5 – The Banquet

For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit.       (Noam Chomsky)

 

Sitting on the porch of his splendid villa on the hill that overlooked the limpid blue sea, Don Carlo was feeling good. As he waited for his important guest, in his favourite rocking chair, smoking a cigar, a glass of sherry on the floor at his side, he enjoyed the cool spring breeze, loaded with the scent of jasmine, that caressed his wizened cheeks. This part of the island was certainly peaceful, and his villa, the Rosery, where a famous 19th century English poet – he had forgotten his name – had lived the last twenty years of his life, a true paradise. A pity he would have to move soon; the Town Hall had claimed it as a national monument and he, a law-abiding citizen and respected businessman, was naturally willing to sell them the house for a song. No matter, he would get another nearby. He liked the area, it was stylish, and it wasn’t too far from the warehouse. He was glad he had left the States and come to live on this beautiful Mediterranean island. He had had to break his ties with the American Mob, but he had no regrets. Times were changing fast. The new generation no longer believed in respect, in silence. They were a pack of two-bit wiseguys who only cared about themselves and didn’t mind ratting on their superiors to avoid doing hard time. He had been doing quite comfortably on loan sharking and gambling, and had not been involved in any of the recent rubouts between the families, but things were getting hotter in America of late. He himself had had a narrow escape a couple of years back when a jury declared him not guilty of racketeering, but he felt he couldn’t tempt providence any longer. The federal prosecutors were cracking down on the mobsters, and the Mafia had to face competition from all quarters, ranging from Chinese gangs to Russian immigrants, and especially the new powerful Latin American drug barons.

Actually, it was one of the barons, Lucio, he was waiting for today, and he counted on doing a big deal with him over lunch. He watched Willie, his faithful chauffeur and bodyguard, outside the garage, polishing his black Mercedes – one had to cultivate one’s image – and he could hear Petrita – his old servant and cook – busy in the kitchen preparing the meal. He had told her to spare no expense today, as he wanted to impress a distinguished visitor from overseas, and he was sure she would not let him down. He was fond of the thin, bony woman who had devotedly served in his family for as long as he could remember. The old girl had been a bit of a nuisance lately, always gloomy and whining, especially since her only son, who was hooked on heroin, had died of an overdose six months ago, but he was confident she would eventually overcome her grief; the lady was tough, she had bravely held back her tears at the funeral and had thanked him profusely when he had attended it personally, sending those huge wreaths, too. Anyway, she was still a superb cook, and he didn’t know what he’d do without her. He knew she resented his going into the drug business. He hadn’t dealt in drugs before, and he’d never so much as smoked a joint in his life, but you had to keep up with the times, and cocaine and heroin, that’s where the big money was, and he was sitting pretty on the island where he could make it big with practically no risks: a big gun in the local police, suitably bribed, and a thriving trade office which imported coffee from Colombia, tea from Ceylon, spices from the Far East, a solid, respectable cover. No great harm done really if, hidden among the imported regular stuff, the white lady found her way into the island and from there to the all-important mainland market. The only thing, he would tell Lucio today to watch it so that the shit did not become ‘caca’ or ‘pee’ as had happened once or twice over the last few months, when there had been some unfortunate accidental deaths among the young local addicts…

He saw the black limousine, majestically entering the driveway and he stood up to welcome the drug baron…Meanwhile, alone in the kitchen, Petrita was putting the finishing touches to the regal meal. The boss had told her to go out of her way to impress the important visitor, and impressed he would indeed be. There would be selected hors-d’oeuvres: caviare from Iran, salmon from Norway, foie gras from France, local lobster, shrimps and prawns, oysters, Spanish cured ham…Then one of her specialities: shellfish soup, followed by, to choose from, English roast beef with Brussels sprouts, diced carrots, mushrooms and a delicious apple sauce, or fillet of “dorada”, stuffed with olives and anchovies, with vegetable purée, and for dessert no choice, it had to be her magnificent strawberry gateau, which nobody in the island could imitate. She inspected the wines: a dry white Rhine to go with the hors-d’oeuvres and the soup, and a special five-year-old Bordeaux rosé for the second course…She heard the two men in animated conversation in the dining room, so she’d better hurry…

In the dining room, Don Carlo was duly impressed by his young visitor. It would be a pleasure to do business with him. They would discuss tobacco and liquor first over the hors-d’oeuvres. Small fry, really, maybe not worth going on with any longer. Then, over the soup and the main course, gambling would be analysed: the fruit machines were still doing well, though people were beginning to get tired of them, so something innovative would have to be found soon – was it true that a new machine had been invented that could talk and give hints to the players? That would be revolutionary. They’d deliberately leave the main issue, hard drugs, to discuss over dessert and coffee, on a full stomach. He watched Petrita, proudly bringing in the varied hors-d’oeuvres, and relaxed, getting ready for the sumptuous feast…

All through the meal, Petrita sat brooding on her kitchen chair, and when she judged that her guests would have eaten her marvellous cake, she slowly got up and looked in the dining room. Not a sound could be heard, not a murmur, everything was eerily silent. The cyanide had done its work well. She cast a last glance at the two gangsters, as though to make sure that her services would no longer be required, and retraced her steps to the kitchen. She sat down wearily again and extracted a cheap crumpled snapshot from her apron pocket. As she gazed lovingly at the young man in the photo, she whispered: “You’re avenged, my son, mi amor…” Then, suddenly, she burst into tears and felt better. From where she sat she could see Willie and the other guy’s bodyguard outside. They too had finished eating – no dessert for the underlings – and were smoking and laughing, probably telling each other dirty jokes. They would not find anything unusual for a while yet, so there was no hurry. She took her time looking again at her son’s photograph, then slowly, reluctantly, she put it back in her pocket. She looked down and saw her own piece of strawberry gateau on the table untouched; it looked really appetizing, and she had nothing better to do, so she calmly took hold of her spoon and tucked in…

 

 

SEMANTIC ANALYSIS (for help go here)

 

5.2.1 LEARNING NEW WORDS AND PHRASES

apron pocket  (bolsillo del delantal)

to be a bit of a nuisance (dar un poco la lata, ser un pequeño incordio)

bodyguard (guardaespaldas)

to brood (cavilar, rumiar sobre algo que preocupa o inquieta)

to burst into tears (echarse/romper a llorar)

to caress (acariciar)

cover (tapadera)

crumpled (arrugado)

cyanide (cianuro)

a dirty joke (un chiste obsceno/verde; also a blue joke)

to do hard time (cumplir años de cárcel)

driveway (camino de entrada a una casa para los coches)

drug baron (capo de la droga) (for drugs and drug-related terms, see 5.2.6f)

fruit machine (máquina tragaperras)

gambling (juego)

gateau (pastel, tarta) (for other French borrowings, see 5.2.11)

grief (pena, dolor)

hors-d’oeuvres (entremeses) (for other French borrowings, see 5.2.11)

law-abiding (respetuoso con la ley, fiel cumplidor de la ley)

limousine (limusina) (for types of car, see 6.2.6d)

loan (préstamo)

loan sharking (usura) (for other crime-related terms, see 5.2.6g)

the Mob (la Mafia) (for other crime-related terms, see 5.2.6g)

mobster (gángster) (for other crime-related terms, see 5.2.6g)

on a full stomach (con el estómago lleno)

to overcome [superar (obstáculo, pena)]

porch (porche) (for parts of the house, see 7.2.6b)

to put the finishing touches to (dar los últimos toques a)

racketeering (extorsión, crimen organizado) (for other crime-related terms, see 5.2.6g)

a regal meal (una comida regia)

reluctantly (de mala gana)

to retrace one’s steps (volver sobre sus pasos)

the Rosery (la Rosaleda)

rubout (muertes entre gángsters)

snapshot (foto, instantánea)

to spare no expense (no escatimar gastos)

the States (los Estados Unidos)

two-bit (de tres al cuarto, de medio pelo)

underling (subordinado)

villa (chalé) (for types of dwelling, see 4.2.6g)

warehouse (almacén)

wearily (cansinamente)

the White Lady [la dama blanca (heroína)] (for drugs and drug-related terms, see 5.2.6f)

wiseguy (listillo)

wizened (ajado, arrugado)

wreath (corona funeraria) (for other death-related terms, see 2.2.4c)

 

 

5.2.2 SYNONYMS AND NEAR-SYNONYMS

to avenge (to take vengeance on sb for sth, to take revenge for sth, to exact retribution for sth, to pay sb back for sth, to get even with sb for sth)

banquet (feast, treat; colloq.: spread, blowout, binge, slap-up meal)

eerie (uncanny, sinister, ghostly, spectral, unnatural, unearthly, preternatural, supernatural, unreal, weird)

frightening (spine-chilling, hair-raising, blood-curdling, scaring, terrifying; colloq.: creepy, scary, spooky)

gloomy (despondent, downcast, downhearted, dejected, dispirited, crestfallen, depressed, in low spirits, glum, doleful, disconsolate, melancholy, miserable, morose, mirthless; colloq.: blue, down, down in the mouth, cheesed off, brassed off)

grief (pain, sorrow, misery, sadness, distress, anguish, agony, torment, affliction, suffering, heartache, broken-heartedness, unhappiness, woe, desolation, despondency, dejection, despair, pining)

to have a narrow escape (to be a near thing, to be a close shave, to have a hair’s breadth escape)

magnificent (splendid, superb, spectacular, impressive, striking, glorious, majestic, awesome, awe-inspiring, breathtaking; admirable, great, wonderful, cool (colloq.); grand, sumptuous, imposing, monumental; lavish, rich, brilliant, radiant, dazzling, beautiful, gorgeous)

peaceful (quiet, restful, tranquil, calm, soothing, undisturbed, untroubled)

to rat on (colloq.) (to inform on/against sb, to give sb away; colloq.: to grass on sb, to squeal on sb, to sneak on sb, to peach on sb, to snitch on sb, to split on sb)

scent (smell, fragrance, odour, aroma, perfume, eau de toilette, cologne, eau de cologne)

to stuff oneself with (to gorge oneself on)

thriving (flourishing, prosperous, blooming, successful, progressing)

to tuck in (to begin to eat heartily, to dig in, to set to, to fall to, to pitch into)

wizened (wrinkled, shrivelled, withered)

 

5.2.3 ANTONYMS

accidental (intentional)

bony (plump)

crumpled (smooth)

lawful (lawless; illegal)

lively (dull, liveless)

peaceful (noisy)

respectable (disreputable)

underweight (overweight) (for fat-synonyms, see 11.2.2)

 

5.2.4 POLYSEMOUS TERMS

cheek (mejilla; nalga; caradura/cara, jeta, desfachatez)

spring [primavera; muelle (de colchón, de asiento, de vehículo), resorte, ballesta; brío, energía; brinco, salto; manantial, fuente; to spring: saltar]

stuff [material, materia, cosa, algo indefinido, cachivaches, trastos; rollo; to stuff: rellenar, disecar; poner las cosas en cualquier sitio; dar un varapalo; (you can stuff it) (vulgar) puedes metértelo donde te quepa; (to stuff oneself) atiborrarse de comida]

tie (corbata; lazo, vínculo, atadura; empate en deportes/elecciones; to tie: atar; to tie up: amarrar)

to care (importar; gustar, querer; preocuparse; cuidar)

to polish (limpiar, pulir, encerar, sacar brillo, pintar las uñas con esmalte;  to polish off (informal) (terminar, zamparse; liquidar, matar); to polish up (pulir, perfeccionar)

tough [duro, fuerte, resistente, correoso; arduo, pesado; reñido; severo; violento, peligroso; (informal) macarra (n)]

 

5.2.5 HOMONYMS

 

felt (fieltro) (from OE felt)/ felt (past and participle of to feel) (from OE fēlan)

left (izquierda) (from ME left, from OE, original sense ‘weak, ‘worthless’)/left (past and participle of to leave) (from OE laefan)

to like (gustar) (from OE līcian)/like (como) (from ME līk, shortened form of OE gelīk ‘alike’)

 

5.2.6 LEXICAL FIELDS

1. a) food and drink:

 

apple pie (pastel de manzana)

assorted vegetables (verduras variadas)

baby eels/elvers (angulas)

bacon and eggs (tocino y huevos)

baked beans (judías en salsa de tomate)

banana split (postre de helado, plátano y nata)

beefsteak and chips (filete de ternera con patatas)

beef curry casserole (guiso de carne de vaca al curry)

beer (cerveza)

black coffee (café solo)

boiled eggs (huevos pasados por agua)

bubble and squeak (carne con patatas y coles)

cannelloni (canelones)

caviare (caviar)

cheddar (queso de Cheddar)

cheese (queso)

cheese cake (pastel de queso)

cheeseboard (tabla de quesos)

cheeseburger (hamburguesa con queso)

chicken breast (pechuga de pollo)

chicken broth (caldo de pollo)

chicken fricassee (pollo en pepitoria)

chicken soup (sopa de pollo)

chips (patatas fritas)

chocolate éclair (petisú de chocolate)

chocolate mousse (mousse de chocolate)

coffee with a dash of milk (café cortado)

cold meat (embutidos, fiambres)

consommé (consomé)

cream puffs (profiteroles)

crème caramel (flan)

croquettes (croquetas)

cured ham (jamón serrano)

custard (natillas)

devilled eggs (huevos duros con salsa picante)

duck à l’orange/roast duck with orange sauce (pato a la naranja)

escalope (escalope)

fast food (comida rápida)

fillet of sole (filete de lenguado)

fish (pescado) (see b below)

fish and chips (pescado frito con patatas fritas)

fish soup (sopa de pescado)

fizzy/still mineral water (agua mineral con gas/sin gas)

fried eggs (huevos fritos)

fruit (fruta) (see e below)

fruit cake (plum cake)

fruit salad (macedonia)

green salad (ensalada verde)

grilled sole (lenguado a la plancha)

ham (jamón cocido)

hamburger/beefburger (hamburguesa)

hard-boiled eggs (huevos duros)

hors-d’oeuvres (entremeses)

hot dog (perrito caliente)

ice cream (helado)

iced coffee (café con hielo)

kidneys (riñones)

kipper pâté (paté de arenque ahumado)

lamb cutlet (chuleta de cordero)

lemonade/lemon squash (limonada)

liver and onions (hígado con cebollas)

lobster (langosta) (for shellfish, see c below)

maccaroni (macarrones)

mackerel with gooseberry sauce (caballa con salsa de grosellas)

mashed potatoes (puré de patatas)

meat balls (albóndigas)

milk shake (batido)

mixed salad (ensalada mixta)

olives (aceitunas)

orange/pineapple/grapefruit juice (jugo de naranja/piña/pomelo)

paella (paella)

partridge casserole (guiso de perdiz)

pasta (pasta)

pâté de foie gras (pâté de foie-gras)

pepper steak (biftec a la pimienta)

pepperoni (salchichón a la pimienta, pepperoni)

pickles (encurtidos, pepinillos en vinagre)

pizza (pizza)

plain omelette (tortilla simple/a la francesa)

poached eggs (huevos escalfados)

pork chop (chuleta de cerdo)

prawn cocktail (cóctel de gambas)

ravioli (ravioli)

rice pudding (arroz con leche)

roast beef (rosbif)

roast chicken (pollo asado)

roast pheasant with oatmeal stuffing (faisán asado con relleno de harina de avena)

rump steak (filete de la parte de la cadera)

Russian salad (ensaladilla rusa)

salami (salami)

sausage (salchicha)

scrambled eggs (huevos revueltos)

shellfish/seafood (mariscos) (see c below)

shepherd’s pie (pastel de carne picada cubierta con puré de patatas)

sirloin steak (filete de solomillo)

smoked herring (salmón ahumado)

sole meunière (lenguado meunière/a la molinera)

spaghetti (spaghetti)

Spanish/potato omelette (tortilla de patatas)

steak and kidney pie (pastel de carne y riñones)

stew (estofado)

Stilton (queso Stilton)

stuffed olives (aceitunas rellenas)

stuffed turkey (pavo relleno)

tomato soup (sopa de tomate)

trout meunière (trucha meuniére/a la molinera)

veal cutlet (chuleta de ternera)

vegetable soup (sopa de verdura)

vegetable stew (menestra)

vegetables (verduras) (see d below)

vermicelli (fideos)

white coffee/coffee and milk (café con leche)

wine (vino) (see also 11.2.5e)

Yorkshire pudding (masa a base de leche, harina y huevo que se hornea y suele comerse tradicionalmente con el rosbif)

1. b) fish:

anchovy (anchoa)

angler/anglerfish (rape)

balloonfish (pez globo)

barbel (barbo)

bass/sea bass (lubina, róbalo)

bonito (bonito)

bream (besugo)

carp (carpa)

catfish (siluro)

cod(fish) (bacalao)

conger (congrio)

cuttlefish (sepia)

dogfish (cazón)

eel (anguila)

elver/baby eel (angula)

flounder (solla)

flying fish (pez volador)

gilthead bream (dorada)

goldfish (peces de colores)

grouper (mero)

haddock (eglefino)

hake (merluza)

halibut (fletán)

herring (arenque)

John Dory (pez de San Pedro)

kipper (arenque ahumado)

lamprey (lamprea)

mackerel (caballa)

monkfish (rape)

perch (perca)

pike (lucio)

plaice (platija)

pilchard (sardina grande)

ray (raya)

redfish (gallineta)

red mullet (salmonete)

salmon (salmón)

sardine (sardina)

sawfish (pez sierra)

sea horse (caballito de mar)

shark (tiburón)

skate (raya)

sole (lenguado)

sturgeon (esturión)

swordfish (pez espada)

tench (tenca)

trout (trucha)

tuna/tunny(fish) (atún)

turbot (rodaballo)

whiting (pescadilla)

 

1. c) shellfish/seafood:

clams (almejas)

cockles (berberechos, coquinas)

crab (cangrejo)

crayfish (cigala; tamb. cangrejo de río)

king prawn (langostino)

lobster (langosta)

mussels (mejillones)

Norway lobster (cigalas)

oysters (ostras)

periwinkle (bígaros)

prawns (gambas)

scallop (vieiras)

shrimps (camarones)

squid (calamares)

whelk (caracol de mar)

 

1. d) vegetables and tubers:

asparagus (espárrago)

aubergine (berenjena – BrE)

beetroot (remolacha)

broccoli (brécol)

Brussels sprouts (coles de Bruselas)

cabbage (col)

carrot (zanahoria)

cauliflower (coliflor)

celery (apio)

chard/Swiss chard (acelga)

chicory (achicoria)

courgette (calabacín)

cucumber (pepino)

eggplant (berenjena- esp. AmE))

endive (endivias)

fennel (hinojo)

French beans (judías verdes)

(garden) peas (guisantes)

garlic (ajo)

gherkin (pepinillo)

gourd (calabaza)

leek (puerro)

lettuce (lechuga)

marrow (calabacín grande)

mushrooms (setas)

onion (cebolla)

parsley (perejil)

parsnip (chirivía)

pepper/green/red pepper/bell pepper (AmE) (pimiento/pimiento verde/rojo)

potato (patata)

pumpkin (calabaza)

radish (rábano)

runner beans (judías, alubias)

scallion (cebolleta – AmE))

shallot (chalote, cebollita)

spinach (espinaca)

spring onion (cebolleta- BrE)

squash (calabaza)

sweet potato (batata)

(Swiss) chard (acelga)

tubers (tubérculos)

turnip (nabo)

(water)cress (berro)

zucchini (calabacín – AmE)

 

1. e) fruit:

 

almond (almendra)

apple (manzana)

apricot (albaricoque)

avocado (aguacate)

banana (plátano)

bilberry (arándano)

blackberry (zarzamora, mora)

cashew (anacardo)

cherimoya (chirimoya)

cherry (cereza)

chestnut (castaña)

coconut (coco)

cranberry (arándano)

currant (pasa de Corinto)

date (dátil)

elderberry (baya de saúco)

fig (higo)

gooseberry (grosella)

grapefruit (pomelo)

grapes (uvas)

hazelnut (avellana)

huckleberry (arándano)

kiwi (fruit) (kiwi)

lemon (limón)

lime (lima)

loganberry (frambuesa norteamericana)

lychee (lichi)

mango (mango)

medlar (níspero)

melon (melón)

mulberry (mora)

nectarine (nectarina)

nut (nuez)

orange (naranja)

passion fruit (granadilla)

peach (melocotón)

pear (pera)

pawpaw/papaya (papaya)

peanut (cacahuete)

persimmon (caqui)

plum (ciruela)

pomegranate (granada)

prickly pear (chumbo)

pineapple (piña)

prune (ciruela pasa)

quince (membrillo)

raisins (pasas)

raspberry (frambuesa)

strawberry (fresa)

sultana (pasa de Esmirna)

tamarind (tamarindo)

tangerine (mandarina)

tomato (tomate)

walnut (nuez)

watermelon (sandía)

 

1. f) drugs and drug-related terms:

acid (ácido)

to be clean (police sl.) (no llevar drogas encima)

to be hurting (sl. esp. AmE) estar con el ‘mono’

to be on drugs (tomar droga habitualmente)

burnt out (acabado, destrozado por la droga)

bust (redada)

caca (sl.) (heroína adulterada)

cannabis (cannabis, hachís, marijuana)

cocaine (cocaína)

coke (sl.) (coca)

to come down (sl.) (pasarse los efectos de la droga)

crack (crack, cocaína muy pura)

crummy stuff (droga de inferior calidad)

to do drugs (sl.) (tomar drogas habitualmente)

dope (droga, gen. marijuana)

drug addict (adicto a la droga)

drug baron (capo de la droga)

druggie/druggy (drogata)

drug dealer (narcotraficante, traficante en drogas)

drug pusher/peddler (camello)

drug squad (brigada antidroga)

drug trafficking (narcotráfico)

a fix (un pico)

to freak out (hacer un ‘viaje’)

to go cold turkey (entrarle a alguien/estar con el ‘mono’)

good stuff (droga de buena calidad)

grass (sl.) (yerba, marijuana)

hard drugs (drogas duras)

hashish/hash (‘chocolate’, hachís)

to have the shakes (sl.) (estar con el ‘mono’)

herb (sl.) (yerba, hachís, marijuana)

heroin (heroína)

high (on) [colocado (con)]

a hit (sl.) (una calada; una esnifada)

hooked on (enganchado a)

joint/reefer (sl.) (porro, canuto)

junkie (sl.) (drogata, yonqui)

marijuana (marijuana)

mule (sl.) (persona que entra droga en un país escondida en su cuerpo)

to need a ride (sl.) (necesitar droga, necesitar un ‘viaje’)

overdose (sobredosis)

pee (sl.) (heroína demasiado pura)

pot (hachís, marijuana)

to push drug (vender droga)

shit (sl.) (heroína)

to shoot up (sl.) (chutarse)

to smoke pot (fumar marijuana)

to sniff/snort a line (sl.) (esnifar una raya)

snow (sl.) (cocaína)

soft drugs (drogas blandas)

speed (sl.) (speed, anfetas)

stoned/loaded/freaked out/zonked/spaced out (sl.) (drogado, colocado)

straw (sl.) (canuto para esnifar cocaína)

to take drugs (tomar drogas, drogarse)

trip (sl.) (viaje)

weed (hierba, hachís, marijuana)

the white lady (sl.) (la heroína; la cocaína)

withdrawal symptoms (síndrome de abstinencia)

 

1. g) crime/criminals:

arsonist (pirómano)

bandit (bandido, bandolero)

to be light-fingered (tener las manos largas)

to blackmail (chantajear)

blackmailer (chantajista)

to blow/break/crack a safe (abrir una caja fuerte para robar)

to break into a house (entrar en una casa para robar, allanar el domicilio)

to bribe (sobornar)

bribery (soborno)

burglar (ladrón en casas o tiendas)

burglary (robo en casas o tiendas)

to burgle (robar en casas o tiendas)

cat burglar (ladrón que escala edificios para robar)

to con (timar)

con man/artist (timador)

to cook the accounts (falsificar los libros)

crook (maleante)

cut-throat (matón)

to diddle sb out of sth (birlar algo a alguien)

to do sb out of sth (robarle a alguien algo)

drug trafficking (narcotráfico)

to embezzle (malversar)

embezzler (malversador)

embezzling (malversación)

to fiddle (hacer chanchullos)

fiddler (chanchullero)

to fleece (clavar; desplumar)

forger (falsificador)

forgery (falsificación)

gang robber (gángster)

gangster (gángster)

gunman (pistolero)

highway robber (atracador)

to hijack (secuestrar)

hijacker (secuestrador)

hitman (matón)

to hold up (atracar)

hold-up/stick-up (atraco)

hooligan (gamberro)

to kidnap (raptar)

to knock off (mangar)

to lift sth from sb (mangarle algo a alguien)

loan shark (prestamista)

to make off/away with sth (largarse con algo robado)

the Mob/the Mafia (la Mafia)

mobster/Mafioso (miembro de la mafia, mafioso)

mugger (atracador, navajero)

to murder (asesinar)

murder (asesinato)

murderer (asesino)

to nick (birlar)

to pick a lock (hacer saltar una cerradura)

to pick pockets (robar carteras)

pickpocket (ratero, carterista)

to pilfer (robar/hurtar pequeñas cantidades, sisar)

pilferer (ladronzuelo)

to pinch/swipe (birlar, mangar)

poacher (cazador furtivo)

to purloin [robar (formal)]

purse snatcher (tironero)

racketeering (extorsión, crimen organizado)

to rape (violar)

rapist (violador)

rascal (pillo)

to rip off (clavar; plagiar)

to rob sb (of sth) [robar a alguien (algo), robar en un banco, etc.]

robber (atracador a mano armada)

rogue (pillo)

safe-blower/-breaker/-cracker (ladrón de cajas fuertes)

scoundrel (granuja)

shark (explotador, estafador)

sharking (explotación, estafa)

shoplifter (ladrón que roba artículos en las tiendas)

to smuggle (hacer contrabando)

smuggler (contrabandista)

to snitch (birlar, mangar)

to snitch on sb (delatar)

squealer/informer (chivato, delator)

to steal sth (from sb) [robar algo (a alguien)]

to swindle (estafar)

swindler (estafador, embaucador)

terrorist (terrorista)

thief (ladrón)

thug (maleante)

vandalism (vandalismo)

white-collar thief (ladrón de guante blanco)

 

5.2.7 ANALYSIS BY DISTINCTIVE SEMANTIC FEATURES

1. a) complaining:

to complain (about) (quejarse de)

to protest (about) (protestar de)

to grumble [ + in a bad-tempered way] (refunfuñar)

to grunt [ + with a short, low sound, when annoyed, in pain, not interested] (gruñir)

to bellyache/grouse/gripe/whinge (about) [ + continuously, in an annoying or unreasonable way, about sth unimportant (informal)] (quejarse constantemente, de cosas sin importancia)

to moan [ + in a low voice, with a long deep sound, expressing unhappiness, suffering or sexual pleasure] (quejarse, gemir de dolor o placer)

to whine [ + in an annoying, crying voice] (quejarse, gimotear, lloriquear)

to groan [ + with a long, deep sound, because you are annoyed, upset, in pain, or showing pleasure] (quejarse, gemir)

to object (to) [ + opposition, disapproval] (protestar, objetar, hacer objeciones)

to remonstrate (with sb) (about/against sth) [ + strong disapproval of sth somebody has done or said] (protestar; tratar de convencer, hacer entrar en razones)

to find fault with sth/sb  [ + discover mistakes in sth/sb] (sacarle faltas a alguien/algo)]

 

1. b) murmur:

to murmur (murmurar, susurrar, hablar en un murmullo)

(to) whisper [ + in low quiet voice] (susurro, susurrar)

undertone [ + sth not expressed directly, but still noticeable] (trasfondo)

in an undertone [ + in a quiet voice] (en voz baja)

to mutter [ + in a low voice, difficult to hear, showing annoyance about sth] (musitar, murmurar, hablar entre dientes, rezongar)

to  mumble [ + in a quiet voice, not clear] (decir entre dientes, mascullar)

 

1. c) take:

to take (coger, tomar)

to take hold of (coger, agarrar)

to grab [ + suddenly, hastily; eagerly; with a bad/selfish purpose] (agarrar, coger, apresuradamente o con malas intenciones)

to clutch (at) [ + tightly, desperately, eager to keep or retain] [agarrar(se), sujetar(se) fuertemente, desesperadamente, aferrarse a]

to cling (on) to [ + tightly, because you do not feel safe] [agarrar(se), sujetar(se) fuertemente, sin soltar, aferrarse a]

to seize [ + suddenly/hastily; violently, eagerly; forcibly; legally] (agarrar, asir; apoderarse de; embargar)

to snatch [ + suddenly/hastily, eagerly, rudely, roughly, violently; unexpectedly, without permission, as opportunity allows] [arrebatar, coger de un tirón, arrancar; aprovechar (oportunidad)]

to snatch at sth [ + try to take hold of sth; to take (an oportunity) eagerly] [tratar de agarrar algo; aprovechar (oportunidad)]

to grip [ + firmly, tightly] [agarrar(se) firmemente, con fuerza, asir, coger(se), agarrarse (un coche) a la carretera]

to grasp [ + eagerly, firmly, greedily; to understand] [agarrar, asir; empuñar (arma); apretar (mano); entender]

to clasp [ + firmly, tightly, closely, encircling] (tener cogido, apretar, estrechar)

to snap up [ + quickly, eagerly, avidly; accept (offer, bargain) quickly or eagerly] [ agarrar, coger, comprar con avidez, aprovechar (buena oferta), llevarse (ganga)]

 

5.2.8 METONYMY AND METAPHOR

a dry white Rhine/a special five-year-old Bordeaux rosé  (Rhine and Bordeaux are metonymies for wine from the Rhine and wine from Bordeaux, respectively)

They would discuss tobacco and liquor first (discuss tobacco and liquor is a metonymy for discuss the subjects of tobacco and liquor)

The White Lady (la Dama Blanca) is a metaphor for heroin or cocaine.

 

5.2.9 GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS

to avoid + -ing form (evitar hacer algo)

‘d better + infinitive without to (mejor será que…, más vale que…)

loaded with (cargado de)

to be worth + -ing form (valer la pena hacer algo)

to care about (preocuparse por, importar algo)

to care for (querer, gustar, apetecer; cuidar de)

to choose + to-infinitive (decidir/preferir hacer algo)

to count on (contar con)

to manage + to-infinitive (conseguir hacer algo)

to rat on sb (delatar a)

would rather + infinitive without to (preferir)

to threaten + to-infinitive (amenazar con hacer algo)

to regret + -ing (lamentar haber hecho algo) (also I regret to inform you that… ‘lamento informarle de que…’)

 

5.2.10 LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS

to seize: to seize sth/sb (agarrar algo/a alguien); to seize sb by the arm/the throat (agarrar por el brazo/la garganta);  the opportunity (aprovechar la oportunidad); the throne/a country/territory (apoderarse del trono/de un país/de un territorio); smuggled things (incautarse de, decomisar, embargar artículos robados, de contrabando, etc.): the police have seized ten thousand pounds worth of stolen goods (la policía se ha incautado de objetos robados por un valor de diez mil libras); to be seized by panic/emotion (ser presa del pánico/embargar la emoción)

to grab: to grab sth suddenly (agarrar/coger apresuradamente), to grab at sth/sb (tratar de agarrar algo/a alguien), to grab sb by the arm/the hair/the coat (agarrar/coger a alguien del brazo/de los pelos/de la chaqueta), to grab a seat (coger sitio), a sandwich (coger un sandwich), to grab a couple of hours’ sleep (conseguir dormir un par de horas)

to grasp: to grasp sth (agarrar, asir algo), tightly/firmly/ (fuerte/firmemente), to grasp sb tightly by the wrist/the collar (agarrar fuertemente de la muñeca/del cuello), to grasp at straws (agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo), to grasp at sb’s shirt (agarrar a alguien de la camisa), to grasp (at) an opportunity (aprovechar una oportunidad), grasp all, lose all (quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta)

to grip: to grip firmly/ hard/ tightly [agarrar(se), asir(se), coger(se) firmemente/fuerte/con fuerza]: he gripped hard at the arms of his chair (se agarró con fuerza a los brazos de la silla); to be gripped by fear/panic (ser presa del miedo/del pánico); the car didn’t grip the road very well (el coche no se agarraba/adhería bien a la carretera)

to clutch: to clutch at sth (agarrarse/sujetarse a algo), firmly/tightly/desperately (firmemente/fuerte/desesperadamente), to clutch sth/sb  to one’s chest (apretar algo/a alguien contra el pecho), to clutch sth in one’s hand (tener cogido algo en la mano), to clutch at straws (agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo); to clutch at one’s beliefs/ideas (aferrarse a sus creencias/ideas)

to cling: to cling (on) to (agarrarse a algo/alguien, sin soltar): she clung (on) to his arm (se agarró a su brazo); the survivors clung to the floating wreckage (los supervivientes se agarraron a los restos flotantes del naufragio); she clung on to her baby (se agarraba a su bebé sin soltarlo); they clung together shivering with cold (se agarraron unos a otros temblando de frío); (aferrarse a ideas/creencias/costumbres/esperanza/la vida): they clung to the hope that they might see their son again one day (se agarraban a la esperanza de volver a ver a su hijo algún día); he clings to his old habits (se aferra a sus viejos hábitos); (pegarse la ropa al cuerpo): the wet shirt clung to his chest (la camisa húmeda se le pegaba al pecho); (quedarse pegado un olor): the smell of smoke still clung to his clothes (el olor a humo seguía pegado a su ropa)

to snatch: to snatch sth from sb’s hand (arrebatar algo a alguien), he snatched her bag (le quitó el bolso de un tirón), to snatch at sth (tratar de agarrar algo)

to clasp: to clasp sb’s hand (apretar firmemente la mano de alguien), to clasp hands (cogerse de las manos), to clasp sth tightly (agarrar/sujetar con fuerza), to clasp sb to one’s chest (abrazar/estrechar a alguien contra el pecho)

 

5.2.11 WORD FORMATION

 

Borrowings from the French in the lexical field of food:

 

à la carte (a la carta)

aubergine (berenjena)

baguette (barra de pan)

buffet (bufé, autoservicio)

canapés (canapés)

casserole (guiso, guisado, cazuela)

caviare/caviar (caviar)

chef (jefe de cocina)

chocolate eclair (petisú de chocolate)

compote (compota)

consommé (consomé)

crêpe (crêpe, crepe)

croissant (croissant)

croquettes (croquetas)

cuisine (cocina)

entrée (entrante, servido gen. antes del plato principal)

escalope (escalope)

fillet (filete)

foie gras (foie-gras)

fricassee (pepitoria)

gateau (pastel, tarta)

glacé fruits (frutas confitadas)

hors-d’oeuvres (entremeses)

maître-d’/maître-d’hôtel (maître)

mayonnaise (mayonesa)

meringue (merengue)

mousse (mousse)

pâté (paté)

petits fours (pastelitos/pastas para el té)

profiteroles (profiteroles)

purée (puré)

ragout (ragú, guisado de carne)

rosé (vino rosado)

sauté (salteado, rehogado)

soufflé (soufflé)

 

5.2.12 WORDS EASILY CONFUSED

 

course/dish/plate

 

course means ‘plato’ in the sense of part of a meal: a 3-course meal (una comida de tres platos), the first course (el primer plato), the main course (el segundo plato o plato principal)

 

dish means ‘plato’ in the sense of ‘plato preparado o cocinado’: my favourite dish is lasagne (mi plato favorito es la lasaña). It also means ‘fuente’ from which food is served on the table

 

plate means ‘plato’ in the sense of the container that you eat from, or the amount of food on it: that’s your plate (ese es tu plato), he ate two plates of spaghetti (se comió dos platos de espagueti)

 

5.2.13 IDIOMS

to be sitting pretty (estar bien situado, en posición ventajosa)

a big gun/shot (un pez gordo)

to do a big deal (hacer un gran negocio)

for a song (por cuatro perras)

to go out of one’s way (desvivirse por, volcarse con)

to keep up with the times (mantenerse al día, no quedarse atrás)

to make it big (triunfar)

small fry (pecata minuta)

to take one’s time (tomarse su tiempo)

things are getting hotter (la cosa se está poniendo fea)

where the big money was (AmE) (donde estaba la pasta)

 

5.2.14 PHRASAL VERBS

to count on sth/sb (contar con algo/alguien)

to crack down on (tomar medidas enérgicas contra, perseguir)

to do without sb/sth (pasarse sin)

to get up (levantarse)

to go into sth (dedicarse a)

to go on (with sth) (seguir con algo)

to hold sth back (contener)

to keep up with (no quedarse atrás, mantenerse al día)

to let sb down (fallarle a alguien)

to look down (mirar hacia abajo)

to look down on sb (despreciar, mirar por encima del hombro)

to look in (asomarse)

to put sth back (volver a poner en su sitio, guardar)

to stand up (ponerse de pie)

to tuck in/into (empezar a comer con ganas, con avidez)

 

5.2.15 FALSE FRIENDS

 

to accost is not ‘acostarse’ (to go to bed), but ‘acercarse, abordar’ (esp. un extraño, para pedir algo)

actually (see 2.2.9)

bus conductor is not ‘conductor de autobús’ (bus driver), but ‘cobrador’

competition  means ‘competencia’, apart from ‘competición’

to conform (to) is not ‘conformarse’ (to put up with, to resign oneself to), but ‘atenerse (a las reglas/normas)’

fastidious is not ‘fastidioso’ (annoying, bothersome), but ‘meticuloso’

fracas is not ‘fracaso’ (failure), but ‘estrépito’

sensible is not ‘sensible’ (sensitive), but ‘sensato’

success is not ‘suceso’ (event), but ‘éxito’

(see also 2.2.9, 6.2.12 and 9.2.11)

 

5.2.16 CULTURAL NOTES

 

Noam Chomsky (1928- ) – famous contemporary American linguist and political critic.

 

 

 

5.3 GRAMMAR REVISION

 

5.3.1 Time subordinate clauses with as (see also 11.3.6)

 

As he waited for his important guest…

 

5.3.2 That nominal clauses with omission of that

 

He was glad he had left the States

He was sure she would not let him down

He was confident she would eventually overcome her grief

A pity he would have to move soon

 

5.3.3 Accusative + infinitive equivalent to a Spanish subjunctive

 

He had told her to spare no expense today

 

5.3.4 Subordinate clauses of result

 

…so something innovative would have to be found soon

…so she calmly took hold of her spoon…

 

5.3.5 Conjuncts (see also 2.3.4)

 

Actually, it was one of the barons, Lucio, he was waiting for today

Anyway, she was still a superb cook