Spanish Word of the Day

Quote: Pacomartin

Nareed, what do you call one of these in Spanish?

I wanted to say "Damnit! I'm a doctor, not a brick layer!" But few would know the reference.

I think it's simply called "plomo."

Quote: Nareed

I think it's simply called "plomo."

So it is the same meaning. It's a piece of refined lead that measures verticality. So "desplomar" is the sudden loss of verticality.

Fecha: 29-5-14
Palabra: Troncho

Today's SWD means the heart of a head of lettuce. The dictionary also says it can mean the stem or stalk for any vegetable. However, in the context I found it, the meaning seems to be a general expletive, like dang.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to find a few other general expletives people actually use when something goes wrong.

I can say that during the infamous blackjack session with JJ, when she busted on a large bet, she exclaimed ¡Puta! Until that point I didn't know she knew any Spanish.

Ejemplo time.

No me gustan los tronchos por que hay demasiado duro para comer. = I don't like the hearts of lettuce heads because they are too hard to eat.

Quote: Wizard

No me gustan los tronchos por que hay demasiado duro para comer. = I don't like the hearts of lettuce heads because they are too hard to eat.

"...SON demasiado duroS..."

BTW, I'd never come across the word before.

Quote: Nareed

BTW, I'd never come across the word before.

I think the word is more common in Europe, particularly as slang.

Quote: Pacomartin

I think the word is more common in Europe, particularly as slang.

I guess so.

BTW the word for the heart of a lettuce or cabbage or artichoke is "corazón de..."

Fecha: 30-5-14
Palabra: Encoger

Today's SWD means to shrink. For some reason, I have the hardest time committing the word to memory. My memory seems to be shrinking when it comes to this word.

The assignment for the advanced readers is to confirm or deny a common etymology with coger.

Ejemplo time.

La nariz de Marcia encogió antes de el baile de gala. = Marcia's nose shrunk before for the prom.

I really wanted to say "just in time" instead of "before," but had no idea how to say it.

Quote: Wizard

La nariz de Marcia encogió antes de el baile de gala. = Marcia's nose shrunk before for the prom.

"...SE encogió..."

There's no Spanish equivalent for prom, not even "prom." In TV and movies it's usually just called "baile."

Quote:

I really wanted to say "just in time" instead of "before," but had no idea how to say it.

"Justo a tiempo para..."

Quote: Nareed

"Justo a tiempo para..."

Thanks. I thought there was a particular idiom, but I guess I was overthinking it, as usual.

Quote: Wizard

Thanks. I thought there was a particular idiom, but I guess I was overthinking it, as usual.

There is one. If you want to be sarcastic about getting something rather later than when it would have done any good, you can say "¡A buena hora!" But that was not what you wanted on the example.