Question

Difficulty: Very hardUnderstanding Contextual Vocabulary and Idioms

Read the following translated transcript of a strategy meeting between two corporate executives, Valeria and Tomás. They are preparing for an important meeting with international investors. Match the original Spanish idiomatic expressions used in their conversation with their correct contextual meanings in English.

Transcript:
Valeria: We have to meet with the Zenith investors tomorrow. I'm quite anxious; you know perfectly well that they are the ones who *cortan el bacalao* in this deal.
Tomás: I know. That's why we can't *irnos por las ramas* during the presentation. We must present the financial situation exactly as it is and not try to *dorar la píldora* with fictional projections.
Valeria: You're right. In fact, to *curarnos en salud*, I ordered an express internal audit yesterday. It's better to have all the documentation ready.

  • cortan el bacalaoTo be in charge or make the important decisions
  • irnos por las ramasTo digress or get off the main topic
  • dorar la píldoraTo soften bad news or make a situation appear more attractive than it is
  • curarnos en saludTo take preventive measures to avoid future problems

Answer

The correct pairings match each Spanish idiom to its figurative English meaning: 'cortan el bacalao' pairs with being in charge; 'irnos por las ramas' pairs with digressing; 'dorar la píldora' pairs with softening bad news; and 'curarnos en salud' pairs with taking preventive measures.
Each idiomatic expression was correctly matched based on its figurative meaning within the business context. 'Cortar el bacalao' refers to having authority, 'irse por las ramas' means to lose focus, 'dorar la píldora' is to sugarcoat, and 'curarse en salud' means taking precautions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phrase 'cortan el bacalao' within Valeria's statement.
The phrase describes the investors' role in the deal, pointing to their power, authority, and ultimate decision-making ability.
Understanding the power dynamic helps identify that the idiom means to be in charge or make the important decisions.
2
Examine the phrase 'irnos por las ramas' in Tomás's response.
Tomás contrasts this action with presenting the situation 'exactly as it is', implying a strong need for directness.
This contextual clue reveals that the idiom means to digress, lose focus, or beat around the bush.
3
Evaluate the phrase 'dorar la píldora' regarding the fictional projections.
The context is about avoiding deception to hide a harsh financial reality.
This confirms the idiom means to sugarcoat or soften a negative situation.
4
Assess 'curarnos en salud' concerning the internal audit.
Valeria ordered the audit beforehand to have backups ready, indicating a protective step before meeting the investors.
This shows the idiom means to take preventive measures or protect oneself from future issues.

Key Concept

Understanding Contextual Vocabulary and Idioms
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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