B2 - Upper Intermediate Spanish
Students at the Upper Intermediate B2 level can defend their positions in a debate, and explore opposing views on different topics.
At this level, most students can converse with native speakers naturally and fluently.
dar a luz
give birth
The Spanish phrase 'dar a luz' translates to 'give birth' in English. This phrase is commonly used in the context of childbirth, where it describes the process through which a mother brings a new life into the world. It's a phrase that's often used in hospitals, conversations about pregnancy and family life, literature about parenthood, and many other settings related to human life cycle and reproduction.
dar a un patio
give to a courtyard
The Spanish phrase 'dar a un patio' translates to 'give to a courtyard' in English. This can be used in various contexts in Spanish, typically in reference to a location within architectural structures or residences. It must be noted, however, that idiomatic and phrase translations from one language to another may vary in their exact meanings based on usage and context.
dar al jardín
give to the garden
The Spanish phrase 'dar al jardín' translates to 'give to the garden' in English. It could be used in a context where one is referring to the act of giving something to a garden, such as time, care, plants or nutrients. It is not a common phrase, but it is grammatically correct and its usage may rely heavily on the context.
dar amistad
give friendship
The Spanish phrase 'dar amistad' directly translates to 'give friendship' in English. This phrase is typically used in social contexts to describe the act of extending goodwill, friendly feelings, or companionship to someone else. It is similar to saying 'offer friendship' in English, implying an openness to developing a close bond with another person.
Example sentences with dar amistad →dar calor
heat
The Spanish phrase 'dar calor' translates to 'to give heat' in English. However, it's also used idiomatically to express the idea of making a place or situation uncomfortably or unpleasantly warm. To understand its use in context, let's consider this sentence - 'El sol daba calor a la habitación', which translates to 'The sun was heating up the room'. In this usage, it's not about transferring heat, but rather the sun causing the room to become warm.
dar de alta el agua
connect the water
The Spanish phrase 'dar de alta el agua' translates to 'connect the water' in English. In the context of utilities, it means to establish a new water connection, usually when moving into a new residence or after a disconnection. However, it could also refer to restore or turn on the water supply in an existing setup when it has been previously turned off.
dar de alta el gas
turn on the gas
The Spanish phrase 'dar de alta el gas' translates to 'turn on the gas' in English. It is a common term used in households and establishments when starting gas-powered appliances or tools. It is crucial to know for safety reasons in case you're living or staying in a Spanish-speaking country.
dar de alta el teléfono
register the phone
The Spanish phrase 'dar de alta el teléfono' translates to 'register the phone' in English. This could mean to activate a phone for use with a specific service provider or plan, or to add a new phone to an existing account or system. The phrase can be used in the context of both mobile and landline telephones.
dar de alta la línea (telefónica)
register the (telephone) line
The Spanish phrase 'dar de alta la línea (telefónica)' translates into English as 'register the (telephone) line'. This is commonly used in Spanish speaking regions when referring to the act of establishing a new telephone connection or reestablishing a previously disconnected one. It is akin to subscribing to a new phone service or activating an existing one. Usage situations may vary based on the specific contextual circumstances.
dar de alta la luz
turn on the light
The Spanish phrase 'dar de alta la luz' translates literally as 'give high the light', but is more commonly understood in English as 'turn on the light'. In this phrase, 'dar' is the verb 'to give', 'de alta' can be understood as 'of high' or 'up' in certain contexts, and 'la luz' translates as 'the light'. Therefore, in its entirety, 'dar de alta la luz' is a common way to express the action of turning on the light in Spanish-speaking settings.
dar de baja el agua
turn off the water
The Spanish phrase 'dar de baja el agua' can be translated to English as 'turn off the water'. This Spanish phrase combines the verb 'dar', which means 'to give', with the phrase 'de baja', which typically refers to a state of being low or down, and 'el agua', which means 'the water'. In context, it's used to indicate the action of stopping the water supply or turning off the flow of water.
dar de baja el teléfono
cancel the phone
The Spanish phrase 'dar de baja el teléfono' translates to 'cancel the phone' in English. This is commonly used in contexts where a phone service or subscription is discontinued, or a phone line is shut down. For instance, prior to switching phone service providers, one might 'dar de baja el teléfono' with the current provider.
dar de baja la línea (telefónica)
cancel the (telephone) line
The phrase 'dar de baja la línea (telefónica)' in Spanish refers to the action of discontinuing or cancelling a telephone line. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as the end of a contract, customer dissatisfaction, or a move to a different area. The phrase suggests a termination of services and implies that the phone line will no longer be active or in use.
dar de baja la luz
lower the light
The Spanish phrase 'dar de baja la luz' is equivalent to English's 'lower the light'. It is used to instruct someone to reduce the illumination in a particular space. The lights could be dimmed for a variety of reasons like to save electricity, to create a calming ambiance, or even to reduce the glare for someone's eyes. This phrase might be used in contexts like personal homes, theatres, classrooms, etc.
dar flor
give flower
The Spanish phrase 'dar flor' translates to 'give flower' in English. It's used literally to mean the act of giving a flower to someone. This could be a romantic gesture, a sign of friendship, or a simple act of kindness. Metaphorically, it can also refer to sharing something beautiful or precious with another person. As Spanish phrases can have different connotations depending on the culture and region, it's always good to understand the context in which it's used.
Example sentences with dar flor →dar fruto
bear fruit
The Spanish phrase 'dar fruto' translates to 'bear fruit' in English. It is often used metaphorically to signify that one's efforts have produced beneficial results. This phrase is a verb and can be used in various contexts, usually indicating the production or giving forth of something, literally or figuratively.
Example sentences with dar fruto →dar igual
equal
The Spanish phrase 'dar igual' does not directly translate to 'equal' in English. Its usage is more aligned with the English phrase 'to not care' or 'to not mind'. A more literal translation might be 'to give the same', implying that it doesn't make a difference. Contextually, it is used to express indifference or lack of preference in a situation. Consider the example - 'Me da igual', which in English would be 'I don't mind' or 'It's all the same to me'.
dar la vez
give the time
The Spanish phrase 'dar la vez' does not actually mean 'give the time' in English. Instead, this phrase is more accurately translated to 'give the turn' or 'yield the turn', which refers to allowing someone else to have their turn in a conversation, game or any rotational activity.
dar la vuelta al mundo
turn the world around
The Spanish phrase 'dar la vuelta al mundo' directly translates to 'to turn the world around' in English. This is a commonly used phrase in Spanish-speaking countries and can signify the act of traveling all around the world. It is essential to note that this expression is idiomatic and does not literally mean to spin the planet Earth.
Example sentences with dar la vuelta al mundo →dar náuseas
nausea
The Spanish term 'dar náuseas' is an idiomatic expression that literally translates to 'give nausea'. However, it is usually used to denote the act of feeling nauseous or to express that something is causing nausea. For instance, 'This smell gives me nausea' could be translated as 'Este olor me da náuseas'. In certain contexts, it could also be used to express strong dislike or discomfort towards something or someone.
dar pánico
panic.
'Dar pánico' is a Spanish phrase that directly translates to 'give panic' in English. However, in context, it is often used to express a strong feeling of fear or anxiety, similar to the English phrase 'to cause panic' or 'to scare'. It is generally used when something or someone causes extreme discomfort or apprehension.
dar puntos
give points
The Spanish phrase 'dar puntos' directly translates to 'give points' in English. It is commonly used in the context of assigning or granting points or scores in a game, competition, or any form of evaluation. Additionally, it's used in the figurative sense to denote the act of acknowledging someone's good efforts or merits in conversations.
Example sentences with dar puntos →dar sed
thirst
The Spanish phrase 'dar sed' translates to 'give thirst' in English. However, in usage, it is often used in the same context we use 'thirst' or 'to be thirsty'. It is primarily used to express a need or desire for a drink due to dehydration, often after physical exertion. As many idioms and phrases, the literal translation may not always make sense, but it is a commonly used phrase in Spanish speaking regions to indicate thirst.
dar terror
give terror
The Spanish phrase 'dar terror' directly translates to 'give terror' in English. However, this phrase is usually used metaphorically, not literally, much like the English equivalent 'to scare' or 'to terrify'. In a sentence, 'dar terror' would typically imply inducing fear or horror in someone. So, in everyday use, 'dar terror' might be an appropriate Spanish idiom to use when something or someone scares or terrifies another.
dar un buen servicio
give a good service
The Spanish phrase 'dar un buen servicio' translates to 'give a good service' in English. It is a phrase often used in context with providing high-quality or commendable service in professions such as hospitality, customer service, or any business that involves interaction and provision of services to customers or clients. It is an expression of hoping to meet or exceed someone's expectations in order to create a positive impression and foster business relations.
dar un desmayo
faint
The Spanish phrase 'dar un desmayo' translates to 'faint' in English. In other words, when someone 'da da un desmayo', it means they lose consciousness for a short period, often due to lack of oxygen or a sudden drop in blood pressure. This phrase can be used medically or casually to describe the action of fainting.
Example sentences with dar un desmayo →dar un discurso
give a speech
The Spanish phrase 'dar un discurso' translates to 'give a speech' in English. It's used to express the process of delivering an organized, structured, and formal public oral presentation, typically for conveying an idea, arguing a point or expressing personal sentiments and experiences to an audience. As well as giving a performance, the speaker may also employ a range of rhetorical techniques and skills to persuade or influence their viewers.
dar un golpe de Estado
give a coup d'etat
The Spanish phrase 'dar un golpe de Estado' translates to 'give a coup d'etat' in English. A coup d'etat is a sudden and decisive act in politics, especially one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force. It's worth noting that the direct translation can be seen as confusing, as we don't typically 'give' a coup d'etat in English. Instead, we might say 'carry out' or 'execute' a coup d'etat.
Example sentences with dar un golpe de Estado →dar un infarto
give a heart attack
The Spanish phrase 'dar un infarto' is translated into English as 'give a heart attack'. It is often used in a medical context to refer to the occurrence of a sudden interruption or insufficiency of the blood supply to the heart, typically resulting from a blockage in a coronary artery. While literally translated it seems to imply the act of causing someone else a heart attack, it is typically used to describe a person experiencing a heart attack themselves.
Example sentences with dar un infarto →dar un mal servicio
give a bad service
The phrase 'dar un mal servicio' in Spanish can be translated to 'give a bad service' in English. It refers to the act of providing unsatisfactory or poor service in any context. This could relate to customer service in industries such as retail, hospitality, or any other service-based industry. The phrase expresses dissatisfaction and disappointment regarding the quality of service received.