weed out



 

remove weeds or
what is unwanted


 

The manager insisted that they had to weed out all the unsuitable candidates as they had to weed out their gardens.
El gerente insistió que tenían que eliminar los postulantes inadecuados como tenían que eliminar la maleza de sus jardines.

weigh out
 

estimate how heavy it is
 

The greengrocer weighed out a kilo of strawberries for Molly.
El verdulero calculó un kilo de fresas para Molly.

weigh up
 

consider carefully
 

He weighed up his chances of promotion before quitting..
El analizó sus oportunidades de ascenso antes de renunciar.

while away
 

spend some time pleasantly
 

We whiled away the whole afternoon at the exhibition.
Pasamos toda la tarde en la exposición.

win over
 

convert
 

This priest won over many people to Christianity.
Este sacerdote convirtió mucha gente al Cristianismo.

win through
 

survive, recover
 

Despite all the hardships, he won through.
Sobrevivió a pesar de todas las privaciones.

wind up




 

1) turn the spring of a machine or a clock to make it go

1) I forgot to wind up my cuckoo clock last night.
Anoche olvidé darle cuerda a mi reloj cucú.

2) end a meeting or speech
(separable when transitive)

2) The meeting will wind up with a few English songs.
La reunion finalizará con algunas canciones inglesas.

wipe out
 

destroy, annihilate
 

A town near Miami was wiped out by the tornado.
Un pueblo próximo a Miami fue aniquilada por el tornado.

wipe up
 

take up liquid by wiping
usually with a mop

He rushed to wipe up the pool of coffee on the wooden floor.
Corrió a secar el charco de café sobre el piso de madera.

wither up
 

become dry, faded or dead
 

Some flowers soon wither up under the rays of the sun.
Algunas flores se marchitan pronto bajo los rayos del sol.

work in
 

introduce
 

The author worked in a few lines about his own life in Africa.
El autor introdujo algunas líneas sobre su vida en Africa.

work in with


 

fit in with


 

His ideas for a new factory did not work in with those of his employers and he was fired.
Sus ideas de una nueva planta no encajaron con las de sus empleadores y fue despedido.

work off
 

get rid of, get over
 

He worked off his depression by visiting Menem's properties.
Superó su depresión visitando las propiedades de Menem.

work out










 

1) plan, solve by careful study
 

1) Can you work this puzzle out?
¿Puedes resolver este acertijo?

2) exhaust by working
 

2) The old coal mine has already been worked out.
La antigua mina de carbón ya ha sido agotada.

3) be calculated at
 

3) The restaurant bill worked out at 20 dollars each.
La cuenta del restaurante resultó a 20 dólares por persona.

4) produce the desired result
 

4) Their plan did not work out and the robbers were caught.
Su plan no funcionó y los ladrones fueron capturados.

work up





 

1) excite, arouse
 

1) The dictator worked up the emotions of the crowd.
El dictador despertó las emociones de la multitud.

2) study more thoroughly

 

2) She told us to work up 300 Phrasal Verbs for the exam.
Nos indicó que estudiáramos en detalle 300 Verbos Frasales para el examen.

work up to
 

progress gradually to
 

His novel works up to a thrilling climax.
Su novela avanza gradualmente hacia un final apasionante.

worm out
 

find out by devious means
find our without scruples

Don't let worm out your secret so easily.
No permitas que te sonsaquen tu secreto con tanta facilidad.

wrap up




 

1) cover, put round,
roll up

1) It was very cold so I wrapped myself up in a blanket.
Estaba muy frío de modo que me envolví en una manta.

2) wind or fold as
a covering

2) She wrapped up the gift in a beautiful silver paper.
Envolvió el regalo en un hermoso papel plateado.

wriggle out of
 

avoid
 

Amanda always tries to wriggle out of her responsibilities.
Amanda siempre trata de evitar sus responsabilidades.

wrinkle up
 

to get wrinkles in perplexity
 

He wrinkled up his face and admitted he was puzzled.
Frunció el ceño y aceptó estar esconcertado.

write down
 

make a note
 

I wrote down the instructions.
Tomé nota de las instrucciones.

write into
 

add to in writing
 

The terms were written into the lease.
Se agregaron por escrito las condiciones a la locación.

write off 
 

cancel, regard as
 

They were forced to write off several irretrievable debts.
Nos vimos forzados a dar de baja varias deudas incobrables.

write oneself out


 

exhaust one's ideas
in writing

 

The novelist appears to have written himself out because nothing new has emerged from his pen since 2000.
El novelista parece haber agotado sus ideas porque nada nuevo ha salido de su pluma desde el año 2000.

write out
 

write in full
 

The witness wrote out his account of the acident.
El testigo pasó en limpio su versión del accidente.

write up 
 

compose in writing
 

I used my notes to write up the report.
Usé mis notas para redactar el informe.