chispa

f.

1 spark.

echar chispas (informal figurative) to be hopping mad

2 bit.

3 sparkle (sharpness, humor).

esa novela tiene chispa that novel has really got something

4 wit, cleverness, scintillation.

5 small bit, shred.

6 spoon bait, spinner.

* * *

chispa

► nombre femenino

1 (de lumbre, eléctrica, etc) spark

2 (brillo) sparkle, glitter

3 (brillante pequeño) small diamond

4 familiar figurado (un poco) bit

■ bebió una chispa de licor she had a drop of liqueur

■ no me gustó ni chispa I didn't like it one bit

■ no hay ni una chispa de azúcar there isn't a bit of sugar left

■ no corre ni chispa de aire there's not a breath of wind

5 (de lluvia) drop, droplet

■ caen chispas it's spitting

6 figurado (ingenio, gracia) wit, sparkle; (inteligencia) intelligence; (viveza) liveliness

7 (mentira) lie

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FRASEOLOGÍA

coger una chispa / pillar una chispa familiar to get sloshed

echar chispas figurado to be raging

no tiene ni chispa de gracia figurado it's not funny at all, it's not a bit funny

ser una chispa figurado to be very bright

tener chispa figurado to be witty, be funny

chispa eléctrica spark

* * *

noun f.

spark

* * *

1. SF

1) [de luz, fuego] spark

- echar chispas: está que echa chispas

- perder chispa

2) (=gota de lluvia) drop

caen chispas — it's just spitting

3) (=pizca) bit, tiny amount

una chispa de café — a tiny drop of coffee

una chispa de sal — a pinch of salt

ni chispa — not the least bit

eso no tiene ni chispa de gracia — that's not in the least bit funny

si tuviera una chispa de inteligencia — if he had an ounce of intelligence

4) (=ingenio) wit

la historia tiene chispa — the story's quite amusing

Juan tiene chispa — John's quite witty

- es de chispa retardada

5) * (=borrachera) drunkenness

coger o pillar una chispa — to get sloshed *

estar con o tener la chispa — to be tight *

6) CAm, Méx

dar chispa — to work, be successful, yield results

7) And (=rumor) rumour, rumor (EEUU)

8) And (=arma) gun, weapon

2. ADJ INV

1) (=borracho)

estar chispa — * to be sloshed *

2) Méx (=divertido) funny, amusing

3.

SM * (tb: chispas) electrician

* * *

I

adjetivo invariable (Esp fam) tipsy (colloq)

II

femenino

1)

a) (del fuego) spark

está/están que echa/echan chispas — (fam) he's/they're hopping mad (colloq)

b) (Auto, Elec) spark

lo enchufé y empezaron a saltar chispas — I plugged it in and it started sparking o giving off sparks

2) (fam) (pizca)

¿más vino? - una chispita — more wine? - just a drop

no tiene ni chispa de inteligencia — he doesn't have an ounce of intelligence

3) (gracia, ingenio) wit

sus chistes tienen mucha chispa — his jokes are very funny o witty

* * *

= spark, zest, piquancy, sizzle, wit.

Ex. However, the spark that really set librarians alight came from outside Australia.

Ex. In the humanistic perspective, the concern is with potential, unique capabilities, and dignity -- with a dash of joy to add zest.

Ex. Young was a man of singular eccentricity and piquancy of character, a person who was very interesting in his own right.

Ex. Sure we can, but minus the original moment of sizzle, our excellent choice might very well fizzle.

Ex. The tone of voice should suggest that the inquirer's interest demonstrates something positive about the person -- if not charm, wit, or intelligence, then perhaps earnestness.

----

* echar chispas = fume, froth at + the mouth.

* echar chispas por los ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* encender la chispa = kindle + spark.

* ni una chispa de viento = not a drop of wind.

* soltar chispas = emit + sparks.

* * *

I

adjetivo invariable (Esp fam) tipsy (colloq)

II

femenino

1)

a) (del fuego) spark

está/están que echa/echan chispas — (fam) he's/they're hopping mad (colloq)

b) (Auto, Elec) spark

lo enchufé y empezaron a saltar chispas — I plugged it in and it started sparking o giving off sparks

2) (fam) (pizca)

¿más vino? - una chispita — more wine? - just a drop

no tiene ni chispa de inteligencia — he doesn't have an ounce of intelligence

3) (gracia, ingenio) wit

sus chistes tienen mucha chispa — his jokes are very funny o witty

* * *

= spark, zest, piquancy, sizzle, wit.

Ex: However, the spark that really set librarians alight came from outside Australia.

Ex: In the humanistic perspective, the concern is with potential, unique capabilities, and dignity -- with a dash of joy to add zest.

Ex: Young was a man of singular eccentricity and piquancy of character, a person who was very interesting in his own right.

Ex: Sure we can, but minus the original moment of sizzle, our excellent choice might very well fizzle.

Ex: The tone of voice should suggest that the inquirer's interest demonstrates something positive about the person -- if not charm, wit, or intelligence, then perhaps earnestness.

* echar chispas = fume, froth at + the mouth.

* echar chispas por los ojos = glower, scowl (at).

* encender la chispa = kindle + spark.

* ni una chispa de viento = not a drop of wind.

* soltar chispas = emit + sparks.

* * *

chispa¹

adj inv

(Esp fam) tipsy (colloq), merry (BrE colloq)

chispa²

feminine

A

1 (del fuego) spark

está/están que echa/echan chispas (fam); he's/they're hopping mad (colloq), he's/they're fuming! (colloq)

2 (Auto, Elec) spark

cuando lo enchufé empezaron a saltar chispas when I plugged it in it started sparking o giving off sparks

tiene la chispa atrasada the ignition timing needs adjusting

B (fam)

(pizca): ¿te sirvo más vino? — una chispita would you like some more wine? — just a drop

vio en sus ojos una chispa de ironía/esperanza she saw a flicker of irony/hope in his eyes

no tiene ni chispa de inteligencia he doesn't have an ounce o an iota o a spark of intelligence

C (gracia, ingenio) wit

sus chistes tienen mucha chispa his jokes are very funny o witty

D (Chi) (para pescar) spinner

* * *

 

chispa sustantivo femenino
1

a) (del fuego) spark;

◊ está/están que echa/echan chispas (fam) he's/they're hopping mad (colloq)

b) (Auto, Elec) spark

2 (fam) (pizca) little bit
3 (gracia, ingenio) wit;

◊ tener chispa to be witty

■ adjetivo invariable (Esp fam) tipsy (colloq)
chispa sustantivo femenino
1 spark
2 familiar (un poco, pizca) bit, dash
una chispa de coñac, a dash of brandy
3 familiar (ingenio) wit, sparkle
4 (gracia, simpatía) liveliness
'chispa' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
gracia
- graciosa
- gracioso
- inflamarse
- sal
- centella
- chiribita
- ingenio
- ingenioso
English:
gleam
- spark
- sparkle
- droll
- glint

* * *

chispa

♦ nf

1. [de fuego] spark;

Comp

Fam

echar chispas to be hopping mad;

está que echa chispas she's hopping mad, she's fuming

2. [de electricidad] spark;

si juntas los cables, saltan chispas if you put the cables together, you get o it throws off sparks;

Fig

saltaron chispas entre los asistentes al debate sparks flew among the participants in the debate

3. [pizca] bit;

añade una chispa de sal add a pinch of salt

4. [agudeza, gracia] sparkle;

esa novela tiene chispa that novel has really got something;

cuenta los chistes con mucha chispa he tells jokes really well

5.

están cayendo chispas [lluvia ligera] it's spitting (with rain)

♦ interj

Méx

¡chispas! good heavens!, Br blimey!, US jeez!

* * *

chispa

I adj

:

estar chispa fam be tipsy fam

II f

1 spark;

echar chispas be fuming fam

2 fig fam

wit

3 (cantidad pequeña) spot;

ni chispa not one iota;

una chispa de … a touch of …;

eres una chispa revolucionario you’re a bit of a revolutionary

* * *

chispa adj

1) Mex fam : lively, vivacious

un perrito chispa: a frisky puppy

2) Spain fam : tipsy

chispa nf

1) : spark

2)

echar chispas : to be furious

* * *

chispa n spark