Mary McVey Gill – författare

Don't sound like una momia--add a little sizzle to your Spanish!

If someone called you tragaldabas would you be insulted or flattered? If you shouted ¡Mota! in the street, would you expected to get a cab or get arrested? Thanks to The Red-Hot Book of Spanish Slang and Idioms, you'll always know your tejemaneje (scheme) from your merequetengue (mess) no matter where you find yourself in the Spanish-speaking world. Five thousand words and phrases--plus helpful hints as to what's cordial and what's vulgar--keep you in sync with Spanish slang.

Spanish to English

niños popis (upper-class kids) Spoiled bratsContigo ni a China me voy. (I'm not even going to China with you) You're impossibleLa cruda (rawness) Hangover

English to Spanish

Ugly as sin ser un espantapájaro (to be a scarecrow)To be lucky tener leche (to have milk)Why are you staring at me? ¿Tengo monos en la cara? (Do I have monkeys on my face?)

Ever wanted to call someone a 'big shot' or 'hick' in Spanish, or wondered how to say 'Let's pig out' or 'Don't give me a hard time'? And what's going on if a Spaniard 'hallucinates in colour' (alucina en colores) or if a Mexican 'throws an eye-taco' (echa un taco de ojo)? This book has all the answers and more, contained within 5,000 current idiomatic terms and slang expressions - all conveniently grouped in an A-Z thematic arrangement. "Streetwise Spanish Dictionary/Thesaurus" is a uniquely user-friendly guide, designed for reference, for browsing, and as a learning tool.Thesaurus contains almost 150 general categories or themes. Regional markers indicate countries or regions of use for every entry. Numerous example sentences with their translations provide context. Cartoons add a touch of humour. Short articles highlight specific linguistic or cultural usages. Self-test sections allow you to work on your active colloquial vocabulary. Spanish-English dictionary cross-references all 5,000 terms and expressions included in the thesaurus.Whether you're a student, teacher, businessperson, or tourist, you'll enjoy enriching your Spanish with the vibrant language usually understood by native speakers alone. But be warned - the Spanish language is one of the world's richest, and some expressions are particularly colourful!