they have left a space for the name

1. noun m. 2. (f. - vacía)

adj.

1) empty

2) vacant

* * *

1. ADJ

1) (gen) empty; [puesto, local] vacant, empty

el teatro estaba medio vacío — the theatre was half empty

nunca bebo cerveza con el estómago vacío — I never drink beer on an empty stomach

he alquilado un piso vacío porque sale más barato — I've rented an unfurnished flat because it's cheaper

Madrid queda vacío en agosto — Madrid is empty o deserted in August

de vacío: el camión volvió de vacío — the lorry came back empty

lo pedí pero tuve que marcharme de vacío — I asked for it but had to go away empty-handed

- irse con las manos vacías

2) (=superficial) [persona] shallow; [conversación] meaningless

un discurso vacío de contenido — a speech empty o devoid of any content

3) (=sin sentido) [existencia] empty, meaningless

4) (=vano) [esfuerzo] vain; [promesa] empty, hollow

5)

pan vacío — (And, CAm, Caribe) dry bread

2. SM

1) (Fís) vacuum

envasar al vacío — to vacuum-pack

envasado al vacío — vacuum-packed

2) (=hueco) (empty) space, gap

han dejado un vacío para el nombre — they have left a space for the name

tener un vacío en el estómago — to have an empty stomach

- hacer el vacío a algn

3) (=abismo)

el vacío — the void, space

saltó al vacío desde lo alto del acantilado — he jumped from the top of the cliff into space o the void

se arrojó al vacío desde un quinto piso — he threw himself out of a fifth-floor window

- caer en el vacío

4) (=falta de sentido) void

el vacío existencial — the existential void

su muerte dejó un vacío en nuestras vidas — his death left a void in our lives

una sensación de vacío — a feeling of emptiness

5) (Jur, Pol)

vacío de poder — power vacuum

vacío legislativo — gap in the legislation

vacío político — political vacuum

6) (Mec)

marchar en vacío — to tick over

7) (Anat) side, flank

* * *

I

- cía adjetivo

a) <botella/caja> empty; <calle/ciudad> empty, deserted; < casa> empty, unoccupied; <palabras/retórica> empty

con el estómago vacío — on an empty stomach

los envases vacíos — the empty bottles, the empties (colloq)

la despensa está vacía — there's no food in the house

volver de vacío — (Esp) camión to come back empty; persona to come back empty-handed

b) ( frívolo) < persona> shallow; <vida/frase> empty, meaningless

II

masculino

a) (Fís) vacuum

envasado al vacío — vacuum-packed

hacerle el vacío a alguien — to give somebody the cold shoulder

b) ( espacio vacío) space

mirar al vacío — to gaze into space

saltó al vacío — he leapt into the void o into space

caer en el vacío — to fall on deaf ears

c) (falta, hueco) gap

dejó un vacío en su vida — she left a gap o a void in his life

una sensación de vacío — a feeling of emptiness

- vacío de poder

* * *

= dummy, empty [emptier -comp., emptiest -sup.], gap, gulf, stop, vacuum, void, hollow, emptiness, vacant, loophole, vacated.

Ex. DOBIS/LIBIS, therefore, assigns them the dummy master number zero.

Ex. When DOBIS/Leuven is ready and waiting for input, the line is empty.

Ex. New editions will be essentially cumulations and therefore a longer gap will exist between editions.

Ex. It must be remembered that there is a gulf between publishing the schedules in an updated form, and applying the schedules.

Ex. Of course some terms may be difficult to categorise as stop or non-stop.

Ex. Whilst valves work by passing electric currents through a vacuum between electrodes, transistors are built from materials called semiconductors.

Ex. If archival materials are entered into an OPAC the vague nature of collection titles and the general subject headings may result in records being lost in a void.

Ex. It can certainly be status-conferring to let it be known in social conversation that one has read the latest Fay Weldon book, but if the group one is in never reads Fay Weldon anyway and could not care less what she has written then the victory is a somewhat hollow one.

Ex. The economic recession and the new technology are, between them, leaving a section of society with a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness = La recesión económica y las nuevas tecnologías, entre otros, están dejando a un sector de la sociedad con un sentimiento de desesperación y vacío.

Ex. Again we find that only the first entry leads us to the specific subject, and the others may in fact lead us to ` vacant' headings, ie headings under which no entries are filed.

Ex. Problems in compiling these include loopholes in the legal deposit law, material which is not printed (leaflets, posters, speeches), exempted material, and excluded material.

Ex. There are plans to transform vacated space in the old building into a visitor's centre with exhibitions and reading rooms.

----

* caer al vacío = fall into + the void, fall into + (empty) space.

* caída al vacío = fall into + (empty) space.

* cámara al vacío = vacuum chamber.

* con las manos vacías = empty-handed.

* dejar frío y vacío = leave + Nombre + cold and empty.

* dejar vacío = leave + vacant.

* disparar cartuchos vacíos = fire + blanks.

* empaquetar al vacío en plástico = shrink-wrap [shrinkwrap].

* envasar al vacío = vacuum-pack.

* lista de palabras vacías = stop list [stoplist], stopword list.

* llenar un vacío = fill + vacuum, fill + gap, fill in + gap, fill + void, fill + the breach.

* medio vacío = half-empty.

* mesa al vacío = vacuum table.

* mirada vacía = blank look, blank expression.

* mirar al vacío = stare into + space, look into + space, gaze into + space.

* no vacío = non-stop.

* palabra vacía = function word.

* precipitarse al vacío = fall into + the void, fall into + (empty) space.

* referencia ciega o vacía = blind reference.

* rellenar con ceros los espacios vacíos = zero fill.

* salto al vacío = leap in the dark.

* secado y congelado al vacío = vacuum freeze drying.

* vacío informativo = information vacuum.

* vacío legal = loophole, legal void.

* * *

I

- cía adjetivo

a) <botella/caja> empty; <calle/ciudad> empty, deserted; < casa> empty, unoccupied; <palabras/retórica> empty

con el estómago vacío — on an empty stomach

los envases vacíos — the empty bottles, the empties (colloq)

la despensa está vacía — there's no food in the house

volver de vacío — (Esp) camión to come back empty; persona to come back empty-handed

b) ( frívolo) < persona> shallow; <vida/frase> empty, meaningless

II

masculino

a) (Fís) vacuum

envasado al vacío — vacuum-packed

hacerle el vacío a alguien — to give somebody the cold shoulder

b) ( espacio vacío) space

mirar al vacío — to gaze into space

saltó al vacío — he leapt into the void o into space

caer en el vacío — to fall on deaf ears

c) (falta, hueco) gap

dejó un vacío en su vida — she left a gap o a void in his life

una sensación de vacío — a feeling of emptiness

- vacío de poder

* * *

= dummy, empty [emptier -comp., emptiest -sup.], gap, gulf, stop, vacuum, void, hollow, emptiness, vacant, loophole, vacated.

Ex: DOBIS/LIBIS, therefore, assigns them the dummy master number zero.

Ex: When DOBIS/Leuven is ready and waiting for input, the line is empty.

Ex: New editions will be essentially cumulations and therefore a longer gap will exist between editions.

Ex: It must be remembered that there is a gulf between publishing the schedules in an updated form, and applying the schedules.

Ex: Of course some terms may be difficult to categorise as stop or non-stop.

Ex: Whilst valves work by passing electric currents through a vacuum between electrodes, transistors are built from materials called semiconductors.

Ex: If archival materials are entered into an OPAC the vague nature of collection titles and the general subject headings may result in records being lost in a void.

Ex: It can certainly be status-conferring to let it be known in social conversation that one has read the latest Fay Weldon book, but if the group one is in never reads Fay Weldon anyway and could not care less what she has written then the victory is a somewhat hollow one.

Ex: The economic recession and the new technology are, between them, leaving a section of society with a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness = La recesión económica y las nuevas tecnologías, entre otros, están dejando a un sector de la sociedad con un sentimiento de desesperación y vacío.

Ex: Again we find that only the first entry leads us to the specific subject, and the others may in fact lead us to ` vacant' headings, ie headings under which no entries are filed.

Ex: Problems in compiling these include loopholes in the legal deposit law, material which is not printed (leaflets, posters, speeches), exempted material, and excluded material.

Ex: There are plans to transform vacated space in the old building into a visitor's centre with exhibitions and reading rooms.

* caer al vacío = fall into + the void, fall into + (empty) space.

* caída al vacío = fall into + (empty) space.

* cámara al vacío = vacuum chamber.

* con las manos vacías = empty-handed.

* dejar frío y vacío = leave + Nombre + cold and empty.

* dejar vacío = leave + vacant.

* disparar cartuchos vacíos = fire + blanks.

* empaquetar al vacío en plástico = shrink-wrap [shrinkwrap].

* envasar al vacío = vacuum-pack.

* lista de palabras vacías = stop list [stoplist], stopword list.

* llenar un vacío = fill + vacuum, fill + gap, fill in + gap, fill + void, fill + the breach.

* medio vacío = half-empty.

* mesa al vacío = vacuum table.

* mirada vacía = blank look, blank expression.

* mirar al vacío = stare into + space, look into + space, gaze into + space.

* no vacío = non-stop.

* palabra vacía = function word.

* precipitarse al vacío = fall into + the void, fall into + (empty) space.

* referencia ciega o vacía = blind reference.

* rellenar con ceros los espacios vacíos = zero fill.

* salto al vacío = leap in the dark.

* secado y congelado al vacío = vacuum freeze drying.

* vacío informativo = information vacuum.

* vacío legal = loophole, legal void.

* * *

vacío¹ - cía

adjective

1 ‹botella/caja› empty; ‹calle/ciudad› empty, deserted

con el estómago vacío on an empty stomach

los envases vacíos the empty bottles, the empties ( colloq)

la casa se alquila vacía the house is being rented unfurnished

el local está vacío the premises are empty o vacant

la siguió con una mirada totalmente vacía he stared after her with a totally blank expression on his face

la despensa está vacía there's no food in the house

vacío DE algo:

una calle vacía de vehículos y transeúntes a street empty of vehicles and passersby

un hombre vacío de compasión a man devoid of compassion

frases vacías de significado meaningless o empty words

retórica vacía de contenido empty rhetoric

volver de vacío ( Esp) «camión» to come back empty;

«persona» to come back empty-handed

2 (frívolo) ‹persona› shallow; ‹vida› empty, meaningless

son frases bonitas pero vacías they're fine-sounding words but they're meaningless o devoid of any meaning

pasaban su tiempo en conversaciones vacías they spent their time in idle o superficial conversation

vacío²

masculine

1 ( Fís) vacuum

envasado al vacío vacuum-packed

hacer el vacío a algo to ignore sth

hicieron el vacío a todas mis sugerencias they ignored all my suggestions

hacerle el vacío a algn to give sb the cold shoulder, to cold-shoulder sb

2 (espacio vacío) space

miraba al vacío she was gazing into space

saltó al vacío he leapt into the void o into space

caer en el vacío to fall on deaf ears

3 (falta, hueco) gap

dejó en su vida un vacío she left a gap o a void in his life

sentía una terrible sensación de vacío he had a terrible feeling of emptiness

en el caso de un vacío en la jefatura del Estado in the situation where there is no head of state

Compuesto:

vacío de poder

power vacuum

* * *

 

Del verbo vaciar: ( conjugate vaciar)

vacío es:

1ª persona singular (yo) presente indicativo

vació es:

3ª persona singular (él/ella/usted) pretérito indicativo

Multiple Entries:
vaciar    
vacío
vaciar ( conjugate vaciar) verbo transitivo
1

a) ‹vaso/botella› to empty;

‹ radiador› to drain;
‹bolsillo/cajón› to empty;
‹armario/habitación› to clean out

b) ‹ contenido› to empty (out)

2 ( ahuecar) to hollow out
vaciarse verbo pronominal
to empty
vacío 1

◊ - cía adjetivo

a) ‹botella/caja› empty;

‹calle/ciudad› empty, deserted;
‹ casa› empty, unoccupied;
‹palabras/retórica› empty;

◊ con el estómago vacío on an empty stomach

b) ( frívolo) ‹ persona› shallow;

‹vida/frase› empty, meaningless
vacío 2 sustantivo masculino

a) (Fís) vacuum;

◊ envasado al vacío vacuum-packed

b) ( espacio vacío) space;

◊ mirar al vacío to gaze into space

c) (falta, hueco) gap;

◊ dejó un vacío en su vida she left a gap o a void in his life;

una sensación de vacío a feeling of emptiness
vaciar verbo transitivo
1 (un cajón, una botella, un contenedor) to empty: vaciamos la piscina, we emptied the pool
2 Arte (una escultura, etc) to mould, US mold
3 (dejar hueco) to hollow out
vacío,-a
I adjetivo
1 (sin contenido) empty
(sin interior, hueco) hollow
el tronco ya está vacío, the trunk is already hollow
2 (sin personas) empty
(sin ocupante) vacant: el piso está vacío, the flat is unoccupied
3 (pensamiento, promesa, etc) empty, hollow
(superficial) shallow
II sustantivo masculino
1 Fís vacuum
envasado al vacío, vacuum-packed
2 (espacio, aire) emptiness, void: el camión se precipitó al vacío, the truck plunged into the void
3 (sensación, sentimiento) me dejó una sensación de vacío, it made me feel empty
4 (hueco sin ocupar) gap, (empty) space
♦ Locuciones: de vacío, empty-handed
' vacío' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
casco
- hueca
- hueco
- huera
- huero
- lanzarse
- precipitarse
- salto
- vacía
- desocupado
- despejado
- estómago
- lanzar
- saltar
English:
bare
- blank
- bottle
- emptiness
- empty
- flat
- gap
- half-empty
- hollow
- leap
- send
- space
- spring
- tip out
- vacant
- vacuum
- vacuum-packed
- void
- into
- ostracize
- stomach

* * *

vacío, -a

♦ adj

1. [recipiente, vivienda, espacio] empty;

una sala casi vacía an almost empty hall;

la ciudad estaba vacía the city was empty o deserted

2. [palabras, gesto, promesa] empty;

vacío de [contenido] devoid of

3. [vida, existencia] empty

♦ nm

1. [espacio libre]

se lanzó al vacío she threw herself into the void;

caer en el vacío [palabras] to fall on deaf ears;

Comp

hacer el vacío a alguien to cold-shoulder sb

2. Fís vacuum;

envasar al vacío to vacuum-pack

3. [abismo, carencia] void;

su muerte ha dejado un gran vacío his death has left a big gap o void

Comp

vacío existencial existential void;

vacío legal legal vacuum;

Pol vacío de poder power vacuum

4. [hueco] space, gap;

tener un vacío en el estómago to feel hungry

5. RP [carne] flank steak

♦ de vacío loc adv

irse/volver de vacío [persona] to go/come back empty-handed;

[vehículo] to go/come back empty

* * *

vacío

I adj empty

II m FÍS vacuum; fig: espacio void;

dejar un vacío fig leave a gap;

envasado al vacío vacuum-packed;

hacer el vacío a alguien fig ostracize s.o.;

caer en el vacío fig fall on deaf ears fam

* * *

vacío, - cía adj

1) : vacant

2) : empty

3) : meaningless

vacío nm

1) : emptiness, void

2) : space, gap

3) : vacuum

4)

hacerle el vacío a alguien : to ostracize someone, to give someone the cold shoulder

* * *

vacío¹ adj

1. (en general) empty [comp. emptier; superl. emptiest]

el frasco está vacío the bottle is empty

2. (silla) free

¿está vacía esta silla? is this seat free?

vacío² n

1. (en general) void

los paracaidistas saltan al vacío parachutists jump into the void

2. (en física) vacuum

envasado al vacío vacuum packed

hacer el vacío a alguien to ignore someone

tener un vacío en el estómago to be starving

עֲבוֹדָהf. (b. h. עֲבֹדָה; עָבַד) work, labor, service, attendance, esp. 1) (in agric.) space required for attending to a plant. Kil. VI, 1, a. e. (כדי ע׳) נותנין לו את עֲבוֹדָתוֹ we must allow it (the vine) its space (within which no other seed should be planted). Ib. וכמה היא עֲבוֹדַת הגפן and how large is the space for the vine? B. Bath.83a כדי עבודת הכרם as much space as is required for attending to the vineyard. Tosef.Kil.II, 7 עבודת ירק בירק אחר the space to be left between one vegetable and another; a. fr. 2) service, agricultural implements, working cattle Gen. R. s. 42 (ref. to אָכְלָם, Gen. 14:11) זו ע׳ this means their agricultural service. 3) manual labor; servitude, service. Men.109b, v. שֵׁירוּת. R. Hash. 11a בר״ה בטלה ע׳ מאבותינווכ׳ on the New Years Day (prior to going out of Egypt) our ancestors in Egypt were freed from servitude; a. e. 4) divine service, priests service; worship. Y.Kidd.I, 59d top וייפסל מן הע׳ and he (the priest) will be made unfit for service. Tosef.Shek. III, 26; Ḥull.24a כ״ה ללמוד ושלשים לע׳ twenty-five years is the age for apprenticeship, and thirty years for practical service. Ib. הע׳ בכתף the service of carrying the Tabernacle on the shoulder. Men. l. c. אלמדך סדר ע׳ I will teach thee the order of the priestly service. Yoma 32a המשנה מע׳ לע׳ he who goes from one function of the Temple service to another. Ib. עבודת היום בבגדיוכ׳ the special service of the Day of Atonement is performed in white garments. Ib. 39b הגרלה לאו ע׳ היא casting lots is no special function. Ib. III, 3 אין אדם נכנס לעזרה לע׳וכ׳ no one must enter the Temple court for worship, unless Snh.VII, 6 (60b) זו היא עֲבוֹדָתוֹ (not עבודתה) this is the form of worshipping that deity; a. fr.Trnsf. the emoluments of the officiating priest. B. Kam. 109b, sq. עֲבוֹדָתָהּ ועורהוכ׳ (not עבודתו) the gifts for officiating at its offering and its hide belong to In gen. divine worship, prayer. Ab. I, 2. Taan.2a (ref. to Deut. 11:13) איזו היא ע׳ שבלב … זו תפלה what is meant by the service of the heart? Prayer. Arakh.11a (ref. to Deut. 28:47) איזו היא ע׳ … זה שירה what is the service in joy and cheerfulness of the heart? It is song. Ib. (ref. to Num. 4:47) איזו היא ע׳ שצריכה ע׳וכ׳ what service is that which requires (accompanies) sacrificial service? It is song; a. fr.הָעֲ׳ by the worship!, for ‘by God! Yeb.32b. Sifra Kdosh., Par. 2, ch. 4; a. fr.Esp. ‘Ăbodah, the first of the last three sections of the Prayer of Benedictions (תְּפִלָּה), containing the prayer for the restoration of the Temple service. Ber.29b טעה … בע׳ חוזר לע׳ if he failed to insert the prayer for the New Moon Day in the ‘Ăbodah, he must begin the ‘Ă. anew; נזכר בהודאה חוזר לע׳ if he recalls the omission while reading the Hodaah (the second of the last three sections), he must begin Y. ib. IV, 8a bot. כל דבר שהוא לַבָּא אומרה בע׳ whatever prayer refers to the future is inserted in the ‘A.Meg.18a כיון שבאת תפלה באת ע׳ when you speak of prayer (praying that your prayer be acceptable), comes the prayer for the restoration of the Temple service. Ib. ע׳ והודאה חדאוכ׳ ‘Ăb. and Hodaah are one thing (belong together); a. fr. 5) ע׳ זָרָה (abbrev. ע״ז) idolatry, mostly used for idol, heathen deity, interch. in editions with עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים (abbrev. ע״א) and עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת (abbrev. עכ״ום, עכומ״ז). B. Bath. 110a תעשה כהן לע״א thou (Jonathan, grandson of Moses) to be a priest of idolatry?; כך מקובלני … ישכיר אדם עצמו לע״ז וכ׳ I have a tradition from my grandfather, a man should rather hire himself out for ‘strange service, than be dependent on man; הוא סבר לע״ז ממש … אלא ע׳ שזרה לו he thought it meant real strange service (idolatry), but it means ‘for labor strange to him (beneath his station). Snh.V, 1 (40a) העובד עכ״ום את מי עבדוכ׳ (Mish. ed. העובד כוכביםוכ׳) in the case of one accused of idolatry, (the witnesses are asked,) whom (what special deity) did he worship? and in what manner did he worship? Ab. Zar.11b בתיע״א idolatrous temples (and fairs connected therewith); a. v. fr.‘Ăbodah Zarah, name of a treatise of the Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud Babli a. Yrushalmi, of the Order of Nziḳin.Pl. עֲבוֹדוֹת. sifra Shmini, Miliuim בשעה קלה למדו שבעה ע׳וכ׳ in a short moment they iearned seven sacrificial functions: the slaughtering Yoma 47b זו היא מע׳ קשותוכ׳ this is one of the difficult services (manipulations) in sacrificial rites. Ib. 32a וחמש ע׳ הןוכ׳ and there were five rites (on the Day of Atonement): the daily morning sacrifice ; a. fr.

עֲבוֹדָהf. (b. h. עֲבֹדָה; עָבַד) work, labor, service, attendance, esp. 1) (in agric.) space required for attending to a plant. Kil. VI, 1, a. e. (כדי ע׳) נותנין לו את עֲבוֹדָתוֹ we must allow it (the vine) its space (within which no other seed should be planted). Ib. וכמה היא עֲבוֹדַת הגפן and how large is the space for the vine? B. Bath.83a כדי עבודת הכרם as much space as is required for attending to the vineyard. Tosef.Kil.II, 7 עבודת ירק בירק אחר the space to be left between one vegetable and another; a. fr. 2) service, agricultural implements, working cattle Gen. R. s. 42 (ref. to אָכְלָם, Gen. 14:11) זו ע׳ this means their agricultural service. 3) manual labor; servitude, service. Men.109b, v. שֵׁירוּת. R. Hash. 11a בר״ה בטלה ע׳ מאבותינווכ׳ on the New Years Day (prior to going out of Egypt) our ancestors in Egypt were freed from servitude; a. e. 4) divine service, priests service; worship. Y.Kidd.I, 59d top וייפסל מן הע׳ and he (the priest) will be made unfit for service. Tosef.Shek. III, 26; Ḥull.24a כ״ה ללמוד ושלשים לע׳ twenty-five years is the age for apprenticeship, and thirty years for practical service. Ib. הע׳ בכתף the service of carrying the Tabernacle on the shoulder. Men. l. c. אלמדך סדר ע׳ I will teach thee the order of the priestly service. Yoma 32a המשנה מע׳ לע׳ he who goes from one function of the Temple service to another. Ib. עבודת היום בבגדיוכ׳ the special service of the Day of Atonement is performed in white garments. Ib. 39b הגרלה לאו ע׳ היא casting lots is no special function. Ib. III, 3 אין אדם נכנס לעזרה לע׳וכ׳ no one must enter the Temple court for worship, unless Snh.VII, 6 (60b) זו היא עֲבוֹדָתוֹ (not עבודתה) this is the form of worshipping that deity; a. fr.Trnsf. the emoluments of the officiating priest. B. Kam. 109b, sq. עֲבוֹדָתָהּ ועורהוכ׳ (not עבודתו) the gifts for officiating at its offering and its hide belong to In gen. divine worship, prayer. Ab. I, 2. Taan.2a (ref. to Deut. 11:13) איזו היא ע׳ שבלב … זו תפלה what is meant by the service of the heart? Prayer. Arakh.11a (ref. to Deut. 28:47) איזו היא ע׳ … זה שירה what is the service in joy and cheerfulness of the heart? It is song. Ib. (ref. to Num. 4:47) איזו היא ע׳ שצריכה ע׳וכ׳ what service is that which requires (accompanies) sacrificial service? It is song; a. fr.הָעֲ׳ by the worship!, for ‘by God! Yeb.32b. Sifra Kdosh., Par. 2, ch. 4; a. fr.Esp. ‘Ăbodah, the first of the last three sections of the Prayer of Benedictions (תְּפִלָּה), containing the prayer for the restoration of the Temple service. Ber.29b טעה … בע׳ חוזר לע׳ if he failed to insert the prayer for the New Moon Day in the ‘Ăbodah, he must begin the ‘Ă. anew; נזכר בהודאה חוזר לע׳ if he recalls the omission while reading the Hodaah (the second of the last three sections), he must begin Y. ib. IV, 8a bot. כל דבר שהוא לַבָּא אומרה בע׳ whatever prayer refers to the future is inserted in the ‘A.Meg.18a כיון שבאת תפלה באת ע׳ when you speak of prayer (praying that your prayer be acceptable), comes the prayer for the restoration of the Temple service. Ib. ע׳ והודאה חדאוכ׳ ‘Ăb. and Hodaah are one thing (belong together); a. fr. 5) ע׳ זָרָה (abbrev. ע״ז) idolatry, mostly used for idol, heathen deity, interch. in editions with עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים (abbrev. ע״א) and עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת (abbrev. עכ״ום, עכומ״ז). B. Bath. 110a תעשה כהן לע״א thou (Jonathan, grandson of Moses) to be a priest of idolatry?; כך מקובלני … ישכיר אדם עצמו לע״ז וכ׳ I have a tradition from my grandfather, a man should rather hire himself out for ‘strange service, than be dependent on man; הוא סבר לע״ז ממש … אלא ע׳ שזרה לו he thought it meant real strange service (idolatry), but it means ‘for labor strange to him (beneath his station). Snh.V, 1 (40a) העובד עכ״ום את מי עבדוכ׳ (Mish. ed. העובד כוכביםוכ׳) in the case of one accused of idolatry, (the witnesses are asked,) whom (what special deity) did he worship? and in what manner did he worship? Ab. Zar.11b בתיע״א idolatrous temples (and fairs connected therewith); a. v. fr.‘Ăbodah Zarah, name of a treatise of the Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmud Babli a. Yrushalmi, of the Order of Nziḳin.Pl. עֲבוֹדוֹת. sifra Shmini, Miliuim בשעה קלה למדו שבעה ע׳וכ׳ in a short moment they iearned seven sacrificial functions: the slaughtering Yoma 47b זו היא מע׳ קשותוכ׳ this is one of the difficult services (manipulations) in sacrificial rites. Ib. 32a וחמש ע׳ הןוכ׳ and there were five rites (on the Day of Atonement): the daily morning sacrifice ; a. fr.

1. adv. - por poco 2. (f. - poca)

pron.

little, few

3. (f. - poca)

adj.

little, few, not much

* * *

1. ADJ

1) [en singular] little, not much

tenemos poco tiempo — we have little time, we don't have much time

hay muy poco queso — there's very little cheese, there's hardly any cheese

de poco interés — of little interest

con poco respeto — with little respect, with scant respect

el provecho es poco — the gain is small, there isn't much to gain

• poca cosa, no te preocupes por tan poca cosa — don't worry about such a little thing

poca cosa se podría haber hecho — there wasn't much we could have done

comemos, jugamos a cartas, leemos y poca cosa más — we eat, play cards, read and do little else o and that's about it

es poca cosa — (=no mucho) it's not much; (=no importante) it's nothing much

somos tan poca cosa — we're so insignificant

es muy guapa pero poca cosa — she's very pretty, but there isn't much to her

• y por si fuera poco — and as if that weren't enough, and to cap it all

2) [en plural] few, not many

pocos niños saben que... — few o not many children know that...

tiene pocos amigos — he has few friends, he hasn't got many friends

pocos días después — a few days later

compré unos pocos libros — I bought a few books

me quedan pocas probabilidades — I don't have much chance

todas las medidas son pocas — no measure will be enough

2. PRON

1) [en singular]

a) (=poca cosa)

la reforma servirá para poco — the reform won't do much good o won't be much use

una hora da para poco — you can't get much done in an hour

con lo poco que me quedaba — with what little I had left

ya sabes lo poco que me interesa — you know how little it interests me

b)

• un poco — a bit, a little

-¿tienes frío? -un poco — "are you cold?" - "a bit o a little"

he bebido un poco, pero no estoy borracho — I've had a bit to drink, but I'm not drunk

voy a dormir un poco — I am going to have a little sleep

le conocía un poco — I knew him a bit o slightly

necesito descansar un poco — I need to rest for a while

espera un poco — wait a minute o moment

estoy un poco triste — I am rather o a little sad

es un poco lo que yo comentaba — that's more or less what I was saying

• un poco como, es un poco como su padre — he's rather o a bit like his father

lo hice un poco como protesta — I did it partly as a protest

• un poco de, un poco de dinero — a little money

dame un poco de vino — can I have some wine?

¡un poco de silencio! — let's have some quiet here!

c) [referido a tiempo] not long

tardaron poco en hacerlo — it didn't take them long to do it, they didn't take long to do it

lleva poco trabajando aquí — he hasn't been working here long

• a poco de — shortly after

a poco de haberlo firmado — shortly after signing it

• cada poco — every so often

• dentro de poco — shortly, soon

• poco después — shortly after

• hace poco — not long ago

fuimos a verla hace poco — we visited her not long ago, we visited her quite recently

tu hermana ha llamado hace poco — your sister called a short while ago

la conozco desde hace poco — I haven't known her long, I've only known her for a short while

hasta hace poco — until recently

2) [en plural] few

pocos son los que... — there are few who...

ya somos pocos los que nos sentimos así — there are now very few of us who feel this way

pocos de entre ellos — few of them

como hay pocos —

es tonto como hay pocos — he's as stupid as they come

3. ADV

1) [con verbos] not much, little

cuesta poco — it doesn't cost much, it costs very little

habla poco — he doesn't say much

ahora trabaja poco — he doesn't work much now

vamos poco a Madrid — we don't go to Madrid much, we hardly ever go to Madrid

lo estiman poco — they hardly value it at all, they value it very little

2) [con adjetivos: se traduce a menudo por medio de un prefijo]

poco dispuesto a ayudar — disinclined to help

poco amable — unkind

poco probable — unlikely

poco inteligente — unintelligent, not very intelligent

sus libros son poco conocidos aquí — his books are not very well known here

3) [otras locuciones]

poco a poco — little by little

¡poco a poco! — steady on!, easy does it!

a poco Méx —

*

¿a poco? — never!, you don't say!

¡a poco no! — not much! *

¿a poco no? — (well) isn't it?

¿a poco crees que...? — do you really imagine that...?

• de a poco — LAm gradually

• tener en poco, tiene en poco a su jefe — she doesn't think much of her boss

tiene la vida en poco — he doesn't value his life

• poco más o menos — more or less

• por poco — almost, nearly

por poco me ahogo — I almost o nearly drowned

• a poco que, a poco que pueda — if at all possible

a poco que corras, lo alcanzas — if you run now you'll catch it

* * *

I

adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)

II

- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied

III

- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex. Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex. Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex. Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex. She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex. Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex. Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

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* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex. When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

----

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

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

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

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

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

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

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *

I

adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)

II

- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied

III

- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex: Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex: Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex: Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex: She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex: Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex: Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex: When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

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

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

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

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

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

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *

poco¹

adverb

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful, he isn't at all grateful

es un autor muy poco conocido he is a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante I didn't find it very interesting, I found it rather uninteresting

habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot

duerme poquísimo she sleeps very little, she doesn't sleep very much

viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around

poco y nada me ayudaron they hardly helped me at all

… con lo poco que le gusta el arroz … and he doesn't even like rice

para locs ver poco³ pron D. (↑ poco (3))

poco² -ca

adjective

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (con sustantivos no numerables) little; (en plural) few

muy poco vino very little wine

muy pocos niños very few children

hemos tenido muy poca suerte we've been very unlucky, we've had very little luck

¡qué poco sentido común tienes! you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa I have hardly any clothes, I have very few clothes

a poca gente se le presenta esa oportunidad not many people get that opportunity

hay muy pocas mujeres en el gremio there are very few women in the trade

éramos demasiado pocos there were too few of us, there weren't enough of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco it was amazing, I can't begin to tell you

a esta mujer todo le parece poco this woman is never satisfied

me he olvidado del poco francés/de las pocas palabras que sabía I've forgotten the little French/the few words I knew

le dio unos pocos pesos she gave him a few pesos

poco³ -ca

pronoun

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

A

(poca cantidad, poca cosa): le serví sopa pero comió poca I gave her some soup but she only ate a little o she didn't eat much

sírvele poco, desayunó muy tarde don't give him (too) much, he had a late breakfast

por poco que gane, siempre es otro sueldo no matter how little o however little she earns o even if she doesn't earn much, it's still another salary coming in

se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara he nearly hit me

poco y nada saqué en limpio de lo que dijo what he said made little or no sense to me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left o we have very few left

es un profesor como pocos there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that

B

poco (refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long, she's only known him a little while

tardó poco en pintar la cocina it didn't take him long to paint the kitchen

falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas, Christmas isn't far off

a poco de terminar el bombardeo soon o shortly after the bombing stopped

dentro de poco sale otro tren there'll be another train soon o shortly

poco antes de que ella se fuera a short while o shortly before she left

C

un poco

1 (refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; (refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

¿te sirvo un poco? would you like a little o some?

descansemos un poco let's rest for a while, let's have a little rest

espera un poquito wait a little while

todavía le duele un poquitín or poquitito it still hurts him a little

2

un poco de: ponle un poco de pimienta/vino add a little (bit of) pepper/wine

tiene un poco de fiebre he has a slight fever, he has a bit of a temperature o a slight temperature ( BrE)

come un poco de jamón have a bit of o some o a little ham

3

un poco (hasta cierto punto): es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima partly because I felt sorry for him

4 un poco + ADJ/ADV:

un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

me queda un poco corto it's a bit short o a little short o slightly too short (for me)

habla un poco más fuerte speak up a bit o a little

D ( en locs):

a poco ( Méx): ¿a poco no lees los periódicos? don't you read the newspapers?

¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!

nos sacamos el gordo de la lotería — ¡a poco ! we won the big lottery prize — you didn't!

de a poco ( AmL); gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo little by little o slowly she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que nos ganaran they came very close to beating us, they very nearly beat us

en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come

tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives

me tienes bien en poco si me crees capaz de eso you can't think very highly o much of me if you think I could do such a thing

poco a poco or ( Méx) a poquito gradually

poco a poco la fueron arreglando they gradually fixed it up, they fixed it up little by little

poco más o menos approximately, roughly

habrán gastado unos dos millones, poco más o menos they must have spent in the neighborhood o ( BrE) region of two million

poco menos que nearly

es poco menos que imposible it's well-nigh o almost o very nearly impossible

le pegó una paliza que poco menos que la mata ( fam); he gave her such a beating he almost o nearly killed her

poco menos que los echan a patadas ( fam); they practically kicked them out

por poco nearly

por poco nos descubren we were nearly found out

* * *

 

poco 1 adverbio:

◊ habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot;

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful;
un autor muy poco conocido a very little-known author;
viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around;
para locs ver poco 2 4
poco 2 -ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little;

( en plural) few;

◊ muy poco vino very little wine;

muy pocos niños very few children;
había poquísimos coches there were hardly any cars
■ pronombre
1 (poca cantidad, poca cosa):

◊ había poco que hacer there was little to do;

por poco que gane … no matter how little o however little she earns …;
se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied;
todo le parece poco she is never satisfied;
pocos quisieron ayudar few were willing to help;
pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that
2

◊ poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago;

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long;
tardó poco en hacerlo it didn't take him long to do it;
falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas;
a poco de venir él soon o shortly after he came;
dentro de poco soon;
poco antes de que … a short while o shortly before …
3

◊ un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little;

( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while;

◊ dame un poco I'll have some o a little;

espera un poco wait a while

b)

◊ un poco de a little, a bit of

c) un poco + adj/adv:

◊ un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

4 ( en locs)

◊ a poco (Méx): ¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!;

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!;
de a poco (AmL) gradually, little by little;
poco a poco gradually;
poco más o menos approximately, roughly;
por poco nearly
poco,-a
I adjetivo
1 (con el sustantivo en singular) not much, little: tengo poco apetito, I haven't got much appetite
2 (con el sustantivo en plural) not many, few: conozco pocos lugares de Italia, I don't know many places in Italy
II pron (singular) little, not much
(plural) (objetos) few, not many
(personas) few people, not many people ➣ Ver nota en few
III adverbio
1 (con verbo) not (very) much, little: entiendo poco del tema, I don't understand much about the issue
2 (con adjetivo) not very: está poco claro, it's not very clear
3 (de tiempo) hace poco que nos conocemos, we met a short time ago
IV sustantivo masculino
1 (acompañado de adjetivo o adverbio) lo noté un poco molesto, I thought he was a bit annoyed
tendré que hacerlo un poco después, I'll have to do it a little later
2 (acompañando a un sustantivo) dame un poco de agua, give me a little water ➣ Ver nota en little
♦ Locuciones: a poco de, shortly after
dentro de poco, soon
poco a poco, little by little, gradually
poco antes/después, shortly before/afterwards
por poco, almost
' poco' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abreviar
- aclimatarse
- adelgazar
- aguantar
- ahora
- alcornoque
- alentador
- alentadora
- algo
- antes
- apercibirse
- bagatela
- baja
- bajo
- brusca
- brusco
- bruta
- bruto
- buscar
- calentar
- cargada
- cargado
- cascada
- cascado
- cerebral
- chapucera
- chapucero
- chispa
- clara
- claro
- común
- cruda
- crudo
- cualquiera
- de
- dentro
- descuidada
- descuidado
- descuidarse
- desigual
- desmoronada
- desmoronado
- despatarrarse
- despistada
- despistado
- despreciable
- después
- desvaído
- disipar
- dudosa
English:
accomplice
- add to
- adjust
- aerial
- after
- afterwards
- along
- aloof
- amateurish
- balding
- bark
- belly
- bit
- black
- blind
- blow up
- boot
- by
- can
- careless
- chat
- comedown
- confusing
- cowboy
- degree
- derivative
- desultory
- disagreement
- disingenuous
- diving
- do
- dodgy
- doubtful
- dowdy
- earthy
- easy-going
- edge
- effect
- element
- evasion
- exist
- expect
- fall apart
- far-fetched
- fine
- flippant
- forge
- furnish
- fuzzy
- gradually

* * *

poco, -a

♦ adj

(singular) little, not much; (plural) few, not many;

de poca importancia of little importance;

poca agua not much water;

pocas personas lo saben few o not many people know it;

hay pocos árboles there aren't many trees;

tenemos poco tiempo we don't have much time;

hace poco tiempo not long ago;

dame unos pocos días give me a few days;

esto ocurre pocas veces this rarely happens, this doesn't happen often;

tengo pocas ganas de ir I don't really o much feel like going;

poca sal me parece que le estás echando I don't think you're putting enough salt in, I think you're putting too little salt in;

con lo poco que le gusta la ópera, y la han invitado a La Traviata it's ironic, considering how she dislikes opera, that they should have invited her to see La Traviata

♦ pron

1. [escasa cantidad] (singular) little, not much;

* * *

poco

I adj sg little, not much; pl few, not many;

un poco de a little;

unos pocos a few

II adv little;

trabaja poco he doesn’t work much;

ahora se ve muy poco it’s seldom seen now;

estuvo poco por aquí he wasn’t around much;

poco conocido little known;

poco a poco little by little;

dentro de poco soon, shortly;

hace poco a short time ago, not long ago;

desde hace poco (for) a short while;

por poco nearly, almost;

¡a poco no lo hacemos! Méx don’t tell me we’re not doing it;

de a poco me fui tranquilizando Rpl little by little I calmed down;

por si fuera poco as if that weren’t o wasn’t enough

III m

:

un poco a little, a bit

* * *

poco adv

1) : little, not much

poco probable: not very likely

come poco: he doesn't eat much

2) : a short time, a while

tardaremos poco: we won't be very long

3)

poco antes : shortly before

4)

poco después : shortly after

poco, -ca adj

1) : little, not much, (a) few

tengo poco dinero: I don't have much money

en no pocas ocasiones: on more than a few occasions

poca gente: few people

2)

pocas veces : rarely

poco, -ca pron

1) : little, few

le falta poco para terminar: he's almost finished

uno de los pocos que quedan: one of the remaining few

2)

un poco : a little, a bit

un poco de vino: a little wine

un poco extraño: a bit strange

3)

a poco Mex (used to express disbelief)

¿a poco no se te hizo difícil?: you mean you didn't find it difficult?

4)

de a poco : little by little

5)

hace poco : not long ago

6)

poco a poco : little by little

7)

dentro de poco : shortly, in a little while

8)

por poco : nearly, almost

* * *

poco¹ adj

1. (singular) not much

hay poco café there's not much coffee

has comido poco arroz you haven't eaten much rice

2. (plural) few / not many

tiene pocos amigos he has few friends / he hasn't got many friends

muy poco very little

hay muy poco té there's very little tea

poco² adv

1. (con verbos) not much

trabaja poco he doesn't work much

2. (no mucho tiempo) not long

estuve con él hace poco I was with him not long ago

llegó poco después she arrived not long after

3. (con adjetivos) not very

es poco simpática she's not very friendly

poco a poco little by little

por poco nearly

por poco se cae he nearly fell

por poco pierdo el tren I nearly missed the train

poco³ n a little / a bit

un poco de pan a bit of bread

un poco de agua a little water

tengo de sobra, toma un poco I've got plenty, take a little

poco⁴ pron

1. (singular) not much

compra café, que queda muy poco buy some coffee, there's not much left

2. (plural) few / not many

¿cuántos vinieron? pocos how many came? not many