June 1, 2009

zombi

Meaning: zombie

Example: Creo que esa señora se droga. Se porta como un zombi. (I think that lady takes drugs. She acts like a zombie.)

June 2, 2009

tener ganas de

Meaning: to feel like, to be in the mood for

Example: Tengo muchísimas ganas de ir al cine. (I really feel like going to the movies.)

June 3, 2009

Haz/Haga de cuenta que

Meaning: Imagine that, let's say that

Example: Haz de cuenta que ganas un billón de dólares. ¿Qué es lo primero que harías? (Imagine that you win a billion dollars. What’s the first thing you’d do?)

June 4, 2009

A grandes males, grandes remedios.

Literal Meaning: Great big problems require great big solutions.

Analogous Saying: Desperate times call for desperate measures.

June 5, 2009

pasmado

Meaning: flabbergasted, stunned

Example: Las noticias de mi muerte me dejaron plasmada. (News of my death
left me flabbergasted.)

June 6, 2009

de aquí en ocho

Literal Meaning: eight from here

Meaning: a week from now

Example: Si no lo quieres hoy, pasaré de aquí en ocho. (If you don’t want it today, I’ll come by in a week.)

June 7, 2009

mil milón

Literal Meaning: thousand million

Meaning: billion

Example: En el mundo hay más de 6.7 mil milones de personas. (There are more than 6.7 billion people in the world.)

June 8, 2009

pelar los ojos

Meaning: to keep your eyes peeled

Example: Estoy buscando la tienda de Memo, ayúdame y pela los ojos. (I’m looking for Memo’s store, help me and keep your eyes peeled.)

June 9, 2009

Si estás colérico, cuenta hasta diez antes de hablar; si muy colérico, hasta cien.

Example: If angry, count to 10 before speaking; if very angry, to 100.

June 10, 2009

muchacha

Literal Meaning: girl

Meaning: maid

Example: Mi muchacha, Lupita, mañana cumple 60 años. (My maid, Lupita, will be 60 years old tomorrow.)

June 11, 2009

la pena de muerte

Meaning: the death penalty

Example: El Partido Verde de México apoya la pena de muerte. (Mexico’s Green Party supports the death penalty.)

June 12, 2009

pedazo de basura

Literal Meaning: piece of trash

Meaning: piece of shit

Example: Ese tonto pega a su mujer, es un pedazo de basura. (That idiot beats his wife; he’s a piece of shit.)

June 13, 2009

borracho y bronqueado

Meaning: drunk and disorderly

Example: Pepito está en la carcel por estar borracho y bronqueado. (Pepito is in jail for being drunk and disorderly.)

June 14, 2009

A todo se acostumbra el hombre, menos a no comer.

Meaning: Man can adjust to anything except not eating.

June 15, 2009

dedar

Meaning: to finger (someone)

Example: Jaime dedó a don Pancho y luego tuvo que huir del pueblo. (Jaime fingered don Pancho and then had to flee from town.)

June 16, 2009

a lo mejor

Meaning: probably

Example: Yo sé que me odias; a lo mejor ni quieres hablar conmigo. (I know you hate me; you probably don’t even want to speak to me.)

June 17, 2009

tal vez

Meaning: maybe

Example: Tal vez algún día llegue a ser presidente. (Maybe I’ll be president some day.)

June 18, 2009

En cuestión de puercos todo es dinero, y en cuestión de dinero todos son puercos.

Meaning: Regarding pigs, it’s all [about the] money, and regarding money, all are pigs.

June 19, 2009

darle a uno el avión

Meaning: to shine someone on, to blow them off

Example: Pablo decía que quería casarse conmigo, pero a fin de cuentas me daba el avión. (Pablo always said he wanted to marry me, but he was really just shining me on.)

June 20, 2009

la Gran Manzana

Meaning: the Big Apple (NYC)

Example: Mis sobrinas están emocionadas de viajar a la Gran Manzana; nunca han salido de Nueva Jersey.(My nieces are excited about visiting the Big Apple; they’ve never left New Jersey.)

June 21, 2009

a propósito

Meaning: by the way

Example: Nos vemos el sábado. A propósito, puedes pagarme lo que me debes? (I’ll see you on Saturday. By the way, can you pay me the money you owe me?)

June 22, 2009

niño de compromiso

Meaning: shotgun wedding, to have to get married [because of the baby]

Example: Paty y Manolo se casaron por el niño de compromiso. (Paty and Manolo had to get married because of the baby.)

June 23, 2009

chillante

Literal Meaning: screaming

Meaning: gaudy

Example: Qué vestido más chillante: es verde con puntos rojos y amarillos. (What a gaudy dress: it’s green with red and yellow polka dots.)

June 24, 2009

¡Qué milagro!

Meaning: What a miracle! I don’t believe it!

Example: Hija, ya llegó tu papá de la casa de su novia. ¡Qué milagro! (Daughter, your father has come back from his girlfriend's house. What a miracle!)

June 25, 2009

¡Qué payaso eres!

Meaning: What a clown/comedian/jokester you are.

Example: ¡Otra vez con tus tonterías! ¡Qué payaso eres! (Here we go again with your foolishnesh! You’re such a clown!)

June 26, 2009

Confiar en tus/sus presentimientos

Meaning: Trust your instincts.

Example: No ignores lo que te diga el corazón; confia en tus presentimientos. (Don’t ignore what your heart tells you; trust your instincts.)

June 27, 2009

¡Caracoles!

Literal Meaning: Snails!

Meaning: Gee whiz!/Gosh!

Example: ¡Caracoles! ¡Se me olvidó mi carretera! (Gosh! I forgot my wallet!)

June 28, 2009

chatear

Meaning: chat

Example: Vamos al café de Internet. Quiero chatear con mis amigos virtuales. (Let’s go to the Internet café. I want to chat with my virtual friends.)

June 29, 2009

Si mi tía tuviera cojones, sería mi tío.

Literal Meaning: If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.

Analogous Saying: If the “if” weren’t there, the devil would be a preacher.

June 30, 2009

compañero sentimental

Meaning: life partner, companion

Example: Ryan O’Neal era el compañero sentimental de Farrah Fawcett. (Ryan O’Neal was Farrah Fawcett’s life partner.)