Contrastive Analysis - Expressions

Introduction - Discuss
1. What’s your favourite expression in your own language?
a. Do you know how to say it in English?
2. Are there any words or expressions that you think you use too much?
3. What’s your favourite English expression?

Contrastive Analysis
1. Look at the Spanish expressions on the left.
2. First translate the expression word for word.
3. Then try to think of the equivalent expression in English, use your phone if necessary.

Spanish Direct Translation Equivalent Expression

1. Costar un ojo de la cara 1. Cost an eye from your face 1. Cost an arm and a leg.
2. Aquí hay gato encerrado 2. Here’s a cat shut up 2.
3. Ahogarse en un vaso de agua 3. To drown in a glass of water. 3. Bored out of your skull
4. Aburrirse como una ostra 4. To get bored like an oyster. 4. Turning one’s back on someone
5. Dar la espalda a alguien 5. Give the back to someone. 5. Make the grade
6. Dar la talla 6. Give the size. 6. Let off steam
7. Desahogarse 7. Undrown 7. Tying the knot
8. Atar cabos 8. Knit ends 8. Going off-topic
9. Desviarse del tema 9. Divert from the topic 9. His heart sank.
10. El alma se le cayó a los pies 10. The soul fell to his foot 10. ………………………………………..
11. El mundo es un pañuelo 11. The world is a hacky. 11. …………………………………………..
12. Poner algo en práctica 12. Put sth 12. …………………………………………..
13. En un primer vistazo/momento 13. …………………………………………..
14. Escurrir el bulto 14. …………………………………………..
15. Estar de los nervios 15. …………………………………………..
16. Estar mal visto
17. Inclinar la balanza a favor de
18. Irse al traste
4. Compare the English expression with the Spanish version:
 ● What differences do you notice?
● Which one makes more sense?
● Think of a way to remember the English ones: an image, a rhyme, relate it to your life, relate it to the Spanish version, etc.

Practice Conversation
Complete the sentences with expressions from before. Complete the questions with the missing word, then ask them to your partner.
1. My boss …………………………. in the meeting and spent half an hour 1. What do you do to let ….. steam?
talking about something completely different. 2. Do you think you are too trusting? How good are you at seeing if there
2. After the job interview, he was …………………………. for the whole is something ……… going on?
week waiting for the response. 3. Do you have a …….. world experience?
3. I had to get a new charger for my Macbook, it …………………………., 4. How good are you at staying on topic? How often do you get s……….
it’s outrageous! in conversations or presentations?
4. When he saw how much further they had to walk his …………………… 5. When was the last time you had to pay an …… and a ……. for
5. I saw my next-door neighbour on the beach in Mallorca! something? Was it worth it?
…………………………. 6. What other social behaviour is frowned ……. in public in your country?
6. I go to the gym after work to …………………………. 7. If you’ve made a mistake, do you tend to ……. the buck? Or own up to
7. She could never …………………………. to her mother’s expectations. your mistake?
8. Despite all his problems, his friends never …………………………. 8. Has a big plan of yours ever fallen ………? Why didn’t it happen? How
9. After 10 minutes of the class on American history, the children were did it make you feel?
…………………………. 9. When was the last time you were bored ……..? Why?
10. After the disaster all the different government departments kept 10. Are you a drama queen? Do you tend to make ………. out of
…………………………., no one would take responsibility. …………?
11. The deal seemed too good to be true and he suspected that there 11. Are there any habits/theories that you know are a good idea but that
…………………………. you struggle to put …… practice?
12. Calm down, you’re such a drama queen, everything is going to be ok, 12. How well do you usually cope with adversity? Does your heart ……?
stop …………………………. Or are you good at keeping your spirits ……?
13. Putting your feet on the seats on the metro is …………………………. 13. ….. first glance, do you think someone could mistake you for a famous
14. His plans to hitchhike around the world …………………………. when person?
he broke his ankle. 14. How do you normally calm down if you’re feeling ….. edge?
15. It took the detectives a while to …………………………. but they 15. Do you like mystery books/films/TV shows? How good are you at
eventually spotted the connection between the killer and the victim. putting ….. and ….. together?
16. …………………………. he could pass for a teenager, but then you look 16. Who do you think will win the next elections in your country? Are there
a bit closer. any issues that you think might ….. the balance …. favour of one
17. It’s a good theory, but how easy will it be to …………………………. party?
18. The election results are very close, just a few hundred votes could 17. What would it take for you to turn your back …. your best friend?
…………………………. either candidate. 18. Do you feel like you measure ….. to your parents’ expectations?