some people are never satisfied

mạnch [manç]

['tʃɛrto] certo (-a) I 1. ['tʃɛrto] 2. 3. II 1. ['tʃɛrto] 2.

['tʃɛrto] certo (-a)

[fouk] 1. noun plural 2. adjective - folklore [fəʊk] = relatives also folks)

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

- tener que
- tenerse por Para las expresiones como tener cuidado, tener ganas, tener suerte, tener de particular, tener en cuenta, ver la otra entrada. El uso de got con el verbo have es más frecuente en inglés británico, pero solo se usa en el presente. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3.

Ex: The label contains information about the record, indicating, for instance, its length, status, for example, new, amended, type and class.

Ex: Many of the aspects of the indexing process including, in particular, term selection and search logic have common features.

Ex: If the search is made with a call number, a summary of copies with that call number which are held by the library is first displayed.

Ex: For example, a person can consult the system holdings files to find out whether a library in the network owns a copy of the document.

Ex: Europe Environment carries useful reports on the activities of the lobby groups in the environmental, consumer protection and research fields.

Ex: Typical examples of enquiries of this kind that could be satisfied within minutes in any decently stocked library are ' Have you got anything on organising weddings?' 'Can you find me something on the history of paddle-steamers?'.

Ex: The first country to have in place an operational domestic geostationary satellite communications system was Canada.

Ex: Medical advances are improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, while prevention remains the key to stopping the spread of this disease.

Ex: But this would require time and competencies, which not all policy makers have at their disposal.

Ex: Not every index necessarily exhibits all the features of either of these types of indexing systems, and indeed, some will possess elements of both types of systems.

* acabar teniendo = end up with.

* acontecimiento + tener lugar = occurrence + take place.

* a mí también me gustaría tener la misma oportunidad = turnabout is fair play.

* aquí tiene(s) = here is/are.

* a tener en cuenta en el futuro = for future reference.

* cambio + tener lugar = change + take place.

* curso que tiene lugar fuera de la universidad = extension course, off-campus course.

* dar gracias por lo que Uno tiene = count + Posesivo + blessings.

* del que se tiene constancia = recorded.

* demostrar que se tiene razón = prove + Posesivo + point.

* el cliente siempre tiene la razón = the customer is always right.

* empezar a tener dudas = get + cold feet.

* empezar a tener sentido = become + meaningful.

* estudiar + Nombre + teniendo en cuenta + Nombre = place + Nombre + against the background of + Nombre.

* hacer que tenga más valor = put + a premium on.

* hombre que tiene mucho mundo = a man of the world.

* lo que tenga que pasar, que pase = que sera sera, what's meant to be, will be, whatever will be, will be.

* lo que tenga que ser, será = que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, what's meant to be, will be.

* mujer que tiene mucho mundo = a woman of the world.

* necesitarse tener en cuenta = need + consideration.

* negar tener relación con = disclaim + connection with.

* no querer tener nada que ver con = want + nothing to do with.

* no tener alternativa = have + no choice.

* no tener apetito = be off + Posesivo + food, be off + Posesivo + oats.

* no tener constancia de Algo = unrecorded.

* no tener donde caerse muerto = not have two pennies to rub together.

* no tener dos dedos de frente = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush.

* no tener dos dedos de frnete = knucklehead.

* no tener en cuenta = disregard, overlook, skip over, be oblivious of/to, close + the door on, leave + Nombre + out of the picture, fly in + the face of, drop + Nombre + out of the picture.

* no tener errores = be error-free.

* no tener éxito = come up with + nothing, prove + unsuccessful, be unsuccessful.

* no tener fin = there + be + no end to.

* no tener fronteras = have + no boundaries.

* no tener fundamento = be unfounded.

* no tener ganas = can't/couldn't be bothered, can't/couldn't be bothered.

* no tener ganas de comer = be off + Posesivo + food, be off + Posesivo + oats.

* no tener hijos = be childless.

* no tener hogar = be homeless.

* no tener idea = have + no clue, have + no idea.

* no tener idea de = be clueless about, have + no understanding of.

* no tener importancia = be of no importance, make + no difference, be of no consequence.

* no tener información = be undocumented.

* no tener la más mínima idea sobre Algo = Negativo + have + the foggiest idea.

* no tener la menor importancia = be of no particular concern.

* no tener la necesidad de usar Algo = have + no use for.

* no tener la obligación de = be under no obligation.

* no tener la preparación = be untrained.

* no tener límite = have + no limit.

* no tener límites = be boundless.

* no tener lugar = fall through.

* no tener más alternativa que = have + no other option but.

* no tener más opción que = have + little choice but, have + no other option but.

* no tener más remedio que = be stuck with, be left with the need to, get + stuck with.

* no tener nada en contra de = have + no quarrel with, have + nothing against.

* no tener nada en contra de Algo = have + no quarrel about + Nombre.

* no tener nada que perder = have + nothing to lose.

* no tener nada que ver con = be irrelevant to.

* no tener ni idea sobre Algo = not know the first thing about.

* no tener ni la más mínima posibilidad = not to have a prayer.

* no tener ni la más remota posibilidad = not to have a prayer.

* no tener ningún escrúpulo en = have + no qualms about.

* no tener ningún fundamento = not have a leg to stand on.

* no tener ningún interés = can't/couldn't be bothered.

* no tener ningún problema con = be okay with.

* no tener ningún remilgo en = have + no qualms about.

* no tener ningún reparo = have + no qualms about.

* no tener ni pies ni cabeza = be pointless.

* no tener ni punto de comparación = be in a different league.

* no tener ni puta idea = not get + Posesivo + shit together.

* no tener ni puta idea sobre Algo = not know the first thing about.

* no tener ni un pelo de tonto = there are no flies (on/about) + Pronombre.

* no tener ni voz ni voto en = have + no say in.

* no tener noticias es buena señal = no news is good news.

* no tener opción = have + no choice.

* no tener otra alternativa = have + no choice.

* no tener otra alternativa que = have + no other option but.

* no tener otra opción = have + no choice.

* no tener otra opción que = have + no other option but.

* no tener otro objetivo que el de = have + no other purpose than.

* no tener otro sitio donde recurrir = have + nowhere else to turn.

* no tener parangón = be unequalled, be without peer.

* no tener pelos en la lengua = call + a spade a spade.

* no tener posibilidades = be dead meat.

* no tener prejuicios = be open-minded.

* no tener presente = be oblivious of/to.

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

* no tener razón = be wrong.

* no tener razón de ser + Infinitivo = there + be + no sense in + Gerundio.

* no tener reparos = make + no bones about + Algo.

* no tener reparos en admitir que = make + no bones about + Algo.

* no tener representación = be unrepresented.

* no tener respuesta = be unanswerable.

* no tener rival = be second to none.

* no tener rumbo = lose + Posesivo + way.

* no tener salida = be stuck, get + stuck.

* no tenerse en pie = Negativo + hold + water.

* no tener sentido = be meaningless, be pointless, be senseless.

* no tener sentido el + Infinitivo = there + be + no point in + Gerundio.

* no tener sentido + Infinitivo = there + be + little point in + Gerundio, there + be + no sense in + Gerundio.

* no tener suerte = be out of luck.

* no tener tiempo de nada = have + not a moment to spare.

* no tener trabajo = be unemployed.

* no tener trascendencia = be of no consequence.

* no tener un duro = not have a bean.

* no tener valor = be valueless.

* no tener vida privada = like being in a (gold)fish bowl.

* no terminar nunca de tener problemas con = have + no end of problems with.

* ¡Ojalá tuviera...! = I wish I had....

* ¡Ojalá tuviese...! = I wish I had....

* parece tener poco sentido que = there + seem + little point in.

* por si + tener + suerte = on spec.

* que no tiene compensación = non-compensatory [noncompensatory].

* que no tiene precio = priceless.

* que pase lo que tenga que pasar = que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, what's meant to be, will be.

* que tiene lugar una vez a la semana = once-weekly.

* que tiene precio = priced.

* que tiene sentido = meaningful.

* que tiene solución = solvable.

* revista que tiene una gran demanda popular = mass-market journal.

* sin tener = in the absence of.

* sin tener en cuenta = never mind, without regard to, independently of, disregarding, not including.

* sin tener en cuenta el hecho de que = overlook + the fact that.

* sin tener que recurrir a = without recourse to.

* tenemos intereses en ambas partes = our feet are in both worlds.

* tener a Alguien metido en un puño = have + Nombre + under + Posesivo + thumb.

* tener a cargo de uno = have + as + Posesivo + charge.

* tener acceso a información confidencial = be on the inside.

* tener acuerdos con = have + deals with.

* tener afinidades = share + common ground.

* tener aire acondiconado = be air-conditioned.

* tener a la disposición de Uno = have at + Posesivo + disposal.

* tener al alcance = have at + Posesivo + touch.

* tener Algo al alcance = have + Nombre + at + Posesivo + fingertips.

* tener algo a mano = have + Nombre + at + Posesivo + fingertips.

* tener + Algo + a + Posesivo + entera disposición = have + the run of the + Nombre.

* tener Algo bajo el control de Uno = have + Nombre + at + Posesivo + command.

* tener Algo claro = clarify + Posesivo + mind.

* tener Algo en común = have + Nombre + in common, share + Nombre + in common.

* tener algo en contra de = have + something against.

* tener Algo fácilmente accesible = have + Nombre + at + Posesivo + fingertips.

* tener Algo hecho a la medida de uno = have + Nombre + cut out.

* tener algo muy vivo en la mente de uno = be strong in + mind.

* tener algo que decir sobre = have + a say in.

* tener algo que ver con = have + something to do with.

* tener algo reservado = have + something up + Posesivo + sleeve.

* tener alguna incidencia en = have + some bearing on.

* tener alguna posibilidad = have + a fighting chance.

* tener alguna posibilidad de triunfar = have + a fighting chance.

* tener alguna relevancia para = have + some bearing on.

* tener alucinaciones = hallucinate.

* tener a mano = have at + Posesivo + touch, have + on call, have + to hand, keep within + reach, be to hand.

* tener ansias de = crave, crave for.

* tener antecedentes de = have + a track record of.

* tener antojo de = crave, crave for.

* tener a + Posesivo + cargo = have + in + Posesivo + charge.

* tener aspecto = look.

* tener atrasos = be in arrears.

* tener aversión a = have + aversion to.

* tener beneficios = have + benefits.

* tener buena mano con las plantas = have + a green thumb, have + green fingers.

* tener buen apetito = have + a good appetite.

* tener buenas intenciones = be well-intentioned, mean + well.

* tener buenas perspectivas para = be well-placed to.

* tener buen ojo para juzgar a la gente = be a good judge of character.

* tener bulla = be in a hurry.

* tener cabida para = hold, accommodate, include, take.

* tener calentura = have + a temperature, have + a fever.

* tener características en común = share + similarities.

* tener cara de muerto = look like + death warmed (over/up).

* tener carencias = find + wanting.

* tener carta blanca = have + carte-blanche.

* tener causa justificada = have + good cause.

* tener cautela = proceed + with caution.

* tener celos = feel + jealous.

* tener claro = be clear in your mind.

* tener coherencia = cohere.

* tener cólicos = be colicky.

* tener como consecuencia = result (in).

* tener como equivalente = have + counterpart.

* tener como motivo central = plan around + Nombre.

* tener como objetivo = have + as + Posesivo + objective, be in business for.

* tener como sede = headquarter (at/in).

* tener compasión de = have + compassion for.

* tener conocimiento de = be privy to, be aware of.

* tener consecuencias = have + consequences.

* tener consecuencias en = have + implication for.

* tener consecuencias negativas = backfire.

* tener contacto = have + contact.

* tener contactos = liaise (with/between).

* tener controlado a Alguien = have + Nombre + on the run.

* tener control sobre = have + hold on.

* tener coraje = pluck up + courage, gather up + courage.

* tener correlación con = bear + correlation with.

* tener correspondencia = bear + correspondence (to).

* tener cosas en común = share + common ground.

* tener cualidades + Adjetivo = be of + Adjetivo + quality.

* tener cuidado = exercise + care, exercise + caution, proceed + with caution, watch out, take + caution.

* tener cuidado con = watch for, beware (of/that), look out for, be wary of.

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

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

* tener cuidado de = be careful, be chary of, take + (great) pains to.

* tener cuidado (de que) = take + care (that).

* tener cultivos = grow + crops.

* tener debilidad por = have + a soft spot for.

* tener delante = have + before.

* tener demasiada prisa = be in too much of a hurry, be in too much of a rush.

* tener derecho a = be entitled to, have + a right to, entitle to, have + the right to, have + a say in.

* tener derecho a expresar + Posesivo + opinión = be entitled to + Posesivo + own opinion.

* tener derecho de paso = have + the right of way.

* tener dificultad = struggle, experience + difficulty, be hard pressed.

* tener dificultad de + Infinitivo = have + difficulty + Gerundio, have + difficulty in + Gerundio.

* tener dificultad en + Verbo = be at pains to + Infinitivo.

* tener dificultades = have + a hard time, have + a tough time.

* tener dinero a punta pala = roll in + Dinero.

* tener dominado a Alguien = have + Nombre + on the run.

* tener dudas = be doubtful, have + misgivings, have + reservations (about), be suspicious.

* tener dudas sobre = be ambivalent about.

* tener efecto = take + effect, have + effect.

* tener efecto sobre = impinge on/upon.

* tener el atrevimiento de = have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener el corazón de un león = have + the heart of a lion.

* tener el deber de = have + a responsibility to.

* tener el derecho de = have + the right to.

* tener el descaro de = have + the gall to, have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener el destino de = suffer + the fate of.

* tener el estatus profesional de + Nombre = have + Nombre + status.

* tener el gusto de = take + pleasure.

* tener el hábito de = have + the habit of.

* tener el honor de = have + the honour of.

* tener el lujo = have + luxury.

* tener el mando = rule + the roost.

* tener el mejor aspecto posible = look + Posesivo + best.

* tener el mismo destino = suffer + the same fate.

* tener el mono = suffer from + withdrawal symptoms.

* tener el placer de = take + pleasure.

* tener el plazo cumplido = be due.

* tener el plazo vencido = be overdue.

* tener el poder = be the boss, call + the shots, call + the tune, rule + the roost.

* tener el poder de = have + the power to.

* tener el toque mágico = have + the magic touch.

* tener el valor = have + the courage.

* tener el valor de = have + the guts to, have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener en común = hold in + common, tread + common ground.

* tener en común con = partake (in/of).

* tener en consideración = take into + consideration, take into + consideration.

* tener en cuenta = allow for, bear in + mind, cater for/to, consider (as), heed, make + allowances, take + account of, take + cognisance of, take + cognition of, take into + account, take into + consideration, make + provision for, bring into + play, give + an ear to, factor, have + regard for, factor in, be aware of, note, keep in + mind.

* tener en cuenta las posibilidades de Algo = consider + possibilities.

* tener en cuenta un punto de vista = take into + account + viewpoint, contemplate + view.

* tener en funcionamiento = have + in effect.

* tener en gran estima = have + a very high regard for.

* tener en mente = bear in + mind, have + in mind, keep in + mind.

* tener en observación = hold under + observation, keep under + observation.

* tener en reserva = hold in + reserve.

* tener entre manos = be up to.

* tener envidia de = envy.

* tener errores = be flawed.

* tener éxito = achieve + success, be successful, get + anywhere, meet + success, prove + successful, succeed, attain + appeal, be a success, find + success, come up + trumps, prove + trumps, take off, meet with + success, hit + the big time, be popular, go + strong.

* tener éxito en el mundo = succeed in + the world.

* tener éxito en la vida = succeed in + life, get on in + life.

* tener expectativas = hold + expectations, have + expectations.

* tener experiencia = have + experience.

* tener fácilmente accesible = have at + Posesivo + touch.

* tener fallos = be flawed.

* tener fe = have + faith (in).

* tener fe en = have + faith (in).

* tener fiebre = have + a temperature, have + a fever.

* tener fijación por = be hipped (on/to), get hipped (on/to).

* tener flatulencia = pass + gas, break + wind, pass + wind.

* tener forma + Adjetivo = be + Adjetivo + in shape.

* tener frenillo = lisp.

* tener fundamento para pensar que = have + reason to believe that.

* tener futuro = have + potential, there + be + a future for/in, have + a future.

* tener ganada la mitad de la batalla = be half the battle.

* tener ganada sólo la mitad de la batalla = be only half the battle.

* tener ganas de = be keen to, have + an/the inclination to.

* tener ganas de + Infinitivo = feel like + Gerundio.

* tener gancho = be engaging.

* tener gastos = incur + costs.

* tener gastos generales = incur + overheads.

* tener gran éxito = hit + a home run, hit it out of + the park, knock it out of + the park.

* tener gran importancia = be of high significance.

* tener gran repercusión = be far reaching.

* tener hambre = be hungry, feel + hungry.

* tener hambre después del esfuerzo = work up + an appetite.

* tener hijos = father + children, have + children.

* tener hipo = hiccup.

* tener horario ajustado = be under time constraint.

* tener horror a = loathe, hate.

* tener idea = have + a clue.

* tener impacto = make + impact.

* tener impacto (sobre) = have + impact (on).

* tener implicaciones para = have + implication for.

* tener importancia = carry + weight, have + high profile, be of consequence.

* tener indigestión = have + indigestion.

* tener influencias = have + pull.

* tener influencia sobre = have + hold on.

* tener iniciativa = be proactive.

* tener intereses en = have + a stake in.

* tener intereses en juego = have + invested.

* tener interés por = have + an interest in.

* tener interés por/en = be interested in.

* tener inventiva = be inventive.

* tener jurisdicción = have + jurisdiction (over).

* tener la autoridad = have + mandate.

* tener la bragueta abierta = fly + be undone.

* tener la capacidad de = have + the potential (to/for).

* tener la cara de = have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener la cara descompuesta = look like + death warmed (over/up).

* tener la categoría profesional de + Nombre = hold + Nombre + rank, have + Nombre + rank, enjoy + Nombre + rank.

* tener la certeza de = feel + confident.

* tener la certeza de que = rest + assured that.

* tener la conciencia limpia = have + a clear conscience.

* tener la conciencia tranquila = have + a clear conscience.

* tener la convicción = it + be + Posesivo + understanding.

* tener la costumbre de = have + a habit of, have + the habit of.

* tener la costumbre de + Infinitivo = be in the habit of + Gerundio.

* tener la cuenta bancaria = bank.

* tener la culpa (por/de) = be at fault (for/to).

* tener la culpa de Algo que se ha causado Uno mismo = be of + Posesivo + own making.

* tener la desfachatez de = have + the gall to, have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener la desvergüenza de = have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener la doble función = double as, double up as.

* tener la facultad de = have + powers to.

* tener la fama de = have + a good record for.

* tener la fecha de + Fecha = be dated + Fecha.

* tener la frescura de = have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener la función de = be in the business of.

* tener la impresión = have + the impression, get + the impression.

* tener la impresión de que = get + the feeling that.

* tener la intención de = be intended to, intend, mean.

* tener la intención de + Infinitivo = set out to + Infinitivo.

* tener la libertad de = be at liberty to, feel + free to.

* tener la libertard de/para = have + the latitude to.

* tener la malafortuna de = have + the misfortune to.

* tener la mirada perdida = stare into + space, gaze into + space.

* tener la misma importancia = carry + equal weight.

* tener la obligación de = be under the obligation to.

* tener la ocasión de = have + opportunity to.

* tener la oficina central en = headquarter (at/in).

* tener la opinión = it + be + Posesivo + understanding.

* tener la oportunidad = have + the opportunity.

* tener la oportunidad de = get + (a/the) + chance to, have + opportunity to, get + a chance to.

* tener la osadía de = have + the gall to, have + the nerve(s) to, have + the cheek to.

* tener la paciencia del santo Job = have + the patience of Job.

* tener la paciencia de un santo = have + the patience of a saint.

* tener la posibilidad de = have + chance.

* tener la potestad = have + mandate.

* tener la potestad de = have + the power to, have + the right to.

* tener lapsus = have + lapses.

* tener la reputación de ser = be well known for.

* tener la responsabilidad = charge, undertake + burden.

* tener la responsabilidad de = have + the responsibility of.

* tener la sartén por el mango = call + the shots, be the boss, call + the tune, rule + the roost.

* tener la seguridad de = have + the security of.

* tener la seguridad de que = rest + assured that.

* tener la sensación de que = have + a gut feeling that.

* tener las mismas prerrogativas = have + an equal voice in.

* tener las riendas de = hold + the reins of.

* tener las riendas del poder = hold + the reins of power.

* tener lástima = pity.

* tener lástima de = take + pity on.

* tener la tentación de = be tempted to.

* tener la última palabra = have + the ultimate say, have + the final say, call + the shots, be the boss, call + the tune, rule + the roost.

* tener la vista cansada = need + reading glasses.

* tenerle manía a Alguien = have + it in for + Nombre.

* tenerle rabia a Alguien = have + it in for + Nombre.

* tenerle tirria a Alguien = have + it in for + Nombre.

* tener libertad = have + freedom.

* tener libertad sobre = have + wide discretion over.

* tenerlo crudo = not be easy.

* tenerlo difícil = not be easy, not be easy.

* tenerlo duro = not be easy.

* tenerlo fácil = have + an easy ride.

* tener lo mejor de ambos mundos = have + the best of both worlds.

* tener lo mejor de los dos mundos = have + the best of both worlds.

* tener lo que hace falta = have + what it takes.

* tener lo que hay que tener = have + what it takes.

* tener lo que se necesita = have + what it takes.

* tener los días contados = day + be + numbered, be doomed, doomed, be dead meat, the (hand)writing + be + on the wall, see it + coming.

* tener los nervios de punta = have + butterflies in + Posesivo + stomach.

* tener los nervios en el estómago = have + butterflies in + Posesivo + stomach.

* tener los pies firmemente en el suelo = feet + be + firmly planted on the ground.

* tenerlo todo = have + the best of both worlds.

* tenerlo todo hecho = have + an easy ride.

* tener lugar = take + place, go on, come to + pass.

* tener madera de = be cut out for.

* tener mala fama por = hold in + disrepute, be infamous for.

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

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

* tener mal de amores = be lovesick.

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

* tener más paciencia que el santo Job = have + the patience of Job.

* tener más paciencia que un santo = have + the patience of a saint.

* tener mérito = be meritorious.

* tener miedo = be afraid, be in fear, frighten.

* tener miedo a = be scared of.

* tener miedo a Alguien = regard + Nombre + with fear.

* tener motivo = be right.

* tener motivo justificado = have + good cause.

* tener motivo para = have + cause to.

* tener movilidad = be mobile.

* tener mucha distancia que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucha ilusión = be thrilled.

* tener mucha personalidad = be full of character.

* tener mucho camino que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucho carácter = be full of character.

* tener mucho cuidado = be extra vigilant.

* tener mucho éxito = hit + a home run, hit it out of + the park, knock it out of + the park.

* tener mucho interés en = have + a high stake in.

* tener mucho interés por = be keen to.

* tener mucho que ver con = have + a great deal to do with.

* tener mucho tiempo libre = have + plenty of time to spare.

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

* tener niños = have + children.

* tener + Nombre = be not without + Nombre.

* tener noticias de = hear from.

* tener + Número + Período de Tiempo = be + Período de Tiempo + old.

* tener obligación = have + obligation.

* tener obsesión con = be hipped (on/to), get hipped (on/to).

* tener ojeras = have + bags under + Posesivo + eyes.

* tener ojos en la nuca = have + eyes in the back of + Posesivo + head.

* tener opinión = take + view.

* tener paciencia = be patient.

* tener paciencia con = bear with + Pronombre.

* tener palabra = keep + Posesivo + word, live up to + Posesivo + word.

* tener paralelo = have + parallel.

* tener pelos en la lengua = mince + words.

* tener pérdidas = make + a loss.

* tener perplejo = stump.

* tener plena conciencia de = be fully aware of.

* 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.

* tener por costumbre + Infinitivo = be in the habit of + Gerundio.

* tener por término medio = average.

* tener posibilidades = stand + chance, be in with a chance.

* tener potencial = have + potential.

* tener precaución de = be chary of.

* tener precedencia = take + priority.

* tener preferencia = be preferential, have + the right of way.

* tener preferencia (sobre) = take + precedence (over).

* tener presente = be mindful of/that, bear in + mind, consider (as), keep in + focus, keep in + mind, make + consideration, mind, make + provision for, have + regard for, be aware of.

* tener presente las posibilidades de Algo = consider + possibilities.

* tener prioridad = trump.

* tener prisa = be in a hurry.

* tener problema con Algo = experience + trouble with.

* tener problemas = have + problems.

* tener problemas con = fall + foul of, run + afoul of problems, run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* tener problemas con la ley = fall + foul of the law, go + afoul of the law, fall + afoul of the law.

* tener programado su comienzo = be scheduled to start.

* tener programado su finalización = be scheduled for completion.

* tener pros y contras = be a mixed blessing.

* tener que = have to, hafta [have to].

* tener que aguantar Algo = be stuck with, get + stuck with.

* tener que arreglárselas solo = leave (up) to + Posesivo + own resources, leave to + Posesivo + own devices.

* tener que cargar con = be stuck with, saddle with, get + stuck with.

* tener que cargar con el peso de = be burdened with.

* tener que cargar con el peso de la tradición = be burdened with + tradition.

* tener que competir con = face + competition from.

* tener + que felicitar a Alguien = have to hand it to + Nombre.

 

Multiple Entries:
tener    
tener algo
tener ( conjugate tener) verbo transitivo El uso de `got' en frases como `I've got a new dress' está mucho más extendido en el inglés británico que en el americano. Este prefiere la forma `I have a new dress'
1


no tenemos pan we don't have any bread, we haven't got any bread;
tiene el pelo largo she has o she's got long hair




tengo cosas que hacer I have o I've got things to do

2


tiene un metro de largo it is one meter long;
le lleva 15 años — ¿y eso qué tiene? (AmL fam) she's 15 years older than he is — so what does that matter?


tengo veinte años I'm twenty (years old)
3




4


le tengo mucho cariño I'm very fond of him;
tengo el placer de … it gives me great pleasure to …




5 ( refiriéndose a actitudes):

ten paciencia/cuidado be patient/careful;
tiene mucho tacto he's very tactful
6 (indicando estado, situación):

tengo las manos sucias my hands are dirty;
tienes el cinturón desabrochado your belt's undone;
me tiene muy preocupada I'm very worried about it
tener v aux
1 tener que hacer algo


tienes que comer más you ought to eat more


tendrías que llamarlo you should ring him


¡tú tenías que ser! it had to be you!
2 ( con participio pasado):

te tengo dicho que … I've told you before (that) …;
teníamos pensado irnos hoy we intended leaving today
3 (AmL) ( en expresiones de tiempo):

tenía un año sin verlo she hadn't seen him for a year
tenerse verbo pronominal ( sostenerse):

no tenerse de sueño to be dead on one's feet
tener
I verbo transitivo
1 (poseer, disfrutar) to have, have got: tengo muy buena memoria, I have a very good memory
no tiene coche, he hasn't got a car
tiene dos hermanas, he has two sisters
tiene mucho talento, he's very talented
no tenemos suficiente dinero, we don't have enough money
(ser dueño de) to own: tiene una cadena de hoteles, he owns a chain of hotels ➣ Ver nota en have 2 (contener) to contain: esta bebida no tiene alcohol, this drink doesn't contain alcohol
3 (asir, sujetar) to hold: la tenía en brazos, she was carrying her in her arms
4 (hospedar) tiene a su suegra en casa, his mother-in-law is staying with them
5 (juzgar, considerar) la tengo por imposible, I regard her as a hopeless case
nos tienen por tontos, they think we are stupid
tenlo por seguro, you can be sure
6 (pasar el tiempo de cierta manera) to have: he tenido un día espantoso, I've had a dreadful day
7 (padecer, sentir) tiene celos, he's jealous
tengo hambre/sed, I'm hungry/thirsty
ten paciencia conmigo, be patient with me
tengo un dolor de cabeza terrible, I have a terrible headache
8 (profesar) to have: me tiene cariño, he is very fond of me
no le tengo ningún respeto, I have no respect for him
9 (años, tiempo) to be: el bebé tiene ocho días, the baby is eight days old
(medidas) la cama tiene metro y medio de ancho, the bed is one and a half metres wide
10 (mantener) to keep: no sabe tener la boca cerrada, she can't keep her mouth shut
nos tuvo dos horas esperando, he kept us waiting for two hours
tiene su habitación muy ordenada, he keeps his room very tidy
me tiene preocupada, I'm worried about him
11 ( tener que + infinitivo) tengo que hacerlo, I must do it
tienes que tomarte las pastillas, you have to take your pills
tendrías que habérselo dicho, you ought to have told her ➣ Ver nota en must
II verbo aux to have: mira que te lo tengo dicho veces, I've told you time and time again
Tener tiene dos traducciones básicas: to have o to have got. Esta segunda se usa casi únicamente para expresar posesión y solo en el presente: Tengo un coche nuevo. I have got a new car.
La primera se usa en sentido más general: Va a tener un problema. He's going to have a problem. Recuerda que la forma interrogativa de I have got es have I got?, mientras que la forma interrogativa de I have es do I have?
Cuando tener significa sentir, se traduce por el verbo to be: Tengo hambre. I am hungry.

' tener' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abrigar
- abuela
- abundar
- acarrear
- accidente
- acostumbrar
- admirar
- adolecer
- agobiarse
- añorar
- antena
- apetecer
- apremiar
- aptitud
- arcada
- arte
- banco
- bombera
- bombero
- burbuja
- cabida
- cabronada
- cacao
- caer
- cagalera
- calor
- cantar
- capaz
- carácter
- carrete
- celebrarse
- céntimo
- certeza
- certidumbre
- ciega
- ciego
- conciencia
- conllevar
- consecuencia
- constar
- contingente
- corazón
- correa
- correrse
- cosa
- cosquillas
- costar
- creer
- cruda
- crudo
English:
access
- accommodate
- act
- add up
- afraid
- agree
- aim to
- allow for
- allowance
- approve of
- around
- associate
- attached
- augment
- authoritarian
- ax
- axe
- barrel
- be
- bear
- bear with
- bearing
- begrudge
- believe in
- belong
- beware
- boast
- bone
- boomerang
- breathing space
- broody
- brush
- butterfly
- calculate
- careful
- celebrate
- clash
- clever
- come off
- command
- connected
- conscience
- consider
- consideration
- count
- crash
- date
- daunt
- debt
- depend
RP Fam muy Fam Am Formal