October 1, 2010

escuadrón de la muerte

Meaning: death squad

Example: El escuadrón de la muerte fue responsable de la muerte de un juez y un periodista. (The death squad was responsible for the death of a judge and a journalist.)

October 3, 2010

campo de juego

Meaning: pitch, playing field

Example: Hubo una infracción por haber demasiados jugadores en el campo de juego. (There was a penalty for too many players on the pitch.)

October 4, 2010

Cree que sus pedos no huelen.

Literal Meaning: She thinks her farts don’t smell.

Meaning: She thinks she’s hot shit.

Example: Debora cree que sus pedos no huelen. Es atractiva pero no es nada del otro mundo. (Debora thinks she’s hot shit. She’s attractive, but nothing out of this world.)

October 5, 2010

titular

Meaning: first string

Example: El mariscal de campo titular de los Chargers de San Diego es Philip Rivers. (San Diego's first string quarterback is Philip Rivers.)

October 6, 2010

predilecto

Meaning: favorite

Example: El curry verde con vegetales es mi platillo predilecto. (Green curry with vegetables is my favorite dish.)

October 7, 2010

Al mal tiempo, buena cara.

Meaning: Put a good face on a bad situation.

October 8, 2010

fan

Meaning: fan

Example: No soy un fan de McDonald’s. Ese tipo de comida no me cae bien. (I’m not a fan of McDonald’s. That type of food doesn’t appeal to me.)

October 9, 2010

en camera lenta

Meaning: in slow motion

Example: Cuando resbalé en la escalera sentí que caía en camera lenta. (When I slipped on the stairs I felt like I was falling in slow motion.)

October 10, 2010

Agua pasada no mueve molino.

Literal Meaning: Water that has passed doesn’t move the water wheel.

Meaning: That's water under the bridge.

October 11, 2010

Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr.

Literal Meaning: Water that you don’t need to drink, let it flow.

Meaning: Mind your own business.

October 12, 2010

primogénito

Meaning: first born

Example: Carlos Slim Domit, hijo primogénito del hombre más rico del mundo, se casó con María Elena Torruco. (Carlos Slim Domit, first-born son of the richest man in the world, married María Elena Torruco.)

October 13, 2010

El Señor es mi pastor.

Meaning: The Lord is my shepherd.

Example: El Salmo 23 comienza: “El Señor es mi pastor. Nada me faltará.” (The 23rd Psalm begins: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”)

October 14, 2010

calzada

Meaning: boulevard

Example: La tienda se encuentra en Calzada Hidalgo. (The shop is on Hidalgo Boulevard.)

October 15, 2010

A buen hambre no hay pan duro.

Literal Meaning: When you’re hungry there’s no bread too hard.

Analogous Saying: Hunger is the best gravy.

October 16, 2010

zapatear en la tumba

Meaning: to dance on someone’s grave

Example: La escritora Elena Poniatowska expresó su deseo de que los mexicanos zapatearan sobre las tumbas de los politicos más corruptos del pais. (Writer Elena Poniatowska expressed a wish that Mexicans dance on the graves of the country’s most corrupt politicians.)

October 17, 2010

bono basura

Meaning: junk bond

Example: Un bono basura es un bono clasificado por debajo del grado de inversión al momento de compra. (A junk bond is a bond classified below investment grade at the time of purchase.)

October 18, 2010

pañuelo

Literal Meaning: handkerchief

Meaning: flag

Example: Hubo un pañuelo en la jugada y un castigo de 15 yardas contra los Empacadores. (There was a flag on the play and a penalty of 15 yards against the Packers.)

October 19, 2010

huitlacoche

Meaning: corn smut, corn fungus

Example: Se puede freir el huitlacoche con cebolla, ajo, chile, y tomate para hacer quesadillas de huitlacoche. ¡Deliciosas!(You can fry huitlacoche with onion, garlic, chilies, and tomatoes to make corn smut quesadillas. Delicious!)

October 20, 2010

mimado

Meaning: spoiled

Example: No le des más juguetes al niño. Está bien mimado. (Don’t give the child any more toys. He is really spoiled.)

October 21, 2010

cachondo

Meaning: horny

Example: Hace dos meses que no veo a mi mujer. Estoy cachondo. (It’s been two months since I’ve seen my woman. I’m horny.)

October 22, 2010

té de tila

Meaning: linden flower tea

Example: El té de tila es útil para relajarse o dormir y para combatir un resfriado. (Linden flower tea is helpful for relaxing, getting to sleep, and fighting a cold.)

October 23, 2010

usar Manuela

Meaning: to beat off

Example: Los adolescentes usan Manuela constantemente porque están siempre exitados. (Adolescents beat off all the time because they are always aroused.)

October 24, 2010

de chiripada

Meaning: perhaps, with luck

Example: Mi mamá compró unos pastelitos ricos en la panadería de la esquina. Voy corriendo para ver si de chiripada haya todavía. (My mom bought some delicious pastries at the corner bakery. I’m going to run over there and see if perhaps they still have some.)

October 25, 2010

Viejo el viento y todavia sopla.

Literal Meaning: The wind may be old, but it still blows.

Analogous Saying: He may be old but he’s still kicking.

Example: Pepe: Tu papa siempre planta maíz? (Does your dad still plant corn?) Juanito: Sí, viejo el viento y todavia sopla. (Yes, he may be old but he’s still kicking.)

October 26, 2010

comida casera

Meaning: homemade food, home-cooked meals

Example: A mi no me gusta la comida rápida. Prefiero la comida casera de mi abuela. (I don’t like fast food. I prefer my grandmother’s home-cooked meals.)

October 27, 2010

botana

Meaning: snack, bar snack

Example: En algunos bares dan una botana gratuita---por ejemplo cacahuates con chile o chicharrones---con cada trago. (Some bars give a free snack---for example, peanuts dusted in chile or pork rinds---with each drink.)

October 28, 2010

por si las moscas

Literal Meaning: if the flies

Meaning: just in case

Example: Trae unos refrescos por si las moscas. (Bring some soft drinks just in case.)

October 29, 2010

chicharrones

Meaning: pork rinds

Example: En algunos bares dan una botana gratuita---por ejemplo cacahuates con chile o chicharrones---con cada trago. (Some bars give a free snack---for example, peanuts dusted in chile or pork rinds---with each drink.)

October 30, 2010

quedarse como novia de rancho

Literal Meaning: to end up like a ranch bride

Meaning: to be left high and dry

Example: He preparada para dos años para el viaje a Paris, pero mi novio al final invitó a mi hermana. Me quedé como novia de rancho. (I’ve been preparing for two years to go to Paris, but in the end my boyfriend invited my sister. I was left high and dry.)

October 31, 2010

chamuco

Meaning: boogeyman

Example: De niña estaba convencida de que había un chamuco en el guardarropa. (As a child I was convinced that there was a boogeyman in the closet.)