Mrs.

Bixby and the Colonels Coat

(by Roald Dahl).

GLOSSARY
account (n)- an exact record of the money that a company has received and the money it
has spent (cuentas)
average (adj): around the middle of a scale of evaluation (promedio)
bang (v)- to hit something hard, making a loud noise (golpear)
be fond of (v) to like someone very much, especially when you have known them for a long
time and almost feel love for them (tener mucho cario)
bend (v) to move part of your body so that it is not straight or so that you are not upright
(inclinarse)
beneath (adv)- in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something
(debajo)
breath (n)- the air that you send out of your lungs when you breathe (aliento, respiracin)
came sailing past her: came past her with pride (pas orgullosa a su lado)
charming (adj): pleasing, delighting (encantadora)
claim (v)- to demand or receive something because you have a right to it (reclamar)
cheat (v)- to trick or deceive someone so that they do not get or keep something they
have a right to have; to be unfaithful to your husband, wife, or sexual partner (engaar)
counter (n)- the place where you pay or are served in a shop, bank, restaurant etc
(mostrador)
dare (v)- to be brave enough to do something that is risky or that you are afraid to do
(atreverse)
darling (n): a way of speaking to someone that you love. (querido/a)
decay (n): a disease of the teeth. (caries)
dotted line: a series of printed or drawn dots that form a line (lnea de puntos)
drop (n)- a very small amount of liquid that falls in a round shape (gota)
dull (adj): boring (aburrido, poco interesante)
edge (n): the part of an object that is furthest from its centre. (filo, borde)
earn (v): to get as a salary (ganar)
faint (v)- to pass out (desmayarse)
figure (n)- a number representing an amount, especially an official number (cifra)
filling (n)- a small amount of metal that is put into your tooth to cover a hole (empaste)
flash (v)- to shine suddenly and brightly for a short time, or to make something shine in
this way (relucir, centellear)
fold (v)- to bend a piece of paper, cloth etc by laying or pressing one part over another
(doblar)
fur (n)- the thick soft hair that covers the bodies of some animals, such as cats, dogs, and
rabbits (piel)
gain (v)- to obtain or achieve something you want or need (ganar)
good-naturedly (adv)- in a way that shows a naturally kind and helpful character or
attitude to people (de buen grado)
greet (v)- to say hello to someone or welcome them (saludar)
handle (v)- to deal with (ocuparse)
hunting (n): pursuing wild animals for sport(caza)
income (n)- the money that you earn from your work or that you receive from investments,
the government etc (ingresos)

lean (v)- to move or bend your body in a particular direction (inclinarse)

lid (n)- a cover for the open part of a pot, box, or other container (tapadera)
loyal (adj): faithful (leal, fiel)
mink (n): a very valuable fur used to make expensive coats. (visn)
misty (adj)- with a light cloud low over the ground that makes it difficult for you to see
very far (con niebla)
neatly (adv)- tidy and carefully arranged (pulcramente)
neckpiece: a garment like a boa or a scarf, especially one made of fur (boa o bufanda de

piel)

paperwork (n)- work such as writing letters or reports, which must be done but is not very
interesting (papeleo)
passage (n)- a long narrow area with walls on either side which connects one room or place
to another (pasillo)
pawnbroker (n): someone whose business is to lend people money in exchange for valuable
things. (prestamista)
pawn-ticket (n): a pawnbroker's receipt for articles taken as security (recibo de empeo)
purse (n): handbag (cartera de mujer)
pull out (v)- to get out of a bad situation or dangerous place, or to make someone or
something do this (salir, sacar)
queen: sovereign (reina)
receiver receiver (n): a telephone's receiver is the part that you hold near to your ear and
speak into. (auricular)
root (n)- the part of a plant or tree that grows under the ground and gets water from the
soil (raz)
row (n)- a line of things or people next to each other (fila)
signal for (v): to make signs to (llamar, hacer seas a)
sink (n)- a large open container that you fill with water and use for washing yourself,
washing dishes etc (fregadero)
slip into (v)- to put something into somewhere quietly or smoothly (deslizar)
slip off (v)- to take a piece of clothing off your body quickly and smoothly (quitarse)
step off (v)- to go down (bajarse)
stiff (adj)- firm, hard, or difficult to bend (tieso)
still (adj)- not moving (inmvil, quieto)
straighten (v)- to become straight, or to make something straight (alisar, enderezar)
stretched (adj)- to straighten your arms, legs, eyes or body to full length (extender)
string (n)- a strong thread made of several threads twisted together, used for tying or
fastening things (cordel)
stroke (v)- to move your hand gently over something (acariciar)
thoroughly (adv): perfectly (perfecta, impecable)
amuse oneself (v): to have fun(entretenerse)
trick (v)- to deceive someone in order to get something from them or to make them do
something (engaar)
try on (v): to check whether something fits you (probarse)
untie (v)- to take the knots out of something, or unfasten something that has been tied
(desatar, desabrochar)
underclothes (n)- underwear (ropa interior)
wealthy (adj): rich (adinerado, rico)
wrist (n)- the part of your body where your hand joins your arm (mueca)