En tu clase de inglés en Online with Cambridge House, vas a practicar todas las habilidades para llegar a comunicarte en inglés a la vez que consolidas tu gramática y vocabulario. Sin embargo, si estás aprendiendo inglés con el fin de irte a vivir a un país de habla inglesa, las frases típicas de este blog te pueden ser de gran ayuda porque seguro que las escucharás en tu día a día y te pueden resultar ¡difíciles o sorprendentes! Y otra razón para aprenderlas es impresionar a tu examinador en la parte oral de los exámenes de Cambridge (First B2, Advanced C1 o Proficiency C2).

En esta lista tienes la traducción de cada frase y un ejemplo de cómo utilizarlas. ¡Espero que te sea de ayuda para no quedarte “a cuadros”!

  • Hand-to-mouth precario, con lo justo.
    • Since being fired from his job he has had to live a wretched hand-to-mouth existence.
  • underhanddeshonesto.
    • ‘I wouldn’t have minded so much if they had told me to my face that they wanted to dismiss me. It was the underhand way I which they did it that really upset me.’
  • offhandinformal, improvisado.
    • Offhand remarks should not be taken seriously.’
  • Empty-handedcon las manos vacías, sin nada.
    •  ‘While I was bringing in all the shopping my brother just stood there, empty-handed, without even offering to help!’
  • To wash your hands oflavarse las manos (figuradamente), no implicarse más.
    • ‘Peter wants nothing more to do with that ridiculous business proposal. He just wants to wash his hands of the whole thing.’’
  • Out of handirse de las manos, incontrolable.
    • ‘The situation is now out of hand. The authorities admit that they can no longer control the rioting and crime in the city.’
  • Cap in handhumildemente, avergonzado.
    • ‘I’d rather borrow money from the bank at a high rate of interest than go cap in hand to my dad.’
  • High-handedarbitrario, injusto.
    • ‘I think you were rather high-handed in dismissing him without consulting me or giving him a chance to explain’ 
  • In good handsen buenas manos.
    • ‘Lola is looking after our dog for the weekend. She is very caring and adores animals so we know he is in good hands!’ 
  • Single-handedhecho por una persona sola sin ayuda de nadie.
    • ‘Ellen was the first woman to sail the Atlantic single-handed. Her only problem was loneliness. ’    
  • To have the upper hand sacar ventaja.
    • ‘An early goal gave Liverpool the upper hand in the match’    
  • To win hands down ganar sin despeinarse.
    •  ‘My older sister always beat me easily at tennis. She always used to win hands down.’   
  • To hand a mano, disponible.
    • ‘She always has a pencil and paper to hand in case she suddenly sees an interesting person or place she wants to sketch.’’
  • To give someone a free hand dar a alguien carta blanca.
    • ‘Tom is so experienced in this field that I think we ought to give him a free hand and let him carry out the scheme as he thinks best.’    
  • To keep your hand in – seguir practicando.
    • ‘Valerie gave up playing the piano professionally years ago but she still likes to keep her hand in by playing from time to time’    

¡Presta atención a ver si reconoces las frases en series o películas! En tu clase online puedes practicarlas con tus compañeros a ver si las conocen. Otra buena razón para asistir a clases de inglés online con Cambridge House, ¡hay tanto que aprender! 

Keep this list to hand!!

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