Applying the “long term patient, short term impatient” mindset to second language acquisition

Applying the “long term patient, short term impatient” mindset to second language acquisition
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An idiom is a common phrase which means something different from its literal meaning but can be understood because of their popular use. Idioms are made of normal words that have a special meaning known to almost everyone.”
Source: Wikipedia
Every language has its own idioms and Spanish isn’t the exception. For language learners, idioms tend to be a big challenge, as they can be deceiving expressions. It doesn’t matter how many vocabulary words you have learned, the meaning of idioms doesn’t depend on the meaning of their words but on the context and cultural background.
A proper use and a good understanding of idioms are signs of an advanced learner of the language. Studying Spanish idioms is a way to take your Spanish skills to the next level and dig deep into the most peculiar intricacies of the language.
When learning a new language idioms can be very confusing. Particularly when you hear them for the first time from a native speaker. Think of the common expression in the English “Piece of Cake”.
“That test was a piece of cake!”
How confusing is the literal meaning? Why would a test literally be a piece of cake? Not that I would complain.. In a sense, learning idioms is like learning new vocabulary words. Since the expressions have a meaning unrelated to their literal interpretation, language students will want to learn common idioms and commit them to memory to help speed up their road to becoming conversational.
SPANISH | ENGLISH (LITERAL) | ENGLISH (TRANSLATION) | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Quien no arriesga, no gana | Who doesn’t risk, doesn’t win | Nothing ventured, nothing gained |
2 | Estar como una cabra | To be like a goat | To be crazy |
3 | No buscarle las pulgas al perro | Don’t look for fleas on the dog | Let sleeping dogs lie |
4 | Feliz como unas castañuelas | Happy as castanets | Happy as a clam |
5 | No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy | Don’t leave for tomorrow that which you can do today | Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today |
6 | Irse por las ramas | To go by the branches | To beat around the bush |
7 | Quien fue a Sevilla, perdidó su silla | He who went to Sevilla, lost his seat | You snooze, you loose |
8 | Hacer el mono | To do the monkey | To monkey around |
9 | Muchos generales para tan pocos soldados | Many generals for so few soldiers | Too many chiefs, not enough Indians |
10 | A caballo regalado no le mires el diente | A gifted horse, don’t look at the teeth | Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to be cold | tener frío |
to be Succeed , to have success | tener éxito |
to be hot | tener calor |
a to have the floor | tener la palabra |
to be years olld | tener años |
to want , to Desire | tener ganas |
to be careful | tener cuidado |
to take the blame, to be at fault | tener la culpa |
to Be jealous | estar celosos |
to be envious | tener envidia |
to Have a (head) ache | tener dolor de cabeza |
to be hungry | tener hambre |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to be Afraid of , to have fear of | tener miedo de |
to be ashamed | tener verguenza |
to be lucky | tener suerte |
to be in a rage , to be very angry | tener rabia |
to take someone for , to consider someone to be | tener por |
to be thirsty | tener sed |
to look bad | tener mala cara |
to have to do with | tener que ver con |
to be in a hurry | tener prisa |
to be sleepy | tener sueño |
to have a lot / a little / something / nothing to do | tener mucho / poco / algo / nada que hacer |
to be right | tener razon |
to take place | tener lugar |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to put one´s foot in one´s mouth | meter la pata |
to meddle | meterse donde no te llaman |
to make clear | poner en claro |
to carry ( something ) away | llevar (algo) |
to Put the cards on the table | poner las cartas sobre la mesa |
to Carry out | llevar a cabo |
to sue | poner pleito |
to take the opposite point of view | tomar el punto de vista opuesto |
to get along well / badly with | llevarse bien / mal con |
to star to | ponerse a |
to heap praise on someone | alabar a alguien |
to make look ridiculous | hacer el ridículo |
to snoop around | meter las narices |
to put in doubt | poner en duda |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
in the open air | al aire libre |
across | a través de |
to the right | A la derecha |
in a good mood | de buen humor |
probably | a lo mejor |
at the same time | al mismo tiempo |
on foot | a pie |
at the beginning | al principio |
inside out | al reves |
In the distance | En la distancia |
willingly | de buena gana |
at the beginning of | al principios de |
From now on | De hoy en adelante |
to the left | A la izquierda |
alone | a solas |
by day | de día |
by dint of | a fuerza de |
at the same time | a la vez |
in this way | De esta manera |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
every other day / week/month/ year | días / semana / mes / año |
really? | ¿De Verdad? |
on the other hand | en cambio |
straight ahead | recto |
in regard to | en cuanto a |
Standing | De pie |
by night | por la noche |
Nowhere, not anywhere | por ninguna parte, |
Right away | en seguida |
Suddenly | de pronto |
by no means | de ninguna manera |
in fact as a matter of fact | en efecto |
straight ahead | derecho |
everywhere | por todas partes |
in a bad mood | de mal humor |
anyway | de todos modos |
again | de nuevo |
unwillingly | de mala gana |
Suddenly | de repente |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to be left astonished | quedar asombrado |
to agree on | quedar en |
to take seriously | tomar en serio |
to be left penniless | quedarse con el dia y la noche |
to keep | quedarse con |
to take it easy | tomarselo con calma |
to pull someone´s leg | tomarle enserio |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to pay attention to | hecer caso |
there is space | hay espacio |
it´s good / bad weather | hace buen / mal tiempo |
to play a part | hacer un papel |
to hurt oneself | hacer daño |
to become | hacerse + profession |
to be lacking | hacer falta |
to harm | hacer daño |
to take a trip | hacer un viaje |
to do good/ bad | hacer el bien / el mal |
it´s cold | Hace frío |
to become late | hacerse tarde |
it is Necessary | es necesario |
it´s windy | Hace viento |
it´s hot / warm | hace calor |
English | Spanish |
---|---|
to shout | dar gritos |
to flatter | echar flores |
to burst out crying | echarse a llorar |
to feed | dar de comer |
to give up | darse por vencido |
to take a walk | dar un paseo |
to miss (a person or place) | echar de menos |
to run into | dar con |
to face | dar cara |
to give thanks | dar las gracias |
to strike the hour | dar la hora |
to lead to ( places ) | dar a |
to realize | darse cuenta de |
to give a hug , to embrace | dar un abrazo |
to shake hands | darse la mano |
to hurry | darse prisa |
to take a walk | dar un vuelta |
to blame | echar la culpa |
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