not long after

    cum or (earlier) quom (not quum) conj.    [1 CA-].    I. Prop., of time (cum temporale), constr. with indic. in an independent assertion; with subj. in a subordinate statement.—Fixing a point of time, when, at the time when: Lacrumo, quom in mentem venit, now that, T.: auditis, cum ea breviter dicuntur: eo cum venio: Postera cum lustrabat terras dies, V.: cum contionem habuit: cum proxime Romae fui: cum Italia vexata est: cum stellas fugarat dies, V.: quom non potest haberi, cupis, T.: tempus cum pater iacebat: eo tempore, cum necesse erat: memini noctis illius, cum pollicebar: tunc, cum adempta sunt arma, L.: etiam tum, cum verisimile erit, latratote, not until: cum peroraro, tum requiratis: cum signum dedero, tum invadite, L.: sese, cum opus esset, signum daturum, Cs.: sua bona, cum causae dicendae data facultas sit, tum se experturum, L. — Fixing or defining a period of time, when, while, during the time that, as, as long as, after: Alium esse censes nunc me, atque olim quom dabam? T.: risum vix tenebam, cum comparabas, etc.: tum, cum illum exterminari volebam, putabam, etc.: Hasdrubal, cum haec gerebantur, apud Syphaeum erat, L.—Of repeated action, when, whenever, at times when, as often as, always... when, if: omnes, quom valemus, recta consilia aegrotis damus, T.: cum permagna praemia sunt, est causa peccandi: Cum furit... Profuit aestūs avertere, V.: cum cogniti sunt, retinent caritatem: cum rosam viderat, tum incipere ver arbitrabatur, never until.—In clauses stating a fact, the point or period of time fixed by the main sentence (cum inversum), when, at the time when, and at this time, and meanwhile, and yet: longe iam abieram, quom sensi, T.: dies nondum decem intercesserant, cum filius necatur: Vix ea fatus erat, cum scindit se nubes, V.: multum diei processerat, cum etiamtum eventus in incerto erat, S.: nondum lucebat, cum scitum est: iamque hoc facere apparabant, cum matres procurrerunt, Cs.: Et iam phalanx ibat... flammas cum puppis Extulerat, V.: anni sunt octo, cum interea invenitis, etc.: cum interim milites domum obsidere coeperunt: nondum centum anni sunt, cum lata lex est.—Describing a time by natural events, when, while, as soon as: ipsi, cum iam dilucesceret, deducuntur: cum lux adpropinquaret.—In narration, describing the occasion or circumstances of an action (cum historicum), when, on the occasion that, under the circumstances that, while, after.—With imperf: Magistratus quom ibi adesset, occeptast agi, T.: Marius, cum secaretur, vetuit se adligari: Caesar cum ab hoste non amplius abesset... legati revertuntur, Cs.: heri, cum vos non adessetis: cum ad tribum Polliam ventum est, et praeco cunctaretur, ‘cita,’ inquit, etc., L.: Socrates, cum XXX tyranni essent, pedem portā non extulit, as long as: vidi, Cum tu terga dares, O.: is cum interrogaretur... respondit.—With maxime, just as, precisely when: Caesar, cum maxime furor arderet Antoni, exercitum comparavit: cum maxime agmen explicaretur, adoriuntur, L. — With perf: hic pagus, cum domo exisset, Cassium interfecerat, Cs.: cum domos vacuas fecissent, iunguntur nuptiis, L.: cum fanum expilavisset, navigabat Syracusas. — Of repeated occasions, when, whenever, on every occasion that, as often as.—With imperf: dispersos, cum longius procederent, adoriebatur, Cs.: saepe, cum aliquem videret, etc., on seeing, N.: numquam est conspectus, cum veniret. — With pluperf: Cum cohortes ex acie procucurrissent, Numidae effugiebant, Cs.: qui cum in convivium venisset: quantum obfuit multis, cum fecissent, etc.—Describing a time named in the principal sentence, when, such that, in which: Si ullum fuit tempus quom ego fuerim, etc., T.: fuit antea tempus, cum Galli superarent, Cs.: vigesimo anno, cum tot praetores in provinciā fuissent: eodem anno, cum omnia infida essent, L.: biduum supererat, cum frumentum metiri oporteret, in which, Cs.: fuit cum arbitrarer, etc.: audivi cum diceret, etc.—    II. Meton., of identical actions, when, in that, by the fact that: Qui quom hunc accusant, Naevium accusant, T.: quae cum taces, nulla esse concedis: quod cum facit, iudicat, etc.: senatum intueri videor, cum te videor, L.: loco ille motus est, cum ex urbe est depulsus: quod cum dederis, illud dederis, ut, etc.: illa scelera, cum eius domum evertisti (which you committed) in uprooting: purgatio est cum factum conceditur, culpa removetur.—In hypothesis, assuming a fact, when, if: ad cuius fidem confugiet, cum per eius fidem laeditur, etc.—Contrary to fact, when, if, if at such a time: haec neque cum ego dicerem, neque cum tu negares, magni momenti nostra esset oratio: quod esset iudicium, cum tres... adsedissent?—Explaining a feeling, etc., that, because, for: Dis habeo gratiam, Quom adfuerunt liberae, T.: gratulor tibi, cum tantum vales. — As connective, correl. with tum, while, when; cum... tum, as... so, both... and, and besides, while... especially: Quom id mihi placebat, tum omnes bona dicere, T.: cum omnes eo convenerant, tum navium quod ubique fuerat coëgerant, Cs.: qui cum multa providit, tum quod te consulem non vidit: movit patres cum causa, tum auctor, L.—In the adverb. phrase cum maxime, with ellips. of predicate, in the highest degree, most: hanc Amabat, ut quom maxime, tum Pamphilus, as much as ever, T.: ea, quae fiunt cum maxime, i. e. at this very moment: sed cum maxime tamen hoc significabat, precisely this: quae multos iam annos, et nunc cum maxime, cupit.—    III. Praegn., giving a cause or reason (cum causale), when, since, because, inasmuch as, seeing that, in that, in view of the fact that: haud invito sermo mi accessit tuos, Quom... intellego, T.: Deos quaeso ut sit superstes, Quom veritust facere, etc., T.: an pater familiarissimis suscensuit, cum Sullam laudarent? for praising: quae cum ita sint, videamus, etc.: cum longinqua instet militia, commeatum do, L.: cum tanta multitudo tela conicerent, potestas erat, etc., Cs.: cum esset egens, coepit, etc.: Caesar cum constituisset hiemare in continenti, obsides imperat, Cs.—So often nunc cum, now that, since in fact: nunc vero cum sit unus Pompeius.—Often with praesertim, especially since, more than all when: nam puerum non tollent... Praesertim quom sit, etc., T.: cum praesertim vos aliam miseritis.—With quippe, since evidently, since of course: nihil est virtute amabilius... quippe cum propter virtutem diligamus, etc. — In contrasts, when, while, whereas, while on the contrary, and yet (cum adversativum): finem faciam dicundi, quom ipse finem non facit? T.: quo tandem ore mentionem facitis... cum fateamini, etc.: cum maximis eum rebus liberares... culpam relinquebas: simulat se confiteri, cum interea aliud machinetur.—In concessions, when, although, notwithstanding (cum concessivum): nil quom est, nil defit tamen, T.: pecuniam facere cum posset, non statuit: cum aquae vim vehat ingentem (Druentia), non tamen navium patiens est, L.: patrem meum, cum proscriptus non esset, ingulastis: quam causam dixerat, cum annos ad quinquaginta natus esset?

1. adv. - por poco 2. (f. - poca)

pron.

little, few

3. (f. - poca)

adj.

little, few, not much

* * *

1. ADJ

1) [en singular] little, not much

tenemos poco tiempo — we have little time, we don't have much time

hay muy poco queso — there's very little cheese, there's hardly any cheese

de poco interés — of little interest

con poco respeto — with little respect, with scant respect

el provecho es poco — the gain is small, there isn't much to gain

• poca cosa, no te preocupes por tan poca cosa — don't worry about such a little thing

poca cosa se podría haber hecho — there wasn't much we could have done

comemos, jugamos a cartas, leemos y poca cosa más — we eat, play cards, read and do little else o and that's about it

es poca cosa — (=no mucho) it's not much; (=no importante) it's nothing much

somos tan poca cosa — we're so insignificant

es muy guapa pero poca cosa — she's very pretty, but there isn't much to her

• y por si fuera poco — and as if that weren't enough, and to cap it all

2) [en plural] few, not many

pocos niños saben que... — few o not many children know that...

tiene pocos amigos — he has few friends, he hasn't got many friends

pocos días después — a few days later

compré unos pocos libros — I bought a few books

me quedan pocas probabilidades — I don't have much chance

todas las medidas son pocas — no measure will be enough

2. PRON

1) [en singular]

a) (=poca cosa)

la reforma servirá para poco — the reform won't do much good o won't be much use

una hora da para poco — you can't get much done in an hour

con lo poco que me quedaba — with what little I had left

ya sabes lo poco que me interesa — you know how little it interests me

b)

• un poco — a bit, a little

-¿tienes frío? -un poco — "are you cold?" - "a bit o a little"

he bebido un poco, pero no estoy borracho — I've had a bit to drink, but I'm not drunk

voy a dormir un poco — I am going to have a little sleep

le conocía un poco — I knew him a bit o slightly

necesito descansar un poco — I need to rest for a while

espera un poco — wait a minute o moment

estoy un poco triste — I am rather o a little sad

es un poco lo que yo comentaba — that's more or less what I was saying

• un poco como, es un poco como su padre — he's rather o a bit like his father

lo hice un poco como protesta — I did it partly as a protest

• un poco de, un poco de dinero — a little money

dame un poco de vino — can I have some wine?

¡un poco de silencio! — let's have some quiet here!

c) [referido a tiempo] not long

tardaron poco en hacerlo — it didn't take them long to do it, they didn't take long to do it

lleva poco trabajando aquí — he hasn't been working here long

• a poco de — shortly after

a poco de haberlo firmado — shortly after signing it

• cada poco — every so often

• dentro de poco — shortly, soon

• poco después — shortly after

• hace poco — not long ago

fuimos a verla hace poco — we visited her not long ago, we visited her quite recently

tu hermana ha llamado hace poco — your sister called a short while ago

la conozco desde hace poco — I haven't known her long, I've only known her for a short while

hasta hace poco — until recently

2) [en plural] few

pocos son los que... — there are few who...

ya somos pocos los que nos sentimos así — there are now very few of us who feel this way

pocos de entre ellos — few of them

como hay pocos —

es tonto como hay pocos — he's as stupid as they come

3. ADV

1) [con verbos] not much, little

cuesta poco — it doesn't cost much, it costs very little

habla poco — he doesn't say much

ahora trabaja poco — he doesn't work much now

vamos poco a Madrid — we don't go to Madrid much, we hardly ever go to Madrid

lo estiman poco — they hardly value it at all, they value it very little

2) [con adjetivos: se traduce a menudo por medio de un prefijo]

poco dispuesto a ayudar — disinclined to help

poco amable — unkind

poco probable — unlikely

poco inteligente — unintelligent, not very intelligent

sus libros son poco conocidos aquí — his books are not very well known here

3) [otras locuciones]

poco a poco — little by little

¡poco a poco! — steady on!, easy does it!

a poco Méx —

*

¿a poco? — never!, you don't say!

¡a poco no! — not much! *

¿a poco no? — (well) isn't it?

¿a poco crees que...? — do you really imagine that...?

• de a poco — LAm gradually

• tener en poco, tiene en poco a su jefe — she doesn't think much of her boss

tiene la vida en poco — he doesn't value his life

• poco más o menos — more or less

• por poco — almost, nearly

por poco me ahogo — I almost o nearly drowned

• a poco que, a poco que pueda — if at all possible

a poco que corras, lo alcanzas — if you run now you'll catch it

* * *

I

adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)

II

- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied

III

- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex. Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex. Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex. Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex. She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex. Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex. Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

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* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex. When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

----

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

* de poco impacto = low impact [low-impact].

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

* ir poco más allá de + Infinitivo = go little further than + Gerundio.

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

* parece tener poco sentido que = there + seem + little point in.

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *

I

adverbio

es muy poco agradecido — he is very ungrateful

un autor muy poco conocido — a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante — I didn't find it very interesting

habla poco — he doesn't say much o a lot

viene muy poco por aquí — he hardly ever comes around

... con lo poco que le gusta el arroz —... and he doesn't even like rice; para locs ver poco III 4)

II

- ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little; ( en plural) few

muy poco vino — very little wine

muy pocos niños — very few children

qué poco sentido común tienes! — you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa — I have very few clothes

éramos demasiado pocos — there were too few of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco — it was amazing, I can't (even) begin to tell you

todo le parece poco — she is never satisfied

III

- ca pronombre

1) (poca cantidad, poca cosa)

le serví sopa pero comió poca — I gave her some soup but she didn't eat much

por poco que gane... — no matter how little o however little she earns...

se conforma con poco — he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara — he nearly hit me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino — he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas — buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left

es un profesor como pocos — there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo — not many people can afford to do that

2) poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo)

lo vi hace poco — I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce — she hasn't known him for very long

tardó poco en hacerlo — it didn't take him long to do it

falta poco para las navidades — it's not long till Christmas

a poco de venir él — soon o shortly after he came

dentro de poco — soon

poco antes de que... — a short while o shortly before...

3) un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

espera un poquito — wait a little while

todavía le duele un poco — it still hurts him a little o a bit

es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón — it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima — partly because I felt sorry for him

b)

un poco de: un poco de pimienta/vino a little (bit of) pepper/wine; come un poco de jamón — have a bit of ham

c)

un poco + adj/adv: un poco caro/tarde — a bit o a little expensive/late

4) (en locs)

a poco — (Méx)

¿a poco no lees los periódicos? — don't you read the newspapers?

a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! — isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

a poco ganaron! — don't tell me they won!

de a poco — (AmL) gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito — add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo — little by little she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come; tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives; me tienes bien en poco si crees que... you can't think very highly o much of me if you think...; poco a poco gradually; poco más o menos approximately, roughly; poco menos que nearly; poco menos que la mata (fam) he almost killed her; poco menos que los echan a patadas (fam) they practically kicked them out; por poco — nearly

* * *

= little [less -comp., least -sup.], low [lower -comp., lowest -sup.], scant, trifle, tad, little in the way of.

Ex: Explanatory references give a little more explanation as to why the link between two names is being made in the catalogue or index.

Ex: Carlton Duncan discussed the difficulties built into the educational processes which led to under-performance at school and the resulting low representation in higher education and low entry into the professions.

Ex: Scant attention is paid to evaluation and the needs of users.

Ex: She had been a trifle nervous until it was formally announced that the position was hers.

Ex: Williams is one of those rare poets who satisfies the yearning that many of us have for the memorable phrase we wish we had said were our perceptions a tad keener.

Ex: Without any significant restructuring, the LIS programme in Iran will provide little in the way of riding out the rapid transition that the field is currently experiencing.

* abultar poco = be skimpy.

* acercarse poco a poco (a) = edge (toward(s)).

* actuar con poca consideración hacia = play + fast and loose with.

* agua poco profunda = shallow water.

* aguas poco profundas = shallows.

* alimentos poco saludables = unhealthy foods.

* a poca distancia = not far behind.

* a poca distancia andando = within walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a poca distancia a pie = within an easy walk, within walking distance.

* a pocos minutos andando = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* a pocos minutos a pie = within walking distance, within easy walking distance, within an easy walk.

* avanzar poco a poco (hacia) = edge (toward(s)).

* cada pocos años = every few years.

* comida poco saludable = unhealthy foods.

* comportamiento poco cívico = uncivic behaviour.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muy poca antelación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca anticipación = at (a) very short notice.

* con muy poca frecuencia = all too seldom.

* con muy pocas excepciones = with few exceptions.

* con muy pocos medios = on a shoestring (budget).

* con poca claridad = indistinctly.

* con poca exactitud = loosely.

* con poca experiencia = inexperienced.

* con poca iluminación = dimly illuminated.

* con poca imaginación = unimaginatively.

* con poca naturalidad = stiltedly.

* con poca población = thinly populated.

* con pocas habilidades = poor-ability.

* con poca visión de futuro = short-sighted [shortsighted].

* con poco dinero = on the cheap.

* con poco entusiasmo = half-heartedly.

* con pocos recursos = under-resourced.

* con pocos recursos económicos = low-budget.

* consumir poco a poco = eat away at.

* con tan poca antelación = at such short notice.

* con tan poca anticipación = at such short notice.

* correr poco a poco = eat away at.

* cuestiones poco claras = grey area [gray area].

* de forma poco ética = unethically.

* de forma poco imaginativa = unimaginatively.

* de forma poco profesional = unprofessionally.

= petty criminal.

Ex: When the security services carry out acts of terror, they employ patsies who often are petty criminals or people who are mentally backward or mentally unstable.

* de manera poco ética = unethically.

* de manera poco profesional = unprofessionally.

* demasiado poco común = all too rare.

* de modo poco imaginativo = unimaginatively.

* dentro de poco = before long.

* de población poco densa = sparsely populated.

* de poca importancia = menial, small-time.

* de poca monta = hack, small-time.

* de pocas luces = dim [dimmer -comp., dimmest -sup.], dim-witted [dimwitted].

* de poco impacto = low impact [low-impact].

* de poco peso = pat, feeble.

* de poco provecho = fruitless.

* de poco uso = low-use.

* de poco valor = a dime a dozen.

* desaparecer poco a poco = fade into + the sunset.

* de todo un poco = about this and that and everything else, about this and that.

* de un modo poco constructivo = unconstructively.

* de un modo poco económico = wastefully.

* de un modo poco natural = unnaturally.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durar poco = be short term.

* echar poco a poco = dribble.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en el caso poco probable de que = in the unlikely case (that).

* en muy poco tiempo = before long.

* en pocas palabras = simply put, in brief, to say the least, to put it (quite) simply, in short, to cut a long story short, bottom line, the, put simply, to make a long story short, the short story + be, simply stated.

* en poco tiempo = before very long, in quite a short time, in a short time, in a short span of time.

* en unos pocos años = within a few years.

* estar poco dispuesto = be reluctant.

* estar poco representado = underrepresent [under-represent].

* estar un poco anticuado = be some years old.

* excusa poco convincente = lame excuse.

* faltar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* faltar un poco = be some way off.

* gente de poca importancia = small fry, the.

* haber poca duda de que = there + be + little doubt that.

* hace muy poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hace poco tiempo = a short time ago.

* hacer poca distinción entre... y... = make + little distinction between... and....

* hacer poco = do + little.

* hacer que sea poco probable = render + unlikely.

* hace unos pocos años = a few years ago.

* hace unos pocos días = a few days ago.

* hasta hace muy poco = until recently, up until recently.

* hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo = until relatively recently.

* horas de poca actividad = slack hours.

* horas de poco movimiento = slack hours.

* introducirse poco a poco = ease + Reflexivo + in.

* ir poco más allá de + Infinitivo = go little further than + Gerundio.

* llegar poco a poco = dribble in.

* lo poco común = rarity, rareness.

* mucho ruido para pocas nueces = much ado about nothing.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muy poco = minimally.

* ofrecer poco = low-ball.

* operación de poca monta = one-room, one-person operation.

* pagando un poco más = at additional cost.

* parece tener poco sentido que = there + seem + little point in.

* pasar poco a poco = slide into.

* período de poca actividad = slack time.

* perro ladrador, poco mordedor = barking dogs seldom bite, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* poca cantidad = trickle.

* poca cosa = small fry, the.

* poca iluminación = poor lighting.

* poca importancia = unimportance, low profile.

* poca notoriedad = low profile.

* poca probabilidad = slim chance.

* poca severidad = lenience, leniency.

* pocas expectativas = low expectation.

* poca utilidad = unhelpfulness.

* poco abundante = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco accesible = unapproachable.

* poco acertado = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], injudicious.

* poco acogedor = inhospitable.

* poco aconsejable = unwise, inadvisable.

* poco adecuado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco + Adjetivo = slightly + Adjetivo, less than + Adjetivo.

* poco afortunado = unhappy, ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco agraciado = ill-favoured [ill-favored, -USA].

* poco amable = off-putting, surly [surlier -comp., surliest -sup.], crusty [crustier -comp., crustiest -sup.], unkind.

* poco americano = un-American.

* poco amistoso = off-putting, unfriendly.

* poco antes de + Fecha = shortly before + Fecha.

* poco a poco = gradually, piecemeal, slowly, incrementally, at a snail's pace, little by little, bit by bit.

* poco apreciado = unappreciated.

* poco apropiado = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco apto = inapt.

* poco arriesgado = low-risk.

* poco asequible = unapproachable.

* poco atractivo = off-putting, unattractive, unglamorous, uninviting, unappealing.

* poco atrevido = unadventurous.

* poco audaz = unadventurous.

* poco aventurero = unadventurous.

* poco cabelleroso = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cálido = lukewarm.

* poco científico = hit-or-miss, unscientific.

* poco cívico = uncivic.

* poco claro = confusing, fuzzy [fuzzier - comp., fuzziest -sup.], indistinct, obscure, unclear, untidy, hazy, inconclusive, slurred, clouded, blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], undistinguished, uncleared, indistinctive, bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco colaborador = unresponsive.

* poco comercial = uncommercial.

* poco competitivo = uncompetitive.

* poco complicado = uncomplicated, uncomplicatedly.

* poco comprensivo = unsympathetic.

* poco común = rare, unfamiliar, unusual, uncommon, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco comunicativo = uncommunicative, reserved.

* poco confortable = uncomfortable.

* poco conocido = obscure, little known.

* poco convencido = unconvinced.

* poco convencional = unconventional.

* poco convincente = unconvincing, inconclusive, pat, feeble.

* poco convincentemente = unconvincingly.

* poco correcto = ungentlemanlike.

* poco cortés = impolite, ungentlemanlike.

* poco culto = unenlightened.

* poco decidido = half-hearted [halfhearted].

* poco definido = blurry [blurrier -comp., blurriest -sup.], bleary [blearier -comp., bleariest -sup.].

* poco denso = rarefied.

* poco deportivo = unsportsmanlike.

* poco después = soon afterwards, shortly afterwards, shortly after, not long after.

* poco después de = soon after (that), shortly after.

* poco después de que = shortly after.

* poco diestro = poor-ability.

* poco diplomático = indiscreet.

* poco dispuesto = disinclined.

* poco dispuesto a colaborar = uncooperative.

* poco ducho en las nuevas tecnologías = technologically challenged.

* poco económico = uneconomical.

* poco efectivo = ineffectual.

* poco eficaz = non-efficient.

* poco elegante = inelegant, awkward, dowdy [dowdier -comp., dowdiest -sup.].

* poco embarazoso = unembarrassing.

* poco entusiasta = half-hearted [halfhearted], lukewarm.

* poco envidiable = unenviable.

* poco estable = unsettled.

* poco estético = unaesthetic.

* poco estimulador = unchallenging.

* poco estimulante = unexciting, uninspiring, unmoving.

* poco estricto = lax.

* poco ético = unethical.

* poco evidente = unnoticed, unnoted.

* poco exigente = untaxing, undemanding.

* poco favorable = unpromising.

* poco favorecedor = unflattering.

* poco fiable = unreliable, undependable, flaky [flakey].

* poco firme = tenuous, rocky [rockier -comp., rockiest -sup.].

* poco flexible = monolithic, inelastic.

* poco frecuente = infrequent.

* poco fructífero = unfruitful.

* poco gratificante = unrewarding, unsatisfying.

* poco grato = unwelcome.

* poco hábil = poor-ability.

* poco habitual = unaccustomed.

* poco halagador = unflattering.

* poco halagüeño = unflattering.

* poco hospitalario = inhospitable.

* poco idóneo = unsuited, unsuitable, inapt.

* poco iluminado = dimly illuminated.

* poco imaginativo = unimaginative.

* poco importante = menial, small-time.

* poco impresionado = unimpressed.

* poco informativo = uninformative.

* poco intelectual = lowbrow [low-brow].

* poco inteligente = unintelligent.

* poco intenso = light [lighter -comp., lightest -sup.].

* poco interesante = dull, jackdaw, uninteresting, uninspiring, unremarkable.

* poco juicioso = injudicious.

* poco justificado = ill-justified.

* poco listo = underprepared.

* poco maduro = underripe.

* poco más = little else.

* poco materialista = unworldly.

* poco memorable = forgettable.

* poco mundano = unwordly.

* poco natural = unnatural, stilted.

* poco nítido = untidy.

* poco normal = unnatural, unordinary, out of the ordinary.

* poco novedoso = trite.

* poco original = unoriginal.

* poco ortodoxo = unorthodox.

* poco poblado = thinly populated.

* poco práctico = impractical, awkward.

* poco preparado = underprepared.

* poco probable = unlikely, far-fetched [farfetched].

* poco productivo = unproductive.

* poco profesional = amateurish, unprofessional.

* poco profundo = shallow [shallower -comp., shallowest -sup.].

* poco prometedor = bleak, unpromising.

* poco propicio = unpromising, unpromising.

* poco provechoso = fruitless, unrewarding.

* poco prudente = ill-advised, ill-judged.

* poco pulido = unpolished.

* poco razonable = unreasonable.

* poco realista = unrealistic, unreal, unwordly, way out in left field, airy-fairy.

* poco recomendable = inadvisable.

* poco refinado = unrefined, unpolished.

* poco rentable = uneconomical.

* poco representativo = unrepresentative.

* poco romántico = unromantic.

* poco sabido = little known.

* poco saludable = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco sano = unwholesome, insalubrious.

* poco seguro = dicey [dicier -comp., diciest -sup.].

* poco sensato = ill-advised, injudicious, ill-judged.

* poco sentimental = unsentimental.

* poco serio = flippant.

* poco sincero = insincere.

* poco sistemático = sloppy [sloppier -comp., sloppiest -sup.].

* poco social = unsocial.

* poco sofisticado = elementary, unsophisticated, corn-fed.

* poco sólido = insubstantial.

* poco tiempo = short while, short time.

* poco tiempo después = shortly afterwards.

* poco tradicional = untraditional.

* poco unido = loosely knit.

* poco uniforme = patchy [patchier -comp., patchiest -sup.].

* poco usado = little-used.

* poco usual = unusual.

* poco útil = clumsy [clumsier -comp., clumsiest -sup.], unhelpful.

* poquito a poco = little by little.

* por mencionar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por mencionar uno pocos = just to name a few.

* por nombrar sólo unos pocos = to name but a few.

* por nombrar unos pocos = to name a few.

* por poco dinero = cheaply.

* por poco o nada = at little or no extra cost.

* por si era poco = for good measure.

* por si fuera poco = to boot, for good measure, to add insult to injury, to add salt to injury, to rub salt in the wound.

* prestar poca atención a = give + little thought to.

* pretexto poco convincente = lame excuse.

* quedar poco (para) = have + a short way to go (before).

* quedar un poco = be some way off.

* quedar un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* que ocupa poco espacio = space-saving.

* qué poco común = how odd.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* reducirse poco a poco = dribble off.

* resultar poco fructífero = prove + unfruitful.

* roer poco a poco = eat away at.

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* sacar poco a poco = tease out.

* salir un poco perjudicado = be a little worse prepared, be a little worse off.

* sangre poco espesa = thin blood.

* ser algo muy poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco común = be the exception rather than the rule.

* ser algo poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser algo poco frecuente = be a rare occurrence.

* ser algo poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser de poco valor = be of little use, be of little value.

* ser muy poco probable = be remote.

* ser poco = be under-provided.

* ser poco agradecido = be thankless.

* ser poco eficaz = do + little.

* ser poco reconocido = be thankless.

* ser pocos = be few in number, be small in number.

* ser un hecho poco conocido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* ser un hecho poco sabido que = it + be + a little known fact that.

* servir de poco = be of little use.

* servir de poco o nada = be of little or no avail.

* solución poco real = pie in the sky solution.

* tener poca información = be information poor.

* tener pocas luces = as thick as a brick, as thick as two (short) planks, as daft as a brush, knucklehead.

* tener pocas posibilidades de = have + little recourse.

* tener poco que ver = have + little to do.

* tener poco valor = be of little value.

* trabajo de poca monta = odd-job.

* un hombre de pocas palabras = a man of few words.

* unos pocos elegidos = a select few.

* un poco = a bit, somewhat, slightly, something of, a little bit, kinda [kind of].

* un poco áspero = roughish.

* un poco como = kind of like.

* un poco de = a measure of, a touch (of), a bit of, a piece of, a spot of, a splash of, a hint of.

* un poco + Nombre = a shade + Nombre.

* un poco obscuro = dusky.

* un poco perdido = a bit at sea.

* un poco rugoso = roughish.

* usado con poca frecuencia = seldom used [seldom-used].

* usuario que hace poco uso del préstamo = light borrower.

* utilizar poco = underutilise/under-utilise [underutilize/under-utilize, -USA].

* vivienda poco digna = poor housing.

* y poco más = and little more.

* * *

poco¹

adverb

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful, he isn't at all grateful

es un autor muy poco conocido he is a very little-known author

me resultó poco interesante I didn't find it very interesting, I found it rather uninteresting

habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot

duerme poquísimo she sleeps very little, she doesn't sleep very much

viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around

poco y nada me ayudaron they hardly helped me at all

… con lo poco que le gusta el arroz … and he doesn't even like rice

para locs ver poco³ pron D. (↑ poco (3))

poco² -ca

adjective

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ] (con sustantivos no numerables) little; (en plural) few

muy poco vino very little wine

muy pocos niños very few children

hemos tenido muy poca suerte we've been very unlucky, we've had very little luck

¡qué poco sentido común tienes! you don't have much common sense, do you?

tengo muy poca ropa I have hardly any clothes, I have very few clothes

a poca gente se le presenta esa oportunidad not many people get that opportunity

hay muy pocas mujeres en el gremio there are very few women in the trade

éramos demasiado pocos there were too few of us, there weren't enough of us

fue asombroso, todo lo que te pueda decir es poco it was amazing, I can't begin to tell you

a esta mujer todo le parece poco this woman is never satisfied

me he olvidado del poco francés/de las pocas palabras que sabía I've forgotten the little French/the few words I knew

le dio unos pocos pesos she gave him a few pesos

poco³ -ca

pronoun

[ Grammar notes (Spanish) ]

A

(poca cantidad, poca cosa): le serví sopa pero comió poca I gave her some soup but she only ate a little o she didn't eat much

sírvele poco, desayunó muy tarde don't give him (too) much, he had a late breakfast

por poco que gane, siempre es otro sueldo no matter how little o however little she earns o even if she doesn't earn much, it's still another salary coming in

se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied

poco faltó para que me pegara he nearly hit me

poco y nada saqué en limpio de lo que dijo what he said made little or no sense to me

lo poco que gana se lo gasta en vino he spends the little o what little he earns on wine

compra más lentejas, nos quedan muy pocas buy some more lentils, we've hardly any left o we have very few left

es un profesor como pocos there aren't many teachers like him

pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that

B

poco (refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long, she's only known him a little while

tardó poco en pintar la cocina it didn't take him long to paint the kitchen

falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas, Christmas isn't far off

a poco de terminar el bombardeo soon o shortly after the bombing stopped

dentro de poco sale otro tren there'll be another train soon o shortly

poco antes de que ella se fuera a short while o shortly before she left

C

un poco

1 (refiriéndose a cantidades) a little; (refiriéndose a tiempo) a while

¿te sirvo un poco? would you like a little o some?

descansemos un poco let's rest for a while, let's have a little rest

espera un poquito wait a little while

todavía le duele un poquitín or poquitito it still hurts him a little

2

un poco de: ponle un poco de pimienta/vino add a little (bit of) pepper/wine

tiene un poco de fiebre he has a slight fever, he has a bit of a temperature o a slight temperature ( BrE)

come un poco de jamón have a bit of o some o a little ham

3

un poco (hasta cierto punto): es un poco lo que está pasando en Japón it's rather like what's happening in Japan

un poco porque me dio lástima partly because I felt sorry for him

4 un poco + ADJ/ADV:

un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

me queda un poco corto it's a bit short o a little short o slightly too short (for me)

habla un poco más fuerte speak up a bit o a little

D ( en locs):

a poco ( Méx): ¿a poco no lees los periódicos? don't you read the newspapers?

¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!

nos sacamos el gordo de la lotería — ¡a poco ! we won the big lottery prize — you didn't!

de a poco ( AmL); gradually

agrégale la leche de a poquito add the milk gradually o a little at a time

de a poquito se lo fue comiendo little by little o slowly she ate it all up

en poco: en poco estuvo que nos ganaran they came very close to beating us, they very nearly beat us

en poco estuvo que no viniéramos we almost didn't come

tienen en poco la vida ajena they set little value on other people's lives

me tienes bien en poco si me crees capaz de eso you can't think very highly o much of me if you think I could do such a thing

poco a poco or ( Méx) a poquito gradually

poco a poco la fueron arreglando they gradually fixed it up, they fixed it up little by little

poco más o menos approximately, roughly

habrán gastado unos dos millones, poco más o menos they must have spent in the neighborhood o ( BrE) region of two million

poco menos que nearly

es poco menos que imposible it's well-nigh o almost o very nearly impossible

le pegó una paliza que poco menos que la mata ( fam); he gave her such a beating he almost o nearly killed her

poco menos que los echan a patadas ( fam); they practically kicked them out

por poco nearly

por poco nos descubren we were nearly found out

* * *

 

poco 1 adverbio:

◊ habla poco he doesn't say much o a lot;

es muy poco agradecido he is very ungrateful;
un autor muy poco conocido a very little-known author;
viene muy poco por aquí he hardly ever comes around;
para locs ver poco 2 4
poco 2 -ca adjetivo ( con sustantivos no numerables) little;

( en plural) few;

◊ muy poco vino very little wine;

muy pocos niños very few children;
había poquísimos coches there were hardly any cars
■ pronombre
1 (poca cantidad, poca cosa):

◊ había poco que hacer there was little to do;

por poco que gane … no matter how little o however little she earns …;
se conforma con poco he's easily satisfied;
todo le parece poco she is never satisfied;
pocos quisieron ayudar few were willing to help;
pocos pueden permitirse ese lujo not many people can afford to do that
2

◊ poco ( refiriéndose a tiempo): lo vi hace poco I saw him recently o not long ago;

hace muy poco que lo conoce she hasn't known him for very long;
tardó poco en hacerlo it didn't take him long to do it;
falta poco para las navidades it's not long till Christmas;
a poco de venir él soon o shortly after he came;
dentro de poco soon;
poco antes de que … a short while o shortly before …
3

◊ un poco

a) ( refiriéndose a cantidades) a little;

( refiriéndose a tiempo) a while;

◊ dame un poco I'll have some o a little;

espera un poco wait a while

b)

◊ un poco de a little, a bit of

c) un poco + adj/adv:

◊ un poco caro/tarde a bit o a little expensive/late

4 ( en locs)

◊ a poco (Méx): ¡a poco no está fabuloso Acapulco! isn't Acapulco just fantastic!;

¡a poco ganaron! don't tell me they won!;
de a poco (AmL) gradually, little by little;
poco a poco gradually;
poco más o menos approximately, roughly;
por poco nearly
poco,-a
I adjetivo
1 (con el sustantivo en singular) not much, little: tengo poco apetito, I haven't got much appetite
2 (con el sustantivo en plural) not many, few: conozco pocos lugares de Italia, I don't know many places in Italy
II pron (singular) little, not much
(plural) (objetos) few, not many
(personas) few people, not many people ➣ Ver nota en few
III adverbio
1 (con verbo) not (very) much, little: entiendo poco del tema, I don't understand much about the issue
2 (con adjetivo) not very: está poco claro, it's not very clear
3 (de tiempo) hace poco que nos conocemos, we met a short time ago
IV sustantivo masculino
1 (acompañado de adjetivo o adverbio) lo noté un poco molesto, I thought he was a bit annoyed
tendré que hacerlo un poco después, I'll have to do it a little later
2 (acompañando a un sustantivo) dame un poco de agua, give me a little water ➣ Ver nota en little
♦ Locuciones: a poco de, shortly after
dentro de poco, soon
poco a poco, little by little, gradually
poco antes/después, shortly before/afterwards
por poco, almost
' poco' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abreviar
- aclimatarse
- adelgazar
- aguantar
- ahora
- alcornoque
- alentador
- alentadora
- algo
- antes
- apercibirse
- bagatela
- baja
- bajo
- brusca
- brusco
- bruta
- bruto
- buscar
- calentar
- cargada
- cargado
- cascada
- cascado
- cerebral
- chapucera
- chapucero
- chispa
- clara
- claro
- común
- cruda
- crudo
- cualquiera
- de
- dentro
- descuidada
- descuidado
- descuidarse
- desigual
- desmoronada
- desmoronado
- despatarrarse
- despistada
- despistado
- despreciable
- después
- desvaído
- disipar
- dudosa
English:
accomplice
- add to
- adjust
- aerial
- after
- afterwards
- along
- aloof
- amateurish
- balding
- bark
- belly
- bit
- black
- blind
- blow up
- boot
- by
- can
- careless
- chat
- comedown
- confusing
- cowboy
- degree
- derivative
- desultory
- disagreement
- disingenuous
- diving
- do
- dodgy
- doubtful
- dowdy
- earthy
- easy-going
- edge
- effect
- element
- evasion
- exist
- expect
- fall apart
- far-fetched
- fine
- flippant
- forge
- furnish
- fuzzy
- gradually

* * *

poco, -a

♦ adj

(singular) little, not much; (plural) few, not many;

de poca importancia of little importance;

poca agua not much water;

pocas personas lo saben few o not many people know it;

hay pocos árboles there aren't many trees;

tenemos poco tiempo we don't have much time;

hace poco tiempo not long ago;

dame unos pocos días give me a few days;

esto ocurre pocas veces this rarely happens, this doesn't happen often;

tengo pocas ganas de ir I don't really o much feel like going;

poca sal me parece que le estás echando I don't think you're putting enough salt in, I think you're putting too little salt in;

con lo poco que le gusta la ópera, y la han invitado a La Traviata it's ironic, considering how she dislikes opera, that they should have invited her to see La Traviata

♦ pron

1. [escasa cantidad] (singular) little, not much;

* * *

poco

I adj sg little, not much; pl few, not many;

un poco de a little;

unos pocos a few

II adv little;

trabaja poco he doesn’t work much;

ahora se ve muy poco it’s seldom seen now;

estuvo poco por aquí he wasn’t around much;

poco conocido little known;

poco a poco little by little;

dentro de poco soon, shortly;

hace poco a short time ago, not long ago;

desde hace poco (for) a short while;

por poco nearly, almost;

¡a poco no lo hacemos! Méx don’t tell me we’re not doing it;

de a poco me fui tranquilizando Rpl little by little I calmed down;

por si fuera poco as if that weren’t o wasn’t enough

III m

:

un poco a little, a bit

* * *

poco adv

1) : little, not much

poco probable: not very likely

come poco: he doesn't eat much

2) : a short time, a while

tardaremos poco: we won't be very long

3)

poco antes : shortly before

4)

poco después : shortly after

poco, -ca adj

1) : little, not much, (a) few

tengo poco dinero: I don't have much money

en no pocas ocasiones: on more than a few occasions

poca gente: few people

2)

pocas veces : rarely

poco, -ca pron

1) : little, few

le falta poco para terminar: he's almost finished

uno de los pocos que quedan: one of the remaining few

2)

un poco : a little, a bit

un poco de vino: a little wine

un poco extraño: a bit strange

3)

a poco Mex (used to express disbelief)

¿a poco no se te hizo difícil?: you mean you didn't find it difficult?

4)

de a poco : little by little

5)

hace poco : not long ago

6)

poco a poco : little by little

7)

dentro de poco : shortly, in a little while

8)

por poco : nearly, almost

* * *

poco¹ adj

1. (singular) not much

hay poco café there's not much coffee

has comido poco arroz you haven't eaten much rice

2. (plural) few / not many

tiene pocos amigos he has few friends / he hasn't got many friends

muy poco very little

hay muy poco té there's very little tea

poco² adv

1. (con verbos) not much

trabaja poco he doesn't work much

2. (no mucho tiempo) not long

estuve con él hace poco I was with him not long ago

llegó poco después she arrived not long after

3. (con adjetivos) not very

es poco simpática she's not very friendly

poco a poco little by little

por poco nearly

por poco se cae he nearly fell

por poco pierdo el tren I nearly missed the train

poco³ n a little / a bit

un poco de pan a bit of bread

un poco de agua a little water

tengo de sobra, toma un poco I've got plenty, take a little

poco⁴ pron

1. (singular) not much

compra café, que queda muy poco buy some coffee, there's not much left

2. (plural) few / not many

¿cuántos vinieron? pocos how many came? not many

1. (f. - mucha)

adj.

many, much, a lot of, plenty of

2. adv.

much, a lot

- como mucho

- con mucho
- mucho tiempo 3. (f. - mucha)

pron.

many, much, a lot

* * *

1. ADJ

1) [en singular] [en oraciones afirmativas] a lot of, lots of; [en oraciones interrogativas y negativas] a lot of, much

tengo mucho dinero — I have a lot of o lots of money

había mucha gente — there were a lot of o lots of people there

¿tienes mucho trabajo? — do you have a lot of o much work?

no tengo mucho dinero — I don't have a lot of o much money

hace mucho calor — it's very hot

tengo mucho frío — I'm very cold

tengo mucha hambre — I'm very hungry

tengo mucha sed — I'm very thirsty

tuve mucha suerte — I was very lucky

no hace mucho tiempo — not long ago

llevo aquí mucho tiempo — I've been here a long time

2) [en plural] [en oraciones afirmativas] a lot of, lots of; [en oraciones interrogativas y negativas] a lot of, many

tiene muchas plantas — he has got a lot of o lots of plants

muchas personas creen que no — a lot of o lots of people don't think so

se lo he dicho muchas veces — I've told him many o lots of times

¿había muchos niños en el parque? — were there a lot of o many children in the park?

no había muchos patos en el lago — there weren't a lot of o many ducks on the lake

3) * [con singular colectivo]

había mucho borracho — there were a lot of o lots of drunks there

hay mucho tonto suelto — there are a lot of o lots of idiots around

mucho beso, pero luego me critica por la espalda — she's all kisses, but then she criticizes me behind my back

4) (=demasiado)

es mucho dinero para un niño — it's too much money for a child

es mucha mujer para ti — * that woman is too much for you

esta es mucha casa para nosotros — * this house is too big for us

2. PRON

1) [en singular]

a) [en frases afirmativas] a lot, lots; [en frases interrogativas y negativas] a lot, much

tengo mucho que hacer — I have a lot o lots to do

tiene la culpa de mucho de lo que pasa — he's to blame for a lot of o much of what has happened

el plan tiene mucho de positivo — there's a lot about the plan that is positive

su discurso tiene mucho de fascista — his rhetoric contains a lot of fascist elements

¿has aprendido mucho en este trabajo? — have you learnt a lot o much from this job?

no tengo mucho que hacer — I haven't got a lot o much to do

-¿cuánto vino queda? -mucho — "how much wine is left?" - "a lot" o "lots"

b) [referido a tiempo] long

¿te vas a quedar mucho? — are you staying long?

no tardes mucho — don't be long

¿falta mucho para llegar? — will it be long till we arrive?

-¿cuánto nos queda para acabar? -mucho — "how long till we finish?" - "ages"

hace mucho que no salgo a bailar — it's a long time o ages since I went out dancing

2) [en plural] [en frases afirmativas] a lot, lots; [en frases interrogativas y negativas] a lot, many

somos muchos — there are a lot of o lots of us

son muchos los que no quieren — there are a lot o lots who don't want to

muchos dicen que... — a lot of o lots of o many people say that...

muchos de los ausentes — many of o a lot of those absent

-¿hay manzanas? -sí, pero no muchas — "are there any apples?" - "yes, but not many o not a lot"

¿vinieron muchos? — did many o a lot of people come?

-¿cuántos había? -muchos — "how many were there?" - "a lot" o "lots"

3. ADV

1) (=en gran cantidad) a lot

come mucho — she eats a lot

te quiero mucho — I love you very much o a lot

viene mucho — he comes often o a lot

me gusta mucho el jazz — I really like jazz, I like jazz a lot

sí señor, me gusta y mucho — I do indeed like it and I like it a lot

- son 75 euros -es mucho — "that will be 75 euros" - "that's a lot"

alegrarse mucho — to be very glad

correr mucho — to run fast

lo siento mucho — I'm very o really sorry

¡mucho lo sientes tú! — * a fat lot you care! *

trabajar mucho — to work hard

• mucho antes — long before

• mucho más — much o a lot more

• mucho menos — much o a lot less

• muy mucho, se guardará muy mucho de hacerlo — * he'll jolly well be careful not to do it *

• si no es mucho pedir — if that's not asking too much

eso es mucho pedir — it's a lot to ask

• pensárselo mucho, se lo pensó mucho antes de contestar — he thought long and hard about it before replying

• mucho peor — much o a lot worse

2) [en respuestas]

-¿estás cansado? -¡mucho! — "are you tired?" - "I certainly am!"

-¿te gusta? -no mucho — "do you like it?" - "not really"

3) [otras locuciones]

• como mucho — at (the) most

como mucho leo un libro al mes — at (the) most I read one book a month

• con mucho — by far, far and away

fue, con mucho, el mejor — he was by far the best, he was far and away the best

no se puede comparar, ni con mucho, a ninguna de nuestras ideas — it bears no comparison at all o you can't begin to compare it with any of our ideas

• cuando mucho — frm at (the) most

• tener a algn en mucho — to think highly of sb

• ni mucho menos, Juan no es ni mucho menos el que era — Juan is nothing like the man he was

mi intención no era insultarte, ni mucho menos — I in no way intended to insult you, I didn't intend to insult you, far from it

• por mucho que, por mucho que estudies — however hard you study

por mucho que lo quieras no debes mimarlo — no matter how much you love him, you shouldn't spoil him

* * *

I

adverbio

a) <salir/ayudar> a lot

me gusta muchísimo — I like it/her/him very much o a lot

funciona mucho mejor — it works much o a lot better

trabaja mucho — he works very hard

¿llueve mucho? — is it raining hard?

por mucho que insistas — no matter how much you insist

después de mucho discutir — after long discussions

b) ( en respuestas)

¿estás preocupado? - mucho — are you worried? - (yes, I am,) very

¿te gusta? - sí, mucho — do you like it? - yes, very much; para locs ver mucho III 3)

II

- cha adjetivo

1)

a) (sing) a lot of; ( en negativas e interrogativas) much, a lot of

¿tienes mucha hambre? — are you very hungry?

b) (pl) a lot of; ( en negativas e interrogativas) many, a lot of

somos muchos — there are a lot of us

¿recibiste muchos regalos? — did you get many o a lot of presents?

2) (sing)

a) (fam) ( con valor plural)

mucho elogio pero no me lo van a publicar — they're full of praise but they're not going to publish it

hay mucho sinvergüenza por ahí — there are a lot of rogues around

b) (fam) ( con valor ponderativo)

era mucho jugador para un equipo así — he was much too good a player for a team like that

III

- cha pronombre

1) (refiriéndose a cantidad, número)

mucho de lo que ha dicho — much o a lot of what he has said

tengo mucho que hacer — I have a lot to do

si no es mucho pedir — if it's not too much to ask

muchos creen que... — many (people) believe that...

2) mucho ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a long time

hace mucho que no lo vemos — we haven't seen him for a long time

¿falta mucho para llegar? — are we nearly there?

¿tuviste que esperar mucho? — did you have to wait long?

3) (en locs)

como mucho — at (the) most

con mucho — by far, easily

ni mucho menos — in no way

no es un buen pianista ni mucho menos — he isn't a good pianist, far from it

* * *

= heavily, much, widely, a great deal, eminent + Nombre, utmost, vitally + Verbo, plenty, to any great degree, severely, lots of, rather a lot, numerable, a whole lot (of), a great deal of, a good deal of, greatly, wide [wider -comp., widest -sup.], broad [broader -comp., broadest -sup.], extensively, a barrel/barrow load of monkeys, bags of.

Ex. Regular overhaul of guiding is important, especially for the new user who may rely heavily upon it.

Ex. Although the 1949 code was much longer than its predecessor, the 1908 code, it only contained rules pertaining to headings.

Ex. An aggressive approach is made to publicity, with posters and leaflets distributed widely, visits to local shops, post offices, doctors surgeries etc, to drum up business, and the use of volunteers to hand out leaflets at street corners = Se inicia una campaña de publicidad enérgica, distribuyendo de forma general folletos y pósteres, visitando las tiendas, oficinas de correos y consultorías médicas de la localidad, etc., para promocionar el negocio, además de utilizar voluntarios para distribuir prospectos por las esquinas de las calles.

Ex. Thus charwomen and porters in a university work in an institution where books are used a great deal but they themselves are highly unlikely to use them.

Ex. 'I think it makes eminent sense, for the reasons I've outlined,' he said and started toward the door.

Ex. Indeed, he must take the utmost care never to jump to conclusions.

Ex. Though the reference librarian cannot enter the reference process until he receives the question from the enquirer he is vitally concerned about all of its stages.

Ex. One of the great glories of books is that there are plenty to suit everybody, no matter what our taste, our mood, our intellectual ability, age or living experience.

Ex. Consumer advice centres were not used to any great degree by the working classes or those groups most at risk as consumers -- the elderly, divorced, widowed and separated.

Ex. Pressure on space will create the desire on the part of the editor to limit severely the length any paper being published.

Ex. Though reference work is the backbone of their task, they do lots of things that are not reference work.

Ex. Carlyle has been dead nearly a hundred years, but many an academic would like to agree with Carlyle even if, perhaps, universities have changed rather a lot since his day.

Ex. During the past decade both groups have developed numerable measures to assess creative potential.

Ex. For the libraries in Belgium CD-ROM offers a new range of possibilities and a whole lot of reference works will be searchable and much more used.

Ex. As earlier sections amply demonstrate, there is a great deal of choice with regards to data bases.

Ex. There is a good deal of scope for users and novice cataloguers to find difficulty in identifying the appropriate heading for many of the works which are the responsibility of corporate bodies.

Ex. The computer can greatly assist in thesaurus compilation and updating.

Ex. The method is sufficiently flexible to allow for wide modifications.

Ex. In 'upper town' streets are broad, quiet, and tree-shaded; the homes are tall and heavy and look like battleships, each anchored in its private sea of grass.

Ex. Fiction classifications are used extensively in public libraries.

Ex. The landlord is as mad as a barrel load of monkeys, but a fine man and ex-soldier.

Ex. His colleagues would say he's as daft as a brush, has bags of energy and enthusiasm but gets the job done.

----

* a costa de mucho = at (a) great expense.

* afectar mucho = hit + hard.

* Algo a lo que hay que dedicar mucho tiempo = time-consuming [time consuming].

* Algo que lleva mucho tiempo de hacer = time-consuming [time consuming].

* a muchos niveles = many-levelled [many-leveled, -USA].

* andarse con mucho cuidado = walk on + eggshells, tread + the thin line between... and.

* andarse con mucho ojo = keep + Posesivo + eyes peeled, keep + Posesivo + eyes skinned, keep + Posesivo + eyes (wide) open.

* arriesgar mucho = play (for) + high stakes.

* avanzar mucho = travel + a long way down the road.

* bajar mucho = go + way down.

* beber mucho = drink + heavily.

* bebida alcohólica con muchos grados = hard drink, hard liquor.

* cada vez mucho mayor = fast-increasing, exploding.

* causar muchas víctimas = take + a toll on life.

* como mucho = at best, at most, if at all, at the most, at the very latest.

* conceder mucha importancia a = lay + great store on.

* con mucha antelación = far in advance.

* con mucha ceremonia = ceremoniously.

* con mucha diferencia = by far.

* con mucha energía = high energy.

* con mucha frecuencia = very often.

* con mucha información = populated.

* con mucha labia = glibly, smooth-talking.

* con mucha palabrería = glibly.

* con mucha población = heavily populated.

* con mucha pompa = ceremoniously.

* con mucha prisa = without a minute to spare.

* con muchas actividades = event-filled.

* con muchas deudas = heavily indebted.

* con muchas ilustraciones = copiously illustrated.

* con muchas imágenes = image intensive.

* con muchas prestaciones = feature-filled, multifacility.

* con mucha vitalidad = lively [livelier -comp., liveliest -sup.].

* con mucho = very much, far + Verbo, grossly, by far, by a long shot, by a long way, hands down.

* con mucho ánimo = spiritedly.

* con mucho bombo = ceremoniously.

* con mucho contenido = information packed [information-packed].

* con mucho esfuerzo = painfully.

* con mucho éxito = with a wide appeal.

* con mucho protocolo = ceremoniously.

* con mucho público = well attended [well-attended].

* con muchos acontecimientos = event-filled.

* con muchos detalles = elaborately.

* con muchos eventos = event-filled.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muchos lectores = with a wide appeal.

* con muchos miramientos = ceremoniously.

* con mucho trabajo = painfully.

* conseguir mucho = do + much.

* contener mucho = be high in.

* costar mucho trabajo = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* dar mucha importancia = put + a premium on.

* dar mucho en qué pensar = give + Nombre + much to think about, give + Nombre + a lot to think about.

* dar mucho valor a Algo = value + Nombre + highly.

* darse (muchos) aires = give + Reflexivo + such airs, aggrandise + Reflexivo.

* decir mucho de Algo = speak + volumes.

* de hace muchos años = long-standing.

* de hace mucho tiempo = age-old, long-term, long-lost.

* dejar mucho que desear = fall (far) short of + ideal, leave + a lot to be desired, leave + much to be desired.

* demandar mucho esfuerzo por parte de Alguien = tax + Posesivo + imagination.

* de muchas formas = in more ways than one.

* de muchas maneras = in every way.

* de mucho arraigo = long-established.

* de mucho beneficio = high-payoff.

* de mucho cuidado = badass.

* de mucho provecho = high-payoff.

* de muchos usos = all-purpose.

* desde hace muchos años = for years.

* desde hace mucho tiempo = for ages, long-time [longtime], far back in time, for a long time, long since, in ages (and ages and ages).

* desear mucha suerte a Alguien = wish + Nombre + the (very) best of luck.

* desempeñando muchas funciones = in many capacities.

* destacar con mucho sobre = stand out + head and shoulders (above/over), be head and shoulder (above/over).

* día de mucho calor = scorcher.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durante el transcurso de muchos años = over many years.

* durante muchas horas = for many long hours.

* durante muchos años = for many years, for years to come, for many years to come, over many years, for years and years (and years).

* durante mucho tiempo = long [longer -comp., longest -sup.], for generations, long-time [longtime], for a long time to come, for long periods of time, for a long period of time, lastingly, for a very long time, for many long hours, for a long time, in ages (and ages and ages).

* durar mucho = last + long.

* durar mucho rato = take + a long time.

* durar mucho tiempo = last + long.

* echar muchas horas al día = work + long hours.

* echar mucho de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* echar mucho en falta = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en muchos aspectos = in most respects.

* en muchos casos = in many instances.

* en muchos grupos = in many quarters.

* en muchos grupos de la población = in many quarters.

* en muchos sectores = in many quarters.

* en muchos sectores de la población = in many quarters.

* en muchos sentidos = in many ways, in many respects, in most respects, in more ways than one.

* escribir mucho sobre Algo = a lot + be written about, much + be written about.

* existen de muchos tipos = come in + many guises.

* existir mucha diferencia entre... y... = be a far cry from... to....

* faltar mucho = be a long way off.

* faltar mucho (para) = there + be + a long way to go (before), have + a long way to go (before).

* fue durante mucho tiempo = long remained.

* ganar mucho dinero = make + good money, earn + good money.

* guardar con mucho cariño = treasure.

* guardar muchas esperanzas = get + Posesivo + hopes up.

* gustar mucho = come up + a treat, go down + a treat.

* gustar mucho las mujeres = womanise [womanize, -USA].

* gustar mucho lo dulce = have + a sweet tooth.

* haber de muchos tipos = come in + all/many (sorts of) shapes and sizes.

* haber recorrido mucho mundo = be well-travelled.

* haber viajado mucho = be well-travelled.

* hace muchas lunas = all those many moons ago, many moons ago.

* hace muchos años = many years ago.

* hace mucho tiempo = long since, all those many moons ago, many moons ago.

* hacer mucho = do + much.

* hacer mucho dinero = make + good money, earn + good money.

* hacer mucho por = go + a long way (towards/to/in) + Gerundio.

* hacer muchos aspavientos por Algo = make + a song and dance about.

* hace ya mucho tiempo que = gone are the days of.

* hombre que tiene mucho mundo = a man of the world.

* ir con mucho ojo = keep + Posesivo + eyes peeled, keep + Posesivo + eyes skinned, keep + Posesivo + eyes (wide) open.

* la mayoría con mucho = the vast majority of.

* llenar mucho = be filling.

* lo mucho que = how extensively.

* mucha gente + esperar que = be widely expected.

* muchas ganancias = high return.

* Muchas gracias = Thank you very much.

* muchas horas = long hours.

* muchas otras cosas = much else.

* muchas otras cosas más = much else besides.

* mucha suerte = best of luck.

* muchas veces = multiple times.

* mucho + Adjetivo = very much + Adjetivo, significantly + Adjetivo.

* mucho antes = early on.

* mucho antes de = well before.

* mucho + Comparativo = a good deal + Comparativo.

* mucho dinero = big bucks.

* mucho esfuerzo = hard work.

* mucho interés = keen interest.

* mucho más = order of magnitude, much more, much more so, a lot more, lots more.

* mucho más + Adjetivo = all the more + Adjetivo, far + Adjetivo Comparativo.

* mucho más + Adverbio/Adjetivo = far more + Adverbio/Adjetivo, far more + Adverbio/Adjetivo.

* mucho más allá de = far beyond.

* mucho más cerca = far closer.

* mucho más de = well over + Expresión Numérica.

* mucho más rápido = far faster.

* mucho mayor = far greater, far larger, very much greater.

* mucho mejor = far better.

* mucho mejor que = far superior to.

* mucho menos = a great deal less, let alone, far less.

* mucho menos + Adjetivo = far + Adjetivo Comparativo.

* mucho + Nombre = a lot of + Nombre, bleeding + Adjetivo/Nombre.

* mucho peor = far worse.

* mucho que + Infinitivo = a lot + Infinitivo.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = much ado about nothing, storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos = many, good many, many a(n).

* muchos beneficios = high return.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muchos más = a great many more.

* muchos + Nombre = a lot of + Nombre.

* mucho tiempo = long time, long periods of time, a very long time, long hours, ample time, for a long time.

* mucho tiempo antes de (que) = long before.

* mucho tiempo después = ages and ages hence.

* mucho tiempo después (de que) = long after.

* mucho trabajo = hard graft.

* ni con mucho = not by a long shot.

* ni mucho menos = by any stretch (of the imagination), by any means, not by a long shot.

* no estar finalizado (con mucho) = fall (far) short of + completeness.

* no existir muchos indicios de que = there + be + little sign of.

* no haber muchas señales de que = there + be + little sign of.

* no hace mucho = in the recent past.

* no hace mucho tiempo = not so long ago.

* Nombre + no tardará mucho en = it won't be long before + Nombre.

* Nombre + no tardó mucho en = it wasn't long before + Nombre.

* no mucho después = not long after.

* no parar mucho en un sitio = live out of + a suitcase.

* no pasar mucho tiempo antes de que + Subjuntivo = be not long before + Indicativo.

* no perderse mucho = be no great loss.

* pasar mucho tiempo antes de que = be a long time before.

* pasar por muchas dificultades = be to hell and back.

* persona con mucha ambición = social climber.

* persona que ha viajado mucho = seasoned traveller.

* poner mucho ahínco = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* poner mucho ahínco en = put + Posesivo + heart into.

* poner mucho empe = put + Posesivo + heart into.

* poner mucho empeño = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* poner mucho empeño en + Verbo = be at pains to + Infinitivo.

* poner mucho empeño por = take + (great) pains to.

* poner mucho esmero por = take + (great) pains to.

* por muchas razones = in many ways.

* por mucho que lo + intentar = try as + Pronombre + might.

* por mucho que lo intento = for the life of me.

* por mucho tiempo = for long, for long periods of time.

* prometer mucho = promise + great possibilities, bode + well.

* que consume mucha CPU = CPU intensive.

* que consume mucha energía = energy-intensive.

* que contiene muchas imágenes = image intensive.

* quedar mucho más por hacer = much more needs to be done.

* quedar mucho (para) = have + a long way to go (before), there + be + a long way to go (before).

* quedar mucho por conocer = there + be + a great deal yet to be learned, there + be + still a great deal to be learned.

* quedar mucho por hacer = more needs to be done, have + a long way to go.

* quedar mucho por saber = there + be + a great deal yet to be learned, there + be + still a great deal to be learned.

* que deja mucho al azar = hit-or-miss.

* que hay que dar muchas vueltas = circuitous.

* que hay que dedicarle mucho tiempo = time-intensive.

* que ocupa mucho espacio = space-consuming.

* que se percibe desde hace mucho tiempo = long-felt.

* que utiliza muchos recursos = resource-intensive.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* resaltar con mucho sobre = stand out + head and shoulders (above/over), be head and shoulder (above/over).

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* ser de mucho uso = take + Nombre + a long way.

* ser mucho = be a mouthful.

* ser mucho más = be all the more.

* ser mucho más que = be far more than.

* sin mucha antelación = at short notice.

* sin mucha anticipación = at short notice.

* sin mucha dificultad = painlessly.

* sin muchas contemplaciones = unceremoniously.

* sin muchos inconvenientes = without much grudging.

* sin pensarlo mucho = off the top of + Posesivo + head.

* sorprenderse mucho = eyes + pop (out), Posesivo + eyes + pop out of + Posesivo + head, Posesivo + eyes + pop out of + Posesivo + socket.

* tener mucha distancia que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucha personalidad = be full of character.

* tener mucho camino que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucho carácter = be full of character.

* tener mucho cuidado = be extra vigilant.

* tener mucho éxito = hit + a home run, hit it out of + the park, knock it out of + the park.

* tener mucho interés en = have + a high stake in.

* tener mucho interés por = be keen to.

* tener mucho que ver con = have + a great deal to do with.

* tener mucho tiempo libre = have + plenty of time to spare.

* trabajando mucho = hard at work.

* trabajar muchas horas al día = work + long hours.

* trabajar mucho = work + hard.

* usuario que hace mucho uso del préstamo = heavy borrower.

* venir de mucho tiempo atrás = go back + a long way.

* Verbo + mucho = Verbo + hard.

* y cuanto mucho menos = much less.

* y mucho más = and much more.

* y mucho menos = much less, least of all.

* y mucho(s) más = and more.

* * *

I

adverbio

a) <salir/ayudar> a lot

me gusta muchísimo — I like it/her/him very much o a lot

funciona mucho mejor — it works much o a lot better

trabaja mucho — he works very hard

¿llueve mucho? — is it raining hard?

por mucho que insistas — no matter how much you insist

después de mucho discutir — after long discussions

b) ( en respuestas)

¿estás preocupado? - mucho — are you worried? - (yes, I am,) very

¿te gusta? - sí, mucho — do you like it? - yes, very much; para locs ver mucho III 3)

II

- cha adjetivo

1)

a) (sing) a lot of; ( en negativas e interrogativas) much, a lot of

¿tienes mucha hambre? — are you very hungry?

b) (pl) a lot of; ( en negativas e interrogativas) many, a lot of

somos muchos — there are a lot of us

¿recibiste muchos regalos? — did you get many o a lot of presents?

2) (sing)

a) (fam) ( con valor plural)

mucho elogio pero no me lo van a publicar — they're full of praise but they're not going to publish it

hay mucho sinvergüenza por ahí — there are a lot of rogues around

b) (fam) ( con valor ponderativo)

era mucho jugador para un equipo así — he was much too good a player for a team like that

III

- cha pronombre

1) (refiriéndose a cantidad, número)

mucho de lo que ha dicho — much o a lot of what he has said

tengo mucho que hacer — I have a lot to do

si no es mucho pedir — if it's not too much to ask

muchos creen que... — many (people) believe that...

2) mucho ( refiriéndose a tiempo) a long time

hace mucho que no lo vemos — we haven't seen him for a long time

¿falta mucho para llegar? — are we nearly there?

¿tuviste que esperar mucho? — did you have to wait long?

3) (en locs)

como mucho — at (the) most

con mucho — by far, easily

ni mucho menos — in no way

no es un buen pianista ni mucho menos — he isn't a good pianist, far from it

* * *

= heavily, much, widely, a great deal, eminent + Nombre, utmost, vitally + Verbo, plenty, to any great degree, severely, lots of, rather a lot, numerable, a whole lot (of), a great deal of, a good deal of, greatly, wide [wider -comp., widest -sup.], broad [broader -comp., broadest -sup.], extensively, a barrel/barrow load of monkeys, bags of.

Ex: Regular overhaul of guiding is important, especially for the new user who may rely heavily upon it.

Ex: Although the 1949 code was much longer than its predecessor, the 1908 code, it only contained rules pertaining to headings.

Ex: An aggressive approach is made to publicity, with posters and leaflets distributed widely, visits to local shops, post offices, doctors surgeries etc, to drum up business, and the use of volunteers to hand out leaflets at street corners = Se inicia una campaña de publicidad enérgica, distribuyendo de forma general folletos y pósteres, visitando las tiendas, oficinas de correos y consultorías médicas de la localidad, etc., para promocionar el negocio, además de utilizar voluntarios para distribuir prospectos por las esquinas de las calles.

Ex: Thus charwomen and porters in a university work in an institution where books are used a great deal but they themselves are highly unlikely to use them.

Ex: 'I think it makes eminent sense, for the reasons I've outlined,' he said and started toward the door.

Ex: Indeed, he must take the utmost care never to jump to conclusions.

Ex: Though the reference librarian cannot enter the reference process until he receives the question from the enquirer he is vitally concerned about all of its stages.

Ex: One of the great glories of books is that there are plenty to suit everybody, no matter what our taste, our mood, our intellectual ability, age or living experience.

Ex: Consumer advice centres were not used to any great degree by the working classes or those groups most at risk as consumers -- the elderly, divorced, widowed and separated.

Ex: Pressure on space will create the desire on the part of the editor to limit severely the length any paper being published.

Ex: Though reference work is the backbone of their task, they do lots of things that are not reference work.

Ex: Carlyle has been dead nearly a hundred years, but many an academic would like to agree with Carlyle even if, perhaps, universities have changed rather a lot since his day.

Ex: During the past decade both groups have developed numerable measures to assess creative potential.

Ex: For the libraries in Belgium CD-ROM offers a new range of possibilities and a whole lot of reference works will be searchable and much more used.

Ex: As earlier sections amply demonstrate, there is a great deal of choice with regards to data bases.

Ex: There is a good deal of scope for users and novice cataloguers to find difficulty in identifying the appropriate heading for many of the works which are the responsibility of corporate bodies.

Ex: The computer can greatly assist in thesaurus compilation and updating.

Ex: The method is sufficiently flexible to allow for wide modifications.

Ex: In 'upper town' streets are broad, quiet, and tree-shaded; the homes are tall and heavy and look like battleships, each anchored in its private sea of grass.

Ex: Fiction classifications are used extensively in public libraries.

Ex: The landlord is as mad as a barrel load of monkeys, but a fine man and ex-soldier.

Ex: His colleagues would say he's as daft as a brush, has bags of energy and enthusiasm but gets the job done.

* a costa de mucho = at (a) great expense.

* afectar mucho = hit + hard.

* Algo a lo que hay que dedicar mucho tiempo = time-consuming [time consuming].

* Algo que lleva mucho tiempo de hacer = time-consuming [time consuming].

* a muchos niveles = many-levelled [many-leveled, -USA].

* andarse con mucho cuidado = walk on + eggshells, tread + the thin line between... and.

* andarse con mucho ojo = keep + Posesivo + eyes peeled, keep + Posesivo + eyes skinned, keep + Posesivo + eyes (wide) open.

* arriesgar mucho = play (for) + high stakes.

* avanzar mucho = travel + a long way down the road.

* bajar mucho = go + way down.

* beber mucho = drink + heavily.

* bebida alcohólica con muchos grados = hard drink, hard liquor.

* cada vez mucho mayor = fast-increasing, exploding.

* causar muchas víctimas = take + a toll on life.

* como mucho = at best, at most, if at all, at the most, at the very latest.

* conceder mucha importancia a = lay + great store on.

* con mucha antelación = far in advance.

* con mucha ceremonia = ceremoniously.

* con mucha diferencia = by far.

* con mucha energía = high energy.

* con mucha frecuencia = very often.

* con mucha información = populated.

* con mucha labia = glibly, smooth-talking.

* con mucha palabrería = glibly.

* con mucha población = heavily populated.

* con mucha pompa = ceremoniously.

* con mucha prisa = without a minute to spare.

* con muchas actividades = event-filled.

* con muchas deudas = heavily indebted.

* con muchas ilustraciones = copiously illustrated.

* con muchas imágenes = image intensive.

* con muchas prestaciones = feature-filled, multifacility.

* con mucha vitalidad = lively [livelier -comp., liveliest -sup.].

* con mucho = very much, far + Verbo, grossly, by far, by a long shot, by a long way, hands down.

* con mucho ánimo = spiritedly.

* con mucho bombo = ceremoniously.

* con mucho contenido = information packed [information-packed].

* con mucho esfuerzo = painfully.

* con mucho éxito = with a wide appeal.

* con mucho protocolo = ceremoniously.

* con mucho público = well attended [well-attended].

* con muchos acontecimientos = event-filled.

* con muchos detalles = elaborately.

* con muchos eventos = event-filled.

* con muchos huesos y poca carne = bony [bonier -comp., boniest -sup.].

* con muchos lectores = with a wide appeal.

* con muchos miramientos = ceremoniously.

* con mucho trabajo = painfully.

* conseguir mucho = do + much.

* contener mucho = be high in.

* costar mucho trabajo = have + a tough time, have + a hard time.

* dar mucha importancia = put + a premium on.

* dar mucho en qué pensar = give + Nombre + much to think about, give + Nombre + a lot to think about.

* dar mucho valor a Algo = value + Nombre + highly.

* darse (muchos) aires = give + Reflexivo + such airs, aggrandise + Reflexivo.

* decir mucho de Algo = speak + volumes.

* de hace muchos años = long-standing.

* de hace mucho tiempo = age-old, long-term, long-lost.

* dejar mucho que desear = fall (far) short of + ideal, leave + a lot to be desired, leave + much to be desired.

* demandar mucho esfuerzo por parte de Alguien = tax + Posesivo + imagination.

* de muchas formas = in more ways than one.

* de muchas maneras = in every way.

* de mucho arraigo = long-established.

* de mucho beneficio = high-payoff.

* de mucho cuidado = badass.

* de mucho provecho = high-payoff.

* de muchos usos = all-purpose.

* desde hace muchos años = for years.

* desde hace mucho tiempo = for ages, long-time [longtime], far back in time, for a long time, long since, in ages (and ages and ages).

* desear mucha suerte a Alguien = wish + Nombre + the (very) best of luck.

* desempeñando muchas funciones = in many capacities.

* destacar con mucho sobre = stand out + head and shoulders (above/over), be head and shoulder (above/over).

* día de mucho calor = scorcher.

* donde cabe mucho también cabe poco = what holds a lot will hold a little.

* durante el transcurso de muchos años = over many years.

* durante muchas horas = for many long hours.

* durante muchos años = for many years, for years to come, for many years to come, over many years, for years and years (and years).

* durante mucho tiempo = long [longer -comp., longest -sup.], for generations, long-time [longtime], for a long time to come, for long periods of time, for a long period of time, lastingly, for a very long time, for many long hours, for a long time, in ages (and ages and ages).

* durar mucho = last + long.

* durar mucho rato = take + a long time.

* durar mucho tiempo = last + long.

* echar muchas horas al día = work + long hours.

* echar mucho de menos = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* echar mucho en falta = be sorely missed, be sadly missed.

* el que mucho abarca poco aprieta = jack of all trades, master of none.

* en muchos aspectos = in most respects.

* en muchos casos = in many instances.

* en muchos grupos = in many quarters.

* en muchos grupos de la población = in many quarters.

* en muchos sectores = in many quarters.

* en muchos sectores de la población = in many quarters.

* en muchos sentidos = in many ways, in many respects, in most respects, in more ways than one.

* escribir mucho sobre Algo = a lot + be written about, much + be written about.

* existen de muchos tipos = come in + many guises.

* existir mucha diferencia entre... y... = be a far cry from... to....

* faltar mucho = be a long way off.

* faltar mucho (para) = there + be + a long way to go (before), have + a long way to go (before).

* fue durante mucho tiempo = long remained.

* ganar mucho dinero = make + good money, earn + good money.

* guardar con mucho cariño = treasure.

* guardar muchas esperanzas = get + Posesivo + hopes up.

* gustar mucho = come up + a treat, go down + a treat.

* gustar mucho las mujeres = womanise [womanize, -USA].

* gustar mucho lo dulce = have + a sweet tooth.

* haber de muchos tipos = come in + all/many (sorts of) shapes and sizes.

* haber recorrido mucho mundo = be well-travelled.

* haber viajado mucho = be well-travelled.

* hace muchas lunas = all those many moons ago, many moons ago.

* hace muchos años = many years ago.

* hace mucho tiempo = long since, all those many moons ago, many moons ago.

* hacer mucho = do + much.

* hacer mucho dinero = make + good money, earn + good money.

* hacer mucho por = go + a long way (towards/to/in) + Gerundio.

* hacer muchos aspavientos por Algo = make + a song and dance about.

* hace ya mucho tiempo que = gone are the days of.

* hombre que tiene mucho mundo = a man of the world.

* ir con mucho ojo = keep + Posesivo + eyes peeled, keep + Posesivo + eyes skinned, keep + Posesivo + eyes (wide) open.

* la mayoría con mucho = the vast majority of.

* llenar mucho = be filling.

* lo mucho que = how extensively.

* mucha gente + esperar que = be widely expected.

* muchas ganancias = high return.

* Muchas gracias = Thank you very much.

* muchas horas = long hours.

* muchas otras cosas = much else.

* muchas otras cosas más = much else besides.

* mucha suerte = best of luck.

* muchas veces = multiple times.

* mucho + Adjetivo = very much + Adjetivo, significantly + Adjetivo.

* mucho antes = early on.

* mucho antes de = well before.

* mucho + Comparativo = a good deal + Comparativo.

* mucho dinero = big bucks.

* mucho esfuerzo = hard work.

* mucho interés = keen interest.

* mucho más = order of magnitude, much more, much more so, a lot more, lots more.

* mucho más + Adjetivo = all the more + Adjetivo, far + Adjetivo Comparativo.

* mucho más + Adverbio/Adjetivo = far more + Adverbio/Adjetivo, far more + Adverbio/Adjetivo.

* mucho más allá de = far beyond.

* mucho más cerca = far closer.

* mucho más de = well over + Expresión Numérica.

* mucho más rápido = far faster.

* mucho mayor = far greater, far larger, very much greater.

* mucho mejor = far better.

* mucho mejor que = far superior to.

* mucho menos = a great deal less, let alone, far less.

* mucho menos + Adjetivo = far + Adjetivo Comparativo.

* mucho + Nombre = a lot of + Nombre, bleeding + Adjetivo/Nombre.

* mucho peor = far worse.

* mucho que + Infinitivo = a lot + Infinitivo.

* mucho ruido y pocas nueces = much ado about nothing, storm in a teacup, Posesivo + bark is worse than + Posesivo + bite.

* muchos = many, good many, many a(n).

* muchos beneficios = high return.

* muchos jefes y pocos trabajadores = too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

* muchos más = a great many more.

* muchos + Nombre = a lot of + Nombre.

* mucho tiempo = long time, long periods of time, a very long time, long hours, ample time, for a long time.

* mucho tiempo antes de (que) = long before.

* mucho tiempo después = ages and ages hence.

* mucho tiempo después (de que) = long after.

* mucho trabajo = hard graft.

* ni con mucho = not by a long shot.

* ni mucho menos = by any stretch (of the imagination), by any means, not by a long shot.

* no estar finalizado (con mucho) = fall (far) short of + completeness.

* no existir muchos indicios de que = there + be + little sign of.

* no haber muchas señales de que = there + be + little sign of.

* no hace mucho = in the recent past.

* no hace mucho tiempo = not so long ago.

* Nombre + no tardará mucho en = it won't be long before + Nombre.

* Nombre + no tardó mucho en = it wasn't long before + Nombre.

* no mucho después = not long after.

* no parar mucho en un sitio = live out of + a suitcase.

* no pasar mucho tiempo antes de que + Subjuntivo = be not long before + Indicativo.

* no perderse mucho = be no great loss.

* pasar mucho tiempo antes de que = be a long time before.

* pasar por muchas dificultades = be to hell and back.

* persona con mucha ambición = social climber.

* persona que ha viajado mucho = seasoned traveller.

* poner mucho ahínco = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* poner mucho ahínco en = put + Posesivo + heart into.

* poner mucho empe = put + Posesivo + heart into.

* poner mucho empeño = try + Posesivo + heart out.

* poner mucho empeño en + Verbo = be at pains to + Infinitivo.

* poner mucho empeño por = take + (great) pains to.

* poner mucho esmero por = take + (great) pains to.

* por muchas razones = in many ways.

* por mucho que lo + intentar = try as + Pronombre + might.

* por mucho que lo intento = for the life of me.

* por mucho tiempo = for long, for long periods of time.

* prometer mucho = promise + great possibilities, bode + well.

* que consume mucha CPU = CPU intensive.

* que consume mucha energía = energy-intensive.

* que contiene muchas imágenes = image intensive.

* quedar mucho más por hacer = much more needs to be done.

* quedar mucho (para) = have + a long way to go (before), there + be + a long way to go (before).

* quedar mucho por conocer = there + be + a great deal yet to be learned, there + be + still a great deal to be learned.

* quedar mucho por hacer = more needs to be done, have + a long way to go.

* quedar mucho por saber = there + be + a great deal yet to be learned, there + be + still a great deal to be learned.

* que deja mucho al azar = hit-or-miss.

* que hay que dar muchas vueltas = circuitous.

* que hay que dedicarle mucho tiempo = time-intensive.

* que ocupa mucho espacio = space-consuming.

* que se percibe desde hace mucho tiempo = long-felt.

* que utiliza muchos recursos = resource-intensive.

* quien mucho abarca poco aprieta = bite off more than + Pronombre + can chew.

* resaltar con mucho sobre = stand out + head and shoulders (above/over), be head and shoulder (above/over).

* saber un poco de todo y mucho de nada = jack of all trades, master of none.

* ser de mucho uso = take + Nombre + a long way.

* ser mucho = be a mouthful.

* ser mucho más = be all the more.

* ser mucho más que = be far more than.

* sin mucha antelación = at short notice.

* sin mucha anticipación = at short notice.

* sin mucha dificultad = painlessly.

* sin muchas contemplaciones = unceremoniously.

* sin muchos inconvenientes = without much grudging.

* sin pensarlo mucho = off the top of + Posesivo + head.

* sorprenderse mucho = eyes + pop (out), Posesivo + eyes + pop out of + Posesivo + head, Posesivo + eyes + pop out of + Posesivo + socket.

* tener mucha distancia que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucha personalidad = be full of character.

* tener mucho camino que recorrer = have + a long way to go.

* tener mucho carácter = be full of character.

* tener mucho cuidado = be extra vigilant.

* tener mucho éxito = hit + a home run, hit it out of + the park, knock it out of + the park.

* tener mucho interés en = have + a high stake in.

* tener mucho interés por = be keen to.

* tener mucho que ver con = have + a great deal to do with.

* tener mucho tiempo libre = have + plenty of time to spare.

* trabajando mucho = hard at work.

* trabajar muchas horas al día = work + long hours.

* trabajar mucho = work + hard.

* usuario que hace mucho uso del préstamo = heavy borrower.

* venir de mucho tiempo atrás = go back + a long way.

* Verbo + mucho = Verbo + hard.

* y cuanto mucho menos = much less.

* y mucho más = and much more.

* y mucho menos = much less, least of all.

* y mucho(s) más = and more.

* * *

mucho¹

adverb

1

salen mucho they go out a lot

no salen mucho they don't go out much o a lot

¿salen mucho? do they go out much o a lot?

me ayudaron muchísimo they really helped me a lot

ahora funciona mucho mejor it works much o a lot better now

esto preocupa, y mucho, a los ecologistas this is a matter of great concern to ecologists

trabaja mucho he works very hard

¿llueve mucho? is it raining hard?

me gusta muchísimo I like it a lot o very much

por mucho que insistas, no te va a hacer caso no matter how much you insist o however much you insist he won't listen to you

por mucho que le grites no te oye you can shout as much as you like but he won't hear you

después de mucho discutir llegaron a un acuerdo after long discussions, they reached an agreement

mucho criticar a los demás pero ella tampoco hace nada por ayudar she's forever o always criticizing others but she doesn't do anything to help either

2

(en respuestas): ¿estás preocupado? — mucho are you worried? — (yes, I am,) very

¿te gusta? — sí, mucho do you like it? — yes, very much

para locs ver mucho³ pron C. (↑ mucho (3))

mucho² - cha

adjective

A

1 ( sing) a lot of; (en negativas e interrogativas) much, a lot of

tiene mucha vitamina C it contains a lot of vitamin C

no le tienen mucho respeto they don't have much o a lot of respect for him

había mucha gente there were lots of o a lot of people there

sucedió hace mucho tiempo it happened a long time ago

¿tienes mucha hambre? are you very hungry?

una ciudad con mucha vida nocturna a city with plenty of night life

2 (pl) a lot of; (en negativas e interrogativas) many, a lot of

¿recibiste muchos regalos? did you get many o a lot of presents?

sus muchas obligaciones le impidieron asistir his many commitments prevented him from attending

muchos niños pasan hambre many children go hungry

seis hijos son muchos six children's a lot

somos muchos there are a lot of us

B ( sing)

1 ( fam)

(con valor plural): mucho elogio, mucho cumplido pero no me lo van a publicar they're full of praise and compliments but they're not going to publish it

hoy día hay mucho sinvergüenza por ahí these days there are a lot of rogues around

2 ( fam)

(con valor ponderativo): era mucho jugador para un equipo tan mediocre he was much too good a player for a mediocre team like that

mucho³ - cha

pronoun

A

(refiriéndose a cantidad, número): mucho de lo que ha dicho es falso much o a lot of what he has said is untrue

tengo mucho que hacer I have a lot to do

si no es mucho pedir if it's not too much to ask

muchos creen que … many (people) believe that …

muchos son los llamados pero pocos los elegidos ( Bib) many are called but few are chosen

B

mucho (refiriéndose a tiempo) a long time

hace mucho que no vamos al teatro we haven't been to the theater for a long time o for ages

¿falta mucho para llegar? are we nearly there?, is it much further?

¿tuviste que esperar mucho? did you have to wait long?

mucho antes de conocerte long o a long time before I met you

C ( en locs):

como mucho at (the) most

costará unos 30 dólares como mucho it probably costs about 30 dollars at (the) most

con mucho by far, easily

fue, con mucho, la mejor de la clase she was by far o easily the best in the class, she was the best in the class, by far

cuando mucho at (the) most

ni mucho menos: no pretendo aconsejarte ni mucho menos I'm in no way trying to give you advice

no es un buen pianista ni mucho menos he isn't a good pianist, far from it

* * *

 

mucho 1 adverbio

a) ‹salir/ayudar› a lot;

‹ trabajar› hard;

◊ no salen mucho they don't go out much o a lot;

me gusta muchísimo I like it very much o a lot;
mucho mejor a lot better;
por mucho que insistas no matter how much you insist;
después de mucho discutir after much discussion

b) ( en respuestas):

◊ ¿estás preocupado? — mucho are you worried? — (yes, I am,) very;

¿te gusta? — sí, mucho do you like it? — yes, very much
mucho 2

◊ - cha adjetivo

a) ( sing) a lot of;

(en oraciones negativas, interrogativas) much, a lot of;

◊ mucho vino a lot of wine;

no gano mucho dinero I don't earn much o a lot of money;
¿ves mucha televisión? do you watch much o a lot of television;
tiene mucha hambre he's very hungry

b) (pl) many, a lot of;

◊ había muchos extranjeros/muchas personas allí there were many o a lot of foreigners/people there;

hace muchos años many years ago
■ pronombre
1 ( referido a cantidad)

a) ( sing) a lot;

( en oraciones negativas) much;

◊ mucho de lo dicho a lot of what was said;

tengo mucho que hacer I have a lot to do;
eso no es mucho that's not much;
no queda mucha there isn't much left

b) (pl) many;

◊ muchos creen que … many (people) believe that …;

muchos de nosotros many of us
2

◊ mucho

a) ( referido a tiempo):

◊ hace mucho que no la veo I haven't seen her for a long time;

¿te falta mucho para terminar? will it take you long to finish?;
mucho antes long before;
¿tuviste que esperar mucho? did you have to wait long?

b) ( en locs)

◊ como mucho at (the) most;

con mucho by far, easily;
ni mucho menos far from it;
por mucho que … however much …
mucho,-a
I adj indef
1 (abundante, numeroso) (en frases afirmativas) a lot of, lots of
mucha comida, a lot of food
muchos animales, lots of animals
(en frases negativas) much, many pl: no queda mucho azúcar, there isn't much sugar left
no conozco muchos sitios, I don't know many places
2 (intenso) very: tengo mucho calor/miedo, I'm very hot/scared
hizo mucho esfuerzo, he made a great effort
3 (demasiado) es mucha responsabilidad, it's too much responsibility
II pron
1 a lot, a great deal, many: muchos fuimos al baile, many/lots of us went to the dance
muchos de nosotros/vosotros, many of us/you
de ésos tengo muchos, I've got lots of those
III adverbio
1 (cantidad) a lot, very much: me arrepentí mucho, I was very sorry
2 (tiempo) hace mucho que desapareció, he went missing a long time ago
hace mucho que estamos aquí, we have been here for a long time
(a menudo) often: vamos mucho al cine, we go to the cinema quite often
♦ Locuciones: como mucho, at the most
con mucho, by far
¡ni mucho menos!, no way!
por mucho (que), however much
Recuerda que el singular es much, el plural es many, y que estas dos palabras se suelen usar en frases negativas (no tengo demasiado tiempo, I haven't got much time), mientras que a lot (of) y lots (of) se encuentran en frases afirmativas: Tengo mucho dinero. I've got a lot of/lots of money. En frases interrogativas se usa tanto much y many como a lot o lots of: ¿Tienes mucho dinero?, Have you got much/ a lot of/lots of money? Sin embargo, en preguntas que empiezan por how sólo puedes emplear much o many: ¿Cuánto dinero tienes?, How much money have you got?
' mucho' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
abandonarse
- abrigar
- abultar
- achicharrar
- achicharrarse
- acoger
- adelantar
- adentro
- adorar
- afear
- afecta
- afectar
- afecto
- agradecer
- alejarse
- antes
- aparato
- aprecio
- aprovechar
- ascendiente
- avejentarse
- avenida
- avenido
- bailar
- bastante
- boato
- bombo
- brío
- cacarear
- caché
- cachet
- calor
- carácter
- cariño
- carrete
- cascar
- cervical
- chapar
- chiflar
- cocerse
- coco
- comer
- contraponer
- costar
- cuando
- de
- deber
- decaer
- decir
- defraudar
English:
ability
- ado
- afraid
- age
- ago
- agony
- all-out
- alone
- anywhere
- around
- as
- attract
- attuned to
- backlog
- badly
- bake
- balance
- be
- best
- booze
- bulky
- busywork
- capital
- cautious
- chalk
- challenging
- charisma
- come along
- come into
- commotion
- concern
- deal
- dear
- demand
- devoted
- difficult
- do
- dog days
- doing
- easily
- emotional
- enthusiastic
- esteem
- exhilarate
- experience
- extravagant
- fancy
- far
- fat
- few

* * *

mucho, -a

♦ adj

1. [gran cantidad de] a lot of;

comemos mucho pescado/mucha verdura we eat a lot of fish/vegetables;

había mucha gente there were a lot of people there;

producen muchos residuos they produce a lot of waste;

tengo muchos más/menos amigos que tú I've got a lot more/fewer friends than you;

no tengo mucho tiempo I haven't got much o a lot of time;

no nos quedan muchas entradas we haven't got many o a lot of tickets left;

¿hay muchas cosas que hacer? are there a lot of things to do?, is there much to do?;

no tengo muchas ganas de ir I don't really o much feel like going;

tengo mucho sueño I'm very sleepy;

hoy hace mucho calor it's very hot today;

hace mucho tiempo a long time ago;

¡mucha suerte! the best of luck!;

¡muchas gracias! thank you very much!

2. (singular) [demasiado]

hay mucho niño aquí there are rather a lot of kids here;

mucha sal me parece que le estás echando I think you're overdoing the salt a bit, I think you're adding a bit too much salt;

ésta es mucha casa para mí this house is much too big for me;

Fam

es mucho hombre he's a real man;

es mucho coche para un conductor novato it's far too powerful a car for an inexperienced driver;

es mucha mujer para ti she's out of your league!;

Fam

mucho lujo y mucho camarero trajeado pero la comida es horrible it's all very luxurious and full of smartly dressed waiters, but the food's terrible

♦ pron

(singular) a lot;

* * *

mucho

I adj

1 singular a lot of, lots of; en frases interrogativas y negativas tb

much;

mucho tiempo a lot of time;

no tengo mucho tiempo I don’t have a lot of time o much time;

tengo mucho frío I am very cold;

es mucho coche para mí this car’s too much for me

2 plural a lot of, lots of; en frases interrogativas y negativas tb

many;

muchos amigos a lot of friends;

no tengo muchos amigos I don’t have a lot of friends o many friends

II pron

1 singular a lot; en frases interrogativas y negativas tb

much;

no tengo mucho I don’t have much o a lot

2 plural a lot; en frases interrogativas y negativas tb

many;

no tengo muchos I don’t have many o a lot;

muchos creen que … a lot of people o many people think that …

III adv

1 a lot; en frases interrogativas y negativas tb

much;

¿cuesta mucho? does it cost a lot o much?;

nos vemos mucho we see each other often o a lot;

hace mucho que no te veo I haven’t seen you for a long time;

¿dura/tarda mucho? does it last/take long?

2

:

como mucho at the most;

10 meses dan para mucho o

dan mucho de sí you can do a lot in 10 months;

no es ni con mucho he is far from being …;

ni mucho menos far from it;

por mucho que however much

* * *

mucho adv

1) : much, a lot

mucho más: much more

le gusta mucho: he likes it a lot

2) : long, a long time

tardó mucho en venir: he was a long time getting here

3)

por mucho que : no matter how much

mucho, - cha adj

1) : a lot of, many, much

mucha gente: a lot of people

hace mucho tiempo que no lo veo: I haven't seen him in ages

2)

muchas veces : often

mucho, - cha pron

1) : a lot, many, much

hay mucho que hacer: there is a lot to do

muchas no vinieron: many didn't come

2)

cuando mucho or

como mucho : at most

3)

con mucho : by far

4)

ni mucho menos : not at all, far from it

* * *

mucho¹ adj

1. (en general) a lot of / lots of

como mucho queso I eat a lot of cheese

lee muchos libros he reads a lot of books lots of es lo mismo que a lot of, pero un poco más familiar

como mucho queso I eat lots of cheese Much es singular y suele sustituir a lot of en frases negativas e interrogativas

no tenemos mucho tiempo we haven't got much time

¿ganas mucho dinero? do you earn much money? many es plural y suele sustituir a lot of en frases negativas e interrogativas

no tiene muchos amigos he hasn't got many friends

¿marcaste muchos goles? did you score many goals?

2. (otras expresiones) very

hace mucho calor it's very hot

tengo muchas ganas de verte I'm really looking forward to seeing you

mucho² adv

1. (en general) a lot

esta planta ha crecido mucho this plant has grown a lot

los atletas se entrenan mucho athletes train a lot

me gusta mucho I like it a lot

trabajamos mucho we work hard

lo siento mucho I'm very sorry / I'm really sorry

2. (comparaciones) much

era mucho más fácil de lo que pensaba it was much easier than I thought

comes mucho más que yo you eat much more than me

3. (mucho tiempo) a long time

hace mucho que no te veo I haven't see you for a long time

como mucho at the most

ni con mucho nowhere near as

ni mucho menos far from

no está acabado, ni mucho menos it is far from finished

por mucho que however much

mucho³ pron

1. (en singular frases afirmativas) a lot

aún me queda mucho por hacer I've still got a lot left to do

2. (en singular frases negativas e interrogativas) much / a lot

no es mucho lo que pides you're not asking for much

3. (con plurales) many / a lot

muchos de sus amigos acudieron many of his friends came