Idiomatic sentences Spanish-English. Charlie, your teacher of English # 1
Romper una promesa, retractarse de un acuerdo: to go back on a promise/an agreement
(to withdraw from a promise/an agreement)
Gustar a alguien (gente, por ejemplo) algo: to have a liking for sth (some people have a
liking for this type of activity)
Hacer una copia de seguridad: to make a backup copy.
Pasar una mala noche: to have a bad night (She really had a bad night)
Pasar lista: to call the roll (We called the roll and all were present)
Vivir de gorra, vivir de sablazos, vivir a costa de otros, vivir de la sopa boba: to live at
other people's expense, live off other people.
Vivir al día: to survive on limited means one day at a time with no plans or possibilities
for the future. (The Simpsons just live from day to day.)
Vivir confortablemente: to live comfortably (My father lives comfortably in a little house
in the country)
Tomar a la ligera: to make light of (to treat sth as if it were unimportant or humorous. I
wish you wouldn't make light of his problems. They're quite serious)
Tomar cartas en un asunto: to take matters into own hands (to deal with a problem
yourself because the people who should have dealt with it have failed to do so <> The
police haven't done anything about the vandalism, so local residents have taken matters
into their own hands.)
Tener al corriente de la situación, etc): to keep sb informed/posted about (the situation,
etc.)
Presentar al cobro (un cheque, etc.): to submit (a check) for payment.
Sentir la necesidad de: to feel the need to do sth (I feel the need to travel but i am
confused and undecided)
Terminar loco: to end up nuts (That was a good way for him to end up nuts to)
Estar loco por. to be nuts for (he's nuts abot her/opera, etc.)
Estar/sentirse indeciso: to be/feel undecided (Trump says he is undecided about
renominating Yellen)

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