saturday?

cerrar con o contra algn — to grapple with sb

han cerrado el plazo de inscripción — enrollment has closed o finished

cierra, que hace frío — close o shut the door (o window etc), it's cold

la ventana no cierra bien — the window doesn't close o shut properly

se cerró en su actitud — he dug his heels in

cerrarse a algo: sería cerrarse a la evidencia it would be turning our back on the evidence; se cierran a todo cambio — they're not open to change

han cerrado el plazo de inscripción — enrollment has closed o finished

cierra, que hace frío — close o shut the door (o window etc), it's cold

la ventana no cierra bien — the window doesn't close o shut properly

se cerró en su actitud — he dug his heels in

cerrarse a algo: sería cerrarse a la evidencia it would be turning our back on the evidence; se cierran a todo cambio — they're not open to change

Ex: The date due calculated by the circulation programs is always checked against the list of dates the library is closed to ensure that a document is not due when it cannot be returned.

juega como yo — he plays like me o like I do

como este hay pocos — there are few like this o him

tiene ventajas, como son la resistencia y durabilidad — it has advantages, such as o like strength and durability

hazlo como te dijo ella — do it like * o the way she told you

toca como canta — she plays like * o the same way as she sings

no es como me lo imaginaba — it isn't as o like * I imagined it

• tal como, tal como lo había planeado — just as o the way I had planned it

hazlo como quieras — do it however you want o like

• como sea — at all costs

había como cincuenta — there were about o around fifty

vino como a las dos — he came at about o around two

sentía como tristeza — she felt a sort o kind of sadness

como no tenía dinero — as o since I had no money

• tal (y) como están las cosas — the way things are, as things stand

• de tanto como, tienen las manos doloridas de tanto como aplaudieron — they clapped so much their hands hurt

• como no, como no lo haga en seguida... — if he doesn't do it at once..., unless he does it at once...

siguió leyendo, como si no hubiera oído nada — he kept on reading, as if o as though he hadn't heard

sentí como si fuera a caerme — I felt as if o as though I was about to fall

como si no hubiera pasado nada — as if o as though nothing had happened

se comporta como si me odiara — he behaves as if o as though he hated me

como si fuera a llover — as if o as though it was going to rain

a como dé o diera lugar — at any cost

en algunos lugares como Londres — in some places such as o like London

bailó como nunca — she danced as o like she'd never danced before

así como — (frml) as well as

como él solo/ella sola: es egoísta como él solo he's so o he's incredibly selfish!; como mucho/poco at (the) most/at least; como nadie: cocina como nadie nobody cooks like her; como que...: conduce muy bien - como que es piloto de carreras he drives very well - well, he is a racing driver, after all; y no me lo dijiste - como que no lo sabía! and you didn't tell me about it - that's because I didn't know about it!; como ser (CS) such as, for example; como si (+ subj) as if, as though; ella está grave y él como si nada or como si tal cosa — she's seriously ill and he doesn't seem at all o in the least worried

no voy - como quieras — I'm not going - please yourself o as you like

como era temprano, nos fuimos a dar una vuelta — since o as it was early, we went for a walk

cansado como estaba, me ayudó — tired though o tired as he was, he helped me

en algunos lugares como Londres — in some places such as o like London

bailó como nunca — she danced as o like she'd never danced before

así como — (frml) as well as

como él solo/ella sola: es egoísta como él solo he's so o he's incredibly selfish!; como mucho/poco at (the) most/at least; como nadie: cocina como nadie nobody cooks like her; como que...: conduce muy bien - como que es piloto de carreras he drives very well - well, he is a racing driver, after all; y no me lo dijiste - como que no lo sabía! and you didn't tell me about it - that's because I didn't know about it!; como ser (CS) such as, for example; como si (+ subj) as if, as though; ella está grave y él como si nada or como si tal cosa — she's seriously ill and he doesn't seem at all o in the least worried

no voy - como quieras — I'm not going - please yourself o as you like

como era temprano, nos fuimos a dar una vuelta — since o as it was early, we went for a walk

cansado como estaba, me ayudó — tired though o tired as he was, he helped me

Ex: This scheme aims for a more helpful order than the major schemes, by following the groupings of subjects as they are taught in schools.