a (la) merced de
idiom. at the mercy of. (n.b.: the “la” is often omitted)
a altas horas de la madrugada
idiom. in the small hours of the morning
a cargo de
idiom. in charge of; responsible for; by
a causa de
idiom. because of; as a result of. (lit.: at the cause of)
a chorros
idiom. in abundance; plenty; lots
a contrapelo
idiom. wrong way; backwards; backassed
a corto plazo
idiom. in the short run; short-term; in the short term. (lit.: at short place)
a deshora
idiom. at an inconvenient time
a diario
idiom. daily; every day
a diario
idiom. daily
a disgusto
idiom. reluctantly
a duras penas
idiom. hardly; barely; with difficulty
a eso de
idiom. around, about (time). (lit.: a this of)
a estas alturas
idiom. at this point; in this situation
a fin de cuentas
idiom. in the end; after all
a fondo
idiom. in depth; deeply; fully
a gatas
idiom. crawling. (lit.: on legs/feet; used with the verbs estar or andar)
a juro
idiom. no matter what. (used in Venezuela)
a la altura
idiom. at the level; up to. (lit.: at the height)
a la intemperie
idiom. in the open. (lit.: at/on the elements. Intemperie refers to the weather and other forces in the physical, natural world, particularly as experienced without the benefits of technology, particularly modern technology)
a la par de
idiom. on the same level as
a la salida del sol
idiom. sunrise. (lit.: at the appearance of the sun)
a la vez
idiom. at once; at the same time. (lit.: at the time)
a la vista
idiom. in view; in sight. (lit.: at the sight)
a largo plazo
idiom. in the long run; long-term; in the long term. (lit.: at long place)
a lo largo (de)
idiom. along; at the other end. (lit.: at the far/long)
a lo lejos
idiom. from afar; at a distance. (lit.: at the distant; allso in the form “a los lejos.”)
a lo mejor
idiom. probably; most likely. (lit.: to the better)
a manos de
idiom. at the hands of
a manos llenas
idiom. generously; lavishly. (lit.: with full hands)
a medida que
idiom. as (something happens or happened); in the process of (something happening)
a medio plazo
idiom. medium-term; in the medium term
a menudo
idiom. often, frequently. (lit.: of often)
a mi modo de pensar
idiom. in my view; the way I see it
a mi modo de ver
idiom. in my view; the way I see it
a otro perro con ese hueso
idiom. go tell it to the marines. (lit.: [give] this bone to another dog)
a palo seco
idiom. on its own; with nothing else
a partir de ahora
idiom. from now one. (lit.: at the start of now)
a pesar de
idiom. despite; in spite of
a plazo
idiom. on credit
a plena luz
idiom. in broad daylight
a primera hora
idiom. at the earliest moment
a primera vista
idiom. at first sight; at first blush. (lit.: at first sight)
a propósito
idiom. on purpose; deliberately
a propósito
idiom. by the way; speaking of which
a punto de
idiom. on the verge of, about to. (lit.: at point of)
a que
idiom. I bet. (lit.: to what)
a ratos
idiom. from time to time
a sus espaldas
idiom. behind someone's back
a tientas
idiom. by touch, by feel
a toda costa
idiom. at all costs. (lit.: at all cost)
a toda máquina
idiom. quickly, fast. (lit.: at all machine)
a toda prisa
idiom. with all speed, hastily, quickly. (lit.: at all haste)
a todas luces
idiom. by any reckoning
a todo correr
idiom. with all speed, hastily, quickly. (lit.: at full running (run))
a toro pasado
idiom. in retrospect; in hindsight. (lit.: by the bull gone past)
a trabajar
idiom. to work. (n.b.: said when encouraging yourself or others to start working)
a tráves de
idiom. through
a veces
idiom. sometimes; at times
a ver
idiom. now then; let's see; hm-m
a verga
idiom. by hook or by crook
a(l) fin de cuentas
idiom. when all’s said and done; when it comes down to it. (lit.: at (the) end of accounts)
adán
n.m. a mess, a sight. (lit.: adam)
aguafiestas
n.m. wet blanket; party pooper. (lit.: water on a party)
ahora mismo
idiom. right now; this minute
al azar
idiom. at random; randomly. (lit.: to chance)
al cabo de
idiom. after, since. (lit.: at the finish of)
al diablo
phrase.
damn it; drat; darn it. (lit.: to the devil; n.b.: used as an expression of frustration or anger)
al dope
phrase
useless; a waste of time. (reversed form of "al pedo"; used mostly in the Cono del Sur)
al fin y al cabo
idiom. in the end; ultimately. (lit.: at (the) end and at (the) finish)
al final
idiom. in the end, finally. (lit.: at (the) end)
al menos
idiom. at least, at a minimum. (lit.: at the least)
al oro
idiom. good; well done. (used in Venezuela)
al parecer
idiom. apparently; apparent; by appearances
al pedo
phrase.
useless; a waste of time. (used mostly in the Cono del Sur)
al poco rato
idiom. after a little while
al rape
idiom. closely-cropped; close cut. (lit.: to the monkfish)
al revés
idiom. backwards; the other way around; the opposite
alcornoque
idiom. blockhead; dunderhead; nincompoop. (lit.: cork oak)
alegre
adj. tipsy
alegrías
n.f.pl. balls; testicles; male genitals. (lit.: happiness)
alhaja
n.f. gem; jewel; fine one. (n.b.: said with irony or humor)
almas gemelas
idiom. soulmates. (lit.: twin souls)
almeja
n.f. vagina. (lit.: clam; n.b.: vulgar)
almendra
n.f. bullet. (lit.: almond)
anato
n.f. anatomy. (student slang)
anda a bañarte
idiom.
take a hike; go jump in a lake; get lost. (lit.: go to bathe yourself)
andar a palos
idiom. be fighting or squabbling all the time
andar como burro sin mecate
idiom. be wild; be out of control. (lit.: to walk like a donkey wihout a leash)
animal
n.m. brute; animal. (lit.: animal; n.b.: applies to both sexes and is insulating)
año nuevo, vida nueva
idiom. Happy New Year. (lit.: new year, new life; used as a greeting or statement around Jan. 1)
antigualla
n.f. piece of junk; old, ratty thing. (n.b.: derogatory)
apalear oro
idiom. be rolling in dough; be made of money
apretarse el cinturón
idiom. tighten one's belt; economize
armar un jaleo
idiom. make a fuss, commotion. (lit.: to arm or raise a fuss)
armar una bronca
idiom. kick up a fuss
armarse la gorda
idiom. cause a ruckus; have all hell break loose. (lit.: to arm oneself the fat one)
armarse un lio
idiom. raise hell; make a fuss. (lit.: to arm or raise a fight)
arrimar el ascua a su sardina
idiom. put one’s own interests first; work things to one’s advantage. (lit.: to bring coals or embers to one’s sardine)
asa
n.f. nose
así que
idiom. so that, which means that. (lit.: thus that)
atar corto a alg
idiom. keep someone on a short leash; keep someone under tight rein. (lit.: tie someone close)
atún
n.m. idiot. (lit.: tuna)
ausente sin culpa ni presente sin disculpa
idiom. the absentee is always in the wrong. (lit.: absent without blame and no present without excuses)
Ave María Purísima
idiom. for heaven’s sake. (lit.: hail most pure Mary; n.b.: used in religious services, and as an exclamation)
aventura
n.f. affair; fling
