Kids...

¿Os acordáis cuando nos sumergíamos en las palabras?
Pues hoy vamos a sumergirnos en la palabra kid. ¿Nos acompañáis?

1. As a noun: chico, niño,...
  
    
2. As a verb:

- (joke) bromear
- jugar con alguien,
- (joke, tease) vacilar a alguien, tomarle el pelo.
       

3. Compound nouns:

- kid stuff:
    (informal) (sth intended for children) cosas de niños.
    That's kids' stuff!
    ¡Eso son cosas de niños!
    (informal) (sth very simple)
     I could easily do that, it's kids' stuff!
     Eso es pan comido, lo hace cualquiera sin la menor dificultad.

- naughty kid: (slang) (badly-behaved child) niño malcriado, caprichoso, maleducado.
     This naughty kid spilled his milk on purpose.
     Este niño malcriado, tiró la leche a propósito.
       
   
5. Compound verbs:

- kid around: (informal) (behave jokingly or playfully): corretear
     Stop kidding around! Sit down and shut up!
     Dejad de corretear. Sentaos y calláos.

- kid yourself (informal) (deceive yourself, be in denial) engañarse
     Don't kid yourself, the relationship is over.
     No te engañes, esa relación se ha terminado.


6. Idioms:

- don't kid yourself: (informal) (do not be deluded) no te engañes.
     He doesn't love you, don't kid yourself!
     No te engañes, ella no te quiere (no seas tan ingenuo, no te hagas ilusiones).
   
- handle with kid gloves: (grant special treatment to) ser indulgente, tratar con guantes de seda, manejar con mucho tacto.
    He's having a rough day so you'd better treat him with kid gloves.

What happens?

Happen to do.

Es una estructura verbal que significa "dar la casualidad de que" o "por casualidad".

- Dió la casualidad de que estaba en el aeropuerto cuando el Rey llegó.    
- I happened to be at the airport when the King arrived.


- Por casualidad, él me dio una información muy útil.    
- He happened to give me some very useful information.


- Da la casualidad de que tienen un Rolls Royce precioso que podrías alquilar.    
- They happen to have a very nice Rolls Royce you could hire.


- Por casualidad sé que ella le va a dejar.    
- I happen to know that she's going to leave him.


- Da la casualidad de que ella no está de acuerdo contigo.
- She happens to disagree with you.


También es una forma muy educada y bastante común de preguntar o pedir algo.

- ¿No sabrá por casualidad qué hora es?    
- You wouldn't happen to know what time it is, would you?.


- ¿No tendrá fuego por casualidad?    
- You wouldn't happen to have a light, would you?


- ¿No hablarás italiano, por casualidad?    
- You wouldn't happen to speak Italian, would you?


- Perdón. ¿No sabrá dónde está la estación por casualidad?    
- Excuse me; you wouldn't happen to know where the station is, would you?


- ¿Por casualidad no tendrá cinco minutos?    
- You wouldn't happen to have five minutes, would you?

What are you up to this weekend?

This is a very light post. But you know, it´s one of those things: too long for "La frase del día", too short for a post, so we had to choose. Happy Friday everyone!

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

Present simple form. What are you up to?
Informal way of asking "What are you doing?, be it right now or in a more general way.

i.e:
1 Right now:
- (Your boss) What are you up to?
- (You) I´m just finishing this report.

2. General inquiry
- What are you up to this summer/ tonight? (¿Que vas a hacer/ que planes tienes para este verano/ esta noche?)


Present Perfect form. What have you been up to?
(¿Que has hecho/ a que te has dedicado ultimamente?)

i.e:
- What have you been up to this summer? (¿Que has hecho este verano?)
- (You bump into a friend that you haven´t seen in a while) So, tell me, how are you?, what have you been up to lately?