Aquí tenéis una nueva entrega de verbos frasales que ¡os harán parecer más británicos!
Keep up with = To remain at the same pace or level as another person (Mantener el ritmo, llegar al mismo nivel).
– Although he started off slowly, James managed to keep up with the other people in the race. // Aunque comenzó lentamente, James se las arregló para mantener el ritmo de los demás en la carrera.
Live up to = To be as good as expected (ser tan bueno como esperamos).
– He is such a marvellous director – his films always live up to our expectations.// Es un director maravilloso, sus películas siempre responde a nuestras expectativas.
Look down on sb = To consider somebody to be inferior (mirar por encima del hombre a alguien = look down your nose at somebody).
– James has a terrible tendency to look down on his neighbours who are not so wealthy as his family. // James tiene una horrible tendencia a mirar por encima del hombro a sus vecinos, que no son tan ricos como su familia.
Look forward to = To be happy or excited about a future event (Esperar algo con ganas, tener ilusión).
– I´m really looking forward to our holiday in Cornwall, I´ve never been before. / Estoy deseando que lleguen nuestras vacaciones en Cornwall, nunca he estado allí.
– I look forward to hearing from you soon = A more formal way of saying “Please write soon”. // Espero recibir noticias suyas pronto (Es una manera formal de decir “por favor, escribe pronto”)
Look out for = Keep your eye out for; try to see somebody or something. (Intentar ver a alguien)
– I looked out for my friends at the concert but couldn´t see them.// Intenté ver a mis amigos en el concierto pero no los encontré.
Look up to = To admire or respect someone (Admirar o respetar a alguien)
– I really look up to my parents. They´re such a great role model for me. // Yo realmente admiro a mis padres, son un gran modelo para mí.
Make up for = To compensate (Compensar)
– He bought me a beautiful gift to make up for cancelling our first date. // Me compró un regalo precioso para compensarme por cancelar nuestra primera cita.
Put up with = To bear or to stand something negative (aguantar, soportar)
– I can´t put up with this rain any longer. It´s depressing. // No soporto más esta lluvia.
Put sb up to (doing) = To encourage somebody to do something bad, commit a crime (Incitar a alguien a hacer algo malo, cometer un delito).
– He always blames his friends and says that they put him up to breaking the window. // Siempre culpa a sus amigos y dice que ellos le incitaron a romper la ventana.
Run out of = To use up something = to have none left (Quedarte sin algo)
– I need to go to the shop, we´ve run out of milk. // Tengo que ir a la tienda, nos hemos quedado sin leche.
Stand in for = To Substitute sb (Sustituir a alguien).
– Supply teachers usually stand in for a teacher who is ill. // Los profesores suplentes normalmente sustituyen a un profesor que está enfermo.
Stand up for = To back sb up = to defend sth (Respaldar, defender)
– He stood up for his little sister when she was being bullied at school. // Él defendió a su hermana cuando la acosaban en el colegio.
Take sb up on sth = To accept an offer (Aceptar una oferta o un desafío)
– I´ll take you up on your offer to wash my car! You´re so generous. // Aceptaré tu oferta de lavar mi coche, ¡eres muy generoso!