Chapter 68

Duck

• Spanish: pato (animal) / agacharse (verb) / esquivar (duck a question)

• Meaning: A waterbird (noun); to lower the head or body quickly to avoid something (verb); to avoid a responsibility.

• Example: "The duck swam across the pond. Duck under that branch. He ducked the question."

Crash

• Spanish: chocar / estrellarse (vehículo) / colapso (financiero, sistema) / quedarse a dormir (crash at a friend's house)

• Meaning: To collide violently; to fall asleep at someone's place; a sudden market/system failure.

• Example: "The car crashed into a tree. Can I crash on your couch tonight?"

Nail

• Spanish: clavo (metal) / uña (finger/toe) / clavar (verb) / lograr perfectamente (slang: nailed it)

• Meaning: A thin metal spike; the hard covering at the tip of fingers; to fasten with a nail; to do something perfectly.

• Example: "Hammer the nail into the wall. She nailed her presentation."

Beat

• Spanish: golpear / vencer (to beat someone) / ritmo (music) / agotado (I'm beat)

• Meaning: To hit repeatedly; to defeat; a rhythmic pulse; also slang for exhausted.

• Example: "He beat the drum. She beat her opponent. I'm beat after work."

Ditto

• Spanish: idem / igual / yo también

• Meaning: The same as above; used to say you agree or feel the same way.

• Example: "'I love this song.' 'Ditto.'"

Shotgun

• Spanish: escopeta / asiento del copiloto (calling shotgun)

• Meaning: A smoothbore gun; also, the front passenger seat in a car ("I call shotgun" = I claim that seat).

• Example: "He carried a shotgun. Shotgun for the front seat!"

Knock yourself out

• Spanish: haz lo que quieras (permiso) / darte un golpe (literal)

• Meaning: Go ahead and do it (permission, sometimes sarcastic); also, to hit oneself.

• Example: "You want the last cookie? Knock yourself out."

I don’t want to overstep your trust

• Spanish: no quiero abusar de tu confianza / no quiero sobrepasar los límites de tu confianza

• Meaning: A polite phrase showing respect for someone's trust, avoiding taking advantage.

• Example: "I'll ask for a favor, but I don't want to overstep your trust."

Guzzle

• Spanish: beber de golpe / engullir (líquido) / tragar ávidamente

• Meaning: To drink quickly and greedily.

• Example: "He guzzled the entire bottle of water in one go."

Nurse

• Spanish: enfermero/a (noun) / cuidar / alimentar (bebé con leche) / tomar una bebida lentamente (nurse a drink)

• Meaning: Medical professional; to care for; to breastfeed; to drink slowly (nurse a beer).

• Example: "The nurse checked my vitals. He nursed his coffee for an hour."

Honing in on

• Spanish: acercándose a (objetivo) / enfocándose en

• Meaning: To focus or close in on a target (correct phrase is "homing in on"; "honing" means sharpening, but common usage accepts "honing in on").

• Example: "The missile homing in on the target. He honed in on the key issues."

Don’t snap at me

• Spanish: no me grites / no me hables mal / no me respondas de forma brusca

• Meaning: Don't speak to me in an angry, impatient, or harsh tone.

• Example: "I'm just trying to help – don't snap at me."

Weepers

• Spanish: llorones / películas tristes / (weeping willow = sauce llorón)

• Meaning: People who cry easily; also, sad movies or songs; also, weeping wounds (medical).

• Example: "That movie always turns me into a weeper. The weepers sat in the back row crying."

In the nosebleeds

• Spanish: en las gradas más altas (estadio, concierto)

• Meaning: Seats that are very high up and far from the event (nosebleed sections, because the altitude might cause nosebleeds).

• Example: "Our tickets were in the nosebleeds – we could barely see the stage."

Bratwurst

• Spanish: salchicha alemana (bratwurst)

• Meaning: A German sausage made of pork, veal, or beef, typically grilled.

• Example: "We had bratwurst and sauerkraut at the festival.