Actions

darle voz a
to give someone or something attention and recognition

“Es un honor darle voz a este producto.” = “It is an honor to get the word out about this product.”

dar un viraje
to swerve

“Di un viraje brusco para no atropellar a un gato.” = “I swerved to avoid running over a cat.”

desplegar
to unfold or display

“Mi padre desplegó el mapa en la mesa.” = “My dad unfolded the map on the table.”

holgazanear
To lollygag

“Mis estudiantes prefieren holgazanear.” = “My students prefer to lollygag.”

Hacer publicidad
To advertise

“No venden mucho porque no hacen publicidad.” = “They don’t sell a lot because they don’t advertise.”

Comprometerse con
To get engaged

“Me comprometí con Angela.” = “I got engaged to Angela.”

anotar
To score a point or goal in sports.

“Juan anotó un gol” = “Juan scored a goal.”

tirarse a la piscina
dive in to the pool

“Me tiré a la piscina” = “I dove into the pool.”

facturar el equipaje
to check your bags in

“Después de facturar el equipaje leí una revista en la sala de espera.” = “After checking my bags in, I read a magazine in the waiting area.”

cobrar un cheque
to cash a check

“Se puede cobrar un cheque aquí.” = “You can cash a check here.”

probarse
to try on (clothing)

“Me probé la camisa roja.” = “I tried on the red shirt.”

ir de excursión
to go on a hike

“Vamos de excursión mañana.” = “We are going on a hike tomorrow.”

manos a la obra
Let’s get to work

“Ya es hora, manos a la obra.” = “It’s time. Let’s get to work.”

pegarle un tiro a
to shoot someone

“El policía le tiró un tiro al criminal.” = “The policeman shot the criminal.”

estafar
to rip off or steal

“Mi jefe estafó miles de dólares a la compañía.” = “My boss stole thousands of dollars from the company.”

calentarse
to warm up (before exercise)

“Es inteligente calentarse antes de hacer ejercicios aeróbicos.” = “It is smart to warm up before doing aerobics.”

echarse a reír
to burst out laughing

“Nos echamos a reír” = “We burst out laughing.”

turnarse
to take turns

“Los niños se turnan en hallar sus propios zapatos en un montón de zapatos.” = “The kids take turns looking for their shoes in a huge pile of shoes.”

subirse
to board (a plane or car or bus)

“Subí al avión a las tres.” = “I got on the plane at 3:00.”

matar a tiros
to shoot to death

“Mataron a tiros un senador de mi estado.” = “They shot a senator to death from my state.”

hacerse el tonto
to play the fool

“Juan es muy inteligente, pero a veces se hace el tonto.” = “Juan is a smart person, but sometimes he plays the fool.”

llevar puesto
to be wearing

“Yo llevaba puesto un traje de seda.” = “I was wearing a silk suit.

enterarse de
to find out about
“Ella se enteró de la sitación.” = “She found out about the situation

levantar el ánimo
lift the spirits

“Necesito algo para levantar el ánimo de mi clase.” = “I need something to lift the spirits of my class.”

faltar
to be absent

“No me gusta faltar a la clase de matemáticas.” = “I don’t like to miss math class.”

dedicarse a
to do (in terms of work)

“¿A qué te dedicas?” = “What do you do for a living

hablar por los codos
to talk too much or non stop

“El profesor de español habla por los codos.” = The Spanish professor talks non stop.”

navegar la Red
surf the internet

“¿Te gusta navegar la Red.”= “Do you like to surf the web?”

salir por
to leave for

Salgo por el Ecuador el lunes.”=” I leave for Ecuadoe on Monday

romper con
to break up with

“Rompí con mi novia.”= “I broke up with my girlfriend.”

cambiar de canal
change the channel

“Si hay anuncios yo cambio de canal.” = “If there are advertisements I change the channel.”

tratar de
to try to do something

“Nosotros tratamos de ganar.” = “We tried to win.

pegarse en
to bump something

“Me pegué en la pierna.” = “I bumped my leg.”

romper a llorar
to break into tears

“Rompí a llorar cuando entró mi hija.” = “I broke into tears when my daughter entered.

ganar a
to beat (another team or person)

“Ganamos a los Tigres.” = “We beat the Tigers.

Contar con
To count on

“Puedes contar con ella.” = “You can count on her.”

Descargar el inodoro
To flush the toilet

“Se le olvida descargar el inodoro a veces.” = “He forgets to flush the toilet sometimes.”

Tirar la basura
To throw trash away
“Tiré la basura por la ventana.” = “I threw the garbage out the window

Volver a (+ verb) …
To do again

“Vuelvo a estudiar.” = “I study again.

Pedir prestado
To ask for a loan

“Le pedí prestado un dólar.” = “I asked him to lend me a dollar.

Postularse
To run for

Obama se va a postular para la presidencia.” = “Obama is going to run for president.”

Dar una voltereta
To do a flip.

Di una voltereta en la cama.” = “I did a flip on the bed.

Dar una fiesta
To have a party

“Pienso dar una fiesta el viernes que viene.” = I’m planning on having a party next Friday

Darse con
To bump into

“Me di con la mesa.” = “I bumped into the table.”

Caminar de Puntillas
To walk on your tippy toes

“Mi hijo camina de puntillas. Me molesta mucho.” = “My son walks on his tippy toes. It annoys me.”

Hacer una escala
To make a stop (on a flight)

“El avión hace una escala en Chicago.” = “The plane makes a stop in Chicago.”

Dormirse
To fall asleep (as opposed to “dormir” = to sleep)
.

“No te duermas en clase. El profesor se enoja.” = “Don’t fall asleep. The professor gets mad.”

Ponerse al día
To get up to date on

“Voy a ponerme al día con el trabajo.” =“I’m going to get up to date with the work.”

Comerse
To eat up

“Me comí toda la sopa.” = “I ate up all the soup.”

Ir de compras
To go shopping

“No quiero ir de compras con mi novia.” = “I don’t want to go shopping with my girlfriend.”

Contar con
To count on

“Puedes contar conmigo.” = “You can count on me.”

Dar una patada
To kick

“Un policía me dio una patada en la cara.” = “A policeman kicked me in the face.”

Ponerse a
To start doing something

“Pónganse a trabajar” = “Get to work.”

Darse cuenta
To realize

“Me doy cuenta que no voy a ganar mucho dinero en este trabajo.” = I realize that I’m not going to make a lot of money at this job.”

Ir al grano
To get to the point

“Vamos al grano.” = Let’s get to the point.”