What a detective story is about is not murder, but the restoration of order. (P. D. James)
Don Caesar’s murder, at H., West Sussex, which hit the headlines a few years ago, was not all that special as murders go, and maybe Caulder, the famed inspector of Scotland Yard, would not have been assigned the case, but for the fact that he had happened to be spending a week’s holiday fishing in the neighbourhood.
Inspector Caulder, who was due to retire in three months’ time, found the idyllic small village an ideal spot to have a rest in, while trying to catch some salmon. He considered it the perfect surroundings to live in after his retirement, if he had the money to buy one of the expensive, fashionable gabled houses that dotted the green landscape. But he, like any average senior inspector in the force, no matter how many brilliant, successful services to the Yard he may have rendered, could not afford anything of the kind.
Don Caesar must have also thought H. a pleasant place to spend the rest of his days in when he retired twenty-five years ago after a long, hectic life of crime and murder in Chicago. But in his case, with the great wealth amassed in a lifetime of extortion and drug trafficking, it had been no problem to acquire the Honeysuckle, a graceful two-storeyed house, the stateliest in the environs, and quietly withdraw himself from circulation for good. And it had been a wise decision, because during all these past years he had been known as the eccentric old American who lived alone in the large house with his surly housekeeper, and who seldom came out or received any visitors, and was liked and respected by everybody in the village, including the local police. It was an irony of fate that Inspector Caulder himself, who had paid him a couple of visits at his home, and had had tea with an aged Don Caesar who had jokingly dared the police officer to arrest him for any of his multiple misdeeds of yore, was one day to be called on to solve the mystery of his murder.
When early on Monday afternoon Inspector Caulder arrived on the murder scene, Sergeant Turner, his faithful assistant, was dutifully waiting for him outside the Honeysuckle, but this time he did not venture to name a culprit: a long series of blunders in the very cases that had made his superior famous – the insane blackmailer, the Polish countess’ missing necklace, the secret service mole and, more recently, the Thumbleton twins – had taught him to be more cautious. But he promptly acquainted Caulder with all the gory details: Don Caesar had been found stabbed in the back, by Mrs. Bradley, his housekeeper, who had been horrified when, on coming into the house that morning, she had seen her master lying dead on the living room carpet, the ringfinger missing from his right hand. As the sergeant pointed out to his chief, no entrance to the house had been forced. Don Caesar, who did not believe in bodyguards or guards of any other kind, had nonetheless made his house into a veritable fortress: an electrified barbed-wire fence, barred windows and three huge, fierce Dobermanns that would have torn an intruder to pieces in no time made housebreaking practically impossible. No, whoever his untimely visitor may have been, it had obviously been Don Caesar himself who had let him in, after conveniently tying up the dogs.
Furthermore, according to the sergeant’s notes, no one in the village had noticed anything out of the ordinary on Sunday evening when the murder had taken place, and the police, on their customary ten o’clock patrol, had seen the light on in Don Caesar’s sitting room and everything apparently in order. No unusual fingerprints had been discovered and, apart from the deftly amputated finger which must have been wearing the renowned dragon emerald, and a valuable portrait by Rembrandt, skilfully cut out of its frame, nothing was missing. Had the murderer been a connoisseur, an expert art dealer who knew what to look for in a house where the owner reputedly did not like keeping any cash?
The sergeant also handed the inspector a list of suspects who, as is often the case, all happened to have cast-iron alibis. Mrs. Bradley had spent the weekend, as was her wont, in her Chelsea home with her slothful middle-aged son, an ex-convict who was good at nothing but sponging from his resigned mother enough money for his petty vices. “An interesting line of enquiry here”, the sergeant remarked to the inspector’s amusement. Thomas, Don Caesar’s chauffeur and gardener, who also did a lot of odd jobs in the house, had been in London visiting his elderly parents, and Renatta, the murdered man’s late sister’s daughter, and his only living relative, a B.A. air hostess, who was fond of the old man and occasionally came to visit, had been on duty that evening on a flight to Majorca. Finally there was his lawyer, Mr. Wheesley, from Wheesley and Beasley, who had no reason at all to murder his client, aware as he was that in his will, as if to atone for his past wrongdoings, he was leaving everything he had to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and a motley assortment of other charitable associations. Evidently, none of the people on the sergeant’s list was likely to have murdered Don Caesar, but then the list of gangsters from the Mafia who had a grudge against him and would have jumped at the opportunity to bump him off was an endless one, so it was more than likely that his past life of crime had caught up with him at last. Robbery pure and simple could very well have been the motive, too, but on the other hand, the fact that his finger had been chopped off suggested the Mob’s settling an old score or a ritual of sorts.
Strict orders had immediately been issued for a thorough check at airports to prevent the precious canvas from getting out of the country, and Inspector Caulder himself was flying to Amsterdam where he knew a couple of addresses of crooked art dealers who would snap up the stolen objects, paying a fortune for them, and no indiscreet questions asked.
On the plane to Holland, after take-off, having unfastened his seat belt and lit his pipe, a self-satisfied Inspector Caulder could not help smiling to himself as he complacently stroked his briefcase and thought of his imminent retirement, a retirement that did not worry him any longer, for he was sure that no arrest would be made in Amsterdam. His last case would go unsolved.
There was no smile on Sgt. Turner’s face as he nervously paced up and down the airport lounge in Amsterdam, impatiently waiting for the plane from London to land, but he was thrilled to the bone, too, for if his wife’s intuition had been right, and he prayed to high heaven it was, he would be able to collect the substantial reward offered for the recovery of the missing Rembrandt, and more important perhaps, he would be able to pay the inspector back for all the subtle mockery and rebuff he had had to endure throughout those long years of devoted service at his side.
SEMANTIC ANALYSIS (for help go here)
4.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES
aged (anciano, entrado en años)
assortment (surtido, colección)
to atone for (expiar)
B.A air hostess (azafata de la British Airways)
barbed-wire fence (alambrada)
barred windows (ventanas con barrotes)
to be assigned a case (serle asignado un caso)
blunder (metedura de pata)
bodyguard (guardaespaldas) (for occupations and professions, see 10.2.5)
canvas (lienzo)
cast-iron alibi (coartada sólida/a toda prueba) (for legal terms, see 3.2.7c)
connoisseur (entendido, experto)
countess (condesa)
crooked (corrupto)
deftly (diestramente, hábilmente)
drug trafficking (narcotráfico) (for drugs and drug-related terms, see 5.2.6f)
dutifully (diligentemente)
to endure (soportar)
environs (inmediaciones)
extortion (extorsión)
force [cuerpo (policial)]
frame (marco)
gabled house (casa con tejado de dos aguas) (for types of dwelling, see 4.2.6g)
to go unsolved (quedar sin resolver)
gory (sangriento)
hectic (ajetreado, frenético)
honeysuckle (madreselva) (for flowers, see 4.2.6b)
horrified (horrorizado)
housekeeper (ama de llaves) (for occupations and professions, see 10.2.5)
insane (loco, demente)
to jump at an opportunity (no dejar escapar una oportunidad)
misdeed (fechoría, delito)
mockery (burla)
mole (topo, espía)
motley (variopinto)
necklace (collar)
odd jobs (chapuzas)
of yore (de antaño)
on duty (de servicio)
to pace up and down (pasear de un lado para otro) (for ways of walking, see
7.2.7)
petty vices (pequeños vicios)
Polish (polaco,-a)
rebuff (desaire, desplante)
to render a service (prestar un servicio)
reputedly (según dicen)
reward (recompensa)
ringfinger (dedo anular) (for parts of the human body, see 11.2.5a)
robbery pure and simple (un robo, simplemente)
salmon (salmón) (for fish, see 5.2.6b)
skillfully (diestramente, hábilmente)
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (la Real Sociedad Protectora de Animales)
to sponge (gorronear, sablear)
to stab (apuñalar)
stately (majestuoso)
to stroke (acariciar) (for other meanings of stroke, see 4.2.5)
surly (arisco, hosco, malhumorado)
to tear to pieces (hacer pedazos)
that dotted the green landscape (que salpicaban el verde paisaje)
thorough (minucioso, concienzudo, a fondo)
two-storeyed house (casa de dos pisos) (for other types of dwelling, see 4.2.6g)
to unfasten (desabrochar)
untimely (inoportuno)
to withdraw oneself from circulation (retirarse de la circulación)
wrongdoings (delitos, fechorías)
(see also IDIOMS, 4.2.11 and PHRASAL VERBS, 4.2.13)
4.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS
to endure (to bear, to suffer, to tolerate, to put up with)
famed (famous, celebrated, renowned)
fierce (ferocious, untamed, vicious)
furthermore (besides, moreover)
gory (bloody, gruesome)
huge (enormous, immense, vast, very big)
the Mob (the Mafia)
motley (heterogenous, miscellaneous)
nonetheless (however, nevertheless)
slothful (lazy)
to stroke (to caress)
surly (bad-tempered, sullen, sulky)
4.2.3 ANTONYMS
deftly (clumsily, awkwardly)
to fasten (to unfasten)
fierce (tame, gentle)
lazy (active, busy, industrious, energetic)
thorough (cursory, superficial)
wealthy (poor, impoverished)
4.2.4 HOMONYMS
kind (clase) (from OE kynd(e)/kind (amable) (from OE gekynde)
mole (the animal) (from ME molle, probably from MDutch moll(e))/mole (a blemish on the skin) (from OE māl)
4.2.5 POLYSEMOUS TERMS
spot [punto, lugar; lunar (beauty spot), mota; mancha; grano; picadura (de fruta); un poco de (trabajo/lluvia/comida/leche); espacio (televisivo); foco (de luz, en el teatro); to spot (localizar, divisar)] (for idioms with spot, see 4.2.11)
stroke [golpe (en tenis/golf); brazada/estilo (natación); golpe (de remo); campanada (de reloj); trazo (de letra/dibujo), pincelada; pulsación (en mecanografía); ataque de apoplejía/derrame cerebral; caricia; barra oblicua (del teclado); to stroke (acariciar)]
4.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS
- a) the language of airports:
air steward/stewardess (auxiliar de vuelo)
air hostess (azafata)
(airport) lounge (sala de espera)
baggage (equipaje)
boarding card (tarjeta de embarque)
charter flight (vuelo chárter)
check-in (facturación, mostrador de facturación)
the crew (la tripulación)
departure lounge (sala de embarque)
duty-free shop (tienda libre de impuestos)
excess baggage (exceso de equipaje)
gate number X (puerta número X)
to go through customs (pasar por la aduana)
to go through immigration (pasar por inmigración)
to land (aterrizar)
landing (aterrizaje)
passengers (pasajeros)
runway (pista de aterrizaje)
scheduled flight (vuelo regular)
a seat by the aisle (asiento junto al pasillo)
to take off (despegar)
take-off (despegue)
the baggage reclaim/claim (recogida de equipajes)
transit lounge (sala de tránsito)
VIP lounge (sala de espera para VIPs)
a window seat (asiento con ventanilla)
- b) flowers:
acacia (acacia)
anemone (anémona)
azalea (azalea)
begonia (begonia)
bluebell (campanilla)
bougainvillea (buganvilla)
buttercup (ranúnculo, botón de oro)
cactus (cactus; pl. cactuses/cacti)
camellia (camelia)
carnation (clavel)
chrysanthemun (crisantemo)
clematis (clemátide)
clover (trébol)
cowslip (primavera, prímula)
crocus (azafrán de primavera)
cyclamen (ciclamen)
daffodil (narciso)
dahlia (dalia)
daisy (margarita)
dandelion (diente de león)
deadly nightshade (belladona)
delphinium (delfinio, espuela de caballero)
forget-me-not (nomeolvides)
foxglove (digital, dedalera)
fuchsia (fucsia)
gardenia (gardenia)
geranium (geranio)
gladiolus (gladiolo; pl. gladioli/gladioluses)
heliotrope (heliotropo)
hemlock (cicuta)
hibiscus (hibisco)
holly (acebo)
honeysuckle (madreselva)
hyacinth (jacinto)
hydrangea (hortensia)
iris (lirio, flor de lis)
ivy (hiedra)
jacaranda (jacaranda)
jasmine (jazmín)
laburnum (codeso, lluvia de oro)
lavender (lavanda, espliego)
lilac (lila)
lily (lirio, azucena)
lily of the valley (lirio del valle)
magnolia (magnolia)
marigold (caléndula, maravilla)
mimosa (mimosa)
myrtle (mirto, arrayán)
narcissus (narciso)
oleander (adelfa)
orchid (orquídea)
pansy (pensamiento)
passion flower (flor de la pasión)
peony (peonia)
periwinkle (vincapervinca)
petunia (petunia)
pink (clavel, clavellina)
poinsettia (flor de Pascua)
poppy (amapola)
primrose (primavera, prímula amarilla)
primula (prímula)
rhododendron (rododendro)
rose (rosa)
shamrock (trébol)
snowdrop (campanilla de invierno)
sunflower (girasol)
sweet william (minutisa)
teasel/teazel (cardencha)
thistle (cardo)
tulip (tulipán)
valerian (valeriana)
violet (violeta)
water lily (nenúfar)
white lily (azucena)
wisteria (glicinia)
zinnia (zinnia)
- c) plants, trees and shrubs:
acacia (tree) (acacia)
almond tree (almendro)
apple tree (manzano)
apricot tree (albaricoquero)
araucaria (araucaria)
ash (fresno)
bamboo (bambú)
banana tree (banano)
bay (tree) (laurel)
beech (haya)
berry (baya)
bindweed (enredadera)
blackthorn (endrino)
bramble (zarza)
bush (arbusto, matorral)
carob tree (algarrobo)
cedar (cedro)
cherimoya (tree) (chirimoyo)
cherry (tree) (cerezo)
chestnut (castaño)
cinnamon (canelo)
coconut palm (cocotero)
cypress (ciprés)
elder (saúco)
elm (tree) (olmo)
eucalyptus (eucalipto)
fern (helecho)
fig tree (higuera)
fir (abeto)
gum (tree) (eucalipto)
hawthorn (espino)
heather (brezo)
jacaranda (jacaranda)
jasmine (jazmín)
juniper (enebro)
larch (alerce)
laurel (laurel)
lemon tree (limonero)
lime (limero)
lime tree/linden (tilo)
mahogany (caoba)
mandrake (mandrágora)
mangrove (mangle)
maple (arce)
medlar (níspero)
melon patch (melonar)
mint (menta, hierbabuena)
mistletoe (muérdago)
nettle (ortiga)
nightshade (dulcamara)
oak (roble)
olive tree (olivo)
orange tree (naranjo)
palm tree (palmera)
peach tree (melocotonero)
pear tree (peral)
peppermint (menta, hierbabuena)
persimmon (caqui)
pine (tree) (pino)
plane (plátano)
plum tree (ciruelo)
pomegranate (granado)
poplar (álamo, chopo)
prickly pear (chumbera)
quince (tree) (membrillo)
reed (junco)
rosemary (romero)
rosewood (palo de rosa, palisandro)
rowan (tree) (serbal)
rubber plant (ficus)
rubber tree (árbol de caucho)
sandalwood (sándalo)
sequoia/redwood (secuoya)
shrub (arbusto, mata)
sorrel (acedera)
spruce (picea)
strawberry plant (planta de la fresa)
sycamore (sicómoro)
tamarind (tamarindo)
tangerine (mandarino)
teak (teka)
tomato plant (tomatera)
vineyard (viña)
walnut (tree) (nogal)
(weeping) willow [sauce (llorón)]
yew (tree) (tejo)
yucca (yuca)
- d) animals:
adder (víbora)
alligator (caimán)
ant (hormiga)
anteater (oso hormiguero)
antelope (antílope)
ape (simio)
ass (asno)
baboon (babuino)
badger (tejón)
bat (murciélago)
bear (oso)
beaver (castor)
bedbug (chinche)
bee (abeja)
beetle (escarabajo)
bison (bisonte)
bluebottle (mosca azul)
boa (constrictor) (boa)
brown bear (oso pardo)
buck [gamo; macho de algunos animales (ciervo, conejo, liebre, rata)]
buffalo (búfalo)
bull (toro)
bumblebee (abejorro)
butterfly (mariposa)
calf (ternero; pl. calves)
camel (camello)
cat (gato)
caterpillar (oruga)
centipede (ciempiés)
chameleon (camaleón)
chamois (gamuza)
cheetah (guepardo)
chicken/chick (pollo/pollito)
chimpanzee/chimp (chimpancé)
chinchilla (chinchilla)
chipmunk (ardilla listada)
cicada (cigarra)
cobra (cobra)
cock (BrE)/rooster (AmE) (gallo)
cockroach (cucaracha)
cow (vaca)
cricket (grillo)
crocodile (cocodrilo)
daddy longlegs/crane fly (típula)
deer [ciervo; stag/buck (ciervo macho)/doe (cierva)]
dog/bitch (perro, -a)
dolphin (delfín)
donkey (burro)
dormouse (lirón; pl. dormice)
dragon fly (libélula)
dromedary (dromedario)
drone (zángano)
duck (pato,-a); drake (pato macho)
earthworm (lombriz)
earwig (tijereta)
elephant (elefante)
elk (alce)
ferret (hurón)
flea (pulga)
fly (mosca)
fox/vixen (zorro, -a)
frog (rana)
gander/goose5 (ganso, -a; pl. geese)
gazelle (gacela)
gibbon (gibón)
giraffe (jirafa)
glow-worm (luciérnaga)
gnu (ñu)
goat (cabra)
gorilla (gorila)
grasshopper (saltamontes)
greenfly (pulgón)
grizzly bear (oso pardo americano)
guinea pig (cobaya, conejillo de indias)
hamster (hámster)
hare (liebre)
hedgehog (erizo)
hen (gallina)
hippopotamus/hippo (hipopótamo)
hornet (avispón)
horse/mare (caballo/yegua)
horsefly (tábano)
hound (podenco)
hyena (hiena)
ibex (íbice/cabra montesa)
jackal (chacal)
jaguar (jaguar)
jellyfish (medusa)
kangaroo (canguro)
killer whale (orca)
koala (bear) (koala)
ladybird (mariquita)
lamb (cordero)
leech (sanguijuela)
leopard (leopardo)
limpet (lapa)
lion/lioness (león, -a)
lizard (lagarto)
llama (llama)
locust (langosta)
louse (piojo; pl. lice)
lynx (lince)
macaque (macaco)
mamba (mamba)
marmoset (tití)
marmot (marmota)
marten (marta)
midge (jején)
mink (visón)
mite (ácaro)
mole (topo)
mongoose (mangosta)
monkey (mono)
moose/elk (alce)
mosquito (mosquito)
moth (polilla)
mouse (ratón; pl. mice)
mule (mulo)
newt (tritón)
octopus (pulpo)
ocelot (ocelote)
orangutan(g) (orangután)
otter (nutria)
ox (buey, pl. oxen)
panda (oso panda)
panther (pantera)
peacock/peahen (pavo,-a real)
pig/sow (cerdo, -a)
platypus/duck-billed platypus (ornitorrinco)
polar bear (oso blanco/polar)
polecat (turón)
porcupine (puerco espín)
porpoise (marsopa)
praying mantis (mantis religiosa)
puma (puma)
python (serpiente pitón)
rabbit (conejo)
raccoon (mapache)
ram (carnero)
rat (rata)
rattlesnake (serpiente de cascabel)
reindeer (reno)
rhinoceros/rhino (rinoceronte)
roe (deer) (corzo)
sable (marta cibelina)
salamander (salamandra)
scorpion (escorpión)
sea lion (león marino)
seal (foca)
sheep (oveja)
shrew (musaraña)
silkworm (gusano de seda)
skunk (mofeta)
sloth (oso perezoso)
slug (babosa)
small lizard (lagartija)
snail (caracol)
snake/serpent (serpiente)
sperm whale (cachalote)
spider (araña)
squirrel (ardilla)
stag beetle (ciervo volador)
starfish (estrella de mar)
stoat (armiño)
tapir (tapir)
termite (termita)
terrapin (tortuga de agua dulce)
tick (garrapata)
tiger/tigress (tigre/tigresa)
toad (sapo)
tortoise (tortuga terrestre)
tsetse (fly) (mosca tsetsé)
turkey (pavo)
turtle (tortuga marina, galápago)
viper (víbora)
vole/field mouse (ratón de campo)
walrus (morsa)
watchdog (perro guardián)
weasel (comadreja)
wasp (avispa)
whale (ballena)
wolf (lobo; pl. wolves)
woodchuck (marmota americana)
woodlouse (cochinilla)
worm (gusano)
zebra (cebra)
- e) breeds of dog:
Afghan (afgano)
Alsatian/German shepherd (pastor alemán)
basset (hound) (basset)
beagle (podenco)
Belgian sheepdog (pastor belga)
bloodhound (sabueso)
boxer (bóxer)
bull terrier (bullterrier)
bulldog (bulldog)
chihuahua (chihuahua)
chow/chow chow (chow-chow)
cocker spaniel (cócker)
collie (colie, pastor escocés)
dachshund/sausage dog (perro salchicha)
Dalmatian (dálmata)
Dobermann (dóberman)
English setter (setter, perro de muestra inglés)
fox terrier (foxterrier)
foxhound (perro raposero)
Great Dane (gran danés)
greyhound (galgo)
griffon (grifón)
husky (perro esquimal)
Labrador (Labrador)
mastiff (mastín)
mongrel (chucho, perro mestizo, sin pedigrí)
Newfoundland (dog) (perro de Terranova)
Pekinese (perrito pequinés)
pit bull (terrier) (pitbull terrier, bull terrier de pelea)
pointer ( pointer, perro de muestra, perro rastrero)
Pomeranian (lulú)
poodle (perro de lanas)
pug (dog) (doguillo)
retriever (perro cobrador)
rottweiler (rottweiler)
sheepdog (perro pastor)
spaniel (perro de aguas)
St Bernard (dog) (San Bernardo)
trackhound (perro perdiguero)
- f) animals’ cries
apes gibber (los simios chillan)
bears grunt (los osos gruñen)
birds sing/chirp/twitter/warble (los pájaros cantan/pían/trinan/gorjean)
bulls bellow (los toros mugen)
cats miaow/mew/purr (los gatos maullan/ronronean)
cocks crow (los gallos cantan)
cows moo/low (las vacas mugen)
crickets chirp (los grillos chirrían)
crows caw (los cuervos graznan)
dogs bark/growl (los perros ladran/gruñen)
donkeys/asses bray (los burros/los asnos rebuznan)
ducks quack (los patos graznan)
elephants trumpet (los elefantes barritan)
frogs croak (las ranas croan)
geese honk (los gansos graznan)
grasshoppers chirp (los saltamontes chirrían)
hens cackle (las gallinas cacarean)
horses neigh/whinny (los caballos relinchan)
lions roar (los leones rugen)
mice squeak (los ratones chillan)
monkeys chatter (los monos chillan/parlotean)
owls hoot (los búhos ululan)
parrots screech (los loros chillan)
pigeons coo (las palomas arrullan)
pigs grunt/squeal (los cerdos gruñen/chillan)
rabbits squeal (los conejos chillan)
sheep bleat/baa (las ovejas balan)
snakes hiss (las serpientes silban)
turkeys gobble (los pavos gluglutean)
wolves howl (los lobos aullan)
NOTE: Some of the verbs above are often used figuratively: the old man grunted a greeting to us; the sergeant barked an order at his men; the wind was howling/roaring in the trees; steam was hissing out of the radiator, he howled with laughter, etc.
- g) types of dwelling:
abode (vivienda)
apartment (apartamento)
bedsit (estudio)
block of flats (bloque de pisos)
bungalow (bungaló)
chalet (chalé)
cottage (pequeña casa de campo)
country house (casa de campo)
detached house (vivienda unifamiliar)
duplex (houses) (casas de dos viviendas adosadas)
dwelling (vivienda)
farmhouse (granja)
flat (piso)
gabled house (casa con tejado de dos aguas)
housing estate/development (urbanización)
hut (cabaña)
lodge (aposento)
lodgings (habitación alquilada para estudiante)
manor house (casa solariega)
mansion (mansión)
palace (palacio)
penthouse (ático de lujo)
residence (residencia)
semi-detached houses (casas pareadas)
shack (barraca, chabola, choza)
studio flat (estudio)
terraced houses (casas escalonadas)
top-floor apartment/flat (ático)
two-storied house (casa de dos pisos)
villa (chalé)
4.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES
shining:
to shine (brillar)
to glitter [+ with a bright reflected light (jewels, gold)] [brillar, relucir (superficie pulida, oro, joyas)]
to glint [ + with small flashes of light (eyes, gold, metal)] [brillar (los ojos, indicando un sentimiento determinado a menudo desagradable: ambición, codicia, etc, relucir (superficie pulida, metálica)]
to gleam [ + faint, brief, soft, pleasant light] (brillar, relucir, resplandecer)
to glimmer [ + faint light] (brillar con luz tenue o trémula)
to glisten [ + wet surface] [brillar (superficie húmeda)]
to glare [ + dazzling, unpleasant light] (brillar con luz demasiado fuerte o molesta, deslumbrar)
to glow [ + throw out light or heat without flames] (brillar intensamente en la oscuridad, ardiendo sin llamas)
to flash [ + brief, sudden bright light] (brillar intensamente durante un momento, destellar, centellear)
to flicker [ + unsteady light] [parpadear, temblar (luz), brillar con luz mortecina, trémula o intermitente]
to shimmer [ + soft light that seems to waver] (rielar)
to sparkle [ + brightly, reflected, repeatedly] (brillar, centellear, chispear)
to twinkle [ + with a light that changes constantly from bright to faint] [brillar (estrellas, ojos), relucir, centellear, parpadear]
to dazzle [ + with a light so bright that it blinds you temporarily] (deslumbrar)
to beam [ + produce a ray of light] (irradiar un rayo de luz)
to blink [ + with an unsteady or intermittent light; also shut and open the eyes quickly, gen. involuntarily] (parpadear)
to blaze [ + with a very bright, strong light; burn with a bright flame] (flamear, llamear)
to scintillate [ = to sparkle or twinkle in literary style]
4.2.8 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
to arrive at (a place/a village/small town)/in (big cities/countries) (llegar a)
to dare sb to do sth (desafiar a alguien a que haga algo)
good at/for/to/of (bueno en/para/por parte de)
to acquaint sb with sth (informar a alguien de algo, poner al corriente de)
to sponge from/to touch for (gorronear, sablear)
to prevent sb/sth from doing sth (impedir a alguien/algo que haga algo)
4.2.9 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
to shine: the sun is shining (el sol brilla); her golden hair shone in the bright sun (su pelo dorado brillaba al sol radiante), there’s a light shining in the house (hay una luz encendida/que brilla en la casa), his eyes shone with happiness(sus ojos brillaban de felicidad)
to glow: the cat’s eyes glowed in the dark (los ojos del gato brillaban en la oscuridad), the embers glowed in the dying fire (las ascuas brillaban en el fuego mortecino), the cigarette glowed in the dark (el cigarrillo brillaba en la oscuridad), she glowed with pleasure/pride (estaba resplandeciente de placer/orgullo), he was glowing with health (rebosaba salud)
to gleam: the lights of the town gleamed in the distance (las luces de la ciudad brillaban a lo lejos), his shiny new car gleamed in the sunlight (su reluciente coche nuevo brillaba a la luz del sol), her eyes gleamed with amusement (sus ojos brillaban divertidos)
to glitter: the emerald ring glittered on his finger (el anillo de esmeraldas brillaba/relucía en su dedo), gold glitters (el oro reluce), all that glitters is not gold (no es oro todo lo que reluce), her blue eyes glittered with anger (sus ojos azules brillaban con ira)
to glint: a gun glinted in his hand (una pistola brillaba en su mano), their steel helmets glinted in the sun (sus cascos de acero brillaban al sol), his eyes glinted when he saw the money (le brillaron los ojos cuando vio el dinero)
to flash: his knife flashed in the sun (su cuchillo brilló a la luz del sol), the lightning flashed (el relámpago brilló intensamente), his eyes flashed with anger (sus ojos brillaron con ira)
to twinkle: the stars were twinkling in the sky (las estrellas brillaban/centelleaban en el cielo), his eyes twinkled with pleasure (sus ojos brillaban de placer)
to glimmer: a light glimmered at the end of the passage/corridor/tunnel (una luz brillaba débilmente al final del pasillo/corredor/tunel), there’s a glimmer of hope for the lost climbers (hay un atisbo de esperanza por los montañeros desaparecidos/perdidos)
to glisten: the wet leaves glistened in the sunlight (las hojas húmedas brillaban a la luz del sol), his forehead glistened with sweat (el sudor brillaba en su frente), her eyes glistened with tears (las lágrimas brillaban en sus ojos), the frost glistened on the trees (la escarcha brillaba en los árboles)
to glare: the sunlight was glaring in his eyes, so he put on his sunglasses (el resplandor de la luz del sol le molestaba en los ojos, de manera que se puso sus gafas de sol), the car headlights glared in front of him (los faros del coche brillaron cegadores delante suya)
to dazzle: the car headlights dazzled me for a moment (los faros del coche me deslubraron por un momento), they were all dazzled by his performance (todos quedaron deslumbrados por su actuación)
to shimmer: the water shimmered in the moonlight (el agua brillaba/rielaba a la luz de la luna), the land shimmered in the heat haze (la tierra brillaba por la calima)
to sparkle: a big diamond sparkled on his finger (un gran diamante resplandecía en su dedo), his eyes sparkled with happiness(sus ojos resplandecían de felicidad)
to beam: the moon beamed in the clear sky (la luna brillaba/resplandecía en el cielo sin nubes), he beamed when he saw his name on the prizing list (sonrió de oreja a oreja cuando vio su nombre en la lista de premios)
to flicker: the candle flickered on the kitchen table (la vela parpadeaba en la mesa de la cocina), there was a flicker of hope in her eyes (había un atisbo de esperanza en sus ojos)
to blaze: the city lights blazed in the night (las luces de la noche brillaban en la noche), her eyes blazed with anger(sus ojos brillaban/llameaban de ira)
to blink: we could see the ship’s lights blinking in the distance (podíamos ver las luces del barco parpadeando a lo lejos)
issue: [ ejemplar, número de revista/periódico: a back issue un número atrasado; asunto, tema, cuestión: a controversial issue un tema conflictivo; resultado, desenlace (de negociaciones): the issue of the negotiations is still in doubt el desenlace de las negociaciones está aún en duda; (jur.) descendencia: to die without issue morir sin descendencia; to issue new stamps/coins/shares (emitir, poner en circulación: valores, acciones, monedas, sellos); to issue a magazine/an article (sacar: número de revista, artículo); to issue a statement/a warning (hacer público: decreto, declaración, nota); to issue sb with sth (dar, proveer a alguien de algo); to be issued with (a passport/a visa/a permit [expedir a alguien (visado, certificado, carné)]; brotar (sangre de una herida, etc.); salir de (sonido de los labios, etc.); (jur.) to issue an order/a writ/a warrant (dictar auto, orden)]
headlines: (to make/hit the headlines) (aparecer en primera plana/página)
to visit: (to make/pay a visit to sb) (hacer una visita a alguien)
4.2.10 WORD FORMATION
suffixes -ful,- less to form adjectives:
- a) both –full and –less possible:
faithful – faithless (fiel- infiel)
hopeful – hopeless (esperanzador – desesperado)
helpful – helpless (útil; servicial – incapaz, indefenso)
careful – careless (cuidadoso – descuidado)
useful – useless (útil – inútil)
merciful – merciless (misericordioso – despiadado)
pitiful – pitiless (lastimoso, lastimero; lamentable – despiadado, implacable)
painful – painless (doloroso – indoloro)
harmful – harmless (perjudicial – inofensivo)
tactful – tactless (con tacto – falto de tacto)
tasteful – tasteless (de buen gusto – de mal gusto)
fruitful – fruitless (fructífero – infructuoso)
restful – restless (tranquilo, sosegado – inquieto, agitado)
- b) only –ful possible:
awful (espantoso, horroroso)
dreadful (espantoso, horrible)
peaceful (apacible, pacífico)
beautiful (bello, hermoso)
truthful (verídico, veraz)
successful (con éxito)
wonderful (maravilloso)
respectful (respetuoso)
manful (valiente)
- c) only –less possible:
– childless (sin hijos)
– homeless (sin hogar)
– endless (sin fin, interminable)
– priceless (que no tiene precio, inestimable)
– noiseless (sin ruido, silencioso)
– worthless (sin valor, despreciable)
– fatherless (huérfano de padre)
– countless (incontable, innumerable)
conversion:
bottle → to bottle – (botella – embotellar)
condition → to condition – (condición – condicionar)
corner → to corner – (rincón – arrinconar)
daily → a daily – (diario – un diario)
dirty → to dirty – (sucio-ensuciar)
dot → to dot – (punto – puntear/salpicar)
empty → to empty – (vacío – vaciar)
pity → to pity – (compasión – compadecer)
skin → to skin – (piel – despellejar)
to bore → a bore – (aburrir – un aburrimiento)
to swim → a swim (nadar – un baño)
negative prefixes: a-, dis-, in-, mal-, mis-, non-, un-, etc.:
a-: amoral (amoral), apolitical (apolítico), asexual (asexual, asexuado), asymmetric (asimétrico), atypical (atípico), etc.
dis- : dishonest (deshonesto), disloyal (desleal), disobey (desobedecer), disorder (desorden), discontent (descontento), dissimilar (distinto, diferente), etc.
in-: incomplete (incompleto), indiscreet (indiscreto), inevitable (inevitable), inflexible (inflexible), insecure (inseguro), inhuman (inhumano), intolerable (intolerable), etc.
in → im: immoral (inmoral), impure (impuro), immortal (inmortal), imbalance (desequilibrio), etc.
in → il: illegal (ilegal), illegitimate (ilegítimo), illiterate (analfabeto), illogical (ilógico), etc.
in → ir: irregular (irregular), irrational (irracional), irrecoverable (irrecuperable), irrelevant (irrelevante), irreplaceable (irremplazable), irreverent (irreverente), etc.
mal-: maltreat (maltratar), malodorous (maloliente), malformation (malformación), malfunction (mal funcionamiento), malnutrition (desnutrición), malpractice (negligencia médica), etc.
mis-: miscalculate (calcular mal), misfire [fallar (motor), encasquillarse (arma), salir mal (plan, etc.), mislead (inducir a error), misinform (informar mal), mishear (oír algo mal), misunderstand (malinterpretar), misplace (extraviar), etc.
non-: non-aligned (no alineado), non-smoker (no fumador), non-fiction (obras literarias que no pertenecen al género de ficción), non-resident (no residente), non-returnable [no retornable (envase)], etc.
un-: uncommon (poco común, insólito), unclear (poco/nada claro), unfair (injusto), unwise (poco aconsejable, desacertado), unexpected (inesperado), unforgettable (inolvidable), unintelligible (ininteligible), unfaithful (infiel), etc. (reversives) to undo (deshacer), to unfasten (desabrochar), to untie (desatar), to unpack (deshacer la maleta), to undress (desvestirse), etc.
4.2.11 IDIOMS
as was her wont (como tenía por costumbre)
thrilled to the bone (muy emocionado)
to have a grudge against sb/to bear sb a grudge (guardarle rencor a alguien)
to pray to high heaven (rogar a todos los santos)
to be in a tight spot (estar en un aprieto)
to have a soft spot for sb (tener debilidad por alguien)
to knock spots off sb (ser muy superior/dar mil vueltas a alguien)
on the spot (a.- en el acto; b.- en el lugar de los hechos)
to put sb on the spot (poner a alguien en un aprieto)
4.2.12 REGISTER
to kill – matar (standard)/ to slay (liter.)/to do in/ to rub out/ to bump off (informal)
drunk – borracho (standard)/intoxicated/inebriated (formal)/pissed/tight/soused/sozzled/stewed /well oiled (informal)/tipsy [slightly drunk (informal)]/ plastered/sloshed/tanked (up) (sl.)
money/cash – dinero/dinero en efectivo (standard)/dough [pasta (informal)], bread/dosh/lolly [guita/tela (sl.)]
4.2.13 PHRASAL VERBS
to bump sb off (liquidar/cargarse a alguien)
to catch up with sb (pasar factura, volverse contra uno mismo)
to chop sth off (cortar de un tajo)
to get out (of) [salir (de)]
to let sb in (dejar entrar/hacer pasar)
to look for (buscar)
to make into (convertir)
to pay sb back (vengarse)
to point out (señalar)
to snap up (comprar con avidez, aprovechar una oportunidad)
4.2.14 CULTURAL NOTES
- D. James (1920-2014 ) – well-known contemporary English writer of detective novels.
4.3 GRAMMAR REVISION
4.3.1 Non-defining relative clauses (see also 6.3.2)
…which hit the headlines a few years ago…
Inspector Caulder, who was due to retire in three months’ time…
4.3.2 Concessive clauses (see also 1.3.3, 2.3.1 and 11.3.2)
…no matter how many brilliant, successful services…
4.3.3 By-agent in passive clauses
…was liked and respected by everybody in the village
4.3.4 -Ing participial clauses (see also 10.3.3)
…having unfastened his seat belt…
4.3.5 Omission of relative pronoun and preposition placed at the end of the sentence
…an ideal spot to have a rest in…
…a plesant place to spend the rest of his days in when he retired…
…the man you’re talking about…
…the job I’ve applied for…