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the two younger children

1 Benjamin (The younger of two children born to Jacob, also called Israel, and his second wife, Rachel)

Религия: Вениамин

Универсальный англо-русский словарь > Benjamin (The younger of two children born to Jacob, also called Israel, and his second wife, Rachel)
2 Young

[jʌŋ] 1.
aggettivo giovane

young at heart — giovane di spirito

he is six years younger than me — è sei anni più giovane di me

I feel ten years younger — mi sento ringiovanito di dieci anni

in my younger days — quand'ero giovane

you're only young once! — si è giovani una volta sola!

children as young as two years old — bambini di appena due anni

Mr Brown the younger, the younger Mr Brown — Brown il giovane; (Mr Brown's son) Brown figlio

young lady — giovane donna

young man — giovanotto

young people — i giovani

young person — giovane

young fashion — moda giovane

the younger generation — la nuova generazione

her younger brother — suo fratello minore

the two younger children — i due bambini più piccoli

I'm not as young as I used to be — non ho più vent'anni
2.
nome

1) (young people)

the young — + verbo pl. i giovani, la gioventù

for young and old (alike) — per i vecchi e per i giovani

2) (animal's offspring) + verbo pl. piccoli m.pl.

* * *
1. adjective
(in the first part of life, growth, development etc; not old: a young person; Young babies sleep a great deal; A young cow is called a calf.) giovane
2. noun plural
(the group of animals or birds produced by parents: Most animals defend their young.) piccoli

- youngster
- the young
* * *
(Surnames) Young /jʌŋ/
* * *
[jʌŋ] 1.
aggettivo giovane

young at heart — giovane di spirito

he is six years younger than me — è sei anni più giovane di me

I feel ten years younger — mi sento ringiovanito di dieci anni

in my younger days — quand'ero giovane

you're only young once! — si è giovani una volta sola!

children as young as two years old — bambini di appena due anni

Mr Brown the younger, the younger Mr Brown — Brown il giovane; (Mr Brown's son) Brown figlio

young lady — giovane donna

young man — giovanotto

young people — i giovani

young person — giovane

young fashion — moda giovane

the younger generation — la nuova generazione

her younger brother — suo fratello minore

the two younger children — i due bambini più piccoli

I'm not as young as I used to be — non ho più vent'anni
2.
nome

1) (young people)

the young — + verbo pl. i giovani, la gioventù

for young and old (alike) — per i vecchi e per i giovani

2) (animal's offspring) + verbo pl. piccoli m.pl.

English-Italian dictionary > Young
3 young

young [jʌŋ]

1. adjective

[person, tree] jeune ; [vegetable] nouveau ( nouvelle f)

• he is young for his age il fait plus jeune que son âge

• children as young as seven des enfants de pas plus de sept ans

• young at heart jeune de cœur

• he is three years younger than you il a trois ans de moins que vous

• my younger brother mon frère cadet

• my younger sister ma sœur cadette

• we're not getting any younger nous ne rajeunissons pas

• if I were ten years younger si j'avais dix ans de moins

• they have a young family ils ont de jeunes enfants

• the young(er) generation la jeune génération

• the night is young on a toute la nuit devant nous

• he has a very young outlook il a des idées très jeunes

• young people les jeunes mpl (PROV) you're only young once(PROV) jeunesse n'a qu'un temps

2. plural noun

( = people) young and old les (plus) jeunes mpl comme les (plus) vieux mpl tout le monde

* * *
[jʌŋ] 1.
noun

1) ( young people)

the young — les jeunes mpl, la jeunesse f

for young and old (alike) — pour les jeunes comme pour les vieux

2) ( animal's offspring) petits mpl
2.
adjective jeune

to be young at heart — avoir l'esprit jeune

she is ten years younger than him — elle a dix ans de moins que lui

I feel ten years younger — j'ai l'impression d'avoir rajeuni de dix ans

in my younger days — quand j'étais jeune

you're only young once! — on n'est jeune qu'une fois

children as young as five years old worked — des enfants dont certains n'avaient que cinq ans travaillaient

the night is young — la nuit ne fait que commencer

Mr Brown the younger — M. Brown le jeune; ( Mr Brown's son) M. Brown fils

young lady — jeune femme f

young people — jeunes gens mpl

young person — jeune m

the younger generation — la jeune génération

her younger brother — son frère cadet

the two younger children — les deux cadets

I'm not as young as I used to be — je n'ai plus 20 ans

we're not getting any younger — nous ne rajeunissons pas

English-French dictionary > young
4 piccolo

1. adj small, little

di statura short

meschino petty

2. m, piccola f child

la gatta con i suoi piccoli the cat and her young

da piccolo as a child

fin da piccolo since I/he was a child

* * *

piccolo agg.

1 little; ( di dimensioni ridotte) small; ( piccolissimo) tiny: una piccola casa, a small house; mi ha dato un piccolo aiuto, he gave me a little help; daremo una piccola festa, we'll give a little (o small) party; ha trovato un piccolo lavoro, he has found a little job; una famiglia piccola, a small family; un piccolo numero di persone, a small number of people; un piccolo lago, a small lake; piccola somma, small sum; passami il cacciavite piccolo, pass me the small screwdriver; adoro il tuo piccolo gattino rosso, I adore your little ginger kitten; abbiamo trascorso l'estate in una piccola isola del sud, we spent the summer on a little island in the south; libro, volume di formato piccolo, book, volume of small format; un piatto più piccolo, a smaller plate; è una piccola stanza, it is a small room; ha le mani molto piccole, she has tiny hands; il maglione blu è troppo piccolo per me, the blue sweater is too small for me; non ho avuto neanche una piccola soddisfazione in quel lavoro, I didn't have even a tiny bit of satisfaction in that job; le medicine vanno prese a piccole dosi, medicines are to be taken in small doses // piccolo borghese, petty bourgeois (o lower middle-class person); piccola borghesia, petty bourgeoisie (o lower middle class) // ore piccole, small hours: fare le ore piccole, to stay up till the small hours // farsi piccolo, to cower; (fig.) to belittle oneself: il bimbo si fece piccolo per evitare lo schiaffo, the child cowered before the blow // (econ.): piccola impresa, small business (o firm); piccolo possidente, small landowner; piccole spese, petty (o incidental o out-of-pocket) expenses; piccolo reddito, capitale, small income, capital; piccolo commerciante, small tradesman; piccolo speculatore, punter; piccola industria, small-scale industry; piccola pubblicità, classified advertisements (o want ads) // (banca) piccolo credito, personal loan // (dir.) piccolo fallimento, small bankruptcy ∙ Come si nota dagli esempi, little traduce spesso i vezzeggiativi e i diminutivi italiani

2 ( di statura) short: un uomo piccolo, a short man

3 ( giovane) young, small; little: il figlio più piccolo, the youngest son; è troppo piccolo per capire, he's too young (o small) to understand; ha un bambino piccolo, she has a little baby

4 ( secondario, lieve) slight, trifling, small, petty: piccolo difetto, slight fault; piccolo errore, trifling error; piccolo inconveniente, a slight snag (o drawback); piccola indisposizione, slight indisposition; le piccole noie della vita, the petty troubles of life; piccole preoccupazioni, small worries; è solo una piccola cosa, it is only a petty thing (o a trifle); un piccolo dettaglio, a minor detail

5 ( meschino) mean, petty; ( limitato) narrow: mente piccola, narrow (o small) mind: una persona dalla mente piccola, a narrow-minded person

6 ( breve) short, brief: piccolo discorso, short speech; una piccola distanza, a short distance; piccoli passi, short steps: il bambino camminava a piccoli passi, the child was taking short steps; una piccola vacanza, a short (o brief) holiday

7 ( leggero) light: un piccolo colpo sulla spalla, a light touch (o tap) on the shoulder

◆ s.m.

1 (small) child, little one; (fam.) kid: il piccolo si addormentò, the baby (o little one) fell asleep; ha tre figli: il piccolo ha solo tre mesi, he has three children: the youngest is only three months old; i più piccoli si sedettero davanti, the smaller ones sat in front; libri per i piccoli, books for kids // da piccolo, as a child: da piccolo era biondo, as a child he was blond; fin da piccolo ha amato la musica, he has loved music since he was little

2 in piccolo, small: nel proprio piccolo, in one's small way; la casa, nel suo piccolo, è perfetta per noi, the house, small as it is, is perfect for us; l'azienda, nel suo piccolo, ha raddoppiato il fatturato, the company, small as it is, has doubled its turnover; nel nostro piccolo cerchiamo di fare qualcosa, in our own little way, we try to do something; è una copia in piccolo del Colosseo, it's a miniature model of the Colosseum

3 ( di cane) pup, puppy; ( di gatto) kitten; ( di grosso mammifero) calf*; ( di volatile) chick; ( di ogni animale) joey: i cani e i loro piccoli, dogs and their young; i piccoli del leone, della tigre, the lion, tiger cubs.

* * *
['pikkolo] piccolo (-a)
1. agg

1) (oggetto, misura) small, (vezzeggiativo) little

ho una macchina molto piccola — I have a very small car

me ne dia uno più piccolo — give me a smaller one

qual è la stanza più piccola della casa? — which is the smallest room in the house?

una piccola casetta in campagna — a little house in the country

è piccolo di statura — he is small, he is of small stature

è più piccolo di me — he is smaller than me

com'è piccolo il mondo! — it's a small world!

2) (giovane) young, small, little, (vezzeggiativo) little

un bambino piccolo — a little boy

è ancora troppo piccolo — he's still too young

bambini piccoli — young children

mio fratello più piccolo — my younger o little brother

Paolo è il più piccolo dei fratelli — Paolo is the youngest of the brothers

3) (di poco conto: difetto) slight, (regalo) little, (dettaglio) minor

4) (breve: viaggio, lettera) short

5) (modesto) small, fig, (pegg : meschino) petty, mean

piccolo possidente — smallholder

la piccola borghesia — the lower middle-classes pl, pegg the petty bourgeoisie

farsi piccolo — (umile) to make o.s. small, to cower

2. sm/f

(bambino) (small) child, small boy (girl), (vezzeggiativo) little one

da piccolo — as a child

da piccola ero molto timida — I was very shy as a child

3. sm

in piccolo — in miniature

mi sembra il Colosseo in piccolo — it's like a miniature version of the Colosseum

nel mio piccolo — in my own small way

(di animale) piccoli smpl — young pl

la gatta e i suoi piccoli — the cat and her kittens

la volpe e i suoi piccoli — the vixen and her young o cubs

* * *
['pikkolo] 1.
aggettivo

1) (di grandezza) [persona, parte del corpo, oggetto] small, little

è piccolo per la sua età — he's short for his age

2) (di lunghezza, durata) [distanza, pausa] short

3) (di età) young, little

è la più -a — she's the youngest

i due bambini più -i — the two younger children

ha parlato di quando era piccolo — he spoke of when he was a child

è il nostro figlio più piccolo — he's our youngest

4) (in quantità) [somma, aumento, gruppo] small; [cenno, sorriso] little; [ porzione] undersized, small

fai un piccolo sforzo — make a bit of an effort

5) (poco importante) [particolare, difetto, operazione] minor; [inconveniente, incidente] slight, minor; [ cambiamento] slight, small; [furto, spese] petty

pesci -i — fig. small fry

6) (modesto) [dono, favore] little

7) (meschino, ristretto) [ persona] petty, mean

8) (di secondo piano) [impresa, azionista] small

- a nobiltà — minor aristocracy
2.
sostantivo maschile (f. -a)

1) (bambino) baby, child*

da piccolo era un monello — when he was little he was a pest

ho imparato a nuotare da piccolo — I learnt how to swim when I was a child

2) (cucciolo) baby

piccolo di scimmia, pinguino — baby monkey, penguin

i mammiferi allattano i loro -i — mammals suckle their young

la leonessa e i suoi -i — the lioness and her cubs

3) in piccolo in small; [ riprodurre] on a small scale

è Venezia in piccolo — it's a miniature Venice

•

piccolo trotto — equit. jog trot

••

nel mio, suo piccolo — in my, his own small way
••
Note:

L'aggettivo piccolo è reso in inglese principalmente da small e little. Pur rinviando agli esempi d'uso più sotto nella voce, si può anticipare che small descrive semplicemente le dimensioni di qualcosa, mentre little connota il termine a cui si riferisce come qualcosa o qualcuno di gradevolmente piccolo oppure di poco importante

* * *

piccolo

/'pikkolo/

L'aggettivo piccolo è reso in inglese principalmente da small e little. Pur rinviando agli esempi d'uso più sotto nella voce, si può anticipare che small descrive semplicemente le dimensioni di qualcosa, mentre little connota il termine a cui si riferisce come qualcosa o qualcuno di gradevolmente piccolo oppure di poco importante.

I aggettivo

1 (di grandezza) [persona, parte del corpo, oggetto] small, little; è piccolo per la sua età he's short for his age

2 (di lunghezza, durata) [distanza, pausa] short

3 (di età) young, little; è la più -a she's the youngest; i due bambini più -i the two younger children; ha parlato di quando era piccolo he spoke of when he was a child; è il nostro figlio più piccolo he's our youngest

4 (in quantità) [somma, aumento, gruppo] small; [cenno, sorriso] little; [ porzione] undersized, small; fai un piccolo sforzo make a bit of an effort

5 (poco importante) [particolare, difetto, operazione] minor; [inconveniente, incidente] slight, minor; [ cambiamento] slight, small; [furto, spese] petty; pesci -i fig. small fry

6 (modesto) [dono, favore] little

7 (meschino, ristretto) [ persona] petty, mean

8 (di secondo piano) [impresa, azionista] small; - a nobiltà minor aristocracy

II sostantivo maschile

(f. -a)

1 (bambino) baby, child*; da piccolo era un monello when he was little he was a pest; ho imparato a nuotare da piccolo I learnt how to swim when I was a child

2 (cucciolo) baby; piccolo di scimmia, pinguino baby monkey, penguin; i mammiferi allattano i loro -i mammals suckle their young; la leonessa e i suoi -i the lioness and her cubs

3 in piccolo in small; [ riprodurre] on a small scale; è Venezia in piccolo it's a miniature Venice

IDIOMS

nel mio, suo piccolo in my, his own small way

\

COMPOUNDS

piccolo trotto equit. jog trot.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > piccolo
5 young

young

A n

1 ( young people) the young (+ v pl) les jeunes mpl, la jeunesse f ; for young and old (alike) pour les jeunes comme les vieux, pour jeunes et vieux ;

2 ( animal's offspring) (+ v pl) petits mpl ; to be with young être pleine.

B adj ( not very old) [person, tree, animal, plant] jeune (before n) ; [nation, organization] jeune (before n) ; young at heart jeune de cœur ; he's young for his age il est jeune pour son âge ; she is ten years younger than him elle a dix ans de moins que lui ; I feel ten years younger j'ai l'impression d'avoir rajeuni de dix ans ; in my younger days quand j'étais jeune ; you're only young once! on n'est jeune qu'une fois ; children as young as five years old des enfants dont certains n'avaient que cinq ans ; to marry/die young se marier/mourir jeune ; the young moon la lune nouvelle ; the night is young la nuit ne fait que commencer ; Mr Brown the younger ou the younger Mr Brown M. Brown le jeune ; ( Mr Brown's son) M. Brown fils ; young Jones le jeune Jones ; they are aiming at a young audience ils visent un public jeune ; to have a young outlook être jeune d'esprit ; young fashion mode f jeunes ; young lady jeune femme f ; what did you say, young lady? ( patronizingly) qu'est-ce que vous avez dit, mademoiselle? ; young man jeune homme m ; her young man† son (petit) ami ; young people jeunes gens mpl ; young person jeune m ; the younger generation la jeune génération ; her younger brother son frère cadet ; her younger sister sa sœur cadette ; the two younger children les deux cadets ; I'm not as young as I used to be je n'ai plus 20 ans ; we're not getting any younger nous ne rajeunissons pas.

Big English-French dictionary > young
6 menor

adj.

1 smaller.

2 younger, junior.

3 minor, lesser.

f. & m.

minor (law) (child).

m.

1 minor, young man, youngster.

2 minor, young girl.

* * *

menor

► adjetivo

1 (comparativo - en tamaño) smaller; (- en calidad, importancia) lesser; (- en edad) younger

■ necesito una talla menor I need a smaller size

■ se corre menor peligro it's less dangerous

■ mi hermano menor my younger brother

2 (superlativo - en tamaño) smallest; (- en calidad, importancia) least; (- en edad) youngest

■ cogió el trozo de menos tamaño she took the smallest piece

■ no tiene la menor importancia it's not at all important

■ su hermano menor se quedará en casa his youngest brother is going to stay at home

3 (inferior) minor

4 MÚSICA minor

► nombre masulino o femenino

1 DERECHO minor

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

al por menor retail

apto,-a para menores (gen) suitable for all ages 2 (película) U-certificate, US rated G

ser menor de edad to be under age

menor de edad minor

tribunal de menores juvenile court

* * *
1. noun mf.
minor
2. adj.
1) minor

2) smaller, smallest

3) lesser, least

4) younger, youngest

•

- al por menor

* * *

1. ADJ

1) [comparativo]

a) [de tamaño] smaller

una caja de menor tamaño — a smaller box

los libros están ordenados de menor a mayor — the books are arranged by size, from small to large

b) [de cantidad] fewer, less

necesito una cantidad menor de botellas — I need fewer bottles

echa sal en menor cantidad — add less salt

• menor que algo — less than sth

su aportación es diez veces menor que la nuestra — his contribution is ten times less than ours

tres es menor que siete — three is less than seven

c) [de importancia, tiempo]

heridas de menor importancia — minor injuries

existe un menor control en las aduanas — customs controls are not as strict o tight as they were

el crecimiento de la economía es cada vez menor — the economy is growing at an ever slower rate

viene con menor frecuencia que antes — she doesn't come as often now

• en menor grado — to a lesser extent

d) [de edad] younger

mis dos hermanos menores — my two younger brothers

si eres menor de 18 años no puedes entrar — if you are under 18 you can't go in

• menor que algn — younger than sb

soy tres años menor que mi marido — I am three years younger than my husband

• ser menor de edad — to be under age; (Jur) to be a minor

dos jóvenes menores de edad se han escapado de su casa — two under-age youngsters have run away from home

e) (Mús) minor

concierto en Mi menor — concerto in E minor

f) (Rel) [orden] minor

2) [superlativo]

a) [de tamaño] smallest

es el país de menor tamaño de Europa — it is the smallest country in Europe

este es el menor de todos — this is the smallest of all

b) [de cantidad] lowest, smallest

el partido de menor asistencia de la liga — the match with the lowest o smallest attendance in the league

realizó la vuelta en el menor número de golpes — he finished the round in the lowest number of shots

hagan el menor ruido posible — make as little noise as possible

se despierta con el menor ruido — he wakes up at the slightest noise

c) [de importancia, tiempo] least

no le doy la menor importancia — I don't attach the slightest o least importance to it

no tiene la menor importancia — it is not in the least important

en el menor tiempo posible — in the shortest possible time
idea 4)
d) [de edad] youngest

este es Miguel, mi hijo menor — this is Miguel, my youngest son

2.

SMF (=niño) child, minor frm

un programa educativo para menores — an educational programme for children

los menores deben ir acompañados — children who are under age o minors frm must be accompanied

lo detuvieron por vender drogas a menores — he was arrested for selling drugs to minors

un menor de 15 años — a boy of 15

un campeonato para menores de 16 años — a championship for under-16s

• apto/ no apto para menores — suitable/not suitable for (young) children

apto para menores acompañados — (Cine) ≈ certificate PG

menor de edad — (Jur) minor

los menores de edad — those who are under age, minors

delitos cometidos por menores de edad — crimes committed by minors
tribunal 1)
3. SM

1) (Com)

• (al) por menor — retail antes de s

venta (al) por menor — retail sales

un establecimiento de venta al por menor — a retail establishment

2) Esp

• contar algo al por menor — to recount sth in detail

* * *
I
adjetivo

1)

a) ( comparativo de pequeño)

un período de menor interés histórico — a period of less historical interest

su poder es cada vez menor — his power is decreasing all the time

en menor medida/grado — to a lesser extent o degree

alimentos de menor contenido calórico — food which is lower in calories

esta vez hay un número menor de detenidos — this time there are fewer detainees

un porcentaje menor — a lower o smaller percentage

menor que algo — lower than something

un ingreso menor que el mío — an income three times lower than mine

X < Z — (Mat) (read as: equis es menor que zeta) X < Z; (léase: X is less than Z)

sucede con menor frecuencia que antes — it happens less often o less frequently than before

b) ( superlativo de pequeño)

haciendo el menor ruido posible — making as little noise as possible

el de menor tamaño — the smallest one

2) ( en edad)

a) ( comparativo)

¿tienes hermanas menores? — do you have any younger sisters?

menor que alguien — younger than somebody

b) ( superlativo)

¿cuál es el menor de los hermanos? — who's the youngest of the brothers?

el menor de los dos niños — the younger of the two boys

3) ( secundario) <escritor/obra> minor

lesiones de menor importancia — minor injuries

4) (Mús) minor

5) (Com)

(al) por menor — retail

venta (al) por menor — retail sales

los distribuidores (al) por menor — retail shops o outlets
II
masculino y femenino (Der) minor

película no apta para menores — film not suitable for under-18s

- menor de edad

* * *
I
adjetivo

1)

a) ( comparativo de pequeño)

un período de menor interés histórico — a period of less historical interest

su poder es cada vez menor — his power is decreasing all the time

en menor medida/grado — to a lesser extent o degree

alimentos de menor contenido calórico — food which is lower in calories

esta vez hay un número menor de detenidos — this time there are fewer detainees

un porcentaje menor — a lower o smaller percentage

menor que algo — lower than something

un ingreso menor que el mío — an income three times lower than mine

X < Z — (Mat) (read as: equis es menor que zeta) X < Z; (léase: X is less than Z)

sucede con menor frecuencia que antes — it happens less often o less frequently than before

b) ( superlativo de pequeño)

haciendo el menor ruido posible — making as little noise as possible

el de menor tamaño — the smallest one

2) ( en edad)

a) ( comparativo)

¿tienes hermanas menores? — do you have any younger sisters?

menor que alguien — younger than somebody

b) ( superlativo)

¿cuál es el menor de los hermanos? — who's the youngest of the brothers?

el menor de los dos niños — the younger of the two boys

3) ( secundario) <escritor/obra> minor

lesiones de menor importancia — minor injuries

4) (Mús) minor

5) (Com)

(al) por menor — retail

venta (al) por menor — retail sales

los distribuidores (al) por menor — retail shops o outlets
II
masculino y femenino (Der) minor

película no apta para menores — film not suitable for under-18s

- menor de edad

* * *

el menor

= least, the

Ex: Of these three connectors, 'and' focusses your search with the least precision since it retrieves all records that contain both words anywhere in the record.

menor¹

¹ = infant, juvenile, juvenile, minor.

Ex: The article 'Sitting pretty: infants, toddlers, & lapsits' outlines the procedures followed at San Francisco public library to help parents introduce their babies to appropriate literature.

Ex: The construction of the hypothesis, however, should be limited to such considerations as whether the subject heading list is designed to serve the adult or the juvenile user.

Ex: The library provides services to 2,903 adults and juveniles who have been sentenced or remanded to the care of the Department.

Ex: This new Act requires US libraries to block obscenity, child pornography and all material deemed harmful to minors on all computers used by minors.

* abandono de menores = child neglect.

* abuso de menores = child abuse.

* apto para mayores de 13 años o menores acompañados = PG-13.

* centro de menores = young offender institution.

* centro tutelar de menores = juvenile detention centre.

* consumo de bebidas alcohólicas por menores de edad = underage drinking.

* departamento de corrección de menores = department of corrections.

* embarazo de menores = teenage pregnancy.

* escuela de niños menores = infant school.

* explotación de menores = child labour.

* grupo de protección a menores = Shelter group.

* juzgado de asuntos menores = magistrates' court.

* manutención del menor = child maintenance.

* manutención de menores = child support.

* menor de edad = underage.

* menores de cinco años, los = under-fives, the.

* no apto para menores = X-rated.

* pensión de menores = child support.

* protección de menores = child protection, child welfare.

* sexo de menores = underage sex.

* trabajo de menores = child labour.

* tribunal de menores = juvenile court, minors' court.

menor²

² = minor, reduced, slight [sligther -comp., slightest -sup.], low-key [low key], lesser, lower-key, diminished, low-keyed.

Ex: A study of bibliographic classification could concentrate solely upon the major, and some of the more minor bibliographic classification schemes used today.

Ex: The model shows that market concentration rises with inelastic demand, reduced marginal costs and efficient technology.

Ex: The ISBD(CP)'s recommendations are very similar in principle to those for AACR2's 'in' analytics, except for slight changes in punctuation and order.

Ex: Activity is still low key, but will increase when the British Library puts up data bases on its own computer in 1977.

Ex: The catalog's deterioration is leading us down the road to lesser quality library service.

Ex: After all, print technology can be represented by pencial, pen, type, laser output, and so forth, but the effect is lower-key.

Ex: This volume comes at a time when increasingly frequent criticisms have been leveled at superpower nations for their diminished interest in problems in Africa.

Ex: Overall, he provides a low-keyed, lucid account that, with its many-leveled approach, does more than justice to the complex themes it studies.

* a menor escala = at a reduced rate.

* cada vez menor = decreasing, dwindling, diminishing, declining, falling, shrinking, receding, sinking, ebbing, descending.

* con un menor nivel educativo = lesser-educated.

* delito de menor grado = misdemeanour [misdimeanor, -USA].

* delito menor = petty offense, petty crime, minor offence.

* demanda cada vez menor = falling demand.

* de mayor o menor importancia = great and small.

* de menor impacto = low impact [low-impact].

* de menor importancia = fringe subject, of fringe interest.

* de menor importancia para = on the fringe of.

* desajuste cada vez menor entre... y = narrowing gap between... and, narrowing of the gap between... and.

* de venta al por menor = retail.

* diferencia cada vez menor entre... y = narrowing gap between... and, narrowing of the gap between... and.

* en mayor o menor grado = to a greater or lesser degree.

* en mayor o menor medida = to a greater or lesser extent.

* en menor cantidad = less copiously.

* en menor grado = to a lesser extent, to a lesser degree.

* en paños menores = in + Posesivo + underclothes.

* la menor duda de que = no doubt whatsoever.

* menor de + Número = fewer than + Número.

* menor, el = least, the.

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

* paños menores = undies.

* presupuesto cada vez menor = shrinking budget.

* ser el que con menor frecuencia = be (the) least likely to.

* ser menor = be less.

* símbolo de menor-que (<) = left angled bracket (<), less-than sign (<).

* sin el menor asomo de duda = without a shadow of a doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

* sin la menor duda = no mistake, no doubt.

* sin la menor idea = clueless.

* sin la menor sombra de duda = without a shadow of a doubt.

* vender al por menor = retail.

* venta al por menor = retailing, retail trade.

* ventas al por menor = retail sales.

* * *

menor¹

adjective

A

1 (comparativo de pequeño¹ adj (↑ pequeño (1))):

un período de menor interés histórico que el anterior a period of less historical interest than the previous one

nuestro poder adquisitivo es cada vez menor our purchasing power decreases every day

en menor medida to a lesser extent o degree

en mayor o menor grado to a greater or lesser extent o degree

alimentos de menor contenido calórico food which is lower in calories

menor QUE algo:

un ingreso tres veces menor que el mío an income three times lower than mine

un porcentaje de indecisos menor que el del último sondeo a lower o smaller percentage of don't knows than in the last poll

( Mat): X Z (read as: equis es menor que zeta) X Z (léase: X is less than Z)

esto sucede con menor frecuencia que antes this happens less often o less frequently than before

2 (superlativo de pequeño):

haciendo el menor ruido posible making as little noise as possible

eligió el de menor tamaño she chose the smallest one

¿cuál es la menor de las islas Baleares? which is the smallest of the Balearic islands?

B (en edad) [ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ]

1

(comparativo): ¿tienes hermanas menores? do you have any younger sisters?

menor QUE algn younger THAN sb

es un año menor que yo she's a year younger than me

2

(superlativo): ¿cuál es el menor de los hermanos? who's the youngest of the brothers?

mi hijo menor my youngest son

el menor de los dos niños the younger of the two boys

C (secundario) ‹escritor/obra› minor

sufrió lesiones de menor importancia she received minor injuries

D ( Mús) minor

E ( Com):

(al) por menor retail

[ S ] venta (al) por menor retail sales

los distribuidores (al) por menor retail shops o outlets

menor²

masculine and feminine

( Der) minor

[ S ] película no apta para menores movie not suitable for under-18s, certificate 18

Compuesto:

menor de edad

masculine and feminine minor

ser menor de edad to be a minor, be underage

* * *

menor adjetivo
1
a) ( comparativo de

◊ pequeño) ‹número/porcentaje› lower, smaller;

en menor medida/grado to a lesser extent o degree;
menor que algo lower than sth;
un ingreso menor que el mío an income lower than mine
b) ( superlativo de

◊ pequeño): el país con el menor número de parados the country with the lowest unemployment figures;

haciendo el menor ruido posible making as little noise as possible;
el de menor tamaño the smallest one
2 ( en edad)
a) ( comparativo) younger;

menor que algn younger than sb
b) ( superlativo):

◊ ¿cuál es el menor de los hermanos? who's the youngest of the brothers?;

el menor de los dos niños the younger of the two boys
3 ( secundario) ‹escritor/obra› minor;
◊ lesiones de menor importancia minor injuries

4 (Mús) minor
5 (Com):
◊ (al) por menor retail

■ sustantivo masculino y femenino: tb
◊ menor de edad minor; ser menor de edad to be a minor, to be under age;

película no apta para menores film not suitable for under-18s
menor
I adjetivo
1 (comparativo de tamaño) smaller: una habitación menor que la mía, a room smaller than mine
(superlativo) smallest
el tamaño menor, the smallest size
2 (comparativo de grado) less: su alegría es menor que la mía, his happiness is less than mine
(superlativo) least, slightest: no tiene la menor idea, he hasn't the slightest idea
3 (comparativo de edad) younger: es menor de sesenta años, she is under sixty
es menor que mi prima, he's younger than my cousin
(superlativo) youngest
la menor de nosotras, the youngest of us
4 Mús minor
5 Com al por menor, retail
II mf Jur minor

' menor' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abusar
- Asia
- caza
- edad
- efecto
- menos
- mínima
- mínimo
- osa
- re
- relevancia
- sol
- sombra
- trascendencia
- vender
- venta
- cazar
- compás
- de
- duda
- enfadado
- enfadar
- enojado
- enojar
- intención
- movimiento
- noción
English:
age
- Asia Minor
- barge in
- clue
- deaf
- doubt
- extent
- fact
- foggy
- guardian
- junior
- juvenile
- least
- lesser
- may
- minor
- misdemeanor
- misdemeanour
- retail
- retail sale
- retailing
- show
- under
- young
- magistrate
- marginal
- offender
- out
- rough
- slight

* * *

menor

♦ adj

1. [comparativo] [en tamaño] smaller ( que than); [en edad] younger ( que than); [en importancia] less, lesser ( que than); [en número] lower ( que than);
este apartamento es menor que el otro this Br flat o US apartment is smaller than the other one;

mi hermana menor my younger sister;

es ocho años menor que yo he's eight years younger than me;

reciben menor formación que nosotros they receive less training than us;

en menor grado to a lesser extent;

un menor número de víctimas a lower o smaller number of victims;

una menor tasa de inflación a lower rate of inflation;

apartamentos menores de 100 metros cuadrados Br flats o US apartments of less than o under 100 square metres;

ayudas para empresarios menores de veinticinco años grants for businessmen (of) under twenty-five;

sólo la menor parte de los encuestados estaba en contra only a minority of those interviewed were opposed;
Mat
menor que less than

2. [superlativo]
el/la menor… [en tamaño] the smallest…;
[en edad] the youngest…; [en importancia] the slightest…; [en número] the lowest…;
la menor de las islas the smallest island, the smallest of the islands;

la menor de todos nosotros/de la clase the youngest of all of us/in the class;

la menor de las dos hermanas the younger of the two sisters;

el menor ruido le molesta the slightest noise disturbs him;

no creo que tenga el menor interés I don't think it's at all o the slightest bit interesting;

no te preocupes, no tiene la menor importancia don't worry, it doesn't matter at all o in the least;

no tengo la menor idea I haven't the slightest idea

3. [intrascendente, secundario] minor;

un problema menor a minor problem

4. [joven]
aún es menor para salir solo he's still a bit young to go out on his own;

ser menor de edad [para votar, conducir] to be under age;
Der to be a minor
5. Mús minor;

en do menor in C minor

6. Com
al por menor retail;

vender algo al por menor to retail sth;

puntos de venta al por menor retail outlets

♦ nmf

1. [superlativo]
el/la menor [hijo, hermano] the youngest

2. Der [niño] minor;

es una película no apta para menores this film has been classified as unsuitable for children;

no apta para menores [en letrero] = unsuitable for children

Comp
menor de edad minor
* * *

menor

I adj

1 comp less; en tamaño smaller; en edad younger;

ser menor de edad be a minor

2 sup

:

el menor en tamaño the smallest; en edad the youngest;

el número menor the lowest number;

no tengo la menor idea I don’t have the slightest idea

3 MÚS tono, modo minor;

mi menor E minor

4 COM

:

al por menor retail

II m/f minor

* * *

menor adj

1) (comparative of pequeño) : smaller, lesser, younger

2) (superlative of pequeño) : smallest, least, youngest

3) : minor

4)

al por menor : retail

5)

ser menor de edad : to be a minor, to be underage

menor nmf

: minor, juvenile

* * *

menor¹ adj

1. (comparativo menos grande) smaller

una talla menor a smaller size

2. (ningún) slightest

no tiene la menor importancia it doesn't matter in the slightest

no tengo la menor idea I haven't the faintest idea

3. (comparativo más joven) younger

es menor que tú he's younger than you

su hermano menor her younger brother

4. (superlativo más joven) youngest

el hijo menor de la familia the youngest of the family

menor² n

1. (más joven) youngest

el menor de mis hijos my youngest son

2. (menor de edad) minor

Spanish-English dictionary > menor
7 petit

petit, e [p(ə)ti, it]

━━━━━━━━━

1. adjective

2. adverb

3. masculine noun

4. feminine noun

5. compounds

━━━━━━━━━

1. <

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque petit fait partie d'une locution comme entrer par la petite porte, reportez-vous à l'autre mot.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

   a. (dimension) [personne, objet] small ; (plus positif) little

• la maison est trop petite the house is too small

• mon jardin est tout petit my garden is very small

• j'ai un joli petit jardin I've got a pretty little garden

• les petits voitures sont plus économiques small cars are more economical

• il est petit et gros he's short and fat

• se faire tout petit to keep a low profile

   b. ( = jeune) little

• quand il était petit when he was little

• un petit Anglais an English boy

• les petits Anglais English children

• tu es encore trop petit pour comprendre you're still too little to understand

• dans sa petite enfance when he was very young

• petit garçon little boy

• je ne suis plus un petit garçon ! I'm not a child anymore!

   c. ( = cadet) son petit frère his little brother ; (très petit) his baby brother

   d. ( = mince) [tranche] thin

• une petite pluie (fine) tombait a (fine) drizzle was falling

   e. ( = court) [promenade, voyage] short

• sur une petite distance over a short distance

• il en a pour une petite heure it will take him an hour at the most

   f. ( = miniature, jouet) toy

• petite voiture toy car

   g. ( = faible) [bruit, cri] faint ; [coup, tape] gentle ; [somme d'argent] small ; [loyer] low

• il a un petit appétit he has a small appetite

• film à petit budget low-budget film

   h. ( = peu important) [commerçant, pays, entreprise, groupe] small ; [opération, détail, romancier] minor ; [amélioration, changement, inconvénient, odeur, rhume] slight ; [espoir, chance] faint ; [cadeau, soirée] little

• le petit commerce small businesses

• les petites et moyennes entreprises small and medium-sized businesses

• avec un petit effort with a little effort

   i. ( = maladif) avoir une petite mine to look pale

• tu as de petits yeux ce matin you're a bit bleary-eyed this morning

   j. ( = mesquin) [attitude, action] mean

   k. (locutions) vous prendrez bien un petit verre ? you'll have a little drink, won't you?

• juste une petite signature can I just have your signature

• un petit coin tranquille a nice quiet spot

• cela coûte une petite fortune it costs a small fortune

• il y a un petit vent (agréable) there's a bit of a breeze ; (désagréable) it's a bit windy

• petit con ! (vulg!) stupid jerk! (inf!)

• ce n'est pas de la petite bière it's no small matter

• être aux petits soins pour qn to wait on sb hand and foot

2. <

• petit à petit little by little

3. <

   a. ( = enfant) little boy

• les petits the children

• pauvre petit poor little thing

• c'est un jeu pour petits et grands it's a game for old and young alike

   b. (School) junior (boy)

   c. ( = jeune animal) les petits the young

• la chatte et ses petits the cat and her kittens

• faire des petits to have kittens (or puppies or lambs etc)

   d. ( = homme de petite taille) small man

4. <

petite ( = enfant) little girl ; ( = femme) small woman

• pauvre petite poor little thing

5. <

► petit ami boyfriend

► petite amie girlfriend

► le petit coin (inf) the smallest room (inf)

► petit déjeuner breakfast

► petit gâteau biscuit

► petit nom (inf) first name

► petit pain ≈ bread roll

• ça se vend comme des petits pains (inf) they're selling like hot cakes (inf) ► petit pois pea

► le Petit Poucet Tom Thumb

► la petite reine ( = vélo) the bicycle

► petit salé ( = porc) salt pork

* * *

1.

petite p(ə)ti, it adjectif

1) ( en taille) small, little

petit et trapu — short and stocky

une toute petite pièce — a tiny room

se faire tout petit — fig to try to make oneself inconspicuous

c'est Versailles en plus petit — it's a miniature Versailles

2) (en longueur, durée) short

par petites étapes — in easy stages

3) ( en âge) young, little

je t'ai connu petit — I knew you when you were little

le petit Jésus — baby Jesus

une petite Française — a French girl

le petit nouveau — the new boy

c'est notre petit dernier — he's our youngest

petit chat — kitten

petit chien — puppy

petit ours/renard/lion — bear/fox/lion cub

4) [appétit, quantité, groupe] small; [mangeur] light; [salaire] low; [averse] light; [cri, rire, souci] little; [chance, rhume] slight; [détail, défaut] minor

ça a un petit goût de cerise — it tastes slightly of cherries

avoir une petite santé — to have poor health

un (tout) petit peu de sel — (just) a little salt

5) ( dans une hiérarchie) [marque] lesser known; [emploi] modest; [fonctionnaire] low-ranking; [poète] minor

les petites routes — minor roads

le petit personnel — low-grade staff

les petites gens — ordinary people

un petit escroc — a small-time crook

6) fig little

mon petit papa — darling daddy (colloq)

un petit imbécile — an idiot

très préoccupée de sa petite personne — very taken up with herself

de bons petits plats — tasty dishes

un petit coin tranquille — a quiet spot

envoie-moi un petit mot — drop me a line

passe-moi un petit coup de fil — (colloq) give me a call

j'en ai pour une petite minute — it won't take me a minute

une petite trentaine de personnes — under thirty people

7) ( mesquin) [personne, procédé] petty, mean; ( étroit) [conception] narrow

2.

nom masculin, féminin

1) ( enfant) little boy/girl, child; ( benjamin)

le petit — ( de deux) the younger one; ( de plus de deux) the youngest one

mes petits — my children

pauvre petit! — poor thing!

la petite Martin — the Martin girl

2) ( adulte de petite taille) small man/woman

3.

adverbe

voir petit — ( sous-estimer) to underestimate; ( être sans ambition) to have no ambition

tailler petit — to be small-fitting

petit à petit — little by little

4.

nom masculin

1) ( jeune animal)

petits — gén young (+ v pl); ( chats) kittens; ( chiens) puppies

faire des petits — [chienne] to have puppies; fig [argent] to grow

2) ( personne modeste)

les petits — ordinary people

un petit de la finance — a minor figure in the world of finance

•

Phrasal Verbs:

- petit ami

- petit bois

- petit chef

- petit coin

- petit crème

- petit déjeuner

- petit linge

- petit noir

- petit nom

- petit pois

- petit pot

- petit rat

- petit salé

- petite amie

- petite annonce

- petite école

- petite main

- petite nature

- petite souris

- petite vérole

- petite voiture

- petites annonces matrimoniales

- petites et moyennes entreprises

- petits chevaux

* * *
p(ə)ti, it petit, -e
1. adj

1) (par la taille, les dimensions) (main, objet, colline) small

Il est petit pour son âge. — He's small for his age.

de petite taille (personne) — short, small, (arbre) small

Sonia habite une petite ville. — Sonia lives in a small town.

2) (valeur affective) little

Phyllis a une jolie petite maison. — Phyllis has a nice little house.

On a ouvert une petite bouteille de Chinon. — We've opened a little bottle of Chinon.

3) (peu important) (problème) small, minor, (progrès) little

4) (= faible) (pluie, bruit) slight

5) (en âge) (enfant) small, little

C'est dangereux pour les petits enfants. — It's dangerous for small children.

son petit frère — his little brother

6) (= court) (voyage, présentation) little, (roman) short

7) (= mesquin) mean

2. nm/f

1) (= enfant) child, little one

Emmène les petits au cinéma. — Take the children to the cinema.

Le petit de Sylvie a une mauvaise grippe. — Sylvie's little son has got bad a bad dose of flu.

la classe des petits — the infant class

pour petits et grands — for children and adults

les tout-petits — the little ones, the tiny tots

2) (= cadet) little one, youngest

Nicolas, c'est le petit. — Nicolas is the little one., Nicolas is the youngest.

3) (valeur affective)

mon petit (nuance ironique) — dear, (à son fils, un petit garçon) son

ma petite (nuance ironique) — dear, young lady, (à sa fille, une fillette) sweetheart

pauvre petit — poor little thing

3. nm

[animal]

petits — young pl

la lionne et ses petits — the lioness and her young

faire des petits [chatte] — to have kittens, [chienne] to have puppies

4. adv

petit à petit — little by little, gradually

* * *

petit, petite

A adj

1 ( en taille) [personne, pied, objet, arbre, entreprise] ( objectivement) small; ( subjectivement) little; il est petit pour son âge he's small for his age; les mêmes, mais en plus petit the same ones, but smaller; le 36, c'est trop petit 36 is too small; le monde est petit! it's a small world!; un homme de petite taille, un homme petit a short ou small man; petit et trapu short and stocky; un petit homme timide a shy little man; la petite blonde, là-bas the little blonde, over there; une toute petite pièce/femme a tiny room/woman; se faire tout petit fig to try to make oneself inconspicuous; c'est Versailles en plus petit it's a miniature Versailles; ⇒ bête, doigt, lorgnette, plat, ruisseau;

2 (en longueur, durée) [foulée, promenade, distance, paragraphe] short; par petites étapes in easy stages; ⇒ semaine;

3 ( en âge) ( objectivement) young; ( subjectivement) little; il est trop petit pour comprendre he's too young to understand; c'est la plus petite she's the youngest; je t'ai connu petit I knew you when you were little; mon petit frère my little brother; ( bébé) my baby brother; le petit Jésus baby Jesus; petit garçon little boy; petite fille little girl; une petite Française a French girl; le petit nouveau the new boy; les petits enfants small ou young children; c'est notre petit dernier he's our youngest; petit chat kitten; petit chien puppy; petit ours/renard/lion bear/fox/lion cub;

4 (en quantité, prix, force) [somme, appétit, majorité, volume, quantité, groupe] small; [mangeur, buveur] light; [salaire, loyer] low; [tape, vent, averse] light; [cri, rire, sourire] little; [goût, espoir, chance] slight; d'une petite voix timide in a timid little voice; une petite pluie fine a fine drizzle; ça a un petit goût de cerise it tastes slightly of cherries; avoir une petite santé to have poor health; fais un petit effort make an effort; un (tout) petit peu de sel (just) a little salt; un petit sourire coquin/supérieur a mischievous/superior little smile; ⇒ feu;

5 ( en gravité) [inconvénient, détail, défaut, opération] minor; [rhume] slight; [égratignure, souci] little;

6 ( dans une hiérarchie) [marque, cru] lesser known; [situation, emploi] modest; [fonctionnaire, dignitaire] low-ranking; [poète] minor; les petites routes minor roads; le petit personnel low-grade staff; les petites gens ordinary people; un petit escroc a small-time crook; ⇒ soldat;

7 ( pour minimiser) little; chante-nous une petite chanson give us a little song; un petit coup de rouge a little glass of red wine; un petit visage triste a sad little face; un bon petit vin/restaurant a nice little wine/restaurant; un petit cadeau/secret a little gift/secret; une petite faveur a little favour^GB; de bons petits plats tasty dishes; un petit coin tranquille a quiet spot; envoie-moi un petit mot drop me a line; passe-moi un petit coup de fil○ give me a ring GB ou call; avoir de petites attentions pour qn to make a fuss of sb GB, to fuss over sb; il faut une petite signature ici could I ask you to sign here, please?; je n'ai eu que deux petites semaines de congé! I only had two short weeks off!; j'en ai pour une petite minute/heure it won't take me a minute/more than an hour; une petite trentaine de personnes under thirty people;

8 ( en sentiment) mon petit Pierre my dear Pierre; mon petit papa darling daddy; mon petit chéri/ange my darling/angel; mon petit chou○ or poulet○ sweetie○, honey○; une petite garce◑ a bitch◑; un petit imbécile an idiot; très préoccupée de sa petite personne very taken up with herself; il tient à sa petite tranquillité he likes a nice quiet life;

9 ( mesquin) [personne, procédé] petty, mean; ( étroit) [conception] narrow; les petits esprits small-minded people.

B nm,f

1 ( enfant) little boy/girl, child; ( benjamin) le petit ( de deux) the younger one; ( de plus de deux) the youngest one; les petits the children, the kids○; pauvre petit! poor thing!; la petite Martin the Martin girl; les petits Martin the Martin children; ils ont deux petits they have two children; elle a eu un petit she's had a baby; n'aie pas peur, mon petit don't be afraid;

2 ( adulte de petite taille) small man/woman; les petits small people.

C adv voir petit ( sous-estimer) to underestimate; ( être sans ambition) to have no ambition; chausser/tailler petit [chaussures, vêtements] to be small-fitting; petit à petit little by little, gradually; ⇒ oiseau.

D nm

1 ( jeune animal) petits young; ( chats) kittens; ( chiens) puppies; (loups, lions, ours) cubs, young; le mammifère allaite ses petits mammals suckle their young; la lionne et ses petits the lioness and her cubs ou young; comment s'appelle le petit de la chèvre? what do you call a baby ou young goat?; faire des petits [chienne] to have puppies; fig ( se multiplier) [argent] to grow; ( se briser) [vase] to end up in bits;

2 ( personne modeste) les petits ordinary people; un petit de la finance a minor figure in the world of finance.

Composés

petit aigle Zool scops owl; petit ami boyfriend; petit bassin Anat lower pelvis; ( de piscine) small pool; petit blanc ( vin) small glass of white wine; petit bleu† Postes telegram; petit bois ( d'allumage) kindling; petit cacatois fore royal sail; petit chef petty tyrant; jouer au petit chef to throw one's weight around○; petit coin○ euph ( toilettes) loo○ GB, bathroom US; aller au petit coin to go to the loo○ GB ou bathroom US; petit commerçant small trader; petit commerce small traders (pl); petit crème small espresso with milk; petit déjeuner breakfast; petit endroit = petit coin; petit four petit four; petit hunier Naut fore topsail; petit juif○ funny bone; petit linge underwear; laver son petit linge to wash one's smalls○; petit maître minor master; petit noir coffee; petit nom○ ( prénom) first name; petit paquet small packet; petit perroquet Naut fore topgallant sail; petit peuple lower classes (pl); petit point petit point; petit pois (garden) pea, petit pois; petit porteur small shareholder; petit pot ( pour bébés) jar of baby food; petit quart Naut dogwatch; petit rat (de l'Opéra) pupil at Paris Opéra's ballet school; petit roque ( aux échecs) castling short; petit salé streaky salted pork; petit trot jog trot; petite amie girlfriend; petite annonce Presse classified advertisement ou ad○; petite caisse petty cash; petite école○ ≈ nursery school; petite main seamstress (at a top fashion house); petite mort orgasm; petite nature weakling; petite phrase (memorable) saying; petite reine Sport cycling; petite souris tooth fairy; petite vérole smallpox; petite voiture toy car; petites annonces matrimoniales personal ads; petites classes○ Scol younger children; petites et moyennes entreprises, PME small and medium enterprises, SMEs; petites sœurs des pauvres Little Sisters of the Poor; petits chevaux Jeux ≈ ludo (sg); petits métiers du passé traditional crafts.

( féminin petite) [p(ə)ti, p(ə)tit] (devant nom masculin commençant par voyelle ou h muet [p(ə)tit]) adjectif

1. [en hauteur, en largeur] small, little

[en longueur] little, small, short

une personne de petite taille a small ou short person

un petit gros a tubby little man

il y a un petit mur entre les deux jardins there's a low ou small wall between the two gardens

une toute petite bonne femme

a. (familier) [femme] a tiny little woman

b. [fillette] a tiny little girl

de petites jambes grassouillettes

a. [de bébé] little fat legs

b. [d'adulte] short fat legs

à petite distance on voyait une chaumière a cottage could be seen a short way ou distance away

elle a de petits pieds she's got small ou little feet

un petit "a" a lower-case ou small "a"

je voudrais ce tissu en petite largeur I'd like that material in a narrow width

un petit bout de papier a scrap of paper

une toute petite maison a tiny little house

se faire tout petit [passer inaperçu] to make oneself inconspicuous, to keep a low profile

se faire tout petit devant quelqu'un

a. [par respect ou timidité] to humble oneself before somebody

b. [par poltronnerie] to cower ou to shrink before somebody

[exprime l'approximation]

ça vaut un petit 12 sur 20 it's only worth 12 out of 20

on y sera dans une petite heure we'll be there in a bit less than ou in under an hour

il y a un petit kilomètre d'ici à la ferme ≃ it's no more than ou just under three quarters of a mile from here to the farm

2. [faible] small

expédition/émission à petit budget low-budget expedition/programme

petit loyer low ou moderate rent

petite retraite/rente small pension/annuity

3. [jeune - personne] small, little ; [ - plante] young, baby (modificateur)

quand j'étais petit when I was little

je ne suis plus une petite fille! I'm not a little girl any more!

les petits Français French children

une petite Chinoise a young ou little Chinese girl

il est encore trop petit he's still too small ou young

un petit chien a puppy

un petit chat a kitten

un petit lion/léopard a lion/leopard cub

un petit éléphant a baby elephant, an elephant calf

[plus jeune] little, younger

4. [bref, court] short, brief

un petit séjour a short ou brief stay

si on lui faisait une petite visite? shall we pop in to see her?

donnez-moi un petit délai give me a little more time

5. [dans une hiérarchie]

petite entreprise small company

les petites et moyennes entreprises small and medium-sized businesses

le petit commerce (running of) small businesses

les petits commerçants (owners of) small businesses

les petits agriculteurs/propriétaires small farmers/landowners

les petits salaires

a. [sommes] low salaries, small wages

b. [employés] low-paid workers

il s'est trouvé un petit emploi au service exportation he found a minor post in the export department

petit peintre/poète minor painter/poet

6. [minime] small, slight, minor

une petite touche de peinture a slight touch of paint

ce n'est qu'un petit détail it's just a minor detail

dans les plus petits détails down to the last detail

une petite intervention chirurgicale minor surgery, a small ou minor operation

[insignifiant] small, slight

il y a un petit défaut there's a slight ou small ou minor defect

j'ai un petit ennui I've got a bit of a problem

j'ai eu un petit rhume I had a bit of a cold ou a slight cold

7. [léger] slight

un petit soupir a little sigh

elle a un petit accent she's got a slight accent

dit-elle d'une petite voix she said in a faint voice

petite montée gentle slope

petite brise gentle breeze

ça a un petit goût it tastes a bit strange

ça a un petit goût d'orange it tastes slightly of orange

8. [avec une valeur affective] little

j'ai trouvé une petite couturière/un petit garagiste I've found a very good little seamstress/garage

fais-moi une petite place make a little space for me, give me a (little) ou tiny bit of room

il aimait faire son petit poker le soir he was fond of a game of poker in the evening

tu mets ton petit ensemble? will you be wearing that nice little suit?

un petit vin sans prétention an unpretentious little wine

il y a un petit vent frais pas désagréable there's a nice little breeze

ma petite maman Mummy (UK), Mommy (US), my Mum (UK) ou Mom (US)

alors, mon petit Paul, comment ça va?

a. [dit par une femme] how's life, Paul, dear?

b. [dit par un homme plus âgé] how's life, young Paul?

[pour encourager]

tu mangeras bien une petite glace! come on, have an ice cream!

je n'ai pas le temps de faire un match — juste un petit! I've no time to play a match — come on, just a quick one!

[avec une valeur admirative]

c'est une petite futée she's a clever one

petit débrouillard! you're smart!, you don't miss a thing!

(euphémisme) [notable]

c'est une petite surprise it's quite a surprise

c'est un petit exploit! it's quite an achievement!

[avec une valeur dépréciative]

petit imbécile! you idiot!

petit con! (très familier) you arsehole (très familier, UK, très familier & US) ou asshole!

j'en ai assez de ses petits mystères/petites manigances! I'm fed up with her little mysteries/intrigues!

9. (littéraire) [mesquin] mean, mean-spirited, petty

————————

, petite [p(ə)ti, p(ə)tit] (devant nom masculin commençant par voyelle ou h muet [p(ə)tit]) nom masculin, nom féminin

1. [fils, fille] little son ou boy ( feminine daughter feminine girl)

c'est le petit de Monique it's Monique's son

c'est la petite d'en face (familier) it's the girl from across the street, it's the daughter of the people across the street, it's across the road's daughter (UK)

elle va à la même école que le petit (des) Verneuil she goes to the same school as the Verneuil boy

2. [enfant] little ou small child, little ou small boy ( feminine girl)

quant aux petits, nous les emmènerons au zoo as for the younger children, we'll take them to the zoo

la cour des petites the junior (UK) ou younger girls' playground

c'est un livre qui fera les délices des petits comme des grands this book will delight young and old (alike)

3. (familier) [adolescent] (young) boy ( feminine girl)

4. [avec une valeur affective - à un jeune] dear ; [ - à un bébé] little one

mon petit

a. [à un homme] dear

b. [à une femme] dear, darling

mon petit, je suis fier de toi

a. [à un garçon] young man, I'm proud of you

b. [à une fille] young lady, I'm proud of you

viens, mon tout petit come here (my) little one

ça, ma petite, vous ne l'emporterez pas au paradis! you'll never get away with it, my dear!

la pauvre petite, comment va-t-elle faire? poor thing, however will she manage?

————————

nom masculin

1. [animal] baby

ses petits

a. [généralement] her young

b. [chatte] her kittens

c. [chienne] her puppies

d. [tigresse, louve] her cubs

faire des petits

a. [chienne] to have pups

b. [chatte] to have kittens

mes économies ont fait des petits (familier) my savings have grown

2. [dans une hiérarchie]

c'est toujours les petits qui doivent payer it's always the little man who's got to pay

dans la course aux marchés, les petits sont piétinés in the race to gain markets, small firms ou businesses get trampled underfoot

————————

adverbe

1. COMMERCE

c'est un 38 mais ce modèle chausse/taille petit it says 38 but this style is a small fitting (UK) runs small (US)

2. [juste]

voir ou prévoir petit to see ou to plan things on a small scale

————————

en petit locution adverbiale

[en petits caractères] in small characters ou letters

[en miniature] in miniature

un univers en tout petit a miniature universe

je voudrais cette jupe (mais) en plus petit I'd like this skirt (but) in a smaller size

petit à petit locution adverbiale

little by little, gradually

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais > petit

8 moins

moins [mwɛ̃]

━━━━━━━━━

1. adverb

2. preposition

3. masculine noun

4. compounds

━━━━━━━━━

1. <

   a. (comparatif) less

• beaucoup moins much less

• un peu moins a little less

• tellement moins so much less

• encore moins even less

• trois fois moins three times less

• non moins célèbre no less famous

• nous sortons moins we go out less

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► moins se traduit souvent par not as.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• c'est moins rapide it's not as fast

• il fait moins chaud ici it's not as hot in here

► moins... que less... than

• il est moins intelligent qu'elle he's less intelligent than her

• cela m'a coûté moins que rien it cost me next to nothing

• je l'ai eu pour moins que rien I got it for next to nothing

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Les expressions du type moins... que sont souvent traduites par l'équivalent anglais de pas aussi... que.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• c'est moins grand que je ne croyais it's not as big as I thought it was

• il travaille moins que vous he doesn't work as hard as you

• j'aime moins la campagne en hiver qu'en été I don't like the countryside as much in winter as in summer

► moins de + nom non comptable less

• je mange moins de pain qu'avant I eat less bread than I used to► moins de + nom comptable

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Avec un nom comptable, la traduction correcte est fewer, mais la plupart des gens disent less.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ fewer less

• il y aura moins de monde demain there'll be fewer people tomorrow there'll be less people tomorrow

• mange moins de bonbons don't eat so many sweets

► moins de + nombre

• les moins de 25 ans the under-25s

• les enfants de moins de quatre ans children under four

• nous l'avons fait en moins de cinq minutes we did it in less than five minutes

• il y a moins de deux ans qu'il vit ici he's been living here for less than two years

• il était un peu moins de 6 heures it was just before 6 o'clock

• la frontière est à moins de 3 km the border is less than 3km away► deux fois moins

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► deux fois moins se traduit souvent par half.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• c'est deux fois moins grand it's half the size

• cela coûtait deux fois moins it was half the price

► moins... moins the less... the less ; (avec nom comptable) the fewer... the fewer

• moins je mange, moins j'ai d'appétit the less I eat, the less hungry I feel

• moins il y a de clients, moins j'ai de travail the fewer customers I have, the less work I have to do► moins... plus

• moins je fume, plus je mange the less I smoke, the more I eat► moins... mieux

• moins je fume, mieux je me porte the less I smoke, the better I feel

• moins j'ai de coups de fil, mieux je travaille the fewer phone calls I get, the more work I can do► à moins

• vous ne l'obtiendrez pas à moins you won't get it for less

• il est fatigué -- on le serait à moins he's tired -- that's hardly surprising► à moins de

• à moins d'un accident, ça devrait marcher barring accidents, it should work

• il jouera, à moins d'un imprévu he'll be playing unless something unexpected happens

• à moins de faire une bêtise, il devrait gagner unless he does something silly he should win► à moins que

• à moins qu'il ne vienne unless he comes► de moins

• il gagne 500 euros de moins qu'elle he earns 500 euros less than she does

• vous avez cinq ans de moins qu'elle you're five years younger than her► de moins en moins less and less

• c'est de moins en moins utile it's less and less useful

• il entend de moins en moins bien his hearing is getting worse and worse

• il a de moins en moins de clients he has fewer and fewer customers

• j'ai de moins en moins de temps libre I have less and less free time► en moins

• il y a trois verres en moins there are three glasses missing

• ça me fera du travail en moins ! that'll be less work for me!

• en moins de rien in next to no time

• en moins de deux (inf) in next to no time► pas moins

• pas moins de 40 km les sépare de la ville la plus proche they're at least 40km from the nearest town

• gravement malade, il n'en continue pas moins d'écrire despite being seriously ill, he still continues to write

• il n'en reste pas moins que... the fact remains that...

• il n'en est pas moins vrai que... it is no less true that...

   b. (superlatif) least

• le moins the least

► le moins, la moins, les moins (de plusieurs) the least ; (de deux) the less

• c'est le moins doué de mes élèves he's the least gifted of my pupils

• c'est le moins doué des deux he's the less gifted of the two

• les fleurs les moins chères the least expensive flowers► le moins + verbe the least

• c'est celle que j'aime le moins it's the one I like the least

• l'émission que je regarde le moins the programme I watch least often

• c'est bien le moins qu'on puisse faire it's the least one can do

• c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire ! that's putting it mildly!► le moins possible as little as possible

• je lui parle le moins possible I talk to him as little as possible

• j'y resterai le moins de temps possible I won't stay there any longer than I have to

2. <

   a. (soustraction, nombre négatif) minus

• 6 moins 2 font 4 6 minus 2 equals 4

• il fait moins 5 it's minus 5°

   b. (heure) to

• il est 4 heures moins 5 it's 5 to 4

• il est moins 10 (inf) it's 10 to (inf)

3. <

► au moins at least

• elle a payé cette robe au moins 3 000 € she paid at least 3,000 euros for that dress

• 600 au moins at least 600► du moins (restriction) at least

• il ne pleuvra pas, du moins c'est ce qu'annonce la radio it's not going to rain, at least that's what it says on the radio

• j'arriverai vers 4 heures, du moins si l'avion n'a pas de retard I'll be there around 4 o'clock - if the plane's on time, that is► pour le moins to say the least

• sa décision est pour le moins bizarre his decision is odd to say the least

4. <

► moins que rien (inf) masculine noun

( = minable) complete loser (inf)

• on les traite comme des moins que rien they're treated like scum ► moins-value feminine noun depreciation

* * *

I
1. mwɛ̃
préposition

1) ( dans une soustraction) minus

2) ( pour dire l'heure) to

il est huit heures moins dix — it's ten (minutes) to eight

il est moins vingt — (colloq) it's twenty to (colloq)

il était moins une (colloq) or moins cinq — (colloq) it was a close shave (colloq)

3) ( dans une température) minus

2.

adverbe

1) ( modifiant un verbe) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif)

le moins — the least

ils sortent moins — they go out less often

c'est moins une question d'argent qu'une question de principe — it's not so much a question of money as a question of principle

de moins en moins — less and less

moins je sors, moins j'ai envie de sortir — the less I go out, the less I feel like going out

qui travaille le moins de tous? — who works the least of all?

le film qui m'a le moins plu — the film I liked the least

ce que j'aime le moins chez lui — what I like least about him

2) ( modifiant un adjectif) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif)

le moins, la moins, les moins — ( de deux) the less; ( de plus de deux) the least

il est moins grand que son père — he's not as tall as his father

il est moins menteur que sa sœur — he's less of a liar than his sister

les jeunes et les moins jeunes — the young and the not so young

dans le livre il y a du bon et du moins bon — in the book, there are bits that are good and bits that are not so good

il n'en est pas moins vrai que — it's nonetheless true that

le même en moins gros — the same, only thinner

un individu des moins recommandables — a most unsavoury individual

3) ( modifiant un adverbe) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif)

le moins — least

tu devrais rester moins longtemps dans le sauna — you shouldn't stay so long in the sauna

elle chante moins bien qu'avant — she doesn't sing as well as she used to

le moins souvent — (the) least often

3.

moins de déterminant indéfini

1) ( avec un nom)

moins de livres — fewer books

moins de graisses — less fat

moins de sucre/bruit — less sugar/noise

il a parlé avec moins de hargne — he spoke less aggressively

il y a moins de monde aujourd'hui qu'hier — there are fewer people today than there were yesterday

c'est lui qui a le moins d'expérience des trois — of the three he's the one with the least experience

2) ( avec un numéral)

en moins de trois heures — in less than three hours

il est moins de 3 heures — it's not quite 3 o'clock

les moins de 20 ans — people under 20, the under-twenties

4.

à moins locution adverbiale

on serait furieux à moins — it's more than enough to make one angry

5.

à moins de locution prépositive

à moins de partir maintenant — unless we/you etc leave now

à moins d'un miracle — unless there's a miracle

6.

à moins que locution conjonctive

à moins qu'il ne veuille venir — unless he wants to come

7.

à tout le moins locution adverbiale to say the least

8.

au moins locution adverbiale at least

tout au moins — at least

tu l'as remercié, au moins? — you did thank him, didn't you?

9.

de moins locution adverbiale

ça m'a pris deux heures de moins — it took me two hours less

le kilo de pêches valait dix centimes de moins que la veille — a kilo of peaches cost 10 cents less than it had the day before

j'ai un an de moins que lui — I'm a year younger than he is

il a obtenu 25% de voix de moins que son adversaire — he got 25% fewer votes than his opponent

10.

du moins locution adverbiale at least

c'est du moins ce qu'il m'a raconté — at least that's what he told me

si du moins tu es d'accord — that is if you agree

11.

en moins locution adverbiale

il y avait deux fourchettes en moins dans la boîte — there were two forks missing from the box

il est revenu du front avec une jambe en moins/avec un doigt en moins — he came back from the front with only one leg/with a finger missing

c'est tout le portrait de son père, la moustache en moins — he's the spitting image of his father without the moustache GB ou mustache US

12.

pour le moins locution adverbiale to say the least

II mwɛ̃
nom masculin invariable

1) Mathématique minus

le signe moins — the minus sign

2) (colloq) ( inconvénient) minus

•

Phrasal Verbs:

- moins que rien

••

moins I

Généralités

La traduction en anglais de moins est less. Cependant, elle n'est utilisée que dans un nombre de cas assez restreint: en moins de trois jours = in less than three days

Très souvent, même quand une traduction avec less est possible, l'anglais a recours à d'autres moyens. Certains sont réguliers: ma chambre est moins grande que la tienne = my bedroom isn't as big as yours; j'ai moins d'expérience que toi = I don't have as much experience as you (do), = I have less experience than you (do); c'est moins compliqué que vous ne le croyez = it's not as complicated as you think, = it's less complicated than you think

D'autres ne le sont pas: j'essaie de moins fumer = I'm trying to cut down on my smoking, = I'm trying to smoke less

moins de

Lorsque moins de, déterminant indéfini, est suivi d'un nom dénombrable, la règle voudrait que l'on traduise par fewer mais dans la langue parlée on utilise également less

Les expressions le moins possible, le moins du monde sont traitées respectivement sous possible et monde

On trouvera ci-dessous exemples et exceptions illustrant les différentes fonctions de moins

On pourra également se reporter aux notes d'usage portant notamment sur la quantité, l'expression de l'âge, etc. Consulter l'index

* * *
mwɛ̃
1. adv

1) (comparatif) less

moins que — less than

moins grand que — not as tall as

de moins — less

100 euros de moins — 100 euros less

3 jours de moins — 3 days less

Il a trois ans de moins que moi. — He's three years younger than me.

Nous avons trois jours de vacances de moins que l'an dernier. — We have three days holiday less than last year.

Il est moins intelligent que moi. — He's not as clever as me.

Moins je travaille, mieux je me porte. — The less I work, the better I feel.

2) (superlatif)

le moins — least, the least

le moins doué; la moins douée — the least gifted

C'est ce que j'aime le moins. — It's what I like least., It's what I like the least.

C'est l'album que j'aime le moins. — This is the album I like the least., This is the album I least like.

C'est le modèle le moins cher. — It's the least expensive model.

Ce sont les plages qui sont les moins polluées. — These are the least polluted beaches.

3)

moins de (livres, gens) — fewer, (sable, eau, sel) less

moins de sable — less sand

moins d'eau — less water

moins de 2 ans — less than 2 years

Ça coûte moins de deux cents euros. — It costs less than 200 euros.

moins de livres — fewer books

moins de gens — fewer people

Il y a moins de gens aujourd'hui. — There are fewer people today.

Il est moins de midi. — It's not yet midday.

4) (autres locutions)

en moins; de l'argent en moins — less money

Cette année nous avons trois jours de vacances en moins. — We have three days less holiday this year.

le soleil en moins — without the sun, minus the sun

L'endroit ressemble assez à la Côte d'Azur, le soleil en moins. — The place is quite like the Riviera, without the sun.

au moins — at least

Ne te plains pas: au moins il ne pleut pas! — Don't complain: at least it's not raining!

pour le moins — at the very least

à moins de; à moins que — unless

à moins de faire; à moins que tu ne fasses — unless you do

Je te retrouverai à dix heures à moins que le train n'ait du retard. — I'll meet you at 10 o'clock unless the train is late.

à moins d'un accident — barring accidents

de moins en moins — less and less

Il vient nous voir de moins en moins. — He comes to see us less and less often.

en moins de deux — in a flash

2. prép

1) (soustraction) minus

4 moins 2 — 4 minus 2

2) (température) minus

Il fait moins 5. — It's minus 5., It's 5 below., It's 5 degrees below freezing.

Il a fait moins cinq la nuit dernière. — It was minus five last night.

3) (heure)

dix heures moins cinq — five to ten

Il est cinq heures moins dix. — It's ten to five.

Il est moins cinq. — It's five to.

3. nm

(= signe) minus sign

* * *

I.

moins ⇒ Note d'usage

A prép

1 ( dans une soustraction) minus; 8 moins 3 égale 5 8 minus 3 is ou equals 5; il a retrouvé sa voiture, moins les roues he got his car back without ou minus hum the wheels;

2 ( pour dire l'heure) to; il est huit heures moins dix it's ten (minutes) to eight; il est moins vingt○ it's twenty to○, it's twenty minutes to the hour; il était moins une○ or moins cinq○ it was a close shave○;

3 ( dans une température) minus; il faisait moins 15 degrés it was minus 15 (degrees).

B adv

1 ( modifiant un verbe) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif) le moins the least; je lis moins ces derniers temps I read less these days; ils sortent moins maintenant qu'ils ont un enfant they don't go out as much ou they go out less often now that they have a child; il importe moins de changer le règlement que de le faire appliquer changing the rule is less important than implementing it; je gagne moins qu'elle I earn less than she does, I don't earn as much as she does; c'est moins un artiste qu'un bon artisan he' s not so much an artist as a good craftsman; c'est moins une question d'argent qu'une question de principe it's not so much a question of money as a question of principle; de moins en moins less and less; moins je sors, moins j'ai envie de sortir the less I go out, the less I feel like going out; moins je le vois, mieux je me porte the less I see him, the better I feel; c'est lui qui travaille le moins de tous he's the one who works the least of all; le film qui m'a le moins plu the film I liked the least; ce que j'aime le moins chez lui what I like least about him;

2 ( modifiant un adjectif) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif) le moins, la moins, les moins ( de deux) the less; ( de plus de deux) the least; il est moins grand/doué que son père he's not as tall/gifted as his father; c'est moins facile qu'il n'y paraît it's not as easy as it seems; il est moins menteur que sa sœur he's less of a liar than his sister; c'est moins problématique que je ne croyais it's less problematic ou less of a problem than I thought, it's not as problematic as I thought; les jeunes et les moins jeunes the young and the not so young; dans le livre il y a du bon et du moins bon in the book, there are bits that are good and bits that are not so good; il n'en est pas moins vrai que it's nonetheless true that; il ressemble à son frère en moins gros he looks like his brother, only thinner; ce sont les employés les moins compétents de l'entreprise they're the least competent employees in the company; un individu des moins recommandables a most unsavoury individual;

3 ( modifiant un adverbe) ( comparatif) less; ( superlatif) le moins least; tu devrais rester moins longtemps dans le sauna you shouldn't stay so long in the sauna; elle chante moins bien qu'avant she doesn't sing as well as she used to; il fait moins beau que l'an dernier the weather isn't as good as it was last year; c'est le moins bien payé des deux he's the less well-paid of the two; le moins souvent (the) least often.

C moins de dét indéf

1 ( avec un nom dénombrable) moins de livres/d'assiettes/d'arguments fewer books/plates/arguments; j'ai moins de livres que toi I don't have as many books as you ou I have fewer books than you; mangez moins de graisses eat less fat; il y a moins de candidats there are fewer candidates; ils ont moins de chances d'être élus they are less likely to be elected; les éditeurs publient moins de livres publishers are publishing fewer books; pas moins de no fewer than;

2 ( avec un nom non dénombrable) moins de sucre/vin/papier less sugar/wine/paper; moins de bruit/lumière less noise/light; il a parlé avec moins de hargne he spoke less aggressively; il y a moins de monde aujourd'hui qu'hier there are fewer people today than there were yesterday; pas moins de no less than; c'est lui qui a le moins d'expérience des trois of the three he's the one with the least experience;

3 ( avec un numéral) en moins de trois heures in less than three hours; dans moins de trois heures in less than three hours; le voyage a duré un peu moins de trois heures the journey took a bit less than ou just under three hours; il est moins de 3 heures it's not quite 3 o'clock; les enfants de moins de 6 ans children under 6; les moins de 20 ans people under 20, the under-twenties; une planche de moins de deux m ètres de long a plank less than two metres^GB long; moins de huit candidats fewer than eight candidates; tu ne trouveras rien à moins de 500 euros you won't find anything for less than 500 euros ou for under 500 euros; ça m'a coûté moins de 200 euros it cost me less than 200 euros ou under 200 euros.

D à moins loc adv on serait furieux à moins it's more than enough to make one angry.

E à moins de loc prép à moins de partir maintenant, il n'arrivera pas à l'heure unless he leaves now he won't get there on time; à moins d'un miracle il va échouer unless there's a miracle, he's going to fail.

F à moins que loc conj à moins qu'il ne veuille venir unless he wants to come.

G à tout le moins loc adv to say the least.

H au moins loc adv at least; tout au moins at least; il y avait au moins 3 000 personnes there were at least 3,000 people; au moins, lui, il a réussi dans la vie he, at least, succeeded in life; tu l'as remercié, au moins? you did thank him, didn't you?

I de moins loc adv ça m'a pris deux heures de moins it took me two hours less; le kilo de pêches valait deux euros de moins que la veille a kilo of peaches cost two euros less than it had the day before; j'ai un an de moins que lui I'm a year younger than he is; il a obtenu 25% de voix de moins que son adversaire he got 25% fewer votes than his opponent.

J du moins loc adv at least; c'est du moins ce qu'il m'a raconté at least that's what he told me; si du moins tu es d'accord that is if you agree.

K en moins loc adv il y avait deux fourchettes en moins dans la boîte there were two forks missing from the box; il est revenu du front avec une jambe en moins/avec un doigt en moins he came back from the front with only one leg/with a finger missing; c'est tout le portrait de son père, la moustache en moins he's/she's the spitting image of his/her father without the moustache GB ou mustache US.

L pour le moins loc adv to say the least; ton attitude est pour le moins étrange your attitude is strange to say the least (of it).

II.

moins nm inv

1 Math minus; le signe moins the minus sign;

2 ○( inconvénient) minus.

Composé

moins que rien nmf good-for-nothing, nobody.

[mwɛ̃] adverbe

A.[COMPARATIF D'INFÉRIORITÉ]

1. [avec un adjectif, un adverbe] less

cinq fois moins cher five times less expensive

deux fois moins cher half as expensive, twice as cheap

en moins rapide but not so ou as fast

c'est moins bien que l'an dernier it's not as good a last year

c'est le même appartement, en moins bien/grand it's the same flat only not as nice/not as big

beaucoup/un peu moins a lot/a little less

il est moins timide que réservé he's not so much shy as reserved

il n'en est pas moins vrai que... it is nonetheless true that...

non moins charmante que... just as charming as..., no less charming than...

2. [avec un verbe] less, not... so ou as much

je souffre moins I'm not in so much ou I'm in less pain

tu devrais demander moins you shouldn't ask for so much

moins tu parles, mieux ça vaut the less you speak, the better

j'y pense moins que tu ne le crois I think about it less than you think

B.[SUPERLATIF D'INFÉRIORITÉ]

1. [avec un adjectif, un adverbe]

c'est lui le moins riche des trois he's the least wealthy of the three

c'est elle la moins intelligente des deux she's the less intelligent of the two

c'est le sommet le moins élevé it's the lowest peak

c'est le modèle le moins cher qu'on puisse trouver it's the least expensive (that) you can find

le moins possible as little as possible

c'est lui qui habite le moins loin he lives the least far away ou the nearest

je ne suis pas le moins du monde surpris I'm not at all ou not in the least bit surprised

je vous dérange? — mais non, pas le moins du monde am I disturbing you? — of course not ou not in the slightest

2. [avec un verbe]

le moins (the) least

le moins qu'on puisse faire, c'est de les inviter the least we could do is invite them

c'est le moins qu'on puisse dire! that's the least you can say!

————————

[mwɛ̃] préposition

1. [en soustrayant]

dix moins huit font deux ten minus ou less eight makes two

on est seize: moins les enfants, ça fait douze there are sixteen of us, twelve not counting the children

2. [indiquant l'heure]

il est moins vingt it's twenty to

il est 3 h moins le quart it's (a) quarter to 3

il était moins une ou cinq (familier) that was a close call ou shave

3. [introduisant un nombre négatif]

moins 50 plus moins 6 égalent moins 56 minus 50 plus minus 6 is ou makes minus 56

il fait moins 25 it's 25 below ou minus 25

plonger à moins 300 m to dive to a depth of 300 m

————————

[mwɛ̃] nom masculin

minus (sign)

————————

à moins locution adverbiale

j'étais terrifié — on le serait à moins! I was terrified — and lesser things have frightened me!

————————

à moins de locution prépositionnelle

1. [excepté]

à moins d'un miracle short of ou barring a miracle

nous n'arriverons pas à temps, à moins de partir demain we won't get there on time unless we leave tomorrow

2. [pour moins de] for less than

3. [dans le temps, l'espace]

il habite à moins de 10 minutes/500 mètres d'ici he lives less than 10 minutes/500 metres from here

————————

à moins que locution conjonctive

unless

à moins que vous ne vouliez le faire vous-même... unless you wanted to do it yourself...

————————

au moins locution adverbiale

1. [en tout cas] at least

2. [au minimum] at least

ça fait au moins un mois qu'on ne l'a pas vu we haven't seen him for at least a month

————————

de moins locution adverbiale

il y a 100 euros de moins dans le tiroir there are 100 euros missing from the drawer

je me sens 10 ans de moins I feel 10 years younger

(en corrélation avec 'que')

j'ai un an de moins qu'elle I'm a year younger than her

j'ai une tête de moins qu'elle I'm shorter than her by a head

de moins en moins locution adverbiale

less and less

de moins en moins souvent less and less often

de moins en moins de locution déterminante

[suivi d'un nom comptable] fewer and fewer

[suivi d'un nom non comptable] less and less

il y a de moins en moins de demande pour ce produit there is less and less demand for this product

————————

des moins locution adverbiale

un accueil des moins chaleureux a less than warm welcome

————————

du moins locution adverbiale

at least

ils devaient venir samedi, c'est du moins ce qu'ils nous avaient dit they were supposed to come on saturday, at least that's what they told us

————————

en moins locution adverbiale

il y a une chaise en moins there's one chair missing, we're one chair short

————————

en moins de locution prépositionnelle

in less than

en moins de temps qu'il n'en faut pour le dire before you can say Jack Robinson

en moins de rien in no time at all

en moins de deux (familier) in a jiffy, in two ticks

————————

moins de locution déterminante

1. (comparatif) [avec un nom comptable] fewer

[avec un nom non comptable] less

un peu moins de bruit! a little less noise!

il a moins de 18 ans he's under 18

les moins de 18 ans the under 18's

il ne me faudra pas moins de 3 heures pour tout faire I'll need no less than ou at the very least 3 hours to do everything

2. (superlatif)

le moins de

a. [avec un nom comptable] the fewest

b. [avec un nom non comptable] the least

c'est ce qui consomme le moins d'énergie it uses the least amount of energy

————————

moins... moins locution correlative

the less... the less

moins il travaillera, moins il aura de chances de réussir à son examen the less he works, the less chance he'll have of passing his exam

————————

moins... plus locution correlative

the less... the more

————————

moins que rien locution adverbiale

next to nothing

————————

moins que rien nom masculin et féminin

nobody

c'est un/une moins que rien he's/she's a nobody

des moins que rien a useless bunch (of individuals)

on ne peut moins locution adverbiale

elle est on ne peut moins honnête she's as honest as they come

c'est on ne peut moins compliqué! it couldn't be less complicated!

pour le moins locution adverbiale

at the very least, to say the least

il y a pour le moins une heure d'attente there's an hour's wait at the very least

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais > moins

9 meno

1. adv less

superlativo least

mathematics minus

il meno possibile as little as possible

di meno at least

a meno che unless

per lo meno at least

sono le sei meno un quarto it's a quarter to six

sempre meno less and less

fare a meno di qualcosa do without something

venir meno a qualcuno forze desert someone

venir meno alla parola data not keep one's word

2. prep except

* * *

meno avv.compar.

1 (in minor quantità o grado) less; not so... (as); not as... (as): dovresti lavorare (di) meno e riposare di più, you should work less and rest more; il viaggio di ritorno mi è sembrato meno lungo, the journey back didn't seem so long (to me); quest'anno ha piovuto (di) meno, it hasn't rained so much this year; non per questo è meno intelligente, he is no less intelligent for that // più o meno, poco più poco meno, more or less // chi più chi meno, more or less (o some more some less): tutti hanno contribuito, chi più chi meno, al buon esito dell'iniziativa, everyone more or less contributed to the success of the venture (o everyone contributed to the success of the venture, some more some less) // né più né meno, just, exactly: gli ho detto né più né meno come la pensavo, I told him just (o exactly) how I felt about it; le cose sono andate né più né meno così, that's exactly what happened

2 (nel compar. di minoranza) less... (than); not so... (as), not as... (as): l'argento è meno prezioso dell'oro, silver is less precious than gold (o silver isn't as precious as gold); lui non è meno studioso di te, he studies just as much as you do (o he studies no less than you do); oggi è meno freddo di ieri, it isn't as cold today as it was yesterday (form. it is less cold than yesterday); il traffico era meno intenso del solito, the traffic wasn't as heavy as usual (o was less heavy than usual); è andata meno bene del previsto, it didn't go as well as expected

3 (correl.) (quanto) meno... (tanto) meno: the less... the less: meno si lavora, meno si lavorerebbe, the less you work, the less you feel like working; meno studi, meno impari, the less you study, the less you learn

4 (nel superl. di minoranza) the least; (fra due) the less: tra tutte le conferenze, questa è stata la meno interessante, of all the lectures, this was the least interesting; la meno preparata delle due squadre, the less fit of the (two) teams; ho intenzione di scegliere la macchina che costa meno, I'm going to choose the car that costs the least (o the cheapest car); cerca di affaticarti il meno possibile, try to tire yourself as little as possible

5 (con valore di no) not: fammi sapere se verrai o meno, let me know whether or not you're coming; mi domando se valga la pena o meno di accettare, I wonder whether or not it's worth accepting; mi hanno accreditato mille euro, meno le spese bancarie, my account was credited with one thousand euros, minus bank charges

6 (mat.) minus: sette meno tre è uguale a quattro, seven minus three is four (o three from seven leaves four) // la temperatura è meno due, the temperature is two degrees below zero // ci sono cinque euro in meno, di meno, (mancano cinque euro) there's five euros missing; ho speso dieci euro in meno, I spent ten euros less; uno di meno!, one less!; non eravamo in meno di otto, there were no less than eight of us // se avessi vent'anni di meno!, if only I were twenty years younger! // sono le otto meno cinque, it's five to eight

◆ prep. (tranne) but, except: c'erano tutti meno loro, everyone was there except (o but) them; il museo è aperto tutti i giorni meno il lunedì, the museum is open every day but (o except) Monday; ho pensato a tutto meno che a fare i biglietti, I saw to everything except the tickets.

◆ FRASEOLOGIA: tanto meno, ancora meno, even less: non ho accettato finora, tanto meno accetterei adesso, I haven't accepted so far, and now I've got even less reason to accept // meno che mai, men che meno, let alone: non sa parlare l'italiano, meno che mai l'inglese, he can't even speak Italian, let alone English // quanto meno, (perlomeno) at least: avresti potuto quanto meno farmi una telefonata, you could at least have phoned me // fare a meno di qlcu., di (fare) qlco., to do without s.o., (doing) sthg.: non potrei fare a meno di lui, I couldn't do without him; non potei fare a meno di ridere, I couldn't help laughing // venire meno, (venire a mancare) to fail; (svenire) to faint; mi venne meno il coraggio, my courage failed me; a quella notizia, mi sentii venire meno, I felt as if I was going to faint when I heard the news // venire meno alla parola data, to break one's word // essere da meno (di qlcu.), to be less than s.o. // senza meno, (region.) certainly, for sure: le telefonerò domani senza meno, I'll phone her tomorrow for sure; a meno che, a meno di, unless: lo spettacolo si terrà all'aperto, a meno che non piova, the performance will take place outdoors, unless it rains; non farei mai una cosa simile, a meno di non esservi costretto, I would never do such a thing, unless I was forced to // niente meno → nientedimeno // per lo meno → perlomeno.

meno agg.compar.invar. less; not so much, not as much; (con s. pl.) fewer; not so many, not as many: c'è meno traffico sulle strade rispetto a ieri, there's less traffic on the roads than yesterday (o there isn't as much traffic on the roads as yesterday); oggi c'è meno gente in giro, there are fewer people (o there aren't so many people) about today; se prendi l'autostrada impiegherai meno tempo, it will take you less time (o it won't take you so long) if you use the motorway; c'erano meno italiani e più stranieri, there were fewer Italians and more foreigners; ha meno amici che nemici, he has fewer friends than enemies; loro hanno meno preoccupazioni di noi, they have fewer worries than we have (o they haven't so many worries as we have); questa volta hai fatto meno errori, this time you made fewer mistakes (o you didn't make so many mistakes) // meno storie!, stop making a fuss! // meno male, thank goodness; just as well; it's a good job (o a good thing); not so bad: meno male che non si è fatto niente, thank goodness he wasn't hurt; meno male che siete arrivati in tempo, it's a good job you arrived in time; meno male, poteva andar peggio!, not so bad, things could have been worse!

◆ s.m.

1 (con valore di compar.) less, not as much: ho fatto meno di quanto avrei voluto, I did less than (o I didn't do as much as) I would have liked; ha mangiato meno del solito, he ate less than usual (o he didn't eat as much as usual); meno di così non si poteva dare, you couldn't give less than that; si accontenterebbe di molto meno, he would be satisfied with much less; oggi ho dovuto aspettare molto meno, today I didn't have nearly so long to wait (o I had much less to wait); ci vorranno non meno di tre ore per arrivare, it will take no less than three hours to get there; finirò il lavoro in meno di un mese, I shall finish the job in less than a month; arriverà tra non meno di due settimane, he won't be here for a fortnight // a meno, per meno, (a minor prezzo) for less (o cheaper): vendere, acquistare per meno, to sell, to purchase for less // in men che non si dica, in less than no time

2 (con valore di superl.) the least; as little as: questo è il meno che tu possa fare, that's the least you can do; era il meno che gli potesse capitare, it was the least that could happen to him; vorrei spendere il meno possibile, I'd like to spend as little as possible // parlare del più e del meno, to talk of this and that // quando meno ci si pensa..., when you least expect...

3 (mat.) minus: il segno del meno, the minus sign

4 pl.: i meno, (la minoranza) the minority; i deputati che votarono a favore della proposta di legge erano i meno, the MP s who voted in favour of the bill were in the minority.

* * *
['meno]
1. avv

1) less

meno caro — less expensive, cheaper

è meno alto di suo fratello/di quel che pensavo — he is not as tall as his brother/as I thought, he is less tall than his brother/than I thought

ha due anni meno di me — he's two years younger than me

dovresti mangiare meno — you should eat less, you shouldn't eat so much

meno ne discutiamo, meglio è — the less we talk about it, the better

deve avere non meno di trent'anni — he must be at least thirty

meno fumo più mangio — the less I smoke the more I eat

andare all'università diventa sempre meno facile — it's getting less and less easy to go to university

ho speso (di) meno — I spent less

arrivo tra meno di un'ora — I'll be there in less than o in under an hour

2) (con senso superlativo) least

è il meno dotato dei miei studenti — he's the least gifted of my pupils

è quello che leggo meno spesso — it's the one I read least often

3) (sottrazione) Mat minus, less

5 meno 2 — 5 minus 2, 5 take away 2

sono le otto meno un quarto — it's a quarter to eight Brit o of eight Am

mi hai dato due carte di meno — you gave me two cards too few

eh, se avessi dieci anni di meno! — oh, if only I were ten years younger!

ho una sterlina in meno — I am one pound short

ci sono meno 25° — it's minus 25°, it is 25° below (zero)

ha preso sette meno — he got (a) B minus

4)

(fraseologia) non è da meno di lui — she is (every bit) as good as he is

non voglio essere da meno di lui — I don't want to be outdone by him

fare a meno di — to do o manage without

se non c'è zucchero ne faremo a meno — if there isn't any sugar we'll do without

potresti fare a meno di fumare in macchina? — would you mind not smoking in the car?

non ho potuto fare a meno di ridere — I couldn't help laughing

in men che non si dica — in less than no time, quick as a flash

meno male! — good!, thank goodness!, just as well!

meno male che sei arrivato — it's a good job that you have come

men che meno gli inglesi — least of all the English

fammi sapere se verrai o meno — let me know if you are coming or not

quanto meno poteva avvertire — he could at least have let us know

non mi piace come scrive e tanto meno come parla — I don't like the way he writes let alone the way he talks

2. agg inv

(acqua, lavoro, soldi) less, (persone, libri, errori) fewer

meno bambini ci sono, meglio è — the fewer children there are the better

meno storie! — stop messing around!

meno tempo — less time

meno turisti — fewer tourists

3. sm inv

1)

(la minor cosa) il meno — the least

era il meno che ti potesse capitare — (rimprovero) you were asking for it

parlare del più e del meno — to talk about this and that

per lo meno — perlomeno

i meno — (la minoranza) the minority

2) Mat minus (sign)

4. prep

(fuorché, eccetto che) except (for)

a meno che non faccia caldo — unless it is hot

a meno di prendere un giorno di ferie — unless I (o you ecc) take a day off

ci siamo tutti meno lui — we are all here except (for) him

tutti meno uno — all but one

* * *
['meno] 1.
avverbio

1) (in un comparativo di minoranza) less

un po' meno — a little less

è meno alto di Tim — he is not as tall as Tim

è meno complicato di quanto pensi — it's less complicated than you think

2) (con un avverbio) less

meno spesso — less often

meno del solito — less than usual

canta meno bene di prima — she doesn't sing as well as she used to

3) (con un verbo) less

l'argento costa meno dell'oro — silver costs less than gold

costa meno prendere il treno — it works out cheaper to take the train

dovresti lavorare (di) meno — you should work less

guadagno meno di lei — I earn less than she does, I don't earn as much as she does

meno se ne parla, meglio è — the less said about that, the better

meno esco, meno ho voglia di uscire — the less I go out, the less I feel like going out

è lui quello che lavora meno di tutti — he's the one who works the least of all

4) (con un numerale) less

meno di 50 — less than 50

meno di due ore — under o less than two hours

un po' meno di 15 cm — just under 15 cm

i bambini con meno di sei anni — children under six

non troverai niente a meno di 200 euro — you won't find anything for less than o for under 200 euros

5) (in un superlativo relativo)

(il) meno, (la) meno, (i) meno, (le) meno — the least

le famiglie meno ricche — the least wealthy families

era la meno soddisfatta di tutti — she was the least satisfied of all

è quello pagato meno bene fra i due — he's the least well-paid of the two

quello mi piace meno di tutti — I like that one (the) least

sono quelli che ne hanno meno bisogno — they are the ones who need it (the) least

proprio quando meno me l'aspettavo — just when I least expected it

6) (in correlazione con "più")

né più, né meno — neither more, nor less

centimetro più, centimetro meno — give or take an inch (or two)

né più né meno che — nothing less than

7) (con valore di negazione) not

che lo voglia o meno — whether he's willing or not

non ha deciso se firmare o meno — he hasn't decided whether to sign (or not)

8) da meno

è un gran bugiardo e suo fratello non è da meno — he's a liar and his brother isn't any better

ho fatto una torta anche io per non essere da meno — I made a cake as well, just to keep up

9) di meno, in meno

se avessi 20 anni di meno! — I wish I were 20 years younger!

ho preso 30 euro in meno di stipendio — my wages are 30 euros short

10) a meno di short of

11) a meno che unless

12) sempre meno less and less

13) meno male thank goodness

meno male che — it's a good thing that

meno male che è impermeabile! — it's just as well it's waterproof!

meno male che ci sono andato! — it was lucky for me that I went!

14) quanto meno, per lo meno at least

15) tanto meno

non l'ho mai visto, tanto meno gli ho parlato — I've never seen him, much less spoken to him

era troppo malata per stare in piedi, tanto meno per camminare — she was too ill to stand let alone walk

16) più o meno more or less, about, roughly, round about

più o meno alto come te — about your height

è successo più o meno qui — it happened round about here

"ti è piaciuto il film?" - "più o meno" — "did you enjoy the film?" - "sort of"

più o meno nello stesso modo — in much the same way

la canzone fa più o meno così — the song goes something like this
2.
aggettivo invariabile

1) (in un comparativo di minoranza) less, fewer

ho meno libri di te — I have fewer books than you

ho meno caldo adesso — I feel cooler now

ci è voluto meno tempo di quanto pensassimo — it took less time than we expected

2) (con valore pronominale) less, fewer

non meno di — no fewer than

ne ho meno di te — I have less than you

ha venduto meno di tutti — he sold the fewest
3.
preposizione

1) (in una sottrazione) from, minus

quanto fa 20 meno 8? — what is 20 minus 8?

20 meno 5 fa 15 — 5 from 20 leaves 15, 20 minus 5 is 15, 20 take away 5 is 15

2) (tranne, eccetto) but, besides, except

3) (per indicare l'ora)

le sei meno dieci — ten to six

4) (per indicare una temperatura)

meno 10 — minus 10
4.
sostantivo maschile invariabile

1) (la cosa, quantità minore) least

questo è il meno — that's the least of it

fare il meno possibile — to do as little as possible

2) mat. minus (sign)

••

parlare del più e del meno — to talk about this and that, to shoot the breeze AE

in men che non si dica — before you could say knife, in the bat o wink of an eye, in (less than) no time

fare a meno di — to manage o do without, to dispense with [auto, servizi]

non posso farne a meno — I can't help it
••
Note:

Meno è usato principalmente come avverbio e come aggettivo, anche con valore pronominale. - Come avverbio, si rende con less quando introduce un comparativo di minoranza e con (the) least quando introduce un superlativo di minoranza: less è seguito da than, the least è seguito da of oppure in (se ci si riferisce a un luogo o un gruppo). Gli esempi nella voce mostrano anche che il comparativo di minoranza è spesso sostituito in inglese dalla variante negativa di un comparativo di uguaglianza: ho meno esperienza di te = I have less experience than you, oppure: I don't have as much experience as you; la mia stanza è meno grande della tua = my bedroom isn't as big as yours. - Come aggettivo, in inglese standard meno si traduce con less davanti e al posto di sostantivi non numerabili ( meno denaro = less money; ne ho meno di ieri = I have less than yesterday), mentre davanti e al posto di sostantivi plurali si usa fewer con valore comparativo ( meno studenti = fewer students; non meno di = no fewer than) e (the) fewest con valore superlativo ( ho fatto meno errori di tutti = I made the fewest mistakes; ne ha dati meno di tutti = he gave the fewest); tuttavia, nel linguaggio parlato less tende a sostituire fewer anche con riferimento plurale: meno persone = less people. - Per altri esempi e per l'uso di meno come preposizione e sostantivo, si veda la voce qui sotto

* * *

meno

/'meno/

Meno è usato principalmente come avverbio e come aggettivo, anche con valore pronominale. - Come avverbio, si rende con less quando introduce un comparativo di minoranza e con (the) least quando introduce un superlativo di minoranza: less è seguito da than, the least è seguito da of oppure in (se ci si riferisce a un luogo o un gruppo). Gli esempi nella voce mostrano anche che il comparativo di minoranza è spesso sostituito in inglese dalla variante negativa di un comparativo di uguaglianza: ho meno esperienza di te = I have less experience than you, oppure: I don't have as much experience as you; la mia stanza è meno grande della tua = my bedroom isn't as big as yours. - Come aggettivo, in inglese standard meno si traduce con less davanti e al posto di sostantivi non numerabili ( meno denaro = less money; ne ho meno di ieri = I have less than yesterday), mentre davanti e al posto di sostantivi plurali si usa fewer con valore comparativo ( meno studenti = fewer students; non meno di = no fewer than) e (the) fewest con valore superlativo ( ho fatto meno errori di tutti = I made the fewest mistakes; ne ha dati meno di tutti = he gave the fewest); tuttavia, nel linguaggio parlato less tende a sostituire fewer anche con riferimento plurale: meno persone = less people. - Per altri esempi e per l'uso di meno come preposizione e sostantivo, si veda la voce qui sotto.

I avverbio

1 (in un comparativo di minoranza) less; un po' meno a little less; è meno alto di Tim he is not as tall as Tim; è meno complicato di quanto pensi it's less complicated than you think

2 (con un avverbio) less; meno spesso less often; meno del solito less than usual; canta meno bene di prima she doesn't sing as well as she used to

3 (con un verbo) less; l'argento costa meno dell'oro silver costs less than gold; costa meno prendere il treno it works out cheaper to take the train; dovresti lavorare (di) meno you should work less; guadagno meno di lei I earn less than she does, I don't earn as much as she does; meno se ne parla, meglio è the less said about that, the better; meno esco, meno ho voglia di uscire the less I go out, the less I feel like going out; è lui quello che lavora meno di tutti he's the one who works the least of all

4 (con un numerale) less; meno di 50 less than 50; meno di due ore under o less than two hours; un po' meno di 15 cm just under 15 cm; i bambini con meno di sei anni children under six; non troverai niente a meno di 200 euro you won't find anything for less than o for under 200 euros

5 (in un superlativo relativo) (il) meno, (la) meno, (i) meno, (le) meno the least; le famiglie meno ricche the least wealthy families; era la meno soddisfatta di tutti she was the least satisfied of all; è quello pagato meno bene fra i due he's the least well-paid of the two; quello mi piace meno di tutti I like that one (the) least; sono quelli che ne hanno meno bisogno they are the ones who need it (the) least; proprio quando meno me l'aspettavo just when I least expected it

6 (in correlazione con "più") né più, né meno neither more, nor less; centimetro più, centimetro meno give or take an inch (or two); né più né meno che nothing less than

7 (con valore di negazione) not; che lo voglia o meno whether he's willing or not; non ha deciso se firmare o meno he hasn't decided whether to sign (or not)

8 da meno è un gran bugiardo e suo fratello non è da meno he's a liar and his brother isn't any better; ho fatto una torta anche io per non essere da meno I made a cake as well, just to keep up

9 di meno, in meno se avessi 20 anni di meno! I wish I were 20 years younger! ho preso 30 euro in meno di stipendio my wages are 30 euros short

10 a meno di short of

11 a meno che unless

12 sempre meno less and less

13 meno male thank goodness; meno male che it's a good thing that; meno male che è impermeabile! it's just as well it's waterproof! meno male che ci sono andato! it was lucky for me that I went!

14 quanto meno, per lo meno at least

15 tanto meno non l'ho mai visto, tanto meno gli ho parlato I've never seen him, much less spoken to him; era troppo malata per stare in piedi, tanto meno per camminare she was too ill to stand let alone walk

16 più o meno more or less, about, roughly, round about; più o meno alto come te about your height; è successo più o meno qui it happened round about here; "ti è piaciuto il film?" - "più o meno" "did you enjoy the film?" - "sort of"; più o meno nello stesso modo in much the same way; la canzone fa più o meno così the song goes something like this

II aggettivo invariabile

1 (in un comparativo di minoranza) less, fewer; ho meno libri di te I have fewer books than you; ho meno caldo adesso I feel cooler now; ci è voluto meno tempo di quanto pensassimo it took less time than we expected

2 (con valore pronominale) less, fewer; non meno di no fewer than; ne ho meno di te I have less than you; ha venduto meno di tutti he sold the fewest

III preposizione

1 (in una sottrazione) from, minus; quanto fa 20 meno 8? what is 20 minus 8? 20 meno 5 fa 15 5 from 20 leaves 15, 20 minus 5 is 15, 20 take away 5 is 15

2 (tranne, eccetto) but, besides, except

3 (per indicare l'ora) le sei meno dieci ten to six

4 (per indicare una temperatura) meno 10 minus 10

IV m.inv.

1 (la cosa, quantità minore) least; questo è il meno that's the least of it; fare il meno possibile to do as little as possible

2 mat. minus (sign)

IDIOMS

parlare del più e del meno to talk about this and that, to shoot the breeze AE; in men che non si dica before you could say knife, in the bat o wink of an eye, in (less than) no time; fare a meno di to manage o do without, to dispense with [auto, servizi]; non posso farne a meno I can't help it.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > meno

10 menos

adj.

1 less.

menos aire less air

menos manzanas fewer apples

menos… que… less/fewer… than…

tiene menos experiencia que tú she has less experience than you

hace menos calor que ayer it's not as hot as it was yesterday

hay dos libros de menos there are two books missing

me han dado 10 euros de menos they've given me 10 euros too little

2 the least.

el que compró menos acciones the one who bought the fewest shares

lo que menos tiempo llevó the thing that took the least time

la que menos nota sacó en el examen the girl who did (the) worst o got the worst marks in the exam

3 fewer.

adv.

1 less.

menos de/que less than

son menos de las diez it's not quite ten o'clock yet

2 minus (expresa resta).

tres menos dos igual a uno three minus two is one

3 to (con las horas). (peninsular Spanish, River Plate)

son las dos menos diez it's ten to two

son menos diez it's ten to

4 under.

prep.

1 except (for) (excepto).

todo menos eso anything but that

2 minus, less.

m. s.&pl.

minus (sign) (Mat).

* * *

menos

► adjetivo

1 (comparativo - en cantidad) less; (- en número) fewer

■ hoy hay menos gente there are fewer people today

■ viajar en tren cuesta menos dinero going by train costs less money

■ hay menos mesas que en el otro restaurante there are fewer tables than in the other restaurant

■ yo tengo menos años que tú I'm younger than you

2 (superlativo - de cantidad) least; (- de número) fewest

■ yo soy la que menos culpa tiene I'm the least guilty

► adverbio

1 (comparativo - de cantidad) less; (- de número) fewer

■ voy al gimnasio menos que antes I go to the gym less than before

■ vinieron menos de viente personas fewer than twenty people came

■ deberías ir menos deprisa you shouldn't go so fast

■ hay que conducir a menos de 100km/h one cannot drive over 100 km/h

2 (superlativo) least

■ es el menos guapo de toda la familia he's the least good-looking member of the family

3 (con horas) to

■ las tres menos cuarto a quarter to three

4 MATEMÁTICAS minus

■ cuatro menos dos, dos four minus two is two

► preposición

1 but, except

■ todo menos eso anything but that

■ todos fueron al cine menos Alberto everyone went to the cinema except Alberto

► pronombre

1 (cantidad) less; (número) fewer

■ me pagó menos he paid me less

■ esperaban a más de mil personas pero vinieron menos they were expecting over a thousand people but fewer came

► nombre masculino

1 MATEMÁTICAS minus sign

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

a menos que unless

al menos / a lo menos at least

aún menos much less

cada vez menos less and less

dar (dinero) de menos to short-change

en menos de nada in no time at all

eso es lo de menos that's the least of my worries

ir a menos to go down in the world

lo menos at least

■ lo menos que puedes hacer the least you can do

menos da una piedra something's better than nothing

¡menos mal! thank God!

¡ni mucho menos! far from it!

no ser para menos to be no wonder

para no ser menos so as not to be outdone

por lo menos at least

por menos de nada for no reason at all

qué menos que...... is the least somebody could do/could have done

si al menos... if only...

venirse a menos to come down in the world

¡ya será menos! come off it!

* * *
1. noun m.
minus sign
2. adj.
1) less, least

2) fewer, fewest
3. adv.
1) less

2) least

•

- a menos que
- por lo menos 4. prep.
1) except

2) minus
5. pron.
less, fewer

* * *

1. ADV

1) [comparativo] less

ahora salgo menos — I go out less these days

últimamente nos vemos menos — we've been seeing less of each other recently

me gusta cada vez menos — I like it less and less

una película menos conocida — a less well-known film

Juan está menos deprimido — Juan is less depressed

es menos difícil de lo que parece — it's less difficult than it seems

• menos aún — even less

este me gusta menos aún — I like this one even less

• menos de — [con sustantivos incontables, medidas, dinero, tiempo] less than; [con sustantivos contables] fewer than

está a menos de tres horas en tren — it's less than three hours away by train

llegamos en menos de diez minutos — we got there in less than o in under ten minutes

menos de lo que piensas — less than you think

tiene menos de dieciocho años — he's under eighteen

menos de 50 cajas — fewer than 50 boxes

• en menos de nada — in no time at all

por menos de nada — for no reason at all

• menos que — less than

me gusta menos que el otro — I like it less than the other one

trabaja menos que yo — he doesn't work as hard as I do

este es menos caro que aquel — this one is less expensive than that one

lo hizo menos cuidadosamente que ayer — he did it less carefully than yesterday

2) [superlativo] least

su película menos innovadora — his least innovative film

es el menos inteligente de los cuatro — he is the least intelligent of the four

el chico menos desobediente de la clase — the least disobedient boy in the class

es el que habla menos — he's the one who talks (the) least

fue el que trabajó menos — he was the one who did the least work

3)

• al menos — at least

hay al menos cien personas — there are at least a hundred people

si al menos lloviera — if only it would rain

• de menos, hay siete de menos — we're seven short, there are seven missing

me dieron un paquete con medio kilo de menos — they gave me a packet which was half a kilo short o under weight

me han pagado dos libras de menos — they have underpaid me by two pounds

darse de menos — to underestimate o.s.

hacer a algn de menos — to put sb down

• echar de menos a algn — to miss sb

• ir a menos — to come down in the world

• lo menos diez — at least ten

lo menos posible — as little as possible

es lo menos que se puede esperar — it's the least one can expect

• eso es lo de menos — that's the least of it

• ¡menos mal! — thank goodness!

¡menos mal que habéis venido! — thank goodness you've come!

• era nada menos que un rey — he was a king, no less

• no es para menos — quite right too

• por lo menos — at least

• ¡ qué menos!, -le di un euro de propina -¡qué menos! — "I tipped her a euro" - "that was the least you could do!"

¿qué menos que darle las gracias? — the least we can do is say thanks!

• quedarse en menos, no se quedó en menos — he was not to be outdone

• tener a menos hacer algo — to consider it beneath o.s. to do sth

• venir a menos — to come down in the world

• y menos, no quiero verle y menos visitarle — I don't want to see him, let alone visit him

• ¡ ya será menos! — come off it!
cuando 2., 2), poder
2. ADJ

1) [comparativo] [con sustantivos incontables, medidas, dinero, tiempo] less; [con sustantivos contables] fewer

menos harina — less flour

menos gatos — fewer cats

aquí hay menos gente — there are fewer people here

• menos... que, A tiene menos ventajas que B — A has fewer advantages than B

Ana tiene menos años que Carlos — Ana is younger than Carlos

no soy menos hombre que él — * I'm as much of a man as he is

este es menos coche que el anterior — * this is not as good a car as the last one

• ser menos que, ganaremos porque son menos que nosotros — we'll win because there are fewer of them than there are of us

para no ser menos que los vecinos — to keep up with the neighbours

2) [superlativo] [con sustantivos incontables, medidas, dinero, tiempo] least; [con sustantivos contables] fewest

el método que lleva menos tiempo — the method which takes (the) least time

es el que menos culpa tiene — he is the least to blame

el examen con menos errores — the exam paper with the fewest mistakes

3. PREP

1) (=excepto) except

todos menos él — everybody except him

¡todo menos eso! — anything but that!

2) (Mat) [para restar] minus, less

cinco menos dos — five minus o less two

siete menos dos (son) cinco — seven minus two is five

son las siete menos veinte — it's twenty to seven

4.

CONJ

• a menos que — unless

no iré a menos que me acompañes — I won't go unless you come with me

5. SM

1) (Mat) minus sign

2)

los menos — the minority

3)
más 1., 2)
* * *
I
adverbio

1) ( comparativo) less

cada vez estudia menos — she's studying less and less

ya me duele menos — it hurts less now

ahora lo vemos menos — we don't see him so often o we don't see so much of him now

no voy a ir, y menos aún con él — I'm not going, and certainly not with him

menos (...) que: un hallazgo no menos importante que éste a find which is no less important than this one; ella menos que nadie puede criticarte she of all people is in no position to criticize you; menos (...) de less than; pesa menos de 50 kilos it weighs less than o under 50 kilos; no lo haría por menos de cien mil I wouldn't do it for less than a hundred thousand; éramos menos de diez there were fewer than ten of us; los niños de menos de 7 años children under seven; es menos peligroso de lo que tú crees — it's not as dangerous as you think

2) ( superlativo) least

es la menos complicada — it is the least complicated one

éste es el menos pesado de los dos — this is the lighter of the two

es el que menos viene por aquí — he's the one who comes around least (often)

es el que menos me gusta — he's the one I like (the) least

se esfuerza lo menos posible — he makes as little effort as possible

es lo menos que podía hacer — it's the least I could do

cuando menos lo esperábamos — when we were least expecting it; para locs ver menos III 2)
II
adjetivo invariable

1) ( comparativo) ( en cantidad) less; ( en número) fewer

alimentos con menos fibra/calorías — food with less fiber/fewer calories

ya hace menos frío — it's not as o so cold now

recibimos cada vez menos pedidos — we are getting fewer and fewer orders

cuesta tres veces menos — it costs a third of the price

mide medio metro menos — it's half a meter shorter

menos (...) que: tengo menos tiempo que tú I haven't as o so much time as you; menos estudiantes que el año pasado fewer students than last year; yo no soy menos que él — he's no better than me

2) ( superlativo) ( en cantidad) least; ( en número) fewest

esos casos son los menos — cases like that are the exception
III
pronombre

1)

sírveme menos — don't give me so much, give me less

ya falta menos — it won't be long now

aprobaron menos que el año pasado — fewer passed than last year

2) (en locs)

al menos — at least

a menos que — unless

cuando menos — at least

de menos: me ha dado 100 pesos de menos you've given me 100 pesos too little; me has cobrado de menos you've undercharged me; lo menos (fam) at least; menos mal just as well, thank goodness; menos mal que no me oyó just as well o it's a good thing he didn't hear me; por lo menos at least; ir a menos to go downhill; ser lo de menos: eso es lo de menos, a mí lo que me preocupa es... that's the least of it, what worries me is...; la fecha es lo de menos the date is the least of our/their problems; tener a alguien en menos to feel somebody is beneath one; tener algo a menos to think something is beneath one o beneath one's dignity; venirse a menos — to come down in the world
IV
preposición

1) ( excepto)

firmaron todos menos Alonso — everybody but Alonso signed, everybody signed except o but Alonso

menos estos dos, todos están en venta — apart from o with the exception of these two, they are all for sale

tres latas de pintura, menos la que usé — three cans of paint, less what I used

2)

a) (Mat) (en restas, números negativos) minus

b) (Esp, RPl) ( en la hora)

son las cinco menos diez/cuarto — it's ten to five/(a) quarter to five

son menos veinte — it's twenty to
V
masculino minus sign

* * *

= least, less [lesser -comp., least -sup.], minus, but, less so.

Ex. Service to the whole community implies positive discrimination towards those who through social or educational deprivation are least adept at using information tools.

Ex. The role of analytical entries in an online catalogue is less clear.

Ex. Copies of records created by the libraries, minus local data, are added to the pool of cataloguing information available to users.

Ex. Rotundas were widely used for all but the most formal texts in the fifteenth century, but fell out of fashion during the sixteenth century, surviving longest in Spain.

Ex. Vellum remained popular on the continent, less so in England; while goatskin (morocco), although well established by this time for fine work, was seldom used in trade binding except for prayer books.

----

* al menos = at least, at the very least.

* a menos que = unless, short of.

* aproximadamente, más o menos = ballpark.

* area menos favorecida = less favoured area.

* cada vez menos = less and less.

* cuando menos te lo esperes = on any given Sunday.

* cuanto menos = at least, let alone, at best.

* dar menos de lo debido = shortchange.

* de menos del 10 por ciento = single digit, single figure.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* echar de menos = miss.

* echar muchísimo de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* echar mucho de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* el último pero no el menos importante = the last but by no means least.

* en todos menos en = in all but.

* en un futuro más o menos cercano = in the near future, in the near future.

* en un período más o menos lejano = in the near future, in the near future.

* estrella venida a menos = fallen star.

* figura venida a menos = fallen star.

* hacerlo todo menos = stop at + nothing short of.

* horas de menos aglomeración = off-peak times.

* lo menos posible = as little as possible.

* más o menos = more or less, of a sort, or so, of sorts, after a fashion, round about, roughly speaking, give or take.

* más o menos + Adverbio = relatively + Adverbio.

* más o menos cuadrado = squarish.

* menos aún = let alone.

* menos blandeces y más mano dura = less of the carrot, more of the stick, less of the carrot, more of the stick.

* menos conocido = lesser known.

* menos cultos, los = less literate, the.

* menos de + Cantidad = under + Cantidad, less than + Cantidad.

* menos de + Edad = on the right side of + Edad.

* menos desarrollado = less developed [less-developed].

* menos en = save in.

* menos en el caso de que = except when.

* menos favorecido = less-advantaged, less favoured [less favored].

* menos hecho = rarer.

* menos importante, el = least, the.

* menos probable = least likely, less likely.

* menos... que... = less... than....

* menos rápidos, los = less fleet of foot, the.

* menos sabido = lesser known.

* menos usado = less used.

* mucho menos = a great deal less, let alone, far less.

* nada más y nada menos = as much as + Expresión Numérica.

* nada más y nada menos que = in the order of + Cantidad, nothing less than.

* nada más y nada menos que de = to the tune of + Cantidad.

* nada más y nada menos que desde + Expresión Temporal = from as far back as + Expresión Temporal.

* nada más y nada menos que + Número = as many as + Número.

* nada menos que + Nombre + tan + Adjetivo + como = no less + Adjetivo + Nombre + than.

* ni más ni menos = nothing more, nothing less, no more, no less.

* ni mucho menos = by any stretch (of the imagination), by any means, not by a long shot.

* Nombre + más o menos = Nombre + of sorts.

* no ser menos que el vecino = keep up with + the Joneses.

* no ser menos que los demás = keep up with + the Joneses.

* pagar menos de lo que se debería = underpay.

* para no ser menos = not to be outdone.

* personaje venido a menos = fallen star.

* por último pero no menos importante = last but not least.

* región menos favorecida = less favoured region (LFR).

* salir de donde menos Uno se lo espera = come out of + the woodwork.

* ser menos + Adjetivo = be less of a(n) + Nombre.

* ser nada más y nada menos que = be nothing less than.

* signo menos (-) = minus sign (-), negative sign (-).

* todo menos = everything except (for).

* todos menos = everyone except, everybody except.

* todos menos + Número = all but + Número.

* último pero no el menos importante, el = final and not the least important, the.

* venir a menos = retrench.

* y cuanto mucho menos = much less.

* y mucho menos = much less, least of all.

* zona menos favorecida = less favoured area.

* * *
I
adverbio

1) ( comparativo) less

cada vez estudia menos — she's studying less and less

ya me duele menos — it hurts less now

ahora lo vemos menos — we don't see him so often o we don't see so much of him now

no voy a ir, y menos aún con él — I'm not going, and certainly not with him

menos (...) que: un hallazgo no menos importante que éste a find which is no less important than this one; ella menos que nadie puede criticarte she of all people is in no position to criticize you; menos (...) de less than; pesa menos de 50 kilos it weighs less than o under 50 kilos; no lo haría por menos de cien mil I wouldn't do it for less than a hundred thousand; éramos menos de diez there were fewer than ten of us; los niños de menos de 7 años children under seven; es menos peligroso de lo que tú crees — it's not as dangerous as you think

2) ( superlativo) least

es la menos complicada — it is the least complicated one

éste es el menos pesado de los dos — this is the lighter of the two

es el que menos viene por aquí — he's the one who comes around least (often)

es el que menos me gusta — he's the one I like (the) least

se esfuerza lo menos posible — he makes as little effort as possible

es lo menos que podía hacer — it's the least I could do

cuando menos lo esperábamos — when we were least expecting it; para locs ver menos III 2)
II
adjetivo invariable

1) ( comparativo) ( en cantidad) less; ( en número) fewer

alimentos con menos fibra/calorías — food with less fiber/fewer calories

ya hace menos frío — it's not as o so cold now

recibimos cada vez menos pedidos — we are getting fewer and fewer orders

cuesta tres veces menos — it costs a third of the price

mide medio metro menos — it's half a meter shorter

menos (...) que: tengo menos tiempo que tú I haven't as o so much time as you; menos estudiantes que el año pasado fewer students than last year; yo no soy menos que él — he's no better than me

2) ( superlativo) ( en cantidad) least; ( en número) fewest

esos casos son los menos — cases like that are the exception
III
pronombre

1)

sírveme menos — don't give me so much, give me less

ya falta menos — it won't be long now

aprobaron menos que el año pasado — fewer passed than last year

2) (en locs)

al menos — at least

a menos que — unless

cuando menos — at least

de menos: me ha dado 100 pesos de menos you've given me 100 pesos too little; me has cobrado de menos you've undercharged me; lo menos (fam) at least; menos mal just as well, thank goodness; menos mal que no me oyó just as well o it's a good thing he didn't hear me; por lo menos at least; ir a menos to go downhill; ser lo de menos: eso es lo de menos, a mí lo que me preocupa es... that's the least of it, what worries me is...; la fecha es lo de menos the date is the least of our/their problems; tener a alguien en menos to feel somebody is beneath one; tener algo a menos to think something is beneath one o beneath one's dignity; venirse a menos — to come down in the world
IV
preposición

1) ( excepto)

firmaron todos menos Alonso — everybody but Alonso signed, everybody signed except o but Alonso

menos estos dos, todos están en venta — apart from o with the exception of these two, they are all for sale

tres latas de pintura, menos la que usé — three cans of paint, less what I used

2)

a) (Mat) (en restas, números negativos) minus

b) (Esp, RPl) ( en la hora)

son las cinco menos diez/cuarto — it's ten to five/(a) quarter to five

son menos veinte — it's twenty to
V
masculino minus sign

* * *

= least, less [lesser -comp., least -sup.], minus, but, less so.

Ex: Service to the whole community implies positive discrimination towards those who through social or educational deprivation are least adept at using information tools.

Ex: The role of analytical entries in an online catalogue is less clear.

Ex: Copies of records created by the libraries, minus local data, are added to the pool of cataloguing information available to users.

Ex: Rotundas were widely used for all but the most formal texts in the fifteenth century, but fell out of fashion during the sixteenth century, surviving longest in Spain.

Ex: Vellum remained popular on the continent, less so in England; while goatskin (morocco), although well established by this time for fine work, was seldom used in trade binding except for prayer books.

* al menos = at least, at the very least.

* a menos que = unless, short of.

* aproximadamente, más o menos = ballpark.

* area menos favorecida = less favoured area.

* cada vez menos = less and less.

* cuando menos te lo esperes = on any given Sunday.

* cuanto menos = at least, let alone, at best.

* dar menos de lo debido = shortchange.

* de menos del 10 por ciento = single digit, single figure.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* echar de menos = miss.

* echar muchísimo de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* echar mucho de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* el último pero no el menos importante = the last but by no means least.

* en todos menos en = in all but.

* en un futuro más o menos cercano = in the near future, in the near future.

* en un período más o menos lejano = in the near future, in the near future.

* estrella venida a menos = fallen star.

* figura venida a menos = fallen star.

* hacerlo todo menos = stop at + nothing short of.

* horas de menos aglomeración = off-peak times.

* lo menos posible = as little as possible.

* más o menos = more or less, of a sort, or so, of sorts, after a fashion, round about, roughly speaking, give or take.

* más o menos + Adverbio = relatively + Adverbio.

* más o menos cuadrado = squarish.

* menos aún = let alone.

* menos blandeces y más mano dura = less of the carrot, more of the stick, less of the carrot, more of the stick.

* menos conocido = lesser known.

* menos cultos, los = less literate, the.

* menos de + Cantidad = under + Cantidad, less than + Cantidad.

* menos de + Edad = on the right side of + Edad.

* menos desarrollado = less developed [less-developed].

* menos en = save in.

* menos en el caso de que = except when.

* menos favorecido = less-advantaged, less favoured [less favored].

* menos hecho = rarer.

* menos importante, el = least, the.

* menos probable = least likely, less likely.

* menos... que... = less... than....

* menos rápidos, los = less fleet of foot, the.

* menos sabido = lesser known.

* menos usado = less used.

* mucho menos = a great deal less, let alone, far less.

* nada más y nada menos = as much as + Expresión Numérica.

* nada más y nada menos que = in the order of + Cantidad, nothing less than.

* nada más y nada menos que de = to the tune of + Cantidad.

* nada más y nada menos que desde + Expresión Temporal = from as far back as + Expresión Temporal.

* nada más y nada menos que + Número = as many as + Número.

* nada menos que + Nombre + tan + Adjetivo + como = no less + Adjetivo + Nombre + than.

* ni más ni menos = nothing more, nothing less, no more, no less.

* ni mucho menos = by any stretch (of the imagination), by any means, not by a long shot.

* Nombre + más o menos = Nombre + of sorts.

* no ser menos que el vecino = keep up with + the Joneses.

* no ser menos que los demás = keep up with + the Joneses.

* pagar menos de lo que se debería = underpay.

* para no ser menos = not to be outdone.

* personaje venido a menos = fallen star.

* por último pero no menos importante = last but not least.

* región menos favorecida = less favoured region (LFR).

* salir de donde menos Uno se lo espera = come out of + the woodwork.

* ser menos + Adjetivo = be less of a(n) + Nombre.

* ser nada más y nada menos que = be nothing less than.

* signo menos (-) = minus sign (-), negative sign (-).

* todo menos = everything except (for).

* todos menos = everyone except, everybody except.

* todos menos + Número = all but + Número.

* último pero no el menos importante, el = final and not the least important, the.

* venir a menos = retrench.

* y cuanto mucho menos = much less.

* y mucho menos = much less, least of all.

* zona menos favorecida = less favoured area.

* * *

menos¹

adverb

A [ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

(comparativo): cada vez estudia menos she's studying less and less

quiere trabajar menos y ganar más he wants to work less and earn more

ya me duele menos it doesn't hurt so much now

ahora que vive en Cádiz lo vemos menos now that he's living in Cadiz we don't see him so often o we don't see so much of him

eso es menos importante that's not so important

no voy a permitir que vaya, y menos aún con él I'm not going to let her go, much less with him

menos (…) QUE:

un hallazgo no menos importante que éste a find which is no less important than o just as important as this one

ella menos que nadie puede criticarte she of all people is in no position to criticize you

no pude menos que aceptar I had to accept, it was the least I could do

menos (…) DE:

los niños de menos de 7 años children under seven

pesa menos de 50 kilos it weighs less than o under 50 kilos

éramos menos de diez there were fewer than ten of us

lo compraron por menos de nada they bought it for next to nothing

no lo haría por menos de cien mil I wouldn't do it for less than a hundred thousand

está a menos de una hora de aquí it's less than an hour from here

es menos peligroso de lo que tú crees it's not as dangerous as you think

B [ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (superlativo) least

es la menos complicada que he visto it is the least complicated one I have seen

éste es el menos pesado de los dos this is the lighter of the two

es el que menos viene por aquí he's the one who comes around least (often)

soy el que ha bebido menos de todos I've had less to drink than anyone, I'm the one who's had least to drink

es el que menos me gusta he's the one I like (the) least

se esfuerza lo menos posible he makes as little effort as possible

es lo menos que podía hacer por él it's the least I could do for him

sucedió cuando menos lo esperábamos it happened when we were least expecting it

para locs ver menos³ pron B. (↑ menos (3))

menos²

adj inv

A [ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (comparativo) (en cantidad) less; (en número) fewer

alimentos con menos fibra/calorías food with less fiber/fewer calories

ya hace menos frío it's not as o so cold now

recibimos cada vez menos pedidos we are getting fewer and fewer orders

cuesta tres veces menos it costs a third of the price o a third as much

mide medio metro menos it's half a meter shorter

a éste ponle dos cucharadas menos add two tablespoonfuls less to this one

menos (…) QUE:

tengo menos tiempo que tú I haven't as o so much time as you

menos estudiantes que el año pasado fewer students than last year

somos menos que ellos there are fewer of us than them

no soy menos hombre que él I'm no less a man than him

yo no soy menos que él he's no better than me

B [ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (superlativo) (en cantidad) least; (en número) fewest

el rincón donde hay menos luz the corner where there's least light

el partido que obtuvo menos votos the party that got (the) fewest votes

esos casos son los menos cases like that are the exception

menos³

pronoun

A

sírveme menos don't give me as o so much

ya falta menos it won't be long now

aprobaron menos que el año pasado not so o as many passed as last year, fewer passed than last year

B ( en locs):

al menos at least

a menos que unless

a menos que tú nos ayudes unless you help us

cuando menos at least

de menos: me ha dado 100 pesos de menos you've given me 100 pesos too little

siempre te da unos gramos de menos he always gives you a few grams under o too little

me has cobrado de menos you've undercharged me, you haven't charged me enough

echar

lo menos ( fam); at least

les pagaron lo menos un millón they paid them at least a million pesos

menos mal just as well

menos mal que no me oyó just as well o good thing o thank goodness he didn't hear me

nos van a dar una prórroga — ¡menos mal! they are going to give us extra time — just as well! o thank goodness for that!

por lo menos at least

si por lo menos me hubieras avisado … if you'd at least told me …

había por lo menos diez mil personas there were at least ten thousand people there

ir a menos to go downhill

ser lo de menos: eso es lo de menos, a mí lo que me preocupa es su falta de honradez that's the least of it, what worries me is his lack of integrity

la fecha es lo de menos the date is the least of our/their problems

tener a algn en menos to feel sb is beneath one

cuanto¹ (↑ cuanto (1)), más³ (↑ más (3)), mucho³ (↑ mucho (3)), nada¹ (↑ nada (1))

tener algo a menos to think sth is beneath one o beneath one's dignity

venirse a menos to come down in the world

un aristócrata venido a menos an aristocrat who has come down in the world o who has fallen on hard times

un hotel/barrio venido a menoss a rundown hotel/neighborhood*

menos⁴

prep

A

(excepto): firmaron todos menos Alonso everybody but Alonso signed, everybody signed except o but Alonso

menos estos dos, todos están en venta apart from o with the exception of these two, they are all for sale

tres latas de pintura, menos la que usé para la puerta three cans of paint, less what I used on the door

B

1 ( Mat) [ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ] (en restas, números negativos) minus

8-15=-7 read as: ocho menos quince (es) igual (a) menos siete eight minus fifteen equals o is minus seven

2

(Esp, RPI) (en la hora) [ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ] son las ocho menos diez/cuarto it's ten to eight/(a) quarter to eight

¿tienes hora? — menos veinte do you have the time? — it's twenty to

menos⁵

masculine

minus sign

* * *

menos adverbio
1 ( comparativo) less;
◊ cada vez estudia menos she's studying less and less;

ya me duele menos it hurts less now;
ahora lo vemos menos we don't see him so often now, we don't see so much of him now;
pesa menos de 50 kilos it weighs less than o under 50 kilos;
éramos menos de diez there were fewer than ten of us;
los niños de menos de 7 años children under seven
2 ( superlativo) least;
◊ es la menos complicada it is the least complicated one;

el que menos me gusta the one I like (the) least;
se esfuerza lo menos posible he makes as little effort as possible;
cuando menos lo esperaba when I was least expecting it
■ adjetivo invariable
1 ( comparativo) ( en cantidad) less;
( en número) fewer;
◊ alimentos con menos fibra/calorías food with less fiber/fewer calories;

hay menos errores there are fewer mistakes;
mide medio metro menos it's half a meter shorter;
menos estudiantes que el año pasado fewer students than last year;
tengo menos tiempo que tú I haven't as o so much time as you
2 ( superlativo) ( en cantidad) least;
( en número) fewest;
◊ donde hay menos luz where there's least light;

el que obtuvo menos votos the one who got (the) fewest votes
■ pronombre
1 ( en cantidad) less;
( en número) fewer;
◊ sírveme menos give me less;

ya falta menos it won't be long now
2 ( en locs)
◊ al menos at least;

a menos que unless;
cuando menos at least;
de menos: me dió 100 pesos de menos he gave me 100 pesos too little;
me cobró de menos he undercharged me;
lo menos the least;
menos mal just as well, thank goodness;
por lo menos at least;
eso es lo de menos that's the least of my (o our etc) problems
■ preposición
1 ( excepto):
◊ todos menos Alonso everybody except o but Alonso;

menos estos dos, … apart from o with the exception of these two, …;
tres latas de pintura, menos la que usé para la puerta three cans of paint, less what I used on the door
2
a) (Mat) (en restas, números negativos) minus

b) (Esp, RPl) ( en la hora):

◊ son las cinco menos diez/cuarto it's ten to five/(a) quarter to five;

son menos veinte it's twenty to
menos
I adverbio
1 (en menor cantidad, grado) (con no contable) less: ayer me dolía menos, it hurt less yesterday
había menos de treinta personas, there were less than thirty people
es menos importante de lo que crees, it's less important than you think
tengo menos fuerza que antes, I have less strength than before
(con contable) fewer: mi casa tiene menos habitaciones, my house has fewer rooms
2 (superlativo) least: es el menos indicado para opinar, he's the worst person to judge
3 (sobre todo) no pienso discutir, y menos contigo, I don't want to argue, especially with you
II preposición
1 but, except: vinieron todos menos uno, they all came but one
2 Mat minus: siete menos dos, seven minus two
♦ Locuciones: eso es lo de menos, that's the least of it
a menos que, unless
al o por lo menos, at least
cada vez menos, less and less
¡menos mal!, thank goodness!
nada menos que, no less o no fewer than
no ser para menos, to be the least one could do: me invitó a cenar, ¡y no era para menos!, he invited me to dinner, which was the least he could do!
venir a menos, to lose rank, fortune or position
' menos' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
aliviar
- añorar
- cachondeo
- cada
- cantar
- contratación
- cuando
- echar
- esquivar
- estar
- extrañar
- gallo
- hipar
- historiada
- historiado
- indicada
- indicado
- infarto
- los
- mal
- más
- mucha
- mucho
- pensar
- piedra
- programa
- recochineo
- salva
- salvo
- signo
- siquiera
- su
- tan
- todavía
- vez
- cinco
- costumbre
- cuanto
- cuarto
- de
- día
- enfado
- enojo
- entre
- esperar
- estofado
- mientras
- mirar
- momento
- nada
English:
about
- absent
- agree
- alone
- anything
- anywhere
- appreciate
- at
- averse
- barring
- besides
- billion
- blind
- blue
- border
- but
- cackle
- chalk
- circuitous
- conscious
- delay
- far
- ferment
- few
- god
- good
- if
- job
- just
- last
- least
- less
- let
- let up
- mind
- minus
- minus sign
- minute
- miss
- more
- nothing
- nowadays
- of
- opposed
- or
- pretty
- put down
- rate
- recollect
- remain

* * *

menos

♦ adj inv

1. [comparativo] [cantidad] less;
[número] fewer;
menos aire less air;

menos manzanas fewer apples;

menos… que… less/fewer… than…;

tiene menos experiencia que tú she has less experience than you;

vino menos gente que otras veces there were fewer people there than on other occasions;

hace menos calor que ayer it's not as hot as it was yesterday;

colócate a menos distancia stand closer;

eran menos pero mejor preparadas there were fewer of them, but they were better prepared

2. [superlativo] [cantidad] the least;
[número] the fewest;
el que compró menos libros the one who bought the fewest books;

lo que menos tiempo llevó the thing that took the least time;

la que menos nota sacó en el examen the girl who did (the) worst o got the worst Br marks o US grades in the exam

3. Fam [peor]
éste es menos coche que el mío this car isn't as good as mine;

es menos hombre que tú he's less of a man than you are

♦ adv

1. [comparativo] less;

a mí échame un poco menos give me a bit less;

ahora con el bebé salen menos they go out less now they've got the baby;

últimamente trabajo menos I haven't been working as o so much recently;

estás menos gordo you're not as o so fat;

¿a cien? no, íbamos menos rápido a hundred km/h? no, we weren't going as fast as that;

menos de/que less than;

Pepe es menos alto (que tú) Pepe isn't as tall (as you);

Pepe es menos ambicioso (que tú) Pepe isn't as ambitious (as you), Pepe is less ambitious (than you);

este vino me gusta menos (que el otro) I don't like this wine as much (as the other one), I like this wine less (than the other one);

son menos de las diez it's not quite ten o'clock yet;

es difícil encontrar alquileres de o [m5]por menos de 50.000 it's hard to find a place to rent for less than o under 50,000;

tardamos menos de lo esperado we took less time than expected, it didn't take us as long as we expected;

es menos complicado de lo que parece it's not as complicated as it seems, it's less complicated than it seems

2. [superlativo]
el/la/lo menos the least;

ella es la menos adecuada para el cargo she's the least suitable person for the job;

el menos preparado de todos/de la clase the least well trained of everyone/in the class;

el menos preparado de los dos the less well trained of the two;

la que menos trabaja the person o one who works (the) least;

aquí es donde menos me duele this is where it hurts (the) least;

él es el menos indicado para criticar he's the last person who should be criticizing;

es lo menos que puedo hacer it's the least I can do;

era lo menos que te podía pasar it was the least you could expect;

debió costar lo menos un millón it must have cost at least a million;

había algunas manzanas podridas, pero eran las menos some of the apples were rotten, but only a very few

3. [indica resta] minus;

tres menos dos igual a uno three minus two is one

4. Esp, RP [con las horas] to;

son las dos menos diez it's ten to two;

son menos diez it's ten to

5. Comp

ir a menos [fiebre, lluvia] to die down;
[delincuencia] to drop;
¡menos mal! just as well!, thank God!;

menos mal que llevo rueda de repuesto/que no te pasó nada thank God I've got a spare wheel/(that) nothing happened to you;

nada menos (que) no less (than);

le recibió nada menos que el Papa he was received by none other than the Pope;

no es para menos not without (good) reason;

no pude por menos que reírme I had to laugh;

venir a menos [negocio] to go downhill;
[persona] to go down in the world;
no pienso montar y menos si conduces o Am [m5] manejas tú I've no intention of getting in, much less so if you're driving;

Comp

hacer de menos a alguien to snub sb

♦ pron

había menos que el año pasado there were fewer than the previous year;

ya queda menos it's not so far to go now

♦ nm inv
Mat minus (sign)
♦ prep
[excepto] except (for);
todo menos eso anything but that;

vinieron todos menos él everyone came except (for) o but him;

menos el café, todo está incluido en el precio everything except the coffee is included in the price

♦ al menos loc conj

at least;

costará al menos tres millones it will cost at least three million;

dame al menos una hora para prepararme give me at least an hour to get ready

♦ a menos que loc conj

unless;

no iré a menos que me acompañes I won't go unless you come with me

♦ de menos loc adv

hay dos libros de menos there are two books missing;

me han dado 80 céntimos de menos they've given me 80 cents too little, they've short-changed me by 80 cents;

eso es lo de menos that's the least of it

♦ por lo menos loc adv

at least;

por lo menos pide perdón you at least ought to apologize

* * *

menos

I adj

1 en cantidad less;

cien dólares de menos 100 dollars short, 100 dollars too little;

hay cinco calcetines de menos we are five socks short

2 en número fewer

II adv

1 comp: en cantidad less;

es menos guapa que Ana she is not as pretty as Ana

2 sup: en cantidad least;

al menos, por lo menos at least

3 MAT minus;

tres menos dos three minus two

III m MAT minus (sign)

IV

:

a menos que unless;

todos menos yo everyone but o except me;

echar de menos miss;

tener a alguien en menos look down on s.o.;

eso es lo de menos that’s the least of it;

ir a menos come down in the world;

ni mucho menos far from it;

no es para menos quite right too;

son las dos menos diez it’s ten of two, Br it’s ten to two

* * *

menos adv

1) : less

llueve menos en agosto: it rains less in August

2) : least

el coche menos caro: the least expensive car

3)

menos de : less than, fewer than

menos adj

1) : less, fewer

tengo más trabajo y menos tiempo: I have more work and less time

2) : least, fewest

la clase que tiene menos estudiantes: the class that has the fewest students

menos prep

1) salvo, excepto: except

2) : minus

quince menos cuatro son once: fifteen minus four is eleven

menos pron

1) : less, fewer

no deberías aceptar menos: you shouldn't accept less

2)

al menos or

por lo menos : at least

3)

a menos que : unless

* * *

menos¹ adv

1. (comparativo) less

deberías ponerte menos azúcar you should take less sugar

2. (con nombres contables) fewer

había menos gente there were fewer people

3. (superlativo) least

es el menos caro it's the least expensive

4. (excepto) except

puedo hacer de todo menos cocinar I can do everything except cook

fueron todos al parque menos ella they all went to the park except her

5. (con la hora) to

son las ocho menos diez it's ten to eight

6. (en matemáticas) minus

ocho menos dos son seis eight minus two is six

al menos at least

a menos que unless

menos mal thank goodness

menos mal que has venido it's a good job you've come

por lo menos at least

menos² n minus sign

Spanish-English dictionary > menos

11 minore

1. adj minor

di età younger

distanza shorter

più piccolo smaller

2. m f: vietato ai minori di 18 anni no admittance to those under 18 years of age

film X-rated

* * *

minore agg.compar.

1 (più piccolo) smaller; (più basso) lower; (più corto) shorter; (più poco) less (er): una quantità minore, a smaller quantity; una somma minore, a smaller amount; una distanza minore, a shorter distance; una cifra minore, a lower figure; a minor prezzo, at a lower price; con minor spesa, at less cost (o less expensively); con minor forza, with less force; con minor cura, with less (er) care; le spese di riscaldamento risultarono minori del previsto, the heating expenses turned out less than expected; l'affluenza alle urne è stata minore nel sud che nel nord, the turnout at the polls was lower in the south than in the north; il secondo progetto non ebbe minor fortuna del primo, the second plan was no less successful than the first (o was just as successful as the first) // cinque è minore di otto, five is less than eight // avere minori probabilità di riuscita, to stand less chance of success // scegliere il male minore, to choose the lesser of two evils // Asia Minore, Asia Minor // (astr.) Orsa Minore, Ursa Minor

2 (meno importante) minor, less important: le opere minori del Petrarca, Petrarch's minor works; i personaggi minori di una commedia, the minor characters in a play // astri minori, minor stars // arti minori, minor arts // (eccl.) frati minori, Friars Minor (o Minorites); ordine minore, minor order

3 (più giovane) younger: Anna è minore di Cinzia, Ann is younger than Cynthia; mio fratello è minore di me di tre anni, my brother is three years younger than me // vietato ai minori di quattordici anni, forbidden to children under fourteen years of age // Bruto Minore, the Younger Brutus; Catone il Minore, Cato the Younger

4 (mus.) minor: tono minore, minor key; do minore, C minor

5 (mat., log.) minor

◆ agg.superl.rel.

1 (il più piccolo) the smallest; (il più basso) the lowest; (il più corto) the shortest; (il minimo) the least: la quantità minore, the smallest quantity; la minore distanza, the shortest distance; vendere al minor prezzo possibile, to sell at the lowest possible price; il minore offerente, the lowest bidder; nel minor tempo possibile, in the shortest time

2 (il meno importante) minor: i minori affluenti del Po, the Po's minor tributaries; gli artisti minori del Cinquecento, the minor artists of the sixteenth century

3 (il più giovane) the youngest; (fra due) the younger: mio figlio minore, my youngest (o my younger) son ∙ Come si nota dagli esempi, questo agg. è espresso in ingl. in modi diversi, a seconda del significato assunto dall'agg. positivo piccolo

◆ s.m. e f.

1 (chi è più giovane d'età) the youngest; (fra due) the younger: chi è il minore fra voi due?, which of you is the younger?; la minore delle sorelle, the youngest of the sisters

2 (chi è di grado inferiore) junior

3 (dir.) → minorenne

4 pl. (eccl.) (frati minori) Minorites

5 (mat.) (di una matrice) minor.

* * *
[mi'nore]
1. agg comp di piccolo

1) less, (più piccolo) smaller, (più breve) shorter, (meno grave) lesser, (numero) lower

con minore entusiasmo — with less enthusiasm

un numero minore di studenti — a smaller number of students

le vendite sono state minori del previsto — sales were less o lower than expected

questo è il male minore — this is the lesser evil

vocabolario in edizione minore — shorter o concise edition of a dictionary

in misura minore — to a lesser extent

2) (meno importante) less important, (inferiore) lower, inferior, (di poco rilievo) minor

opere minori — minor works

le opere minori di Shakespeare — Shakespeare's minor works

di minor pregio — of inferior quality

3) (più giovane) younger

il mio fratello minore — my younger brother

4) Mus minor

(in) do minore — (in) C minor

2. agg superl di piccolo

(vedi piccolo), least; smallest; shortest; lowest; least important; youngest

la minore delle due sorelle — the younger of the two sisters

il minore dei tre fratelli — the youngest of the three brothers

3. sm/f

1) (d'età: tra due) younger, (tra più di due) youngest

2) (minorenne) minor, person under age

minore non accompagnato — unaccompanied minor

spettacolo vietato ai minori — no admittance to persons under the age of 18 (to film, show ecc)

"vietato ai minori di 18 anni" — "18 certificate"

* * *
[mi'nore] 1.
aggettivo

1) (più piccolo, più basso) (comparativo) smaller, lower (di than); (superlativo) smallest, lowest (di of, in)

hanno il minor numero di vestiti — they have the fewest clothes

di minore importanza — of less importance

in minor grado — to a lesser degree o extent

2) (più breve) (comparativo) shorter (di than); (superlativo) shortest (di of)

nel minor tempo possibile — in as short a time as possible

3) (secondario) [artista, ruolo] minor; [opera, reato] minor, lesser

4) (di età) (comparativo) younger; (superlativo) youngest

mio fratello minore — my younger brother; (con più di due fratelli) my youngest brother

minore età — dir. minority, infancy

5) mus. minor

do minore — C minor

6) relig.

ordini -i — minor orders
2.
sostantivo maschile e sostantivo femminile

1) (il più giovane) (di due) younger; (di più di due) youngest

2) dir. (minorenne) minor

i -i di quattordici anni — the under- fourteens

film vietato ai -i di 18 anni — 18-certificate o X-rated film

••

il male minore, il minore dei mali — the lesser of two evils

* * *

minore

/mi'nore/

I aggettivo

1 (più piccolo, più basso) (comparativo) smaller, lower (di than); (superlativo) smallest, lowest (di of, in); hanno il minor numero di vestiti they have the fewest clothes; di minore importanza of less importance; in minor grado to a lesser degree o extent

2 (più breve) (comparativo) shorter (di than); (superlativo) shortest (di of); nel minor tempo possibile in as short a time as possible

3 (secondario) [artista, ruolo] minor; [opera, reato] minor, lesser

4 (di età) (comparativo) younger; (superlativo) youngest; mio fratello minore my younger brother; (con più di due fratelli) my youngest brother; minore età dir. minority, infancy

5 mus. minor; do minore C minor

6 relig. ordini -i minor orders

II m. e f.

1 (il più giovane) (di due) younger; (di più di due) youngest

2 dir. (minorenne) minor; i -i di quattordici anni the under- fourteens; film vietato ai -i di 18 anni 18-certificate o X-rated film

IDIOMS

il male minore, il minore dei mali the lesser of two evils.

Dizionario Italiano-Inglese > minore

12 be

'bi: ɡi:
( abbreviation) (Bachelor of Engineering; first degree in Engineering.) licenciatura en Ingeniería

be vb

1. ser

Michael is very tall Michael es muy alto

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal Lisboa es la capital de Portugal

sugar is sweet el azúcar es dulce

Napoleon was Corsican Napoleón era corso

my father is an architect mi padre es arquitecto

my mother is from Bristol mi madre es de Bristol

what time is it? It's 3 o'clock ¿qué hora es? Son las tres

June 17th is Elena's birthday el 17 de junio es el cumpleaños de Elena

who is it? It's me ¿quién es? Soy yo

this exercise is difficult este ejercicio es difícil

the house was built 50 years ago la casa fue construida hace 50 años

he was attacked by a dog le atacó un perro

2. estar

how are you? I'm fine ¿cómo estás? estoy bien

David is very happy David está muy contento

I'm tired estoy cansado

his wife's pregnant su mujer está embarazada

we were worried about you estábamos preocupados por ti

where is Pauline? ¿dónde está Pauline?

the milk is on the table la leche está en la mesa

how far is it? ¿a qué distancia está?

what day is it today? ¿qué día es hoy? / ¿a qué día estamos?

3. tener

how old are you? I'm 16 ¿cuántos años tienes? tengo 16 años

I'm cold tengo frío

she's hungry tiene hambre

you're right tienes razón

4. costar / valer / ser

how much is it? ¿cuánto cuesta? / ¿cuánto vale? / ¿cuánto es?

the tickets are £15 each las entradas valen 15 libras cada una

5. hacer

it's sunny hace sol

it's hot hace calor

it was cold hacía frío

6. haber

there are a lot of people hay mucha gente

how many children are there? ¿cuántos niños hay?

there was an explosion hubo una explosión

El pasado de be es was o were y el participio pasado es been; el gerundio se escribe being

Se usa también para construir el tiempo verbal llamado present continuous que indica una acción que está pasando en estos momentos

what are you doing? ¿qué estás haciendo? / ¿qué haces?

I'm reading a magazine estoy leyendo una revista

look, it's snowing mira, está nevando

be sustantivo femenino: name of the letter b, often called be largaor grande to distinguish it from v 'be' also found in these entries: Spanish: A - abasto - abate - abismo - abotargarse - abreviar - abrirse - absoluta - absoluto - abultar - abundar - aburrir - aburrirse - acabose - acariciar - acaso - acertar - achantarse - acometer - acostada - acostado - acostumbrar - acostumbrada - acostumbrado - acreditar - activa - activo - adelantar - adelantarse - adentro - adivinarse - admirarse - adolecer - aferrarse - afianzarse - aficionada - aficionado - afligirse - agonizar - agotarse - agradecer - agua - ahogarse - ahora - aire - ajo - ala - alarmarse - alcanzar - alegrarse English: aback - abate - about - absent - accordance - account for - accountable - accustom - acquaint - action - addicted - address - adequate - adjust - admit - affiliated - afford - afraid - agenda - agree - agreement - ahead - air - airsick - alert - alive - alone - along - aloof - alphabetically - always - am - ambition - amenable - amusing - anathema - annoyance - anomaly - anxious - apologetic - appal - appall - are - arm - around - arrears - as - ashamed - aspire - assert

be

tr[biː]

intransitive verb (pres 1ª pers am, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl are, 3ª pers sing is; pt 1ª y 3ª pers sing was, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl; pp been)

1 (permanent characteristic) ser

■ she's clever es inteligente

■ he's blind es ciego

■ I'm deaf soy sordo

2 (essential quality) ser

■ diamonds are hard los diamantes son duros

3 (nationality) ser

■ John's English John es inglés

■ they are Japanese son japoneses

4 (occupation) ser

■ he's an engineer es ingeniero

■ we are both teachers los dos somos profesores

5 (origin) ser

■ they are from York son de York

6 (ownership) ser

■ it's my pencil es mi lápiz

7 (authorship) ser

■ this painting is by Botero este cuadro es de Botero

8 (composition) ser

■ this cupboard is oak este armario es de roble

9 (use) ser

■ this product is for tiles este producto es para baldosas

10 (location) estar

■ Whitby is on the coast Whitby está en la costa

11 (temporary state) estar

■ your supper's cold tu cena está fría

■ how are you? ¿cómo estás?

■ you're a bit deaf today estás un poco sordo hoy

■ prawns are cheap today las gambas están bien de precio hoy

12 (age) tener

■ Philip is 22 Philip tiene 22 años

13 (price) costar, valer

■ a single ticket is £9.50 un billete de ida cuesta £9.50

14 tener

■ he's hot/cold tiene calor/frío

■ we're hungry/thirsty tenemos hambre/sed

■ she's in a hurry tiene prisa

■ he's right tiene razón

auxiliar be + pres part

1 (action in progress or near future) estar

■ it is raining está lloviendo

■ he's working está trabajando

■ the train is coming viene el tren

■ I am going on Thursday iré el jueves

■ she's meeting Mr Broddle tomorrow se reunirá con el señor Broddle mañana

auxiliar to be + past participle

1 (passive) ser

■ she was arrested at the border fue detenida en la frontera, la detuvieron en la frontera

■ he's hated by everybody es odiado por todos, todos lo odian

■ he was discharged fue dado de alta, lo dieron de alta

■ the house has been sold la casa ha sido vendida, la casa se ha vendido, han vendido la casa

■ he was given a clock le dieron un reloj

■ thirty children were injured treinta niños fueron heridos, treinta niños resultaron heridos

■ the two areas of the town are divided by a wall las dos zonas de la ciudad están divididas por un muro

auxiliar be + to + inf

1 (obligation) deber, tener que

■ you are not to come here again no debes volver aquí

■ you are to do as I say tienes que hacer lo que yo te diga

1 (future)

■ the King is to visit Egypt el Rey visitará Egipto

phrase there is / there are

1 hay

■ there's some wine in the bottle hay algo de vino en la botella

■ there are two policemen following us hay dos policías que nos siguen

■ is there much traffic ¿hay mucho tráfico?

1 había

■ there was no money no había dinero

■ there were twenty five candles on the cake había veinticinco velas en la tarta

■ were there many people? ¿había mucha gente?

phrase there will be

1 habrá

■ there will be snow in the mountains habrá nieve en las montañas

phrase there would be

1 habría

■ there would be time to see the castle habría tiempo para ver el castillo

■ if Mike came, there would be ten of us si viniera Mike, seríamos diez

\

SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALL

to be about to «+ inf» estar para + inf, estar a punto de + inf

■ the train is about to arrive el tren está a punto de llegar

to be or not to be ser o no ser

be ['bi:] v, was ['wəz, 'wɑz] ; were ['wər] ; been ['bɪn] ; being ; am ['æm] ; is ['ɪz] ; are ['ɑr] vi

1) (expressing equality) : ser

José is a doctor: José es doctor

I'm Ana's sister: soy la hermana de Ana

2) (expressing quality) : ser

the tree is tall: el árbol es alto

you're silly!: ¡eres tonto!

3) (expressing origin or possession) : ser

she's from Managua: es de Managua

it's mine: es mío

4) (expressing location) : estar

my mother is at home: mi madre está en casa

the cups are on the table: las tazas están en la mesa

5) (expressing existence) : ser, existir

to be or not to be: ser, o no ser

I think, therefore I am: pienso, luego existo

6) (expressing a state of being) : estar, tener

how are you?: ¿cómo estás?

I'm cold: tengo frío

she's 10 years old: tiene 10 años

they're both sick: están enfermos los dos

be v impers

1) (indicating time) : ser

it's eight o'clock: son las ocho

it's Friday: hoy es viernes

2) (indicating a condition) : hacer, estar

it's sunny: hace sol

it's very dark outside: está bien oscuro afuera

be v aux

1) (expressing progression) : estar

what are you doing? -I'm working: ¿qué haces? -estoy trabajando

2) (expressing occurrence) : ser

it was finished yesterday: fue acabado ayer, se acabó ayer

it was cooked in the oven: se cocinó en el horno

3) (expressing possibility) : poderse

can she be trusted?: ¿se puede confiar en ella?

4) (expressing obligation) : deber

you are to stay here: debes quedarte aquí

he was to come yesterday: se esperaba que viniese ayer

be

v.

(§ p.,p.p.: was, were, been) = estar v.

(§pres: estoy, estás...) pret: estuv-•)

• ser v.

(§pres: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son) subj: se-

imp: er-

pret

fu-•)

biːˌ weak form bi
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

[biː] (present am, is or are pt was or were pp been)
1. INTRANSITIVE VERB

1) (linking nouns, noun phrases, pronouns) ser

he's a pianist — es pianista

he wants to be a doctor — quiere ser médico

Monday's a holiday — el lunes es fiesta

two and two are four — dos y dos son cuatro

it's me! — ¡soy yo!

it was me — fui yo

who wants to be Hamlet? — ¿quién quiere hacer de or ser Hamlet?

you be the patient and I'll be the doctor — tú eres el enfermo y yo seré el médico

if I were you... — yo en tu lugar..., yo que tú... *

2) (possession) ser

she's his sister — es su hermana

it's mine — es mío

3) (characteristics seen as inherent) ser

the sky is blue — el cielo es azul

it's (made of) plastic — es de plástico

they're English — son ingleses

he's tall — es alto

it's round/enormous — es redondo/enorme

she is boring — es aburrida

I used to be poor but now I'm rich — antes era pobre pero ahora soy rico

if I were rich — si fuera rico

I'm from the south — soy del sur

the book is in French — el libro es en francés
Use [estar] with past participles used as adjectives describing the results of an action or process:
it's broken — está roto

he's dead — está muerto

4) (changeable or temporary state) estar

it's dirty — está sucio

she's bored/ill — está aburrida/enferma

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?, ¿qué tal estás?

how are you now? — ¿qué tal te encuentras ahora?

I'm very well, thanks — estoy muy bien, gracias
In certain expressions where English uses [be] + adjective to describe feelings ([be cold]/[hot]/[hungry]/[thirsty]), Spanish uses [tener] with a noun:
I'm cold/hot — tengo frío/calor

my feet are cold — tengo los pies fríos

I'm hungry/thirsty — tengo hambre/sed

be good! — ¡pórtate bien!

you're late — llegas tarde
afraid, sleepy, right
5) (age)

"how old is she?" - "she's nine" — -¿cuántos años tiene? -tiene nueve años

she will be two tomorrow — mañana cumple dos años

when I'm old — cuando sea viejo

when I was young — cuando era joven

6) (=take place) ser

the meeting's today — la reunión es hoy

the service will be at St Ninian's Church — el oficio será en la iglesia de San Ninian

7) (=be situated) estar

Edinburgh is in Scotland — Edimburgo está en Escocia

it's on the table — está sobre or en la mesa

where is the Town Hall? — ¿dónde está or queda el ayuntamiento?

it's 5 km to the village — el pueblo está or queda a 5 kilómetros

he won't be here tomorrow — mañana no estará aquí

we've been here for ages — hace mucho tiempo que estamos aquí, llevamos aquí mucho tiempo, estamos aquí desde hace mucho tiempo

• here you are(, take it) — aquí tienes(, tómalo)

• there's the church — ahí está la iglesia

8) (impersonal use)

a) (referring to weather) hacer

it's hot/cold — hace calor/frío

it's too hot — hace demasiado calor

it's fine — hace buen tiempo

b) (referring to time, date etc) ser

it's eight o'clock — son las ocho

it's morning in New York now — en Nueva York ahora es por la mañana

wake up, it's morning — despierta, es de día

what's the date (today)? — ¿qué fecha es hoy?

it's 3 May or the 3rd of May — es 3 de mayo

it's Thursday today — hoy es jueves
But note the following alternatives with [estar]:
it's 3 May or the 3rd of May — estamos a 3 de mayo

it's Thursday today — hoy estamos a jueves

c) (asking and giving opinion) ser

is it certain that...? — ¿es verdad or cierto que...?

it is easy to make a mistake — es fácil cometer un fallo

is it fair that she should be punished while...? — ¿es justo que se la castigue mientras que...?

it is possible that he'll come — es posible que venga, puede (ser) que venga

it is impossible to study all the time — es imposible estar siempre estudiando

it is unbelievable that... — es increíble que...

it's not clear whether... — no está claro si...

it would be wrong for us to do that — no estaría bien que nosotros hiciésemos eso

d) (emphatic) ser

it's me who does all the work — soy yo quien hace todo el trabajo

it was Peter who phoned — fue Peter quien llamó

why is it that she's so successful? — ¿cómo es que tiene tanto éxito?, ¿por qué tiene tanto éxito?

it was then that... — fue entonces cuando...

9) (=exist) haber

there is/are — hay

what is (there) in that room? — ¿qué hay en esa habitación?

there is nothing more beautiful — no hay nada más bello

is there anyone at home? — ¿hay alguien en casa?

there were six road accidents here last year — el año pasado hubo seis accidentes de tráfico aquí

there must be an explanation — debe de haber una explicación

there being no alternative solution... — al no haber or no habiendo otra solución...

let there be light! — ¡hágase la luz!

there are three of us — somos tres

there were three of them — eran tres

after the shop there's the bus station — después de la tienda está la estación de autobuses

See:

THERE IS, THERE ARE in there

10) (=cost)

how much was it? — ¿cuánto costó?

the book is £20 — el libro vale or cuesta 20 libras

how much is it? — ¿cuánto es?; (when paying) ¿qué le debo? frm

11) (=visit)

has the postman been? — ¿ha venido el cartero?

he has been and gone — vino y se fue

I have been to see my aunt — he ido a ver a mi tía

have you ever been to Glasgow? — ¿has estado en Glasgow alguna vez?

I've been to China — he estado en China

12) (in noun compounds) futuro

• mother to be — futura madre or mamá f

• my wife to be — mi futura esposa

13) (in set expressions)

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

• been and * —

you've been and done it now! — ¡buena la has hecho! *

that dog of yours has been and dug up my flowers! — ¡tu perro ha ido y me ha destrozado las flores!

• you're busy enough as it is — estás bastante ocupado ya con lo que tienes, ya tienes suficiente trabajo

as things are — tal como están las cosas

be that as it may — sea como fuere

• if it hadn't been for..., if it hadn't been for you or frm had it not been for you, we would have lost — si no hubiera sido por ti or de no haber sido por ti, habríamos perdido

• let me be! — ¡déjame en paz!

• if that's what you want to do, then so be it — si eso es lo que quieres hacer, adelante

• what is it to you? * — ¿a ti qué te importa?

• what's it to be? — (in bar etc) ¿qué va a ser?, ¿qué vas a tomar?

2. AUXILIARY VERB

1) (forming passive) ser

the house was destroyed by an earthquake — la casa fue destruida por un terremoto
The passive is not used as often in Spanish as in English, active and reflexive constructions often being preferred:
the box had been opened — habían abierto la caja

these cars are produced in Spain — estos coches se fabrican en España

it is said that... — dicen que..., se dice que...

he was killed by a terrorist — lo mató un terrorista

she was killed in a car crash — murió en un accidente de coche, resultó muerta en un accidente de coche frm

what's to be done? — ¿qué hay que hacer?

• it's a film not to be missed — es una película que no hay que perderse

• we searched everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be seen — lo buscamos por todas partes pero no lo encontramos en ningún sitio

2) (forming continuous) estar

it's raining — está lloviendo

what are you doing? — ¿qué estás haciendo?, ¿qué haces?

don't distract me when I'm driving — no me distraigas cuando estoy conduciendo

he's always grumbling — siempre está quejándose

he was studying until the early hours — estuvo estudiando hasta la madrugada
Use the present simple to talk about planned future events and the construction to talk about intention:
they're coming tomorrow — vienen mañana

"it's a pity you aren't coming with us" - "but I am coming!" — -¡qué pena que no vengas con nosotros! -¡sí que voy!

will you be seeing her tomorrow? — ¿la verás or la vas a ver mañana?

will you be needing more? — ¿vas a necesitar más?

I shall be seeing him — voy a verlo

I'll be seeing you — hasta luego, nos vemos (esp LAm)
The imperfect tense can be used for continuous action in the past:
he was driving too fast — conducía demasiado rápido
for, since
3) (verb substitute)

a)

he's older than you are — es mayor que tú

he isn't as happy as he was — no está tan contento como antes

"he's going to complain about you" - "oh, is he?" — -va a quejarse de ti -¿ah, sí?

"I'm worried" - "so am I" — -estoy preocupado -yo también

"I'm not ready" - "neither am I" — -no estoy listo -yo tampoco

"you're tired" - "no, I'm not" — -estás cansado -no, ¡qué va!

"you're not eating enough" - "yes I am" — -no comes lo suficiente -que sí

"they're getting married" - "oh, are they?" — (showing surprise) -se casan -¿ah, sí? or -¡no me digas!

"he isn't very happy" - "oh, isn't he?" — -no está muy contento -¿ah, no?

"he's always late, isn't he?" - "yes, he is" — -siempre llega tarde, ¿verdad? -(pues) sí

"is it what you expected?" - "no, it isn't" — -¿es esto lo que esperabas? -(pues) no

"she's pretty" - "no, she isn't" — -es guapa -¡qué va!

b) (in question tags)

he's handsome, isn't he? — es guapo, ¿verdad?, es guapo, ¿no?, es guapo, ¿no es cierto?

it was fun, wasn't it? — fue divertido, ¿verdad?, fue divertido, ¿no?

she wasn't happy, was she? — no era feliz, ¿verdad?

so he's back again, is he? — así que ha vuelto, ¿eh?

you're not ill, are you? — ¿no estarás enfermo?

3. MODAL VERB
(with infinitive construction)
1) (=must, have to)

you're to put on your shoes — tienes que ponerte los zapatos

he's not to open it — no debe abrirlo, que no lo abra

I am to do it — he de hacerlo yo, soy yo el que debe hacerlo

I am not to speak to him — no tengo permiso para hablar con él

I wasn't to tell you his name — no podía or debía decirte su nombre

2) (=should) deber

he is to be congratulated on his work — debemos felicitarlo por su trabajo

am I to understand that...? — ¿debo entender que...?

she wrote "My Life", not to be confused with Bernstein's book of the same name — escribió "Mi Vida", que no debe confundirse con la obra de Bernstein que lleva el mismo título

he was to have come yesterday — tenía que or debía haber venido ayer

he is to be pitied — es digno de lástima

3) (=will)

the talks are to start tomorrow — las conversaciones darán comienzo mañana

her house is to be sold — su casa se pondrá a la venta

they are to be married in the summer — se casarán en el verano

4) (=can)

these birds are to be found all over the world — estos pájaros se encuentran por todo el mundo

little traffic was to be seen — había poco tráfico

you weren't to know — no tenías por qué saberlo

5) (expressing destiny)

this was to have serious repercussions — esto iba a tener serias repercusiones

they were never to return — jamás regresaron

it was not to be — no quiso el destino que así fuera

6) (in conditional sentences)

you must work harder if you are to succeed — debes esforzarte más si quieres triunfar

if it was or were to snow... — si nevase or nevara...

if I were to leave the job, would you replace me? — si yo dejara el puesto, ¿me sustituirías?
BE
"Ser" or "estar"?
You can use "ser": ► when defining or identifying by linking two nouns or noun phrases:
Paris is the capital of France París es la capital de Francia
He was the most hated man in the village Era el hombre más odiado del pueblo ► to describe essential or inherent characteristics (e.g. colour, material, nationality, race, shape, size {etc}):
His mother is German Su madre es alemana
She was blonde Era rubia ► with most impersonal expressions not involving past participles:
It is important to be on time Es importante llegar a tiempo
Está claro que is an exception:
It is obvious you don't understand Está claro que no lo entiendes ► when telling the time or talking about time or age:
It is ten o'clock Son las diez
It's very late. Let's go home Es muy tarde. Vamos a casa
He lived in the country when he was young Vivió en el campo cuando era joven ► to indicate possession or duty:
It's mine Es mío
This is your responsibility Este asunto es responsabilidad tuya ► with events in the sense of "take place":
The 1992 Olympic Games were in Barcelona Los Juegos Olímpicos de 1992 fueron en Barcelona
"Where is the exam?" - "It's in Room 1" "¿Dónde es el examen?" - "Es en el Aula Número 1" NOTE: Compare this usage with that of estar (see below) to talk about location of places, objects and people.
You can use "estar": ► to talk about location of places, objects and people:
"Where is Zaragoza?" - "It's in Spain" "¿Dónde está Zaragoza?" - "Está en España"
Your glasses are on the bedside table Tus gafas están en la mesilla de noche NOTE: But use ser with events in the sense of "take place" (see above)}. ► to talk about changeable state, condition or mood:
The teacher is ill La profesora está enferma
The coffee's cold El café está frío
How happy I am! ¡Qué contento estoy! NOTE: Feliz, however, which is seen as more permanent than contento, is used mainly with ser. ► to form progressive tenses:
We're having lunch. Is it ok if I call you later? Estamos comiendo. Te llamaré luego, ¿vale?
Both "ser" and "estar" can be used with past participles ► Use ser in {passive} constructions:
This play was written by Lorca Esta obra fue escrita por Lorca
He was shot dead (by a terrorist group) Fue asesinado a tiros (por un grupo terrorista) NOTE: The passive is not used as often in Spanish as it is in English. ► Use estar with past participles to describe the {results} of a previous action or event:
We threw them away because they were broken Los tiramos a la basura porque estaban rotos
He's dead Está muerto ► Compare the use of ser + ((past participle)) which describes {action} and estar + ((past participle)) which describes {result} in the following:
The window was broken by the firemen La ventana fue rota por los bomberos
The window was broken La ventana estaba rota
It was painted around 1925 Fue pintado hacia 1925
The floor is painted a dark colour El suelo está pintado de color oscuro ► Ser and estar are both used in impersonal expressions with past participles. As above, the use of ser implies {action} while the use of estar implies {result}:
It is understood that the work was never finished Es sabido que el trabajo nunca se llegó a terminar
It is a proven fact that vaccinations save many lives Está demostrado que las vacunas salvan muchas vidas
"Ser" and "estar" with adjectives ► Some adjectives can be used with both ser and estar but the meaning changes completely depending on the verb:
He's clever Es listo
Are you ready? ¿Estás listo?
Chemistry is boring La química es aburrida
I'm bored Estoy aburrido ► Other adjectives can also be used with both verbs but the use of ser describes a {characteristic} while the use of estar implies a {change}:
He's very handsome Es muy guapo
You look great in that dress! Estás muy guapa con ese vestido
He's slim Es delgado
You're (looking) very slim ¡Estás muy delgada! For further uses and examples, see main entry
* * *
[biːˌ] weak form [bi]
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

English-spanish dictionary > be

13 BE

'bi: ɡi:
( abbreviation) (Bachelor of Engineering; first degree in Engineering.) licenciatura en Ingeniería

be vb

1. ser

Michael is very tall Michael es muy alto

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal Lisboa es la capital de Portugal

sugar is sweet el azúcar es dulce

Napoleon was Corsican Napoleón era corso

my father is an architect mi padre es arquitecto

my mother is from Bristol mi madre es de Bristol

what time is it? It's 3 o'clock ¿qué hora es? Son las tres

June 17th is Elena's birthday el 17 de junio es el cumpleaños de Elena

who is it? It's me ¿quién es? Soy yo

this exercise is difficult este ejercicio es difícil

the house was built 50 years ago la casa fue construida hace 50 años

he was attacked by a dog le atacó un perro

2. estar

how are you? I'm fine ¿cómo estás? estoy bien

David is very happy David está muy contento

I'm tired estoy cansado

his wife's pregnant su mujer está embarazada

we were worried about you estábamos preocupados por ti

where is Pauline? ¿dónde está Pauline?

the milk is on the table la leche está en la mesa

how far is it? ¿a qué distancia está?

what day is it today? ¿qué día es hoy? / ¿a qué día estamos?

3. tener

how old are you? I'm 16 ¿cuántos años tienes? tengo 16 años

I'm cold tengo frío

she's hungry tiene hambre

you're right tienes razón

4. costar / valer / ser

how much is it? ¿cuánto cuesta? / ¿cuánto vale? / ¿cuánto es?

the tickets are £15 each las entradas valen 15 libras cada una

5. hacer

it's sunny hace sol

it's hot hace calor

it was cold hacía frío

6. haber

there are a lot of people hay mucha gente

how many children are there? ¿cuántos niños hay?

there was an explosion hubo una explosión

El pasado de be es was o were y el participio pasado es been; el gerundio se escribe being

Se usa también para construir el tiempo verbal llamado present continuous que indica una acción que está pasando en estos momentos

what are you doing? ¿qué estás haciendo? / ¿qué haces?

I'm reading a magazine estoy leyendo una revista

look, it's snowing mira, está nevando

be sustantivo femenino: name of the letter b, often called be largaor grande to distinguish it from v 'be' also found in these entries: Spanish: A - abasto - abate - abismo - abotargarse - abreviar - abrirse - absoluta - absoluto - abultar - abundar - aburrir - aburrirse - acabose - acariciar - acaso - acertar - achantarse - acometer - acostada - acostado - acostumbrar - acostumbrada - acostumbrado - acreditar - activa - activo - adelantar - adelantarse - adentro - adivinarse - admirarse - adolecer - aferrarse - afianzarse - aficionada - aficionado - afligirse - agonizar - agotarse - agradecer - agua - ahogarse - ahora - aire - ajo - ala - alarmarse - alcanzar - alegrarse English: aback - abate - about - absent - accordance - account for - accountable - accustom - acquaint - action - addicted - address - adequate - adjust - admit - affiliated - afford - afraid - agenda - agree - agreement - ahead - air - airsick - alert - alive - alone - along - aloof - alphabetically - always - am - ambition - amenable - amusing - anathema - annoyance - anomaly - anxious - apologetic - appal - appall - are - arm - around - arrears - as - ashamed - aspire - assert

be

tr[biː]

intransitive verb (pres 1ª pers am, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl are, 3ª pers sing is; pt 1ª y 3ª pers sing was, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl; pp been)

1 (permanent characteristic) ser

■ she's clever es inteligente

■ he's blind es ciego

■ I'm deaf soy sordo

2 (essential quality) ser

■ diamonds are hard los diamantes son duros

3 (nationality) ser

■ John's English John es inglés

■ they are Japanese son japoneses

4 (occupation) ser

■ he's an engineer es ingeniero

■ we are both teachers los dos somos profesores

5 (origin) ser

■ they are from York son de York

6 (ownership) ser

■ it's my pencil es mi lápiz

7 (authorship) ser

■ this painting is by Botero este cuadro es de Botero

8 (composition) ser

■ this cupboard is oak este armario es de roble

9 (use) ser

■ this product is for tiles este producto es para baldosas

10 (location) estar

■ Whitby is on the coast Whitby está en la costa

11 (temporary state) estar

■ your supper's cold tu cena está fría

■ how are you? ¿cómo estás?

■ you're a bit deaf today estás un poco sordo hoy

■ prawns are cheap today las gambas están bien de precio hoy

12 (age) tener

■ Philip is 22 Philip tiene 22 años

13 (price) costar, valer

■ a single ticket is £9.50 un billete de ida cuesta £9.50

14 tener

■ he's hot/cold tiene calor/frío

■ we're hungry/thirsty tenemos hambre/sed

■ she's in a hurry tiene prisa

■ he's right tiene razón

auxiliar be + pres part

1 (action in progress or near future) estar

■ it is raining está lloviendo

■ he's working está trabajando

■ the train is coming viene el tren

■ I am going on Thursday iré el jueves

■ she's meeting Mr Broddle tomorrow se reunirá con el señor Broddle mañana

auxiliar to be + past participle

1 (passive) ser

■ she was arrested at the border fue detenida en la frontera, la detuvieron en la frontera

■ he's hated by everybody es odiado por todos, todos lo odian

■ he was discharged fue dado de alta, lo dieron de alta

■ the house has been sold la casa ha sido vendida, la casa se ha vendido, han vendido la casa

■ he was given a clock le dieron un reloj

■ thirty children were injured treinta niños fueron heridos, treinta niños resultaron heridos

■ the two areas of the town are divided by a wall las dos zonas de la ciudad están divididas por un muro

auxiliar be + to + inf

1 (obligation) deber, tener que

■ you are not to come here again no debes volver aquí

■ you are to do as I say tienes que hacer lo que yo te diga

1 (future)

■ the King is to visit Egypt el Rey visitará Egipto

phrase there is / there are

1 hay

■ there's some wine in the bottle hay algo de vino en la botella

■ there are two policemen following us hay dos policías que nos siguen

■ is there much traffic ¿hay mucho tráfico?

1 había

■ there was no money no había dinero

■ there were twenty five candles on the cake había veinticinco velas en la tarta

■ were there many people? ¿había mucha gente?

phrase there will be

1 habrá

■ there will be snow in the mountains habrá nieve en las montañas

phrase there would be

1 habría

■ there would be time to see the castle habría tiempo para ver el castillo

■ if Mike came, there would be ten of us si viniera Mike, seríamos diez

\

SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALL

to be about to «+ inf» estar para + inf, estar a punto de + inf

■ the train is about to arrive el tren está a punto de llegar

to be or not to be ser o no ser

be ['bi:] v, was ['wəz, 'wɑz] ; were ['wər] ; been ['bɪn] ; being ; am ['æm] ; is ['ɪz] ; are ['ɑr] vi

1) (expressing equality) : ser

José is a doctor: José es doctor

I'm Ana's sister: soy la hermana de Ana

2) (expressing quality) : ser

the tree is tall: el árbol es alto

you're silly!: ¡eres tonto!

3) (expressing origin or possession) : ser

she's from Managua: es de Managua

it's mine: es mío

4) (expressing location) : estar

my mother is at home: mi madre está en casa

the cups are on the table: las tazas están en la mesa

5) (expressing existence) : ser, existir

to be or not to be: ser, o no ser

I think, therefore I am: pienso, luego existo

6) (expressing a state of being) : estar, tener

how are you?: ¿cómo estás?

I'm cold: tengo frío

she's 10 years old: tiene 10 años

they're both sick: están enfermos los dos

be v impers

1) (indicating time) : ser

it's eight o'clock: son las ocho

it's Friday: hoy es viernes

2) (indicating a condition) : hacer, estar

it's sunny: hace sol

it's very dark outside: está bien oscuro afuera

be v aux

1) (expressing progression) : estar

what are you doing? -I'm working: ¿qué haces? -estoy trabajando

2) (expressing occurrence) : ser

it was finished yesterday: fue acabado ayer, se acabó ayer

it was cooked in the oven: se cocinó en el horno

3) (expressing possibility) : poderse

can she be trusted?: ¿se puede confiar en ella?

4) (expressing obligation) : deber

you are to stay here: debes quedarte aquí

he was to come yesterday: se esperaba que viniese ayer

be

v.

(§ p.,p.p.: was, were, been) = estar v.

(§pres: estoy, estás...) pret: estuv-•)

• ser v.

(§pres: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son) subj: se-

imp: er-

pret

fu-•)

biːˌ weak form bi
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

N ABBR
(Econ) = bill of exchange L/C
* * *
[biːˌ] weak form [bi]
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

English-spanish dictionary > BE

14 klein

I Adj.

1. small (auch kleingewachsen); bes. attr. und gefühlsbetont: little; (winzig) tiny; Finger, Zehe: little; Buchstabe: small; ein rundlicher kleiner Mann a chubby little man; sie ist von uns allen die Kleinste she is the smallest of us; als ich noch klein war when I was a little boy ( oder girl); er ist doch noch klein he’s only small ( oder a child); zu einem Kind: he’s much smaller than you, remember; von klein auf from an early age, since childhood, since I was etc. a child; kleine Augen haben (müde aussehen) look tired; da wurde er ganz klein fig. that cut him down to size; (er schwieg dann) that shut him up; könnt ihr euch klein machen? fig. can you make yourselves thin ( oder squeeze up a bit) ?

2. (unbedeutend) small ( auch Stimme); Fehler, Vergehen etc.: little, minor; kleine Rolle small ( oder bit) part; kleiner Bauer / Geschäftsmann small farmer / businessman; seine kleinen Intrigen / Launen his little intrigues / moods; es ist ein kleiner Anfang it’s just a start; der kleine Mann the man in the street; kleine Leute ordinary people; aus kleinen Verhältnissen stammen come from a humble background; und er hat daran kein kleines Verdienst and it’s no small thanks to him

3. (jünger) little, younger; mein kleiner Bruder my little ( oder younger) brother

4. Pause, Unterbrechung etc.: short, brief

5. (gering) small; auf kleiner Flamme kochen cook on a low flame

6. im Kleinen on a small scale, engS. in miniature; bis ins Kleinste down to the last detail

7. MUS.: kleine Terz etc. minor third etc.

8. in Wendungen: umg.: es klein haben (Betrag) have the right change; klein, aber fein good things come in small packages; klein, aber oho! umg. a mighty midget, Person: auch a pocket dynamo; Geschäft 6, Übel

II Adv.

1. small; klein gedruckt in small print; siehe auch Kleingedruckte; klein gemustert with a small pattern, small-patterned; klein gehackt finely chopped; klein hacken chop (up) fine; klein machen (Holz) chop up; (Geldschein) change; klein schneiden (Holz, Fleisch etc.) cut up into small pieces; ( auf) klein drehen / stellen (Herd etc.) turn down, put on low; den Benzinverbrauch klein halten keep fuel consumption low, keep down fuel consumption

2. fig.: klein anfangen start off small, start from small beginnings; klein beigeben give in; klein denken be small-minded; Höflichkeit etc. wird bei ihr klein geschrieben politeness etc. is not one of her priorities; klein machen Kinderspr. do number one

* * *

short; little; small; exiguous; slight; faint; petit; runty; wee; diminutive; tiny; petty

* * *
[klain]
1. adj

1) little, small; Finger little; Format, Gehalt, Rente, Zahl, (Hand)schrift, Buchstabe small; (MUS ) Terz minor

die Kleinen Antillen etc — the lesser Antilles etc

Klein Paris — little or miniature Paris

der Kleine Bär or Wagen — the Little Bear, Ursa Minor

die Kleine Strafkammer (Jur) — the lower criminal court

x ist kléíner als 10 (Math) — x is less than ten

haben Sie es nicht kléíner? — don't you have anything smaller?

ein kléín bisschen or wenig — a little (bit)

ein kléín bisschen or wenig Salat — a little (bit of) salad

ein kléínes Bier, ein Kleines (inf) — a small beer, ≈ half a pint (Brit), ≈ a half (Brit)

kléínes Geld — small change

Klein Roland — little Roland

du kléíner Teufel! — you little devil!

ein süßes kléínes Püppchen — a sweet little thing

hallo, kléíner Mann! — hello, little man

ein schönes kléínes Auto — a nice little car

er fährt ein kléínes Auto — he drives a small car

mit seiner kléínen Frau — with his little wife

ich wusste nicht, dass seine Frau so kléín ist — I didn't know his wife was so small or little

eine kléíne, hübsche Wohnung — a small, pretty flat (Brit) or apartment

eine hübsche kléíne Wohnung — a nice little flat (Brit) or apartment

mein kléíner Bruder — my little brother

er ist kléíner als sein Bruder — he's smaller than his brother

als ich ( noch) kléín war — when I was little

kléín für sein Alter — small or little for his age

macht euch ein bisschen kléíner! — squeeze up closer

den mach ich SO kléín (mit Hut)! (hum) — I'll cut him down to size, I'll make him look THAT big

kléín aber oho (inf) — small but impressive

ganz kléín (und hässlich) werden (inf) — to look humiliated or deflated

im Kleinen — in miniature

bis ins Kleinste — in every possible detail, in minute detail, right down to the smallest detail

kléíne Kinder kléíne Sorgen, große Kinder große Sorgen (prov) —

um ein Kleines zu... (geh) — a little or a trifle too...

See:

→ Finger, Geschenk

2) (= kurz) Wuchs, Schritt little, small, short; Weile, Pause little, short; Vortrag short

kléínen Augenblick, bitte! — just one moment, please

einen Kopf kléíner als jd sein — to be a head shorter than sb

3) (= geringfügig) little, small, slight; Betrag, Summe little, small

beim kléínsten Schreck — at the slightest or smallest shock

das kléínere Übel — the lesser evil

ein paar kléínere Fehler — a few minor mistakes

eine kléínere Unpässlichkeit — a minor ailment

4) (= unbedeutend) petty (pej); Leute ordinary

er ist ein kléíner Geist — he is small-minded

der kléíne Mann — the ordinary citizen, the man in the street

ein kléíner Ganove — a small-time or petty crook

die Kleinen fängt man or werden gehängt, die Großen lässt man laufen (prov) — it's always the big fish that get away

sein Vater war (ein) kléíner Beamter — his father was a minor civil servant

kléíne Leute übersieht man (hum) — I'm etc so small and insignificant

See:

→ Fisch

5) (= armselig) Verhältnisse humble, lowly, modest

6) Prüfung intermediate

2. adv

1) (= in kleiner Schrift) small

er schreibt sehr kléín — he writes very small, his writing is very small

ein Wort kléín drucken — to print a word without a capital

kléín gedruckt — in small print

kléín gemustert — small-patterned

kléín kariert (Stoff) — finely checked or chequered (Brit) or checkered (US)

See:

→ kleinkariert, kleinschreiben

2)

(auf kleine Hitze) etw kléín stellen or drehen — to put sth on low or on a low heat

etw kléíner stellen or drehen — to turn sth down

3)

(in Wendungen) kléín anfangen — to start off in a small way

kléín beigeben (inf) — to give in

kléín geraten sein (Gegenstand) — to have come out a little (too) small; (Mensch) to be a bit small

kléín gewachsen — short, small; (Baum) small

etw kléín halten (Anzahl, Kosten) — to keep sth down; (Party, Feier) to keep sth small

* * *

1) (small in size: He is only a little boy; when she was little (= a child).) little

2) (not tall; smaller than usual: a short man.) short

3) (little in size, degree, importance etc; not large or great: She was accompanied by a small boy of about six; There's only a small amount of sugar left; She cut the meat up small for the baby.) small

4) (not doing something on a large scale: He's a small businessman.) small

5) ((of the letters of the alphabet) not capital: The teacher showed the children how to write a capital G and a small g.) small

* * *

klein

[klain]

I. adj

1. (von geringer Größe) little, small; (emotional) little; Schrift small

sie fährt ein \kleines Auto she drives a small [or little] car

sie hat ein schnuckeliges \kleines Auto she's got a nice little car

er ist ein \kleiner Schlingel he's a little rascal

im \kleinen Format in a small format

▪ \klein geschnitten finely chopped

etw \klein hacken to chop up sth sep

\klein gehackte Zwiebeln finely chopped onions

im K\kleinen on a small scale

bis ins K\kleinste [right] down to the smallest detail, in minute detail

einen Kopf \kleiner sein als jd to be a head shorter than sb

[jdm] etw \klein machen (fam) to chop [or cut] up sth sep [for sb]

der \kleine Peter/die \kleine Anna little Peter/Anna

[jdm] etw \klein schneiden to cut up sth sep [into small pieces] [for sb]; s.a. Bier, Buchstabe, Finger, Terz, Zeh

2. (Kleidung) small

haben Sie das gleiche Modell auch in \kleiner? do you have the same style but in a size smaller?

▪ jdm zu \klein sein to be too small for sb

etw \kleiner machen to make sth smaller, to take in [or up] sth sep

3. (jung) small; (kleinwüchsig a.) short

sein \kleiner Bruder his little [or younger] brother

von \klein auf from childhood [or an early age

4. (kurz) short

ein \kleiner Vorsprung a short [or small] start

5. (kurz dauernd) short

eine \kleine Pause machen to have a short [or little] break

6. (geringe Menge, Anzahl) small

ein \klein[es] bisschen [o \klein wenig] a little bit

7. (geringer Betrag) small

ein \kleines Gehalt a small [or low] salary

8. (Wechselgeld) small

haben Sie es nicht \kleiner? haven't you got anything smaller?

9. (geringfügig) small

die \kleinste Bewegung the slightest movement

ein \kleiner Fehler/Verstoß a minor mistake/violation

eine \kleine Übelkeit a slight feeling of nausea

10. (unbedeutend) minor; (ungeachtet) lowly

er fing als \kleiner Portier in dem Hotel an his first job in the hotel was as a lowly porter

ein \kleiner Bauer a small farmer

ein \kleiner Ganove a petty [or small-time] crook

die \kleinen Leute ordinary people

aus \kleinen Verhältnissen stammen to come from a humble background

11. (erniedrigt) small

12. (weniger intensiv) low

etw \klein[er] drehen [o stellen] to turn down sth sep [or to turn sth lower

13. (in kleiner Schrift)

etw \klein schreiben to write sth in small letters

14. MATH

\kleinste Fehlerquadrate least error squares

\kleinster gemeinsamer Nenner lowest common denominator

\kleinstes gemeinsames Vielfaches lowest common multiple

15.

▶ \klein, aber fein small but sweet, quality rather than quantity a. hum

▶ im K\kleinen wie im Großen in little things as well as in big ones

▶ die K\kleinen [o \kleinen Gauner] hängt man, die Großen lässt man laufen (prov) the small fry get caught, while the big fish get away

▶ \klein, aber oho (fam) small but eminently capable [or he/she packs a powerful punch]; s.a. Fakultas, Latinum

II. adv

\klein gedruckt attr in small print pred

▶ \klein anfangen (fam: seine Karriere ganz unten beginnen) to start at the bottom; (mit ganz wenig beginnen) to start off in a small way

▶ \klein beigeben to give in [quietly]

▶ \klein machen (kindersprache) to do [or have] a wee[-wee] childspeak

* * *
1.
Adjektiv

1) little; small < format, letter>; little < finger, toe>; small, short < steps>

das Kleid ist mir zu klein — the dress is too small for me

ein kleines Bier — a small beer; ≈ a half[-pint]

sich klein machen — make oneself small

etwas klein hacken — chop something up [small]

etwas klein schneiden — cut something up small

Zwiebeln klein schneiden — chop up onions [small]

etwas klein machen — cut something up small; (ugs.): (aufbrauchen) get through or (sl.) blow something

auf kleinstem Raum — in the minimum of space

sie ist klein [von Gestalt/für ihr Alter] — she is small [in stature/for her age]

er ist [einen Kopf] kleiner als ich — he is [a head] shorter than me or shorter than I am [by a head]

im Kleinen — in miniature; on a small scale

klein, aber oho — he/she may be small, but he/she certainly makes up for it

klein, aber fein — little, but very nice

2) (jung) little <brother, sister>

als ich [noch] klein war — when I was small or little

für die Kleinen — for the little ones

von klein auf — from an early age; s. auch Kleine I, 2, III

3) (von kurzer Dauer) little, short < while>; short <walk, break>; short, brief <delay, introduction>; brief < moment>

4) (von geringer Menge) small <family, amount, audience, staff>; small, low < salary>; low < price>

kleines Geld haben — have some [small] change

einen Schein klein machen — (ugs.): (wechseln) change a note

kann mir jemand ein Fünfzigeuroschein klein machen? — (ugs.) can anyone give me change for a fifty-euro note?

haben Sie es klein? — (ugs.) do you have the right money?

kleiner habe ich es nicht — I don't have anything smaller

5) (von geringem Ausmaß) light < refreshment>; small < party, gift>; scant, little < attention>; slight <cold, indisposition>; slight, small <mistake, irregularity>; minor < event, error>

die kleinen Dinge des Alltags — the little everyday things

das kleinere Übel — the lesser evil; the lesser of the two evils

ein klein[es] bisschen — a little or tiny bit

ein klein wenig — a little bit

im Kleinen wie im Großen — in little things as well as in big ones

bis ins Kleinste — down to the smallest or tiniest detail

6) (unbedeutend) lowly <employee, sales assistant>; minor < official>

der kleine Mann — the ordinary citizen; the man in the street

die kleinen Leute — ordinary people; the man sing. in the street

klein anfangen — (ugs.) start off in a small way

7)

ganz klein [und hässlich] werden — become meek and subdued

8)

ein kleiner Geist — (engstirnig) a narrow-minded person; (beschränkt) a person of limited intellect
2.
adverbial

die Heizung klein/kleiner [ein]stellen — turn the heating down low/lower

klein gedruckt — in small print postpos.

das klein Gedruckte — the small print

klein gemustert — small-patterned

klein kariert — <skirt, shirt, etc.> with a small check

klein machen — (Kinderspr.) do number one

klein geschrieben werden — (ugs.) count for [very] little ( bei with); (child lang.); s. auch beigeben 2.

* * *

klein

A. adj

1. small (auch klein gewachsen); besonders attr und gefühlsbetont: little; (winzig) tiny; Finger, Zehe: little; Buchstabe: small;

ein rundlicher kleiner Mann a chubby little man;

sie ist von uns allen die Kleinste she is the smallest of us;

als ich noch klein war when I was a little boy ( oder girl);

er ist doch noch klein he’s only small ( oder a child); zu einem Kind: he’s much smaller than you, remember;

von klein auf from an early age, since childhood, since I was etc a child;

kleine Augen haben (müde aussehen) look tired;

da wurde er ganz klein fig that cut him down to size; (er schwieg dann) that shut him up

2. (unbedeutend) small (auch Stimme); Fehler, Vergehen etc: little, minor;

kleine Rolle small ( oder bit) part;

kleiner Bauer/Geschäftsmann small farmer/businessman;

seine kleinen Intrigen/Launen his little intrigues/moods;

es ist ein kleiner Anfang it’s just a start;

der kleine Mann the man in the street;

kleine Leute ordinary people;

aus kleinen Verhältnissen stammen come from a humble background;

und er hat daran kein kleines Verdienst and it’s no small thanks to him

3. (jünger) little, younger;

mein kleiner Bruder my little ( oder younger) brother

4. Pause, Unterbrechung etc: short, brief

5. (gering) small;

auf kleiner Flamme kochen cook on a low flame

6.

im Kleinen on a small scale, engS. in miniature;

bis ins Kleinste down to the last detail

7. MUS:

kleine Terz etc minor third etc

8. in Wendungen: umg:

es klein haben (Betrag) have the right change;

klein, aber fein good things come in small packages;

klein, aber oho! umg a mighty midget, Person: auch a pocket dynamo; → Geschäft 6, Übel

B. adv

1. small;

klein gedruckt in small print;

klein Gedruckte → Kleingedruckte;

klein gemustert with a small pattern, small-patterned;

klein gehackt finely chopped;

klein gewachsen small, short;

klein hacken chop (up) fine;

klein machen (Holz) chop up; umg (Vermögen etc) gobble up, get through;

klein schneiden (Holz, Fleisch etc) cut up into small pieces;

(auf) klein drehen/stellen (Herd etc) turn down, put on low

2. fig:

klein anfangen start off small, start from small beginnings;

klein beigeben give in;

klein machen kinderspr do number one

* * *
1.
Adjektiv

1) little; small <format, letter>; little <finger, toe>; small, short < steps>

das Kleid ist mir zu klein — the dress is too small for me

ein kleines Bier — a small beer; ≈ a half[-pint]

sich klein machen — make oneself small

etwas klein hacken — chop something up [small]

etwas klein schneiden — cut something up small

Zwiebeln klein schneiden — chop up onions [small]

etwas klein machen — cut something up small; (ugs.): (aufbrauchen) get through or (sl.) blow something

auf kleinstem Raum — in the minimum of space

sie ist klein [von Gestalt/für ihr Alter] — she is small [in stature/for her age]

er ist [einen Kopf] kleiner als ich — he is [a head] shorter than me or shorter than I am [by a head]

im Kleinen — in miniature; on a small scale

klein, aber oho — he/she may be small, but he/she certainly makes up for it

klein, aber fein — little, but very nice

2) (jung) little <brother, sister>

als ich [noch] klein war — when I was small or little

für die Kleinen — for the little ones

von klein auf — from an early age; s. auch Kleine I, 2, III

3) (von kurzer Dauer) little, short < while>; short <walk, break>; short, brief <delay, introduction>; brief < moment>

4) (von geringer Menge) small <family, amount, audience, staff>; small, low < salary>; low < price>

kleines Geld haben — have some [small] change

einen Schein klein machen — (ugs.): (wechseln) change a note

kann mir jemand ein Fünfzigeuroschein klein machen? — (ugs.) can anyone give me change for a fifty-euro note?

haben Sie es klein? — (ugs.) do you have the right money?

kleiner habe ich es nicht — I don't have anything smaller

5) (von geringem Ausmaß) light < refreshment>; small <party, gift>; scant, little < attention>; slight <cold, indisposition>; slight, small <mistake, irregularity>; minor <event, error>

die kleinen Dinge des Alltags — the little everyday things

das kleinere Übel — the lesser evil; the lesser of the two evils

ein klein[es] bisschen — a little or tiny bit

ein klein wenig — a little bit

im Kleinen wie im Großen — in little things as well as in big ones

bis ins Kleinste — down to the smallest or tiniest detail

6) (unbedeutend) lowly <employee, sales assistant>; minor < official>

der kleine Mann — the ordinary citizen; the man in the street

die kleinen Leute — ordinary people; the man sing. in the street

klein anfangen — (ugs.) start off in a small way

7)

ganz klein [und hässlich] werden — become meek and subdued

8)

ein kleiner Geist — (engstirnig) a narrow-minded person; (beschränkt) a person of limited intellect
2.
adverbial

die Heizung klein/kleiner [ein]stellen — turn the heating down low/lower

klein gedruckt — in small print postpos.

das klein Gedruckte — the small print

klein gemustert — small-patterned

klein kariert — <skirt, shirt, etc.> with a small check

klein machen — (Kinderspr.) do number one

klein geschrieben werden — (ugs.) count for [very] little ( bei with); (child lang.); s. auch beigeben 2.

* * *

adj.

little adj.

lower adj.

petite adj.

petty adj.

short adj.

slight adj.

small adj.

small-sized adj.

smallish adj.

wee adj.

Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch > klein

15 Historical Portugal

   Before Romans described western Iberia or Hispania as "Lusitania," ancient Iberians inhabited the land. Phoenician and Greek trading settlements grew up in the Tagus estuary area and nearby coasts. Beginning around 202 BCE, Romans invaded what is today southern Portugal. With Rome's defeat of Carthage, Romans proceeded to conquer and rule the western region north of the Tagus, which they named Roman "Lusitania." In the fourth century CE, as Rome's rule weakened, the area experienced yet another invasion—Germanic tribes, principally the Suevi, who eventually were Christianized. During the sixth century CE, the Suevi kingdom was superseded by yet another Germanic tribe—the Christian Visigoths.

   A major turning point in Portugal's history came in 711, as Muslim armies from North Africa, consisting of both Arab and Berber elements, invaded the Iberian Peninsula from across the Straits of Gibraltar. They entered what is now Portugal in 714, and proceeded to conquer most of the country except for the far north. For the next half a millennium, Islam and Muslim presence in Portugal left a significant mark upon the politics, government, language, and culture of the country.

   Islam, Reconquest, and Portugal Created, 714-1140

   The long frontier struggle between Muslim invaders and Christian communities in the north of the Iberian peninsula was called the Reconquista (Reconquest). It was during this struggle that the first dynasty of Portuguese kings (Burgundian) emerged and the independent monarchy of Portugal was established. Christian forces moved south from what is now the extreme north of Portugal and gradually defeated Muslim forces, besieging and capturing towns under Muslim sway. In the ninth century, as Christian forces slowly made their way southward, Christian elements were dominant only in the area between Minho province and the Douro River; this region became known as "territorium Portu-calense."

   In the 11th century, the advance of the Reconquest quickened as local Christian armies were reinforced by crusading knights from what is now France and England. Christian forces took Montemor (1034), at the Mondego River; Lamego (1058); Viseu (1058); and Coimbra (1064). In 1095, the king of Castile and Léon granted the country of "Portu-cale," what became northern Portugal, to a Burgundian count who had emigrated from France. This was the foundation of Portugal. In 1139, a descendant of this count, Afonso Henriques, proclaimed himself "King of Portugal." He was Portugal's first monarch, the "Founder," and the first of the Burgundian dynasty, which ruled until 1385.

   The emergence of Portugal in the 12th century as a separate monarchy in Iberia occurred before the Christian Reconquest of the peninsula. In the 1140s, the pope in Rome recognized Afonso Henriques as king of Portugal. In 1147, after a long, bloody siege, Muslim-occupied Lisbon fell to Afonso Henriques's army. Lisbon was the greatest prize of the 500-year war. Assisting this effort were English crusaders on their way to the Holy Land; the first bishop of Lisbon was an Englishman. When the Portuguese captured Faro and Silves in the Algarve province in 1248-50, the Reconquest of the extreme western portion of the Iberian peninsula was complete—significantly, more than two centuries before the Spanish crown completed the Reconquest of the eastern portion by capturing Granada in 1492.

   Consolidation and Independence of Burgundian Portugal, 1140-1385

   Two main themes of Portugal's early existence as a monarchy are the consolidation of control over the realm and the defeat of a Castil-ian threat from the east to its independence. At the end of this period came the birth of a new royal dynasty (Aviz), which prepared to carry the Christian Reconquest beyond continental Portugal across the straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. There was a variety of motives behind these developments. Portugal's independent existence was imperiled by threats from neighboring Iberian kingdoms to the north and east. Politics were dominated not only by efforts against the Muslims in

   Portugal (until 1250) and in nearby southern Spain (until 1492), but also by internecine warfare among the kingdoms of Castile, Léon, Aragon, and Portugal. A final comeback of Muslim forces was defeated at the battle of Salado (1340) by allied Castilian and Portuguese forces. In the emerging Kingdom of Portugal, the monarch gradually gained power over and neutralized the nobility and the Church.

   The historic and commonplace Portuguese saying "From Spain, neither a good wind nor a good marriage" was literally played out in diplomacy and war in the late 14th-century struggles for mastery in the peninsula. Larger, more populous Castile was pitted against smaller Portugal. Castile's Juan I intended to force a union between Castile and Portugal during this era of confusion and conflict. In late 1383, Portugal's King Fernando, the last king of the Burgundian dynasty, suddenly died prematurely at age 38, and the Master of Aviz, Portugal's most powerful nobleman, took up the cause of independence and resistance against Castile's invasion. The Master of Aviz, who became King João I of Portugal, was able to obtain foreign assistance. With the aid of English archers, Joao's armies defeated the Castilians in the crucial battle of Aljubarrota, on 14 August 1385, a victory that assured the independence of the Portuguese monarchy from its Castilian nemesis for several centuries.

   Aviz Dynasty and Portugal's First Overseas Empire, 1385-1580

   The results of the victory at Aljubarrota, much celebrated in Portugal's art and monuments, and the rise of the Aviz dynasty also helped to establish a new merchant class in Lisbon and Oporto, Portugal's second city. This group supported King João I's program of carrying the Reconquest to North Africa, since it was interested in expanding Portugal's foreign commerce and tapping into Muslim trade routes and resources in Africa. With the Reconquest against the Muslims completed in Portugal and the threat from Castile thwarted for the moment, the Aviz dynasty launched an era of overseas conquest, exploration, and trade. These efforts dominated Portugal's 15th and 16th centuries.

   The overseas empire and age of Discoveries began with Portugal's bold conquest in 1415 of the Moroccan city of Ceuta. One royal member of the 1415 expedition was young, 21-year-old Prince Henry, later known in history as "Prince Henry the Navigator." His part in the capture of Ceuta won Henry his knighthood and began Portugal's "Marvelous Century," during which the small kingdom was counted as a European and world power of consequence. Henry was the son of King João I and his English queen, Philippa of Lancaster, but he did not inherit the throne. Instead, he spent most of his life and his fortune, and that of the wealthy military Order of Christ, on various imperial ventures and on voyages of exploration down the African coast and into the Atlantic. While mythology has surrounded Henry's controversial role in the Discoveries, and this role has been exaggerated, there is no doubt that he played a vital part in the initiation of Portugal's first overseas empire and in encouraging exploration. He was naturally curious, had a sense of mission for Portugal, and was a strong leader. He also had wealth to expend; at least a third of the African voyages of the time were under his sponsorship. If Prince Henry himself knew little science, significant scientific advances in navigation were made in his day.

   What were Portugal's motives for this new imperial effort? The well-worn historical cliche of "God, Glory, and Gold" can only partly explain the motivation of a small kingdom with few natural resources and barely 1 million people, which was greatly outnumbered by the other powers it confronted. Among Portuguese objectives were the desire to exploit known North African trade routes and resources (gold, wheat, leather, weaponry, and other goods that were scarce in Iberia); the need to outflank the Muslim world in the Mediterranean by sailing around Africa, attacking Muslims en route; and the wish to ally with Christian kingdoms beyond Africa. This enterprise also involved a strategy of breaking the Venetian spice monopoly by trading directly with the East by means of discovering and exploiting a sea route around Africa to Asia. Besides the commercial motives, Portugal nurtured a strong crusading sense of Christian mission, and various classes in the kingdom saw an opportunity for fame and gain.

   By the time of Prince Henry's death in 1460, Portugal had gained control of the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeiras, begun to colonize the Cape Verde Islands, failed to conquer the Canary Islands from Castile, captured various cities on Morocco's coast, and explored as far as Senegal, West Africa, down the African coast. By 1488, Bar-tolomeu Dias had rounded the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and thereby discovered the way to the Indian Ocean.

   Portugal's largely coastal African empire and later its fragile Asian empire brought unexpected wealth but were purchased at a high price. Costs included wars of conquest and defense against rival powers, manning the far-flung navel and trade fleets and scattered castle-fortresses, and staffing its small but fierce armies, all of which entailed a loss of skills and population to maintain a scattered empire. Always short of capital, the monarchy became indebted to bankers. There were many defeats beginning in the 16th century at the hands of the larger imperial European monarchies (Spain, France, England, and Holland) and many attacks on Portugal and its strung-out empire. Typically, there was also the conflict that arose when a tenuously held world empire that rarely if ever paid its way demanded finance and manpower Portugal itself lacked.

   The first 80 years of the glorious imperial era, the golden age of Portugal's imperial power and world influence, was an African phase. During 1415-88, Portuguese navigators and explorers in small ships, some of them caravelas (caravels), explored the treacherous, disease-ridden coasts of Africa from Morocco to South Africa beyond the Cape of Good Hope. By the 1470s, the Portuguese had reached the Gulf of Guinea and, in the early 1480s, what is now Angola. Bartolomeu Dias's extraordinary voyage of 1487-88 to South Africa's coast and the edge of the Indian Ocean convinced Portugal that the best route to Asia's spices and Christians lay south, around the tip of southern Africa. Between 1488 and 1495, there was a hiatus caused in part by domestic conflict in Portugal, discussion of resources available for further conquests beyond Africa in Asia, and serious questions as to Portugal's capacity to reach beyond Africa. In 1495, King Manuel and his council decided to strike for Asia, whatever the consequences. In 1497-99, Vasco da Gama, under royal orders, made the epic two-year voyage that discovered the sea route to western India (Asia), outflanked Islam and Venice, and began Portugal's Asian empire. Within 50 years, Portugal had discovered and begun the exploitation of its largest colony, Brazil, and set up forts and trading posts from the Middle East (Aden and Ormuz), India (Calicut, Goa, etc.), Malacca, and Indonesia to Macau in China.

   By the 1550s, parts of its largely coastal, maritime trading post empire from Morocco to the Moluccas were under siege from various hostile forces, including Muslims, Christians, and Hindi. Although Moroccan forces expelled the Portuguese from the major coastal cities by 1550, the rival European monarchies of Castile (Spain), England, France, and later Holland began to seize portions of her undermanned, outgunned maritime empire.

   In 1580, Phillip II of Spain, whose mother was a Portuguese princess and who had a strong claim to the Portuguese throne, invaded Portugal, claimed the throne, and assumed control over the realm and, by extension, its African, Asian, and American empires. Phillip II filled the power vacuum that appeared in Portugal following the loss of most of Portugal's army and its young, headstrong King Sebastião in a disastrous war in Morocco. Sebastiao's death in battle (1578) and the lack of a natural heir to succeed him, as well as the weak leadership of the cardinal who briefly assumed control in Lisbon, led to a crisis that Spain's strong monarch exploited. As a result, Portugal lost its independence to Spain for a period of 60 years.

   Portugal under Spanish Rule, 1580-1640

   Despite the disastrous nature of Portugal's experience under Spanish rule, "The Babylonian Captivity" gave birth to modern Portuguese nationalism, its second overseas empire, and its modern alliance system with England. Although Spain allowed Portugal's weakened empire some autonomy, Spanish rule in Portugal became increasingly burdensome and unacceptable. Spain's ambitious imperial efforts in Europe and overseas had an impact on the Portuguese as Spain made greater and greater demands on its smaller neighbor for manpower and money. Portugal's culture underwent a controversial Castilianization, while its empire became hostage to Spain's fortunes. New rival powers England, France, and Holland attacked and took parts of Spain's empire and at the same time attacked Portugal's empire, as well as the mother country.

   Portugal's empire bore the consequences of being attacked by Spain's bitter enemies in what was a form of world war. Portuguese losses were heavy. By 1640, Portugal had lost most of its Moroccan cities as well as Ceylon, the Moluccas, and sections of India. With this, Portugal's Asian empire was gravely weakened. Only Goa, Damão, Diu, Bombay, Timor, and Macau remained and, in Brazil, Dutch forces occupied the northeast.

   On 1 December 1640, long commemorated as a national holiday, Portuguese rebels led by the duke of Braganza overthrew Spanish domination and took advantage of Spanish weakness following a more serious rebellion in Catalonia. Portugal regained independence from Spain, but at a price: dependence on foreign assistance to maintain its independence in the form of the renewal of the alliance with England.

   Restoration and Second Empire, 1640-1822

   Foreign affairs and empire dominated the restoration era and aftermath, and Portugal again briefly enjoyed greater European power and prestige. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was renewed and strengthened in treaties of 1642, 1654, and 1661, and Portugal's independence from Spain was underwritten by English pledges and armed assistance. In a Luso-Spanish treaty of 1668, Spain recognized Portugal's independence. Portugal's alliance with England was a marriage of convenience and necessity between two monarchies with important religious, cultural, and social differences. In return for legal, diplomatic, and trade privileges, as well as the use during war and peace of Portugal's great Lisbon harbor and colonial ports for England's navy, England pledged to protect Portugal and its scattered empire from any attack. The previously cited 17th-century alliance treaties were renewed later in the Treaty of Windsor, signed in London in 1899. On at least 10 different occasions after 1640, and during the next two centuries, England was central in helping prevent or repel foreign invasions of its ally, Portugal.

   Portugal's second empire (1640-1822) was largely Brazil-oriented. Portuguese colonization, exploitation of wealth, and emigration focused on Portuguese America, and imperial revenues came chiefly from Brazil. Between 1670 and 1740, Portugal's royalty and nobility grew wealthier on funds derived from Brazilian gold, diamonds, sugar, tobacco, and other crops, an enterprise supported by the Atlantic slave trade and the supply of African slave labor from West Africa and Angola. Visitors today can see where much of that wealth was invested: Portugal's rich legacy of monumental architecture. Meanwhile, the African slave trade took a toll in Angola and West Africa.

   In continental Portugal, absolutist monarchy dominated politics and government, and there was a struggle for position and power between the monarchy and other institutions, such as the Church and nobility. King José I's chief minister, usually known in history as the marquis of Pombal (ruled 1750-77), sharply suppressed the nobility and the

   Church (including the Inquisition, now a weak institution) and expelled the Jesuits. Pombal also made an effort to reduce economic dependence on England, Portugal's oldest ally. But his successes did not last much beyond his disputed time in office.

   Beginning in the late 18th century, the European-wide impact of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon placed Portugal in a vulnerable position. With the monarchy ineffectively led by an insane queen (Maria I) and her indecisive regent son (João VI), Portugal again became the focus of foreign ambition and aggression. With England unable to provide decisive assistance in time, France—with Spain's consent—invaded Portugal in 1807. As Napoleon's army under General Junot entered Lisbon meeting no resistance, Portugal's royal family fled on a British fleet to Brazil, where it remained in exile until 1821. In the meantime, Portugal's overseas empire was again under threat. There was a power vacuum as the monarch was absent, foreign armies were present, and new political notions of liberalism and constitutional monarchy were exciting various groups of citizens.

   Again England came to the rescue, this time in the form of the armies of the duke of Wellington. Three successive French invasions of Portugal were defeated and expelled, and Wellington succeeded in carrying the war against Napoleon across the Portuguese frontier into Spain. The presence of the English army, the new French-born liberal ideas, and the political vacuum combined to create revolutionary conditions. The French invasions and the peninsular wars, where Portuguese armed forces played a key role, marked the beginning of a new era in politics.

   Liberalism and Constitutional Monarchy, 1822-1910

   During 1807-22, foreign invasions, war, and civil strife over conflicting political ideas gravely damaged Portugal's commerce, economy, and novice industry. The next terrible blow was the loss of Brazil in 1822, the jewel in the imperial crown. Portugal's very independence seemed to be at risk. In vain, Portugal sought to resist Brazilian independence by force, but in 1825 it formally acknowledged Brazilian independence by treaty.

   Portugal's slow recovery from the destructive French invasions and the "war of independence" was complicated by civil strife over the form of constitutional monarchy that best suited Portugal. After struggles over these issues between 1820 and 1834, Portugal settled somewhat uncertainly into a moderate constitutional monarchy whose constitution (Charter of 1826) lent it strong political powers to exert a moderating influence between the executive and legislative branches of the government. It also featured a new upper middle class based on land ownership and commerce; a Catholic Church that, although still important, lived with reduced privileges and property; a largely African (third) empire to which Lisbon and Oporto devoted increasing spiritual and material resources, starting with the liberal imperial plans of 1836 and 1851, and continuing with the work of institutions like the Lisbon Society of Geography (established 1875); and a mass of rural peasants whose bonds to the land weakened after 1850 and who began to immigrate in increasing numbers to Brazil and North America.

   Chronic military intervention in national politics began in 19th-century Portugal. Such intervention, usually commencing with coups or pronunciamentos (military revolts), was a shortcut to the spoils of political office and could reflect popular discontent as well as the power of personalities. An early example of this was the 1817 golpe (coup) attempt of General Gomes Freire against British military rule in Portugal before the return of King João VI from Brazil. Except for a more stable period from 1851 to 1880, military intervention in politics, or the threat thereof, became a feature of the constitutional monarchy's political life, and it continued into the First Republic and the subsequent Estado Novo.

   Beginning with the Regeneration period (1851-80), Portugal experienced greater political stability and economic progress. Military intervention in politics virtually ceased; industrialization and construction of railroads, roads, and bridges proceeded; two political parties (Regenerators and Historicals) worked out a system of rotation in power; and leading intellectuals sparked a cultural revival in several fields. In 19th-century literature, there was a new golden age led by such figures as Alexandre Herculano (historian), Eça de Queirós (novelist), Almeida Garrett (playwright and essayist), Antero de Quental (poet), and Joaquim Oliveira Martins (historian and social scientist). In its third overseas empire, Portugal attempted to replace the slave trade and slavery with legitimate economic activities; to reform the administration; and to expand Portuguese holdings beyond coastal footholds deep into the African hinterlands in West, West Central, and East Africa. After 1841, to some extent, and especially after 1870, colonial affairs, combined with intense nationalism, pressures for economic profit in Africa, sentiment for national revival, and the drift of European affairs would make or break Lisbon governments.

   Beginning with the political crisis that arose out of the "English Ultimatum" affair of January 1890, the monarchy became discredtted and identified with the poorly functioning government, political parties splintered, and republicanism found more supporters. Portugal participated in the "Scramble for Africa," expanding its African holdings, but failed to annex territory connecting Angola and Mozambique. A growing foreign debt and state bankruptcy as of the early 1890s damaged the constitutional monarchy's reputation, despite the efforts of King Carlos in diplomacy, the renewal of the alliance in the Windsor Treaty of 1899, and the successful if bloody colonial wars in the empire (1880-97). Republicanism proclaimed that Portugal's weak economy and poor society were due to two historic institutions: the monarchy and the Catholic Church. A republic, its stalwarts claimed, would bring greater individual liberty; efficient, if more decentralized government; and a stronger colonial program while stripping the Church of its role in both society and education.

   As the monarchy lost support and republicans became more aggressive, violence increased in politics. King Carlos I and his heir Luís were murdered in Lisbon by anarchist-republicans on 1 February 1908. Following a military and civil insurrection and fighting between monarchist and republican forces, on 5 October 1910, King Manuel II fled Portugal and a republic was proclaimed.

   First Parliamentary Republic, 1910-26

   Portugal's first attempt at republican government was the most unstable, turbulent parliamentary republic in the history of 20th-century Western Europe. During a little under 16 years of the republic, there were 45 governments, a number of legislatures that did not complete normal terms, military coups, and only one president who completed his four-year term in office. Portuguese society was poorly prepared for this political experiment. Among the deadly legacies of the monarchy were a huge public debt; a largely rural, apolitical, and illiterate peasant population; conflict over the causes of the country's misfortunes; and lack of experience with a pluralist, democratic system.

   The republic had some talented leadership but lacked popular, institutional, and economic support. The 1911 republican constitution established only a limited democracy, as only a small portion of the adult male citizenry was eligible to vote. In a country where the majority was Catholic, the republic passed harshly anticlerical laws, and its institutions and supporters persecuted both the Church and its adherents. During its brief disjointed life, the First Republic drafted important reform plans in economic, social, and educational affairs; actively promoted development in the empire; and pursued a liberal, generous foreign policy. Following British requests for Portugal's assistance in World War I, Portugal entered the war on the Allied side in March 1916 and sent armies to Flanders and Portuguese Africa. Portugal's intervention in that conflict, however, was too costly in many respects, and the ultimate failure of the republic in part may be ascribed to Portugal's World War I activities.

   Unfortunately for the republic, its time coincided with new threats to Portugal's African possessions: World War I, social and political demands from various classes that could not be reconciled, excessive military intervention in politics, and, in particular, the worst economic and financial crisis Portugal had experienced since the 16th and 17th centuries. After the original Portuguese Republican Party (PRP, also known as the "Democrats") splintered into three warring groups in 1912, no true multiparty system emerged. The Democrats, except for only one or two elections, held an iron monopoly of electoral power, and political corruption became a major issue. As extreme right-wing dictatorships elsewhere in Europe began to take power in Italy (1922), neighboring Spain (1923), and Greece (1925), what scant popular support remained for the republic collapsed. Backed by a right-wing coalition of landowners from Alentejo, clergy, Coimbra University faculty and students, Catholic organizations, and big business, career military officers led by General Gomes da Costa executed a coup on 28 May 1926, turned out the last republican government, and established a military government.

   The Estado Novo (New State), 1926-74

   During the military phase (1926-32) of the Estado Novo, professional military officers, largely from the army, governed and administered Portugal and held key cabinet posts, but soon discovered that the military possessed no magic formula that could readily solve the problems inherited from the First Republic. Especially during the years 1926-31, the military dictatorship, even with its political repression of republican activities and institutions (military censorship of the press, political police action, and closure of the republic's rowdy parliament), was characterized by similar weaknesses: personalism and factionalism; military coups and political instability, including civil strife and loss of life; state debt and bankruptcy; and a weak economy. "Barracks parliamentarism" was not an acceptable alternative even to the "Nightmare Republic."

   Led by General Óscar Carmona, who had replaced and sent into exile General Gomes da Costa, the military dictatorship turned to a civilian expert in finance and economics to break the budget impasse and bring coherence to the disorganized system. Appointed minister of finance on 27 April 1928, the Coimbra University Law School professor of economics Antônio de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970) first reformed finance, helped balance the budget, and then turned to other concerns as he garnered extraordinary governing powers. In 1930, he was appointed interim head of another key ministry (Colonies) and within a few years had become, in effect, a civilian dictator who, with the military hierarchy's support, provided the government with coherence, a program, and a set of policies.

   For nearly 40 years after he was appointed the first civilian prime minister in 1932, Salazar's personality dominated the government. Unlike extreme right-wing dictators elsewhere in Europe, Salazar was directly appointed by the army but was never endorsed by a popular political party, street militia, or voter base. The scholarly, reclusive former Coimbra University professor built up what became known after 1932 as the Estado Novo ("New State"), which at the time of its overthrow by another military coup in 1974, was the longest surviving authoritarian regime in Western Europe. The system of Salazar and the largely academic and technocratic ruling group he gathered in his cabinets was based on the central bureaucracy of the state, which was supported by the president of the republic—always a senior career military officer, General Óscar Carmona (1928-51), General Craveiro Lopes (1951-58), and Admiral Américo Tómaz (1958-74)—and the complicity of various institutions. These included a rubber-stamp legislature called the National Assembly (1935-74) and a political police known under various names: PVDE (1932-45), PIDE (1945-69),

   and DGS (1969-74). Other defenders of the Estado Novo security were paramilitary organizations such as the National Republican Guard (GNR); the Portuguese Legion (PL); and the Portuguese Youth [Movement]. In addition to censorship of the media, theater, and books, there was political repression and a deliberate policy of depoliticization. All political parties except for the approved movement of regime loyalists, the União Nacional or (National Union), were banned.

   The most vigorous and more popular period of the New State was 1932-44, when the basic structures were established. Never monolithic or entirely the work of one person (Salazar), the New State was constructed with the assistance of several dozen top associates who were mainly academics from law schools, some technocrats with specialized skills, and a handful of trusted career military officers. The 1933 Constitution declared Portugal to be a "unitary, corporative Republic," and pressures to restore the monarchy were resisted. Although some of the regime's followers were fascists and pseudofascists, many more were conservative Catholics, integralists, nationalists, and monarchists of different varieties, and even some reactionary republicans. If the New State was authoritarian, it was not totalitarian and, unlike fascism in Benito Mussolini's Italy or Adolf Hitler's Germany, it usually employed the minimum of violence necessary to defeat what remained a largely fractious, incoherent opposition.

   With the tumultuous Second Republic and the subsequent civil war in nearby Spain, the regime felt threatened and reinforced its defenses. During what Salazar rightly perceived as a time of foreign policy crisis for Portugal (1936-45), he assumed control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, he pursued four basic foreign policy objectives: supporting the Nationalist rebels of General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and concluding defense treaties with a triumphant Franco; ensuring that General Franco in an exhausted Spain did not enter World War II on the Axis side; maintaining Portuguese neutrality in World War II with a post-1942 tilt toward the Allies, including granting Britain and the United States use of bases in the Azores Islands; and preserving and protecting Portugal's Atlantic Islands and its extensive, if poor, overseas empire in Africa and Asia.

   During the middle years of the New State (1944-58), many key Salazar associates in government either died or resigned, and there was greater social unrest in the form of unprecedented strikes and clandestine Communist activities, intensified opposition, and new threatening international pressures on Portugal's overseas empire. During the earlier phase of the Cold War (1947-60), Portugal became a steadfast, if weak, member of the US-dominated North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance and, in 1955, with American support, Portugal joined the United Nations (UN). Colonial affairs remained a central concern of the regime. As of 1939, Portugal was the third largest colonial power in the world and possessed territories in tropical Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe Islands) and the remnants of its 16th-century empire in Asia (Goa, Damão, Diu, East Timor, and Macau). Beginning in the early 1950s, following the independence of India in 1947, Portugal resisted Indian pressures to decolonize Portuguese India and used police forces to discourage internal opposition in its Asian and African colonies.

   The later years of the New State (1958-68) witnessed the aging of the increasingly isolated but feared Salazar and new threats both at home and overseas. Although the regime easily overcame the brief oppositionist threat from rival presidential candidate General Humberto Delgado in the spring of 1958, new developments in the African and Asian empires imperiled the authoritarian system. In February 1961, oppositionists hijacked the Portuguese ocean liner Santa Maria and, in following weeks, African insurgents in northern Angola, although they failed to expel the Portuguese, gained worldwide media attention, discredited the New State, and began the 13-year colonial war. After thwarting a dissident military coup against his continued leadership, Salazar and his ruling group mobilized military repression in Angola and attempted to develop the African colonies at a faster pace in order to ensure Portuguese control. Meanwhile, the other European colonial powers (Britain, France, Belgium, and Spain) rapidly granted political independence to their African territories.

   At the time of Salazar's removal from power in September 1968, following a stroke, Portugal's efforts to maintain control over its colonies appeared to be successful. President Americo Tomás appointed Dr. Marcello Caetano as Salazar's successor as prime minister. While maintaining the New State's basic structures, and continuing the regime's essential colonial policy, Caetano attempted wider reforms in colonial administration and some devolution of power from Lisbon, as well as more freedom of expression in Lisbon. Still, a great deal of the budget was devoted to supporting the wars against the insurgencies in Africa. Meanwhile in Asia, Portuguese India had fallen when the Indian army invaded in December 1961. The loss of Goa was a psychological blow to the leadership of the New State, and of the Asian empire only East Timor and Macau remained.

   The Caetano years (1968-74) were but a hiatus between the waning Salazar era and a new regime. There was greater political freedom and rapid economic growth (5-6 percent annually to late 1973), but Caetano's government was unable to reform the old system thoroughly and refused to consider new methods either at home or in the empire. In the end, regime change came from junior officers of the professional military who organized the Armed Forces Movement (MFA) against the Caetano government. It was this group of several hundred officers, mainly in the army and navy, which engineered a largely bloodless coup in Lisbon on 25 April 1974. Their unexpected action brought down the 48-year-old New State and made possible the eventual establishment and consolidation of democratic governance in Portugal, as well as a reorientation of the country away from the Atlantic toward Europe.

   Revolution of Carnations, 1974-76

   Following successful military operations of the Armed Forces Movement against the Caetano government, Portugal experienced what became known as the "Revolution of Carnations." It so happened that during the rainy week of the military golpe, Lisbon flower shops were featuring carnations, and the revolutionaries and their supporters adopted the red carnation as the common symbol of the event, as well as of the new freedom from dictatorship. The MFA, whose leaders at first were mostly little-known majors and captains, proclaimed a three-fold program of change for the new Portugal: democracy; decolonization of the overseas empire, after ending the colonial wars; and developing a backward economy in the spirit of opportunity and equality. During the first 24 months after the coup, there was civil strife, some anarchy, and a power struggle. With the passing of the Estado Novo, public euphoria burst forth as the new provisional military government proclaimed the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, and abolished censorship, the political police, the Portuguese Legion, Portuguese Youth, and other New State organizations, including the National Union. Scores of political parties were born and joined the senior political party, the Portuguese Community Party (PCP), and the Socialist Party (PS), founded shortly before the coup.

   Portugal's Revolution of Carnations went through several phases. There was an attempt to take control by radical leftists, including the PCP and its allies. This was thwarted by moderate officers in the army, as well as by the efforts of two political parties: the PS and the Social Democrats (PPD, later PSD). The first phase was from April to September 1974. Provisional president General Antonio Spínola, whose 1974 book Portugal and the Future had helped prepare public opinion for the coup, met irresistible leftist pressures. After Spinola's efforts to avoid rapid decolonization of the African empire failed, he resigned in September 1974. During the second phase, from September 1974 to March 1975, radical military officers gained control, but a coup attempt by General Spínola and his supporters in Lisbon in March 1975 failed and Spínola fled to Spain.

   In the third phase of the Revolution, March-November 1975, a strong leftist reaction followed. Farm workers occupied and "nationalized" 1.1 million hectares of farmland in the Alentejo province, and radical military officers in the provisional government ordered the nationalization of Portuguese banks (foreign banks were exempted), utilities, and major industries, or about 60 percent of the economic system. There were power struggles among various political parties — a total of 50 emerged—and in the streets there was civil strife among labor, military, and law enforcement groups. A constituent assembly, elected on 25 April 1975, in Portugal's first free elections since 1926, drafted a democratic constitution. The Council of the Revolution (CR), briefly a revolutionary military watchdog committee, was entrenched as part of the government under the constitution, until a later revision. During the chaotic year of 1975, about 30 persons were killed in political frays while unstable provisional governments came and went. On 25 November 1975, moderate military forces led by Colonel Ramalho Eanes, who later was twice elected president of the republic (1976 and 1981), defeated radical, leftist military groups' revolutionary conspiracies.

   In the meantime, Portugal's scattered overseas empire experienced a precipitous and unprepared decolonization. One by one, the former colonies were granted and accepted independence—Guinea-Bissau (September 1974), Cape Verde Islands (July 1975), and Mozambique (July 1975). Portugal offered to turn over Macau to the People's Republic of China, but the offer was refused then and later negotiations led to the establishment of a formal decolonization or hand-over date of 1999. But in two former colonies, the process of decolonization had tragic results.

   In Angola, decolonization negotiations were greatly complicated by the fact that there were three rival nationalist movements in a struggle for power. The January 1975 Alvor Agreement signed by Portugal and these three parties was not effectively implemented. A bloody civil war broke out in Angola in the spring of 1975 and, when Portuguese armed forces withdrew and declared that Angola was independent on 11 November 1975, the bloodshed only increased. Meanwhile, most of the white Portuguese settlers from Angola and Mozambique fled during the course of 1975. Together with African refugees, more than 600,000 of these retornados ("returned ones") went by ship and air to Portugal and thousands more to Namibia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

   The second major decolonization disaster was in Portugal's colony of East Timor in the Indonesian archipelago. Portugal's capacity to supervise and control a peaceful transition to independence in this isolated, neglected colony was limited by the strength of giant Indonesia, distance from Lisbon, and Portugal's revolutionary disorder and inability to defend Timor. In early December 1975, before Portugal granted formal independence and as one party, FRETILIN, unilaterally declared East Timor's independence, Indonesia's armed forces invaded, conquered, and annexed East Timor. Indonesian occupation encountered East Timorese resistance, and a heavy loss of life followed. The East Timor question remained a contentious international issue in the UN, as well as in Lisbon and Jakarta, for more than 20 years following Indonesia's invasion and annexation of the former colony of Portugal. Major changes occurred, beginning in 1998, after Indonesia underwent a political revolution and allowed a referendum in East Timor to decide that territory's political future in August 1999. Most East Timorese chose independence, but Indonesian forces resisted that verdict until

   UN intervention in September 1999. Following UN rule for several years, East Timor attained full independence on 20 May 2002.

   Consolidation of Democracy, 1976-2000

   After several free elections and record voter turnouts between 25 April 1975 and June 1976, civil war was averted and Portugal's second democratic republic began to stabilize. The MFA was dissolved, the military were returned to the barracks, and increasingly elected civilians took over the government of the country. The 1976 Constitution was revised several times beginning in 1982 and 1989, in order to reempha-size the principle of free enterprise in the economy while much of the large, nationalized sector was privatized. In June 1976, General Ram-alho Eanes was elected the first constitutional president of the republic (five-year term), and he appointed socialist leader Dr. Mário Soares as prime minister of the first constitutional government.

   From 1976 to 1985, Portugal's new system featured a weak economy and finances, labor unrest, and administrative and political instability. The difficult consolidation of democratic governance was eased in part by the strong currency and gold reserves inherited from the Estado Novo, but Lisbon seemed unable to cope with high unemployment, new debt, the complex impact of the refugees from Africa, world recession, and the agitation of political parties. Four major parties emerged from the maelstrom of 1974-75, except for the Communist Party, all newly founded. They were, from left to right, the Communists (PCP); the Socialists (PS), who managed to dominate governments and the legislature but not win a majority in the Assembly of the Republic; the Social Democrats (PSD); and the Christian Democrats (CDS). During this period, the annual growth rate was low (l-2 percent), and the nationalized sector of the economy stagnated.

   Enhanced economic growth, greater political stability, and more effective central government as of 1985, and especially 1987, were due to several developments. In 1977, Portugal applied for membership in the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU) since 1993. In January 1986, with Spain, Portugal was granted membership, and economic and financial progress in the intervening years has been significantly influenced by the comparatively large investment, loans, technology, advice, and other assistance from the EEC. Low unemployment, high annual growth rates (5 percent), and moderate inflation have also been induced by the new political and administrative stability in Lisbon. Led by Prime Minister Cavaco Silva, an economist who was trained abroad, the PSD's strong organization, management, and electoral support since 1985 have assisted in encouraging economic recovery and development. In 1985, the PSD turned the PS out of office and won the general election, although they did not have an absolute majority of assembly seats. In 1986, Mário Soares was elected president of the republic, the first civilian to hold that office since the First Republic. In the elections of 1987 and 1991, however, the PSD was returned to power with clear majorities of over 50 percent of the vote.

   Although the PSD received 50.4 percent of the vote in the 1991 parliamentary elections and held a 42-seat majority in the Assembly of the Republic, the party began to lose public support following media revelations regarding corruption and complaints about Prime Minister Cavaco Silva's perceived arrogant leadership style. President Mário Soares voiced criticism of the PSD's seemingly untouchable majority and described a "tyranny of the majority." Economic growth slowed down. In the parliamentary elections of 1995 and the presidential election of 1996, the PSD's dominance ended for the time being. Prime Minister Antônio Guterres came to office when the PS won the October 1995 elections, and in the subsequent presidential contest, in January 1996, socialist Jorge Sampaio, the former mayor of Lisbon, was elected president of the republic, thus defeating Cavaco Silva's bid. Young and popular, Guterres moved the PS toward the center of the political spectrum. Under Guterres, the PS won the October 1999 parliamentary elections. The PS defeated the PSD but did not manage to win a clear, working majority of seats, and this made the PS dependent upon alliances with smaller parties, including the PCP.

   In the local elections in December 2001, the PSD's criticism of PS's heavy public spending allowed the PSD to take control of the key cities of Lisbon, Oporto, and Coimbra. Guterres resigned, and parliamentary elections were brought forward from 2004 to March 2002. The PSD won a narrow victory with 40 percent of the votes, and Jose Durão Barroso became prime minister. Having failed to win a majority of the seats in parliament forced the PSD to govern in coalition with the right-wing Popular Party (PP) led by Paulo Portas. Durão Barroso set about reducing government spending by cutting the budgets of local authorities, freezing civil service hiring, and reviving the economy by accelerating privatization of state-owned enterprises. These measures provoked a 24-hour strike by public-sector workers. Durão Barroso reacted with vows to press ahead with budget-cutting measures and imposed a wage freeze on all employees earning more than €1,000, which affected more than one-half of Portugal's work force.

   In June 2004, Durão Barroso was invited by Romano Prodi to succeed him as president of the European Commission. Durão Barroso accepted and resigned the prime ministership in July. Pedro Santana Lopes, the leader of the PSD, became prime minister. Already unpopular at the time of Durão Barroso's resignation, the PSD-led government became increasingly unpopular under Santana Lopes. A month-long delay in the start of the school year and confusion over his plan to cut taxes and raise public-sector salaries, eroded confidence even more. By November, Santana Lopes's government was so unpopular that President Jorge Sampaio was obliged to dissolve parliament and hold new elections, two years ahead of schedule.

   Parliamentary elections were held on 20 February 2005. The PS, which had promised the electorate disciplined and transparent governance, educational reform, the alleviation of poverty, and a boost in employment, won 45 percent of the vote and the majority of the seats in parliament. The leader of the PS, José Sôcrates became prime minister on 12 March 2005. In the regularly scheduled presidential elections held on 6 January 2006, the former leader of the PSD and prime minister, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, won a narrow victory and became president on 9 March 2006. With a mass protest, public teachers' strike, and street demonstrations in March 2008, Portugal's media, educational, and social systems experienced more severe pressures. With the spreading global recession beginning in September 2008, Portugal's economic and financial systems became more troubled.

    Contemporary Portugal

   Owing to its geographic location on the southwestern most edge of continental Europe, Portugal has been historically in but not of Europe. Almost from the beginning of its existence in the 12th century as an independent monarchy, Portugal turned its back on Europe and oriented itself toward the Atlantic Ocean. After carving out a Christian kingdom on the western portion of the Iberian peninsula, Portuguese kings gradually built and maintained a vast seaborne global empire that became central to the way Portugal understood its individuality as a nation-state. While the creation of this empire allows Portugal to claim an unusual number of "firsts" or distinctions in world and Western history, it also retarded Portugal's economic, social, and political development. It can be reasonably argued that the Revolution of 25 April 1974 was the most decisive event in Portugal's long history because it finally ended Portugal's oceanic mission and view of itself as an imperial power. After the 1974 Revolution, Portugal turned away from its global mission and vigorously reoriented itself toward Europe. Contemporary Portugal is now both in and of Europe.

   The turn toward Europe began immediately after 25 April 1974. Portugal granted independence to its African colonies in 1975. It was admitted to the European Council and took the first steps toward accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1976. On 28 March 1977, the Portuguese government officially applied for EEC membership. Because of Portugal's economic and social backwardness, which would require vast sums of EEC money to overcome, negotiations for membership were long and difficult. Finally, a treaty of accession was signed on 12 June 1985. Portugal officially joined the EEC (the European Union [EU] since 1993) on 1 January 1986. Since becoming a full-fledged member of the EU, Portugal has been steadily overcoming the economic and social underdevelopment caused by its imperial past and is becoming more like the rest of Europe.

   Membership in the EU has speeded up the structural transformation of Portugal's economy, which actually began during the Estado Novo. Investments made by the Estado Novo in Portugal's economy began to shift employment out of the agricultural sector, which, in 1950, accounted for 50 percent of Portugal's economically active population. Today, only 10 percent of the economically active population is employed in the agricultural sector (the highest among EU member states); 30 percent in the industrial sector (also the highest among EU member states); and 60 percent in the service sector (the lowest among EU member states). The economically active population numbers about 5,000,000 employed, 56 percent of whom are women. Women workers are the majority of the workforce in the agricultural and service sectors (the highest among the EU member states). The expansion of the service sector has been primarily in health care and education. Portugal has had the lowest unemployment rates among EU member states, with the overall rate never being more than 10 percent of the active population. Since joining the EU, the number of employers increased from 2.6 percent to 5.8 percent of the active population; self-employed from 16 to 19 percent; and employees from 65 to 70 percent. Twenty-six percent of the employers are women. Unemployment tends to hit younger workers in industry and transportation, women employed in domestic service, workers on short-term contracts, and poorly educated workers. Salaried workers earn only 63 percent of the EU average, and hourly workers only one-third to one-half of that earned by their EU counterparts. Despite having had the second highest growth of gross national product (GNP) per inhabitant (after Ireland) among EU member states, the above data suggest that while much has been accomplished in terms of modernizing the Portuguese economy, much remains to be done to bring Portugal's economy up to the level of the "average" EU member state.

   Membership in the EU has also speeded up changes in Portuguese society. Over the last 30 years, coastalization and urbanization have intensified. Fully 50 percent of Portuguese live in the coastal urban conurbations of Lisbon, Oporto, Braga, Aveiro, Coimbra, Viseu, Évora, and Faro. The Portuguese population is one of the oldest among EU member states (17.3 percent are 65 years of age or older) thanks to a considerable increase in life expectancy at birth (77.87 years for the total population, 74.6 years for men, 81.36 years for women) and one of the lowest birthrates (10.59 births/1,000) in Europe. Family size averages 2.8 persons per household, with the strict nuclear family (one or two generations) in which both parents work being typical. Common law marriages, cohabitating couples, and single-parent households are more and more common. The divorce rate has also increased. "Youth Culture" has developed. The young have their own meeting places, leisure-time activities, and nightlife (bars, clubs, and discos).

   All Portuguese citizens, whether they have contributed or not, have a right to an old-age pension, invalidity benefits, widowed persons' pension, as well as payments for disabilities, children, unemployment, and large families. There is a national minimum wage (€385 per month), which is low by EU standards. The rapid aging of Portugal's population has changed the ratio of contributors to pensioners to 1.7, the lowest in the EU. This has created deficits in Portugal's social security fund.

   The adult literacy rate is about 92 percent. Illiteracy is still found among the elderly. Although universal compulsory education up to grade 9 was achieved in 1980, only 21.2 percent of the population aged 25-64 had undergone secondary education, compared to an EU average of 65.7 percent. Portugal's higher education system currently consists of 14 state universities and 14 private universities, 15 state polytechnic institutions, one Catholic university, and one military academy. All in all, Portugal spends a greater percentage of its state budget on education than most EU member states. Despite this high level of expenditure, the troubled Portuguese education system does not perform well. Early leaving and repetition rates are among the highest among EU member states.

   After the Revolution of 25 April 1974, Portugal created a National Health Service, which today consists of 221 hospitals and 512 medical centers employing 33,751 doctors and 41,799 nurses. Like its education system, Portugal's medical system is inefficient. There are long waiting lists for appointments with specialists and for surgical procedures.

   Structural changes in Portugal's economy and society mean that social life in Portugal is not too different from that in other EU member states. A mass consumption society has been created. Televisions, telephones, refrigerators, cars, music equipment, mobile phones, and personal computers are commonplace. Sixty percent of Portuguese households possess at least one automobile, and 65 percent of Portuguese own their own home. Portuguese citizens are more aware of their legal rights than ever before. This has resulted in a trebling of the number of legal proceeding since 1960 and an eight-fold increase in the number of lawyers. In general, Portuguese society has become more permissive and secular; the Catholic Church and the armed forces are much less influential than in the past. Portugal's population is also much more culturally, religiously, and ethnically diverse, a consequence of the coming to Portugal of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mainly from former African colonies.

   Portuguese are becoming more cosmopolitan and sophisticated through the impact of world media, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. A prime case in point came in the summer and early fall of 1999, with the extraordinary events in East Timor and the massive Portuguese popular responses. An internationally monitored referendum in East Timor, Portugal's former colony in the Indonesian archipelago and under Indonesian occupation from late 1975 to summer 1999, resulted in a vote of 78.5 percent for rejecting integration with Indonesia and for independence. When Indonesian prointegration gangs, aided by the Indonesian military, responded to the referendum with widespread brutality and threatened to reverse the verdict of the referendum, there was a spontaneous popular outpouring of protest in the cities and towns of Portugal. An avalanche of Portuguese e-mail fell on leaders and groups in the UN and in certain countries around the world as Portugal's diplomats, perhaps to compensate for the weak initial response to Indonesian armed aggression in 1975, called for the protection of East Timor as an independent state and for UN intervention to thwart Indonesian action. Using global communications networks, the Portuguese were able to mobilize UN and world public opinion against Indonesian actions and aided the eventual independence of East Timor on 20 May 2002.

   From the Revolution of 25 April 1974 until the 1990s, Portugal had a large number of political parties, one of the largest Communist parties in western Europe, frequent elections, and endemic cabinet instability. Since the 1990s, the number of political parties has been dramatically reduced and cabinet stability increased. Gradually, the Portuguese electorate has concentrated around two larger parties, the right-of-center Social Democrats (PSD) and the left-of-center Socialist (PS). In the 1980s, these two parties together garnered 65 percent of the vote and 70 percent of the seats in parliament. In 2005, these percentages had risen to 74 percent and 85 percent, respectively. In effect, Portugal is currently a two-party dominant system in which the two largest parties — PS and PSD—alternate in and out of power, not unlike the rotation of the two main political parties (the Regenerators and the Historicals) during the last decades (1850s to 1880s) of the liberal constitutional monarchy. As Portugal's democracy has consolidated, turnout rates for the eligible electorate have declined. In the 1970s, turnout was 85 percent. In Portugal's most recent parliamentary election (2005), turnout had fallen to 65 percent of the eligible electorate.

   Portugal has benefited greatly from membership in the EU, and whatever doubts remain about the price paid for membership, no Portuguese government in the near future can afford to sever this connection. The vast majority of Portuguese citizens see membership in the EU as a "good thing" and strongly believe that Portugal has benefited from membership. Only the Communist Party opposed membership because it reduces national sovereignty, serves the interests of capitalists not workers, and suffers from a democratic deficit. Despite the high level of support for the EU, Portuguese voters are increasingly not voting in elections for the European Parliament, however. Turnout for European Parliament elections fell from 40 percent of the eligible electorate in the 1999 elections to 38 percent in the 2004 elections.

   In sum, Portugal's turn toward Europe has done much to overcome its backwardness. However, despite the economic, social, and political progress made since 1986, Portugal has a long way to go before it can claim to be on a par with the level found even in Spain, much less the rest of western Europe. As Portugal struggles to move from underde-velopment, especially in the rural areas away from the coast, it must keep in mind the perils of too rapid modern development, which could damage two of its most precious assets: its scenery and environment. The growth and future prosperity of the economy will depend on the degree to which the government and the private sector will remain stewards of clean air, soil, water, and other finite resources on which the tourism industry depends and on which Portugal's world image as a unique place to visit rests. Currently, Portugal is investing heavily in renewable energy from solar, wind, and wave power in order to account for about 50 percent of its electricity needs by 2010. Portugal opened the world's largest solar power plant and the world's first commercial wave power farm in 2006.

   An American documentary film on Portugal produced in the 1970s described this little country as having "a Past in Search of a Future." In the years after the Revolution of 25 April 1974, it could be said that Portugal is now living in "a Present in Search of a Future." Increasingly, that future lies in Europe as an active and productive member of the EU.

Historical dictionary of Portugal > Historical Portugal

16 camino

m.

1 path, track (sendero).

camino de Santiago Milky Way; (astronomy) = pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela (religion)

camino trillado well-trodden path

2 way.

el camino de la estación the way to the station

camino de on the way to

está camino de la capital it's on the way to the capital

a estas horas ya estarán en camino they'll be on their way by now

me pilla de camino it's on my way

en el o de camino on the way

por este camino this way

3 journey (viaje).

nos espera un largo camino we have a long journey ahead of us

ponerse en camino to set off

4 road, footpath, pathway, track.

5 cart track, cart road.

pres.indicat.

1^st person singular (yo) present indicative of spanish verb: caminar.

* * *

camino

► nombre masculino

1 (vía) path, track

2 (ruta) way, route

■ encontramos a Juan de camino a casa we met Juan on our way home

3 (viaje) journey

■ dos horas de camino a two-hour journey

4 figurado (medio) way

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

a medio camino half-way

abrir camino to clear the way (a, for)

abrir el camino to clear the way (a, for)

abrirse camino to make one's way

■ se abrió camino entre la gente she made her way through the people

abrirse camino en la vida to get on in life

coger de camino / pillar de camino to be on the way

■ tu casa nos pilla de camino your house is on our way

estar en camino to be on the way

ir camino de to be on one's way to

ir por (el) buen/mal camino figurado to be on the right/wrong track

llevar buen camino to be on the right track

llevar camino de to be on the way to, be heading for, look set to

■ lleva camino de convertirse en un gran atleta he's on his way to becoming a great athlete

ponerse en camino to set off (on a journey)

camino de herradura bridle path

camino de rosas figurado bed of roses

camino forestal forest track

el Camino de Santiago (vía láctea) the Milky Way

el camino del éxito figurado the road to success

* * *

noun m.

1) road, path, track

2) way

3) journey

4) course

* * *

SM

1) [sin asfaltar] track; (=sendero) path; (=carretera) road

un camino de montaña — a mountain path

camino de tierra — dirt track

camino sin firme — unsurfaced road

- todos los caminos conducen a Roma

Caminos, Canales y Puertos — (Univ) Civil Engineering

camino de acceso — access road

camino de Damasco — road to Damascus

camino de entrada — access road

camino de herradura — bridle path

camino de ingresos, camino de peaje — toll road

camino de rosas, la vida no es ningún camino de rosas — life's no bed of roses

Camino de Santiago — pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela, Way of St James

camino de sirga — towpath

camino forestal — forest track; [para paseos] forest trail

camino francés ( Hist) —
= Camino de Santiago
camino real — highroad ( tb fig)

camino trillado, caminos turísticos no trillados — tourist routes that are off the beaten track

experimentan con nuevas técnicas, huyen de los caminos trillados — they are experimenting with new techniques and avoiding conventional approaches o the well-trodden paths

este escritor ha recorrido los caminos trillados de sus antecesores — this writer has been down the well-trodden paths followed by his predecessors

camino vecinal — minor road

2) (=ruta)

a) (lit) way, route; (=viaje) journey

volvimos por el camino más corto — we took the shortest way o route back

¿sabes el camino a su casa? — do you know the way to his house?

es mucho camino — it's a long way

está a varios días de camino — it's several days' journey away

después de tres horas de camino — after travelling for three hours

nos quedan 20 kms de camino — we still have 20 kms to go

¿cuánto camino hay de aquí a San José? — how far is it from here to San José?

camino de Lima — on the way to Lima

iba camino de Nueva York — I was on my way to New York

• abrirse camino entre la multitud — to make one's way through the crowd

• de camino a, lo puedo recoger de camino al trabajo — I can collect it on my way to work

la farmacia me queda de camino — the chemist's is on my way

• echar camino adelante — to strike out

• en el camino — on the way, en route

nos encontramos en el camino a Zaragoza — we met on the way to Zaragoza

tienen dos niños, y otro en camino — they have two children, and another on the way

ponerse en camino — to set out o off

• a medio camino — halfway (there)

a medio camino paramos para comer — halfway there, we stopped to eat

• se quedaron a mitad de camino — they only got halfway (there)

a mitad de camino entre Dublín y la frontera — halfway between Dublin and the border

la verdad está a mitad de camino entre las dos posturas — the truth is somewhere between the two views

b) (fig) (=medio) path, course

es el camino a la fama — it's the path to fame

es el camino al desastre — it's the road to ruin

• el camino a seguir, yo te explico el camino a seguir — I'll tell you the way o route

me indicaron el camino a seguir para resolver el problema — they showed me what needed to be done to solve the problem

censurar estos programas no es el camino a seguir — censoring these programmes isn't the solution o the right thing to do

- abrirse camino en la vida

allanar el camino —

eso sería allanar el camino a sus adversarios — that would make things easy for their rivals

los nervios de su rival le allanaron el camino — her opponent's nerves made it easy for her

- errar el camino

- estar en camino

estamos en camino de solucionar el problema — we're on the way to solving the problem

está en camino de desaparecer — it's on its way out

ir camino de —

va camino de convertirse en un gran centro financiero — it is on its way to becoming a major financial centre

vamos camino del desastre — we are heading for disaster

- ir por buen camino

traer a algn por buen camino — (=orientar) to put sb on the right track o road; (=desengañar) to set sb straight

- ir por mal camino

las cosas van por buen camino — things are going well

- llevar a algn por mal camino

quedarse en el camino —

varios corredores se quedaron en el camino — several runners didn't make it to the end

un 70% sacó el diploma y el resto se quedó en el camino — 70 per cent of them got the diploma, the rest didn't make it

- ir por su camino

en vez de seguir las normas él fue por su camino — instead of following the rules he just went his own sweet way o did his own thing

no me fijo en mis rivales, yo sigo por mi camino — I don't take any notice of what my rivals are doing, I just do my own thing

- tirar por el camino de en medio

3) (Inform) path

4) And, Cono Sur (=alfombra, tapete) runner, strip of carpet o matting

camino de mesa — table runner
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO The Camino de Santiago is a medieval pilgrim route stretching from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, where tradition has it that the body of Saint James the Apostle (Spain's patron saint) is buried. Those who had made the long, dangerous journey returned proudly wearing on their hat or cloak the venera or concha (scallop shell) traditionally associated with this pilgrimage - Saint James' body had reportedly been found covered in scallops. Today this symbolic shell can still be seen all along the Camino de Santiago, carved on ancient buildings and painted on modern-day road signs marking the historic route for the benefit of tourists and pilgrims. In astronomy the Camino de Santiago is another name for the Vía Láctea (Milky Way), hence the title of Buñuel's famous satirical film about the route to Compostela.
* * *

masculino

1) ( de tierra) track; ( sendero) path; ( en general) road

sigan por ese camino — continue along that path (o road etc)

están todos los caminos cortados — all the roads are blocked

abrir nuevos caminos — to break new o fresh ground

allanar or preparar or abrir el camino — to pave the way, prepare the ground

el camino trillado — the well-worn o well-trodden path

la vida no es un camino de rosas — life is no bed of roses

tener el camino trillado: tenía el camino trillado he'd had the ground prepared for him; todos los caminos llevan or conducen a Roma — all roads lead to Rome

- Caminos, Canales y Puertos

- camino vecinal

2)

a) (ruta, dirección) way

el camino más corto — the shortest route o way

saberse el camino — to know the way

me salieron al camino — asaltantes they blocked my path o way; amigos/niños they came out to meet me

éste es el mejor camino a seguir — this is the best course to follow

el camino a la fama — the road o path to fame

por ese camino no vas a ninguna parte — you won't get anywhere that way o like that

siguen caminos muy diferentes — they're taking very different paths

se me fue por mal camino or por el otro camino — it went down the wrong way

abrir camino a algo — to clear the way for something

abrirse camino — to make one's way

se abrió camino entre la espesura — she made her way through the dense thickets

abrirse camino en la vida — to get on in life

buen/mal camino: este niño va por mal camino or lleva mal camino this boy's heading for trouble; ibas por or llevabas buen camino pero te equivocaste you were on the right track but you made a mistake; las negociaciones van por or llevan muy buen camino the negotiations are going extremely well; llevar a alguien por mal camino to lead somebody astray; cruzarse en el camino de alguien: superó todos los obstáculos que se le cruzaron en el camino he overcame all the problems that arose; errar el camino to be in the wrong job o the wrong line of work; tirar por el camino de en medio — to take the middle path

b) (trayecto, viaje)

el camino de regreso — the return journey

se me hizo muy largo el camino — the journey seemed to take for ever

lo debí perder en el camino al trabajo — I must have lost it on my o on the way to work

se pusieron en camino — they set off

llevamos 300 kms/una hora de camino — we've done 300 kms/been traveling for an hour

todavía estamos a o nos quedan dos horas de camino — we still have two hours to go

paramos a mitad de camino or a medio camino — we stopped halfway

cortar o acortar camino — to take a shortcut

hizo todo el camino a pie — he walked the whole way

queda aún mucho camino por recorrer — there's still a long way to go

a mitad de or a medio camino — halfway through

c) (en locs)

camino de/a: me encontré con él camino del or al mercado I ran into him on the o on my way to the market; ya vamos camino del invierno winter's on the way o on its way; llevar or ir camino de algo: una tradición que va camino de desaparecer a tradition which looks set to disappear; de camino on the way to; pilla de camino it's on the way; me queda de camino I pass it on my way; de camino a on the way; está de camino a la estación it is on the way to the station; en el camino or de camino al trabajo on my/his/her way o the way to work; en camino on the way; tiene un niño y otro en camino she has one child and another on the way; deben estar ya en camino they must be on their way already; por el camino — on the way

•

- Camino de Santiago

* * *

= avenue, path, road, route, footpath, lane, pathway, way.

Ex. In the attempt to match the above criteria, there are two fundamentally distinct avenues to the construction of the schedules of a classification scheme.

Ex. It can be in only one place, unless duplicates are used; one has to have rules as to which path will locate it, and the rules are cumbersome.

Ex. Use of Woolston Library has declined slightly: the area is isolated by the River Itchen, a busy main road, and a natural escarpment.

Ex. Each packet includes the address of the final destination, and the packets travel separately, perhaps taking different routes through the network.

Ex. Equivalence relationships normally imply the selection of one form as the preferred term, as we have seen, so we make a cross-reference pointing from the non-preferred term to the preferred term: footpaths See Trails; Bovines USE Cattle.

Ex. The title of the article is 'Changing lanes on the information superhighway: academic libraries and the Internet'.

Ex. This system automates the scientific task of determining the pathway of steps underlying a chemical reaction.

Ex. He has chosen self-denial and altruism as the way to follow.

----

* abrir camino a = make + way (for).

* abrir nuevos caminos = break + new ground, push + Nombre + into new latitudes, break + ground, blaze + trail.

* abrirse camino = plough through, elbow + Posesivo + way into, elbow into, foist + Posesivo + way into, make + Posesivo + way in the world.

* abrirse camino (a empujones) = push + Posesivo + way across/into.

* abrirse camino en el mundo = make + Posesivo + way in the world.

* abrirse camino en la vida = get on in + life.

* abrir un camino = chart + direction.

* al borde del camino = at the roadside.

* alto en el camino = stopover.

* a medio camino = halfway [half-way/half way].

* a mitad de camino = halfway [half-way/half way].

* a mitad de camino entre... y... = midway between, half way between... and....

* a mitad de camino entre... y... = astride... and....

* andar camino trillado = tread + well-worn ground.

* apartarse del buen camino = go off + the rails, stray from + the straight and narrow.

* apartarse del camino de la verdad = stray from + the straight and narrow.

* apartarse de los caminos principales = go + off-road.

* borde del camino = roadside, wayside.

* buen camino, el = straight and narrow (path), the.

* buscar el camino = wind + Posesivo + way.

* cambiar de opinión a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* cambiar de parecer a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* cambiar de política a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* camino apartado = byway.

* camino a seguir, el = way forward, the.

* camino correcto, el = way forward, the.

* camino de acceso = approach path.

* camino definido = charted route.

* camino de herradura = bridle path, bridleway.

* camino de la verdad, el = straight and narrow (path), the.

* camino de tierra = dirt track, dirt road.

* camino elevado = causeway.

* camino hacia el estrellato = road to stardom.

* camino hacia la fama = road to stardom.

* camino largo y difícil = long haul.

* camino largo y tortuoso = long and winding road.

* camino lleno de baches = bumpy road.

* camino más fácil, el = path of least resistance, the.

* camino muy largo = circuitous route.

* camino pecuario = cattle lane.

* camino por recorrer, el = road ahead, the.

* camino rural = country lane, country road.

* camino seguro al desastre = blueprint for disaster.

* camino seguro al éxito = blueprint for success.

* camino seguro al fracaso = blueprint for failure.

* camino sin rumbo = the road to nowhere.

* camino trillado = worn path, beaten road.

* camino vecinal = country road, minor road, back road.

* construcción de caminos = road construction.

* continuar + Posesivo camino = continue on + Posesivo + way.

* cruce de caminos = crossroads, fork in the road.

* cruzar en el camino de Alguien = cross + Posesivo + path.

* cruzársele a Uno en el camino = come + Posesivo + way.

* de camino = on the way, while we're at it.

* de camino a = en route for, on + Posesivo + way to, en route to.

* descanso en el camino = rest stop.

* desviarse del buen camino = go off + the rails.

* detener en el camino = waylay.

* detenerse en el camino = stop along + the way.

* detenerse en el lado del camino = pull over.

* el camino a seguir = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino correcto = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está lleno de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está plagado de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino por recorrer = the way ahead.

* el camino que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el camino recorrido = the road travelled so far.

* el camino se hace andando = actions speak louder than words.

* elegir el camino más fácil = take + the path of least resistance.

* en camino = on the way.

* encontrar el camino = wayfinding.

* encontrar el camino de vuelta = find + Posesivo + way back.

* en el camino = along the way, en route, in the process.

* estar a medio camino entre... y... = lie + midway between... and....

* estar de camino a = be on the road to.

* estar en camino de = be on the way to.

* fuera de los caminos trillados = off the beaten track.

* hacerse camino = foist + Posesivo + way into.

* hacer una parada en el camino = stop along + the way.

* hallar el camino de la verdad = think + Posesivo + way to the truth.

* indicar el camino a seguir = point + the way forward.

* indicar el camino a seguir para = point + the way to.

* indicar el camino correcto = point + Nombre + in the right direction.

* ingeniería de caminos = civil engineering.

* ingeniero de caminos = civil engineer.

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

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

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

* junto al camino = by the roadside.

* lado del camino = wayside.

* ¡la vida no es un camino de rosas! = the course of true love never did run smooth!.

* llevar camino de enfrentamiento con = be on a collision course with.

* llevar por el camino de = lead + Pronombre + down the road to.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* mantener Algo en el buen camino = keep + Nombre + on track.

* marcar el camino correcto = point + Nombre + in the right direction.

* mostrar el camino = blaze + the way, light + the way.

* mostrar el camino a seguir = point + the way forward.

* mostrar el camino para = point + the way to, show + the way to.

* no apartarse del buen camino = keep on + the right track.

* parada en el camino = rest stop, stop along the way.

* parapeto del camino = road bank.

* pararse en el lado del camino = pull over.

* perderse por los caminos secundarios = go + off-road.

* por buen camino = a step in the right direction.

* por caminos apartados = off-road.

* por mal camino = astray.

* preparar el camino = set + the scene, smooth + the way, open + the way, set + the stage, pave + the path (for/towards/to), pave + the way (for/towards/to), pave + the road (for/towards/to).

* preparar el camino para = smooth + the path of.

* quedarse en el camino = fall by + the wayside.

* retomar el camino = get back on + Posesivo + path.

* retomar su camino = get back on + track.

* seguir el buen camino = keep on + the right track, keep on + the straight and narrow.

* seguir el camino de la verdad = keep on + the straight and narrow.

* seguir el camino más ético = take + the high ground, take + the high road.

* seguir este camino = go along + this road.

* seguir por el buen camino = keep out of + trouble, keep on + the right track.

* seguir un camino = take + path, take + direction, tread + path, walk + path.

* seguir un camino diferente = strike out on + a different path.

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

* un alto en el camino = a stop on the road, a pit stop on the road.

* un camino largo y difícil = a long haul.

* volver a su camino = get back on + track, get back on + Posesivo + path.

* * *

masculino

1) ( de tierra) track; ( sendero) path; ( en general) road

sigan por ese camino — continue along that path (o road etc)

están todos los caminos cortados — all the roads are blocked

abrir nuevos caminos — to break new o fresh ground

allanar or preparar or abrir el camino — to pave the way, prepare the ground

el camino trillado — the well-worn o well-trodden path

la vida no es un camino de rosas — life is no bed of roses

tener el camino trillado: tenía el camino trillado he'd had the ground prepared for him; todos los caminos llevan or conducen a Roma — all roads lead to Rome

- Caminos, Canales y Puertos

- camino vecinal

2)

a) (ruta, dirección) way

el camino más corto — the shortest route o way

saberse el camino — to know the way

me salieron al camino — asaltantes they blocked my path o way; amigos/niños they came out to meet me

éste es el mejor camino a seguir — this is the best course to follow

el camino a la fama — the road o path to fame

por ese camino no vas a ninguna parte — you won't get anywhere that way o like that

siguen caminos muy diferentes — they're taking very different paths

se me fue por mal camino or por el otro camino — it went down the wrong way

abrir camino a algo — to clear the way for something

abrirse camino — to make one's way

se abrió camino entre la espesura — she made her way through the dense thickets

abrirse camino en la vida — to get on in life

buen/mal camino: este niño va por mal camino or lleva mal camino this boy's heading for trouble; ibas por or llevabas buen camino pero te equivocaste you were on the right track but you made a mistake; las negociaciones van por or llevan muy buen camino the negotiations are going extremely well; llevar a alguien por mal camino to lead somebody astray; cruzarse en el camino de alguien: superó todos los obstáculos que se le cruzaron en el camino he overcame all the problems that arose; errar el camino to be in the wrong job o the wrong line of work; tirar por el camino de en medio — to take the middle path

b) (trayecto, viaje)

el camino de regreso — the return journey

se me hizo muy largo el camino — the journey seemed to take for ever

lo debí perder en el camino al trabajo — I must have lost it on my o on the way to work

se pusieron en camino — they set off

llevamos 300 kms/una hora de camino — we've done 300 kms/been traveling for an hour

todavía estamos a o nos quedan dos horas de camino — we still have two hours to go

paramos a mitad de camino or a medio camino — we stopped halfway

cortar o acortar camino — to take a shortcut

hizo todo el camino a pie — he walked the whole way

queda aún mucho camino por recorrer — there's still a long way to go

a mitad de or a medio camino — halfway through

c) (en locs)

camino de/a: me encontré con él camino del or al mercado I ran into him on the o on my way to the market; ya vamos camino del invierno winter's on the way o on its way; llevar or ir camino de algo: una tradición que va camino de desaparecer a tradition which looks set to disappear; de camino on the way to; pilla de camino it's on the way; me queda de camino I pass it on my way; de camino a on the way; está de camino a la estación it is on the way to the station; en el camino or de camino al trabajo on my/his/her way o the way to work; en camino on the way; tiene un niño y otro en camino she has one child and another on the way; deben estar ya en camino they must be on their way already; por el camino — on the way

•

- Camino de Santiago

* * *

= avenue, path, road, route, footpath, lane, pathway, way.

Ex: In the attempt to match the above criteria, there are two fundamentally distinct avenues to the construction of the schedules of a classification scheme.

Ex: It can be in only one place, unless duplicates are used; one has to have rules as to which path will locate it, and the rules are cumbersome.

Ex: Use of Woolston Library has declined slightly: the area is isolated by the River Itchen, a busy main road, and a natural escarpment.

Ex: Each packet includes the address of the final destination, and the packets travel separately, perhaps taking different routes through the network.

Ex: Equivalence relationships normally imply the selection of one form as the preferred term, as we have seen, so we make a cross-reference pointing from the non-preferred term to the preferred term: footpaths See Trails; Bovines USE Cattle.

Ex: The title of the article is 'Changing lanes on the information superhighway: academic libraries and the Internet'.

Ex: This system automates the scientific task of determining the pathway of steps underlying a chemical reaction.

Ex: He has chosen self-denial and altruism as the way to follow.

* abrir camino a = make + way (for).

* abrir nuevos caminos = break + new ground, push + Nombre + into new latitudes, break + ground, blaze + trail.

* abrirse camino = plough through, elbow + Posesivo + way into, elbow into, foist + Posesivo + way into, make + Posesivo + way in the world.

* abrirse camino (a empujones) = push + Posesivo + way across/into.

* abrirse camino en el mundo = make + Posesivo + way in the world.

* abrirse camino en la vida = get on in + life.

* abrir un camino = chart + direction.

* al borde del camino = at the roadside.

* alto en el camino = stopover.

* a medio camino = halfway [half-way/half way].

* a mitad de camino = halfway [half-way/half way].

* a mitad de camino entre... y... = midway between, half way between... and....

* a mitad de camino entre... y... = astride... and....

* andar camino trillado = tread + well-worn ground.

* apartarse del buen camino = go off + the rails, stray from + the straight and narrow.

* apartarse del camino de la verdad = stray from + the straight and narrow.

* apartarse de los caminos principales = go + off-road.

* borde del camino = roadside, wayside.

* buen camino, el = straight and narrow (path), the.

* buscar el camino = wind + Posesivo + way.

* cambiar de opinión a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* cambiar de parecer a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* cambiar de política a mitad de camino = change + horses in midstream.

* camino apartado = byway.

* camino a seguir, el = way forward, the.

* camino correcto, el = way forward, the.

* camino de acceso = approach path.

* camino definido = charted route.

* camino de herradura = bridle path, bridleway.

* camino de la verdad, el = straight and narrow (path), the.

* camino de tierra = dirt track, dirt road.

* camino elevado = causeway.

* camino hacia el estrellato = road to stardom.

* camino hacia la fama = road to stardom.

* camino largo y difícil = long haul.

* camino largo y tortuoso = long and winding road.

* camino lleno de baches = bumpy road.

* camino más fácil, el = path of least resistance, the.

* camino muy largo = circuitous route.

* camino pecuario = cattle lane.

* camino por recorrer, el = road ahead, the.

* camino rural = country lane, country road.

* camino seguro al desastre = blueprint for disaster.

* camino seguro al éxito = blueprint for success.

* camino seguro al fracaso = blueprint for failure.

* camino sin rumbo = the road to nowhere.

* camino trillado = worn path, beaten road.

* camino vecinal = country road, minor road, back road.

* construcción de caminos = road construction.

* continuar + Posesivo camino = continue on + Posesivo + way.

* cruce de caminos = crossroads, fork in the road.

* cruzar en el camino de Alguien = cross + Posesivo + path.

* cruzársele a Uno en el camino = come + Posesivo + way.

* de camino = on the way, while we're at it.

* de camino a = en route for, on + Posesivo + way to, en route to.

* descanso en el camino = rest stop.

* desviarse del buen camino = go off + the rails.

* detener en el camino = waylay.

* detenerse en el camino = stop along + the way.

* detenerse en el lado del camino = pull over.

* el camino a seguir = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino correcto = the way ahead, the way to go.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está lleno de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino hacia + Nombre + está plagado de + Nombre = the road (to/towards) + Nombre + is paved with + Nombre.

* el camino por recorrer = the way ahead.

* el camino que lleva a = a/the doorway to.

* el camino recorrido = the road travelled so far.

* el camino se hace andando = actions speak louder than words.

* elegir el camino más fácil = take + the path of least resistance.

* en camino = on the way.

* encontrar el camino = wayfinding.

* encontrar el camino de vuelta = find + Posesivo + way back.

* en el camino = along the way, en route, in the process.

* estar a medio camino entre... y... = lie + midway between... and....

* estar de camino a = be on the road to.

* estar en camino de = be on the way to.

* fuera de los caminos trillados = off the beaten track.

* hacerse camino = foist + Posesivo + way into.

* hacer una parada en el camino = stop along + the way.

* hallar el camino de la verdad = think + Posesivo + way to the truth.

* indicar el camino a seguir = point + the way forward.

* indicar el camino a seguir para = point + the way to.

* indicar el camino correcto = point + Nombre + in the right direction.

* ingeniería de caminos = civil engineering.

* ingeniero de caminos = civil engineer.

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

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

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

* junto al camino = by the roadside.

* lado del camino = wayside.

* ¡la vida no es un camino de rosas! = the course of true love never did run smooth!.

* llevar camino de enfrentamiento con = be on a collision course with.

* llevar por el camino de = lead + Pronombre + down the road to.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* mantener Algo en el buen camino = keep + Nombre + on track.

* marcar el camino correcto = point + Nombre + in the right direction.

* mostrar el camino = blaze + the way, light + the way.

* mostrar el camino a seguir = point + the way forward.

* mostrar el camino para = point + the way to, show + the way to.

* no apartarse del buen camino = keep on + the right track.

* parada en el camino = rest stop, stop along the way.

* parapeto del camino = road bank.

* pararse en el lado del camino = pull over.

* perderse por los caminos secundarios = go + off-road.

* por buen camino = a step in the right direction.

* por caminos apartados = off-road.

* por mal camino = astray.

* preparar el camino = set + the scene, smooth + the way, open + the way, set + the stage, pave + the path (for/towards/to), pave + the way (for/towards/to), pave + the road (for/towards/to).

* preparar el camino para = smooth + the path of.

* quedarse en el camino = fall by + the wayside.

* retomar el camino = get back on + Posesivo + path.

* retomar su camino = get back on + track.

* seguir el buen camino = keep on + the right track, keep on + the straight and narrow.

* seguir el camino de la verdad = keep on + the straight and narrow.

* seguir el camino más ético = take + the high ground, take + the high road.

* seguir este camino = go along + this road.

* seguir por el buen camino = keep out of + trouble, keep on + the right track.

* seguir un camino = take + path, take + direction, tread + path, walk + path.

* seguir un camino diferente = strike out on + a different path.

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

* un alto en el camino = a stop on the road, a pit stop on the road.

* un camino largo y difícil = a long haul.

* volver a su camino = get back on + track, get back on + Posesivo + path.

* * *

camino Camino de Santiago (↑ camino a1)

masculine

A (de tierra) track; (sendero) path; (en general) road

sigan por ese camino continue along that path ( o road etc)

han abierto/hecho un caminito a través del bosque they've opened up/made a path o little track through the wood

están todos los caminos cortados all the roads are blocked

abrir nuevos caminos to break new o fresh ground

allanar or preparar or abrir el camino to pave the way, prepare the ground

el camino trillado the well-worn o well-trodden path

la vida no es un camino de rosas life is no bed of roses, life isn't a bowl of cherries

tener el camino trillado: tenía el camino trillado he'd had the ground prepared for him

todos los caminos llevan or conducen a Roma: por todos los caminos se va a Roma all roads lead to Rome

el camino del infierno está empedrado de buenas intenciones the road to hell is paved o strewn with good intentions

Compuestos:

● camino de herradura

bridle path

● camino de sirga

towpath

● camino real

( Hist) highway

● Caminos, Canales y Puertos

civil engineering ingeniero

● camino vecinal

minor road ( built and maintained by local council)

B

1 (ruta, dirección) way

tomamos el camino más corto we took the shortest route o way

¿sabes el camino para ir allí? do you know how to get there?, do you know the way there?

me salieron al camino «asaltantes» they blocked my path o way;

«amigos/niños» they came out to meet me

afrontaron todas las dificultades que se les presentaron en el camino they faced up to all the difficulties in their path

éste es el mejor camino a seguir en estas circunstancias this is the best course to follow in these circumstances

por ese camino no vas a ninguna parte you won't get anywhere that way o like that

al terminar la carrera cada cual se fue por su camino after completing their studies they all went their separate ways

sigue caminos muy diferentes de los trazados por sus predecesores he is taking very different paths from those of his predecessors

se me fue por mal caminoor por el otro camino it went down the wrong way

abrir(le) camino (a algo/algn) to clear the way (for sth/sb)

los vehículos que abrían camino a los corredores the vehicles that were clearing the way for the runners

abrirse camino to make one's way

se abrió camino entre la espesura/a través de la multitud she made her way through the dense thickets/through the crowds of people

no es fácil abrirse camino en esa profesión it's not easy to carve a niche for oneself in that profession

estas técnicas se están abriendo camino entre nuestros médicos these techniques are gaining ground o are beginning to gain acceptance with our doctors

tuvo que luchar mucho para abrirse camino en la vida he had to fight hard to get on in life

buen/mal camino: este niño va por mal caminoor lleva mal camino this boy's heading for trouble

ya tiene trabajo, va por buen camino he's found a job already, he's doing well

ibas por or llevabas buen camino pero te equivocaste aquí you were on the right track o lines, but you made a mistake here

las negociaciones van por or llevan muy buen camino the negotiations are going extremely well o very smoothly

llevar a algn por mal camino to lead sb astray

cruzarse en el camino de algn: la mala suerte se cruzó en su camino he ran up against o came up against some bad luck

supo superar todos los obstáculos que se le cruzaron en el camino he was able to overcome all the problems which arose o which he came across

errar el camino to be in the wrong job o the wrong line of work

2

(trayecto, viaje): emprendimos el camino de regreso we set out on the return journey

se me hizo muy largo el camino the journey seemed to take forever

lo debí perder en el camino de casa al trabajo I must have lost it on my o on the way to work

se pusieron en camino al amanecer they set off at dawn

llevamos ya una hora de camino we've been traveling for an hour now, we've been on the road for an hour now

estamos todavía a dos horas de camino we still have two hours to go o two hours ahead of us

paramos a mitad de caminoor a medio camino a descansar we stopped halfway to rest

por aquí cortamos or acortamos camino we can take a shortcut this way o this way's shorter

hizo todo el camino a pie he walked the whole way, he did the whole journey on foot

se ha avanzado mucho en este campo, pero queda aún mucho camino por recorrer great advances have been made in this field, but there's still a long way to go

el camino será largo y difícil, pero venceremos the road will be long and difficult, but we shall be victorious

quedarse a mitad de or a medio camino: iba para médico, pero se quedó a mitad de camino he was studying to be a doctor, but he never completed the course o he gave up halfway through the course

el programa de remodelación se quedó a medio camino the renovation project was left unfinished

no creo que terminemos este año, ni siquiera estamos a mitad de camino I don't think we'll finish it this year, we're not even half way through yet

3 ( en locs):

camino de/a: me encontré con él camino del or al mercado I ran into him on the o on my way to the market

ya vamos camino del invierno winter's coming o approaching, winter's on the way o on its way

llevar or ir camino de algo: un actor que va camino del estrellato an actor on his way o on the road to stardom, an actor heading for stardom, an actor who looks set for stardom

van camino de la bancarrota they are on the road to o heading for bankruptcy, they look set to go bankrupt

una tradición que va camino de desaparecer a tradition which looks set to disappear

de camino: tu casa me queda de camino I pass your house on my way, your house is on my way

ve por el pan y, de camino, compra el periódico go and get the bread and buy a newspaper on the way o your way

de camino a: íbamos de camino a Zacatecas we were on our way o the way to Zacatecas

está de camino a la estación it is on the way to the station

en el caminoor de camino al trabajo paso por tres bancos I pass three banks on my way o the way to work

en camino: deben estar ya en camino they must be on the o on their way already

tiene un niño y otro en camino she has one child and another on the way

por el camino on the way

te lo cuento por el camino I'll tell you on the way

Compuestos:

● camino del Inca

Inca trail

● Camino de Santiago

el Camino de Santiago ( Hist, Relig) the pilgrims' road to Santiago;

( Astron) the Milky Way

* * *

Del verbo caminar: ( conjugate caminar)

camino es:

1ª persona singular (yo) presente indicativo

caminó es:

3ª persona singular (él/ella/usted) pretérito indicativo

Multiple Entries:
caminar
camino
caminar ( conjugate caminar) verbo intransitivo
1 ( andar) to walk;
◊ salieron a camino they went out for a walk;

podemos ir caminando we can walk, we can go on foot;
camino hacia algo ‹hacia meta/fin› to move toward(s) sth
2 (AmL) [reloj/motor] to work;
◊ el asunto va caminando (fam) things are moving (colloq)

verbo transitivo ‹ distancia› to walk
camino sustantivo masculino
1 ( en general) road;
( de tierra) track;
( sendero) path;
◊ camino vecinal minor road ( built and maintained by local council)

2
a) (ruta, dirección) way;

◊ saberse el camino to know the way;

me salieron al camino [ asaltantes] they blocked my path o way;

[ amigos] they came out to meet me;
◊ este es el mejor camino a seguir this is the best course to follow;

el camino a la fama the road o path to fame;
se abrió camino entre la espesura she made her way through the dense thickets;
abrirse camino en la vida to get on in life;
buen/mal camino: este niño va por mal camino this boy's heading for trouble;
ibas por buen camino pero te equivocaste you were on the right track but you made a mistake;
llevar a algn por mal camino to lead sb astray
b) (trayecto, viaje):

◊ el camino de regreso the return journey;

se pusieron en camino they set off;
todavía nos quedan dos horas de camino we still have two hours to go
c) ( en locs)

◊ camino de/a … on my/his/her way to …;

ir camino de algo: una tradición que va camino de desaparecer a tradition which looks set to disappear;
de camino on the way;
pilla de camino it's on the way;
me queda de camino I pass it on my way;
de camino a la estación on the way to the station;
en camino on the way;
deben estar ya en camino they must be on their way already;
por el camino on the way;
a mitad de or a medio camino halfway through
caminar
I verbo intransitivo to walk
II verbo transitivo (recorrer a pie) to cover,walk: camino un par de kilómetros diarios, I walk two kilometres every day
camino sustantivo masculino
1 (estrecho, sin asfaltar) path, track
(en general) road
2 (itinerario, ruta) route, way
3 (medio, modo) way
♦ Locuciones: coger o pillar de camino, to be on the way
estar en camino, to be on the way
ir camino de, to be going to
figurado ir por buen/mal camino, to be on the right/wrong track
ponerse en camino, to set off
a medio camino, halfway: lo deja todo a medio camino, she drops everything she starts halfway through
figurado una casa de turismo rural es un sitio a medio camino entre un hotel y una casa de labranza, a rural tourism house is something halfway between a hotel and a farmhouse
de camino a, on the way to
' camino' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abrirse
- acceso
- ahorrar
- andar
- baja
- bajo
- bifurcación
- borde
- caminar
- como
- conducir
- cruzarse
- desbloquear
- desviarse
- dificultosa
- dificultoso
- división
- empinada
- empinado
- enderezar
- enfilar
- enrevesada
- enrevesado
- enseñar
- entorpecer
- escultórica
- escultórico
- franca
- franco
- ir
- guiar
- horqueta
- indicar
- interponerse
- intersectarse
- intrincada
- intrincado
- lado
- marcha
- margen
- media
- mitad
- mostrar
- obstáculo
- orientar
- orilla
- paso
- pillar
- por
- promedio
English:
astray
- blaze
- bridle path
- circuitous
- claw
- concrete
- devious
- dirt road
- drive
- driveway
- en route
- fight
- footpath
- guide
- half-way
- lane
- midway
- passable
- path
- pathway
- pave
- road
- rocky
- rough
- set off
- set out
- show
- signpost
- sloping
- stray
- strike out
- struggle on
- thrust aside
- towpath
- track
- up
- uphill
- wade through
- way
- wayside
- weave
- wind
- winding
- work
- work up to
- bound
- by
- continue
- direct
- do

* * *

camino nm

1. [sendero] path, track;
[carretera] road;
han abierto un camino a través de la selva they've cleared a path through the jungle;

acorté por el camino del bosque I took a shortcut through the forest;
Univ
Caminos(, Canales y Puertos) [ingeniería] civil engineering;

Comp

la vida no es un camino de rosas life is no bed of roses;

Prov

todos los caminos llevan a Roma all roads lead to Rome

Comp
camino de acceso access road; Fam Fig camino de cabras rugged path;
camino forestal forest track;

camino de grava gravel path;

camino de herradura bridle path;

camino de hierro railway, US railroad;
Am camino de mesa table runner; Hist camino real king's highway;
Camino de Santiago Rel = pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela;
Astron Milky Way;
camino de sirga towpath;
Fig camino trillado well-trodden path; Fig
tiene el camino trillado the hard work has already been done for him;

camino vecinal country lane

2. [ruta, vía] way;

el camino de la estación the way to the station;

equivocarse de camino to go the wrong way;

indicar el camino a alguien to show sb the way;

no recuerdo el camino de vuelta I can't remember the way back;

iremos por el camino más corto we'll go by the shortest route, we'll go the quickest way;

está camino de la capital it's on the way to the capital;

me encontré a Elena camino de casa I met Elena on the way home;

de camino [de paso] on the way;

ve a comprar el periódico, y de camino sube también la leche go for the newspaper and bring the milk up while you're at it;

me pilla de camino it's on my way;

a estas horas ya estarán en camino they'll be on their way by now;

en el camino on the way;

por este camino this way

3. [viaje] journey;

nos espera un largo camino we have a long journey ahead of us;

se detuvieron tras cinco horas de camino they stopped after they had been on the road for five hours;

estamos casi a mitad de camino we're about halfway there;

pararemos a mitad de camino we'll stop halfway;

hicimos un alto en el camino para comer we stopped (along the way) to have a bite to eat;
también Fig
todavía nos queda mucho camino por delante we've still got a long way to go;

ponerse en camino to set off

4. [medio] way;

el camino para conseguir tus propósitos es la honestidad the way to get what you want is to be honest

5. Comp

abrir camino a to clear the way for;

el hermano mayor ha abierto camino a los pequeños the older brother cleared the way for the younger ones;

dos jinetes abrían camino a la procesión two people rode ahead to clear a path for the procession;

abrirse camino to get on o ahead;

se abrió camino entre la maraña de defensas he found a way through the cluster of defenders;

abrirse camino en el mundo to make one's way in the world;

le costó mucho abrirse camino, pero ahora tiene una buena posición it wasn't easy for him to get on, but he's got a good job now;

allanar el camino to smooth the way;

atravesarse o [m5] cruzarse o [m5] interponerse en el camino de alguien to stand in sb's way;

no permitiré que nadie se cruce en mi camino I won't let anyone stand in my way;
Fam
tienen un bebé en camino they've got a baby on the way;

ir por buen camino to be on the right track;

ir por mal camino to go astray;

con su comportamiento, estos alumnos van por mal camino the way they are behaving, these pupils are heading for trouble;

fueron cada cual por su camino they went their separate ways;

van camino del desastre/éxito they're on the road to disaster/success;

va o [m5] lleva camino de convertirse en estrella she's on her way to stardom;

a medio camino halfway;

siempre deja todo a medio camino she always leaves things half-done;

estar a medio camino to be halfway there;

está a medio camino entre un delantero y un centrocampista he's somewhere between a forward and a midfielder;

quedarse a medio camino to stop halfway through;

el proyecto se quedó a medio camino por falta de presupuesto the project was left unfinished o was abandoned halfway through because the funds dried up;

iba para estrella, pero se quedó a mitad de camino she looked as if she would become a star, but never quite made it;

traer a alguien al buen camino to put sb back on the right track

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

The Galician city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, traditionally held to be the burial site of the Apostle St James, was one of the most important Christian pilgrimage centres in Europe during the Middle Ages, second only to Rome. Countless pilgrims made the journey from different parts of Europe to Santiago along recognized pilgrimage routes. The main one crosses the north of Spain from the Pyrenees to Galicia and is known as the Camino de Santiago. Although its religious significance has declined, it has become a popular tourist route attracting a wide range of travellers: nature lovers on day trips, hikers and cyclists, and even latter-day pilgrims, whether solitary walkers or on package tours. Many of them avail themselves of the free or low-cost accommodation provided along the way by local councils and religious institutions.

* * *

camino

m

1 ( senda) path;

no es (todo) un camino de rosas it isn’t all a bed of roses

2 INFOR path

3 ( ruta) way;

a medio camino halfway;

de camino a on the way to;

por el camino on the way;

camino de on the way to;

abrirse camino fig make one’s way;

estar en camino be on the way;

ponerse en camino set out;

abrirse camino en la vida get on;

ir por buen/mal camino fig be on the right/wrong track;

abrir camino hacia algo fig pave the way for sth;

quedarse a medio o

mitad de camino fig leave sth half finished

* * *

camino nm

1) : path, road

2) : journey

ponerse en camino: to set off

3) : way

a medio camino: halfway there

* * *

camino n

1. (sendero) path

no te alejes del camino don't stray from the path

2. (ruta, medio) way

iremos por otro camino we'll go a different way

lo encontré por el camino I found it on the way

camino de on the way / on your way

va camino del hotel he's on his way to the hotel

ponerse en camino to set off [pt. & pp. set]

Spanish-English dictionary > camino

17 de

de [də]

━━━━━━━━━

1. preposition

2. article

━━━━━━━━━

1. <

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► de + le = du ; de + les = des ; de becomes d' before a vowel or silent h.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque de fait partie d'une locution du type décider de, content de, de plus en plus, reportez-vous à l'autre mot.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

   a. (provenance) from

• s'échapper de to escape from

• il arrive du Japon he has just arrived from Japan

• nous recevons des amis du Canada we've got friends from Canada staying with us

• l'avion de Londres the plane from London

• je l'ai vu en sortant de la maison I saw him as I was coming out of the house

   b. (lieu) in

• les magasins de Londres the shops in London

• les voisins du 2^e étage the neighbours on the 2nd floor

   c. (destination) to

• l'avion de Bruxelles the plane to Brussels

• la route de Tours the road to Tours

   d. (appartenance) of

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque de sert à exprimer l'appartenance, il se traduit par of ; on préférera toutefois souvent le génitif lorsque le possesseur est une personne ou un animal.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• les oreilles du lapin the rabbit's ears

• la maison de David David's house

• la maison de notre ami our friend's house

• un ami de la famille a friend of the family

• un ami de mon père a friend of my father's

• la porte de la maison the door of the house

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Après un pluriel se terminant par un s, l'apostrophe s'utilise sans s.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• la maison de nos amis our friends' house

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► On ajoute cependant le 's après un nom commun se terminant par ss.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• la loge de l'actrice the actress's dressing-room

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Dans le cas où le possesseur est une chose, l'anglais supprime parfois le 's.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• le pied de la table the table leg

• le bouton de la porte the door knob

• les romanciers du 20^e siècle 20th-century novelists

   e. (contenu) of

• une bouteille de vin a bottle of wine

• une pincée de sel a pinch of salt

• une collection de timbres a collection of stamps

   f. (matière)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► En anglais, un nom en apposition sert souvent à décrire la matière dont quelque chose est fait.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• un vase de cristal a crystal vase

• une table de chêne an oak table

   g. (qualité) un homme de goût a man of taste

• quelque chose de beau something lovely

• rien d'intéressant nothing interesting

   h. (agent) by

• un film de Fellini a Fellini film

• un concerto de Brahms a concerto by Brahms

• c'est de qui ? who is it by?

• ce poème n'est pas de moi I didn't write the poem

   i. ( = avec)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Lorsque de signifie avec, au moyen de, à l'aide de, ou exprime la manière ou la cause, la traduction dépend du contexte ; reportez-vous à l'autre mot.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• il l'attrapa de la main gauche he caught it with his left hand

• marcher d'un pas lent to walk slowly

• rougir de honte to go red with embarrassment

• être fatigué de répéter to be tired of repeating

• couvert de boue covered in mud

   j. ( = par) il gagne 30 € de l'heure he earns 30 euros an hour

   k. ( = durant) de jour during the day

• de nuit during the night

• 3 heures du matin 3 o'clock in the morning

• je ne l'ai pas vu de la soirée I haven't seen him all evening

   l. (locutions) il y a deux verres de cassés there are two broken glasses

• j'ai une semaine de congé I've got a week's holiday

• il est d'une bêtise ! he's so stupid!

• tu as de ces idées ! you have the strangest ideas!

• le jour de Noël Christmas Day

• cette saleté de temps this rotten weather

• la ville de Paris the city of Paris

• le mois de juin the month of June

• une pièce de 6 m² a room 6 metres square

• un enfant de 5 ans a 5-year-old child

• un voyage de trois jours a three-day journey

• il y aura une attente de quelques heures you will have to wait a few hours

• un chèque de 100 € a cheque for 100 euros

• il est professeur d'anglais he's an English teacher

► de... à from... to

• de chez moi à la gare, il y a 5 km it's 5km from my house to the station

• du 2 au 7 mai from 2 to 7 May

• les enfants de 9 à 12 ans children from 9 to 12► de... en from... to

• il va de village en village he goes from village to village

• de jour en jour from day to day

• le nombre diminue d'année en année the number is decreasing every year

• nous allions de surprise en surprise we had one surprise after another

2. <

   a. (affirmation)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► L'article de n'est souvent pas traduit mais il peut parfois être rendu par some.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• au déjeuner, nous avons eu du poulet we had chicken for lunch

• j'ai du travail à faire I've got work to do

• j'ai des voisins charmants I've got lovely neighbours

• boire de l'eau to drink water

• ils vendent des pommes they sell apples

• il mange des biscuits toute la journée he eats biscuits all day

• elle a de jolies mains she's got lovely hands

• il portait des lunettes he was wearing glasses

• il a joué du Chopin he played Chopin

• cela demande de la patience it takes patience

• c'est du vol ! that's robbery!

• j'ai acheté des pommes I bought some apples

   b. (interrogation, hypothèse)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Dans les questions et les hypothèses, de soit ne se traduit pas, soit est rendu par any ou some.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• accepteriez-vous de l'argent liquide ? would you take cash?

• as-tu de l'argent ? have you got any money?

• as-tu rencontré des randonneurs ? did you meet any hikers?

• si tu achètes du vin, j'en prendrai aussi if you buy some wine, I'll buy some too

• s'il y a des problèmes if there are any problems

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Dans les offres polies, on utilise plus souvent some.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• tu veux de l'aide ? do you want any help? ; (plus poli) would you like some help?

• voulez-vous des œufs ? would you like some eggs?

• vous ne voulez vraiment pas de vin ? are you sure you don't want some wine?

   c. ► pas... de... not any... no...

• je n'ai pas acheté de pommes I didn't buy any apples

• je n'ai pas de voisins I haven't got any neighbours

• il n'y a pas de pain there isn't any bread there's no bread

* * *

(d' before vowel or mute h) də, d préposition

1) ( indiquant l'origine) from

le train de Bruxelles — the train from Brussels

il arrive du Japon — he's just come from Japan

à 20 mètres de là — 20 metres [BrE] from there

un enfant de mon premier mari — a child by my first husband

un vin de Grèce — ( rapporté de là-bas) a wine from Greece; ( fait là-bas) a Greek wine

né de parents immigrés — born of immigrant parents

il est de père italien — his father is Italian

de méfiant il est devenu paranoïaque — he went from being suspicious to being paranoid

2) ( indiquant la progression)

de...à, de...en — from...to

de 8 à 10 heures — from 8 to 10 (o'clock)

du matin au soir — from morning till night

d'heure en heure — from hour to hour

3) ( indiquant la destination) to

4) ( indiquant la cause)

mourir de soif — to die of thirst

pleurer de rage — to cry with rage

trembler de froid — to shiver with cold

5) ( indiquant la manière) in

parler d'un ton monocorde — to speak in a monotone

tirer de toutes ses forces — to pull with all one's might

6) ( indiquant le moyen) with

pousser quelque chose du pied — to push something aside with one's foot

vivre de saucisses — to live on sausages

7) ( indiquant l'agent) by

un poème de Victor Hugo — a poem by Victor Hugo

avoir un enfant de quelqu'un — to have a child by somebody

8) ( indiquant la durée)

travailler de nuit/de jour — to work at night/during the day

ne rien faire de la journée — to do nothing all day

9) (indiquant l'appartenance, la dépendance)

les chapeaux de Paul — Paul's hats

un élève du professeur Talbin — one of professor Talbin's students

l'immensité de la mer — the immensity of the sea

le toit de la maison — the roof of the house

la porte de la chambre — the bedroom door

le cadran du téléphone — the dial on the telephone

c'est bien de lui — it's just like him

10) ( détermination par le contenant)

le foin de la grange — the hay in the barn

le vin du tonneau — ( qui s'y trouve) the wine in the barrel; ( qu'on a tiré) the wine from the barrel

11) ( détermination par le contenu) of

une tasse de café — a cup of coffee

12) ( détermination par la quantité) of

une minute de silence — one minute of silence, a minute's silence

13) ( détermination par le lieu) of

les pyramides d'Égypte — the pyramids of Egypt

14) ( détermination par le temps) of

le 20 du mois — the 20th of the month

la réunion de samedi — Saturday's meeting

la réunion du 20 juin — the meeting on 20 June

le train de 15 heures — the 3 o'clock train

les ventes de juin — the June sales

15) (détermination par la dimension, la mesure)

un livre de 200 pages — a 200-page book

être long de 20 mètres — to be 20 metres [BrE] long

7 euros de l'heure — 7 euros an hour

trop lourd de trois kilos — three kilos too heavy

16) (détermination par la nature, fonction, matière)

un billet de train — a train ticket

une robe de coton rouge — a red cotton dress

une bulle d'air — an air bubble

17) ( apposition) of

le mois de juillet — the month of July

le nom de Flore — the name Flore

18) ( avec attribut du nom ou du pronom)

trois personnes de tuées — three people killed

deux heures de libres — two hours free

20 euros de plus — 20 euros more

l'ourlet a deux centimètres de trop — the hem is two centimetres [BrE] too long

quelque chose/rien de nouveau — something/nothing new

c'est quelqu'un de célèbre — he's/she's famous

c'est ça de fait — (colloq) that's that out of the way

19) ( avec un infinitif)

ça me peinait de la voir ainsi — it upset me to see her like that

et eux de rire — and they laughed

20) ( après un déverbal)

le filtrage de l'eau pose de gros problèmes — filtering water poses big problems

21) ( après un superlatif) gén of; ( avec un lieu ou ensemble assimilé) in

le plus grand restaurant de la ville — the biggest restaurant in the town

22) (colloq) (en corrélation avec le pronom un, une)

pour une gaffe, c'en est une, de gaffe! — as blunders go, that was a real one!

23) ( dans une comparaison chiffrée) than

plus/moins de 10 — more/less than 10

••

La préposition

Certains emplois de la préposition de sont traités ailleurs dans le dictionnaire, notamment

lorsque de introduit le complément de verbes transitifs indirects comme douter de, jouer de, de verbes à double complément comme recevoir quelque chose de quelqu'un, de certains noms comme désir de, obligation de, de certains adjectifs comme fier de, plein de

lorsque de fait partie de locutions comme d'abord, de travers ou de composés comme chemin de fer, pomme de terre

lorsque de est utilisé dans la structure de déterminants indéfinis comme peu de, moins de etc

lorsque de fait suite à être dans certaines tournures être I

D'autres renvois essentiels apparaissent dans l'entrée ci-dessous, mais on se reportera également aux notes d'usage répertoriées pour certaines constructions

L'article indéfini

de article indéfini pluriel est traité avec un I

L'article partitif: de, de l', de la, du

Lorsqu'il exprime une généralité non quantifiée ou une alternative, de, article partitif ne se traduit pas: manger de la viande/du lapin/des oeufs = to eat meat/rabbit/eggs; il ne boit jamais de vin = he never drinks wine; tu prends du café au petit déjeuner? = do you have coffee for breakfast?; voulez-vous de la bière ou du vin? = would you like beer or wine?; il ne veut pas de vin mais de la bière = he doesn't want wine, he wants beer

Lorsque l'idée de quantité est présente il se traduit par some ou any: achète de la bière/des bananes = buy some beer/some bananas; voulez-vous de la bière? = would you like some beer?; évidemment, tu leur as donné de l'argent? = of course, you gave them some money?; y a-t-il du soleil? = is there any sun?; il n'y a pas de soleil = there isn't any sun, there's no sun; il y a rarement du soleil = there's seldom any sun; il n'y a jamais de soleil = there's never any sun; il n'y a plus de vin = there isn't any more wine

Et lorsque qu'il s'agit d'une partie déterminée d'un tout, il se traduit par some of ou any of: elle a mangé des gâteaux que j'ai achetés = she has eaten some of the cakes I bought; a-t-elle bu du vin que j'ai apporté? = did she drink any of the wine I brought?; je ne prendrai plus de ce mélange = I won't take any more of this mixture

* * *
de
1. nm

1) (à jouer) dice

un coup de dés — a throw of the dice

2) (dé à coudre) thimble

2. dés nmpl

1) (= jeu) dice, game of dice

2) CUISINE

couper en dés — to dice

* * *

de ⇒ Note d'usage (d' before vowel or mute h) prép

1 ( indiquant l'origine) from; leur départ/le train de Bruxelles their departure/the train from Brussels; il arrive du Japon he's just come from Japan; de la fenêtre, on peut voir… from the window, one can see…; à 20 mètres de là 20 metres^GB from there; de ce moment fml from that moment; un enfant de mon premier mari/mariage a child by my first husband/from my first marriage; elle est de Taiwan she's from Taiwan; un vin de Grèce ( rapporté de là-bas) a wine from Greece; ( fait là-bas) a Greek wine; né de parents immigrés born of immigrant parents; il est de père italien et de mère chinoise his father is Italian and his mother Chinese; le bébé est de février the baby was born in February; de méfiant il est devenu paranoïaque he went from being suspicious to being paranoid; d'ici là between now and then; d'ici la fin du mois by the end of the month; ⇒ par;

2 ( indiquant la progression) de…à, de…en from…to; de 8 à 10 heures from 8 to 10 (o'clock); de mardi à samedi, du mardi au samedi from Tuesday to Saturday; du matin au soir from morning till night; d'une semaine à l'autre from one week to the next; de Lisbonne à Berlin from Lisbon to Berlin; de l'équateur aux pôles from the equator to the poles; de ville en ville from town to town; d'heure en heure from hour to hour; de déception en désillusion from disappointment to disillusion; ⇒ Charybde, long, moins, moment, place, plus;

3 ( indiquant la destination) to; le train de Paris the train to Paris, the Paris train;

4 ( indiquant la cause) mourir de soif/de chagrin/d'une pneumonie to die of thirst/of a broken heart/of pneumonia; phobie de l'eau/la foule fear of water/crowds; des larmes de désespoir tears of despair; un hurlement de terreur a scream of terror; pleurer de rage to cry with rage; hurler de terreur to scream with terror; trembler de froid to shiver with cold; ⇒ joie;

5 ( indiquant la manière) in; parler d'un ton monocorde to speak in a monotone; s'exprimer de manière élégante to express oneself in an elegant way; plaisanterie d'un goût douteux joke in dubious taste; tirer de toutes ses forces to pull with all one's might; il a répondu d'un geste obscène he answered with an obscene gesture; ⇒ beau, cœur, concert, mémoire, tac, trait;

6 ( indiquant le moyen) with; pousser qch du pied to push sth aside with one's foot; soulever qch d'une main to lift sth with one hand; gravure/graver de la pointe d'un couteau engraving/to engrave with the point of a knife; suspendu des deux mains hanging by two hands; déjeuner/vivre de saucisses et de haricots to lunch/to live on sausages and beans; il a fait de sa chambre un bureau he made his bedroom into a study; ⇒ coup, coude;

7 ( indiquant l'agent) by; un poème/dessin de Victor Hugo a poem/drawing by Victor Hugo; avoir un enfant de qn to have a child by sb; respecté de tous respected by all;

8 ( indiquant la durée) travailler de nuit/de jour to work at night/during the day; ne rien faire de la journée/semaine to do nothing all day/week; de ma vie je n'avais vu ça I had never seen such a thing in my life; ⇒ temps;

9 (indiquant l'appartenance, la dépendance) les chapeaux de Paul/de mon frère/de mes parents Paul's/my brother's/my parents' hats; les oreilles de l'ours/de mon chat the bear's/my cat's ears; la politique de leur gouvernement/de la France their government's/France's policy, the policy of their government/of France; un élève du professeur Talbin one of professor Talbin's students; l'immensité de l'espace/la mer the immensity of space/the sea; le toit de la maison the roof of the house; la porte de la chambre the bedroom door; les rideaux de la chambre sont sales the bedroom curtains are dirty; j'ai lavé les rideaux de la chambre I washed the bedroom curtains; le cadran du téléphone the dial on the telephone; c'est bien de lui it's just like him;

10 ( détermination par le contenant) le foin de la grange the hay in the barn; le vin du tonneau ( qui s'y trouve) the wine in the barrel; ( qu'on a tiré) the wine from the barrel;

11 ( détermination par le contenu) of; une tasse de café a cup of coffee; un sac de charbon a sack of coal;

12 ( détermination par la quantité) of; cinq pages de roman five pages of a novel; deux mètres de tissu two metres^GB of material; trois litres de vin three litres^GB of wine; une minute de silence one minute of silence, a minute's silence; quatre heures de musique four hours of music; deux milliardièmes de seconde two billionths of a second; le quart de mes économies a quarter of my savings; la totalité or l'ensemble de leurs œuvres the whole of their works; les sept maisons du hameau the seven houses of the hamlet;

13 ( détermination par le lieu) of; les pyramides d'Égypte the pyramids of Egypt; le roi de Brunéi the King of Brunei; le premier ministre du Japon the prime minister of Japan, the Japanese prime minister; le comte de Monte-Cristo the Count of Monte-Cristo;

14 ( détermination par le temps) of; les ordinateurs de demain the computers of tomorrow; le 20 du mois the 20th of the month; la réunion de samedi Saturday's meeting; la réunion du 20 juin the meeting on 20 June; le train de 15 heures the 3 o'clock train; les ventes de juin the June sales;

15 (détermination par la dimension, la mesure) un livre de 200 pages a 200-page book; un spectacle de deux heures a two-hour show; une grue de 50 tonnes a 50-tonne crane; être long de 20 mètres, avoir 20 mètres de long to be 20 metres^GB long; 20 euros de l'heure 20 euros an hour; enceinte de trois mois three months' pregnant; on aura deux heures d'attente we'll have a two-hour wait; on aura deux heures de retard we'll be two hours late; trop lourd de trois kilos three kilos too heavy; plus/moins de trois more/less than three; elle est la plus âgée/jeune de deux ans she's the oldest/youngest by two years;

16 (détermination par la nature, fonction, matière) un billet de train a train ticket; une statue de cristal a crystal statue; un livre de géographie a geography book; un professeur de botanique a botany teacher; un chapeau de cow-boy a cowboy hat; une salle de réunion a meeting room; une robe de coton rouge a red cotton dress; une bulle d'air/de savon an air/a soap bubble; un joueur de tennis a tennis player; un produit de qualité a quality product; un travail de qualité quality work; un spécialiste de l'électronique an electronics expert, an expert in electronics; un homme de bon sens a man of common sense; la théorie de la relativité the theory of relativity; ⇒ bois, laine;

17 ( apposition) of; le mois de juillet the month of July; la ville de Singapour the city of Singapore; le titre de duc the title of duke; le nom de Flore the name Flore; le terme de quark the term quark;

18 ( avec attribut du nom ou du pronom) trois personnes de tuées three people killed; une jambe de cassée a broken leg; un seul ticket de valable only one valid ticket; deux heures de libres two hours free; 200 euros de plus 200 euros more; l'ourlet a deux centimètres de trop the hem is two centimetres^GB too long; ton imbécile de frère your stupid brother; quelque chose/rien de nouveau something/nothing new; je n'ai jamais rien vu de semblable I've never seen anything like it; c'est quelqu'un de célèbre he's/she's famous; c'est ça de fait○ that's that out of the way, that's that taken care of;

19 ( avec un infinitif) de la voir ainsi me peinait seeing her like that upset me; ça me peinait de la voir ainsi it upset me to see her like that; et eux/toute la salle de rire and they/the whole audience laughed; être content de faire to be happy to do;

20 ( après un déverbal) le filtrage de l'eau pose de gros problèmes filtering water poses big problems; le remplacement de la chaudière a coûté très cher replacing the boiler was very expensive;

21 ( après un superlatif) gén of; ( avec un lieu ou ensemble assimilé) in; le plus jeune des trois frères the youngest of the three brothers; le roi des rois the king of kings; le plus grand restaurant de la ville the biggest restaurant in the town; le plus vieux de la classe/famille the oldest in the class/family;

22 ○(en corrélation avec le pronom un, une) pour une gaffe, c'en est une, de gaffe! as blunders go, that was a real one!; est-ce que j'en ai une, moi, de voiture? and me, have I got a car?;

23 ( dans une comparaison chiffrée) than; plus/moins de 10 more/less than 10.

[də] (devant voyelle ou 'h' muet d' [d], contraction de 'de' avec 'le' du [dy], contraction de 'de' avec 'les' des [de]) préposition

A.[INDIQUANT L'ORIGINE, LE POINT DE DÉPART]

1. [indiquant la provenance] from

il n'est pas d'ici he's not from (around) here

il a sorti un lapin de son chapeau he produced ou pulled a rabbit out of his hat

2. [à partir de]

de quelques fleurs des champs, elle a fait un bouquet she made a posy out of ou from a few wild flowers

faire un drame de rien to make a fuss over nothing

3. [indiquant l'auteur] by

4. [particule]

Madame de Sévigné Madame de Sévigné

épouser un/une de quelque chose (familier) to marry a man/woman with an aristocratic sounding name

B.[DANS LE TEMPS]

1. [à partir de] from

de ce jour from that day

2. [indiquant le moment]

de jour during the ou by day

travailler de nuit to work nights

il n'a pas travaillé de l'année he hasn't worked all year

je ne le vois pas de la semaine I don't see him at all during the week

le train de 9 h 30 the 9.30 train

[depuis]

de longtemps, on n'avait vu cela such a thing hadn't been seen for a long time

C.[INDIQUANT LA CAUSE]

rougir de plaisir to blush with pleasure

mourir de peur/de faim to die of fright/of hunger

pleurer de joie to cry for joy

souffrir de rhumatismes to suffer from rheumatism

se tordre de douleur/de rire to be doubled up in pain/with laughter

D.[INDIQUANT LE MOYEN, L'INSTRUMENT]

faire signe de la main to wave

il voit mal de l'œil gauche he can't see properly with his left eye

E.[INDIQUANT LA MANIÈRE]

manger de bon appétit to eat heartily

de toutes ses forces with all one's strength

F.[AVEC DES NOMBRES, DES MESURES]

1. [emploi distributif]

50 euros de l'heure 50 euros per ou an hour

2. [introduisant une mesure]

un appartement de 60 m² a 60 m² flat

un homme d'1 m 80 a man who is 1 m 80 tall

une femme de 30 ans a 30-year-old woman

un moteur de 15 chevaux a 15 h.p. engine

un cadeau de 50 euros a gift worth 50 euros

une équipe de 15 personnes a team of 15

3. [indiquant une différence dans le temps, l'espace, la quantité]

distant de cinq kilomètres five kilometres away

ma montre retarde de 10 mn my watch is 10 minutes slow

ce colis est trop lourd de 100 grammes this parcel is 100 grammes too heavy

G.[INDIQUANT L'APPARTENANCE]

la maison de mes parents/Marie my parents'/Marie's house

la porte du salon the living room door

les pays de l'UE the countries in the EU, the EU countries

pour les membres du club for members of the club ou club members

les élèves de sa classe the pupils in his class

H.[MARQUANT LA DÉTERMINATION]

1. [indiquant la matière, la qualité, le genre etc.]

un buffet de chêne an oak dresser

un bonhomme de neige a snowman

une réaction d'horreur a horrified reaction

une pause de publicité a commercial break

un livre d'un grand intérêt a book of great interest

elle est d'un snob! she is so snobbish!, she's such a snob!

2. [indiquant le contenu, le contenant]

l'eau de la citerne the water in the tank

un pot de fleurs

a. [récipient] a flowerpot

b. [fleurs] a pot of flowers

3. [dans un ensemble]

le plus jeune de la classe the youngest pupil in the class

le plus jeune des deux the younger of the two

4. [avec une valeur emphatique]

l'as des as the champ

le fin du fin the very latest thing

I.[SERVANT DE LIEN SYNTAXIQUE]

1. [après un verbe]

parler de quelque chose to speak about ou of something

se séparer de quelqu'un to leave somebody

se libérer du passé to free oneself from the past

instruire quelqu'un de ses intentions to notify somebody of one's plans

ce champ est entouré d'une palissade this field is surrounded by a fence

2. [après un substantif]

l'amour de quelque chose the love of something

troubles de l'audition hearing problems

3. [après un adjectif]

sûr de soi sure of oneself

il est facile de critiquer it's easy to criticize

4. [après un pronom]

rien de nouveau nothing new

quoi de plus beau que la mer? what is more beautiful than the sea?

5. [devant un adjectif, participe ou adverbe]

c'est une heure de perdue that's an hour lost

restez une semaine de plus stay (for) one more ou an extra week

6. [introduisant un nom en apposition]

le mois de janvier the month of January

au mois de janvier in January

cet imbécile de Pierre that idiot Pierre

7. [indiquant le sujet d'un ouvrage]

‘De l'art d'être mère’ ‘The Art of Being a Mother’

8. (littéraire) [introduisant un infinitif]

et tous de rire they all burst into laughter

————————

[də] (devant voyelle ou 'h' muet d' [d], contraction de 'de' avec 'le' du [dy], contraction de 'de' avec 'les' des [de]) article partitif

1. [dans une affirmation]

j'ai acheté de la viande I bought (some) meat

c'est de la provocation/de l'entêtement! it's sheer provocation/pig-headedness!

j'ai bu de ce vin I drank some of that wine

manger de la viande to eat meat

chanter du Fauré to sing some Fauré ou a piece by Fauré

[dans une interrogation]

prends-tu du sucre dans ton café? do you take sugar in your coffee?

[dans une négation]

il n'y a pas de place there's no room, there isn't any room

2. [exprimant une comparaison]

il y a du prophète chez lui he's a bit like a prophet

ça c'est du Julien tout craché ou du pur Julien that's Julien all over, that's typical of Julien

————————

[də] (devant voyelle ou 'h' muet d' [d], contraction de 'de' avec 'le' du [dy], contraction de 'de' avec 'les' des [de]) article défini

[dans une affirmation]

il a de bonnes idées he has ou he's got (some) good ideas

[dans une négation]

nous ne faisons pas de projets pour cet été we are not making any plans for this summer

————————

de... à locution correlative

1. [dans l'espace] from... to

2. [dans le temps] from... to

d'un instant à l'autre

a. [progressivement] from one minute to the next

b. [bientôt] any minute ou time now

d'ici à demain by tomorrow

3. [dans une énumération] from... to

4. [dans une évaluation]

ça vaut de 100 à 150 euros it's worth between 100 and 150 euros

————————

de... en locution correlative

1. [dans l'espace] from... to

2. [dans le temps]

de jour en jour from day to day

l'espoir s'amenuisait d'heure en heure hope dwindled as the hours went by

le nombre d'étudiants augmente d'année en année the number of students is getting bigger by the year ou every year ou from one year to the next

3. [dans une évolution]

de déduction en déduction, il avait trouvé le coupable he'd deduced who the culprit was

aller de déception en déception to go from one disappointment to the next

un musée où vous irez de surprise en surprise a museum where many surprises await you

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais > de

18 acronyms (new and funny)

•• Широкое употребление сокращений – неотъемлемая черта любого живого современного языка. Многих это раздражает, но сокращения – реальность, с которой обязательно должен считаться переводчик. И в русском, и в английском языке, особенно в течение ХХ столетия, «накопились» тысячи, а возможно десятки тысяч сокращений. Но не случайно я поставил это слово в кавычки, ибо сокращения не столько накапливаются, сколько появляются и либо «прячутся», либо исчезают. Иными словами, у них часто весьма узкая сфера распространения и недолгий век. Но какие-то из них – довольно многие – закрепляются в языке практически на всем его «пространстве». Так, почти любому американцу известны такие сокращения, как UN – именно так, а не UNO (United Nations), DC (District of Columbia), NFL (National Football League), PTA (Parent Teacher Association), CD (в зависимости от контекста compact disc или certificate of deposit – срочный сберегательный вклад), MBA (Master of Business Administration), CNN (Cable News Network). В двух последних случаях сокращение живет, можно сказать, своей собственной жизнью, так как многие не знают или забыли его расшифровку. У нас в стране все или почти все знают, что такое ООН, ИТАР-ТАСС (тоже, пожалуй, в отрыве от расшифровки), ЧП, НТВ, ВВС (Военно-воздушные силы), фактически превратившиеся в слова вуз и кпд (коэффициент полезного действия) и многие другие сокращения.

•• Для переводчика английского языка проблематика сокращений особенно актуальна, так как в последние два десятилетия американцы стали употреблять их значительно чаще, чем раньше. Наверное, они очень спешат, и даже электроника, вроде бы экономящая уйму времени, кажется, лишь подстегивает их бег.
•• Начнем поэтому с сокращений, многие из которых получили распространение в переписке по электронной почте (ежедневно по электронной почте отправляется 9,8 миллиарда сообщений, из них, согласно оценкам, около половины – в Америке), но постепенно проникают и в другие сферы:
•• ASAP (произносится по буквам) – as soon as possible;
•• BTW – by the way;
•• FCOL – for crying out loud! Это забавное выражение, приблизительный русский эквивалент которого – Ну неужели не ясно? – популярно особенно среди молодежи, но мне приходилось слышать его и от людей достаточно солидных, например, бывшего госсекретаря США Джеймса Бейкера;
•• FYI – for your information;
•• IMO – in my opinion (вариант, популярный в молодежной среде – IMHO – in my humble opinion);
•• IOW – in other words;
•• OTOH – on the other hand;
•• TTYL – talk to you later;
•• WYSIWYG – what you see is what you get. Это выражение, которое впервые встретилось мне в 1972 году во время показа по телевидению знаменитой хоккейной серии СССР-Канада (плакат с этим лозунгом развернули на трибунах канадские болельщики), каждый понимает, наверное, немного по-своему. В данном случае оно значило что-то вроде Мы играем в открытую, а может быть Мы вам покажем. Иногда возможен и почти буквальный перевод: Что видишь, то имеешь. He’s not changed. I’ll argue that till death. What you see is what you get (губернатор штата Коннектикут Дж. Роуланд о президенте Дж.Буше, цитирую по «Нью-Йорк таймс») –...Он весь на виду. В последнее время сокращение WYSIWYG используется также для обозначения программ, позволяющих создавать страницы (сайты) в Интернете, не прибегая к кодированию. Кстати, это выражение не следует путать с as is – так говорят о товарах (часто с явными или скрытыми дефектами), которые продаются с большой скидкой, но без права покупателя предъявлять претензии ( complaints – см. статью претензия в русско-английской части словаря).
•• Интересный класс сокращений – имена президентов США. Мне известно по крайней мере три таких сокращения:
•• FDR – Franklin Delano Roosevelt и, соответственно, FDR Drive – шоссе имени Рузвельта (в Нью-Йорке);
•• JFK – John Fitzgerald Kennedy и JFK Airport (в Нью-Йорке);
•• LBJ – Lyndon Baines Johnson.
•• При президенте Клинтоне некоторое распространение получили сокращения POTUS, VPOTUS и FLOTUS, соответственно President/Vice President/First Lady of the United States.
•• Нынешнего президента Джорджа Буша (у нас принято называть его «младшим») в США именуют George W. Bush (его отец – просто George Bush, хотя официальное его имя – George H. W. Bush – George Herbert Walker Bush). В журналистике встречается упоминание его имени как W или фамильярное Dubya, например, в заголовке статьи в журнале Men’s Health: Dubya’s Sobering Up Strategy: Will It Work for You? – Подходит ли вам стратегия протрезвления «младшего»?
•• Эпоха компьютеров и Интернета породила огромное количество сокращений, большинство из которых знакомы лишь «продвинутой» публике, однако некоторые надо знать:
•• FAQ – frequently asked questions (специальная страница на многих сайтах, содержащая ответы на часто задаваемые вопросы);
•• HTML – hypertext markup language (система кодирования для создания страниц в Интернете);
•• ICQ – I seek you (специальный адрес для группового общения в Интернете);
•• URL – uniform resource locator (унифицированная форма обозначения адресов).
•• Сокращение ICQ особенно интересно, так как здесь мы имеем дело с так называемым meta-acronym – сокращением по фонетическому подобию. Раньше было известно, пожалуй, лишь одно такое сокращение: IOU ( I owe you) – долговая расписка, вексель. (Интересно, что похожее MOU – вполне обычное сокращение, которое расшифровывается memorandum of understanding – меморандум о договоренности/взаимопонимании.) В переписке по электронной почте встречается сокращение OIC – Oh I see.
•• В виде одного из компонентов «фонетических псевдосокращений» может выступать цифра 2:
•• B2B – business to business (деловые отношения «бизнес-бизнес»);
•• B2C – business to consumer/customer («бизнес-клиент»).
•• Сокращения с использованием цифр приобретают все большее распространение. Некоторые из них, строго говоря, сокращениями не являются, но условно их можно отнести к этой категории, например 20/20 (произносится twenty-twenty) – то же самое, что у нас окулисты называют единицей, т.е. идеальное зрение. Когда о человеке говорят He has the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, то имеют в виду, что он крепок задним умом.
•• Похожее цифровое сокращение – 24/7 (произносится twenty-four seven). Смысл его ясен из рекламного лозунга телефонной компании: Sprint will be there for you 24/7 – «Спринт» всегда с вами – семь дней в неделю, двадцать четыре часа в сутки.
•• Любому образованному американцу известно, что такое 101: например, History 101 – это начальный курс истории, читаемый первокурсникам (freshmen; второкурсники – sophomores; третьекурсники – juniors; четверокурсники – seniors) в американских университетах. В переносном смысле – азы.
•• Некоммерческие организации, пожертвования в которые позволяют налогоплательщику уменьшить подлежащую обложению сумму своего дохода, называются в США 501 (c) 3 organizations – по нумерации соответствующей статьи законодательства (в устном переводе можно сказать просто благотворительная организация).
•• Также от нумерации идет и сокращение 401 (k) – так называются индивидуальные сберегательные пенсионные счета с отложенной уплатой налога, открываемые работодателями для своих работников. Аналогичные счета, открываемые частными лицами, называются IRA – Individual Retirement Account (в совершенно ином контексте те же буквы обозначают Irish Republican Army – террористическую организацию Ирландская республиканская армия).
•• К условной категории «цифровых сокращений» относится 1-800 number (произносится one eight hundred) – так называются специальные телефонные номера, по которым можно звонить бесплатно (они покупаются компаниями или организациями, заинтересованными в максимальном количестве обращений).
•• Другое «телефонное сокращение» – 911 (произносится nine one one) – номер службы спасения (в США это, как правило, структурное подразделение полиции).
•• Трагический день 11 сентября 2001 года в устной и письменной речи часто обозначается как 9/11 или 9-11 (произносится nine eleven).
•• Номер 411 (произносится four one one) набирается в большинстве штатов при звонке в справочное бюро. В разговорной речи это словосочетание употребляется в смысле информация, сведения: Here’s the 411 on the fishing trip.
•• Наконец, пресловутая компьютерная «проблема-2000», о которой так много говорили, а сейчас потихоньку забывают, обозначалась сокращением Y2K (буква Y в данном случае означает the year, а К – тысячу).
•• Вошли в язык фактически на правах лексических единиц, понятных большинству, принятые Американской киноассоциацией категории кинофильмов, обозначающие их приемлемость для показа зрителям разных возрастов:
•• G – General Audience. All ages admitted;
•• PG – Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for younger children;
•• PG-13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13;
•• R – Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian;
•• NC-17 – No one 17 and under admitted.
•• Эта добровольная, принятая в 1968 году классификация не включает фильмов, которые характеризуются как X-rated (синоним – porn). Кто-то хорошо сказал: «Я не знаю определения порнографии, но всегда узнаю́ ее, когда вижу». Производители подобной продукции не представляют ее на рассмотрение классификационной комиссии Американской киноассоциации и ее не показывают в обычных кинотеатрах. Интересно, что буква X не обязательно обозначает нечто неприличное. Так, Generation X (существует также вариант gen-x и gen-xers) – поколение Икс – это обозначение нового, «непонятного» поколения, вышедшего на арену в 1990-е годы (своего рода «племя младое, незнакомое»). The X-files - название известного кинофильма, переведенное у нас как «Секретные материалы». Здесь просматривается смысловой компонент «запретности», «ограниченного доступа», а в слове X-rays – рентгеновские лучи – скорее «новизны», недостаточной изученности.
•• Значительно проще классификация кинофильмов, принятая в Соединенном Королевстве:
•• U (в соседней Ирландии – Gen) – General release;
•• 12 – Restricted to over-12s (в Ирландии 12PG – Under 12s admitted if accompanied by a parent or guardian);
•• 15 – Restricted to over-15s (в Ирландии 15PG – Under 15s admitted if accompanied by a parent or guardian);
•• 18 – Restricted to over-18s.
•• В переводе категории киноклассификации следует давать латиницей с пояснением на русском языке (например, фильм категории PG-13 – «некоторые фрагменты нежелательно смотреть детям до 13 лет»).
•• Несколько слов о так называемых emoticons – emotional icons. Они были придуманы на заре электронной почты, в 1979 году, Кевином Маккензи (Kevin MacKenzie) для обозначения на письме эмоций, выражения лица и т.п. Наиболее известные из них – :) и :( обозначают, соответственно, улыбку и недовольство. Список этих значков желающие могут найти, например, на сайте www.pb.org/emoticon.html. Иногда их заменяют буквенными сокращениями:
•• <J> – joking;
•• <L> – laughing;
•• <S> – smiling;
•• <Y> – yawning.
•• И последнее. Сейчас в нашей печати и устной речи английские сокращения нередко даются латиницей без расшифровки и перевода, например NTSC, PAL – системы цветного телевидения, GSM – система мобильной телефонной связи, B-1, G-4 – виды американских въездных виз, www. – начальные буквы адресов в Интернете и многие другие. Это, однако, не освобождает переводчика от необходимости внимательно следить за возникающими сокращениями. Скорее наоборот. Ведь если вы «не в курсе», то рискуете не только не понять, но даже не услышать сокращение, которое будет восприниматься как своего рода фонетический шум.
•• * Акронимы, порождаемые во все большем количестве самим темпом нынешней жизни, являются законным предметом лексикографической дискуссии. Например, должны ли отражаться в словарях сокращения, содержащие фонетически читаемые числительные? Есть мнение, что сокращение gr8 ( great) – это просто «выпендреж». Вот что пишет одна из моих корреспонденток: «Есть большая разница между B2B (business-to-business) и gr8. В первом случае создан новый термин, в духе интернетовской лапидарности, а gr8 никакого оправдания, по-моему, не имеет. Просто сор. Упаси Бог от расширения применения таких окказиональных акронимов и их утверждения в языке: в истории письменности была уже революция, связанная с использованием пиктограмм как символов алфавита. Зачем нужна новая (фактически обратная) – непонятно». Уточнение другого корреспондента: «Такой “сор”, как gr8, возник благодаря “услуге обмена короткими сообщениями” (SMS) между мобильными телефонами».
•• И довольно информативное возражение (благодарю автора, выступающего на сайте www.lingvoda.ru под псевдонимом vtora, за это сообщение и многие другие интересные комментарии и замечания): «Подростки с сотовыми телефонами, так называемое Thumb-Generation, т. е. поколение с гиперразвитыми от постоянного клацанья по сотовому большими пальцами, через десять-пятнадцать лет станут CEOs, журналистами, преподавателями, лексикографами и т.д. Часть из них не откажется от SMS-языка, поэтому я не советую игнорировать это явление. Вот сочинение на тему «Как я провел лето» с переводом на BBC English:
•• My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3:-\@ kds FTF. ILNY, its gr8.
•• Bt my Ps wr so:-/BC o 9/11 tht they dcdd 2 stay in SCO & spnd 2wks up N.
•• Up N, WUCIWUG – 0. I ws vvv brd in MON. 0 bt baas & ^^^^.
•• AAR8, my Ps wr:-) – they sd ICBW, & tht they wr ha-p 4 the pc&qt...IDTS!! I wntd 2 go hm ASAP, 2C my M8s again.
•• 2day, I cam bk 2 skool. I feel v O:-) BC I hv dn all my hm wrk. Now its BAU
•• Here’s the translation:
•• My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York, it’s a great place.
•• But my parents were so worried because of the terrorism attack on September 11 that they decided we would stay in Scotland and spend two weeks up north.
•• Up north, what you see is what you get – nothing. I was extremely bored in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but sheep and mountains.
•• At any rate, my parents were happy. They said that it could be worse, and that they were happy with the peace and quiet. I don’t think so! I wanted to go home as soon as possible, to see my friends again.
•• Today I came back to school. I feel very saintly because I have done all my homework. Now it’s business as usual.
•• Должен сказать, что мне удалось правильно расшифровать почти все, за исключением IDTS!, который я принял за Idiots!
•• По сообщению Daily Telegraph, в новом издании Collins English Dictionary есть следующие сокращения:
•• A3 means anytime, anywhere, any place; ATB, all the best; BBL, be back later; HAND, have a nice day; KISS, keep it simple, stupid; and IYKWIMAITYD, if you know what I mean and I think you do. GAL, incidentally, translates as get a life.
•• Недавно по экранам прошло два фильма с подобными акронимами – 2 Fast 2 Furious (с нехитрым «дубль-антандром» – в фильме два главных героя) и известный у нас фильм Л. Мудисона Lilya 4-Ever. Налицо тенденция, набирающая силу.
•• Конечно, SMS – не единственный источник новых сокращений. Их генераторами продолжают являться такие сферы, как политика, война, бюрократия и т.д. Многие из них входят в язык и должны отражаться в словарях.
•• Вот, например, цитата из более чем респектабельного New York Review of Books:
•• The Coalition Media Center, at the Saliyah military base in Doha, Qatar, seems designed to be as annoying and inconvenient as possible for reporters. To get there from the center of town, you have to take a half-hour ride through a baking, barren expanse of desert. At the gate, you have to submit your electronic equipment to a K-9 search, your bags to inspection, and your body to an X-ray scan.
•• K-9 search – обыск с собаками ( canine search). Сразу можно и не догадаться. (Мне сообщили, что K-9 обязан своей популяризацией одноименному фильму с Дж. Белуши и немецкой овчаркой.)
•• Интересное сообщение одного из моих корреспондентов: «Видел карикатуру в журнале New Yorker: в легковом автомобиле едет Годзилла, на заднем плане дымящиеся развалины небоскребов. Номерной знак на машине: “I 8 NY”. Еще есть нефтеперерабатывающая компания Q8. Угадайте откуда». Для недогадливых: I ate New York и Kuwait.
•• Еще одно сокращение стало актуальным в связи с иракской войной. Судя по статье в New York Times, оно пока не всем известно:
•• A few days ago I talked to a soldier just back from Iraq. He’d been in a relatively calm area; his main complaint was about food. Four months after the fall of Baghdad, his unit was still eating the dreaded M.R.E.’s: meals ready to eat. When Italian troops moved into the area, their food was “ way more realistic” - and American troops were soon trading whatever they could for some of that Italian food.
•• Забавно здесь и сказанное о еде way more realistic, т.е. гораздо больше похоже на настоящую/реальную еду. Комментарий моего активного корреспондента (псевдоним Red Threat): «Американцы в шутку расшифровывают MRE как Meals Refused by Ethiopians. Насчет того, что они dreaded, – сказки, просто американцы малость закушались. Лично доводилось умять не одну упаковку – вполне съедобно, пусть и не “обеды, как у мамы”».
•• Официальное американское название «войны с терроризмом» – global war on terrorism, и нередко в текстах это сокращение появляется без предварительной или последующей расшифровки. Так, в одной из статей в журнале Weekly Standard цитируется официальный доклад о Китае:
•• Although most Chinese observers believe the U.S. force posture post-September 11 is based on a legitimate need to prosecute the GWOT, many remain suspicious and have implied that the ‘real’ U.S. intentions behind the realignment will not be known until the GWOT is more or less over.
•• Напоминает нашу ВОВ ( Великую Отечественную войну) – сокращение, которое многих коробит. Еще из этого репертуара – GITMO ( Guantanamo) – строго говоря, не сокращение, а условный акроним, как, скажем, LAX ( аэропорт Лос-Анджелес). Наконец, часто встречается AQ ( Al Qaeda).
•• А вот еще одно сокращение, встречающееся без расшифровки и не всем известное, – FUBAR. Цитата из журнала Atlantic:
•• I never failed to be impressed by the notion that old-fashioned morality – inflexible and unforgiving – is sufficient unto any FUBAR situation human beings can dream up.
•• Расшифровку найти было нетрудно: f( ucked) u(p) b( eyond) a(ll) r( ecognition), равно как и определение: utterly botched or confused (оба – из American Heritage Dictionary). Словари дают и другие расшифровки (часто с пометой polite): fouled up beyond all reason/ recognition/ recovery/ reality. Происхождение сокращения (как и аналогичного SNAFU – situation normal all fouled up) – военное: ( WWII military slang) Fucked up beyond all recognition ( or repair). В переводе приведенного примера, как мне кажется, нет особой необходимости искать что-нибудь аналогичное, с военным оттенком. Вариант:
•• Мне всегда казалась удивительной идея, что старомодной нравственности – никому не уступающей и ничего не прощающей – вполне достаточно, чтобы найти выход из любой, даже самой идиотской/дикой ситуации, в которой может оказаться человек.
•• Свежий пример акронима, порожденного политической борьбой, – RINO. Расшифровка и определение – в статье из журнала Time:
•• Republican Senator Arlen Specter, who has angered conservatives by opposing big tax cuts and being pro-choice, now has the “ RINO hunters” on his trail. RINO stands for “ Republicans in Name Only” - meaning moderate Republicans, who are the target of a zealous but increasingly potent group of conservatives called the Club for Growth. <...> “If we’re going to be a major political force,” says club president Stephen Moore, “we have to defeat one of the incumbent RINOs.”
•• То есть республиканцы только на словах.
•• Помимо отмеченных в «Моем несистематическом словаре» POTUS и FLOTUS встречается (без расшифровки) также SOTU – the State of the Union ( address). Пример из журнала Atlantic:
•• Within the confines of a SOTU address, something for everyone is the traditional way to go. <...> Each of the President’s SOTU addresses has included a surprise element.
•• Первое предложение так и хочется перевести:
•• В посланиях президента « О положении страны» традиционным является принцип «всем сестрам – по серьгам».
•• Следует добавить в словари и сравнительно новую расшифровку PC – political correctness ( politically correct), часто встречающуюся в публицистике:
•• From the mouth of a liberal politician, this list of religious symbols might be criticized as PC-style multiculturalism. (Atlantic) - Прозвучи этот перечень религиозных символов из уст политика-либерала, его стали бы ругать за проповедь культурного многообразия в духе политкорректности.
•• Еще одно дополнение к «Несистематическому»: читая книгу Сузанны Мур In the Cut, я обнаружил, что упущен 900 number. Вот цитата, из которой ясно значение:
•• Before his death Gacy’s voice could be heard on a 900-number by anyone interested enough to pay three dollars a minute to hear Gacy explain that he didn’t kill those boys. (Чаще пишут без дефиса.)
•• Эти номера называют pay-per-call numbers (номера, звонок на который оплачивается). Не знаю, есть ли краткий русский эквивалент. Полезная информация о нюансах этой системы на сайте Федеральной комиссии по связи: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/900Fact.html.

English-Russian nonsystematic dictionary > acronyms (new and funny)

19 hand

{hænd}
I. 1. n анат. ръка (от китката надолу), предна лапа (на животно), прен. ръка, пръст, власт, отговорност
the-of God пръст божи
to have a HAND in something имам пръст в нещо
open HAND щедра/широка ръка
with open HAND с широка ръка, щедро
heavy/iron HAND желязна ръка, тирания, деспотизъм
HANDs off не пипай
HANDs off...! долу ръцете от...! HANDs up! горе ръцете! предай се! here's my HAND on it ето ръката ми, съгласен съм
to give one's HAND (up) on it обещавам тържествено, вричам се
with a sparing HAND икономично, пестеливо
to be ip someone's HANDs в ръцете/властта съм на иякого
to bite the HAND that feeds you показвам черна неблагодарност
l can't lay/put my HAND on it не мога да то намеря/открия
to get something off one's HANDs отървавам се от нещо, махам го от главата си
to take something off someone's HANDs освобождавам/отървавам някого от грижата за нещо
to take something out of someone's HAND снемам отговорността за нещо от някого
she's off my HANDs нямам повече грижа за нея
to lend/give/bear someone a (helping) HAND помагам някому
to give one's HAND to давам ръката си на, съгласявам се да се оженя за
to go on o/s HANDs and knees лазя на четири краха (при търсене на нещо), прен. моля коленопреклонно
to have one's HANDs full имам много работа/грижи
to have someone in the hollow of one's HAND държа някого в ръцете си, имам пълна власт над някого
to lift (up) /rafae one's HAND against someone вдигам ръка срещу някого
2. в обстоятелствени изрази
at HAND наблизо, под ръка, на разположение
winter is at HAND зимата наближава
at someone's HAND (s) от (страна на)
I did not expect such treatment at your HANDs не очаквах такова отношение от ваша страна/от вас
by HAND ръчно, с ръка
to bring up/feed by HAND отглеждам с биберон, храня изкуствено, на ръка, по човек/куриер
from HAND to HAND от ръка на ръка, от човек на човек, от един собственик на друг
to live from HAND to mouth живея ден за ден, каквото изчукам изпукам
... in HAND с... в ръка
hat in HAND с шапка в ръка, наличен, разглеждан (за въпрос)
to take something /someone in HAND заемам се с нещо/някого
to have in HAND имам (на разположение)
to be in HAND започнат съм (за работа)
3. сръчност, умение, ръка, майсторство
to give/put the last HAND to something довършвам/доизкусурявам/слагам последните щрихи на нещо
to get one's HAND in свиквам (с работа и пр.)
to keep one's HAND in упражнявам се, поддържам си формата
to have one's HAND in във форма съм
his HAND is out отвикнал е, не е във форма, позабравил е
4. майстор, автор
to be a good/great/dab HAND at голям майстор съм в/на, бива ме в
to be a new HAND at новак съм в
an old HAND опитен човек, специалист, рецидивист
two portraits by the same HAND два портрета от същия автор
5. работник, работна ръка, моряк
ship's HANDs екипаж на кораб
HANDs wanted търсят се работници
6. източник
at first/second HAND от първа/втора ръка (за сведения и пр.)
7. почерк
to write (in) a small HAND пиша ситно/дребно
in one's own HAND със собствената си ръка/почерк, собственоръчно
8. подпис
to set one's HAND to слагам подписа си на
under your HAND and seal с вашия подпис и лечат
9. страна
on the right/left HAND отдясно/отляво, от дясната/лявата страна
on all HANDs, on every HAND от всички страни
fact admitted on all HANDs всепризнат факт
on the one HAND..., on the other HAND... от една страна..., (а) от друга...
on either HAND от двете страни
10. карти ръка, карти (които получава всеки играч)
to hold one's HAND пасувам, въздържам се
to call/decare/show one's HAND откривам/разкривам картите си (и прен.)
to force someone's HAND принуждавам някого да си разкрие картите (и прен.), принуждавам някого да действува прибързано/против убежденията си
to play a good HAND играя добре
to play for one's own HAND
11. карти играч
the elder/eldest HAND играч, който започва първи
12. карти игра, партия
let's have a HAND at bridge да изиграем една партия бридж
13. мярка за измерване височината на кон (около 10 см)
14. стрелка (на часовник), крило (на семафор), стрелка (на пътен знак)
15. театр. разг. аплодисменти, овации
to get a good/big HAND имам голям успех, посрещат ме с бурни аплодисменти
to give someone a good/big HAND посрещам някого с бурни ръкопляскания, аплодирам някого бурно
16. аttr ръчен, портативен
направляван с ръка HAND of bananas кичур банани
HAND of tobacco шепа тютюневи листа
II. 1. (пре) давам, връчвам (to)
2. подавам, поднасям
3. мор. свивам, прибирам (платно)

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{hand} n l. анат. ръка (от китката надолу); предна лапа (на живо(2) {'hand} v 1. (пре)давам, връчвам (to); 2. подавам; поднасям;

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страна; стрелка; ръчен; ръка; почерк; портативен; връчвам;

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1.... in hand с... в ръка 2. 1 аttr ръчен, портативен 3. 1 карти игра, партия 4. 1 карти играч 5. 1 мярка за измерване височината на кон (около 10 см) 6. 1 стрелка (на часовник), крило (на семафор), стрелка (на пътен знак) 7. 1 театр. разг. аплодисменти, овации 8. an old hand опитен човек, специалист, рецидивист 9. at first/second hand от първа/втора ръка (за сведения и пр.) 10. at hand наблизо, под ръка, на разположение 11. at someone's hand (s) от (страна на) 12. by hand ръчно, с ръка 13. fact admitted on all hands всепризнат факт 14. from hand to hand от ръка на ръка, от човек на човек, от един собственик на друг 15. hand of tobacco шепа тютюневи листа 16. hands off... ! долу ръцете от... ! hands up! горе ръцете! предай се! here's my hand on it ето ръката ми, съгласен съм 17. hands off не пипай 18. hands wanted търсят се работници 19. hat in hand с шапка в ръка, наличен, разглеждан (за въпрос) 20. heavy/iron hand желязна ръка, тирания, деспотизъм 21. his hand is out отвикнал е, не е във форма, позабравил е 22. i did not expect such treatment at your hands не очаквах такова отношение от ваша страна/от вас 23. i. n анат. ръка (от китката надолу), предна лапа (на животно), прен. ръка, пръст, власт, отговорност 24. ii. (пре) давам, връчвам (to) 25. in one's own hand със собствената си ръка/почерк, собственоръчно 26. l can't lay/put my hand on it не мога да то намеря/открия 27. let's have a hand at bridge да изиграем една партия бридж 28. on all hands, on every hand от всички страни 29. on either hand от двете страни 30. on the one hand..., on the other hand... от една страна..., (а) от друга.. 31. on the right/left hand отдясно/отляво, от дясната/лявата страна 32. open hand щедра/широка ръка 33. she's off my hands нямам повече грижа за нея 34. ship's hands екипаж на кораб 35. the elder/eldest hand играч, който започва първи 36. the-of god пръст божи 37. to be a good/great/dab hand at голям майстор съм в/на, бива ме в 38. to be a new hand at новак съм в 39. to be in hand започнат съм (за работа) 40. to be ip someone's hands в ръцете/властта съм на иякого 41. to bite the hand that feeds you показвам черна неблагодарност 42. to bring up/feed by hand отглеждам с биберон, храня изкуствено, на ръка, по човек/куриер 43. to call/decare/show one's hand откривам/разкривам картите си (и прен.) 44. to force someone's hand принуждавам някого да си разкрие картите (и прен.), принуждавам някого да действува прибързано/против убежденията си 45. to get a good/big hand имам голям успех, посрещат ме с бурни аплодисменти 46. to get one's hand in свиквам (с работа и пр.) 47. to get something off one's hands отървавам се от нещо, махам го от главата си 48. to give one's hand (up) on it обещавам тържествено, вричам се 49. to give one's hand to давам ръката си на, съгласявам се да се оженя за 50. to give someone a good/big hand посрещам някого с бурни ръкопляскания, аплодирам някого бурно 51. to give/put the last hand to something довършвам/доизкусурявам/слагам последните щрихи на нещо 52. to go on o/s hands and knees лазя на четири краха (при търсене на нещо), прен. моля коленопреклонно 53. to have a hand in something имам пръст в нещо 54. to have in hand имам (на разположение) 55. to have one's hand in във форма съм 56. to have one's hands full имам много работа/грижи 57. to have someone in the hollow of one's hand държа някого в ръцете си, имам пълна власт над някого 58. to hold one's hand пасувам, въздържам се 59. to keep one's hand in упражнявам се, поддържам си формата 60. to lend/give/bear someone a (helping) hand помагам някому 61. to lift (up) /rafae one's hand against someone вдигам ръка срещу някого 62. to live from hand to mouth живея ден за ден, каквото изчукам изпукам 63. to play a good hand играя добре 64. to play for one's own hand 65. to set one's hand to слагам подписа си на 66. to take something /someone in hand заемам се с нещо/някого 67. to take something off someone's hands освобождавам/отървавам някого от грижата за нещо 68. to take something out of someone's hand снемам отговорността за нещо от някого 69. to write (in) a small hand пиша ситно/дребно 70. two portraits by the same hand два портрета от същия автор 71. under your hand and seal с вашия подпис и лечат 72. winter is at hand зимата наближава 73. with a sparing hand икономично, пестеливо 74. with open hand с широка ръка, щедро 75. в обстоятелствени изрази 76. източник 77. карти ръка, карти (които получава всеки играч) 78. майстор, автор 79. мор. свивам, прибирам (платно) 80. направляван с ръка hand of bananas кичур банани 81. подавам, поднасям 82. подпис 83. почерк 84. работник, работна ръка, моряк 85. сръчност, умение, ръка, майсторство 86. страна
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hand[hænd] I. n 1. ръка (от китката надолу); предна лапа на животно; прен. ръка, власт; • the \hand of God пръст Божи; an open \hand щедра (широка) ръка; a light \hand лека ръка, ловкост, сръчност; деликатност, такт; a heavy ( iron) \hand прен. желязна ръка; тирания, деспотизъм; dead \hand 1) негативно влияние, "спирачка"; 2) = mortmain; to win \hands down побеждавам (спечелвам победа) без всякакви усилия; \hands off не пипай! \hands up горе ръцете! предай се! вдигнете ръцете! (за гласуване); here's my \hand on it ето ръката ми, съгласен съм; обещавам; to give up o.'s \hand (up)on s.th. обещавам тържествено, вричам се; in the turn( ing) of a \hand мигновено, докато усетиш; a show of \hands гласуване с вдигане на ръка, открито (явно) гласоподаване; a high \hand арогантност, надменност; нахалство; произвол; деспотично държание ( отношение); to carry off with a high \hand върша ( нещо) произволно; with a sparing \hand икономично, пестеливо; with both \hands с все сила; to bite the \hand that feeds you показвам черна неблагодарност; to change \hands минавам от една ръка в друга (от един собственик в друг); to fold o.'s \hands скръствам ръце (и прен.); бездействам, нищо не правя; to gain ( have, get) the upper \hand, to have the better (ост. the higher) \hand удържам победа, вземам надмощие (връх) (над); to take s.th. off s.o.'s \hands освобождавам (отървам) някого от грижата за нещо; the children are off my \hands now вече не е необходимо да се грижа за децата; to give a helping \hand to s.o., to bear ( lend, give) s.o. a \hand помагам на някого; to give o.'s \hand to давам ръката си на, съгласявам се да се оженя за; to give s.o. the glad \hand ам. посрещам (приемам) топло (сърдечно); to give s.o. a free \hand давам картбланш някому; to go on o.'s \hands and knees лазя на четири крака; time hangs heavily on my \hands чудя се какво да правя с времето си, времето ми минава много бавно; to have a \hand like a foot насърчен съм; to have a \hand in s.th. имам пръст в нещо; to have ( keep) o.'s \hand in във форма съм; to have o.'s \hands full имам много работа (грижи); to have o.'s \hands tied вързани ми са ръцете (и прен.); to have s.o. in the hollow ( palm) of o.'s \hand държа някого в ръцете си, имам пълна власт над някого; to lay \hands on хващам, пипвам, слагам ръка на; to lay violent \hands on хващам насила; употребявам насилие спрямо; to lay violent \hands on o.s. посягам (слагам край) на живота си; to lift ( lift up, put forth, raise, stretch forth) o.'s \hand against s.o. вдигам ръка срещу някого; not to lift a \hand не си мръдвам пръста; to live by o.'s \hands изкарвам си хляба със собствените си ръце (труд); to live from \hand to mouth живея от ден за ден; каквото изчуквам, изпуквам; to put o.'s \hand to the plough залавям се за работа; to receive s.th. at the \hands of s.o. получавам нещо от (ръцете на) някого; to set ( put) o.'s \hands at a task започвам (заемам се, залавям се с) работа; to strengthen s.o.'s \hand подпомагам (оказвам помощ на) някого; to give s.o. a big \hand аплодирам шумно (ентусиазирано); to sit on o.'s \hands аплодирам вяло (без ентусиазъм); бездействам, седя със скръстени ръце; to take ( lead) s.o. by the \hand хващам (водя) някого за ръка; to take a \hand in намесвам се в, участвам в; to try o.'s \hand at опитвам се в, опитвам си силите в; to turn o.'s \hand to върша, заемам се с; he can turn his \hand to anything за всичко го бива; всякаква работа може да върши; to wash o.'s \hands (of) прен. измивам си ръцете, свалям от себе си отговорността (за); 2. в обстоят. изрази: at \hand наблизо, под ръка; winter is at \hand зимата наближава; close ( near) at \hand близко (по време или място); by \hand с ръка, на ръка; made by \hand ръчна изработка; to bring up ( feed) a child by \hand отглеждам дете с биберон, храня изкуствено; to send a letter by \hand изпращам писмо по човек (по куриер); from \hand to \hand от ръка на ръка, от човек на човек, от един собственик на друг; in \hand 1) с ... в ръка; hat in \hand с шапка в ръка; 2) наличен; cash ( stock) in \hand налични суми (стоки); the question ( matter) in \hand разглежданият въпрос; to take s.th. in \hand заемам се с нещо; to have in \hand имам на разположение, разполагам с; контролирам, държа под контрол; to have a piece of work in \hand работя върху нещо; the business is in \hand въпросът се разглежда; to keep a horse well in \hand здраво държа юздите на кон, здраво управлявам кон; to keep o.s. well in \hand владея се; the situation is well in \hand положението е овладяно; to be in \hand принуден съм да върна топката в полукръга, от който съм започнал (в билярда); off \hand вж offhand; on \hand наличен, на разположение, на склад; supplies on \hand налични запаси; work on \hand текуща работа, работа, с която се занимавам в момента; to have s.th. on o.'s \hands имам да свършвам (да се грижа за) нещо; to have an hour on o.'s \hands имам един час свободно време; out of \hand изведнъж, без подготовка, изненадващо; който не може да се контролира, изтърван; to shoot s.o. out of \hand застрелвам някого веднага, без много да се церемоня (без да ми мигне окото); to get out of \hand преставам да се подчинявам на дисциплина; разхайтвам се, разгащвам се; to \hand: to come to \hand пристига, получава се (за писмо и пр.); намира се, излиза; ready to o.'s \hand наблизо, под ръка, на разположение; \hand and glove, \hand in glove много близък, интимен ( with, together); \hand and foot: to serve ( wait on) s.o. \hand and foot угаждам на някого, изпълнявам всички прищевки на някого; \hand in \hand ръка за ръка; в съгласие; \hand over \hand ( fist) много бързо; \hand to \hand ръкопашен (за бой); 3. работник, работничка, работна ръка; моряк; майстор; \hands wanted търсят се работници; factory \hands, field \hands фабрични (земеделски) работници; a ship's \hands екипаж на кораб; all \hands on deck! целият екипаж (всички) на палубата! to be a good ( great) \hand at голям майстор съм в (на), бива ме в; to be a new \hand at новак съм в; to be an old \hand опитен човек; рецидивист; безстрашен (дързък, нахален) човек; green \hand новак, неопитен работник; 4. източник; at first ( second) \hand от първа (втора) ръка (за сведения и пр.); 5. почерк; a big ( small, round) \hand едър (дребен, закръглен) почерк; to write (in) a small \hand пиша ситно (дребно); in o.'s own \hand със собствената си ръка (почерк); собственоръчно; 6. подпис; to set o.'s \hand to слагам подписа си на; under your \hand and seal с Вашия подпис и печат; 7. страна; on the right/left \hand отдясно (ляво), от дясната (лявата) страна; on all \hands, on every \hand от всички страни; a fact admitted on all \hands всепризнат факт; on the one ( the other) \hand от една (от друга) страна; on either \hand от двете страни; 8. карти ръка (карти, които получава всеки играч); to have a wretched \hand имам лоши (ужасни) карти; to call ( declare, show) o.'s \hand откривам (разкривам) си картите (и прен.); to force s.o.'s \hand принуждавам някого да си разкрие картите (и прен.); a nap \hand хубави (отлични) карти; прен. изгодно положение; to play a good \hand играя добре; to play into one another's \hands помагаме си, поддържаме се, подкрепяме се; to overplay o.'s \hands отивам твърде далеч; to play a lone \hand действам сам; to play into s.o.'s \hand наливам вода в чужда мелница; to play o.'s \hand for all it is worth използвам напълно възможностите си, пускам в ход всички средства; to throw in o.'s \hand отказвам се, предавам се, вдигам ръце; the elder ( younger) \hand играч, който започва първи (втори) (когато играят двама); the eldest ( youngest) \hand играч, който започва първи (последен) (когато играят повече от двама); 9. игра, партия; let's have a \hand of poker да изиграем една партия покер; 10. мярка (около 10 см) за измерване височина на кон; 11. стрелка (на часовник); крило (на семафор); стрела (на пътен знак); изображение на ръка с насочен пръст; 12. театр. sl аплодисменти; овации; big \hand посрещам някого с бурни аплодисменти, аплодирам някого бурно; 13. тех. характеристика на режещ инструмент (ляв, десен); 14. тех. направление (напр. на винтова линия)м 15. ам. хенд (единица за дължина: 101,6 mm); 16. attr ръчен; портативен; който се направлява с ръка; \hand luggage ръчен багаж; \hand stoking ръчно палене; • a \hand of bananas кичур банани; a \hand of tobacco една шепа тютюневи листа; Bloody H. хералд. червена ръка (емблема на баронет); II. v 1. (пре)давам, връчвам (to); 2. подавам; 3. изпращам (с писмо и пр.); • to \hand it to s.o. признавам превъзходството на някого; for craft we must \hand it to him трябва да признаем, че по майсторлък ни надминава; to \hand a sail мор. свивам (прибирам) платно;

English-Bulgarian dictionary > hand

20 ♦ run

♦ run (1) /rʌn/
n.

1 corsa: She had a shower after her run, ha fatto una doccia dopo la corsa; to go for a run, andare a correre; I try to go for a run three times a week, cerco di andare a correre tre volte la settimana; at a run, di corsa; to break into a run, mettersi a correre; The soldiers went past at a run, i soldati sono passati di corsa; to take the dog for a run, portare il cane a correre; far fare una corsa al cane

2 ( sport: atletica) corsa; corsa a piedi: a five kilometre run, una corsa di cinque kilometri; a cross-country run, una corsa campestre; the mile run, la corsa del miglio

3 ( di mezzo di trasporto) linea ( di servizio); viaggio; rotta: The ferry was on the Calais-Dover run, il traghetto faceva servizio tra Calais e Dover; There will be more planes on the Milan-London run, ci saranno più aerei sulla rotta Milano-Londra

4 viaggio, giro (in macchina): Let's go for a run in the car, andiamo a fare un giro in macchina; Who's doing the school run tomorrow?, chi porta i bambini a scuola domani?

5 periodo; serie; ( poesia) ritmo: a run of good luck, un periodo di fortuna; una serie fortunata; unbeaten run, serie utile ( senza avere subito sconfitte); Chelsea's successful run ended on Saturday with a defeat at home, la serie ininterrotta di vittorie del Chelsea si è conclusa sabato con una sconfitta in casa; the run of the metre, il ritmo del verso

6 (teatr., cinem.) tenitura; periodo di programmazione; permanenza in cartellone: The play had a long run in the West End, la commedia è rimasta a lungo in cartellone nella West End (a Londra); The show's run has been extended by three months, la programmazione dello spettacolo è stata prolungata di tre mesi

7 (ind.) produzione; quantità prodotta

8 (polit., ecc.) corsa (fig.); tentativo di ottenere (qc.): to make a run for the Presidency, essere in corsa per la presidenza; Her withdrawal has given her opponent a clear run, il suo ritiro ha lasciato campo libero al suo avversario; to have a practice run, fare una serie di prove

9 (fin.) corsa (fig.); assalto (fig.): a run on the dollar, una corsa all'acquisto di dollari; un assalto al dollaro; a run on the bank, una corsa agli sportelli; un assalto alla banca ( da parte dei clienti)

10 ( sci) pista; ( anche) discesa, manche: first run, prima manche; DIALOGO → - Skiiing- The lower runs were a bit slushy, la neve sulle piste più basse era sciolta; ski run, pista di sci

11 ( baseball) «run» (punto ottenuto raggiungendo la «casa base») ( cricket) «run» ( punto ottenuto correndo tra due basi): ( baseball) to make a home run, fare un fuoricampo ( punto ottenuto quando il battitore manda la palla fuori dalla recinzione); ( cricket) to score a «run», mettere a segno un «run»

12 zona recintata; recinto: cattle run, zona recintata per il bestiame; chicken run, recinto per polli; sheep run, recinto per le pecore

13 lunghezza; tratto: a five-hundred-foot run of pipe, un tratto di tubatura di cinquecento piedi ( circa 150 metri); cinquecento piedi di tubatura

14 – the run, la media: He is different from the ordinary run of mankind, è un uomo che si distingue dalla media della gente

15 [u] libero accesso (o uso): The dogs have the run of the house, i cani hanno libero accesso alla casa; to give sb. the run of one's house, mettere la propria casa a disposizione di q.; The tenants have the run of the estate, gli inquilini hanno libero uso della proprietà

16 ( di una calza: spec. USA) smagliatura

17 ( di vernice) goccia (colata): Remove any runs before the paint dries, rimuovere le gocce (colate) prima che la vernice sia asciutta

18 ( a carte) sequenza di carte dello stesso seme ( di solito, più di cinque; cfr. straight, B, def. 4)

19 (comput.) elaborazione; esecuzione; ( anche) ciclo di operazioni

20 (zool.) branco ( di pesci che risalgono un fiume); risalita ( dei pesci): a run of salmon, un branco di salmoni

21 canaletto in cui scorre l'acqua; ruscelletto; abbeveratoio; vasca

22 (mus.) volata

23 (aeron.) corsa a terra; rullaggio

24 (mecc.) corsa: (autom.) the run of a piston, la corsa di un pistone

25 (aeron. mil.) missione; passaggio ( sull'obiettivo); ( anche) (= run-in, run-up) rotta d'approccio, volo d'avvicinamento al bersaglio ( di bombardiere)

26 (costr. navali, naut.) stellato di poppa

27 (geogr., USA) corso d'acqua; torrente

28 ( editoria, = print run) tiratura: a print run of 10,000, una tiratura di 10.000 esemplari

29 (edil.) pedata ( di un gradino)

30 ( raro) rampa ( di scale)

31 (autom., ciclismo, ecc.) andamento ( di una curva)

32 ( bob) pista

33 ( canottaggio) distanza coperta da una vogata; ( anche) manche

34 (equit.) trotto veloce; galoppo

35 ( golf) distanza coperta dalla palla sul terreno

36 ( vela) distanza percorsa in una bordata; tratto di rotta

37 – (pl.) (fam.) the runs, la diarrea; la sciolta (fam.)

● (fam.) run-around, atteggiamento dilatorio (o evasivo): to get the run-around, essere tenuto sulla corda, essere menato per il naso; to give sb. the run-around, menare q. per il naso; tenere sulla corda q. □ run-down ► run-down e rundown □ (comput.) run time, tempo di esecuzione ( di un programma): run time error, errore in fase di esecuzione □ ( sport) against the run of play, inaspettatamente; nonostante il predominio degli avversari: Arsenal scored against the run of play, l'Arsenal ha segnato nonostante la partita fosse in mano agli avversari □ (comput.) at run time, in fase di esecuzione; all'esecuzione □ (fam.) fun run, corsa podistica a scopo di beneficenza □ to go on the run, darsi alla fuga (o alla latitanza, alla macchia) □ (fig.) to have had a (good) run for one's money, avere avuto delle belle soddisfazioni: I've had a good run for my money, but now it's time for the younger generation to take over, ho avuto le mie belle soddisfazioni, ma è ora di lasciare il posto ai giovani □ in the long run, a lungo andare; (econ.) a lungo termine; nel lungo periodo □ in the short run, a breve scadenza; (econ.) a breve termine; nel breve periodo □ to make a run for it, tentare la fuga □ on the run, in fuga; in movimento; in corsa: The robbers are still on the run, i rapinatori sono ancora in fuga (o latitanti); They had the enemy on the run, hanno messo il nemico in fuga; I have been on the run all day, sono stato in movimento (o ho corso) tutto il giorno; He made the pass on the run, ha passato la palla in volata □ to take a run at st., fare una corsa verso qc.; She took a run at the fence and jumped straight over, è corsa verso la recinzione e l'ha superata con un salto.
run (2) /rʌn/
A p. p. di to run

B a.

(nelle seguenti loc.)

● run-of-the mill, comune; dozzinale □ ( di un inserto pubblicitario) run of paper, collocato sulla pagina ( di un giornale) a discrezione della direzione □ run on, (tipogr.) stampato di seguito; ( poesia: di un verso) la cui ultima parola si lega strettamente al verso successivo; che ha l'enjambement.
♦ (to) run /rʌn/
(pass. ran, p. p. run)

A v. i.

1 correre; fare una corsa: Walk, don't run!, cammina, non correre!; A man came running along the street, un uomo è venuto di corsa per la strada; They ran across the road, hanno attraversato la strada di corsa; Let's run down to the beach, facciamo una corsa alla spiaggia!; It was starting to rain so we ran back inside, stava cominciando a piovere, quindi siamo rientrati di corsa; The boy ran into the house, il ragazzo è corso dentro casa; They ran to my aid, sono corsi in mio aiuto; We ran to see what was happening, siamo corsi a vedere cosa stava succedendo; Sarah ran into the room, Sarah è corsa nella stanza; She ran to meet him, gli è corsa incontro; The children are running about in the park, i bambini scorrazzano nel parco; The guard dog ran at me, il cane da guardia mi è corso contro; to run downstairs [upstairs], scendere [salire] le scale di corsa; to run counter to st., andare contro qc.; to run for the bus, correre per prendere l'autobus; to run for cover (o shelter) correre al riparo; (fam.) Run and get your bag, fila a prendere la borsa; (fam.) Run to the newsstand and get me a paper, will you?, per favore, fa' un salto all'edicola e prendimi un giornale; (fam.) to run all out (o flat out) correre a tutto spiano; to run at full speed, correre a tutta velocità (fam.: a tutta birra)

2 ( sport) correre; partecipare a una corsa: I used to run when I was at school, da studente correvo nella squadra di atletica; He's running in the half marathon, corre nella mezza maratona; I run every day except Sunday, corro tutti i giorni tranne la domenica

3 ( di strada, muro: di solito to run along, through, ecc.) correre; andare ( in un certo senso): The road runs along a ridge, la strada corre lungo un crinale; A path ran through the forest, un sentiero attraversava la foresta; A high wall runs along the edge of the estate, un alto muro costeggia i confini della proprietà

4 ( di macchina, ecc.) funzionare, andare; ( di motore) essere in moto (o acceso): Does the heating run on oil or gas?, il riscaldamento va a gasolio o a gas?; Our new car runs on LPG, la nostra nuova macchina va a GPL; The engine isn't running properly, il motore non funziona bene; Don't leave the engine running, non lasciare il motore acceso; (comput.) The program will run on PC or Mac, il programma funziona sia su PC che su Mac

5 ( di veicoli) (andare a) finire: I left the handbrake off and the car ran down the slope, non ho messo il freno a mano e l'auto è finita giù per la discesa; The truck ran onto the pavement, il camion è andato a finire sul marciapiedi

6 ( di treni, di navi) viaggiare; andare: Trains to the airport run every hour, i treni per l'aeroporto partono (o passano) ogni ora; The ferry runs between the two ports, il traghetto fa la spola tra i due porti; The ship ran into port, la nave è entrata in porto; to run late [on time], viaggiare con un ritardo [in orario]; The train was running ten minutes late, il treno viaggiava con dieci minuti di ritardo; to run on rails, andare su rotaie

7 scorrere: In northern Italy most streams run into the Po River, nell'Italia settentrionale la maggior parte dei corsi d'acqua defluisce nel Po; Tears were running down her cheeks, le scorrevano lacrime sul viso; Wait till the water runs hot, aspetta che scorra l'acqua calda; Don't leave the tap running!, non lasciare aperto il rubinetto!; ( dell'acqua corrente) to run cold, venire fredda ( a forza di scorrere); They were running with sweat, erano in un bagno di sudore

8 (fig.) trascorrere; passare: Those summer days ran swiftly, quei giorni d'estate trascorrevano in fretta

9 (lett.) spirare: A gentle breeze ran through the tall trees, una lieve brezza spirava fra gli alberi alti

10 ( di pensiero, ecc.) ricorrere; ritornare: The tune was running in my head all day, quel motivo mi è frullato in testa tutto il giorno; The idea kept running through my mind, quell'idea mi ricorreva (o mi si presentava) sempre alla mente; Lara's theme had been running through my head all day long, era tutto il giorno che mi frullava nella testa il motivo di Lara

11 ( di mormorio, diceria: di solito to run down, among, ecc.) diffondersi; circolare: A murmur ran among the crowd, un mormorio si è diffuso tra la folla; Rumours ran through the village, correvano (o circolavano) delle voci per il paese

12 ( di sensazione: di solito to run down, through, ecc.) –: A thrill ran through her at the sound of his voice, un brivido di eccitazione l'ha percorsa quando ha sentito la sua voce; A shiver ran down his back, un brivido di freddo gli è corso lungo la schiena

13 decorrere; essere pagabile da ( una certa data): ( banca, ecc.) Interest runs from January 1st, gli interessi decorrono dal 1В° di gennaio

14 ( di prezzo, inflazione, ecc.) aver raggiunto; essere: Inflation is running at 4%, l'inflazione ha raggiunto il 4%; The price of oil is running between $80 and $90 a barrel, il prezzo del petrolio è attualmente compreso tra gli 80 e i 90 dollari al barile; The debt was running at an enormous figure, il debito ammontava a una cifra enorme

15 durare; (leg.) essere valido (o in vigore): The lease had ten years to run, il contratto di affitto aveva una durata di dieci anni; It's a long film: it runs for three hours, è un film lungo: dura tre ore; DIALOGO → - Considering an evening course- The lessons run till Christmas, le lezioni si tengono fino a Natale; The contract runs until 2015, il contratto è valido fino al 2015

16 (polit., ecc.) concorrere; candidarsi: He is going to run for Parliament, intende candidarsi per la Camera dei Comuni; Do you think she'll run?, pensi che si candiderà?; He ran against his old allies, si è candidato contro i suoi ex alleati

17 ( sport) arrivare ( primo, secondo, ecc.): He ran second, è arrivato secondo ( nella corsa); My horse ran last, il mio cavallo è arrivato ultimo

18 fondersi; sciogliersi: It was so hot that butter started to run, era così caldo che il burro cominciava a sciogliersi

19 ( di colore, vernice) stingere; colare: The colours ran in the wash and everything came out pink, i colori hanno stinto nel lavaggio e tutto è diventato rosa; My mascara is running, il mio mascara sta colando; The ink ran all over the page, l'inchiostro si è sparso su tutta la pagina

20 ( delle calze) sfilarsi; smagliarsi

21 gocciolare; colare: The boy's nose was running, il bambino aveva il naso che colava

22 (teatr., cinem.) essere in programmazione; tenere il cartellone: Agatha Christie's «Mousetrap» has been running for many years in London, la «Trappola per topi» di Agatha Christie tiene il cartellone da molti anni a Londra

23 ( radio, TV) essere trasmesso; andare in onda: The series runs for six weeks from next Sunday, la serie va in onda per sei settimane a partire da domenica

24 (fig.) andare; svolgersi: After a period of strikes, everything is running smoothly at the factory, dopo un periodo di scioperi, tutto sta andando bene in fabbrica

25 ( di una malattia, di una caratteristica, ecc.) essere ereditaria ( in una famiglia, ecc.): Madness runs in his family, c'è un ramo di pazzia nella sua famiglia

26 ( di scritta, testo) dire; fare: The song runs like this, la canzone fa così; The message ran: «meet me outside in half an hour», il messaggio diceva: «vediamoci fuori tra mezzora»

27 (zool.) ( di selvatici) migrare ( in cerca d'acqua, di pascoli, ecc.)

28 ( di salmoni, ecc.) risalire un fiume

B v. t.

1 dirigere; gestire ( anche comm.): to run a business, dirigere un'azienda; to run the country, governare il paese; to run a shop, gestire un negozio; His mother-in-law runs the household, è sua suocera che dirige la casa; Who is running the contest?, chi organizza la gara?; to run a drugs racket, controllare un racket di droga

2 ( sport) fare ( una corsa): to run the mile in five minutes, correre il miglio in cinque minuti; to run a race, fare una corsa ( a piedi)

3 mettere in funzione ( una macchina, ecc.): Did you run the dishwasher?, hai messo in funzione (fam.: attaccato) la lavastoviglie?

4 ( di solito to run through, along, down, ecc.) passare ( una mano, un dito, ecc.): She ran her fingers through her hair, si è passata le dita nei capelli; She ran a finger along the shelf, ha passato un dito sullo scaffale; to run one's fingers over the keyboard, far scorrere le dita sulla tastiera ( di un pianoforte); to run one's forefinger down a column of figures, controllare una colonna di cifre scorrendole con l'indice

5 far scorrere: to run water into the bath tub, far scorrere l'acqua nella vasca da bagno; to run the water until it's hot, far scorrere l'acqua finché non viene calda; Run the tap for a few minutes, fai scorrere l'acqua dal rubinetto per qualche minuto; to run (sb. ) a bath, fare scorrere l'acqua per il bagno (a q.)

6 (trasp.) fare andare, effettuare corse di ( autobus, treni, ecc.): to run a special train, mettere un treno straordinario; to run extra trains, far viaggiare treni straordinari; effettuare corse straordinarie ( di metropolitana)

7 accompagnare in macchina; dare un passaggio a: to run sb. home [into town], accompagnare q. a casa [in centro] in macchina; I'll run you to the station, ti do un passaggio fino alla stazione

8 pubblicare: to run a story [an advertisement], pubblicare una storia [un annuncio pubblicitario]; All the main newspapers ran the story, tutti i principali quotidiani hanno riportato la vicenda

9 candidare; presentare come candidato: The party is running over 100 candidates at the next elections, il partito presenta più di 100 candidati alle prossime elezioni

10 (comput.) eseguire; lanciare: to run a program, eseguire un programma

11 ( di solito to run through, under, behind, ecc.) far passare; infilare: They ran the cables through the wall, hanno fatto passare i cavi attraverso il muro; to run a thorn into one's finger, conficcarsi una spina nel dito; to run one's sword into sb., trafiggere q. con la spada

12 far correre; ( sport) iscrivere a una corsa: to run a horse, far correre un cavallo; to run a horse in the Derby, iscrivere un cavallo al Derby

13 inseguire ( selvaggina, spec. a cavallo)

14 colare; versare: to run water into a glass, versare acqua in un bicchiere

15 contrabbandare: to run arms [liquor], contrabbandare armi [liquori]

● (fig.) to come running, essere a disposizione; correre: She comes running every time he calls, corre ogni volta che la chiama □ (naut.) to run before the storm, fuggire la tempesta □ (naut.) to run before the wind, navigare col vento in poppa □ (mil.) to run a blockade, forzare un blocco □ to run a boat down to the water, calare in acqua una barca □ to run a car, mantenere un'automobile: I can't afford to run a car, non posso permettermi (di mantenere) una macchina □ to run cattle, mandare bestiame al pascolo □ to run sb. close, ( sport) incalzare q. alle spalle, tallonare q.; ( sport) piazzarsi alle spalle di q.; (fig.) non essere da meno di q. □ ( anche fig.) to run dry, esaurirsi; prosciugarsi □ to run errands (o messages), fare commissioni; fare ambasciate; fare il fattorino □ to run one's eyes over st., dare un'occhiata (o una scorsa) a qc. □ to run for it, scappare correndo a più non posso □ (fam.) to run it fine, farcela a stento; cavarsela per un pelo (o per un soffio) □ (naut.) to run foul (o afoul) ( with), entrare in collisione (con) □ to be running high –: Tensions were running high, c'era parecchia tensione □ to be running late [early, on time, behind], essere in ritardo [in anticipo, in orario, indietro]: I'm running late, so I'll see you at the restaurant, sono in ritardo, quindi ci vediamo al ristorante; The project was starting to run seriously behind, il progetto cominciava a prendere parecchio ritardo □ to run for one's life, correre per salvarsi la vita □ to run sb. 's life, dirigere la vita di q.: Don't try and run my life!, non cercare di dirigere la mia vita! □ (fin.: di un'azienda) to run at a loss, essere in passivo □ to be running low, diventare scarso: Our food supplies are running low, le nostre provviste di viveri sono diventate scarse □ to be running low on, rimanere con poco: My computer is running low on disk space, al mio computer rimane poco spazio sull'hard disk □ (fig.) to run a mile, scappare a gambe levate: She'd run a mile if he asked her to marry him, se le chiedesse di sposarla, scapperebbe a gambe levate □ ( sport: della palla, di un giocatore) to run out of bounds, uscire dal campo di gioco □ to run out of control, sfuggire di mano; ( di una persona, una situazione, ecc.) diventare ingovernabile □ ( sport: della palla) to run out of play, andare fuori campo □ to run sb. out of town, cacciare q. dalla città □ (fam.) to run sb. ragged, fare a pezzi q., stracciare q. (gli avversari, i nemici) □ to run the rapids, scendere le rapide ( in barca) □ (fam.) to run a red light, passare col rosso ( a un semaforo) □ to run rife, abbondare; ( di una malattia) essere diffusa; ( di una notizia) circolare; ( di una diceria) correre □ to run rings around sb., superare di gran lunga q. □ to run a risk, correre un rischio: He runs the risk of losing his home, corre il rischio di perdere la casa □ to run riot = to run wild ► sotto □ (naut.: del capitano) to run a ship to Boston, portare una nave a Boston □ to run short, finire, venire a mancare: Petrol is running short, sta finendo la benzina □ to run short of, rimanere a corto di: I ran short of money, sono rimasto a corto di soldi □ (fam.) to run the show, comandare; tenere le fila; ( sport) arbitrare in modo plateale □ ( sci) to run slalom gates, fare (o superare) le porte dello slalom □ to run a tab at the bar, pagare tutte le consumazioni alla fine □ (fam.) to run a temperature, avere la febbre □ to run tests [a check], fare degli esami [un controllo]: The doctors are running some tests on him, i medici gli stanno facendo degli esami □ to be up and running, funzionare bene: The new computer system is up and running, il nuovo sistema informatico funziona bene □ to run wild, ( di piante) inselvatichire, inselvatichirsi; (fig.: di persone, dell'immaginazione) scatenarsi □ ( sport) to run with the ball, ( baseball, rugby, ecc.) correre con la palla in mano; ( calcio) correre con la palla al piede □ to try to run before one can walk, mettere il carro davanti ai buoi □ His blood ran cold, gli si è gelato il sangue nelle vene □ This story will run and run, questa storia andrà avanti all'infinito □ Things must run their course, le cose devono seguire il loro corso □ (antiq.) His life has only a few hours to run, gli restano poche ore di vita.

English-Italian dictionary > ♦ run

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the two younger children

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the two younger children

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