Unit 3 - A head of the Curve

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Question English Answer English
to reduce the rate, level, or amount of something
Nuestra principal responsabilidad es reducir la tasa de desempleo.
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bring down (the cost/number/rate of ...)
Our main responsibility is to bring down the rate of unemployment.
to change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them
Estábamos seguros de que ella acabaría aceptando nuestra forma de pensar.
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come round to (a way of thinking / the idea)
We were sure she’d come round to our way of thinking in the end.
to think of something such as an idea or a plan
¿Es esta la mejor solución que se te ocurre?
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come up with (a solution/strategy)
Is this the best solution you can come up with?
to use something that you have gradually gained or saved
Como actor, a menudo recurres a tu propia experiencia de vida.
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draw on (your experience/observations)
As an actor, you often draw on your own life experience.
to turn the pages of a book, magazine, newspaper, etc. very quickly looking at some of the pages for a very short time
Recientemente hojeé un libro sobre descubrimientos científicos.
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flick through (something)
Recently, I was flicking through the pages of a book on scientific discoveries.
to stop something from progressing or developing as it should
La escasez de agua a largo plazo puede frenar el progreso económico.
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hold back (something)
Long-term water shortages can hold back economic progress.
to not have much hope that something will happen
Él tenía pocas esperanzas de que su idea fuera aceptada.
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hold out little hope
He held out little hope that his idea would ever be accepted.
to get a particular result or reaction
La nueva propuesta se encontró con una fuerte oposición por parte de los estudiantes.
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meet with (criticism/opposition/resistance)
The new proposal met with strong opposition from students.
to invest a lot of money in something in order to improve it or make it successful
El año pasado el gobierno invirtió más de 80 millones de libras en la reparación de carreteras.
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plough (money) into (something)
Last year the government ploughed more than £80 million into road repairs.
to offer an idea, opinion, reason etc, especially so that people can discuss it and make a decision
Rechazó todas las propuestas presentadas por el comité.
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put forward (an explanation / an idea / a proposal)
He rejected all the proposals put forward by the committee.
if you _____ problems, difficulties etc, you have to deal with them
Nos topamos con algunos problemas al comienzo del proyecto.
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run up against (a difficulty/problem)
We ran up against a few problems at the start of the project.
to find something by accident
Me topé con un artículo muy interesante sobre natación en aguas abiertas.
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stumble across (something)
I stumbled across a really interesting article about wild swimming yesterday.
if someone in authority throws out a plan, proposal etc, they refuse to accept it
El juez desestimó su reclamación.
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throw out (charges / claims / a suggestion)
The judge threw out their claim.
confused and not knowing what to do
Estaba desconcertado sin saber qué había pasado.
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at a loss
I was at a loss to understand what had happened.
used for showing that something is not very good by emphasising that your description of it is the best thing you can say about it
La respuesta del gobierno ha sido como mucho confusa y en el peor de los casos deshonesta.
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at best
The government’s response seems to have been at best confused and at worst dishonest.
if things are _____ each other, they are different or opposite when they should be the same
¿Qué aspectos de nuestro estilo de vida están en desacuerdo con lograr un futuro sostenible?
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at odds with (something)
What parts of our lifestyle are fundamentally at odds with achieving a sustainable future?
used about important issues that are involved in a situation or could be decided by it
Pocos votantes tenían idea de los asuntos en juego.
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at stake
Few voters had any idea of the issues at stake.
if one thing exists or happens at the expense of another, the second thing suffers or is not done properly because of the first
Patrick estaba logrando grandes cosas en el trabajo, pero a costa de su salud.
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at the expense of (something)
Patrick was doing great things in the job, but at the expense of his health.
in a leading or important position in something
Estos problemas medioambientales están actualmente en el centro del debate público.
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at the forefront of (something)
These environmental issues are currently at the forefront of public debate.
to be watching carefully in order to find, obtain, or avoid something or someone
La policía de Brighton está buscando a una banda de ladrones de coches.
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be on the lookout for (something/someone)
Police in Brighton are on the lookout for a gang of car thieves.
if someone does something __ _ ___ ___ they do it a lot, or they think it is important
Los entrenadores deportivos dependen en gran medida del análisis de vídeo.
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in a big way
Sports coaches have come to depend on video analysis in a big way.
almost certainly
Lo más probable es que el jarrón fuera hecho en el siglo XVII.
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in all likelihood
In all likelihood the vase was made in the seventeenth century.
feeling great respect and admiration for someone or something
Jeff siempre ha sentido una profunda admiración por su padre.
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in awe of (someone/something)
Jeff has always been totally in awe of his father.
if a law or rule is __ _____ it is being applied and people must obey it
La prohibición de exportar petróleo sigue en vigor.
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in force
The ban on oil exports remains in force.
likely to be damaged or destroyed
La crisis puso en peligro miles de empleos.
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in jeopardy
The crisis put thousands of jobs in jeopardy.
rude and not at all appropriate
Su broma sobre el divorcio de ella fue de muy mal gusto.
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in poor taste
His joke about her divorce was in very poor taste.
considering something that happened in the past, using knowledge or information that you did not have at that time
En retrospectiva, nunca deberíamos haber permitido que eso ocurriera.
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in retrospect
In retrospect, we should never have allowed that to happen.
of the same quality as or at the same level as
Los beneficios deberían estar a la par con los del año pasado.
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on a par with (something/someone)
Profits should be on a par with last year.
in a place that is able to be seen by many people
Su obra está expuesta en la galería.
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on display
Her work is on display at the gallery.
nervous and unable to relax because you are worried
Los acontecimientos de los últimos días la habían dejado nerviosa y tensa.
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on edge
The events of the past few days had left her feeling tense and on edge.
available to buy
Máquinas tan potentes como esta aún no están disponibles en el mercado.
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on the market
Machines as powerful as this are not yet on the market.
at that exact moment or place
Cualquier trabajador que infrinja estas normas será despedido en el acto.
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on the spot
Any workers found breaking these rules will be sacked on the spot.
strongly criticized or damaged
Ambos candidatos han sido duramente criticados por sus propuestas de salud.
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under attack
Both candidates have come under attack for their health-care proposals.
having formally promised to tell the truth in a court of law
Mentir bajo juramento es un delito extremadamente grave.
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under oath
Lying under oath is an extremely serious offence.
carefully examined
La industria de las dietas será examinada detenidamente en el programa de esta noche.
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under scrutiny
The diet industry comes under scrutiny in tonight’s programme.
if a place is _______, it is surrounded by soldiers in order to attack those defending it
La ciudad llevaba semanas sitiada y escaseaban los alimentos.
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under siege
The town had been under siege for weeks and food was in short supply.
likely to be harmed or damaged
Una antigua costumbre religiosa está bajo amenaza.
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under threat
An ancient religious custom is under threat.
being kept secret
Lee decidió mantener sus planes en secreto por un tiempo.
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under wraps
Lee decided to keep her plans under wraps for a while.
an attempt or guess that is not likely to be successful but that is worth trying
Es poco probable, pero se lo preguntaré.
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a long shot
It’s a long shot, but I’ll ask her.
at the most modern and advanced point in the development of something
Estos modelos están a la vanguardia del diseño informático.
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at the leading edge
These models are at the leading edge of computer design.
a situation in which no further progress is possible
¿De verdad han llegado las negociaciones comerciales a un callejón sin salida?
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dead end
Have the trade negotiations really come to a dead end?
from the beginning again, not using all the work that you have done before
Tendremos que rehacer todo desde cero.
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from scratch
We’ll have to do the whole thing again from scratch.
to do something for a long time without achieving any results because you always return to the same problem that you cannot solve
Hablamos durante horas, pero no hacíamos más que dar vueltas sin avanzar.
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go round in circles
We talked for hours, but we were just going round in circles.
being planned or prepared in order to happen or be available soon
¿Tienes algún proyecto nuevo en preparación?
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in the pipeline
Have you got any new projects in the pipeline?
doing or thinking the right things
Las cifras muestran que vamos por buen camino.
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on the right track
The figures show we are on the right track.
a difficulty that causes mistakes or prevents progress
Un problema con un proveedor se ha convertido en un gran obstáculo.
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stumbling block
A problem with a supplier has become a major stumbling block.
minor problems that a new company, project, product etc may have in the beginning
Hemos tenido algunos problemas iniciales, pero en general todo va bien.
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teething problems
We've been having a few teething problems, but generally things are going well.
to find new ways of doing things, especially of solving problems
Se anima a los empleados a pensar de forma innovadora y desarrollar soluciones creativas.
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think outside the box
Employees are encouraged to think outside the box and develop creative solutions.
GRAM: ¿Te quedarás en Bairro Alto mientras estés en Lisboa?
(to ask if clear plans have been made)"Will", the present continuous and "going" to are used to talk about future plans and intentions. Depending on the context, there might be slight differences in meaning or emphasis.
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will you stay in Bairro Alto while you're in Lisbon?
GRAM: ¿Te alojas en Bairro Alto mientras estés en Lisboa?
(emphasis on fixed arrangements) "Will", the present continuous and "going" to are used to talk about future plans and intentions. Depending on the context, there might be slight differences in meaning or emphasis.
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Are you staying in Bairro Alto while you're in Lisbon
GRAM: ¿Vas a quedarte en Bairro Alto mientras estés en Lisboa?
(emphasis on intentions) "Will", the present continuous and "going" to are used to talk about future plans and intentions. Depending on the context, there might be slight differences in meaning or emphasis.
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Are you going to stay in Bairro Alto while you're in Lisbon?
GRAM: ¿Te alojarás en Bairro Alto mientras estés en Lisboa?
The future continuous is used to emphasis that a plan or activitu is one of a repeated series of events or part of the normal course of events (as usual)
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Will you be staying in Bairro alto while you're in Lisbon?
GRAM: Podemos pedirle a la especialista que revise los routers mañana porque de todas formas estará arreglando el servidor
The future continuous is used to talk about something in the future we perceibe as inevitable, ot to convey that it is going to happen "anyway"
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We can ask the specialist to check the routers tomorrow because she'll be fixing the server anyway
GRAM: ¿Saldrá usted esta noche? // (¿Vas a salir esta noche?)
The future continuous is used to make polite enquiries about future plans, emphasising that we don't wish to be nosy or influence the decision of the listener. In constrast, going to sounds more direct.
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Will you be going out this evening? (very polite) // (are you going to go out this evening? - pressing decision)
GRAM: Habré gastado todo el presupuesto para el final de la semana
The future perfect simple and continuous can be used to imagine looking back at something from a point in the future. The future perfect simple shows that the action will be completed by a point in the future
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I'll have spent all the budget by the end of the week
GRAM: este verano habré estado asesorando a jóvenes inventores durante veinticinco años.
The future perfect continuous emphasis that it will be in progress up to a point in the future
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This summer I'll have been mentoring young inventors for twenty-five years
GRAM: El accidente ocurrió hace tanto tiempo, la mayoría de la gente lo habrá olvidado.
The future perfect simple can be used to make assumption in the present
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The acccident happened so long ago, most people will have forgotten about it.
GRAM: "Necesitaremos muchas manos para terminar el prototipo, pero nuestro objetivo es (o estamos apuntando a) tenerlo listo este año
Some verbs have future meaning in their present forms(e.g. agree, aim, expect, hope, intend, look, plan, promise, resolve). The present simple refers to a fact; the present continuous, to a process
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We 'll need lots of hands to finish the prototype, but we aim (are aiming) to get it done this year
GRAM: La ministra está a punto de dar una rueda de prensa
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be+ about to" (to say something is close to happening)
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The minister is about to give a press conference
GRAM: El uso de dispositivos wearables para pagar en tiendas está al borde de la adopción masiva
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + on the point, verge, brink of" (an idiomatic way to say something is very close to happening)
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Using wearable devices to pay in shops is on the brink of mass adoption
GRAM: es probable que los smartphones de próxima generación de la compañía se lancen este otoño
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + likely, unlikely to" (to talk about probability)
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The company's next generation smartphones are likely to be released this autumn
GRAM: La próxima ronda de conversaciones se celebrará el lunes
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + due to" (to talk about something scheduled)
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The next round of talks is due to held on Monday
GRAM: Esta nueva interfaz de usuario está destinada a recibir críticas mixtas de los clientes
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + bound to" (to say emphatically that something is certain to happen)
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This new user interface is bound to receive mixed reviews from customers
GRAM: Se espera que el tan comentado gadget sea presentado en la conferencia de este año
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + expected to" (to say something is based on an expectation
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The much talked-about gadget is expected to be unveiled at this year's conference
GRAM: Los números de las encuestas dicen que ella ganará la reelección
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + set to" (to say something is based on a expectation)
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Poll numbers say she is set to win re-election
GRAM: La semifinal se transmitirá en vivo en todas las principales cadenas de televisión
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be + infinitive" (to talk about future arragements in formal contexts)
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The semi-final is to be broadcast live on al major television networks
GRAM: La pequeña empresa de almacenamiento de datos anunció que será adquirida por una gran multinacional
Various expressions can be used to refer to the future "be +to be+ past participle" (passive from of be+to+infinitive)
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The small data storage company announced it is to be taken over by a large multinational
GRAM: Estaba planeando ir a la reunión de Bella, pero en el último minuto cambié de opinión
The future in the past can be used to talk about past plans, especially those taht didn't actually happen
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I was planning to go to Bella's get-together, but at the last minute I had a change of heart
GRAM: No había aceptado la invitación porque Rick y yo íbamos a volar de vacaciones ese mismo fin de semana
The future in the past can be used to talk about past plans, especially those taht didn't actually happen
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I hand't accepted the invitation because Rick and I were set fly off on out holiday that very weekend
GRAM: Decidió saltarse el almuerzo. Habría mucho tiempo para comer más tarde
NB would is rarely used as a future-in-the-past form. Its use is mainly restricted to reported speech and literary narratives
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He decided to skip lunch. There would be plenty of time to eat later

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