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What's a JOCK in Spanish?

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"Me? I don't do much thinking. I let my muscles do it for me. They're pretty good at it, y`know?" The most common synonym of JOCK is Athlete and as such in Spanish it would be that precisely: ATLETA, especially one who is still in high school or college. The problem is that JOCK is a word that really defines a stereotype, that one about athletes focusing only on their muscles and who do not rank high at any intellectual level, so to speak. So if you know someone who is into developing his body, but not his mind that is certainly a JOCK. I don't really think there is a word for that in Spanish but we do refer to them as QUE SON PURO MUSCULO PERO CON NADA EN EL CEREBRO.

How do you say HORARIO DE RECUPERACION in English?

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"I wonder where is the rest of this timetable. Now we'll have to make it up!"  Though the expression RECOVERY SCHEDULE  is possible, that is not the same idea as HORARIO DE RECUPERACION when it is used in Spanish. If the situation is someone has been injured and needs to rest, or follow a routine, in order to get better then those hours are usually grouped under the label RECOVERY SCHEDULE.  In Spanish, at least in Ecuador, we use the expression HORARIO DE RECUPERACION in the educational field. If someone has been unable to comply with the regular study hours, still there is this other chance to make up for them. In that case, the most appropriate translation would be MAKE-UP SCHEDULE or MAKE-UP HOURS. 

What is NOT QUITE in Spanish?

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"NOT QUITE ? Damn! Freaking Sun keeps moving all the time!" NOT QUITE means Almost or Nearly. It is used to indicate that something is about to be complete or finished. In Spanish, the expression closest in meaning would be then CASI. Nevertheless, the connotation is sometimes a bit more negative than usual. Then NI TANTO could be a more accurate translation.

What is PANT in English?

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"PANTING? Oh no, I'm not panting. You just look so delicious." PANT and not Pants is the word here. First of all, it is a verb and it means JADEAR. PANTING is what dogs do when they need lo lower their temperature, to cool their bodies. People also do it, but for different reasons and in different circumstances. PANT  can indeed be a noun and then it means PANTALON, but its use in singular form is uncommon and its plural form is more frequently used.

How do you say ASCENSO DE TRABAJO in English?

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"The restroom...where is the restroom?" Well, it is definitely not Work Ascension. Though in Spanish we say Ascenso de Trabajo, it is not like that in English. The term is PROMOTION. You get a JOB PROMOTION, not a WORK PROMOTION. And you are PROMOTED to another position. True you are "ascending" or "going up", but still those are not the words to be used. As usual, you have to know not only the language but the culture as well. 

How do you say AHIJADO in English?

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Not a movie yet, but Hollywood can have the lousiest ideas. Part of the Catholic tradition, AHIJADO is GODSON in English.  A GODSON, or GODDAUGHTER (AHIJADA) is a child who at the moment of being baptized in the Catholic rite is sponsored by someone. Usually, that sponsor is a close friend of the child's parents, and there are usually two of those, a Godfather and a Godmother. In the past, Godparents were supposed to be responsible for their Godchild if his or her parents met their demise before time. That part of the Godparents' role is long gone, therefore, these days Godparents have lost their purpose greatly and are merely reduced to decorational figures, friends who are given a burden that is only ecclesiatical but not real. In some commuities, a Godfather's role is a bit sinister and different since the moniker is given to this person with power who does favors  in exchange of your working for him participating or supporting criminal activity. 

What is ICE WATER in Spanish?

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ICE WATER is not only cold but apparently also quite blue. Of course, ICE WATER is AGUA FRIA and also COLD WATER is AGUA FRIA. But then, when do we say COLD WATER and when do we say ICE WATER? In most cases it is OK to use the term COLD WATER; but if we mean water that contains ice cubes, we should say ICE WATER and not COLD WATER.