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(it's the) story of my life
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always having bad luck. A negative (unlucky) thing happening all the time
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a flying start
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an excellent beginning (=to get off to a good start)
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bite your tongue
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stop yourself from saying sth offensive, hurtful or inappropriate
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cakeism
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we want (or we're offered) two things at the same time, which in reality is impossible to achieve
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call dibs
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an expression to say you claim sth before s.o. else claims it (=me lo pido!) Call dibs on sth/Dibs it
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caught red-handed
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when s.o. are discovered doing sth wrong and there's no doubt (=pillado in fraganti)
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change for the better (n.)
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to talk about an improvement in the state or condition of something
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drip feed
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to give information in small amounts -little by little- rather than all at once (=dosificar)
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each to their/his/her own
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everyone has their own opinions and preferences, and that's fine(=para gustos, los colores)
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famous last words
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when we believe sth someone says will soon be proven wrong (or to laugh at sth we've said previously)
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fitspiration (=fitspo)
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when sth or s.o.motivates you to get fit
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hard pass (slang)
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when we really don't want to do sth and we're not going to change our mind (=certainly not)
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hats off (to sb)
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to say you admire or respect s.o. because they've done sth impressive (also mean 'congratulations')
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it (can) happen(s) to the best of us
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'don't worry as anyone can make that kind of mistake'
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join the club
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it's said to s.o. to explain that you are in the same bad situation as they are
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kiss sth goodbye
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an informal expression that means 'to accept the loss of a thing or a situation/opportunity'
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mental gymnastics
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a way to talk about your brain doing hard work(=rapidez/agudeza mental)
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no ifs, (ands) or buts
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no negotiation, compromise, or excuses are permitted. It can also mean there is no doubt
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off the top of your head
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saying sth from memory and not checking the facts
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on point
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an informal way of saying that sth is at the best level that it could be. Also 'perfectly appropiate'
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on the table
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to put an idea, suggestion or plan forward for others to discuss or consider
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pet hate (=pet peeve)
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a situation or thing that just irritates you and not everyone will feel the same way(=manía, cosa que molesta)
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productivity theatre
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the act of s.o. appearing to work hard when in reality they're not being very productive
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quiet quitting (v.)
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not overworking but just doing the work that is required and within your defined working hours
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scatterbrain (n.)
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a person who is disorganised or forgetful (=absent-minded person/cabeza de chorlito, está en la luna)
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shout-out (n.)
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mention a person or thing's name to praise or thank them publicly (=reconocimiento)
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thanks a bunch (=thanks for nothing)
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an ironic reply to sb who is being unhelpful or not doing what they said they would do
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the gift that keeps on giving
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a thing or situation which has benefits that are repeated over a long period of time
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to be at a loss
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describes that feeling you get when you're not sure what to say or do (+AS TO)
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to be hard at it
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to put lots of effort into doing sth(=estar dándole duro/dale que te pego)
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to be in with a shout
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to have a good chance of winning sth or succeeding in sth (=estar a punto de )
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to breathe down someone's neck
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to watch someone closely and check everything they do (=con el aliento en el cogote)
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to call it a day
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we just mean we have decided to stop what are we doing for the rest of the day
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to fill your boots
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take advantage of a situation, or get as much of sth as possible (eat your fill) (=ponerse las botas)
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to get with the programme
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to accept new ways of doing things, modernise views or take on new ideas (=espabila, ponte las pilas)
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to go off on one
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to become suddenly very angry (=despotricar)
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to go with the flow (=to go with the tide)
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to follow others in their thoughts, ideas or actions cos it's the easiest thing (=dejarse llevar)
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to jog (sb)'s memory
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to do sth to help sb remember (=refrescar)
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to jump through (lots of) hoops
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to have to do lots of difficult and sometimes unnecessary things to achieve sth (=superar trabas)
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to know the score
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to understand the situation o know what is really going on (=conocer la jugada)
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to level up (p.v.)
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improving sth so it's the same level or quality as sth else where standards are higher
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to pull the threads
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to investigate deeper into sth, revealing the hidden connections behind it (=tirar del hilo)
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to rabbit on (p.v.)
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someone talking so much that they become boring to listen to (=hablar por los codos)
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to run for the hills
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when you try to avoid doing sth because it looks unappealing, risky or even dangerous
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to slow walk (sth)
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to delay (doing) sth or prevent it from progressing (=dilatar, demorar, retrasar)
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to steal (sb)'s thunder
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when sb take the attention away from the other person to his own advantage
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to take (sth) to heart
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to react to (sb)'s criticism or advise seriously so that become upset by it (=tomárselo a pecho)
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to win hands down
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to win very easily or decisively
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under your breath
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say sth so quietly that no one else can hear exactly what you're saying (mutter) (=por lo bajo)
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wiggle room (n.)
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we use to talk about how much we can change sth like a timetable or budget to allow us to do sth else
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to tread/step on someone's toes
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annoying s.o. by involving yourself in sth that is not your responsibility (=invadir el territorio de
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to one-up
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(infl.) have an advantage over s.o. else by doing sth (=superar)
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fly-by-night (adj.)
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companies or people who are unreliable or difficult to trust (=chanchullero, fraudulento)
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to sound out (p.v.)
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trying to find out what s.o. thinks indirectly-without them knowing (=tantear, sondear)
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plan B
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a way of expressing an alternative option, in case your first situation doesn't go as planned
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I'm out
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a way of saying you have no more of sth specific that other people want (=ya no me queda)
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touch grass (v.)
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you can say to s.o. who you think spends too much time online or on their phone.
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I don't buy it
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we use it to say that we don't believe something (=I don't believe you)
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to light up like a Christmas tree
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a way of saying you look very happy or excited about sth.
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to bring sth to the party/table
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to have sth good to offer in a situation. (table more formal than party)
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elbow grease (n.)
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honest hard physical work (=esfuerzo, trabajo duro)
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to rear its (ugly) head
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used to talk about sth bad appearing (=asomar la cabeza, saltar a la palestra)
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a blow
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an expression to say sth is disappointing (=chasco, decepción)
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on the go
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a phrase to describe how busy you are (busy, active and not relaxing)
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make your hair stand on the end
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a phrase about things that scare you (=poner los pelos de punta).
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cash in on sth (v.)
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taking advantage of a situation to make money (=aprovecharse de, sacar tajada de)
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a million to one (=one in a million)
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an expression that describes a very tiny chance of sth happening.
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rinse, repeat
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an expression that describes repetitive actions that are predictable and tiresome
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read the room (v.)
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a phrase that means to work out how people feel or what they think about something
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cook up an idea (=cook up a plan) (v.)
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carefully plan something (=maquinar un plan o una idea)
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brick-by-brick
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a phrase about building sth up or take it apart carefully and gradually (or the result of hard work)
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walk s.o. through sth (v.) walkthrough (n.)
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showing people how to do things, or explaining sth to them (guide s.o. through sth)
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in on it
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to know about or to be involved in sth that is happening
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telling porkies
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an informal way to saying "tell lies"
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lay it on (a bit) thick (v.)
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exaggerating, praising or criticising someone a bit too much
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beige flag
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an expression that describes a habit you find strange but doesn't make you not like s.o.
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do the trick (=do the job)
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informal way to say that sth will solve a problem, or give the result wanted (=bastar, surtir efecto
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zing (vs.oomph)
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to describe sth exciting, energetic, or interesting (=chispa)
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let loose (v.)
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a way of saying relax, often with a celebration
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let (sb/sth) loose (v.)
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to give them freedom
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shook (adj.)
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a word to express surprise or shock (=pasmado)
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wishy-washy
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a word to describes sth weak, vague or indefined (ni fu ni fa); watery (=aguado)
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stir the pot
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to cause trouble o be provocative (=meter cizaña)
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to do the heavy lifting
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hard work (=trabajo pesado, trabajo duro, llevar la carga).No físico necesariamente.
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peaks and troughs
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ups and downs of life (highs and lows; ebb and flow) (=picos y valles)
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take the plunge
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make a decisión about sth difficult and maybe challenging (=correr el riesgo, jugársela)
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second nature (to sb)
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do sth easily without having to think about it (=acto reflejo) (u.tb. como característica)
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ham-fisted (adj./adv.)
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clumsy/a clumsy way to do things
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dip your toe into
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starting sth new gradually
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(with) the works
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everything-all the extras that you might expect in any given situation (=to'l copón)
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take the wheel (reins)
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take the control of a situation (coger el volante/las riendas)
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off the cuff (adj./adv.)
|
to do or say sth with no preparation or very little preparation (=improvisado/de improviso)
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top-notch (adj.)
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very high quality (=de primera)
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to find your groove
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getting good at sth and starting to really enjoy it (=encontrar tu pasión en algo, pillarle el tranq.
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to crank up (PV)
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to increase the intensity of sth(=poner ahínco, redoblar esfuerzos)
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clutch at straws
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trying to improve a difficult situation using means a bit desperate (=agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo)
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tug at the heartstrings
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when sth brings out strong emotions (=tocar la fibra sensible)
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(old) stomping ground (n.)
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a place you live in or spend a lot of time in (=territorio)
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(right) from the get-go
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from the beginning (=(right) from the very start / (right) from the very beginning)
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to bide someone´s time
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to wait patienly and quietly for an opportunity (=esperar el/tu/su momento)
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an uphill task
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sth that needs energy and determination
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makes my skin crawl
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you're very disgusted or frightened by sth (=me da repelús)
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