thin down the cream

1. (f. - mala)

noun

villain, bad person

2. (f. - mala)

adj.

1) bad

2) evil

3) harmful

4) ill

5) poor, cheap

6) rotten

* * *

malo, -a

1. ADJ

( antes de sm sing mal)

1) (=perjudicial) bad

es malo para la salud — it's bad for your health

- más vale lo malo conocido que lo bueno por conocer

2) (=imperfecto) bad

esta película es bastante mala — this is a pretty bad film

un chiste malísimo — a really bad joke, a terrible joke

este papel es malo para escribir — this paper is bad for writing

mala calidad — poor quality

es una tela muy mala — it's a very poor-quality material

joyas malas — fake jewels

• ni un(a) mal(a)..., no hay ni un mal bar para tomar algo — there isn't a single little bar where we can get a drink

3) (=adverso) bad

he tenido mala suerte — I've had bad luck, I've been unlucky

eso es una mala señal — that's a bad sign

-es tarde y no ha llamado -¡malo! — "it's late and she hasn't called" - "oh dear!"

malo sería que no ganáramos — it would be a disaster if we didn't win

lo malo es que... — the trouble is (that)...

pata 1., 6)

4) (=desagradable) bad

un mal día — a bad day

el tiempo estuvo muy malo todo el verano — we had really bad weather all summer

un olor muy malo — a bad o nasty smell

5) (=podrido)

esta carne está mala — this meat's off

6) (=reprobable) wrong

¿qué tiene de malo? — what's wrong with that?

¿qué tiene de malo comer helados en invierno? — what's wrong with eating ice cream in winter?

van por mal camino — they'll come to no good if they carry on like this

es una mala persona — he's a bad person

una bruja mala — a wicked witch

arte 2), idea 3), leche 10), lengua 1), manera 2), pasada 5), trato 4), uva 1)

7) (=travieso) naughty

¡no seas malo! — don't be naughty!

8) (=enfermo) ill

mi hija está mala — my daughter's ill

tienes muy mala cara — you look awful o really ill

se puso malo después de comer — he started to feel ill after lunch

me puse malo de reírme — I nearly died laughing

tengo mala la garganta — I've got a sore throat

9) (=inepto) bad

ser malo para algo — to be bad at sth

soy muy mala para la física — I'm very bad at physics

10) (=difícil) hard, difficult

es un animal malo de domesticar — it's a hard o difficult animal to tame

es muy malo de vencer — he's very hard o difficult to beat

11)

- a la mala

- andar a malas con algn

ponerse a malas con algn — to fall out with sb

- estar de malas

- venir de malas

- por las malas

2.

SM / F (=personaje) (Teat) villain; (Cine) baddie *

3.

SM

el malo — (Rel) the Evil One, the Devil

* * *

I

1) - la adjetivo [ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

Sentido I

2) [ser] ( en calidad) < producto> bad, poor; <película/novela> bad

es de mala calidad — it is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía — her spelling is bad o poor

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer — better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3) [ser]

a) ( incompetente) <alumno/actor> bad

soy muy mala para los números — I'm terrible o very bad with figures

b) <padre/marido/amigo> bad

4) [SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

qué mala suerte! — what bad luck!, how unlucky!

lo malo es que... — the thing o trouble is that...

en las malas se conoce a los amigos — a friend in need is a friend indeed

estar de malas — ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood; ( desafortunado) (esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas — unwillingly

5) [ser] (inconveniente, perjudicial) <hábitos/lecturas> bad

las malas compañías — bad company

llegas en mal momento — you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol — it's not good to sunbathe so much

6) [SER] ( sin gracia) < chiste> bad

7) [SER] ( desagradable) <olor/aliento> bad

hace un día muy malo — it's a horrible day

hace tan malo — (Esp) it's such horrible weather

8) [estar] ( en mal estado) < alimento>

el pescado/queso está malo — the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

9)

a) (desmejorado, no saludable)

tienes mala cara/mal aspecto — you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color — he looks terribly pale to me

b) [SER] (serio, grave) serious

no tiene nada malo — it's nothing serious

una mala caída — a bad fall

c) [estar] (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE)

el pobre está malito — the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

d) [ESTAR] (Esp fam & euf) < mujer>

estoy mala — it's that time of the month (colloq & euph)

me he puesto mala — my period's started

10) [ser] ( difícil)

malo de + inf — difficult to + inf

es muy malo de convencer — he's very difficult o hard to persuade

Sentido II

11) [ser] ( en sentido ético) < persona> nasty

qué malo eres con tu hermano! — you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo — don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq)

una mala mujer — a loose woman

una mujer mala — a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala — (Chi fam)

se lo quitaron a la mala — they did him out of it (colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala — she sneaked the camera through (colloq)

Sentido III

12) (Esp) ( uso enfático) (delante del n)

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café — they didn't even offer us a cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse — there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on (colloq)

•

- mala hierba

- mala idea

- mala leche

- mala palabra

- mala pata

- mala sangre

- malas artes

- malas lenguas

- malos pensamientos

- malos tratos

II

- la masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)

* * *

= bad [worse -comp., worst -sup.], poor [poorer -comp., poorest -sup.], wrong, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.], naughty [naughtier -comp., naugtiest -sup.], villain, evil, crummy [crummier -comp., crummiest -sup.], lame.

Ex. I'm not saying that it is bad, but it is a real difference of interest between the needs and purposes of research libraries and the public libraries, and I would also throw in the school and almost certainly junior college libraries.

Ex. Examples are generally poor or obscure (often in Latin or German).

Ex. In a conventional system, the omission of a punctuation mark or an abbreviation will not necessarily cause an entry to be filed in the wrong place, because humans can compensate for variations in spelling and punctuation.

Ex. Wilensky has argued that 'the good, the mediocre and the trashy are becoming fused in one massive middle mush' and that 'intellectuals are increasingly tempted to play to mass audiences'.

Ex. He felt like a naughty school-boy.

Ex. The father, Old Brightwell, curses his daughter, Jane, for preferring the love of the smooth-tongued villain, Grandley, to that of her own parents.

Ex. One teacher I knew used to poke his head round the door just at the end of the day and say something like, 'Tomorrow when we meet I am going to tell you about the evil magician,' and then he would disappear leaving us all agog.

Ex. One librarian bluntly wondered about the ethics of sending ' crummy looking books with information that is incorrect or obsolete to the needy (because) everyone should have access to good material'.

Ex. Democrats are lame, feckless, timid, with no ideas, no vision, no message, and no future.

----

* acabar mal = come to + a bad end.

* algo anda mal = something is amiss.

* algo va mal = something is amiss.

* andar mal = feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* andar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* aplicar mal = misapply.

* a veces las cosas salen mal = shit happens.

* bastante malo = third rate [third-rate].

* bicho malo = nasty piece of work.

* caer mal = rub + Nombre + up the wrong way.

* calcular mal = misjudge.

* chiste malo = shaggy dog story.

* citar mal = misquote.

* comportarse mal = misbehave, act up.

* comportarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* comprender mal = misunderstand.

* concebir mal = misconceive.

* con mala fama = disreputable.

* con mala reputación = disreputable.

* control de las malas hierbas = weed control.

* corregir un mal = correct + a wrong.

* creer que estar mal = feel + wrong.

* dar de mala gana = begrudge, grudge.

* dar mala impresión = look + bad.

* decían las malas lenguas que = rumour had it that.

* decir con mal humor = spit out.

* dejar un mal sabor de boca = leave + a bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* de mala calidad = shabby [shabbier -comp., shabbiest -sup.].

* de mala fama = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mala gana = reluctantly, grudgingly, grudging, begrudgingly, unwillingly.

* de mala leche = like a bear with a sore head, in a foul mood.

* de mala reputación = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mal aspecto = seedy [seedier -comp., seediest -sup.], nasty looking, shanky [shankier -comp., shankiest -sup.].

* de malas pulgas = in a grouch.

* de mala uva = in a foul mood.

* de mal carácter = ill-natured.

* de mal en peor = out of the fire and into the frying pan.

* de mal genio = bad-tempered, grumpy [grumpier -comp., grumpiest -sup.], curmudgeonly, crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], irascible, shrewish, short-tempered, ill-natured.

* de mal gusto = in bad taste, distasteful, tawdry [tawdrier -comp., tawdriest -sup.], unbecoming, tasteless, tacky [tackier -comp., tackiest -sup.], naff, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.].

* de mal humor = crotchety.

* de mal sabor = unbecoming.

* de mal vivir = disreputable.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* diagnosticar mal = misdiagnose.

* día malo = bad hair day.

* dicen las malas lenguas que = rumour has it that.

* el cielo rojo al atardecer augura buen tiempo, el cielo rojo al amanecer aug = red sky at night, (shepherd/sailor)'s delight, red sky in the morning, (shepherd/sailor)'s warning.

* en mala forma = in bad nick.

* en malas condiciones = in poor condition, in bad condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* en mal estado = in bad condition, in poor condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* entender mal = misunderstand, misconceive, mishearing.

* escuchar mal = mishearing.

* estar mal = be wrong, feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* estar mal comunicado con = have + poor connections with.

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

* estar mal preparado = ill-prepared.

* estar mal visto = frown on/upon.

* estar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* funcionar mal = malfunction.

* gestionar mal = mismanage.

* golpe de malasuerte = stroke of misfortune.

* hablar mal de = speak out against, speak + ill of, say + nasty things about, slag + Nombre + off, slate, diss.

* hacer sentir mal = make + Nombre + feel bad.

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

* ir mal = go + wrong.

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

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

* juzgar mal = misjudge, misconceive.

* limpieza de malas hierbas = weeding.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* mala administración = mismanagement.

* mala aplicación = misapplication.

* mala calidad = badness.

* mala cizaña = rotten apple.

* mala colocación = misplacement, misfiling.

* mala colocación en los estantes = misshelving.

* mala compañía = bad apple, rotten apple, damaged goods.

* mala conducta = misconduct, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mala conducta científica = scientific misconduct.

* mala decisión = bad judgement.

* mal + Adjetivo = poorly + Adjetivo.

* mala educación = impoliteness.

* mala experiencia = horror story.

* mala fama = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mala fortuna = misfortune.

* mala gestión = mismanagement.

* mala hierba = weed, bad apple, rotten apple.

* mala influencia = bad seed, bad influence.

* mala intención = sinisterness, ill will.

* mala interpretación = misinterpretation.

* mala jugada = dirty trick.

* mala leche = nastiness, bad blood.

* mal aliento = bad breath.

* mala ordenación = misfiling.

* mala palabra = dirty word.

* mala pasada = dirty trick.

* mala persona = rotten apple, a bad lot.

* mala racha económica = economic doldrums.

* mala reputación = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mal armado = ill-armed.

* mala salud = poor health.

* mala semilla = bad seed.

* malas experiencias = awful experience.

* malas pulgas = ornery, grouchiness, grouch.

* mala suerte = misfortune, mischance, bad luck, tough luck, hard luck, losing streak.

* malas vibraciones = bad vibes.

* mal atendido = ill-served.

* mala tierra = poor soil.

* mala vista = poor eyesight.

* mala voluntad = ill will.

* mal batido = badly-beaten.

* mal comportamiento = misconduct, disruptive behaviour, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mal comportamiento científico = scientific misconduct.

* mal concebido = ill-conceived.

* mal configurado = misconfigured.

* mal considerado = poorly-regarded.

* mal cuidado = mishandling.

* mal día = bad hair day.

* mal digerido = ill-digested.

* mal educado = impolite.

* mal emparejado = mismated.

* mal enfocado = ill-adapted.

* mal escrito = mistyped, ill-written, badly written.

* mal estado = disrepair, state of disrepair.

* mal estado de salud = poor health.

* mal estructurado = ill-structured.

* mal expresado = inarticulate.

* mal formado = ill-trained.

* mal formulado = badly formulated.

* mal funcionamiento = malfunction, malfunctioning.

* mal fundido = ill-cast.

* mal genio = bile, short temper.

* mal gusto = bad taste, tawdriness.

* mal hecho para = ill suited to/for.

* mal iluminado = badly-lit.

* mal informado = ill-informed.

* mal juicio = bad judgement.

* mal llamado = ill-named.

* mal menor = lesser evil.

* malo del estómago = upset stomach.

* malo, el = bad guy, the.

* mal oído = poor hearing.

* mal olor = stench.

* mal ordenado en los estantes = misshelved.

* mal ordenado los estantes = misshelved.

* mal organizado = ill-structured.

* malos, los = baddies, the.

* malos tiempos = bad times.

* malos tratos = mistreatment, battery, maltreatment, physical abuse.

* malos tratos a la mujer = wife beating, wife battering, wife abuse.

* mal pagado = low-paid, underpaid.

* mal perdedor = sore loser, bad loser.

* mal planeado = ill-planned.

* mal preparado = ill-prepared, ill-equipped, ill-trained.

* mal presentado = poorly presented.

* mal provisto = poorly stocked.

* mal remunerado = poorly paid, poorly remunerated.

* mal retribuido = underpaid.

* mal rollo = bad vibes.

* mal sabor de boca = bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* mal social = societal ill.

* mal surtido = poorly stocked.

* mal trago = awful experience.

* mal uso = misuse, mishandling.

* mal ventilado = stuffy [stuffier -comp., stuffies -sup.].

* manejar mal = mishandle.

* más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer = better the devil you know (than the devil you don't).

* mirar con malos ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* muy mal tiempo = severe weather.

* no + haber + nada malo en = there + be + nothing wrong in/with.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = to every cloud, there is a silver lining.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = every cloud has a silver lining, be a blessing in disguise.

* no salir mal parado por = be none the worse for (that).

* oír mal = mishearing.

* para bien o para mal = for better or (for) worse, for good or (for) ill, for good or (for) evil.

* para mal = for the worse.

* pasarlo mal = have + a thin time, have + a difficult time, experience + difficult times, pass through + difficult times, face + difficult times.

* pasarlo muy mal = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* persona vaga y mal vestida = slob.

* poner a mal tiempo buena cara = keep + Posesivo + chin up.

* ponerse a malas con = run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* por la mala fortuna = by ill fate.

* por la mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by ill fate.

* por las buenas o por las malas = by hook or by crook.

* por mala fortuna = unfortunately, unhappily, sadly.

* por mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by a stroke of bad luck, by ill fate.

* por mal camino = astray.

* portarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* quedar mal = lose + face.

* que queda mal = ill-fitting.

* quitarse una mala reputación = clean up + bad reputation.

* racha de mala suerte = losing streak.

* recibir mala prensa = acquire + a bad name.

* reformar malos hábitos = reform + bad habits.

* representar mal = misrepresent.

* salir horriblemente mal = go + horribly wrong.

* salir mal = go + wrong, go + awry, misfire, backfire.

* se avecinan malos tiempos = hard times lie ahead.

* sentirse mal = feel + bad, feel under + the weather, be under the weather, feel + wrong.

* sentirse mal con Uno mismo = feel + wrong.

* ser malo = be a joke, spell + bad news, make + poor + Nombre.

* si mal no + Pronombre + acordarse = to the best of + Posesivo + recollection.

* tener mala fama = hold in + disrepute.

* tener mala fama por = be infamous for.

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

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

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

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

* tener un mal concepto de Alguien = show + low regard for, give + low regard to.

* tener un mal día = have + a bad day.

* terminar mal = come to + a bad end.

* tiempo muy malo = severe weather.

* tierra mala = poor soil.

* traerse algo malo entre manos = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tratar mal = maltreat, manhandle.

* usar mal = abuse, misuse.

* * *

I

1) - la adjetivo [ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

Sentido I

2) [ser] ( en calidad) < producto> bad, poor; <película/novela> bad

es de mala calidad — it is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía — her spelling is bad o poor

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer — better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3) [ser]

a) ( incompetente) <alumno/actor> bad

soy muy mala para los números — I'm terrible o very bad with figures

b) <padre/marido/amigo> bad

4) [SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

qué mala suerte! — what bad luck!, how unlucky!

lo malo es que... — the thing o trouble is that...

en las malas se conoce a los amigos — a friend in need is a friend indeed

estar de malas — ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood; ( desafortunado) (esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas — unwillingly

5) [ser] (inconveniente, perjudicial) <hábitos/lecturas> bad

las malas compañías — bad company

llegas en mal momento — you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol — it's not good to sunbathe so much

6) [SER] ( sin gracia) < chiste> bad

7) [SER] ( desagradable) <olor/aliento> bad

hace un día muy malo — it's a horrible day

hace tan malo — (Esp) it's such horrible weather

8) [estar] ( en mal estado) < alimento>

el pescado/queso está malo — the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

9)

a) (desmejorado, no saludable)

tienes mala cara/mal aspecto — you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color — he looks terribly pale to me

b) [SER] (serio, grave) serious

no tiene nada malo — it's nothing serious

una mala caída — a bad fall

c) [estar] (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE)

el pobre está malito — the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

d) [ESTAR] (Esp fam & euf) < mujer>

estoy mala — it's that time of the month (colloq & euph)

me he puesto mala — my period's started

10) [ser] ( difícil)

malo de + inf — difficult to + inf

es muy malo de convencer — he's very difficult o hard to persuade

Sentido II

11) [ser] ( en sentido ético) < persona> nasty

qué malo eres con tu hermano! — you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo — don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq)

una mala mujer — a loose woman

una mujer mala — a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala — (Chi fam)

se lo quitaron a la mala — they did him out of it (colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala — she sneaked the camera through (colloq)

Sentido III

12) (Esp) ( uso enfático) (delante del n)

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café — they didn't even offer us a cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse — there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on (colloq)

•

- mala hierba

- mala idea

- mala leche

- mala palabra

- mala pata

- mala sangre

- malas artes

- malas lenguas

- malos pensamientos

- malos tratos

II

- la masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)

* * *

el malo

(n.) = bad guy, the

Ex: The author offers an interpretation of why in professional wrestling the bad guy is often victorious, by whatever means necessary including foul play.

= bad [worse -comp., worst -sup.], poor [poorer -comp., poorest -sup.], wrong, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.], naughty [naughtier -comp., naugtiest -sup.], villain, evil, crummy [crummier -comp., crummiest -sup.], lame.

Ex: I'm not saying that it is bad, but it is a real difference of interest between the needs and purposes of research libraries and the public libraries, and I would also throw in the school and almost certainly junior college libraries.

Ex: Examples are generally poor or obscure (often in Latin or German).

Ex: In a conventional system, the omission of a punctuation mark or an abbreviation will not necessarily cause an entry to be filed in the wrong place, because humans can compensate for variations in spelling and punctuation.

Ex: Wilensky has argued that 'the good, the mediocre and the trashy are becoming fused in one massive middle mush' and that 'intellectuals are increasingly tempted to play to mass audiences'.

Ex: He felt like a naughty school-boy.

Ex: The father, Old Brightwell, curses his daughter, Jane, for preferring the love of the smooth-tongued villain, Grandley, to that of her own parents.

Ex: One teacher I knew used to poke his head round the door just at the end of the day and say something like, 'Tomorrow when we meet I am going to tell you about the evil magician,' and then he would disappear leaving us all agog.

Ex: One librarian bluntly wondered about the ethics of sending ' crummy looking books with information that is incorrect or obsolete to the needy (because) everyone should have access to good material'.

Ex: Democrats are lame, feckless, timid, with no ideas, no vision, no message, and no future.

* acabar mal = come to + a bad end.

* algo anda mal = something is amiss.

* algo va mal = something is amiss.

* andar mal = feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* andar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* aplicar mal = misapply.

* a veces las cosas salen mal = shit happens.

* bastante malo = third rate [third-rate].

* bicho malo = nasty piece of work.

* caer mal = rub + Nombre + up the wrong way.

* calcular mal = misjudge.

* chiste malo = shaggy dog story.

* citar mal = misquote.

* comportarse mal = misbehave, act up.

* comportarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* comprender mal = misunderstand.

* concebir mal = misconceive.

* con mala fama = disreputable.

* con mala reputación = disreputable.

* control de las malas hierbas = weed control.

* corregir un mal = correct + a wrong.

* creer que estar mal = feel + wrong.

* dar de mala gana = begrudge, grudge.

* dar mala impresión = look + bad.

* decían las malas lenguas que = rumour had it that.

* decir con mal humor = spit out.

* dejar un mal sabor de boca = leave + a bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* de mala calidad = shabby [shabbier -comp., shabbiest -sup.].

* de mala fama = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mala gana = reluctantly, grudgingly, grudging, begrudgingly, unwillingly.

* de mala leche = like a bear with a sore head, in a foul mood.

* de mala reputación = of bad repute, notorious.

* de mal aspecto = seedy [seedier -comp., seediest -sup.], nasty looking, shanky [shankier -comp., shankiest -sup.].

* de malas pulgas = in a grouch.

* de mala uva = in a foul mood.

* de mal carácter = ill-natured.

* de mal en peor = out of the fire and into the frying pan.

* de mal genio = bad-tempered, grumpy [grumpier -comp., grumpiest -sup.], curmudgeonly, crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], irascible, shrewish, short-tempered, ill-natured.

* de mal gusto = in bad taste, distasteful, tawdry [tawdrier -comp., tawdriest -sup.], unbecoming, tasteless, tacky [tackier -comp., tackiest -sup.], naff, trashy [trashier -comp., trashiest -sup.].

* de mal humor = crotchety.

* de mal sabor = unbecoming.

* de mal vivir = disreputable.

* dentro de lo malo lo menos malo = the best of a bad lot.

* diagnosticar mal = misdiagnose.

* día malo = bad hair day.

* dicen las malas lenguas que = rumour has it that.

* el cielo rojo al atardecer augura buen tiempo, el cielo rojo al amanecer aug = red sky at night, (shepherd/sailor)'s delight, red sky in the morning, (shepherd/sailor)'s warning.

* en mala forma = in bad nick.

* en malas condiciones = in poor condition, in bad condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* en mal estado = in bad condition, in poor condition, in bad shape, in poor shape, in bad nick.

* entender mal = misunderstand, misconceive, mishearing.

* escuchar mal = mishearing.

* estar mal = be wrong, feel under + the weather, be under the weather.

* estar mal comunicado con = have + poor connections with.

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

* estar mal preparado = ill-prepared.

* estar mal visto = frown on/upon.

* estar tramando algo malo = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* funcionar mal = malfunction.

* gestionar mal = mismanage.

* golpe de malasuerte = stroke of misfortune.

* hablar mal de = speak out against, speak + ill of, say + nasty things about, slag + Nombre + off, slate, diss.

* hacer sentir mal = make + Nombre + feel bad.

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

* ir mal = go + wrong.

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

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

* juzgar mal = misjudge, misconceive.

* limpieza de malas hierbas = weeding.

* llevar por el mal camino = lead + astray.

* llevar por mal camino = mislead.

* lo bueno y lo malo = the rights and wrongs.

* lo que está bien y lo que está mal = rights and wrongs.

* lo uno es tan malo como lo otro = one is as bad as the other.

* mala administración = mismanagement.

* mala aplicación = misapplication.

* mala calidad = badness.

* mala cizaña = rotten apple.

* mala colocación = misplacement, misfiling.

* mala colocación en los estantes = misshelving.

* mala compañía = bad apple, rotten apple, damaged goods.

* mala conducta = misconduct, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mala conducta científica = scientific misconduct.

* mala decisión = bad judgement.

* mal + Adjetivo = poorly + Adjetivo.

* mala educación = impoliteness.

* mala experiencia = horror story.

* mala fama = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mala fortuna = misfortune.

* mala gestión = mismanagement.

* mala hierba = weed, bad apple, rotten apple.

* mala influencia = bad seed, bad influence.

* mala intención = sinisterness, ill will.

* mala interpretación = misinterpretation.

* mala jugada = dirty trick.

* mala leche = nastiness, bad blood.

* mal aliento = bad breath.

* mala ordenación = misfiling.

* mala palabra = dirty word.

* mala pasada = dirty trick.

* mala persona = rotten apple, a bad lot.

* mala racha económica = economic doldrums.

* mala reputación = ill-repute, bad repute, bad reputation, ill reputation.

* mal armado = ill-armed.

* mala salud = poor health.

* mala semilla = bad seed.

* malas experiencias = awful experience.

* malas pulgas = ornery, grouchiness, grouch.

* mala suerte = misfortune, mischance, bad luck, tough luck, hard luck, losing streak.

* malas vibraciones = bad vibes.

* mal atendido = ill-served.

* mala tierra = poor soil.

* mala vista = poor eyesight.

* mala voluntad = ill will.

* mal batido = badly-beaten.

* mal comportamiento = misconduct, disruptive behaviour, misbehaviour [misbehavior, -USA].

* mal comportamiento científico = scientific misconduct.

* mal concebido = ill-conceived.

* mal configurado = misconfigured.

* mal considerado = poorly-regarded.

* mal cuidado = mishandling.

* mal día = bad hair day.

* mal digerido = ill-digested.

* mal educado = impolite.

* mal emparejado = mismated.

* mal enfocado = ill-adapted.

* mal escrito = mistyped, ill-written, badly written.

* mal estado = disrepair, state of disrepair.

* mal estado de salud = poor health.

* mal estructurado = ill-structured.

* mal expresado = inarticulate.

* mal formado = ill-trained.

* mal formulado = badly formulated.

* mal funcionamiento = malfunction, malfunctioning.

* mal fundido = ill-cast.

* mal genio = bile, short temper.

* mal gusto = bad taste, tawdriness.

* mal hecho para = ill suited to/for.

* mal iluminado = badly-lit.

* mal informado = ill-informed.

* mal juicio = bad judgement.

* mal llamado = ill-named.

* mal menor = lesser evil.

* malo del estómago = upset stomach.

* malo, el = bad guy, the.

* mal oído = poor hearing.

* mal olor = stench.

* mal ordenado en los estantes = misshelved.

* mal ordenado los estantes = misshelved.

* mal organizado = ill-structured.

* malos, los = baddies, the.

* malos tiempos = bad times.

* malos tratos = mistreatment, battery, maltreatment, physical abuse.

* malos tratos a la mujer = wife beating, wife battering, wife abuse.

* mal pagado = low-paid, underpaid.

* mal perdedor = sore loser, bad loser.

* mal planeado = ill-planned.

* mal preparado = ill-prepared, ill-equipped, ill-trained.

* mal presentado = poorly presented.

* mal provisto = poorly stocked.

* mal remunerado = poorly paid, poorly remunerated.

* mal retribuido = underpaid.

* mal rollo = bad vibes.

* mal sabor de boca = bad taste in + Posesivo + mouth.

* mal social = societal ill.

* mal surtido = poorly stocked.

* mal trago = awful experience.

* mal uso = misuse, mishandling.

* mal ventilado = stuffy [stuffier -comp., stuffies -sup.].

* manejar mal = mishandle.

* más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer = better the devil you know (than the devil you don't).

* mirar con malos ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* muy mal tiempo = severe weather.

* no + haber + nada malo en = there + be + nothing wrong in/with.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = to every cloud, there is a silver lining.

* no hay mal que por bien no venga = every cloud has a silver lining, be a blessing in disguise.

* no salir mal parado por = be none the worse for (that).

* oír mal = mishearing.

* para bien o para mal = for better or (for) worse, for good or (for) ill, for good or (for) evil.

* para mal = for the worse.

* pasarlo mal = have + a thin time, have + a difficult time, experience + difficult times, pass through + difficult times, face + difficult times.

* pasarlo muy mal = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* persona vaga y mal vestida = slob.

* poner a mal tiempo buena cara = keep + Posesivo + chin up.

* ponerse a malas con = run + afoul of, fall + afoul of.

* por la mala fortuna = by ill fate.

* por la mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by ill fate.

* por las buenas o por las malas = by hook or by crook.

* por mala fortuna = unfortunately, unhappily, sadly.

* por mala suerte = by ill luck, by bad luck, by a stroke of bad luck, by ill fate.

* por mal camino = astray.

* portarse muy mal con = be rotten to.

* quedar mal = lose + face.

* que queda mal = ill-fitting.

* quitarse una mala reputación = clean up + bad reputation.

* racha de mala suerte = losing streak.

* recibir mala prensa = acquire + a bad name.

* reformar malos hábitos = reform + bad habits.

* representar mal = misrepresent.

* salir horriblemente mal = go + horribly wrong.

* salir mal = go + wrong, go + awry, misfire, backfire.

* se avecinan malos tiempos = hard times lie ahead.

* sentirse mal = feel + bad, feel under + the weather, be under the weather, feel + wrong.

* sentirse mal con Uno mismo = feel + wrong.

* ser malo = be a joke, spell + bad news, make + poor + Nombre.

* si mal no + Pronombre + acordarse = to the best of + Posesivo + recollection.

* tener mala fama = hold in + disrepute.

* tener mala fama por = be infamous for.

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

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

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

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

* tener un mal concepto de Alguien = show + low regard for, give + low regard to.

* tener un mal día = have + a bad day.

* terminar mal = come to + a bad end.

* tiempo muy malo = severe weather.

* tierra mala = poor soil.

* traerse algo malo entre manos = be up to no good, get up to + no good.

* tratar mal = maltreat, manhandle.

* usar mal = abuse, misuse.

* * *

malo¹ -la

adjective

[ The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns. mal² (↑ mal (2)) ]

Sentido I

A [ SER] (en calidad) ‹producto› bad, poor; ‹película/novela› bad

la tela es de mala calidad the material is poor quality

tiene mala ortografía her spelling is bad o poor, she's a bad o poor speller

más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

B [ SER]

1 (incompetente) ‹alumno/actor› bad

soy muy mala para los números I'm terrible o very bad with figures

2 ‹padre/marido/amigo› bad

C [ SER] (desfavorable, adverso) bad

¡qué mala suerte! what bad luck!, how unlucky!

la obra tuvo mala crítica the play got bad reviews

están en mala situación económica they're going through hard times

lo malo es que va a haber mucho tráfico the only thing o trouble o problem is that there'll be a lot of traffic

en las malas ( AmS): un amigo no te abandona en las malas a friend doesn't abandon you when things are tough o when times are bad

estar de malas (de mal humor) ( fam) to be in a bad mood; (desafortunado) ( esp AmL) to be unlucky

por las malas unwillingly

vas a tener que hacerlo, ya sea por las buenas o por las malas you'll have to do it whether you like it or not

D [ SER] (inconveniente, perjudicial) ‹hábitos/lecturas› bad

las malas compañías bad company

llegas en mal momento you've come at an awkward o a bad moment

es malo tomar tanto sol it's not good to sunbathe so much

E [ SER] (sin gracia) ‹chiste› bad

F [ SER]

1 (desagradable) ‹olor/aliento› bad

hace un día muy malo it's a horrible day

nos hizo mal tiempo we had bad weather

hace tan malo ( Esp); it's such horrible weather, the weather's so horrible

2 ( Chi fam) (feo) ugly

G [ ESTAR] (en mal estado) ‹alimento›

ese pescado/queso está malo that fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off ( BrE)

H

1

(desmejorado, no saludable): tienes mal aspecto you don't look very well

tienes mala cara you don't look well

yo le veo muy mal color he looks terribly pale to me

2 [ SER] (serio, grave) serious

fue una mala caída it was a bad fall

no tiene nada malo it's nothing serious

3 [ ESTAR] (Esp, Méx fam) (enfermo) sick ( AmE), ill ( BrE)

el pobre está malito the poor thing's not very well ( colloq)

4 [ ESTAR]

( Esp fam euf) ‹mujer› estoy mala I've got my period, it's the time of the month ( colloq euph)

me he puesto mala my period's started

I [ SER] (difícil) malo DE + INF difficult to + INF

esta tela es mala de planchar this material is difficult to iron

es muy malo de convencer he's very difficult o hard to persuade, it's very difficult o hard to persuade him

Sentido II [ SER] (en sentido ético) ‹persona›

¡qué malo eres con tu hermano! you're really horrible o nasty to your brother

no seas mala, préstamelo don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me ( colloq)

una mala mujer a loose woman

es una mujer muy mala she's a wicked o an evil woman

a la mala ( Chi fam): se lo quitaron a la mala they did him out of it ( colloq)

pasó la cámara a la mala she sneaked the camera through ( colloq)

un ataque a la mala a sneak attack

Sentido III (uso enfático) ( delante del n):

no nos ofrecieron ni un mal café they didn't even offer us a (lousy) cup of coffee

no había ni una mala silla para sentarse there wasn't a single damn chair to sit on ( colloq)

Compuestos:

● mala hierba

feminine weed

● mala idea

feminine

( Esp): tiene muy maloa idea she's a nasty character o a nasty piece of work ( colloq)

lo hizo a or con maloa idea he did it deliberately o to be nasty, he did it knowing it would hurt ( o cause trouble etc)

● mala leche

feminine ( fam):

lo hizo con maloa leche (Esp, Méx, Ven); he did it deliberately o to be nasty, he did it knowing it would hurt ( o cause trouble etc)

está de maloa leche ( Esp); she's in a foul mood ( colloq)

¡qué maloa leche, se ha puesto a llover! ( Esp); what a drag! it's started raining ( colloq)

● mala palabra

feminine ( esp AmL) rude o dirty word

● mala pasada

feminine dirty trick

me hizo or jugó una maloa pasada she played a dirty trick on me

los nervios me jugaron una maloa pasada my nerves got the better of me

● mala pata

feminine ( fam); bad luck

● mala sangre

feminine:

hacerse maloa sangre to get worked up ( colloq), to get into a state ( colloq)

● malas artes

fpl guile, cunning

todo lo ha conseguido con maloas artes she's got everything she has by guile o through cunning

● malas lenguas

fpl ( fam):

dicen las maloas lenguas que … rumor* has it that …, there's a rumor* o there are rumors* going around that …, people are saying that …

● mala uva

feminine ( Esp) mala leche

● malos pensamientos

mpl bad o impure thoughts (pl)

● malos tratos

mpl (a persona, animal) maltreatment, ill-treatment; (a un niño, mujer) physical abuse, battery

malos tratos a menores or a la infancia child abuse

malo² -la

masculine, feminine

( leng infantil or hum); baddy ( colloq)

uno de los malos one of the baddies o bad guys

* * *

 

malo

◊ -la adjetivo [The form mal is used before masculine singular nouns]

1

a) [ser] ( en general) bad;

◊ una novela mala a bad novel;

un mal amigo a bad friend;
una mala caída a bad fall;
soy muy malo para los números I'm very bad with figures;
¡qué mala suerte or (fam) pata! what bad luck!, how unlucky!;
lo malo es que … the thing o trouble is that …;
las malas compañías bad company;
mala hierba weed;
malos tratos ill-treatment;
es malo tomar tanto sol it's not good to sunbathe so much;
tienes mala cara or mal aspecto you don't look well

b) ‹calidad/visibilidad› poor;

◊ tiene mala ortografía her spelling is poor;

estar de malas ( de mal humor) (fam) to be in a bad mood;

( con mala suerte) (esp AmL) to be unlucky;

◊ más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

2 [ser] ‹ persona› ( en sentido ético) nasty;
( travieso) naughty;

◊ ¡qué malo eres con tu hermano! you're really horrible o nasty to your brother;

no seas mala, préstamelo don't be mean o rotten, lend it to me (colloq);
una mala mujer a loose woman;
una mujer mala a wicked o an evil woman;
lo hizo a or con mala idea he did it deliberately o to be nasty;
mala palabra (esp AmL) rude o dirty word;
dicen las malas lenguas que … (fam) there's a rumor going around that …, people are saying that …;
hacerse mala sangre to get upset;
ver tb leche 3
3 [estar]

a) ( en mal estado) ‹ alimento›:

◊ el pescado/queso está malo the fish/cheese has gone bad, that fish/cheese is off (BrE)

b) (Esp, Méx fam) ( enfermo) sick (AmE), ill (BrE);

◊ el pobre está malito the poor thing's not very well (colloq)

■ sustantivo masculino, femenino (leng infantil o hum) baddy (colloq)
malo,-a
I adjetivo ➣ mal
1 bad: he tenido un día muy malo, I've had a bad day
2 (perverso) wicked, bad
(desobediente, travieso) naughty: es una mala persona, he's wicked
préstame el coche, no seas malo, lend me your car, don't be so mean
3 (espectáculo, libro, etc) bad, poor: es un argumento muy malo, it's a feeble argument
4 (dañino) harmful: es malo para ti que él lo sepa, it's bad for you that he knows it
tenemos que arrancar las malas hierbas, we'll have to pull out the weeds
5 (enfermo) ill, sick
6 (alimentos) rotten: se puso mala la carne, the meat went bad
II m,f fam el malo, the baddy o villain
♦ Locuciones: estar de malas, to be in a bad mood
por las malas, by force
' malo' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abominable
- ínfima
- ínfimo
- mal
- mala
- peor
- quina
- redundar
- santita
- santito
- antología
- chimbo
- en
- endiablado
- fatal
- fondo
- igualmente
- pata
- pichanga
- sangre
English:
abominable
- abysmal
- bad
- baddy
- devil
- evil
- good
- half
- ill
- lean
- low
- mean
- nasty
- off
- poor
- rotten
- shocking
- spiteful
- thick
- up
- villain
- wicked
- wrong
- your
- corny
- crummy
- indulgence
- lame
- naughty
- paltry
- ropey
- severe
- trashy
- unkind

* * *

malo, -a Mal is used instead of malo before singular masculine nouns (e.g. un mal ejemplo a bad example). The comparative form of malo (= worse) is peor, the superlative forms (= the worst) are el peor (masculine) and la peor (feminine).

♦ adj

1. [perjudicial, grave] bad;

traigo malas noticias I have some bad news;

es malo para el hígado it's bad for your liver;

¿es algo malo, doctor? is it serious, doctor?;

una mala caída a nasty fall

2. [sin calidad, sin aptitudes] poor, bad;

una mala novela/actriz a bad novel/actress;

tiene muy malas notas her Br marks o US grades are very poor o bad;

ser de mala calidad to be poor quality;

este material/producto es muy malo this material/product is very poor quality;

soy muy malo para la música I'm no good at o very bad at music;

Comp

Hum

es más malo que hecho de encargo [producto, jugador] he's/it's truly awful o as bad as they come;

Prov

más vale lo malo conocido que lo bueno por conocer better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)

3. [inapropiado, adverso] bad;

fue una mala decisión it was a bad decision;

he dormido en mala postura I slept in a funny position;

es mala señal it's a bad sign;

lo malo es que… the problem is (that)…;

disparó con la pierna mala y metió gol he shot with his weaker foot and scored;

tener mala suerte to be unlucky;

¡qué mala suerte! how unlucky!

Comp

Am mala palabra swearword

4. [malvado] wicked, evil;

es muy mala persona she's a really nasty person;

tiene muy mala intención he's very spiteful;

eso sólo lo haría un mal amigo it's a poor friend who would do a thing like that;

¡mira que eres malo, criticarla así! it's not very nice of you to criticize her like that!;

anda, no seas malo y déjame que vaya go on, don't be mean, let me go

5. [travieso] naughty;

¡no seas malo y obedece! be good and do as I say!;

el crío está muy malo últimamente the child has been very naughty recently

6. [enfermo] ill, sick;

estar/ponerse malo to be/fall ill;

tiene a su padre malo her father's ill;

Comp

poner malo a alguien to drive sb mad;

me pongo mala cada vez que la veo I get mad every time I see her

7. [desagradable] bad;

esta herida tiene mal aspecto this wound looks nasty;

mal tiempo bad weather;

hace mal tiempo the weather's bad;

Esp

está muy malo el día it's a horrible day, it's not a very nice day

8. [podrido, pasado] bad, off, spoiled;

la fruta está mala the fruit is bad o spoiled;

la fruta se ha puesto mala the fruit has gone bad o Br gone off

9. [uso enfático]

ni un mal trozo de pan not even a crust of bread;

no había ni un mal supermercado en el pueblo there wasn't a single supermarket to be found in the village

10. [difícil]

el asunto es malo de entender the matter is hard o difficult to understand;

una lesión muy mala de curar an injury that won't heal easily

11. Esp Fam Euf [con la menstruación]

estar/ponerse mala to be on/start one's period

♦ nm,f

el malo, la mala [en cine] the villain, the baddy

♦ interj

cuando nadie se queja, ¡malo! it's a bad sign when nobody complains

♦ malas nfpl

está o [m5] se ha puesto a malas con él she's fallen out with him;

estar de malas to be in a bad mood;

por las malas [a la fuerza] by force;

lo vas a hacer, aunque tenga que ser por las malas you're going to do it, whether you like it or not;

por las malas es de temer she's a fearful sight when she's angry;

Comp

Am

estar o [m5] andar de malas to be having a hard time;

Comp

Andes, CSur

en las malas [de mal humor] in a bad mood;

los amigos no te abandonan en las malas friends don't let you down when things get bad

* * *

malo

I adj

1 bad

2 calidad poor

3 ( enfermo) sick, ill;

ponerse malo get sick, fall ill

4

:

por las buenas o por las malas whether he/she etc likes it or not;

estar de malas be in a bad mood;

por las malas by force;

andar a malas con alguien be on bad terms with s.o.;

lo malo es que unfortunately

II m hum

bad guy, baddy

* * *

malo, -la adj, ( mal before masculine singular nouns)

1) : bad

mala suerte: bad luck

2) : wicked, naughty

3) : cheap, poor (quality)

4) : harmful

malo para la salud: bad for one's health

5) (using the form mal) : unwell

estar mal del corazón: to have heart trouble

6)

estar de malas : to be in a bad mood

malo, -la n

: villain, bad guy (in novels, movies, etc.)

* * *

malo¹ adj

1. (en general) bad [comp. worse; superl. worst]

un cantante malo a bad singer

hace un día malo the weather's bad

2. (travieso) naughty [comp. naughtier; superl. naughtiest]

es un niño muy malo he's a very naughty boy

3. (enfermo) ill [comp. worse; superl. worst]

ayer estuve malo I was ill yesterday

4. (pasado) off

creo que este yogur está malo I think this yoghurt is off

5. (malvado) evil

tiene cara de ser malo he looks evil

estar de malas to be in a bad mood

ser malo en/para algo to be bad at something

mala hierba weed

malo² n villain

1. adj. 2. adv. partir 1., 3) nunca cuanto 2., 2) I II III I II III

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* acabar con mejor cara = end up on + a high note.

* acabar mejor de lo que + empezar = end up on + a high note.

* alcanzar + Posesivo + mejor momento = peak.

* alcanzar + Posesivo + mejor momento demasiado pronto = peak + too early.

* al mejor precio = at the best price.

* al mejor precio posible = at the best possible price.

* apreciar mejor = gain + an appreciation.

* aprovechar mejor = make + the best use of.

* aprovechar mejor el dinero = get + more for + Posesivo + money.

* arreglárselas lo mejor posible = make + the best of things.

* arreglarse lo mejor posible = look + Posesivo + best.

* atraído por la promesa de una vida mejor = drawn by the promise of a better life.

* aun mejor = better still.

* ayudar a comprender mejor = offer + insights, improve + understanding, glean + insights, give + an insight into, provide + insight into, lend + understanding to.

* ayudar a conocer mejor = advance + understanding.

* ayudar a entender mejor = lend + understanding to.

* bestseller de los mejores = runaway bestseller.

* cada vez mejor = from strength to strength.

* cambiar para mejor = change for + the better.

* como mejor + poder = as best + Pronombre + can.

* comprender mejor = gain + insight into, increase + understanding, gain + a better understanding, gain + a greater understanding, gain + a better sense of, get + a better sense of, place + Nombre + in/into + perspective.

* con la mejor voluntad del mundo = in good faith.

* con las mejores intenciones = best-intentioned.

* conocer mejor = gain + a better understanding, gain + a greater understanding.

* cuando uno se encuentra mejor de ánimo = on the upswing.

* cuanto antes mejor = sooner the better, the.

* cuantos más, mejor = the more the merrier, the more the better.

* dar lo mejor de Uno mismo = give of + Posesivo + best.

* dársele a Uno mejor Algo = be better at.

* dársele mejor a Uno = do + best.

* de la mejor forma posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* de la mejor manera posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* del mejor modo posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* de los mejores = high-end, as good as any, top-class.

* de mejor manera = best.

* demostrar ser mejor = prove + superior.

* el ataque es la mejor defensa = attack is the best form of defence.

* el mejor = best of breed, the.

* el mejor de todos = the cream of the crop, crème de la crème.

* el mejor hasta ahora = the best yet.

* el mejor modo de = the best way of.

* el mejor momento de todos = the time of all times.

* el mejor + Nombre = the best available + Nombre.

* el mejor que ha hecho hasta ahora = Posesivo + best yet.

* el perro es el mejor amigo del hombre = a dog is man's best friend.

* empezar a jugar mejor = get back into + the game.

* encontrarse en una mejor situación económica = be economically better off.

* en el mejor de los casos = at best, at most, ideally, in the best of circumstances, the best case scenario, at the most, at the best of times, at the very best.

* en el mejor momento de Uno = at + Posesivo + (very) best.

* en la mejor posición = best-positioned.

* en las mejores condiciones posibles = in the best possible conditions.

* en su mejor momento = at + Posesivo + peak.

* entender mejor = gain + a better sense of, get + a better sense of, place + Nombre + in/into + perspective.

* estar en la mejor posición para = be best positioned to.

* estar mejor = be better off, be better served by.

* funcionar mejor = work + best, do + best.

* hacer el mejor uso de = make + the best of.

* hacerlo lo mejor que uno pueda = do + Posesivo + utmost, give + Posesivo + utmost, give + Posesivo + best.

* hacerlo mejor = do + a better job.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno pued = give of + Posesivo + best.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno pueda = put + Posesivo + best into.

* hacer lo mejor que Uno puede = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* hacer mejor = give + Nombre + an edge.

* hacer resaltar las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* interpretar la ley según le convenga mejor a Uno = bend + the rules to suit + Posesivo + own purposes.

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

* la mejor forma de hacer Algo = lessons learned [lessons learnt].

* la mejor manera = how best.

* la mejor manera de = the best way of.

* la mejor oferta = the best deal.

* la mejor opción = the best bet.

* la mejor salida = the best way forward.

* la mejor solución = the best way forward.

* lo mejor = the top of the tree.

* lo mejor de = the beauty of, showpiece.

* lo mejor de ambas partes = the best of both worlds.

* lo mejor de lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor de todo = best of all.

* lo mejor entre lo mejor = the best of the best.

* lo mejor es que... = the good news is (that)....

* lo mejor está aún por llegar = the best is yet to come.

* lo mejor posible = to the best of + Posesivo + ability, at + Posesivo + (very) best, optimally.

* lo mejor que pueda = to the best of + Posesivo + ability.

* lo mejor que se puede hacer = the best bet.

* lo mejor + ser = the beautiful part + be.

* lo que es aun mejor = better still.

* lo que es mejor aun = better still.

* mejor amigo = best friend.

* mejor aun = better still.

* mejor compra = best buy.

* mejor conservado = best-preserved.

* mejor dicho = nay.

* mejor diseñado = best-designed, best-laid, best-laid.

* mejor, el = best, the.

* mejor imposible = as good as it gets.

* mejor intento = best stab, best shot.

* mejor oferta = best buy.

* mejor oferta, la = best value, the.

* mejor pensado = best-laid.

* mejor planeado = best-laid.

* mejor que = in preference to.

* mejor relación calidad-precio, la = best value for money, the.

* mejor sería que + Subjuntivo = might + as well + Verbo.

* mientras más, mejor = the more the merrier, the more the better.

* mucho mejor = far better.

* mucho mejor que = far superior to.

* nada es mejor que = nothing beats....

* nada sabe mejor que sentirse delgado = nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

* no estar en el mejor momento de Uno = be past + Posesivo + best.

* no hay nada mejor que = nothing beats....

* ocupar la mejor posición para = be in the best position to, be best positioned to, be the best placed to.

* Oficina para el Mejor Comercio = Better Business Bureau.

* o mejor dicho = or rather.

* para un futuro mejor = for a better future.

* pasar a mejor vida = bite + the dust, give up + the ghost.

* pasar a vida mejor = lay + Nombre + low.

* pastos mejores = greener pastures, pastures new.

* persona con la mejor nota = top scorer, top scorer.

* poner de manifiesto las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* Posesivo + mejor amigo = Posesivo + best friend.

* potenciar las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* ¡que gane el mejor! = may the best man win!, may the best man win!.

* que ocupa la mejor posición = best-positioned.

* sacar a relucir las mejores cualidades de = bring out + the best in.

* sacar el mejor partido de = get + the best out of.

* sacar el mejor partido de Algo = make + the best use of, make + the best advantage of, make + the best possible use of.

* sacar el mejor partido posible = get + the best of both worlds, get + the best of all worlds.

* sacar mejor partido = get + more for + Posesivo + money.

* secreto mejor guardado = best kept secret.

* sería mejor que + Imperfecto de Subjuntivo = had better + Infinitivo.

* sería mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* sería mejor que yo = I'd better [I had better].

* ser la mejor alternativa = be the best bet.

* ser la mejor manera de = be the conduit for.

* ser mejor en = be better at.

* ser mejor que = be superior to, compare + favourably.

* ser mejor que + Subjuntivo = better + Infinitivo.

* tanto mejor = so much the better.

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

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

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

* terminar con mejor cara = end up on + a high note.

* terminar mejor de lo que + empezar = end up on + a high note.

* tierras mejores = greener pastures, pastures new.

* todavía no ha pasado lo mejor = the best is yet to come.

* trabajar mejor = work + best.

* una mejor ocasión = a better time.

* un mejor momento = a better time.

* vida mejor = better life.

* y aun mejor = better yet.

 

mejor adjetivo
1



‹ calidad› better, higher, superior;

cuanto más grande mejor the bigger the better


está mejor así it's better like this
2



( entre varios) best;

productos de la mejor calidad products of the highest quality;
lo mejor es que se lo digas the best thing (to do) is to tell her;
le deseo lo mejor I wish you the very best o all the best


■ adverbio
1 ( comparativo) better;

pintas cada vez mejor your painting is getting better and better;
me lleva dos años, mejor dicho, dos y medio she's two years older than me, or rather, two and a half
2 ( superlativo) best;

la versión mejor ambientada de la obra the best-staged production of the play;
lo hice lo mejor que pude I did it as best I could o (frml) to the best of my ability;
a lo mejor maybe, perhaps;
a lo mejor vamos a Italia we may o might go to Italy
3 (esp AmL) ( en sugerencias):

mejor me callo I think I'd better shut up
■ sustantivo masculino y femenino:


( de varios) the best;

mejor
I adjetivo
1 (comparativo de bueno) better: mi bolígrafo es mejor que el tuyo, my pen is better than yours
es mejor que confieses, you'd better confess
no hay nada mejor, there's nothing better
2 (superlativo de bueno) best
la mejor de la clase, the best in the class
lo mejor, the best thing
II adverbio
1 (comparativo de bien) better: canta mucho mejor, he sings much better
estamos mejor atendidos, we are better looked after
lo hace mejor que tú, she does it better than you do
2 (superlativo de bien) best: soy la que mejor lo hace, I'm the one who does it best
3 (antes, preferiblemente) mejor lo escribes, you'd better write it down
déjalo mejor para la tarde, it'd be better if you left it for the evening
♦ Locuciones: a lo mejor, maybe, perhaps, tanto mejor, so much the better

' mejor' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
bastante
- calaña
- caso
- concebir
- corta
- corto
- cuanta
- cuanto
- desear
- despersonalizada
- despersonalizado
- dicha
- dicho
- diplomacia
- don
- duda
- él
- embalarse
- flor
- gafar
- infinitamente
- ingeniar
- irse
- modestamente
- pegar
- pique
- postor
- postora
- premio
- que
- resbaladiza
- resbaladizo
- revolver
- según
- sentar
- sentirse
- superarse
- superior
- tanta
- tanto
- vaho
- vida
- voluntad
- alegrar
- caber
- cada
- camino
- casi
- como
- cuando
English:
acclaim
- acknowledge
- and
- any
- at
- attest
- awaken
- best
- better
- brand
- bust up
- but
- by
- change
- choose
- clean up
- dog
- ever
- eyesight
- far
- female
- few
- flagship
- gazump
- gazumping
- grade
- highlight
- institution
- job
- late
- laugh
- lion
- look up
- lot
- love
- male-dominated
- maybe
- mile
- more
- much
- next
- of
- off
- one-upmanship
- optimal
- out
- outdistance
- outmaneuver
- outmanoeuvre
- pain
[recuperado] to be better;

hạl|ten ['haltn] pret hielt [hiːlt] ptp geha\#lten [gə'haltn] an +dat to) 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3.