idioms
Idioms & Natural Expressions
Fixed expressions and idiomatic language to sound more natural and precise.
30 minC1c1idiomseconomy-money-consumptionfinanzasconsumodinero
Lesson objectives
- Use idiomatic language connected to economy, money & consumption more naturally.
- Distinguish neutral, formal and contemporary expressions.
- Recognise when an expression improves fluency without sounding forced.
Idioms & expressions — Economy, Money & Consumption
To break the bank · neutral
neutralMeaning:To cost more money than one can afford or more than is reasonable.
Significado:Costar un ojo de la cara / dejarte en la quiebra.
Example:We can upgrade our home office setup without breaking the bank if we opt for refurbished hardware.
To tighten one's belt · neutral
neutralMeaning:To spend less money than usual due to financial difficulties.
Significado:Ajustarse el cinturón.
Example:With inflation remaining high, many households are having to tighten their belts this quarter.
To be in the red · neutral
neutralMeaning:To owe money to the bank or to be in a deficit.
Significado:Estar en números rojos.
Example:After the unexpected legal fees, the startup found itself heavily in the red.
To cost an arm and a leg · informal
formalMeaning:To be extremely expensive.
Significado:Costar un riñón / un ojo de la cara.
Example:The subscription fees for these premium AI tools can cost an arm and a leg for freelancers.
To make ends meet · neutral
neutralMeaning:To have just enough money to pay for the things that you need.
Significado:Llegar a fin de mes.
Example:Despite the rising cost of living, they manage to make ends meet through careful budgeting.
To be flush with cash · informal
formalMeaning:To have a lot of money available at a particular time.
Significado:Estar forrado / tener mucho efectivo.
Example:After receiving her annual bonus, she was feeling quite flush with cash and decided to book a holiday.
To pay through the nose · informal
formalMeaning:To pay much more than a fair price for something.
Significado:Pagar un precio desorbitado.
Example:You shouldn't have to pay through the nose just to access basic digital services.
To be in a liquidity crunch · formal
formalMeaning:A sudden shortage of cash or easily accessible funds within an economy or company.
Significado:Sufrir una crisis de liquidez.
Example:Small businesses are struggling to survive as they face a sudden liquidity crunch due to delayed payments.
To optimize for micro-transactions · formal
formalMeaning:To design a business model or product to maximize small, frequent digital payments.
Significado:Optimizar para microtransacciones (modelo de ingresos digitales).
Example:The new gaming platform is designed to optimize for micro-transactions, targeting casual mobile users.
To be caught in a subscription trap · neutral
neutralMeaning:To be stuck paying for recurring services that are difficult or inconvenient to cancel.
Significado:Estar atrapado en una trampa de suscripción.
Example:Many consumers feel they are caught in a subscription trap with so many monthly recurring fees.